Abstract:
A pole support for an upright pole, preferably for use with an upright pole of a sunshade, umbrella or other similar product, that comprises a pole base, a pole holder connected to said pole base for the upright pole, and a weight, wherein the weight is configured to act upon the pole base to stabilize the pole base, and wherein the weight is configured to be detached from the pole base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2007012 223.5, filed Mar. 12, 2007. The disclosure of the referenced application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a pole support for an upright pole, preferably for the upright pole of a sunshade, umbrella or similar product, with a pole base and connected or integrated pole holder for the upright pole. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Sunshades, umbrellas and similar other garden or leisure products which include an upright pole for anchoring on the floor have been available on the market in various designs for some time. Upright umbrellas on terraces, balconies, in gardens and other outside facilities provide valuable services as reliable shades or protection from the rain. In order to provide shade or protection from the rain to an area as large as possible, the size of the umbrella canopies became gradually larger during the past few years. Due to the associated heavy weight of the umbrella canopies and the holding structure required for the open umbrella canopy, these umbrellas need a solid anchoring of their upright pole on the floor. The requirements of the upright pole further increase when we take into account the larger contact surface for the wind as a result of the enlargement of the umbrella. 
         [0004]    The anchoring requirements on the floor are particularly high for the upright pole of so-called traffic light post umbrellas. Contrary to classical umbrellas with their umbrella canopy arranged centrally above the upright pole, the umbrella canopy of these umbrellas is arranged radially away from the upright pole. For this purpose, the umbrella canopy is suspended on a traffic light post, creating the radial distance to the upright pole. It is easily understandable that the eccentricity of the center of gravity caused by the distance generates significant bending loads even in the static status (i.e., without wind load), requiring a particularly stable anchoring on the floor. The developments described above made the construction of ever larger, heavier pole supports necessary. 
         [0005]    Pole supports known from prior art generally comprise a pole base and a connected or integrated pole holder for an upright pole. The pole holder usually consists of a metal tube with circular or square cross-section which is open to above for inserting the upright pole. Additional clamping systems or similar devices to secure the upright pole in the pole holder may be provided. 
         [0006]    To achieve a stable position, conventional pole bases are often made of solid heavy materials such as metal (cast iron) or stone or are designed as a container to be filled with a high-density medium such as sand, gravel, water, etc. The pole holder is either designed as one piece combined with the pole base (in particular if it is a metal base) or inserted, for example, into the pole base designed as a synthetic container. 
         [0007]    One of the target variables to be improved in the design of the pole holder is the tipping safety of the whole umbrella which results from the combination of the umbrella&#39;s center of gravity and the supporting surface of the pole base. From a static point of view, i.e., without taking into account wind loads, etc., the umbrella resting in the pole support on the floor starts tilting when its center of gravity is outside the supporting range of the pole base. 
         [0008]    The disadvantage of pole supports according to prior art is that they are heavy to be able to fulfill their function, i.e., to guarantee adequate tilting safety; as a result, a single person is unable to transport them or can only transport them with the expenditure of a lot of energy. DE 20 2006 002 271 U1 provides a pull-out handle at the pole base to facilitate the transport of a pole support. However, it only slightly improves the handling when carrying the support. Large, heavy pole supports can hardly be moved better with the carrying handle. In fact, the risk of injury is greater if the pole support drops, for example onto the feet of the person carrying it, when it is lifted up using the handle. 
         [0009]    Pole supports made of metal are associated with an additional increased risk of injury, in particular due to sharp edges and corners, when the heavy construction is moved. With respect to pole bases according to prior art designed as synthetic containers, the risk of injury is lower compared to the metal base and the weight can be reduced by emptying the container, but the emptying of the container for transport and filling the container to use the pole support are expensive and tedious. Ultimately, all the pole supports according to prior art are bulky and difficult to transport and store as a result. 
         [0010]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to design and further develop a pole support as described above that ensures the tilt-safe support of the upright pole on the one hand, while enabling the easy and risk-free transport and storage on the other hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Based on the invention, the objective mentioned above and others are achieved by providing a pole support comprising a pole base, a pole holder connected to said pole base for the upright pole, and a weight, wherein the weight is configured to act upon the pole base to stabilize the pole base, and wherein the weight is configured to be detached from the pole base. Accordingly, a pole support for an upright pole, preferably for an upright pole of a sunshade, umbrella or similar product of the type mentioned above, is characterized in that a weight acts upon the pole base to stabilize the pole base, where the weight can be detached from the pole base. 
