Self-anchoring beach umbrella

A self-anchoring beach umbrella having an umbrella canopy and an umbrella pole. The umbrella pole having an upper member for supporting the canopy and a lower member for self-anchoring the umbrella into a ground surface. The upper member being an elongated tubular sleeve having a first end communicating with and supporting the umbrella canopy, an axial lumen formed within the elongated tubular sleeve, and a second end for receiving a pole standard into the axial lumen. The lower member being a pole standard having a length, a first end formed for insertion into the axial lumen of the elongated tubular sleeve, and a second end formed for anchoring into the ground surface. A hammer is fixed to the elongated tubular sleeve, the hammer included for transmitting an axial force applied to the elongated tubular sleeve onto an anvil. The anvil fixed to the pole standard for receiving the axial force from the hammer and transmitting it to the pole standard to anchor the pole standard into the ground surface. An optional tilt mechanism for angling the canopy relative to the umbrella pole is included in the present beach umbrella. Also, an optional handle is provided at the top of the canopy of the umbrella. Additionally, the umbrella pole can be used without the canopy to display a flag indicating the user location on a crowded beach, or in pairs to mount a net such as for volley ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is in the field of umbrellas for use at the beach or
 other locations where it is desired to provide shade or protection from
 the weather. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a
 beach umbrella that additionally provides a means for anchoring the pole
 of the umbrella into a beach or ground surface.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The harmful and damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays have been
 well documented. These effects can be intensified at the beach. Umbrellas
 are often used to provide protection from both weather and the damaging
 ultraviolet rays of the sun, especially at the beach. These umbrellas
 typically include an umbrella canopy and an umbrella pole. In some
 instances, it is desired to anchor the umbrella pole into a ground or
 beach surface. In these instances, the canopy is attached to the top end
 of the umbrella pole, and the other end of the pole is typically anchored
 into a ground surface. Anchoring an umbrella's pole into a ground surface
 eliminates the need for an individual to hold the umbrella, and allows
 freedom of movement in and out of the area where the umbrella provides its
 protection. However, anchoring traditional umbrellas can sometimes be
 difficult or cumbersome, especially if the ground surface into which the
 umbrella is to be anchored is hard.
 Various attempts have been made to provide devices for anchoring umbrellas
 into a ground surface. Anchoring devices have been suggested that are
 designed to be screwed into a ground surface on one end, and another end
 in which to secure the bottom end of an umbrella. Such devices can be
 found in Andiarena, U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,077, Plourde, U.S. Pat. No.
 5,457,918, Rodriguez et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,978, Buttimore, U.S. Pat.
 No. 5,636,944, McDaniel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,304, Goldberg et al., U.S.
 Pat. No. D402,803, Perls, U.S. Pat. No. D371,901, and Tropiano, U.S. Pat.
 No. D394,544. A disadvantage of having a separate anchor into which an
 umbrella pole is inserted is that it is necessary to transport both the
 umbrella and the separate anchoring device to the point of use.
 Additionally, the orifice in the anchor into which the umbrella pole is to
 be inserted can become clogged with sand or such in the installation
 process.
 Another beach umbrella anchoring means requires attaching the umbrella pole
 to a bucket-like anchor device and burying the anchor in the sand
 (Buttimore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,944). However, the '944 device is also a
 component separate from the umbrella itself. Another device suggested for
 anchoring umbrellas into a ground surface has provided an umbrella
 comprising an umbrella pole and one or more umbrella canopies, with an
 attached handle for forcing the umbrella standard into the ground surface.
 Griggs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,720. However, to anchor the umbrella disclosed
 in Griggs '720, one is taught to urge the umbrella pole into the ground
 surface by rotating while pushing downward on the pole, and depends on the
 strength of the user to accomplish its anchoring feature.
 A further umbrella device is disclosed by Pesaturo, U.S. Pat. No.
