U.S. patent application number 11/021469 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for umbrella base.
Invention is credited to Smith, James C., Taylor, David J..
Application Number | 20050189005 11/021469 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34748951 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050189005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith, James C. ; et
al. |
September 1, 2005 |
Umbrella base
Abstract
An umbrella base is comprised of a body portion having a
billboard surface for advertising a company, organization,
products, service or the like. The billboard surface can be
provided on a separate removable billboard plate placed on the top
of the body portion, which allows the advertising message to be
easily changed. In its preferred construction, the body portion has
at least one ballast cavity, and preferably multiple ballast
cavities, and is constructed in separable parts to permit a
selected ballast to be added to the ballast cavities in order to
add a desired ballast weight to the umbrella base. The umbrella
base can also be provided with casters, including locking casters,
so that the umbrella base and its advertising message can be easily
moved across a surface from one location to the another.
Inventors: |
Smith, James C.; (Hayward,
CA) ; Taylor, David J.; (Alamo, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEESON SKINNER BEVERLY, LLP
ONE KAISER PLAZA
SUITE 750
OAKLAND
CA
94612
US
|
Family ID: |
34748951 |
Appl. No.: |
11/021469 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60533737 |
Dec 29, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 2023/0012 20130101;
G09F 23/00 20130101; E04H 12/2246 20130101; Y10S 248/91
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/016 |
International
Class: |
A45B 003/00; A45B
005/00 |
Claims
What we claim is:
1. An umbrella base comprising a body portion having a bottom and
at least one readily visible billboard surface, an umbrella holding
structure accessible from the top of said body portion for
receiving the support shaft of an umbrella for holding the umbrella
in an upright position, and advertising indicia provided on the
billboard surface of said body portion for conveying an advertising
message, such as a company or organization logo, trademark or
service mark.
2. The umbrella base of claim 1 wherein said readily visible
billboard surface of said body portion is a top billboard surface
that surrounds said umbrella holding structure.
3. The umbrella base of claim 2 wherein said advertising indicia
are provided on said top billboard surface about said umbrella
holding structure.
4. The umbrella base of claim 2 wherein the top billboard surface
of said body portion is a substantially flat surface.
5. The umbrella base of claim 1 wherein said umbrella holding
structure is comprised of a support pipe having a top open end and
a bottom end, and wherein the bottom end of said support pipe is
secured of said body portion substantially in the center of said
top billboard surface.
6. The umbrella base of claim 1 wherein the billboard surface is
removable from said body portion such that advertising messages on
the umbrella base can be changed by replacing one top billboard
surface with another top billboard surface.
7. The umbrella base of claim 6 wherein said billboard surface is
provided by at least one removable billboard plate on the top of
said body portion.
8. The umbrella base of claim 7 wherein said removable billboard
plate provides a flat top billboard surface.
9. The umbrella base of claim 7 wherein said removable billboard
plate is sized and shaped to substantially cover the entirety of
the top of said body portion.
10. The umbrella base of claim 7 wherein the top of said body
portion has a recessed area defining the top surface of said body
portion and wherein said removable billboard plate is sized and
shaped to fit within said recessed area.
11. The umbrella base of claim 10 wherein said recessed area is
defined at least in part by a raised perimeter rim on the top of
said body portion.
12. The umbrella base of claim 11 wherein said removable billboard
plate is sized and shaped to fit within said recessed area
substantially flush with the said raised perimeter rim.
13. The umbrella base of claim 12 wherein said recessed area has a
substantially uniform depth and said removable billboard plate has
a substantially uniform thickness.
14. The umbrella base of claim 6 wherein said billboard surface is
provided by a removable top billboard plate having an opening for
accommodating said umbrella holding structure when the plate is
placed on and removed from said body portion.
15. The umbrella base of claim 14 wherein said opening is
substantially centered in said billboard plate, and wherein the
billboard surface provided by said billboard plate surrounds. said
center opening.
16. The umbrella base of claim 1 further comprising casters on the
bottom of said body portion, which permit the umbrella base with
its advertising indicia to be rolled across a surface from one
location to another.
17. The umbrella base of claim 16 wherein said casters include
caster locking mechanisms for releasably locking the caster wheels
after the umbrella base has been moved to a desired location.
18. The umbrella base of claim 16 wherein said body portion
includes deployable support feet which can be deployed to lift the
umbrella base off of said casters and which can be retracted to
allow the umbrella base to roll on said casters.
19. The umbrella base of claim 1 wherein said body portion has a
perimeter defining a footprint, and further comprises wheel casters
on the bottom of said body portion substantially within the
footprint thereof, said wheel casters permitting the umbrella base
with its advertising indicia to be rolled across a surface from one
location to another, and deployable support feet which can be
deployed to lift the umbrella base off of said caster wheels and
which can be retracted to allow the umbrella base to roll on said
caster wheels.
20. The umbrella base of claim 19 wherein said deployable support
feet deploy outside of the footprint of the umbrella base.
21. The umbrella base of claim 1 wherein said body portion includes
at least one fillable ballast cavity for receiving a ballast
material for adding ballast weight to the umbrella base.
22. The umbrella base of claim 21 wherein said bottom portion has
multiple separately fillable ballast cavities, and wherein a
ballast material can be added to any one or more of said ballast
cavities for adding ballast weight to the umbrella base.
23. The umbrella base of claim 22 wherein body portion has at least
three separately fillable ballast cavities.
24. The umbrella base of claim 1 wherein said body portion is
comprised of a housing assembly having a lower housing portion and
a top cover portion, said lower housing portion including a bottom
wall, sidewalls and at least one ballast cavity for receiving a
ballast material for adding ballast weight to the umbrella base,
and said top cover portion being removably attached to said bottom
portion to allow the at least one ballast cavity in said lower
housing portion to be filled with a ballast material.
25. The umbrella base of claim 24 wherein said top cover portion
includes a substantially flat top wall and downwardly extending
sidewalls adapted to slide over and engage the sidewalls of the
housing assembly's lower housing portion, and wherein said
billboard surface is provided on at least one of the substantially
flat top wall and sidewalls of said top cover portion.
26. The umbrella base of claim 25 wherein said top billboard
surface is provided by at least one removable billboard plate
placed on the top wall of said top cover portion.
27. The umbrella base of claim 26 wherein said removable billboard
plate is sized and shaped to substantially cover the entire top
wall of the housing assembly's top cover portion.
28. The umbrella base of claim 27 wherein the billboard surface
provided by said billboard plate surrounds said umbrella holding
structure.
29. The umbrella base of claim 21 further comprising at least one
fillable ballast container sized and shaped to fit within said
ballast cavity, whereby ballast is added to said ballast cavity by
placing a filled one of said fillable ballast containers
therein.
30. The umbrella base of claim 29 wherein said fillable ballast
container is a rigid container having a closable fill opening, said
rigid container being sized and shaped to fit within said at least
one ballast cavity.
31. The umbrella base of claim 29 wherein said fillable container
is a closable bag.
32. The umbrella base of claim 22 further comprising multiple
fillable ballast containers sized and shaped to fit within said
ballast cavities, whereby ballast is added to said ballast cavities
by placing filled ballast containers therein.
33. The umbrella base of claim 21 further comprising at least one
fixed form ballast sized and shaped to fit within said ballast
cavity.
34. An umbrella base comprising a weighted base plate having a
readily visible top billboard surface, an umbrella holding
structure on the top of said body portion for receiving the support
shaft of an umbrella for holding the umbrella in an upright
position, and advertising indicia provided on the top billboard
surface of said base plate for advertising a company, organization,
product, service or the like.
