BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable elevated picnic table cover and more particularly pertains to attaching to a picnic table to protect food and other items from outdoor elements and pests.

[0002] The use of table covering devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, table covering devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of covering and protecting table tops are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0003] By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,943 to Johnson discloses a picnic table cover for protecting food or drink in an outdoor environment. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,705,084 to Rodenbaugh and 4,883,001 to Roth disclose various picnic table cover devices.

[0004] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a portable elevated picnic table cover for attaching to a picnic table to protect food and other items from outdoor elements and pests.

[0005] In this respect, the portable elevated picnic table cover according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of attaching to a picnic table to protect food and other items from outdoor elements and pests.

[0006] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover which can be used for attaching to a picnic table to protect food and other items from outdoor elements and pests. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of table covering devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved portable elevated picnic table cover. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0008] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a rectangular enclosure dimensioned for being positioned atop a rectangular picnic table. The rectangular enclosure is constructed of a transparent material. The rectangular enclosure has a closed top, an open bottom, opposed short ends, and opposed long sides. The open bottom is positioned over the picnic table. The opposed long sides each have an access opening therethrough. The access opening has a corresponding removable flap coupled thereto. A pair of support brackets is positioned within the enclosure adjacent to the opposed short ends thereof for supporting the enclosure in a raised orientation. The support brackets each have an upper horizontal bar positioned against the closed top. The upper horizontal bar has opposed free ends. The free ends each have a vertical support hingedly coupled thereto. The vertical supports each have a free lower end. The free lower ends each have a horizontal table support bar hingedly coupled thereto for being positioned on the picnic table. A plurality of tie down straps extends outwardly from the enclosure adjacent to the open bottom thereof. The tie down straps are capable of extending underneath the picnic table and engaging one another to prevent inadvertent removal of the enclosure from the picnic table.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0011] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover which has all the advantages of the prior art table covering devices and none of the disadvantages.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0015] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a portable elevated picnic table cover economically available to the buying public.

[0016] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover for attaching to a picnic table to protect food and other items from outdoor elements and pests.

[0017] Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable elevated picnic table cover including an enclosure dimensioned for being positioned atop a picnic table. The enclosure is constructed of a transparent material. The enclosure has a closed top, an open bottom, and a peripheral side wall therebetween. The open bottom is positioned over the picnic table. The peripheral side wall has at least one access opening therethrough. The access opening has a corresponding removable flap coupled thereto. A pair of support brackets is positioned within the enclosure for supporting the enclosure in a raised orientation.

[0018] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.