 2,759,486. The Pesaturo device includes a slide hammer mechanism. In the
 Pesaturo device, two anvils are affixed to the umbrella pole and a hammer
 is slideably disposed between them. Impacting the hammer upon either anvil
 allows the user to drive the umbrella pole into the ground surface, or
 upwardly force the umbrella standard from the ground surface. Pesaturo
 '486 however requires the addition of three heavy pieces of metal to the
 umbrella pole. This makes the umbrella appreciably heavier and requires
 the user to devote more resources to carrying an umbrella with a hammer
 and two anvils in addition to other items that would normally be
 transported on an outing where such an umbrella is used.
 It would be beneficial to have available a self-anchoring beach umbrella
 wherein the umbrella incorporates a means for facilitating the anchoring
 of the umbrella without requiring separate hardware or additional mass to
 accomplish.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention solves a number of the problems inherent in the prior
 art by providing a self-anchoring beach umbrella comprising an umbrella
 canopy and an umbrella pole. The canopy is typical of such umbrella
 elements as are presently known in the art. The umbrella pole has an upper
 member for supporting the canopy and a lower member for self-anchoring the
 umbrella into a ground surface. The upper member is an elongated tubular
 sleeve having a first upper end communicating with and supporting the
 umbrella canopy section of the umbrella. The top end of the umbrella
 canopy optionally may terminate in an handle for facilitating the
 transport, use and storage of the present beach umbrella. The upper member
 or tubular sleeve also contains a lumen disposed along the axis within the
 elongated tubular sleeve, and has a second lower end for receiving a pole
 standard into the axial lumen. The lower member is a pole standard with
 its first upper end formed for insertion into the axial lumen of the
 elongated tubular sleeve. The pole standard has a second or anchor end
 formed for anchoring into the ground surface. A hammer is fixed to the
 elongated tubular sleeve for transmitting an axial force applied to the
 elongated tubular sleeve onto an anvil. The anvil is fixed to the pole
 standard for receiving the axial force from the hammer and transmitting
 the force to the pole standard to anchor the pole standard into the ground
 surface.
 The axial lumen is formed inside of the tubular sleeve to coaxially and
 slideably receive the first upper end of the pole standard. The hammer and
 the anvil, respectively, are capable of transmitting and receiving a
 downward axial force of sufficient magnitude to drive the pole standard
 into the ground surface and provide an anchoring effect. The impact force
 of the hammer is developed by the mass of the upper member, either alone
 or in combination with the mass of the attached canopy.
 The hammer can be formed inside the tubular sleeve and fixed to a wall of
 the lumen far from the second end of the sleeve with the anvil fixed at
 the first end of the pole standard. The anvil is slideably received into
 the lumen of the tubular sleeve and the tubular sleeve is slid down the
 length of the pole standard to cause the hammer to impact the anvil.
 In an alternative embodiment the hammer is fixed at the second end of the
 tubular sleeve and configured to allow insertion of the first end of the
 pole standard into the lumen of the tubular sleeve. In this case the
 hammer may be configured as an annulus. Further, in this embodiment, the
 anvil is a collar fixed on the outer surface of the pole standard between
 the first and second ends of the pole standard, and disposed to receive
 the downward axial force from the hammer. Other alternative embodiments of
 the hammer and anvil are practicable by one of ordinary skill in the art.
 Anchoring the self-anchoring umbrella into a ground surface involves
 positioning the second anchor end of the pole standard at the ground
 surface, then inserting the tubular sleeve coaxially over the pole
 standard to receive the pole standard into the lumen of the tubular
 sleeve. A downward axial force is then applied on the tubular sleeve to
 slideably receive the pole standard into the lumen of the tubular sleeve
 and to cause the hammer to impact the anvil. Impacting the hammer onto the
 anvil initiates penetration of the ground surface by the pole standard.
 Finally, reapplying the downward axial force on the tubular sleeve to
 repeatedly impact the hammer upon the anvil will cause the pole standard
 to be driven into the ground surface.
