Umbrella and anchoring device and method for using same
An umbrella anchoring device comprising a support dowel and a generally truncated cone shaped umbrella stop, with two opposing surfaces, an angled wall connecting the outer perimeter of the surfaces, and a hollow passage through the vertical axis thereof which is complementary to the cross section of the support dowel, wherein the umbrella anchoring device is used to support an umbrella with at least a partially hollow shaft. A method of using the anchoring device, where the support dowel is placed generally vertically in the ground, the umbrella stop is placed over the end thereof and slid so that the wider surface is at ground level and the narrower surface is below, and an umbrella is placed over the support dowel, with the end resting on the umbrella stop.
1. An umbrella anchoring device comprising:
a support dowel;
an umbrella stop having a wide surface and an opposing narrow surface, joined by at least one side wall, wherein the umbrella stop has a hollow passage extending between the opposing wide surface and narrow surface, wherein the passage of the umbrella stop is complementarily shaped to the support dowel and removably slidably engageable with the support dowel;
the wide surface of the umbrella stop further has a rim which extends outward from the side wall; and
the wide surface of the umbrella stop further has a recessed ring therein, sized to receive a support shaft of an umbrella.
2. The umbrella anchoring device of claim 1 , wherein the umbrella stop is generally in the shape of a truncated cone.
3. The umbrella anchoring device of claim 1 , wherein the support dowel has a circumference which is sized to fit within a hollow lower end of a support shaft of an umbrella.
4. A method of installing an umbrella anchoring device comprising the steps of:
placing a support dowel into a penetrable ground surface;
locating an umbrella stop along the length of the support dowel, wherein the umbrella stop has a wide surface and an opposing narrow surface, joined by a side wall, wherein the umbrella stop has a hollow passage extending between the opposing wide surface and narrow surface permitting passage of the support dowel, such that the wide surface is generally level with the top of the penetrable ground surface;
a hollow shaft is used to remove a plug of the penetrable ground surface to allow insertion of the support dowel, with the hollow shaft further comprising at least a portion of the support shaft of an umbrella to be anchored by the umbrella anchoring device; and
the support shaft has at least two opposing holes provided through the top end thereof, and at least one handle insertable through the opposing holes, wherein the handle provides additional leverage to push the support shaft into the penetrable ground surface to remove the plug.
5. A method of installing an umbrella, comprising the steps of:
placing a support dowel into a penetrable ground surface;
locating an umbrella stop along the length of the support dowel, with the umbrella stop having a wide surface and an opposing narrow surface, joined by a side wall, wherein the umbrella stop has a hollow passage extending between the opposing wide surface and narrow surface permitting passage of the support dowel, such that the wide surface is generally level with the top of the penetrable ground surface; and
placing an umbrella comprising a support shaft with a hollow lower section over the portion of the support dowel protruding from the ground surface, such that the lower end of the support shaft rests on the wide surface of the umbrella stop.
6. The method of installing an umbrella of claim 5 , wherein the umbrella comprises a support shaft and a canopy portion.
7. The method of installing an umbrella of claim 5 , wherein the wide surface of the umbrella stop has a rim which extends outward from the conical side wall.
8. The method of installing an umbrella of claim 7 , wherein the wide surface of the umbrella stop has a recessed ring therein, sized to receive the support shaft of the umbrella.
9. The method of installing an umbrella of claim 8 , wherein a hollow shaft is used to remove a plug of the penetrable ground surface to allow insertion of the support dowel.
10. The method of installing an umbrella of claim 9 , wherein the hollow shaft comprises at least a portion of the support shaft of the umbrella.
11. The method of installing an umbrella of claim 10 , wherein the support shaft has at least two coaxially aligned holes provided through the top end thereof, and at least one handle insertable through the coaxially aligned holes, wherein the handle provides additional leverage to push the support shaft into the penetrable ground surface to remove the plug.
12. The method of installing an umbrella of claim 11 , wherein the at least two coaxially aligned holes are also used to engage the lower portion of a canopy portion of the umbrella.