Tabletop for Outdoor Use Having Metal Frame

Abstract

A tabletop for use on an outdoor table is disclosed. A metal frame having at least one horizontally oriented transverse member defines the general shape of the tabletop. A fiber fabric layer is affixed to the top of the transverse member. A decorative layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart decorative elements provides the outer surface of the table top. A mesh layer is positioned between the fiber fabric layer and the decorative layer. The elements are adhered together by a binder comprised of adhesive material. The binder is interposed between and contacting the at least one transverse member and the decorative layer so that the layers of fiber fabric and mesh are embedded within the binder and the decorative layer is fixedly adhered to the at least one horizontally oriented transverse member.

1 . A tabletop for use on an outdoor table comprising:
 a metal frame having at least one horizontally oriented transverse member wherein the metal frame defines the general shape of the tabletop;   a horizontally oriented fiber fabric layer affixed to the top of the horizontally oriented transverse member;   a substantially horizontal decorative layer, wherein the decorative layer comprises a plurality of spaced apart decorative elements;   a horizontally oriented mesh layer positioned between the fiber fabric layer and the decorative layer; and   a binder comprised of adhesive material, said binder interposed between and contacting the at least one horizontally oriented transverse member and the horizontal decorative layer so that the layers of fiber fabric and mesh are embedded within the binder and the decorative layer is fixedly adhered to the at least one horizontally oriented transverse member.   
   
   
       2 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the binder is a resin. 
   
   
       3 . The tabletop of  claim 2 , wherein the resin is one or more of an unsaturated polyester resin, a vinyl ester resin, or an epoxy resin. 
   
   
       4 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative layer resembles stone. 
   
   
       5 . The tabletop of  claim 4 , wherein the decorative elements comprise one or more of stone, marble, clay, slate, granite, tile, ceramic, or porcelain. 
   
   
       6 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the metal frame is formed of one or more of aluminum, iron, or steel. 
   
   
       7 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers in the fiber fabric layer have a random orientation. 
   
   
       8 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh layer is comprised of fiber glass. 
   
   
       9 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh layer is comprised of nylon thread. 
   
   
       10 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh layer is comprised of a metal screen. 
   
   
       11 . A method of forming a tabletop comprising:
 placing a layer of fiber fabric on top of a metal frame that defines the outline of a tabletop;   substantially covering the layer of fiber fabric with a binder such that it soaks through the layer of fiber fabric and adheres the layer of fiber fabric to the metal frame forming a metal-fiber reinforced structure;   placing a decorative layer face down and covering the decorative layer with a mesh layer;   adding binder on top of the mesh layer to impregnate and bond the decorative layer and mesh layer together creating a binder layer;   smoothing out the binder layer; and   placing the metal-fiber reinforced structure onto the binder layer allowing the binder layer to further soak through the fiber layer and cure.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the binder is a resin. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resin is one or more of an unsaturated polyester resin, a vinyl ester resin, or an epoxy resin. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the decorative layer resembles stone. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative elements comprise one or more of stone, marble, clay, slate, granite, tile, ceramic, or porcelain. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the metal frame is formed of one or more of aluminum, iron, or steel. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fibers in the fiber fabric layer have a random orientation. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mesh layer is comprised of fiber glass. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mesh layer is comprised of nylon thread. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mesh layer is comprised of a metal screen.