Expandable device utilized as a sport umbrella as well as an artificial christmas tree

Abstract

An extensible device for use such as an umbrella engaging mechanism or, alternately, a decorative supported tree. An elongated and lengthwise shaft includes an outer elongated tubular portion and an inner translatable portion. A repositionable clamp device is supported at an upper end of the device, such as for releasably securing an umbrella stem. A rotatable foot support is arranged at a lower end and facilitates driving the shaft into a ground location. In one variant, a rubber dampening insert is secured to a hollowed end of the outer tubular portion and receives a cord extending therethrough and which connects at an interior end to a translatable and noise generating anchor supported upon the end of the inner translatable portion. In another variant, the extensible device functions as a base support for a decorative tree, a plurality of elongated ribs being outwardly extensibly mounted to the outer tubular member, at least at its upper end, and each further including a faux pine branch design.

1 . An extensible device securable to a fixed location, comprising: 
 an elongated and lengthwise extensible shaft having an outer elongated portion and an inner translatable portion;    a plurality of elongated and outwardly expansible ribs pivotally secured to an upper end of said outer elongate portion; and    a ground engaging support pivotally associated with a lower end of said outer elongate portion.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , said engaging support further comprising a foot assist tang.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 2 , said foot assist tang being incorporated into said inner translatable portion and, upon a selected axial alignment with said outer elongated portion, rotating through a lengthwise slot defined in said outer portion.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 2 , said foot assist tang further comprising an exterior bracket mount affixed to said outer elongate portion.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a tiltable and shaft receiving clamp device associated with an upper end of said lengthwise adjustable shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rubber dampening insert associated with an upper end of said outer elongated portion.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6 , said insert further comprising an aperture through which extends an elongated cord, an interior end of said cord engaging an interiorly translatable and audible generating anchored portion secured atop said inner translatable portion.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7 , further comprising an interiorly positioned and motion dampening coil spring associated with an upper end of said outer elongated portion.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , said extensible device having a specified shape and size, said ribs each further comprising a faux pine branch configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a decorative fabric canopy applied over said plurality of outwardly expansible ribs.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of decorative ornaments suspended from each of said faux ribs.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 1 , said inner translatable portion further comprising an elongate and extensible rod having a pointed bottom edge.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a substantially cylindrical shaped and internally hollowed member which is integrally formed with, and extends in crosswise fashion from, said elongated portion, a tightening bolt threadably engaging within said crosswise extending member and communicating with an interior axial passageway to engage selected locations along said extensible rod.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an inwardly actuable and outwardly spring-loaded tang defined with said inner translatable portion and extending from a windowed location of said elongated outer portion, said tang including a slightly angled upper surface and an angled lower surface coinciding with said upper surface at a substantially pointed end.  
   
   
       15 . An extensible shaft device for use with an umbrella, capable of being affixed to a given location, and comprising: 
 an elongated and lengthwise extensible shaft having an outer elongated portion and an inner translatable portion;    a tiltable and shaft receiving clamp device associated with an upper end of said shaft and which is adapted to receive a further shaft portion associated with a conventional umbrella; and    a ground engaging support pivotally associated with a lower end of said outer elongate portion and including a rotatable and foot assist tang.    
   
   
       16 . The extensible shaft device as described in  claim 15 , further comprising a rubber dampening insert associated with an upper end of said outer elongated portion.  
   
   
       17 . The extensible shaft device as described in  claim 16 , further comprising an aperture defined through said dampening insert and through which extends an elongated cord, an interior end of said cord engaging an interiorly translatable and audible generating anchored portion secured atop said inner translatable portion.  
   
   
       18 . An extensible device securable to a fixed location, comprising: 
 an elongated and lengthwise extensible shaft having an outer elongated portion and an inner translatable portion;    a plurality of elongated and outwardly expansible ribs pivotally secured at least to an upper end of said outer elongate portion, each of said ribs further comprising a faux pine branch configuration; and    a support associated with a lower end of said outer elongate portion.    
   
   
       19 . The device as described in  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of decorative ornaments suspended from each of said faux ribs.  
   
   
       20 . The device as described in  claim 18 , further comprising a decorative fabric canopy applied over said plurality of outwardly expansible ribs.  
   
   
       21 . An extensible device securable to a fixed location, comprising: 
 an elongated and lengthwise extensible shaft having an outer elongated portion and an inner translatable portion;    a plurality of elongated and outwardly expansible ribs pivotally secured to an axially translatable rib support slide associated with an upper end of said outer elongate portion; and    a catch portion fixedly secured to an exterior location of said inner translatable portion and which is engageable by said rib support slide to secure said expansible ribs in at least one of a retracted and an expansible position.    
   
   
       22 . The extensible device as described in  claim 21 , said catch portion further comprising a hook secured to said rib support slide and engageable with a loop portion attached to shaft.  
   
   
       23 . The extensible device as described in  claim 21 , said catch portion further comprising at least one of a ring, loop and spring attached to said inner translatable portion secured to said rib supporting slide.  
   
   
       24 . The extensible device as described in  claim 21 , further comprising at least one tang inwardly deflectably mounted to the shaft and slidably translatable through slots defined in a rib support slide.  
   
   
       25 . The extensible device as described in  claim 21 , further comprising an inwardly pivotal hook mounted to said inner translatable portion and selectively engaging said rib support slide in said retracted position.