Patent ID: 7614600

Claim:
An umbrella base system capable of supplying electrical power to external electrical devices comprising an umbrella base including a body portion having a top, a bottom, and at least one ballast cavity, said ballast cavity stores at least one cordless electrical power source such that the power source held in said ballast cavity will provide ballast weight for the umbrella base, and further including an umbrella holding structure accessible from the top of said body portion for receiving the support shaft of an umbrella for holding the umbrella in an upright position, at least one readily accessible power connector associated with said umbrella base, said power connector including a receptacle to which external electrical devices used in the vicinity of the umbrella base system can be removably connected, and a conductive path extending from said ballast cavity through said body portion for electrifying the readily accessible power connector associated with said umbrella base from a cordless power source held in the ballast cavity of said umbrella base, wherein the cordless power source held in said ballast cavity provides power to the receptacle of said power connector for powering an external device connected to said receptacle.