Abstract:
A universal attachment umbrella holder for providing a portable umbrella holder that can be attached to various objects. The universal attachment umbrella holder includes an adjustable base assembly having a pair of support arms and a clamping arm to permit clamping of the base assembly to an object or positioning on a support surface. A holding assembly is provided for receiving and supporting the post of an umbrella. In an embodiment, a holding tube is used for insertion into the post of the umbrella while the post is further held by a holding cup that surrounds the post.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/436,504, filed Dec. 26, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to umbrella holders and more particularly pertains to a new universal attachment umbrella holder for providing a portable umbrella holder that can be attached to various objects. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of umbrella holders is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,885 issued to Kreischer on Dec. 22, 1992 describes a device for mounting an umbrella on a variety of wire baskets. Another type of umbrella holder is U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,218 issued to Leonard on May 21, 1996 showing a long tube for bungee cord attachment to a structure or insertion into the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,881 issued to Villa on Aug. 17, 1999 discloses a shadow casting umbrella stand structure that extends up from a base and supports a hanging canopy. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that can alternately provide a stand or be clamped to an existing structure to hold and support an existing umbrella. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally comprises a base assembly having a pair of support arms and a clamping arm. The support arms and clamping arm work together to permit use of the base assembly as a stand or to clamp the base assembly to a support structure. A holding assembly is attached to the base assembly to provide pivoting and tilting of an umbrella inserted into the holding assembly. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a new universal attachment umbrella holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention showing attachment to a bench seat. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention attached to a horizontal board, particularly a picnic table top. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the holding cup assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an alternative holding cup structure of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an alternative holding cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of an alternative holding cup structure for providing height adjustment. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 9  thereof, a new universal attachment umbrella holder embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the universal attachment umbrella holder  10  generally comprises a base assembly  12  having a pair of support arms  14 ,  16  and a clamping arm  18 . In an embodiment, each of the support arms  14 ,  16  is pivotally coupled to be positionable at an adjustable angle relative to each other. Alternatively, the support arms  14 ,  16  may be integral and form a fixed angle relative to each other. The clamping arm  18  is pivotable relative to the support arms  14 ,  16 . Thus, the clamping arm  18  is designed to clamp an object  2  between the clamping arm  18  and one of the support arms either  14  or  16  as desired. A tightening member  20  is provided for tightening the support arms  14 ,  16  and the clamping arm  18  to hold the support arms  14 ,  16  and clamping arm  18  in place in a desired position. Further, a handle  21  may be mounted on the clamping arm  18  to facilitate holding of the clamping arm  18  in position during, for example, adjustment of the various adjustable parts of the invention. 
     A holding assembly  22  is pivotally coupled to the base assembly  12  so that the orientation of the holding assembly may be adjusted with respect to the base assembly  12 . Thus, the invention is designed for holding an umbrella  4  at a desired angle with respect to the base assembly  12 , and any structure or surface on which the base assembly  12  is supported. 
     Each support arm  14 ,  16  may include a telescopic and generally T-shaped end portion  24 . Optionally, an end of each of the T-shaped end portions  24  may be inserted into a portion of the respective support arm  14 ,  16 , or the end of each of the T-shaped end portions  24  may receive a portion of the respective support arm  14 ,  16 . Additionally, a plurality of rubber pads  26  may be attached along an outer flange  28  of the T-shaped end portions  24 . As a further option, the outer flange  28  of each T-shaped end portion  24  may also be adjustable by telescoping or folding to facilitate compact storage and portability. 
     The base assembly  12  may also include a stabilizer  27  that is mounted on one of the T-shaped end portions  24  or on one of the support arms  14 ,  16 ). The stabilizer  27  may include a plate portion that extends away from the end portion  24  or the support arm  14 ,  16  in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axis of the support arm, and is especially suitable for resting against an edge surface of a table when the invention is mounted on a table as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The stabilizer  27  may also include a clamp portion that is selectively loosenable to permit adjustment of the position of the stabilizer  27  along the end portion  24  or the support arm  14 ,  16  and is also selectively tightenable to permit locking of the position of the stabilizer  27  relative to the support arm  14 ,  16  or the end portion  24 , such as when the stabilizer  27  has been adjusted to abut against the edge of the table. 
