Extendable Umbrella Stand

Abstract

A light-weight holder for the handle of an umbrella includes a cup at the top of an extendable shaft. The extendable shaft may include an inner rod within an outer tube, with a friction lock between the rod and the tube. The relative position between the rod and the tube is infinitely adjustable. The bottom end of the tube includes plurality of slots arranged to receive an outwardly extending adjustment means, which also serves an a depth gauge for an anchor pin. The anchor pin extends through a lower bushing in the tub, and terminates in a tapered tip.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An umbrella stand comprising:
 an umbrella receiving assembly comprising:
 a top end defining an elongate nipple in the form of a tube, the nipple having an upper edge defining open top; 
 an upper, removable cap configured to cover the top of the nipple; 
 a lower cap below and configured to retain the nipple and having a bottom end; 
 an umbilical having a first end secured to the upper cap and a second end secured to the lower cap; and 
 a slot formed in the upper edge of the nipple sized to receive and retain the umbilical; and 
   a telescoping shaft assembly secured to and extending below the lower cap, the shaft assembly comprising:
 a shaft having an upper end and a lower end; 
 a pin inserted through the lower cap and through the upper end of the shaft; 
 a hollow sleeve having an open upper end configured to slidingly receive the shaft so that the shaft can freely move in and out of the sleeve; the sleeve also having a lower end; 
 a friction lock on the lower end of the shaft to reversibly hold the shaft within the sleeve; 
 an anchor pin within the lower end of the sleeve, the anchor pin having a lower end defining a rounded point to be thrust into the ground; 
 a plurality of angled slots formed in the lower end of the sleeve; and 
 a handle coupled to the anchor pin and arranged to selectively slide into an angled slot in the sleeve. 
   
     
     
         2 . A stand comprising:
 a receiving assembly comprising an open topped tube having a closed bottom; and   a telescoping shaft assembly extending below the receiving assembly, the shaft assembly comprising
 a shaft attached to the closed bottom of the receiving assembly; 
 a hollow sleeve configured to slidingly receive the shaft, the sleeve having a bottom end; and 
 an anchor pin arranged to slide within the sleeve and to selectively extend below the bottom of the sleeve. 
   
     
     
         3 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving assembly is configured to receive a handle of an umbrella. 
     
     
         4 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving assembly comprises:
 a top end defining an elongate nipple in the form of a tube, the nipple having an upper edge defining open top;   an upper, removable cap configured to cover the top of the nipple;   a lower cap below and configured to retain the nipple and having a bottom end; and   an umbilical having a first end secured to the upper cap and a second end secured to the lower cap.   
     
     
         5 . The stand of  claim 4 , further comprising a slot formed in the upper edge of the nipple sized to receive and retain the umbilical. 
     
     
         6 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft defines a lower end and further comprising a friction lock on the lower end of the shaft to reversibly hold the shaft within the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The stand of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a plurality of angled slots formed in the lower end of the sleeve; and   a handle coupled to the anchor pin and arranged to selectively slide into one of the plurality of angled slots in the sleeve.