 Once the standard is driven into the ground sufficiently to anchor the
 umbrella pole, the tubular sleeve is left in place and the umbrella canopy
 can be positioned and deployed. Optionally, a slide/sleeve lock can be
 included on the umbrella pole to allow the tubular sleeve to be set at
 different positions along the length of the standard. This feature enables
 the user to adjust the length of the umbrella pole, and hence, vary the
 height of the canopy from the ground surface. Additionally, because the
 tubular sleeve is on the outside and above the anchor standard, sand and
 other debris is less likely to enter the lumen of the sleeve and cause
 excess wear or binding of the slide action of the sleeve.
 Optionally, the umbrella of the present invention includes a tilt mechanism
 that allows the canopy, when raised or extended, to be offset at an angle
 from the rest of the umbrella pole. Typically, the tilt mechanism is
 incorporated into the present umbrella pole between the tubular sleeve aid
 the canopy of the umbrella. Mechanisms for raising or extending an
 umbrella canopy such as are practicable in the present invention are known
 in the art, and are readily adaptable by the ordinary skilled artisan for
 use in the present invention.
 Also, the present device includes one or more extension sections that can
 be inserted in series into the umbrella pole to adjust the length of the
 pole. It is also intended that the user can dismount the umbrella canopy
 from the umbrella pole and use the pole for other related purposes. For
 example, as a flag pole on which a pennant may be displayed so that the
 user's location may be more easily found on a crowded beach, an important
 benefit when at the beach with children. Additionally, the present
 invention without the umbrella canopy attached may be used as a tether
 ball pole. Alternatively, two umbrella poles without canopies may be used
 to mount a net between them, such as for volley ball or badminton.
 Other and further features and advantages will be apparent from the
 following description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention,
 given for the purpose of disclosure when taken in conjunction with the
 accompanying drawings. For example, the present invention without the
 umbrella canopy is readily adaptable as a self-anchoring pole for a volley
 ball, badmitton or similar net game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Referring now to the drawings, the details of preferred embodiments of the
 present invention are graphically and schematically illustrated. Like
 elements in the drawings will be represented by like numbers. FIG. 1
 represents a typical embodiment of a self-anchoring beach umbrella 10
 according to the present invention. The umbrella 10 includes an umbrella
 canopy 12 supported by an umbrella pole 14. The umbrella canopy 12 is
 typical of such canopies as are known in the art. The canopy 12 can
 include the elements and features that are typically found on such
 canopies, including opening and closing means, tilting means, and similar
 umbrella canopy features. Such features and variations are known to and
 readily practicable by the ordinary skilled artisan. The umbrella pole 14
 is comprised of an upper member 20 and a lower member 50. The umbrella
 canopy 12 is supported by the upper member 20 by a connection (not shown)
 to the upper member 20 at the upper member's first or canopy end 22. The
 connection to the canopy 12 to the canopy end 22 of the upper member 20
 may be fixed, so that the canopy 12 and the upper member 20 are
 substantially integral with each other. Alternatively, the connection may
 be separable, so that the canopy 12 and the upper member 20 can be
 attached or separate as desired. The top end 80 of the canopy 12 may
 terminate in a handle 82 (see FIG. 7A).
 The upper member 20 of the umbrella pole 14 is configured as an elongated
 tubular sleeve. The cross-section of the tubular sleeve 20 may be square,
 oval, oblong or shaped as practicable by one of ordinary skill in the art.
 In the preferred embodiment, the tubular sleeve 20 has a circular
 cross-section. The interior of the tubular sleeve defines an axial lumen
 26.
 As shown in FIG. 2, the lower member (pole standard) 50 of the umbrella
 pole 14 has a cross-section complementary to that of the upper member
 tubular sleeve 20 that allows it to be closely received into the internal
 space or lumen 26 of the upper member tubular sleeve 20. As shown in FIG.