     Optionally, distal ends  30  of the support arms  14 ,  16  and clamping arm  18  are positionable in a plane to facilitate stable positioning of the base assembly  12  directly on a planar surface such as the surface of the ground. Further, the base assembly  12  may also include first  31  and second  33  clips mounted on the support arms  14 ,  16  and cross members of the clamping arm  18  to permit various tubes of the invention to be temporarily connected to these portions. 
     In greater detail, the holding assembly  22  of the invention has a first post  32  and a second post  34 . The first post  32  is coupled to the base assembly  12  and the second post  34  is pivotally coupled to the first post  32 . A base support  36  and at least one loop  38  are coupled to the second post  34  such that an umbrella pole  6  is insertable through the loop  38  and supported by the base support  36  such that the umbrella pole  6  is positioned to extend parallel to the second post  34 . The base support  36  is formed by a connection band  46  coupled to the second post  44  and a holding cup  48  having a lip  49  that is supported by the connection band  46  when the holding cup  48  is inserted through the connection band  46 . 
     A sliding collar assembly  40  extends from the second post  34  and engages the first post  32  to allow the second post  34  to be tilted relative to the first post  32  by sliding a collar portion  42  on the first post  32 . The collar portion  42  frictionally engages the first post  32  for holding the first and second posts  32 ,  34  in a static position relative to each other until sufficient force is applied to move the collar portion  42  on the first post  32 . An adjustment knob  44  is operationally coupled to the collar portion  42  for selectively tightening the collar portion  42  around the first post  32  to inhibit sliding of the collar portion  42  on the first post  32 . 
     The base assembly  12  includes a position adjustment piece  50  that pivots relative to the support arms  14 ,  16  and the clamping arm  18 . The first post  32  of the holding assembly  22  is inserted into the position adjustment piece  50 . 
     In various embodiments, a plurality of variously sized holding cups  48  to accommodate variously sized umbrellas. Thumb screws  52  are provided for coupling the holding cups  48  to the connection band  46 . Additionally, an optional holding tube  54  is anchorable in the holding cup  48  such that the holding tube  54  is insertable into a tubular umbrella post  8  when the tubular umbrella post  8  is inserted into the holding cup  48 . 
     The holding cup  48  may also be generally tubular so that, if desired, the holding cup  48  may be inserted directly into the position adjustment piece  50 . The holding cup  48  may also include a telescopic neck portion  56  secured by locking pins  58 . 
     In an embodiment, hooks  60  extend from the clamping arm  18  to facilitate stable positioning and clamping of the clamping arm  18 . 
     A movable support arm pad assembly  62  is positionable along a length of a selectable one of the support arms  14 ,  16  to facilitate clamping using the support arm  14  or  16 . A clamping arm pad  64  is positionable along the clamping arm  18  to facilitate clamping and prevent damage by the clamping arm  18 . 
     A butterfly clip  66  is couplable to the umbrella pole between the holding cup  48  and the loop  38 . The butterfly clip  66  is positionable adjacent to the loop  38  whereby the umbrella pole is inhibited from being removed from the holding cup  48 . 
     A plate  68  is coupled to a pivot point  70  of the support arms  14 ,  16  and clamping arm  18 . The plate  68  has a plurality of apertures  72 . A catch pin  74  is insertable through a selectable one of the apertures  72  in the plate  68  such that the catch pin  74  restricts movement of the support arms  14 ,  16  and clamping arm  18  if desired. 
     The base assembly  12  is sufficiently weighted through the inherent weight of the previously described structure. However, a pivoting weight arm  76  is coupled to the base assembly  12  to permit additional weighting of the base assembly  12  as desired. A weight member  78  is selectively couplable to the weight arm  76  for inhibiting tipping of the base assembly during use. The pivoting of the weight arm  76  helps to inhibit tipping due to the weight arm  76  and weight member  78 . 
     Thumb screws may also be used to anchor the umbrella post in the holding cup  48 . Optionally, holding cup  48  may be provided with a nub (shown in  FIG. 8 ) that may be removably receivable in a slot formed in the position adjustment piece  50  of the invention. The slot may be generally L-shaped so that the holding cup is secured against removal with a portion of the invention that is inserted into the holding cup. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, spring biased feet may be used and ground spikes may be insertable through the support arms to secure the base assembly. 
     The base assembly  12  of the invention may also include an auxiliary connection band  47  and an auxiliary holding cup  51  for holding the umbrella in a relatively stationary position with respect to the base assembly  12  and the surface on which the base assembly is supported. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.