Segmented picnic table and benches

Abstract

A picnic table comprises a table top comprising two or more table top segments and two benches, each bench comprising two or more bench segments. The picnic table can be disassembled to decrease the total length of the picnic bench for transportation or shipping.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A picnic table comprising:
 two or more table top segments;   at least one leg assembly; and   four or more bench segments;   an assembled configuration wherein a table top is formed by the two or more table top segments, the at least one leg assembly supports the two or more table top segments, and the four or more bench segments form two benches, the two benches positioned on opposite sides of the table top and supported by the at least one leg assembly; and   a packed configuration wherein the two or more table top segments, the at least one leg assembly, and the four or more bench segments are temporarily secured together such that a length of the picnic table in the packed configuration is less than the length of the picnic table in the assembled configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the picnic table in the assembled configuration is approximately 96 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more table top segments are unattached to one another in the packed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more table top segments are attached to one another by at least one hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more table top segments comprise a first table top segment and a second table top segment, the first table top segment and the second table top segment each comprising a length equal to half of the length of the picnic table in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein each bench comprises a first bench segment and a second bench segment, the first bench segment and the second bench segment each comprising a length equal to half of the length of the picnic table in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The picnic table of  claim 6 , further comprising two bench support rods, each bench support rod extending across two adjacent bench segments when the picnic table ( 100 ) is in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The picnic table of  claim 7 , wherein each end of each bench support rod comprises a rod plate to abut a support frame of two the two adjacent bench segments. 
     
     
         9 . The picnic table of  claim 7 , wherein an end support frame of each bench segment comprises a cutout to accommodate the bench support rod. 
     
     
         10 . The picnic table of  claim 9 , wherein the cutout provided in the end support frame of each bench segment comprises a radius equal to the radius of the support rod. 
     
     
         11 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more table top segments comprise a first table top segment and two table top end segments, wherein, in the assembled configuration, wherein the at least one leg assembly comprises two leg assemblies, and wherein the first table top segment extends between the two leg assemblies and the two table top end segments extend outward from the two leg assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The picnic table of  claim 11 , wherein a length of the first table top segment is two to six times greater than a length of each of the table top end segments. 
     
     
         13 . The picnic table of  claim 12 , wherein the four or more bench segments comprise two first bench segments and four bench end segments, wherein, in the assembled configuration, each first bench segment extends between the two leg assemblies and the four bench end segments extend outward from the two leg assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The picnic table of  claim 13 , wherein a length of each first bench segment is equal to the length of the first table top segment, and wherein a length of each bench end segment is equal to the length of each table top end segment. 
     
     
         15 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein the table top segments and the bench segments comprise a perforated metal or metal mesh. 
     
     
         16 . The picnic table of  claim 15 , wherein the metal mesh comprises a diamond shape. 
     
     
         17 . The picnic table of  claim 15 , wherein the table top segments and the bench segments comprise a thermoplastic coating. 
     
     
         18 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg assembly comprises two substantially J-shaped members. 
     
     
         19 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein an end support frame spans a width of each of the bench segments, and wherein the end support frames of two adjacent bench segments abut one another to form each bench. 
     
     
         20 . The picnic table of  claim 1 , wherein an end support beam spans a width of each of the table top segments, and wherein the end support beam of adjacent table top segments abut one another to form the table top.