35. The umbrella base of claim 34 wherein the readily visible top
billboard surface of said body portion surrounds said umbrella
holding structure and wherein advertising indicia are provided on
said top billboard surface about said umbrella holding
structure.
36. The umbrella base of claim 34 wherein the top billboard surface
of said body portion is a substantially flat surface.
37. The umbrella base of claim 34 wherein said umbrella holding
structure is comprised of an elongated support pipe having a top
open end and a bottom end, and wherein the bottom end of said pipe
is secured to the top of said body portion substantially in the
center of said top billboard surface.
38. The umbrella base of claim 34 wherein the top billboard surface
is removable from said base plate such that advertising messages on
the umbrella base can be changed by replacing one top billboard
surface with another top billboard surface.
39. The umbrella base of claim 38 wherein said top billboard
surface is provided by at least one removable billboard plate.
40. The umbrella base of claim 39 wherein said base plate is
fabricated of a weighted material and said billboard plate in
fabricated of a light weight plastic material.
41. The umbrella base of claim 40 wherein said billboard plate is
fabricated of a UV resistant plastic.
42. An umbrella base comprising a housing assembly having at least
one ballast cavity for holding a selected amount of ballast
material for providing weight to said housing assembly, said
housing assembly having a top with a readily visible top billboard
surface, and being constructed in separable portions to allow
access to said housing assembly for filling the ballast cavity with
a ballast material selected according to the desired amount of
ballast weight to be added, an umbrella holding structure on the
top of said housing assembly for receiving the support shaft of an
umbrella for holding the umbrella in an upright position, and
advertising indicia provided on the top billboard surface of said
housing assembly for advertising a company, organization, product,
service or the like.
43. The umbrella base of claim 42 wherein said housing assembly
includes a bottom portion containing said at least one ballast
cavity and a removable top cover portion.
44. The umbrella base of claim 42 wherein said housing assembly is
fabricated of plastic parts.
45. The umbrella base of claim 44 wherein said housing assembly is
fabricated of a UV resistant plastic.
46. The umbrella base of claim 42 wherein said housing assembly has
multiple separately fillable ballast cavities, and wherein a
ballast material can be added to any one or more of said ballast
cavities for adding ballast weight to the umbrella base.
47. The umbrella base of claim 42 further comprising casters on the
bottom of said housing, said casters permitting the umbrella base
with its advertising message to be rolled across a surface from one
location to another.
48. The umbrella base of claim 47 further comprising retractable
support feet which can be retractably extended to contact the
ground and lift the weight of the umbrella base from said
casters.
49. An umbrella base comprising a housing assembly having a top and
at least one ballast cavity for holding a selected amount of
ballast material for providing weight to said housing assembly, and
being constructed in separable portions to allow access to said
housing assembly for filling the ballast cavity with a ballast
material selected according to the desired amount of ballast weight
to be added, a removable billboard plate for placement on the top
of said housing assembly, said billboard plate having a readily
visible top billboard surface, an umbrella holding structure on the
top of said housing assembly for receiving the support shaft of an
umbrella for holding the umbrella in an upright position, and
advertising indicia provided on the top billboard surface of said
billboard plate for advertising a company, organization, product,
service or the like.
50. The umbrella base of claim 49 wherein said billboard plate is
fabricated of a UV resistant plastic.
51. The umbrella base of claim 49 wherein said billboard plate is.
releasably attached to the top of said housing assembly.
52. An umbrella base comprising a body portion having a top
surface, a removable billboard plate for placement on the top
surface of said housing assembly, said billboard plate having a
readily visible top billboard surface for advertising indicia which
advertises a company, organization, product, service or the like,
and an umbrella holding structure on the top of said housing
assembly for receiving the support shaft of an umbrella for holding
the umbrella in an upright position.
53. The umbrella base of claim 52 wherein the readily visible top
billboard surface of said billboard plate surrounds said umbrella
holding structure.
54. The umbrella base of claim 53 wherein the top billboard surface
of said body portion is a substantially flat surface.
55. The umbrella base of claim 52 wherein said umbrella holding
structure is comprised of an elongated support pipe having a top
open end and a bottom end, and wherein the bottom end of said pipe
is secured to the top of said body portion substantially in the
center of said top billboard surface.
56. The umbrella base of claim 52 further comprising casters on the
bottom of said body portion, said casters permitting the umbrella
base with an advertising message to be rolled across a surface from
one location to another.
57. The umbrella base of claim 56 wherein at least one of said
casters has a foot actuatable locking mechanism.
58. The umbrella base of claim 57 further comprising retractable
support feet which can be retractably extended to contact the
ground and lift the weight of the umbrella base from said
casters.
59. The umbrella base of claim 58 wherein said body portion has a
defined perimeter and said support feet are located outside of said
perimeter to provide added stability to said umbrella base when
said support feet are extended.
60. The umbrella base of claim 52 wherein said billboard plate is
fabricated of plastic.
61. The umbrella base of claim 52 wherein said billboard plate is
fabricated of a UV resistant plastic.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional
Application No. 60/533,737, filed Dec. 29, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to the use of
umbrellas, and in particular, to umbrella bases used to hold
umbrellas in an upright position.
[0003] Outdoor and patio umbrellas (collectively referred to as
patio umbrellas) are widely used in personal, recreational and
commercial settings. Typical commercial purchasers of patio
umbrellas include hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafes, pubs and
coffee houses. Because of their widespread use and the visual
exposure they provide to users and passers-by, patio umbrella's
have been popular as a media for corporate advertising. As more
people spend time outside and become more educated about the
harmful effect of the sun's direct rays, the demand for patio
umbrella's is likely to increase along with the opportunity for
providing advertising centered around the patio umbrella.
Heretofore, such advertising has been limited to imprinting or
otherwise incorporating company names, product names, logos and the
like directly on the umbrella's fabric covering, where the
advertising is within normal sight lines of persons situated at a
distance from the umbrella, however, where the advertising cannot
be easily viewed by persons close in, such as persons seated under
the umbrella.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for increasing the opportunities
for corporate and other types of advertising associated with the
patio umbrella that have not heretofore existed. There is also a
need to provide a vehicle for corporate advertising associated with
patio umbrella's that is visually prominent and within sight-lines
of people seated or standing underneath or close to the umbrella in
a manner not provided by conventional advertising specialty
umbrella's. These needs are fulfilled by the present invention by
means of a novel umbrella base capable of providing a visible
advertising message beneath the umbrella held by the base.
[0005] There is also a need for an improved umbrella base that can
easily be moved from one location to the other and that can be
adapted to support umbrellas of different sizes and weights and in
different weather environments. Weight is an important issue for
patio umbrella bases. A user or manufacturer must normally
determine the weight required to support a patio umbrella for given
conditions. This determination depends on several variables,
including the weight and span of the patio umbrella to be
supported, and the location and environmental conditions in which
the patio umbrella is to be used. For example, a heavier base would
be more suitable for a patio umbrella that is to be used in an
exposed outdoor area where wind loads are frequently high. On the
other hand, if the patio umbrella is to be used in a relatively
sheltered or non-exposed area, such as inside a large building or
sheltered area, or underneath a table, a lighter base would
suffice. Too much weight is undesirable because the base would be
excessively heavy and difficult to move. The added weight may also
lead to increased shipping costs. Insufficient weight would make
the umbrella susceptible to being toppled by wind or other
forces.
[0006] Heretofore, different umbrella bases having different
weights have typically been designed for different use
environments. For example, umbrella bases using a form of cast iron
or metal bottom plate have been popular for supporting outdoor
patio umbrellas that are quite large and heavy and that require a
heavy and stable umbrella base for adequate support. A conventional
cast iron base will typically weigh about fifty to seventy pounds.