         [0012]    Based on the invention, it was determined that the pole base of a pole support does not necessarily need to be heavy, because a heavy weight of the pole base makes its transport significantly more difficult. To nonetheless ensure the stable position of the pole support, the idea was developed to provide a separate weight from the pole base which acts upon the pole base for stabilization purposes. According to the invention, the weight can be detached from the pole base. 
         [0013]    The design of the pole support according to the invention realizes a functional separation. Accordingly, the pole base essentially serves the purpose of defining a support area of the pole support with respect to the floor, which is in particular based on the lateral, i.e., horizontal, extension of the pole base. Moreover, the pole support is connected to or integrated in the pole base. The mass of the pole base can be comparatively low. In contrast, the mass required to stabilize the pole base on the floor is essentially applied with the weight, the mass of which acts upon the pole base. The action of the weight on the pole base has a positive effect on the center of gravity of the pole support and as a result on the whole set-up of the pole support including the inserted umbrella. Based on the selected mass and position of the weight with respect to the pole base, the center of gravity of the whole set-up can be placed across the center of the pole base to prevent tilting. 
         [0014]    The detachability of the weight from the pole base according to the invention has the particular advantage of the significantly easier transportability of the pole support thanks to the detachment of the weight from the pole base. After the detachment, the light-weight pole base and easy-to-handle weight can be transported and stored comfortably separate from one another. The weight can be designed as a solid or hollow model made of metal, stone, wood, synthetic material, etc. While solid weights, e.g., made of metal or stone, are particularly easy to manufacture, hollow weights—preferably made of synthetic material—have the advantage that they can be filled with any type of filler. The hollow design within the meaning of a container for filler is described below. 
         [0015]    From a construction point of view, the effect of the weight on the pole base can easily be realized in that the weight at least partially rests on the pole base. By resting on the pole base, the force of the weight can directly act upon the pole base. The corresponding shape of the weight, e.g., within the meaning of an at least partially designed complementary underside of the weight with respect to the canopy side of the pole base, can confer adequate lateral support with respect to the pole base in a beneficial and easy way. At the same time, a simple lift guarantees the quick detachment of the weight from the pole base. It is possible that the weight covers the pole base partially or even completely so that no parts with potentially sharp edges of the pole base protrude to the outside. At the same time, the cover improves the optical appearance of the pole support. 
         [0016]    The weight is preferably designed in such a way that it surrounds the pole holder. The complete enclosure of the pole holder is possible, where the weight in this case is designed as a ring; this has the advantage that the weight is distributed equally around the pole holder. Alternatively, the weight could enclose the pole holder only partially, i.e., within the meaning of a partial ring or a U-arrangement. In this case, the advantage compared to the full ring arrangement is that the weight can be detached easily sideways from the pole base, i.e., even when the upright pole is inserted. 
         [0017]    Alternatively or additionally, the circumference of the weight could include one or more openings, preferably in several places along the circumference. Said design of the weight is particularly practical if it surrounds the pole holder. In this case, the possibility to open the circumference also enables the lateral detachment of the weight from the pole base. Different variations are possible, where in particular the option of opening several places along the circumference simultaneously offers additional advantages. Because, when the weight is designed as a ring which encloses the pole holder, the option of opening it in several places along the circumference divides the weight into at least two or more elements arranged radially around the pole holder. This allows a particularly easy assembly and disassembly of the weight—including when the upright pole is inserted. 
         [0018]    In an additional preferred embodiment, the weight could in principle—i.e., irrespective of the design—be divided into several elements which can preferably be separated from one another. This provides the general advantage that the weight is designed in a modular fashion and can be assembled and disassembled in a flexible manner for separation purposes. The total mass of the weight can be adjusted as needed (for example, for different types and sizes of umbrellas, wind strengths, etc.), where any arrangement of the elements is possible. For example, individual elements of the weight could be arranged principally horizontally, i.e., side-by-side and/or above one another. In another preferred embodiment, the asymmetrical distribution of the elements could be beneficial for traffic light pole umbrellas, to absorb in particular the unilateral bearing forces. 
         [0019]    To guarantee the adequate hold with simultaneous detachability, another advantage is if the elements of the weight are connected positively and/or non-positively. When connecting individual elements, basically any techniques and their combination are generally possible, where positive connections, for example, fitting the elements into each other, usually have the advantage of easy handling. Non-positive connections comfortably achieve connections with all-round hold. 
         [0020]    A mainly positive connection can preferably be realized in that adjacent elements of the weight comprise contact areas with a complementary profile, preferably within the meaning of a dovetail joint or the like. Said profiling (dovetail joint) enables the easy joining of adjacent elements, providing a strong cohesion at least orthogonally to the direction of the joint. Additional cohesion may be provided with limitations, locks, latches or similar devices. As another preferred embodiment, a particularly easy to operate connection providing a strong cohesion could be realized with a tapered dovetail joint. The increasing wedge effect of the taper limits the joining process, ultimately creating a positive and non-positive connection. 
