DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0008] Referring now to the drawings where the illustrations are for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention described herein, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beach umbrella stabilizer 10 of the present invention. The beach umbrella stabilizer 10 is comprised of an outer tubular sleeve 12, an inner tubular sleeve 14 received within outer sleeve 12 and slidingly movable therein in a telescoping relationship, and a turn screw 16. The outer sleeve 12 and the inner sleeve 14 are typically fabricated from a metallic material. A clamp 18 (shown in phantom) is typically attached to end 20 of outer sleeve 12. The end of a support pole for a beach umbrella (not shown) is received within clamp 18 in order to attach the beach umbrella to the beach umbrella stabilizer 10.

[0009] Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the beach umbrella stabilizer 10 is shown. The outer sleeve 12 is provided with an inner shoulder 22 at the approximate longitudinal midpoint of the outer sleeve 12. In addition, an inner shoulder 24 is provided adjacent end 26 of outer sleeve 12. Both inner shoulder 22 and inner shoulder 24 are provided with bores 28, 30, respectively, therethrough. Bores 28 and 30 are sized so as to slidingly receive the inner sleeve 14. Turn screw 16 is threadably received through end 26 of outer sleeve 12 and through inner shoulder 24 permitting the tip 32 of turn screw 16 to engage the surface of inner sleeve 14. A circumferential flange 34 is attached to the surface of inner sleeve 14 and is sized so as to engage the inner shoulder 22 provided in outer sleeve 12.

[0010] When it is desired to erect a beach umbrella, the end of inner sleeve 14 is inserted into the sand. A tip 36 is provided on the end of inner sleeve 14 in order to assist in the insertion of the end of inner sleeve 14 into the sand. After insertion of the end of inner sleeve 14 into the sand, the outer sleeve 12 is moved downwardly on inner sleeve 14 causing circumferential flange 34 on inner sleeve 14 to contact inner shoulder 22 on outer sleeve 12. By successively raising the outer sleeve 12 with respect to the inner sleeve 14 and then lowering the outer sleeve 12 so that circumferential flange 34 on inner sleeve 14 contacts inner shoulder 22 on outer sleeve 14, the inner sleeve 14 is forced into the sand. In essence, the combination of the outer sleeve 12 and the inner sleeve 14 acts as an impact-type slide hammer forcing the end of inner sleeve 14 into the sand. When the end of inner sleeve 14 has been received into the sand sufficiently so that the beach umbrella stabilizer 10 is securely anchored therein, turn screw 16 can be threadably advanced through the end 26 of outer sleeve 12 and through inner shoulder 24 causing its tip 32 to contact the surface of inner sleeve 14. In this manner, the overall height of the beach umbrella stabilizer 12 can be adjusted. After the overall height of the beach umbrella stabilizer 12 has been adjusted, the end of the support pole for the beach umbrella can be received within clamp 18, thus securing the beach umbrella to the beach umbrella stabilizer 10.

[0011] Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing. It is understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability, but are properly within the scope of the following claims.