Such weight is adequate to support some patio umbrellas in some
environments, however, it may be inadequate depending on weather
conditions and the umbrella size. Also, metal bases are susceptible
to corrosion which results not only in the deterioration of its
outer appearance, but also creates a problem when rust particles
stain the surrounding support surfaces such as wood or concrete.
Protective coatings such as rust resistant paint and even high cost
powder coatings have been used to help alleviate this problem,
however, in high traffic areas repeated contact with tables and
chairs can cause scratches in the surface coatings allowing the
metal beneath the protected surface to rust.
[0007] Another known form of an umbrella base is a simple,
typically hemispherical block of concrete having an imbedded
vertical pipe for receiving the end of an umbrella. Such bases are
heavy, unattractive and difficult to move, and not well adapted for
many use environments.
[0008] Yet another umbrella base design that has heretofore been
used is a base that is rotationally or blow molded from plastic to
form a one piece hollow body similar in construction to a milk
container. This molding process produces low cost, rust resistant
parts, however, the parts generally are large and bulky and
cosmetically unattractive. Also, they are produced with a
relatively thin and uniform wall thickness making it difficult to
attach the necessary structural tubing to hold the umbrella shaft.
Rotationally or blow molded bases are usually located in a
predetermined location and then filled with suitable fluid ballast
such as water through a small fill opening to provide the weight
necessary to support the umbrella. Once filled, they are very
difficult to move without the draining of the fluid ballast.
[0009] The difficulty in moving conventional umbrella bases is a
significant drawback. As the sun transitions throughout the day,
the shade from the umbrella moves from one location to another. If
tables and chairs have been arranged below the umbrella to shade
the early morning sun, by afternoon these chairs and tables are now
in the direct sunlight. The umbrella themselves have been designed
to allow for some sun correction by allowing the user to tip or
angle the umbrella to offset the suns movement. However, because of
the difficulty in moving existing umbrella bases and because the
offset angle of the umbrella only offers minimal shade adjustments,
users usually need to move their table and chairs to the new shaded
area as the day progresses.
[0010] The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned
shortcomings of previous umbrella bases by providing for an
improved umbrella base that, in its various novel aspects, provides
an advertising message, is relatively compact, is adapted to
aesthetically pleasing profiles and adapted to top surfaces for
readily visible advertising messages, has structural integrity, and
allows the user to select a desired base weight depending on size
and weight of the umbrella to be held and environmental conditions
in which it will be held. The present invention also provides an
umbrella base that, regardless of its weight, can be transported or
maneuvered from one location to another with relative ease, and
that can be readily locked into a set location after it has been
moved.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0011] In one of its aspects, the present invention provides an
umbrella base comprised of a body portion with a billboard surface
on which advertising indicia is provided for advertising a company,
organization, product, service or the like. The billboard surface
can be any surface of the umbrella base that is readily visible to
persons in the vicinity of the umbrella base, and could include top
surfaces and/or vertical sidewall surfaces. The base further
includes an umbrella holding structure accessible from the top of
the body portion to receive the support shaft of an umbrella for
holding the umbrella in an upright position. Preferably, the
billboard surface includes a top, substantially flat horizontal
surface that surrounds the umbrella holding structure. In another
aspect of the invention, the top billboard surface is removable
from the top portion of the body such that advertising messages on
the umbrella base can be interchanged by replacing one top
billboard surface with another top billboard surface.
[0012] In a further aspect of the invention, the body portion of
the umbrella base is comprised of a ballast housing assembly which
includes a lower portion having at least one ballast cavity that
can be filled with a ballast material, such as water, sand, steel
shot, iron, lead, concrete, cement. The housing assembly further
includes a top portion that removably fits onto the lower portion
of the housing assembly to cover the at least one ballast cavity.
The removable cover portion provides access to the ballast cavity
without the need for narrow fill openings for the ballast material,
and permits aggregate ballast materials such as sand or cement to
be distributed evenly within the cavity. The ballast cavity is
optionally divided into smaller cavities such as by partition walls
disposed in the cavity. Multiple cavities facilitate even
distribution of the ballast material within the lower ballast
holding portion of the housing and minimize shifting of the ballast
material within the base when the base is moved or tipped. They
also facilitate the use of relatively small easy to handle ballast
containers sized and shaped to fit within the cavities. Specific
cavity volumes can also be provided to predetermine the amount of
ballast weight that will be added for a given ballast material.
[0013] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, at least one
closable fill opening is provided in the top cover portion of the
housing assembly to permit the at least one the ballast cavity in
the lower housing portion to be filled with a ballast material
without having to remove the top cover of the housing assembly. For
bases having multiple ballast cavities, a closable fill opening is
provided for each cavity.
[0014] The invention contemplates other housing assembly
configurations with separable parts for accessing internal filling
ballast cavities, including a housing assembly having a housing top
open at the bottom and a bottom cover plate that can be removed for
filling the ballast cavities while the umbrella base is turned
upside down.
[0015] The foregoing ballast housing assembly can readily be
combined with the advertising billboard aspect of the invention.
The top cover portion of the housing assembly preferably has a
substantially flat and laterally extending top surface with a
center opening for the umbrella holding structure, which is
suitably a cylindrical pipe anchored to the lower portion of the
housing assembly. This top surface can alternatively provide a
billboard surface for advertising indicia or a support surface for
a removable billboard plate that can be readily replaced with other
billboard plates to change the advertising message.
[0016] In still another aspect of the invention, the lower portion
of the housing assembly is provided with casters to allow the base
to be readily moved from one location to another, and with position
locking mechanisms for locking the base in a set position when it
is not being moved. In one embodiment, at least one of the casters,
and suitably two or more casters, has a locking mechanism that is
activated by the user. When the base is ready to be moved, the user
mechanically unlocks each caster that has a locking mechanism and
rolls the base to a new location. After the base is moved the user
activates the wheel locks again to prevent any further rolling
movement. In the preferred embodiment, the casters are wheel
casters and the locking mechanisms engage the caster wheels to
prevent rolling of the wheels.
[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the lower portion of
the housing assembly includes casters and deployable support feet.
At least three, and suitably more support feet are provided for
stability and are attached to the lower portion of the housing
assembly so that the feet can be lowered to engage the ground to
take the weight of the umbrella base off of the casters, and
retracted for lowering the base back onto the casters for rolling.
In the preferred embodiment, the deployable support feet are
provided in the form of spring-loaded user activated cam devices,
and are preferably located at or somewhat beyond the perimeter of
the housing assembly for ease of access and maximum stability.
[0018] Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to
provide an improved umbrella base that can be used to advertise
products, services, company names, company logos, names and symbols
of organizations such as universities, and the like. It is another
object of the invention to provide an improved umbrella base having
at least one readily accessible ballast cavity that can be easily
filled with a suitable ballast material and that facilitates
providing variable ballast weights to accommodate different uses
and use environments. It is a further object of the invention to
provide an umbrella base that can be easily moved from one location
to another, and that can be rendered immobile at a set location. It
is still another object of the invention to provide an umbrella
base which is aesthetically pleasing, that is durable in outdoor
weather, yet is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. One or more
the foregoing objects may be attained in a particular embodiment of
the invention and a particular embodiment of the invention need not
attain all of the foregoing objects. Also, other objects of the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following description, the accompany drawings and the
appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1. is a perspective view of one embodiment of an
umbrella base according to the present invention, shown supporting
an umbrella shade.
