DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a device including an integrated umbrella base stand and table 2 of the present invention in use at a beach-type location. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of umbrella base stand and table 2 in a fully open or deployed position without the umbrella. As shown, umbrella base stand 2 includes a frame 10 having a center tube 4 and plural upper and plural lower appendages 6 and 8. Center tube 4 has a top and a bottom end 16 and 18 and is dimensioned to receive an umbrella pole 5 of an umbrella 7. As further shown, plural upper (shown in FIG. 3) and plural lower appendages 6 and 8 are connected to center tube 4 by a hinge means 12. Preferably, plural upper and plural lower appendages 6 and 8 are connected by hinge means 12 such as a bolt 24 through an elbow piece 26 at top end 16 of center tube 4 and plural lower appendages 8 are also hingedly connected at bottom end 18 of center tube 4. Frame 10 further includes a slidable center ring 48 having plural upper and plural lower linking arms 20 and 22. As shown, plural upper linking arms 20 are hingedly attached to both center ring 48 and plural upper appendages 6. Plural upper linking arms 20 are attached to plural upper appendages 6 with hinges 25. Similarly, plural lower linking arms 22 are hingedly attached to both center ring 48 and plural lower appendages 8. Plural lower linking arms 22 are attached to plural lower appendages 8 with hinges 23. In their fully extended position, plural upper and lower appendages 6 and 8 are provided support by plural upper and lower linking arms 20 and 22.

[0025] As was noted, it is a particular feature of the present invention to provide a convenient way to anchor an umbrella. In the preferred embodiment, umbrella base stand and table 2 further includes a surface 28 and a base flange 30 spaced apart from surface 28. As shown in FIG. 2, surface 28 and base flange 30 are flexible and are carried by plural upper and plural lower appendages 6 and 8. Preferably, surface 28 and base flange 30 are made of fabric, canvas, or other foldable materials. Base flange 30 serves as a container for a weight such as sand, earth, rocks, or any other item that can stabilize umbrella base stand and table 2. Because the added support provided by this weight alleviates the need to place the umbrella pole deep within the sand or ground, the user saves both the time and energy required to dig a deep hole. Depending on how large the umbrella is, more or less weight maybe used. Further, the added weight prevents umbrella base stand and table 2 from readily tipping over if acted on by outside forces.

[0026] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a stable place on which various items such as food, drinks, and books may be placed. As shown in FIG. 1, surface 28 has a flat area 14 that includes a holder 52 dimensioned to receive a drink container of various sizes. This feature helps users to avoid getting sand or other materials on their drinks and food, as well as other personal items, and is particularly useful for outside events.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows frame 10 of umbrella base stand and table 2 of the present invention. As shown, umbrella base stand and table 2 includes frame 10 having plural upper and plural lower appendages and linking arms 6, 8, 20, and 22. In the preferred embodiment, each appendage of plural upper and plural lower appendages 6 and 8 is connected to central tube 4 by hinge means 12. Further, each appendage of plural upper and plural lower appendages 6 and 8 is supported by and hingedly connected to plural upper and plural lower linking arms 20 and 22. Preferably, plural upper appendages 6 are located at top end 16 of center tube 4. Specifically, plural upper appendages 6 are hingedly connected to a fixed upper ring 32 dimensioned to receive center tube 4. Similarly, plural lower appendages 8 are hingedly connected to bottom end 18 by a lower ring 34 dimensioned to receive center tube 4. As shown, plural upper and plural lower linking arms 20 and 22 are hingedly connected to slidable center ring 48. Slidable center ring 48 is dimensioned to receive center tube 4 and is moveable between upper and lower rings 32 and 34.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows frame 10 of umbrella base stand and table 2 in a partially collapsed position. As was stated above, a particular feature of the present invention is that umbrella base stand and table 2 is collapsible, which makes the transport and storage of stand 2 more convenient for user. In a fully open and deployed position, frame 10 of umbrella base stand and table 2 is held in place by a spring-loaded detent 36 located on slidable center ring 48. Specifically, spring-loaded detent (shown in detail in FIG. 6) has a rigid member 38 that locks center ring 48 to an aperture 40 of center tube 4. Once rigid member 38 is removed from aperture 40 by a releasing means 44, center ring 48 is slidable upwards toward upper ring 32 of center tube 4 and both plural upper and plural lower appendages 6 and 8 are movable towards center tube 4.

[0029] In FIGS. 5A and 5B, frame 10 of umbrella base stand and table 2 is shown in a completely collapsed position. Plural upper and plural lower appendages 6 and 8 have been moved completely upwards and are approximately parallel to center tube 4. Similarly, plural upper and plural lower linking arms 20 and 22 are moved in towards center tube 4 and are approximately parallel to center tube 4. As previously discussed, this feature allows user to easily transport and store umbrella base stand and table 2 in a carrying case 54.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of umbrella base stand and table 2 in a fully open and deployed position. Specifically, FIG. 6 shows center ring 48 that connects plural upper and plural lower linking arms 20 and 22 by hinge means 12 such as bolt 24 and elbow piece 26. Further, FIG. 6 shows spring-loaded detent 36 in place within aperture 40 of center tube 4. As discussed, it is a particular feature of the present invention to have a locking means to keep frame 10 of umbrella base stand and table 2 in place.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of umbrella base stand and table 2 in a fully open and deployed position. Specifically, FIG. 7 shows hinge means 12 of plural lower appendages 8. Similar to center ring 48, lower ring 34 includes hinge means 12 such as bolt 24 through elbow piece 26. Preferably, lower ring 34 is rigidly connected to center tube 4 by a fixing means such as a rivet 50. FIG. 7 further shows the connection of plural lower linking arms 22 to plural lower appendages 8.

[0032] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many substitutions and modifications can be made to the foregoing preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, defined by the appended claims.