Beach Umbrella Shovel Anchor

Abstract

A combination earth anchor and shovel capable of being used as an earth excavating tool and anchoring device having a particular application to secure an outdoor umbrella in soil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anchorage device for securing an umbrella in a generally upright position, said umbrella having a canopy and a shaft, comprising:
 a generally tubular socket portion for receiving said shaft of said umbrella, said tubular socket having an axis centered within said socket;   a blade, said blade having an upper edge, a lower edge, a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge, a front surface and a rear surface, said blade generally symmetric about a plane perpendicular to said blade and intersecting said axis:   a wedge shaped feature extending from the rear surface of said blade having an upper surface, a right lateral surface, a left lateral surface, a front surface and a rear surface, said wedge shaped protrusion having a width extending from said right lateral surface to said left lateral surface and a depth extending from said protrusion's rear surface to said blade's rear surface, said width greater than said depth, said wedge upper surface having a surface area substantially equivalent to said depth times said width.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said blade's lower edge extends downward forming a curved tip centered on said lower edge. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wedge shaped protrusion possesses a generally uniform thickness and forms a corresponding wedge shaped concave depression on said front surface of said blade, said concave depression having a front surface, a right lateral surface, a left lateral surface, and an upper surface. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of said blade has a generally flat surface, wherein said wedge shaped protrusion possesses a non-uniform thickness from the front surface of said blade to the rear surface of said wedge shaped protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said blade possesses a shoulder portion attached at said upper edge of said blade having an upper surface generally perpendicular to the surface of said blade. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said socket portion possesses at least one threaded hole for receiving at least one threaded screw. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said socket portion possesses an upper opening for receipt of said umbrella shaft, and a closed lower portion. 
     
     
         8 . An anchoring device for securing an umbrella shaft in soil comprising:
 a vertically elongated cylindrical neck portion having a vertical bore extending therein adapted for receiving said umbrella shaft;   a vertically oriented blade portion possessing a front surface, rear surface, a left lateral edge, a right lateral edge, a lower edge and an upper edge, said blade portion attached to said neck portion;   a wedge shaped feature extending from the rear surface of said blade, said wedge having a front wedge surface, a rear wedge surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion protruding farther from said rear blade surface than said lower portion said wedge having a width extending from said right lateral surface to said left lateral surface and a depth extending from said protrusion's rear surface to said blade's rear surface, said width being greater than said depth, said wedge upper surface having a surface area substantially equivalent to said depth times said width.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said wedge further having a right lateral wedge surface, a left lateral wedge surface, and an upper wedge surface, said right and left wedge surfaces generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to said blade, said upper wedge surface generally perpendicular to said blade. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said blade's lower edge extends downward forming a curved tip centered on said lower edge. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said wedge shaped feature possesses a generally uniform thickness and forms a corresponding wedge shaped concave depression on said front wedge surface. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said wedge shaped protrusion possesses a generally uniform thickness and forms a corresponding wedge shaped concave depression on said front wedge surface, said concave depression having a front surface, a right lateral surface, a left lateral surface, and an upper surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the front surface of said blade has a generally flat surface, wherein said wedge shaped feature possesses a non-uniform thickness from the front wedge surface to the rear wedge surface. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said blade possesses a shoulder portion attached at said upper edge of said blade having an upper surface generally perpendicular to the surface of said blade. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said neck portion possesses at least one threaded hole extending from the outer surface of said neck portion to said inner bore surface, said threaded hole adapted to receive at least one threaded screw. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said bore of said neck portion is open at the upper portion of said neck and a closed at the lower portion of said neck. 
     
     
         17 . An anchoring device for securing an umbrella shaft in soil comprising:
 a vertically elongated neck portion having a vertical bore extending therein adapted for receiving said umbrella shaft;   a blade portion possessing a front surface, rear surface, a left lateral edge, a right lateral edge, a lower edge and an upper edge, said blade portion attached to said neck portion;   a wedge shaped feature extending from the rear surface of said blade, said wedge having a front wedge surface, a rear wedge surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion protruding farther from said rear blade surface than said lower portion said wedge having a width extending from said right lateral surface to said left lateral surface and a depth extending from said protrusion's rear surface to said blade's rear surface, said width being greater than said depth, said rear surface of said blade encircling the rear wedge surface, said rear wedge surface and said rear surface of said blade forming a simply connected surface.