[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded top perspective view thereof.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view thereof showing housing
attachment screws exploded therefrom.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along lines
4-4 in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along lines
5-5 in FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof showing
one locking wheel caster in the unlocked position.
[0025] FIG. 7 is fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof showing
one locking wheel caster in the locked position.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a locking wheel caster
for use on an umbrella base according to the invention shown in the
locked position.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a wheel lock bracket
for the locking wheel caster shown in FIG. 8.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional thereof with the wheel of the
caster wheel shown in dashed lines.
[0029] FIG. 11 is an exploded top perspective view thereof, showing
insertable ballast forms and containers for adding ballast weight
to the umbrella base.
[0030] FIG. 12 is top perspective view of another embodiment of an
umbrella base in accordance with the invention showing the use of
support feet with wheel casters and showing the support feet in a
retracted position to allow rolling of the base on the wheel
casters.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view thereof.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof
showing one of the wheel casters and retracted support feet in
greater detail.
[0033] FIG. 15 is top perspective view thereof showing the support
feet in extended position to prevent rolling of the base.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view thereof.
[0035] FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof
showing one of the casters and extended support feet in greater
detail.
[0036] FIG. 18 is a an exploded view thereof.
[0037] FIG. 19 is an exploded view of one of the support feet shown
in FIGS. 12-18.
[0038] FIG. 20 is an top perspective view of yet another umbrella
base in accordance with the invention.
[0039] FIG. 21 is a bottom perspective view thereof.
[0040] FIG. 22 is an exploded top perspective view thereof.
[0041] FIG. 23 is a top perspective view of the lower portion of
the housing assembly of the umbrella base shown in FIGS. 20-22.
[0042] FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the lower portion of the
housing assembly.
[0043] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the umbrella base taken
along lines 25-25 in FIG. 20, with the top section of the split
umbrella shaft support pipe separated from the lower section.
[0044] FIG. 25a is a fragmentary view thereof taken along lines
25A-25A in FIG. 25.
[0045] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the lower housing taken
along lines 26-26 in FIG. 23.
[0046] FIG. 27 is a top perspective view of a simplified embodiment
of an umbrella base in accordance with the aspect of the invention
wherein an advertising message is provided on the umbrella
base.
[0047] FIG. 28 is an exploded top perspective view thereof.
[0048] FIG. 29 is a top perspective view of a variation of the
simplified embodiment the invention shown in FIGS. 27 and 28.
[0049] FIG. 30 a cross-sectional view of a further simplified
embodiment of an umbralla base in accordance with the invention
showing a relatively flat non-rolling umbrella base capable of
being filled with a ballast material.
[0050] FIG. 31 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0051] FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the
umbrella base shown in FIGS. 30-31.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] The present invention provides a novel umbrella base of the
type used to hold the shaft of an umbrella such as a patio
umbrella. In its various aspects the umbrella base of the invention
provides mobility, can be stabilized once it reaches its
predetermined location, has operative components that can be easily
be removed and attached, such as for filling the base with a
ballast material, and provides. an easily viewed advertising
display, including an interchangeable display.
[0053] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-11 show an embodiment
of the invention and components thereof, wherein the umbrella base
is a rolling umbrella base which is generally hexagonal in shape,
which displays an advertising message, and which is capable of
being locked in a set position after it has been moved. Base 25 is
comprised of a body portion in the form of housing assembly 27, and
an umbrella holding structure associated with the housing assembly
for holding the support shaft 31 of an umbrella shade 30 as shown
in FIG. 1. The umbrella holding structure is provided in the form
of a cylindrical support pipe 40 having an open top end 41 for
receiving the umbrella shaft. Shaft locking mechanisms such as
thumb screws 42 are suitably provided on the support pipe to allow
the umbrella support shaft to be secured within the pipe. The
support pipe can suitably be made from schedule 40 steel pipe which
is powder-coated for protection against rust, or from other
materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, fiberglass or
plastic.
[0054] The housing assembly 27 is seen to comprise a lower portion
50 (sometimes. referred to as the "lower housing") and top cover
portion 60 (sometimes referred to as the "housing cover"), both of
which are preferably fabricated of an injection or structural foam
molded polymer with UV resistance, such as high-density
polyethylene (HDPE), but which could be fabricated of other
materials. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower housing 50 has an
internal compartment bounded by bottom wall 54, outer sidewalls 52,
and a central cylindrical retaining sleeve structure 51 that
extends upwardly from bottom wall 54 for receiving support pipe 40.
This internal compartment is divided into separate ballast cavities
53 by upstanding partition walls 56. At least one, and preferably
all of these ballast cavities are filled with a ballast material,
which in FIGS. 4-7 is shown as concrete and denoted by the numeral
55, but which could be any other suitable ballast material selected
by the user, such as, water, sand, gravel, steel shot, iron, lead,
or cement. By providing defined cavity volumes, the user can add
different defined weights to the umbrella base by selecting from
different ballasts or ballast materials. For example, assuming the
total volume of the three cavities is one cubic foot, the following
are examples of weights that can be added to the base depending on
the ballast material selected: 62 lbs using one cubic foot of
water, 100 lbs using one cubic foot of dry sand, 137 lbs using one
cubic foot of concrete, or 193 lbs using one cubic foot of Portland
cement. The total weight of the umbrella base would be the sum of
the added ballast weight and the weight of the other components of
the base. If, for example, the other components weighs 30 lbs and
the ballast cavity has a volume of one cubic foot, by selecting
either water, dry sand, concrete, or Portland cement as a ballast
material, the umbrella base can be made to weigh 92 lbs or 130 lbs
or 167 lbs or 223 lbs, respectively. Such a selection would be made
according to the nature of the umbrella to be held and its use
environment. For example, the ability to add a heavy ballast weight
would allow for the use of heavier umbrellas having large diameter
canopies (not shown), and for the holding umbrellas in environments
which present significant wind loads.
[0055] As later described, the ballast cavities of the lower
housing portion of the housing assembly can be configured to
receive a ballast container which is filled with a ballast material
or contains a ballast weight. Such containers may be a rigid
containers of a fixed size and shape or non-rigid containers such
as cloth or plastic bags for holding a volume of ballast material
that fits within the ballast cavities. It is also understood the
lower housing 50 can be constructed with no partition walls such
that there is only one large ballast cavity. It will further be
appreciated that more or less partition walls can be used to
segment the ballast cavity of the housing assembly into a greater
number or lesser number of ballast cavities than the number of
ballast cavities. illustrated in the drawings.
[0056] The top cover portion 60 of housing assembly 27 has a flat,
laterally extending top wall 61, which includes a raised perimeter
rim 61a and a raised central collar 61b that receives the top
portion of the upwardly projecting retaining sleeve 51 of the lower
housing 50, when the housing cover is placed on the lower housing.
As best shown in FIG. 3, top cover portion 60 also includes outer
downwardly extending sidewalls 62 adapted to slide over and engage
the sidewalls 52 of the assembly's lower housing 50 to provide a
continuous and visually pleasing skirt around the perimeter of the
umbrella base that inhibits entry of moisture into the ballast
cavities through the perimeter of the base. For uses in particular
wet environments, it may be desirable to add a sealing material,
such an adhesive backed open or closed cell foam or tubing, between
the sidewalls 52, 62 of the two halves of the housing assembly.
