Collapsible fish cleaning table

• US 5,542,359 A
• Filed: 02/06/1995
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald J. Polries
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Polries
• Inventors: Polries, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/384,405
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 108/26, 108/25, 108/118, 108/119, 108/28, 108/24
• US Class Current: 108/26
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/00 Tables adapted for other particular purposes glass cutting tables C03B33/03

Abstract

A portable and collapsible fish cleaning table has a tabletop member which includes a horizontal upwardly facing work surface for supporting a fish during the cleaning operation. A fish clamp is connected to the table and has at least one jaw located proximate to the work surface for clamping a fish in place on the work surface to stabilize the fish as it is being cleaned. Collapsible legs are connected to the tabletop. The legs can be shifted, e.g., by being pivoted from an erect position to a collapsed position for reducing the space occupied by the table to facilitate folding the table flat for compact storage when the table is to be transported from one location to another. A retaining means is also operatively associated with the table legs for releasably holding the legs in the erect position to support the tabletop member during use. A waste collection means comprises an opening in the tabletop through which the waste can be dumped into a receptacle, e.g., a garbage bag suspended below the tabletop.

Claims

1. A portable and collapsible fish cleaning table comprising,

a tabletop member having a horizontal upwardly facing work surface,

a fish clamp connected to the table and having a jaw located proximate to the work surface for clamping a fish in place on the work surface to stabilize the fish when the fish is being cleaned,

table leg means collapsibly connected to the tabletop for being shifted in position from an erect position to a collapsed position to reduce the space occupied by the table for facilitating compact storage thereof,

retaining means operatively associated with the leg means for releasably holding the leg means in the erect position to support the tabletop member above the ground or other surface during use,

the leg means includes a first leg assembly pivotally connected to the tabletop and a second leg assembly having a center portion that is releasably connected to the tabletop,

pivot means connected between said first and second leg assemblies for enabling the leg assemblies to be pivoted to an aligned position for collapsing the table when said center portion is removed from the tabletop,

the table has a waste collection means as a part of the table comprising an opening in the tabletop member through which waste can be dumped into a receptacle beneath the opening in the tabletop,

the tabletop has a connecting means to facilitate fastening the receptacle to the tabletop beneath the opening therein so that the waste dumped through the opening drops into the receptacle connected to the table,

the opening has a section of rigid pipe mounted therein and the connecting means comprises a laterally projecting, circumferentially extending rim on the pipe below the tabletop to enable the receptacle to be connected to the table.

2. The fish cleaning table of claim 1 wherein the clamp is adjacent to an edge of the tabletop to enable a user to slide a knife blade parallel to the table with the knife handle partially below the plane of the tabletop.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a back board connected to the tabletop member and extending upwardly therefrom to serve as a guard to prevent waste from falling off the table.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 having a carrying handle connected thereto to facilitate carrying the table.