Umbrella support

Abstract

An umbrella support including an elongated post and a pivot plate secured to one end of the elongated post. A support tube has a slot at one of its ends that snugly receives the pivot plate. A threaded fastener penetrates the tube and the pivot plate to pivotally attach the tube to the elongated post.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An umbrella support, comprising: 
 an elongated post;    a pivot plate secured to one end of said post;    a support tube having a slot at one end thereof, said slot snugly receiving said pivot plate therein; and,    a threaded fastener penetrating said tube and said pivot plate for pivotally attaching said tube to said post.    
     
     
         2 . The umbrella support according to  claim 1  further comprising a clip pivotally fastened to said tube for engaging the central shaft of an umbrella and retaining the relatively wider handle of the umbrella within said tube.  
     
     
         3 . The umbrella support according to  claim 1  further comprising a pair of gripping blocks positioned within said tube on opposite sides of said pivot plate for squeezing said plate when said threaded fastener is tightened.  
     
     
         4 . An umbrella support, comprising: 
 an elongated post;    a ground-penetrating spike secured to the bottom of said post;    an upright pivot plate secured to the top of said post;    a support tube having opposed ends and a slot adjacent to one end thereof, said slot snugly receiving said pivot plate therein, said tube having an opening in the end thereof remote from said slot;    a pair of gripping blocks positioned within said tube on opposite sides of said pivot plate;    a bolt penetrating said tube, said gripping blocks and said pivot plate; and,    a wing nut in threaded engagement with said bolt.    
     
     
         5 . The umbrella support according to  claim 4  further comprising a step secured to said post adjacent said spike for driving said spike into the ground by means of pressure exerted by a foot atop said step.  
     
     
         6 . The umbrella support according to  claim 4  further comprising a clip pivotally fastened to said tube for engaging the central shaft of an umbrella and retaining the relatively wider handle of the umbrella within said tube.  
     
     
         7 . The umbrella support according to  claim 6  wherein said clip includes: 
 a U-shaped retaining portion adapted to snugly engage the central shaft of an umbrella; and,  
 a pair of pivoting portions each being secured at one end thereof to said U-shaped retaining portion and being journaled at the other end thereof to said tube, said pivoting portions permitting said retaining portion to be selectively positioned in registry with said opening in said tube.  
 
     
     
         8 . An umbrella support, comprising: 
 an elongated post;    a ground-penetrating spike secured to the bottom of said post;    a step secured to said post adjacent said spike;    an upright pivot plate secured to the top of said post;    a support tube having opposed ends and a slot adjacent to one end thereof, said slot snugly receiving said pivot plate therein, said tube having an opening in the end thereof remote from said slot;    a pair of gripping blocks positioned within said tube on opposite sides of said pivot plate;    a bolt penetrating said tube, said gripping blocks and said pivot plate;    a wing nut in threaded engagement with said bolt; and,    a clip pivotally fastened to said tube and having a U-shaped retaining portion for keeping a portion of an umbrella within said tube.