[0057] The top cover and lower portion of the housing assembly are
held together by finger releasable snap latches 32 spaced around
the perimeter of the housing cover, which insert into corresponding
latch channels 32a formed on the perimeter of the lower housing
portion. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the snap latches 32 on the
housing assembly's top cover is suitably provided in the form of
molded-in resilient latch member having a lead-in tapered surface
33. Upon placing the top cover 60 over the lower housing portion
50, this lead-in surface rides up on the ramped surface 37 formed
in the latch channel 32a of the lower housing portion, causing the
latch member to deflect outward until it snaps over the back edge
of the ramped surface into the locked position shown. In their
locked position, the ends of the snap latches are accessible from
the bottom the housing assembly as shown in FIG. 3, so that top
cover 60 can be unlocked from the bottom housing 50 by pressing the
snap latches outwardly one-by-one to disengage them from their
locked condition. Added securement for these separable parts of the
housing assembly can be provided by means of screws 43 inserted
through the bottom of the lower housing portion (see FIG. 2). This
additional screw attachment will prevent possible breakage of the
snap latches 32 and/or unintended opening of the housing assembly
in unforeseen hostile conditions, for example, if the umbrella base
were to blow over in a storm.
[0058] The umbrella base 25 is also provided with casters to allow
the base to be moved from one location to another with minimum
physical effort. The illustrated casters are standard off-the-shelf
wheel casters 65 having a frame 68, suitably fabricated of zinc
plated forged steel, and caster wheels 69, which are preferably
non-marking, shock resistant polyurethane wheels for economy and
long life. As best shown in FIG. 4, the wheel casters 65 are
mounted in perimeter recesses 57 formed in the bottom wall 54 of
the lower housing 50. The wheel casters are mechanically attached
to the lower housing by self-taping screws 67, which tap into holes
64a in hole bosses 64 located behind the bottom wall recesses
57.
[0059] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 and 11, at least one and
suitably two or more of the wheel casters 65 of the umbrella base
have a locking mechanism for locking the caster wheels 69 before
and after the base is moved. By locking the wheel casters, the
umbrella base can be stabilized against unwanted movement at its
set location. The locking mechanism is preferably provided in the
form of a brake assembly 80 installed on the casters as best
illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 8-10, the brake assembly is comprised of
a sheet-metal bracket 75 having parallel side walls 75a that fit
within the frame 68 of the wheel caster 65. The bracket side walls
75a include aligned axial holes 76 that receive the caster's axle
66, and two sets of locking tabs 77 that engage with the edges of
frame 68 to prevent the bracket 75 from rotating about the axle
when installed. A foot actuatable ON-OFF pedal brake 85 is
pivotably attached to the sheet-metal bracket 75 by means of a
rivet 81 or other mechanical means. This pedal brake can suitably
be fabricated of metal or molded plastic and includes a depressor
cam 82 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), which pushes down on the depressible
locking strip 78 of sheet-metal bracket 75 when the pedal is
pivoted downward from the "Off" position shown in FIG. 6 to the
"ON" position shown in FIG. 7. In the "OFF" position the locking
strip 78 is in its relaxed position off of the caster wheel and the
caster wheel is free to rotate. When rotated to the "ON" position,
the depressor cam rides up over dimple 74 on the locking strip 78
and pushes the locking strip inwardly until the edges 79 of the
cupped end of the strip contact the rolling surface of the caster
wheel 69. The sheet metal bracket 75 is suitably fabricated of a
spring tempered stainless steel capable of supplying a constant
brake force against the caster wheel when the pedal 85 is in the
rotated down "ON" position.
[0061] It is understood that other constructions of the brake
assembly are possible. For example, the sheet-metal bracket 75 of
the brake assembly could be incorporated into the metal frame 68 of
the wheel caster as a one-piece assembly.
[0062] As best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 11, the embodiment of the
invention shown in FIGS. 1-11 further includes a removable
billboard plate 70 having a top billboard surface 73 to which
advertising indicia, such as company and other organization logos,
trademarks or service marks L (collectively referred to herein as
"company logos") are applied. The billboard plate has an outer
perimeter edge 70a and center opening 70b, and is sized and shaped
to fit onto the top wall 61 of the housing assembly's top cover
portion 60 within the recessed area in the top wall defined by the
top wall's raised perimeter rim 61a and raised central collar 61b.
Preferably, the recessed area has a uniform depth and the billboard
plate a corresponding uniform thickness so that the top of the
billboard plate is substantially flush with the top of raised
perimeter rim 61a. It is noted that in this embodiment the
billboard plate is advantageously raised above the ground to
enhance its visibility. In this raised position, company logos L or
other advertising indicia applied to the billboard plate will be
within normal viewing angles of persons standing or sitting near an
umbrella held by the base, will less likely be scuffed or damaged,
and will be less likely to be covered by foreign materials, such as
by leaves or the like, which would obstruct the advertising message
on the billboard plate. Also, by being removably attached to the
housing assembly, the billboard plate 70 can be replaced by
billboard plates with other advertising indicia such that the
advertising messages used on the umbrella base can be readily
changed.
[0063] The billboard plate 70 is mechanically attached to the top
wall 61 of the housing assembly's top cover portion 60 by means of
self-threading screws 71. Screws 71 are seen to screw into screw
holes formed in bosses 72 formed on the underside of the billboard
plate to fit into corresponding recesses 72a in the housing cover's
top wall 61. While the billboard plate self aligns and is retained
on the top wall 61 by means of the rim 61a and center collar 61b,
mechanical attachment by screws 71 will prevent dislodgment of the
billboard plate when the umbrella base is tipped or moved, and will
deter theft of the logo bearing billboard plates. The billboard
plate can alternatively be provided without a mechanical attachment
or with other forms of attachment such as molded-in snap
attachments.
[0064] It is seen that billboard plate 70 provides a readily
visible top billboard surface 73 which surrounds the support pipe
holding the umbrella shaft 31. Preferably, advertising indicia are
applied to this top surface about the support pipe (such as shown
by the two logos L. The advertising indicia can be located on and
about, and cover any portion of the top billboard surface 73 to
provide a desired advertising display, and can be applied or
otherwise provided on this surface in any number of ways, including
by silk-screening or painting the indicia directly on the top
surface of the plate or by applying separate multi-colored labels
or laminates bearing an advertising message. A suitable label
having clear UV resistant lamination 90 can be permanently applied
to the billboard plate as shown in FIG. 4 to protect the
advertising message from scratching or deterioration. This process
allows for up to four color processing that can match the necessary
requirements of large organizations for using their licensed logos.
Alternatively, the advertising indicia can be provided by molded-in
raised or depress letters with texturing to give a three
dimensional effect for eye-catching customer appeal, and could be
illuminated by an internal light source within the umbrella base
25. This could be accomplished with fiber optics, light emitting
diodes (LED), light emitted through the billboard plate 70 by a
light source within the umbrella base 25, or by other means known
in the art.
[0065] It shall be understood that the invention is not limited to
an umbrella base having a removable billboard plate, and that the
top cover portion of the housing assembly can have a billboard
surface integral with the top wall of the cover portion. In this
case advertising indicia such as company logos L would be applied
or otherwise provided directly on the top wall 61 of the housing
assembly's top cover portion 60. Also, it is contemplated that the
sidewalls 62 of the umbrella base could provide billboard surfaces
for advertising indicia instead of, or in addition to the housing
cover's top wall 61. These sidewall logos, which are represented by
logos L2 in FIGS. 1-3, would also be readily visible to persons in
the vicinity of the base. However, persons standing or sitting
somewhat away from the base would have the better view of these
logos.
