Patent ID: 8082934

Claim:
An anchoring device for anchoring an umbrella in a loose material comprising: a bottom plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a plurality of elongated spacers having a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end of each of the plurality of elongated spacers connected proximate a perimeter of the bottom plate and extending at least one of perpendicular and substantially perpendicular from the top surface of the bottom plate; a top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top plate at least one of planar and substantially planar with the bottom plate, the top end of each of the plurality of spacers connected proximate a perimeter of the top plate such that the plurality of elongated spacers extend at least one of perpendicularly and substantially perpendicularly from the bottom surface of the top plate, wherein the plurality of elongated spacers connect the top plate and the bottom plate and create a space between the top plate and the bottom plate adapted to receive the loose material; a hollow tube extending at least one of perpendicularly and substantially perpendicularly from the top surface of the top plate, the hollow tube configured to receive a post of the umbrella; and an attachment mechanism connected to the hollow tube configured to removably attach the post of the apparatus; wherein the anchoring device is configured to increase the static retention force that resists movement caused by forces translated to the anchoring device from the post of the apparatus when the anchoring device is submerged in a loose material.