 3, the lower member or pole standard 50 has a pole standard first end 52
 and a pole standard anchor end 54. The pole standard first end 52 is
 formed to be axially inserted into the lumen 26 of the tubular sleeve 20,
 whereas the pole standard anchor end 54 is shaped to facilitate ground
 surface penetration. In FIG. 3, the anchor end 54 is illustrated as
 pointed as a preferred embodiment. However, other configurations for the
 anchor end 54 are known and are practicable by the ordinary skilled
 artisan. The pole standard anchor end 54 may be modified to better
 facilitate its penetration of specific types of ground surfaces, or to
 accomplish a specific result. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an
 otherwise plain pointed pole standard 50 is modified to include an anchor
 vane 58 to help prevent the pole standard from rotating once it is set
 into a ground surface. Although, only a single anchor vane 58 is shown,
 multiple such vanes may be practiced on a pole standard 50 anchor end 54.
 Ground surfaces being penetrated typically are sand, clay, soil, gravel
 and similar ground surfaces where it is desired to utilize the
 self-anchoring beach umbrella 10 of the present invention.
 FIGS. 4A to 4E are cross-sectional views of a pole standard 50 received
 into a tubular sleeve 20. The various illustrations show different
 preferred means of accomplishing the hammer and anvil elements of the
 present invention. Using FIG. 4A as exemplary of these preferred
 embodiments, a hammer 40 is fixed within the lumen 26 of the tubular
 sleeve 20. The hammer 50 provides for transmitting an axial force (see
 FIG. 4A, arrow) applied to the tubular sleeve 20 onto the anvil 60 upon
 impact. The force of the impact is transmitted by the anvil 60 to the pole
 standard 50 by virtue of the anvil's fixed relationship to the pole
 standard 50. The force transmitted to the pole standard 50 acts to drive
 the pole standard anchor end 54 into the ground surface. The axial force
 transmitted by the hammer 40 is generated by the combined masses of the
 tubular sleeve 20 and hammer 40 as they are moved (at some rate, through
 some distance) to impact the anvil 60. If the umbrella canopy 12 is
 attached to the tubular sleeve 20, the combined mass is increased, and the
 potential axial force transmitted by the hammer 40 may be increased for
 the same movement.
 In FIG. 4B, the hammer 42 is comprised of the rim of the tubular sleeve's
 20 second end 24. The anvil 62 is a collar fixed to an outer surface of
 the pole standard 50 at a position distal from the pole standard upper end
 52. Again in this embodiment, axial force is generated as described above,
 and when the tubular sleeve 20 is axially slid downward, the hammer 42
 impacts against the anvil 62 and the axial force is transmitted to the
 pole standard 50. FIGS. 4C to 4E similarly illustrate different preferred
 means accomplishing the hammer and anvil elements of the present invention
 and the generation and transmission of an axial force from the tubular
 sleeve 20 to the pole standard 50. In FIG. 4C the tubular sleeve open end
 24 is reinforced as might be necessary if a relatively large force must be
 transmitted by the hammer 44. In FIG. 4D the hammer 46 and in FIG. 4E the
 anvil 66 are accomplished by crimping the material of the tubular sleeve
 20 or the pole standard 50 either internally or externally, respectively.
 Either of these configurations might be beneficial where the amount of
 force to be transmitted by a hammer is relatively small, such as when the
 ground surface to be penetrated is soft.
 In operation, when the self-anchoring umbrella 10 is desired to be used,
 the pole standard anchor end 54 is positioned for anchoring at the ground
 surface. With the tubular sleeve 20 coaxially inserted over the pole
 standard 50, so that the pole standard is fully inserted into the lumen 26
 of the tubular sleeve 20, the tubular sleeve 20 is raised an appropriate
 distance, and then urged back down over pole standard 50. The downward
 force applied to the tubular sleeve 20 causes the pole standard first end
 52 to slideably reinsert into the lumen 26 of the tubular sleeve 20, and
 cause the hammer 46 to impact the anvil 66. Accordingly, the force
 generated by the movement of the tubular sleeve 20 is transmitted via the
 hammer 46 onto the anvil 66, and ultimately to the pole standard anchor
 end 54. To anchor the self-anchoring beach umbrella 10 into the ground
 surface, the axial force applied to the elongated tubular sleeve 20 should
 be sufficient for the pole standard anchor end 54 to penetrate the ground
 surface. To complete the anchoring process, the axial force repeatedly is
 applied to the tubular sleeve 20 so that the pole standard anchor end 54
 is driven further into the ground surface to a depth sufficient to support
 and anchor the self-anchoring beach umbrella 10 in the desired manner.