[0066] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, support pipe 40, which as
previously described holds and supports umbrella support shaft 31,
is mechanically attached to the lower portion 50 of the housing
assembly by means of a threaded nut 47 or equivalent threaded part
mechanically attached to the inside bore 46 of the lower end of the
support pipe. The nut 47 can be press fit, pinned, welded or
permanently attached by other means know in the art. One advantage
of using a stock hexagon nut 47 is cost while the other is that the
points of the hex head can easily provide surface contact for press
fitting or welding to the inside surface of bore 46. By using a hex
headed part, openings between the hex points and the inside bore 46
of the support pipe 40 are advantageously created. These openings
allow water that enters the top 41 of support pipe to drain around
the nut 47 and down through drain openings 49 formed at the bottom
of the central sleeve structure 51 of lower housing portion 50. By
providing a route for water to escape, potential rust damage to the
steel components can be prevented.
[0067] The bottom of the central sleeve structure 51 of the lower
portion of the housing assembly is adapted to receive a cap screw
assembly comprised of a standard threaded bolt or cap screw 48,
washer 59 and threaded locking nut 63 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Again, one advantage of this design is that off the shelf or
standard components can be used that are economical yet made to
very high tolerances. The threaded components of this assembly
suitably have a robust one inch diameter by eight threads per inch
and are constructed of zinc-plated or hot dipped galvanized steel
for corrosion resistance. The locking nut 63 is installed into
anti-rotate ribs 38 at the bottom of central sleeve structure 51,
which center and prevent locking nut from rotating during
installation of cap screw 48 through the sleeve structure's bottom
opening 39. The ribs 38 also allow water or moisture to escape
through the central sleeve structure as previously discussed. When
assembled, the cap screw assembly firmly secures and stabilizes the
support pipe 40, which becomes the support for the umbrella support
shaft 31. and its umbrella shade 30. A suitable raised stand-off
structure can be provided on the underside of the bottom wall of
the sleeve structure to prevent washer 59 from blocking drain holes
49.
[0068] FIG. 11 illustrates examples of self-contained ballasts that
can be added to the ballast cavities of the lower portion 50 of the
housing assembly, instead of the cavities being filled with a
ballast material as earlier described. One example is a rigid
fillable container 86 having a fill opening 87 and container lid
87a that fits within one of the ballast cavities. Such containers
can suitably be blow molded from an inert plastic material such as
HDPE for strength and economy, and can be filled with sand, gravel,
water, or other suitable ballast material, depending on the desired
ballast weight. Such a container would be provided for each of the
ballast cavities in the housing; in this case three containers
would be required. The rigid fillable containers are easily removed
from the ballast cavities of the housing assembly to lighten the
umbrella base. This is desirable if the base must be lifted and
carried, such as when it is stored or relocated a substantial
distance, for example from one commercial venue to another. Once
removed from the umbrella base, the relative small size and lower
individual weight of the ballast containers make them easy to
stack, transport and store separate from the base.
[0069] Instead of using a rigid fillable ballast container, ballast
can alternatively be provided in a non-rigid container, such as tie
or zip bag 88. Such containers would normally be used with
aggregate ballast materials only, but have the advantage of being
inexpensive and easily stored and transported. Their shapes are
also fluid, allowing them to easily conform to the configuration of
the ballast cavities.
[0070] As a further alternative, ballast can be added to the
ballast compartments 53 of the base by means of a fixed ballast
form 89, which could be an enclosed rigid container pre-filled with
a ballast material or liquid, or a pre-formed block of material of
a predetermined weight, such as concrete. Such ballast forms could
also provide utilitarian components for the umbrella base such as
one or more batteries to serve as a power source for umbrella
lights or the like.
[0071] FIGS. 12 -19 depict an embodiment of the invention wherein
the wheel caster locking mechanisms shown in FIGS. 8-10 are
replaced with support foot assemblies 105 having cam-operated
support feet 103 that deploy to stabilize the umbrella base 25 once
its position has been set. FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show the
cam-operated feet in the up or non-deployed position. In this
position the user can roll the umbrella base on the wheel casters
65 as in the previously described embodiment. FIGS. 15-17 show the
feet in their deployed position, where the umbrella base is raised
up on the feet so that it can no longer roll. It is seen that the
deployed feet contact the ground beyond the perimeter of the
housing assembly for enhanced stability. FIGS. 14,17,18 and 19 show
in greater detail the construction of the support foot assemblies
and how they attach to the umbrella base.
[0072] More specifically, each support foot assembly includes a
frame structure 101, suitably fabricated of HDPE or polypropylene
plastic, having an inner part 101a and outer part 101b. As shown
for example in FIG. 14, the inner part 101a of the frame structure
of each support foot assembly is secured by wheel caster 65 and
wheel caster screws 67 into one of the bottom wall recesses 57 in
the lower portion of the housing assembly. The outer part of the
frame structure extends beyond the perimeter of the housing
assembly and carries a cam-screw 102 in a cam-screw opening 108.
Cam tabs 109 are provided on the perimeter of the cam-screw for
engaging internal cam surface 107 in the cam-screw opening as
hereinafter described. A support foot 103, which contacts the
ground when deployed, is attached to the bottom of the cam-screw by
a self-threading screw 104. Both the cam-screw and support foot are
preferably fabricated of a strong and durable material such as a
glass filled nylon or polyester base resin, and as shown in FIG. 14
are spring biased in the up position by coil spring 106, which is
preferably constructed from corrosion resistant stainless
steel.
[0073] Once a location has been set and the user wishes to
stabilize the umbrella base 25, he or she does so by inserting a
coin, such as a quarter 110 or a special tool into the slot 111
formed in the top of cam-screw 102, and pushing down and rotating
the cam-screw clockwise, as depicted by the arrows in FIGS. 14 and
17. Such a downward and clockwise turning motion will engage the
top surface of cam follower 113 into and under the cam surface 107
formed in cam-screw opening 108. As the user continues rotation of
the cam-screw 102, the foot 103 contacts the pavement 112. Upon
contact, the top of the cam follower 113 of the cam tab 109 pushes
upward on the underside of cam surface 107, raising the caster
wheel 69 off pavement 112 as shown by arrows 115 in FIG. 17. Once
the correct height 115 has been reached, the cam detent 114 on the
cam follower 113 (see FIG. 19) mates with a detent 116 formed in
the cam surface 107 to mechanically lock these parts together so as
to prevent further rotation. The foregoing procedure is repeated
for each of the support foot assemblies 105, and as the user does
so, the wheel casters of the umbrella base 25 will be lifted off
the ground 112, transferring the weight of the base to the support
feet 103. At such time the user wishes to unlock the feet 105, he
or she can insert a quarter 110 or special tool into slot 111 and
by turning the cam-screw 102 counter-clockwise to override the
detent and raise the support foot to the unlock position as shown
in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14.
[0074] It is contemplated that the umbrella base 25 shown in FIGS.
1-19 can be shipped assembled, partially assembled, or unassembled.
Preferably, it comes unassembled, and with the support pipe,
billboard plate and caster wheels removed . The ballast material
for the housing assembly can be shipped separately or purchased by
the user according to the user's needs.