         [0021]    To increase the flexibility of the pole support further, it is possible that the weight or individual elements of the weight is/are designed as container(s). In said design, it is possible that the weight or individual elements of the weight are made of synthetic material which can be processed particularly easily compared to many other materials. Depending on the need, the container can be filled with desired medium such as sand, gravel, water, etc., allowing you to increase its mass significantly. By draining the medium, the mass of the container can just as easily be reduced again. In addition to pourable media, the container could alternatively or additionally be filled with a piece of a medium, such as matching metal, stone or wood plates, etc. 
         [0022]    To prevent or at least hinder the undesired lateral distribution of the filler inserted into the container(s), the container can be divided into several segments. Dividing walls are arranged in the inside of the container which at least limit the free movement of the filler for this purpose. The division could preferably result in the formation of individual chambers which can be filled differently, if necessary. Alternatively, the dividing walls can serve the stability of the container only. 
         [0023]    To allow the convenient filling, the containers can be designed in such a way that they are open to their top side. This way, the containers can be filled comfortably from the top when the pole support is set up and be drained particularly easily when needed by detaching them from the pole base and turning them upside down. 
         [0024]    From a practical point of view, it is beneficial if the opening of the container or the openings of several containers is/are covered by an element of the weight placed on top or with a cover plate. The first option (an element placed on top) has the special advantage that because of the stackable arrangement of elements of the weight, the upper element serves as cover for the element placed underneath. The top-most element of a stack of elements is then advantageously covered by a cover plate. 
         [0025]    As mentioned above, the pole support according to the invention has the special advantage that its pole base can be constructed as a relatively light-weight design. In a preferred embodiment it is therefore designed as a crossed stand with the struts preferably arranged at a right angle to one another. In addition to a simple construction, the design as crossed stand offers the advantage that it can be assembled and disassembled quickly while providing superior rigidity. Thanks to the collapsibility, it can be stored easily. Superior rigidity of the pole base can be achieved with a relatively low weight, if the latter is preferably made of shaped metal struts. 
         [0026]    The benefit of the pole support can be increased further if a pivot bearing is mounted on the pole holder opposite the pole base. This enables the change of position of the upright pole in the pole holder, corresponding to the pivoting axis of the bearing. It is particularly beneficial if the pivoting axis of the bearing at least almost coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pole holder. The adjustability of the umbrella at a horizontal level is herewith possible—for example to follow the solar altitude—without the need to move the pole base for this purpose. 
         [0027]    From a technical point of view, this can be realized simply with the provision of a bearing mounted on the pole holder opposite the pole base that is connected to the pole base on the one hand and to the pole holder on the other hand. Said bearing unit could comprise, e.g., suitable slide and/or rolling bearings which absorb the axial force of the weight on the one hand and the radial lateral forces on the other hand. Any options are possible for the respective connection of the bearing unit to the pole base and the pole holder. Fusion-welded connections (for example, welded, glued, soldered) are possible for the creation of a particularly solid, permanent connection. In contrast, positive and/or non-positive connections (for example, with screws, rivets) can easily be assembled and disassembled, enabling the comfortable detachability. 
         [0028]    In another preferred embodiment of the pivot bearing described above, the bearing unit could comprise a brake and/or locking mechanism, preferably operable by means of a foot control protruding over the weight. Said foot control could preferably be connected to the brake and locking mechanism with a telescopic arm that can be locked at different lengths. Said adjustability of the telescopic arm would allow the convenient adjustment of the foot control at different heights of the weight. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    The inventive device will be described in more detail hereinbelow with the aid of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive apparatus, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the pole support according to the invention, 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  shows a first assembly step of the pole support, 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  shows an additional assembly step of the pole support illustrated in  FIG. 2 , 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  shows the pole support after completion of the assembly step illustrated in  FIG. 3  while being filled with sand, 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  shows the pole support after completion of the assembly step illustrated in  FIG. 3  with detailed views of the lockable telescopic arm in retracted and extended positions, 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  shows an additional assembly step of the pole support illustrated in  FIG. 5 , 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  shows the pole support after completion of the assembly step illustrated in  FIG. 6  while being filled with water, 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  shows an additional assembly step of the pole support after completion of the assembly step illustrated in  FIG. 6 , 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  shows an additional assembly step of the pole support after completion of the assembly step illustrated in  FIG. 8 , 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  shows the assembled pole support with an exploded view of the foot control, and 
           [0040]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective side view of the pole support in assembled status. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment of the pole support according to the invention. Because  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 11  show the same pole support at different assembly stages and in different views, the description refers to  FIG. 1 . Further details will be discussed later, based on select figures. 