 Sufficient anchoring of the self-anchoring beach umbrella 10 involves
 preventing the umbrella from tipping and the ability of the self-anchoring
 beach umbrella 10 to withstand expected wind gusts without becoming
 dislodged from the ground surface.
 Once the standard 50 is driven into the ground sufficiently to anchor the
 umbrella 10, the tubular sleeve 20 is left in place and the canopy 12 is
 deployed. As shown in FIGS. 5A & 5B, if it is desirable to be able to
 adjust the length of the umbrella pole 14, and hence, the height of the
 canopy 12 from the ground, a slide or sleeve lock 70 may be included on
 the umbrella pole 14. A sleeve lock 70 can be a lever actuated squeeze
 clamp 72 such as are known in the art and presently practiced on umbrella
 poles (see FIG. 5A). Other alternative embodiments of a sleeve lock are
 known to the ordinary skilled artisan and can be readily adapted for
 practice in the present invention. For example, a simple detent pin 74 and
 through hole 76 combination can be practiced on either the standard 50 or
 the tubular sleeve 20 or both to provide for adjusting the length of the
 umbrella pole 14. See FIG. 5B.
 As is understood in the art, the various hammers and anvils of the present
 invention should be constructed of material that is capable of
 withstanding repeated and elevated impact forces. Typically, the axial
 force would be applied to the elongated tubular sleeve by a person
 grasping the tubular sleeve 20 or the umbrella canopy 12 (if attached) and
 raising the tubular sleeve 20 an appropriate distance, and then forcing
 the tubular sleeve 20 downward. An appropriate distance is a distance high
 enough to develop sufficient potential energy to drive the pole standard
 anchor end 54 into the ground surface, yet not so high as to extract the
 pole standard first end 52 from the lumen 26 of the tubular sleeve 20.
 In another embodiment, the present umbrella 10 includes a tilt mechanism 88
 that allows the raised or extended canopy 12 to be offset at an angle from
 the length of the rest of the umbrella pole 14. Preferably, the tilt
 mechanism 88 is incorporated into the present umbrella pole 14 between the
 tubular sleeve 20 and the canopy 12 section of the umbrella 10. The tilt
 mechanism 88 allows the canopy 12 to be tilted at an angle after it is
 raised and positioned by the user to enhance the utility of the umbrella
 10, for example, for providing shade.
 Tilt mechanisms 88 for umbrellas are known in the art and are readily
 adaptable by the skilled artisan for practice in the present invention.
 FIGS. 6A to 6D are examples of such tilt mechanisms 88 as may be adapted
 for practice in the present umbrella 10. FIG. 6A is an example of a tilt
 mechanism 88a as is known in the art which allows the canopy 12 to be
 angled in a plane perpendicular to the pivot pin 94. The tilt mechanism
 88a is operated by pushing the spring biased release button 92, tilting
 the canopy 12 to the desired angle and releasing the button 92. The tilt
 mechanism 88 may be fixed or incorporated into either the canopy 12 or to
 the tubular sleeve 20 allowing the canopy 12 and sleeve 20 to be separable
 into two parts. In a preferred embodiment, the tilt mechanism 88 is
 separable from both the canopy 12 and the tubular sleeve 20. Either of
 these embodiments allow the canopy to swivel or rotate about the rest of
 the umbrella pole by having a shoulder 90 of the tilt mechanism 88
 disposed to provide a surface against which either the canopy 12 or the
 tubular sleeve 20 may rotate. Alternatively, the tilt mechanism may be
 fixed to both the canopy 12 and sleeve 20, connecting them as a single
 unit. The figures show the tilt mechanism 88 having two male ends that are
 received into female ends on the canopy 12 and the tubular sleeve 20. One
 skilled in the art knows how to select and practice other combinations of
 male and female end features to accomplish the purpose of a rotatable
 canopy.