[0075] To assemble the umbrella base, the billboard plate 70, if
not preinstalled, is first placed on top of the housing cover 60
and screws 71 inserted as shown in FIG. 11 to secure the billboard
plate. When placing the billboard plate onto the housing cover, the
screw bosses 72 on the bottom of the plate must be placed in the
corresponding holes in the housing cover. The wheel casters 65 are
then attached to the bottom of the lower housing in perimeter
recesses 57 by means of screws 67, after which the support pipe 40
is installed. The support pipe is installed by first placing lock
nut 63 into the housing's central sleeve structure 51 and then
inserting the cap screw 48, on which washer 59 has been placed,
into the bottom opening 39 of the central sleeve structure, and
threading it through the lock nut. The lower end of the support
pipe with its embedded nut 47 is then inserted into the sleeve 51
and screwed onto the end of the cap screw which projects through
lock nut 63. With the lower housing and support pipe in their
upright position, the ballast cavities are filled with a selected
ballast material. (If filled ballast containers or fixed form
ballasts such as shown in FIG. 11 are used, they are simply placed
in the ballast cavities.) To prevent the ballast material from
entering the snap latch channels 32a and other surrounding openings
not part of the ballast cavities, these openings can be covered
during the ballast fill. Removable adhesive protective coverings
that fit over these openings can suitably be provided for this
purpose. Once the ballast cavities are filled and the
above-mentioned protective coverings removed, the housing cover and
billboard plate are placed over the top support pipe and lower
housing so that the support pipe 40 (with thumb locking screw 42
removed) slides through the center openings 61c, 70b in the housing
cover and billboard plate, and so that the outer sidewalls 62 of
the housing cover slides over the sidewalls 52 of the lower housing
while the snap latches 32 slide into latch channels 32a, The top
cover is pushed down until the snap latches lock, and the unit is
then tipped up to install screws 43. Finally, the thumb screws are
replaced on the support pipe, which is now ready to receive the
shaft of an umbrella. It will be understood that screws 43 are
optional and are not required to secure the housing cover to the
lower housing.
[0076] To change an advertising message, the billboard plate 70 can
be exchanged with another billboard plate. This is accomplished by
removing the top cover of the housing assembly and then removing
screws 71, which hold the billboard plate to the top cover of the
housing assembly. A new billboard plate is then screwed onto the
top cover and top cover reinstalled as above-described. It will be
understood that alternative constructions of the umbrella base are
possible that provide for other assembly steps or the elimination
of steps. For example, the billboard plate could be provided
without screw attachments and possibly in two halves or in more
segments to allow the billboard plate to be removed without any
disassembly of the housing.
[0077] FIGS. 20-26 show a variation of the embodiment of the
umbrella illustrated in FIGS. 12-19. In this variation, the
umbrella base 131 has a generally square shape with four wheel
casters 65a and four support foot assemblies 105a located at the
four corners of the housing. The support foot assemblies in this
embodiment are essentially identical to the support foot assemblies
105 shown in FIGS. 12-19, except that here the frame structure for
the assemblies are integral with the lower portion of the housing.
Other alternative structures are included in this embodiment. One
is the addition of structure that allows ballast cavities in the
housing assembly to be filled without removing the top portion of
the housing. Another is found in the construction of the support
pipe. And yet another involves an internal construction of the
housing assembly which prevents moisture from reaching the ballast
fill in the ballast cavities.
[0078] In this embodiment, the support pipe 132 is split into two
sections, namely, top section 133 and bottom section 134, having
joinable ends 133a and 134a, with optional rivet holes 163a and
163b, which align when the ends are joined and which receive a
plastic rivet or the like (not shown) for holding the joined ends
together. Each of these sections has a thumb screw 135. The split
support pipe further includes a threaded nut 136, which is suitably
secured in the pipe by a roll or spring pin 144, and which projects
from the pipe's bottom end 137 so as to eliminate the need for a
separate locking nut. Using this embodiment, installation of the
support pipe is simplified as hereinafter described. Also, the
split pipe advantageously allows the umbrella base to be used under
tables that will not accommodate a long support pipe, and where the
extra length of the support pipe is not needed. In these situations
the top section of the support pipe is simply removed.
[0079] The body portion of this embodiment is similar to the
previous embodiment. More specifically, a body portion in the form
of housing assembly 139 has a lower ballast holding portion 140,
and a top cover portion in the form of a cover plate 141 secured to
the lower portion of the assembly by means of top screws 143.
Advertising indicia, such as a company logo L, are provided on a
separate billboard plate 145 having screw bosses 146 that fit into
screw boss holes 176 in the cover plate 145, which is attached by
screws 180. The lower portion of the housing assembly has outer
perimeter sidewalls 147 and an inner wall structure 149 inside of
the outer perimeter sidewalls. The inner wall structure 149
supports the cover plate 141 and the billboard plate 145 within the
outer perimeter walls of the lower housing portion, and creates an
interior compartment which is divided into four equal sized ballast
cavities 151 by partition walls 153. The partition walls terminate
at an center ring wall 155, which surrounds a central cylindrical
retaining sleeve structure 157 that holds the split support pipe
132. Sleeve structure 157 having anti-rotating ribs 158 (seen in
FIG. 24) holds the support pipe in substantially the same fashion
as described in the earlier embodiments. However, in this case
installation of the support pipe is simplified because the cap
screw 48 can be screwed directly into the pipe's projecting nut 136
after the bottom end of the support pipe is placed into the sleeve
structure. The support pipe is prevented from rotating because the
projecting nut engages in the anti-rotating ribs 158 when the pipe
bottoms out in the sleeve structure. Also, mating detent element
142a, 142b prevent the top section of the split pipe from rotating
in the bottom section.
[0080] It is noted that both cover plate 141 and billboard plate
145 of the housing assembly have turned-down perimeter edges 141a
and 145a. In the case of the cover plate, these edges fit over the
lower housing's inner wall structure as shown in FIG. 25 when the
cover plate is placed on the lower housing. In the case of the
billboard plate, the turned-down edges rest on the cover plate and
raise the billboard surface up so that it is substantially flush
with the top of the lower housing's outer perimeter sidewalls 147;
they also produce a space under the cover plate to accommodate a
fill opening structure as hereinafter described.
[0081] The inner wall structure and center ring wall of the lower
housing of this embodiment effectively isolate the ballast
compartments from the joints that occur between top cover plate and
lower housing's perimeter sidewalls 147, and between the sleeve 157
and the center openings 152, 154 of the cover plate and billboard
plate. It is at these joints that entry of moisture into the
housing assembly is most likely to occur. The inner wall structure
149 creates a perimeter buffer space 159, and inner ring wall 155
creates interior buffer space 161. Drain holes, such as drain holes
165 and 167, are provided at the bottom of both of these buffer
spaces to allow moisture collected in these spaces to drain from
the housing assembly. Also, outside and inside O-rings 156, 160 can
be provided on the underside of the housing cover in order to
hermetically seal the ballast cavities. Sealing of these two parts
can be accomplished in any number of ways known in the art,
including using sealing compounds.
[0082] The corners of the lower housing are seen to have shoulder
structures 169 that extend from angled corner portions 171 of the
perimeter sidewalls. Each of the shoulder structures have a
cam-screw opening 108a for receiving cam-screws 102, to which the
support feet 103 are attached. The cam screws 102, support feet 103
and associated springs 106 of the support foot assemblies in this
embodiment are identical to the cam screws, support feet and
springs of the support foot assemblies in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 12-19. Also, the support feet are deployed in the same manner
as previously described to take the weight off of the wheel casters
65, which, as best shown in FIG. 22, are attached by screws 67 into
corner recesses 173 formed in the underside of the lower housing
behind the support foot assemblies. These corner recess have back
walls 174, and screw bosses 174a on the top side of the back wall
to receive the caster screws 67.
[0083] To allow the ballast cavities 151 to be filled without
removing cover plate 141, a ballast fill opening 175 is provided in
the top cover plate of the housing above each of the ballast
cavities. These openings each have an upwardly projecting collar
177 with and external thread and an associated internally threaded
lid 179, which screws onto the collar. Thus, it is seen that
ballast cavities can be filled by simply removing the billboard
plate 145 and unscrewing lids 179. The billboard plate is secured
to the top cover plate by screws 180, so removing the billboard
plate will first require the removal of these screws, which insert
from the bottom of the lower housing through screw openings 176 in
the cover plate into screw bosses 146 on the bottom of the
billboard plate.
