Integrated Beach Umbrella and Table System

Abstract

Disclosed is an integrated beach umbrella and table system that includes a support post, wherein an umbrella support frame couples to the support post and is expandable and collapsible about the support post, and an umbrella canopy couples to the umbrella support frame. The system further includes a table surface support frame assembled from a plurality of armature elements that couple to an anchor hub and a central hub, wherein at least one of the anchor hub and the central hub slidably engages to the support post. The anchor hub and the central hub slide to produce a first expanded position and a second collapsed position of a table surface coupled to the table surface support frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible table system comprises:
 a support post;   an expandable and collapsible table surface support frame comprising a plurality of armature elements;   a central hub engaged to the support post and coupled to at least a portion of the plurality of armature elements;   an anchor hub engaged to the support post, below the central hub, and coupled to the at least a portion of the plurality of armature elements;
 wherein the central hub and anchor hub are configured to slide along the support post simultaneously; and 
 wherein the central hub is further configured to slide toward the anchor hub to produce a first expanded position of the table surface support frame, and the central hub is further configured to slide away from the anchor hub to produce a second collapsed position of the table surface support frame; and 
   a flexible table surface coupled to the table surface support frame configured to enclose at least a portion of the plurality of armature elements in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an expandable and collapsible umbrella support frame coupled to an umbrella support post; and
 an umbrella canopy coupled to the umbrella support frame, wherein the umbrella support post couples to the support post.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of armature elements comprises;
 a plurality of first armature elements; and   a complimentary plurality of second armature elements;
 wherein each of the plurality of first armature elements comprises a first armature first end pivotally coupled to the central hub; 
 wherein each of the plurality of second armature elements comprises a second armature first end pivotally coupled to the anchor hub; 
 wherein each of the plurality of second armature elements comprises a second armature second end pivotally coupled at a point along a length of its complimentary first armature element. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein in the first expanded position, a first armature second end of each of the plurality of first armature elements is substantially co-planar with the central hub. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first armature second end of each of the plurality of first armature elements couples to a perimeter portion of the flexible table surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible table surface further comprises at least one of a cup holder and storage bin. 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a collapsible table system comprises:
 providing a support post;   providing an expandable and collapsible table surface support frame comprising a plurality of armature elements;   providing a central hub engaged to the support post and coupled to at least a portion of the plurality of armature elements;   providing an anchor hub engaged to the support post, below the central hub, and coupling it to the at least a portion of the plurality of armature elements;
 wherein the central hub and anchor hub are configured to slide along the support post simultaneously; and 
 wherein the central hub is further configured to slide toward the anchor hub to produce a first expanded position of the table surface support frame, and the central hub is further configured to slide away from the anchor hub to produce a second collapsed position of the table surface support frame; and 
   providing a flexible table surface and coupling it to the table surface support frame, wherein the flexible table surface is configured to enclose at least a portion of the plurality of armature elements in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing an expandable and collapsible umbrella support frame coupled to a provided umbrella support post; and
 coupling an umbrella canopy to the umbrella support frame, wherein the umbrella support post is configured to couple to the support post.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of armature elements comprises;
 providing a plurality of first armature elements; and   providing a complimentary plurality of second armature elements;
 wherein each of the plurality of first armature elements comprises a first armature first end pivotally coupled to the central hub; 
 wherein each of the plurality of second armature elements comprises a second armature first end pivotally coupled to the anchor hub; 
 wherein each of the plurality of second armature elements comprises a second armature second end pivotally coupled at a point along a length of its complimentary first armature element. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein in the first expanded position, a first armature second end of each of the plurality of first armature elements is substantially co-planar with the central hub. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first armature second end of each of the plurality of first armature elements couples to a perimeter portion of the flexible table surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible table surface further comprises at least one of a cup holder and storage bin.