 FIGS. 6B to 6D illustrate various means of accomplishing the tilt and
 swivel processes exemplified in FIG. 6A above. As generally shown in the
 figures, the tilt mechanism 88 has a tubular upper section 96 and a
 tubular lower section 98. The tilt lower section 98 inserts into the lumen
 26 of the tubular sleeve 20 and the tilt upper section 96 inserts into the
 lumen of the canopy tube 100 of the canopy 12. FIG. 6B, shows a tilt
 mechanism 88b similar to that of FIG. 6A in operation, but having a
 slightly different pivot structure, while swiveling in the same manner.
 FIG. 6C, shows a tilt mechanism 88c having paddle shaped heads 101 which
 interface with each other at a toothed interface assembly 102. The paddle
 shaped heads 101 are connected and held together at the toothed interface
 assembly 102 by a combination spring biased release and pivot pin 95.
 Pressing the release button 95 removes the bias from the toothed interface
 assembly 102 allowing them to be rotated relative to each other, thus
 accomplishing tilting of the canopy 12. Releasing the combination button
 95 reapplies the bias to the toothed interface 102 and holds the heads 101
 in the selected position.
 In FIG. 6D, the tilt mechanism 88d comprises a ball and socket asembly. The
 ball 110 is securely attached to the lower tilt section 98 as shown. The
 ball 110 has a channel 112 through it which tapers from the top of the
 tilt ball 110 toward the bottom of the ball 110. The tapered channel 112
 may be cone shaped or oblong (as shown in FIG. 6D). Proximate the bottom
 of the ball 110 and in line with the tapered channel 112 is a threaded
 receptacle 114, such as a nut. The threaded receptacle 114 is disposed to
 have some movement from side-to-side, while being prevented from rotating
 relative to the ball 110. Movably mounted in close contact with the top of
 the tilt ball 110 is a socket 116. The tilt socket 116 is held in contact
 with the ball 110 by a threaded fastener 118, such as a bolt. The threaded
 fastener is fixed from rotating relative to the socket. In the embodiment
 exemplified in FIG. 6D, the head of the fastener 118 is fixed to the
 socket 116 by a bolt pin 120. The shaft of the fastener passes out of the
 socket 116, through the tapered channel 112 and is screwed into the
 threaded receptacle 114. In use, the socket 116 of the tilt mechanism 88d
 is unscrewed sufficiently to allow the socket 116 to move or slide about
 the surface of the tilt ball 110, at least to the extent allowable by the
 tapered channel 112. When the upper section 96 of the tilt mechanism is in
 a desired position, the socket 116 is screwed down tight to prevent it
 from moving about the surface of the tilt ball 110.
 Additionally, in the embodiment exemplified in FIG. 6A, the bottom rim 48
 of the lower tilt section 98 of the tilt mechanism 88a can serve as a
 hammer 48 for impacting the anvil of a standard. In the embodiment
 exemplified, the tilt mechanism 88a is fixed or integrated at its shoulder
 90 to the tubular sleeve 20 by means of a weld 91. The lower tilt section
 98 of the tilt mechanism 88a extends into and is closely received by the
 interior of the tubular sleeve 20. Although the illustrated means of
 integrating a tilt mechanism 88 to a tubular sleeve 20 is a weld, other
 means of integration are known to the ordinary skilled artisan and
 practicable in the present invention. For example, the detent pin 74 and
 through hole 76 combination of FIG. 5B can be used to releaseably
 integrate or fix a tilt mechanism 88 to a tubular sleeve 20. The tilt
 mechanism 88a in combination with the tubular sleeve 20 may be used as
 described above to drive a pole standard 50 into the ground surface. This
 embodiment has the advantage when the tilt mechanism 88 is releaseably
 fixable to the tubular sleeve 20 to provide a less complex tubular sleeve
 20, and the option to include a tilt mechanism 88 on the anchored umbrella
 pole 14 if desired by the user.