         [0042]    The main element of the pole support is the pole base  1 , connected to a pole holder  2  for an upright pole (not shown). To stabilize the pole base  1 , a weight  3  is placed on it, consisting of half-shell or almost kidney-shaped elements  3   a  and  3   b  which are open to above and divided into segments. An upper element  3   a  is placed on a lower element  3   a  and an upper element  3   b  is placed on a lower element  3   b . A cover plate  4 , the opening of which is in turn covered by a cover closure  5 , is used to cover the upper elements  3   a  and  3   b . In addition, the foot control  6  is illustrated which is arranged above the cover closure  5 . 
         [0043]    The pole base  1  is designed as a crossed stand consisting of shaped metal struts arranged at a right angle to one another. As shown in  FIG. 2  in connection with  FIG. 11 , a pivot bearing is mounted on the pole holder  2  opposite the pole base  1 . For this purpose, a bearing unit  7  is connected to the pole holder  2  with screws  71 , flat springs  72  and washers  73  on the one hand and to the pole base  1  on the other hand. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the pivoting axis of the bearing unit  7  corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the pole holder  2 . As a result, an upright pole—including the umbrella—inserted in the pole holder  2  can be rotated at the horizontal level. 
         [0044]    In addition, the bearing unit  7  comprises a brake and locking mechanism integrated in the bearing unit  7 ; for its operation, a telescopic arm protrudes upwards from the side of the bearing unit  7 . The telescopic arm comprises a telescopic sleeve  81  connected to the bearing unit  7  on the one hand and a telescopic shaft  82  inserted in it on the other hand. As shown in the detailed views of  FIG. 5 , the telescopic shaft  82  in extended position can be locked opposite the telescopic sleeve  81 . It is locked by latching the snap-on pin  83  in one of the holes on the telescopic sleeve  81 . The snap-on pin  83  is attached to the telescopic shaft  82  by means of a compound spring integrated in the snap-on pin  83 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  illustrates how individual half-shell elements—here a lower element  3   a —are placed onto the pole base  1 . In assembled status, the elements  3   a ,  3   b  completely enclose the pole holder  2 . To assemble elements  3   a ,  3   b  with the weight  3 , dovetail joints are provided on the adjacent lateral contact areas of the elements  3   a ,  3   b . As a result, the two elements  3   a ,  3   b  can easily be joined in vertical direction (see, for example, detailed view of  FIG. 3 ), where the positive connection at the same time enables the easy detachment. To ensure the sufficient hold of the lower elements  3   a ,  3   b  opposite the pole base  1 , the underside of elements  3   a ,  3   b  is at least partially designed to complement the pole base  1 . The outer edge of elements  3   a ,  3   b  is equipped with engaging cavities which can be used as handles. 
         [0046]    The upper elements  3   a ,  3   b  can be assembled analogously to the lower elements  3   a ,  3   b . From a practical point of view, any number of elements  3   a ,  3   b  can be stacked on top of one another and the total mass of the weight  3  can therefore be influenced depending on the requirements. Thanks to the easy detachability, the modular design of the weight  3  makes the transport and storage of unused pole supports significantly easier. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the upper elements  3   a ,  3   b  can be covered completely with the cover plate  4 , which is divided into two halves  4   a ,  4   b . In turn, in the area of the central opening, the cover plate  4  is covered by the cover closure  5  (see, for example,  FIG. 9 ), which completely encloses the pole holder  2 . A recess is provided at the outer edge of the cover closure  5 ; the telescopic arm, i.e., the telescopic shaft  82  inserted in the telescopic sleeve  81  is protruding upwards through said recess. To activate the telescopic arm, a foot control  6  is connected to the upper end of the telescopic shaft  82  by means of a locking pin  61  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0048]    In the assembled state of the pole support as shown in  FIG. 11 , the rotation of the pole holder  2  can be released by activating the foot control  6  or blocked by its release. Depending on the height of the weight  3 , the height of the foot control  6  can be adjusted by moving the telescopic arm. 
         [0049]    To avoid any duplication, we would like to refer to the general part of the description and the enclosed patent claims with respect to other advantageous embodiments of the pole support according to the invention. 
         [0050]    Finally, we would like to point out that the exemplary embodiment of the pole support according to the invention described above only serves the discussion of the claimed teachings without limiting them to the exemplary embodiment.