Upright structure with base

Abstract

The present invention comprises a moveable upright structure. The structure can be a column having a top and a bottom, and with an outside surface. The column can have a longitudinal axis. One or more holes can extend through the column or upward from the bottom a selected amount into the column in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis. The holes can be generally circular in cross-section or can be generally rim shaped. The base can have a plate for engaging the ground, and can have one or more members for mating with the one or more holes in the column. The base can alternatively or additionally engage the outside of the column. The base can further have one or more depending members that can extend into a surface below the structure. The structure can further incorporate a wedge for use on a sloped surface.

1 . An upstanding structure comprising: 
 an body having an outside surface, a top and a bottom, said body having a center of gravity near midway between said top and bottom; and    a base having a member for removeably engaging said body,    wherein when said body and said base are engaged, the center of gravity of said upstanding structure is below the center of gravity of said body.    
   
   
       2 . The upstanding structure of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said body has a longitudinal axis and further comprises at least 1 hole extending into said body from said bottom of said body, said at least 1 hole having a selected diameter and being generally parallel with said longitudinal axis; and    said member of said base comprises at least 1 vertical bar having a selected diameter smaller than said selected diameter of said at least 1 hole, said at least 1 bar being received within said at least 1 hole of said body, respectively.    
   
   
       3 . The upstanding structure of  claim 2  wherein: 
 said at least 1 hole consists of a hole centrally located at said bottom of said body and extending between said bottom and said top of said body; and    said at least 1 bar consists of a bar centrally located on said base and extendable a selected distance into said hole.    
   
   
       4 . The upstanding structure of  claim 3  wherein said body is a column having a height of approximately 8 feet and a diameter of approximately 2 feet, and said bar of said base extends approximately 2 feet into said hole in said body.  
   
   
       5 . The upstanding structure of  claim 3  wherein: 
 said body has an inlet at said bottom, said inlet being generally circular in diameter and having a selected depth; and    said base has a first plate for contacting said bottom of said body and a second plate for being removeably inserted into said inlet.    
   
   
       6 . The upstanding structure of  claim 2  wherein said base further comprises at least 1 downward depending bar for being inserted into the ground.  
   
   
       7 . The upstanding structure of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said base has a bottom; and    said upstanding structure further comprises a wedge having a top lying in a top plane and a bottom lying in a bottom plane, said angle between said top plane and said bottom plane being determined by the slope of the surface for which the upstanding structure will stand, said top of said wedge being substantially horizontal when said bottom of said wedge contacts a sloped surface,    wherein said body is substantially vertical when said bottom of said base contacts said top of said wedge.    
   
   
       8 . The upstanding structure of  claim 1  wherein said member is a shoe that engages said outside surface of said body near said bottom of said body.  
   
   
       9 . The upstanding structure of  claim 8  wherein: 
 said body has a longitudinal axis and further comprises at least 1 hole extending into said body from said bottom of said body, said at least 1 hole having a selected diameter and being generally parallel with said longitudinal axis; and    said base further comprises at least 1 vertical bar having a selected diameter smaller than said selected diameter of said at least 1 hole, said at least 1 bar being received within said at least 1 hole of said body, respectively.    
   
   
       10 . The upstanding structure of  claim 1  wherein said body weighs approximately 50 pounds and said base weighs approximately 50 pounds.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly comprising: 
 a structure having a top and a bottom that define a length, an exterior surface, a longitudinal axis and at least 1 hole that is generally parallel with said longitudinal axis that extends from said bottom at least partially through said body, said bottom of said structure having being a selected size; and    a base for being removeably engaged with said structure and comprising: 
 first plate having a top for being in contact with said bottom of said structure and a bottom for contacting the ground; and  
 at least 1 member for being inserted into said at least 1 hole in said body.  
   
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said at least 1 hole in said structure comprises at least 1 circular hole having a selected diameter; and    said at least 1 member comprises at least 1 bar having a selected diameter that is smaller than said selected diameter of said at least 1 hole and having a selected length.    
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said hole extends completely through said body from said bottom to said top.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein: 
 the selected diameter of said hole in said body is approximately 1.25 inches; and    the selected length of said bar of said base is approximately 2 feet.    
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein: 
 said body has an inlet at said bottom, said inlet being generally circular in diameter and having a selected depth; and    said base has a second plate for being removeably inserted into said inlet when said bar is inserted into said hole.    
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said at least 1 hole comprises 1 generally ring shaped hole having a selected width, a selected depth and a selected inside diameter; and    said at least 1 member comprises  1  generally tube shaped member having a selected width smaller than said selected width of said ring, a selected height smaller than said selected depth of said ring and a selected inside diameter larger than said selected inside diameter of said ring.    
   
   
       17 . The upstanding structure of  claim 11  wherein said base further comprises at least 1 downward depending bar for being inserted into the ground.  
   
   
       18 . The upstanding structure of  claim 17  wherein: 
 said base has a bottom; and    said assembly further comprises a wedge having a top lying in a top plane and a bottom lying in a bottom plane, said angle between said top plane and said bottom plane being determined by the slope of the surface for which the upstanding structure will stand, said top of said wedge being substantially horizontal when said bottom of said wedge contacts a sloped surface,    wherein said structure is substantially vertical when said bottom of said base contacts said top of said wedge.    
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein said first plate has a selected size that is no larger than said selected size of said bottom of said structure.  
   
   
       20 . A free standing column comprising: 
 a base having: 
 a first plate for contacting the ground and having a first plate size;  
 a second plate connected to said first plate, said second plate having a size that is smaller than said first plate size and said second plate lying in a second plate plane; and  
 a bar that extends from said second plate in a direction generally perpendicular to said second plate plane; and  
   a column having: 
 a top;  
 a bottom;  
 a longitudinal axis;  
 a hole extending a selected distance into said column from said bottom, said hole being generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said bar being able to receive said bar of said base; and  
 an inlet at said bottom being able to receive said second plate of said base,  
   wherein said base is a weighted base that enhances the ability of said free-standing column to resist tipping over.