 In another preferred embodiment as exemplified in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the
 present device 10 includes one or more extension sections 130 that can be
 inserted into the umbrella pole 14 in series between the standard 50 and
 the tubular sleeve 20 to adjust the length of the pole 14. An extension
 section 130 has a lower end 132 similar to the second of lower end 24 of
 the tubular sleeve 20 in that it is configured to closely receive a
 standard 50 into an interior space or lumen (not shown). Also, the upper
 end 134 of the extension section 130 is similar to the upper end 52 of a
 pole standard, in that it can be received into the lumen 26 of a tubular
 sleeve.
 It is also intended in the present device 10 that, the user can dismount
 the umbrella canopy 12 from the umbrella pole 14 and use the pole 14 for
 other related purposes. For example, with the canopy removed, the umbrella
 pole 14 can be used as a tether ball pole (see FIG. 9C) or a flag pole on
 which a pennant may be displayed so that the user's location may be more
 easily found on a crowded beach. The latter is an important benefit when
 at the beach with children. Alternatively, two umbrella poles 14, sans a
 canopy 12, may be used to mount a net between them, such as for volley
 ball or badminton. Means for attaching a net or flag to the umbrella pole
 14 are known in the art and are readily adaptable by the ordinary skilled
 artisan for practice in the present invention. FIG. 9C illustrates an
 example of such flag or net attachment means as a detent pin 74 with an
 eye 138 integral to it. To accomplish the net or flag attachment, the
 number of detent pins 74 desired are inserted into the appropriate through
 holes 76 at the upper end of the umbrella pole 14. The length of the pole
 14, and thus the height of the flag or net (not shown) above the ground
 surface can be adjusted as described above.
 Umbrella canopies practicable in the present invention, and means for
 raising and folding them are known in the art. Such canopies and raising
 and folding means for umbrella canopies are known to and readily adaptable
 by the ordinary skilled artisan to the present invention. It is not
 intended that the present invention claim any specific umbrella canopy.
 However, as practiced in an alternative embodiment, the present umbrella
 canopy 12 includes a handle 84 attached to the top end 80 of the canopy
 12. The handle may be attached to the top end 80 by any of a variety of
 means known to the ordinary skilled artisan. For example, as shown in FIG.
 7A, a post hole 86 disposed in the handle receives the attachment post 82
 on the canopy top end 80. The attachment post 82 may be glued inside the
 hole 86 or may be threaded and screwed into the post hole 86, in order to
 attach the handle 84 to the canopy top end 80. FIG. 7B, shows an
 alternative embodiment of a handle 84a.
 The present invention may be constructed of its elemental parts and
 provided as separate components assemblable by the user. For example, the
 canopy 12, the tubular sleeve 20 including a hammer element, the standard
 50 including an anvil element, a tilt mechanism 88 and extension sections
 130 may all be provided as separate components and contained in a kit to
 facilitate transport and storage of the present umbrella 10. The kit may
 contain various of the components of the present invention and any
 ancillary hardware, such as attachment means (e.g., eye-fasteners) for
 flags, lines, nets and the like.
 Additionally, the present invention without the umbrella canopy is readily
 adaptable as a self-anchoring pole for use in other applications, such as
 a tether ball pole, or a pole for mounting a net in badminton and volley
 ball type games. See FIG. 8. The present pole 14 may be adapted with net
 mounts 126, one of which may be a sliding adjustable net mount 126a for
 mounting nets (not shown) of different widths to the pole 14. Preferably,
 the pole 14 includes a slide lock 70 for adjusting the height of the net
 from the ground.
 The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects
 and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent
 therein. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been
 given for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of
 procedures for accomplishing the desired results will readily suggest
 themselves to those skilled in the art, and such changes are encompassed
 within the spirit of the present invention disclosed herein and the scope
 of the appended claims.