[0084] As in the previous embodiments the top cover and bottom
portions of the housing assembly, along with the billboard plate
145 and fill opening lids 179, can be suitably be fabricated as
injection or structural foam molded polymer (e.g. HDPE or
polypropylene) parts having high UV resistance.
[0085] FIGS. 27-29 show simplified embodiments of the invention
wherein advertising indicia for presenting an advertising message
are provided on an umbrella base having a body portion in the form
of a weighted base plate without ballast cavities and without wheel
casters. In these embodiments, the base is not a rolling base, but
a base that must be lifted to move it from one location to
another.
[0086] Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, umbrella base 181 is comprised
of a square shaped base plate 183 suitably fabricated of a suitable
material such as cast iron or steel that provides sufficient weight
to the base to hold an umbrella upright in normal conditions. An
umbrella holding structure is provided on the base plate in the
form of pipe retaining sleeve 185, and an umbrella shaft support
pipe 186 that fits into the top end of the sleeve. The pipe
retaining sleeve can be integrally formed on the base plate or
provided as a separate part attached to the base plate, such as by
providing the sleeve with a threaded end that can be screwed into a
threaded opening (not shown) in the center of the base plate.
Similarly, the support pipe can be an integral extension of the
pipe retaining sleeve, or a separate part as shown that slides into
and is retained by the sleeve. A support pipe can also be provided
that is configured for attachment by a cap nut as described below
in connection with embodiments shown in FIGS. 30 and 31.
[0087] The base plate 183 of the umbrella base 181 is seen to
include a flat billboard surface 187 surrounding pipe retaining
sleeve 185 and support pipe 186, with advertising indicia in the
form of a company logo L being provided on this surface about the
pipe retaining sleeve. This logo will be readily visible to persons
seated or standing near the umbrella supported by the base. The
billboard surface can be provided directly on the top surface of
base plate 183 or, as illustrated, by a thin billboard plate 189,
which is placed on top of the base plate and which has a center
opening 191 to accommodate the sleeve 186. The top of base plate is
suitably provided with a shallow recess 193 to receive the
billboard plate; preferably this recess has a depth that
substantially corresponds with thickness of the billboard plate.
This recess produces a raised perimeter rim 195 around the edges of
the base plate that surrounds the billboard plate when the
billboard plate is placed in the recess. If desired, separate
attachments can be provided for the billboard plate, such as screw
bosses on the bottom of the billboard plate and screw boss holes in
the base plate similar to those described in the previous
embodiment.
[0088] FIG. 27 illustrates a variation of the simplified umbrella
base shown in FIG. 25, wherein the umbrella base 197 has a circular
base plate 199 instead of a square base plate, and wherein the
advertising indicia (company logo L) are provided on a circular
billboard surface instead of a square one as shown in FIGS. 27 and
28. As FIGS. 27 through 29 illustrate, the base plate of the
simplified umbrella base of the invention can be provided in any
variety of shapes.
[0089] In both the FIGS. 27-28, and FIG. 29 embodiments,
advertising indicia can be provided on the billboard surfaces of
the bases in a number of different ways as earlier described, and
can cover any desired portion of the billboard surface in any
arrangement. For example, a single large logo can cover
substantially the entire billboard surface as indicated in FIG. 29,
or separate logos can be distributed about the surface is indicated
in FIG. 27. Also, where a separate billboard plate is used, the
plate can suitably be fabricated of plastic, such as UV resistant
HDPE or polypropylene. As in the previously described embodiments,
such billboard plates can be readily exchanged to change the
advertising message on the umbrella base.
[0090] FIGS. 30-32 show other simplified embodiments of the
invention wherein a relatively flat, shallow profile and
non-rolling umbrella base has a body portion capable of being
filled with a ballast material. Referring first to FIGS. 30 and 31,
umbrella base 201 has a body portion in the form of a housing
assembly, which includes an upper portion in the form of a housing
top 203 having a flat top wall 204, downwardly extending sidewalls
205, and a downwardly inner ring wall 206. The housing assembly
further has a lower portion in the form of a bottom cover plate 207
having a center opening 209, This cover plate is removably attached
to the housing top 203 by means of attachment screws 211 that screw
into screw bosses 213 formed on the underside of the housing top
wall 204. Molded-in support feet 215 are suitably provided around
the bottom perimeter edges of the bottom cover plate to raise the
base slightly when placed on a hard potentially uneven surface. It
is noted that the bottom cover plate is sized such that its outer
perimeter edge 212 and inner edge 214 mate with and seal against
the notched bottom edges 208, 210 of the housing top's sidewalls
205 and inner ring wall 206 when the attachment screws 211 are
tightened.
[0091] To provide an umbrella shaft holding structure for this
embodiment, an upwardly projecting central sleeve 217 is integrally
formed on the top wall of housing top 203 for receiving a split
umbrella shaft support pipe 132 that is essentially identical to
the split support pipe described above in connection with the
embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 20-26. As in this
previously described embodiment, the bottom end of the bottom
section of the split support pipe is secured in central sleeve 217
by mean of cap screw 48, which is passed through bottom opening 219
in the sleeve structure and then screwed into the threaded nut 136
projecting from the bottom end of the split pipe. The projecting
nut engages anti-rotating ribs 221 formed at the bottom of the
sleeve structure to prevent the pipe from rotating in the sleeve.
It is also noted that the head of the cap screw is recessed in the
center recess 218 formed behind the central sleeve structure, so
that it does not touch the ground. Raised stand-offs 222 on the
underside of the bottom wall of the sleeve structure prevent the
cap screw washer 59 from blocking drain holes 226 in the bottom
wall.
[0092] In this embodiment, one or more ballast cavities 223 are
formed underneath the housing assemblies housing top 203. The
illustrated partition walls 225 formed on the underside of the
housing top's top wall divides the interior compartment underneath
the top wall into separate ballast cavities 223, which can be
filled with a desired ballast material. Filling the ballast
cavities is accomplished when the base is turned upside down by
simply removing bottom cover plate 207 from the housing top 203,
pouring the ballast in the ballast cavities, and replacing the
bottom cover plate. The resulting weight of the base will depend on
the type and amount ballast material used,
[0093] Both the housing top 203 with its integral sleeve structure
217, and the bottom cover plate 207 of the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 30 and 31 are suitably fabricated of inexpensive molded
plastic parts. The housing top's top wall will provide a flat
billboard surface 227 on which an advertising message can be
provided, such as by a molded-in logo or a laminated adhesive
label, or by any other suitable means, examples of which are
mentioned above. Also, it is contemplated that the ballast cavities
of the umbrella base shown in these figures can be pre-filled by
the manufacturer and the bottom cover plate permanently sealed to
the housing top.
[0094] FIG. 32 shows in alternative constructure to the umbrella
base illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 31, wherein the plastic bottom
cover plate of the base is replaced by a sheet metal plate 229,
which is suitably a stamped part. Here the support feet 231 are not
molded-in feet, but separate foot pads screwed onto the bottom of
the cover plate 229 by attachment screws 211 used to hold the cover
plate to the housing top 203. Again, it will be understood that
rigid or non-rigid ballast containers, or fixed form ballasts, as
above-described, could be used with the shallow profile fillable
umbrella bases shown in FIGS. 30-32.
[0095] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it will be understood that many
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof. For example, the flat surfaces shown in the illustrated
embodiments could be domed surfaces or surfaces of other shapes, so
long as the surfaces are readily visible to persons within the
vicinity of the umbrella base. The accompanying claims are intended
to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and
spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *