Umbrella anchoring system and method

Abstract

A portable beach umbrella anchoring system and method are disclosed. The umbrella anchoring system includes a support frame system that includes central tube for receiving an umbrella shaft. The support frame system comprises a frame network that includes leg assemblies for penetrating and securing to a ground surface, so that a beach umbrella may firmly stand in sand, grass or soil in an upright or angled configuration with relatively little effort and no need for tools. The umbrella anchoring system includes an integrated folding table top system, which has storage compartments for supporting and storing food, drinks, keys, wallets and other accessories. The umbrella anchoring system also includes a canopy tethering system for securing the upper portion of an umbrella canopy to the ground which, among other things, may be particularly useful in the case of high winds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An umbrella anchoring system for supporting an umbrella having a shaft and a canopy comprising:
 a center tube oriented vertically for receiving the shaft of the umbrella;   a plurality of ribs that are attached to the center tube at a proximal end, the plurality of ribs, when deployed, being oriented in a plane perpendicular to the center tube;   a plurality of table leg assemblies that correspond with the plurality of ribs, wherein a proximal end of each of the plurality of table leg assemblies is correspondingly connected to a distal end of each of the plurality of ribs, wherein each of the plurality of table leg assemblies is substantially parallel to the center tube when deployed, wherein each of the plurality of table leg assemblies includes a moveable ground stake that is driven into the ground to secure the plurality of table leg assemblies in place relative to the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of table leg assemblies each include a table leg tube, wherein each moveable ground stake is received within a corresponding table leg tube and moves in a direction substantially parallel to the table leg tube when being driven into the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of table leg assemblies each further include a locking mechanism to selectively lock the position of each moveable ground stake relative to its corresponding leg tube. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 3 , wherein each moveable ground stake includes a handle that extends substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the moveable ground stake moves when being driven into the ground. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 4 , wherein each table leg tube includes a channel that permits the handle of each corresponding moveable ground stake to protrude therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1 , wherein table leg assemblies are pivotally connected to the distal end of the ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1 , further comprising a top hub for pivotally connecting the plurality of ribs to the center tube, a plurality of universal joints for pivotally connecting corresponding table leg assemblies to corresponding ribs, a runner hub moveable along the outside of the center tube having a plurality of stretchers pivotally connected thereto at the proximal end of the stretchers, wherein the distal ends of each of the plurality of stretchers are pivotally connected to corresponding universal joints. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 7 , further comprising a hub stopper located at an end of the center tube opposite to the end of the center tube where the top hub is located, wherein the hub stopper limits the downward movement of the runner hub. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 8 , wherein the hub stopper includes a locking flange, locking knob and locking bolt, wherein by twisting the locking knob the locking bolt protrudes into the center tube, and wherein the locking bolt is used to secure the umbrella shaft within the center tube. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs, plurality of table leg assemblies and center tube are substantially parallel to one another when in a stowed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the center tube has an opening therein through which the umbrella shaft may protrude, so as to adjust an angular position of the umbrella canopy. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 11 , wherein an end of the umbrella shaft is received within an angle cup which is tethered to the center tube. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 12 , wherein the angle cup includes an angle tube for receiving a ground stake therein. 
     
     
         14 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of table leg assemblies each include a table leg cap with an angle tube therein for receiving a moveable stake. 
     
     
         15 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the table leg assemblies each include a table leg cap with an angle tube therein for receiving an additional ground stake. 
     
     
         16 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1  further comprising a table top system, which is supported by the plurality of ribs, which has a center hole through which the umbrella shaft passes, and which includes a plurality of beverage holders and storage compartments, wherein the storage compartments include flaps that open and close to respectively allow access to the storage compartments and protect items placed within the storage compartments. 
     
     
         17 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 1  further comprising a canopy tethering system, which is removeably attached to both the umbrella canopy and the umbrella shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 17 , wherein the canopy tethering system further includes a ground stake receptacle attached to the umbrella canopy, wherein the ground stake receptacle has a high tension string connected thereto and wherein a ground stake is used to attach the high tension string to ground when the canopy tethering system is deployed. 
     
     
         19 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the canopy tethering system further includes a strap that is connected to the ground stake receptacle at an end opposite to where the high tension string is connected and wherein the strap is connected to the shaft of the umbrella. 
     
     
         20 . The umbrella anchoring system of  claim 19 , wherein the ground stake receptacle is used to store both the ground stake and high tension string when the canopy tethering system is in its non-deployed configuration.