FR2499670A1 - IMPROVED SUPPORT DEVICE FOR ARTICLES HAVING A FOOT, SUCH AS BEACH UMBRELLAS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN IMPROVED SUPPORT-DEVICE, FOR ARTICLES EQUIPPED WITH A STAND, SUCH AS PARASOLS. THE PERFECTED SUPPORT DEVICE ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ARTICLES ABOVE THE GROUND, FOR EXAMPLE PARASOLS. THE DEVICE INCLUDES, ON THE ONE HAND, A LONG TUBE 1, IN WHICH THE ARTICLE IS INTRODUCED AND HELD BY A CLAMP 13 AND ON THE OTHER HAND, FIXED TO TUBE 1, A TUBE 3 WHICH EXTENDS FROM TUBE 1 AND WHICH, WHEN IN USE, IS DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND. THE DEVICE ALSO PREFERABLY INCLUDES A HANDLE 5 WHICH FACILATES THE ROTATION OF THE DEVICE FOR PENETRATION OF THE AUGER 3 INTO THE GROUND. APPLICATION TO THE ASSEMBLY OF PARASOLS.

Description

The invention relates to a support device designed to support

  above the ground, for example the support device may be used to support

beach umbrellas.

  It is well known to attach such umbrellas by pushing the ends of their feet into the ground. The

  the extremities of the feet can even be sharpened to

  to write this operation. However, even with pointed ends, the introduction of these feet into the ground can cause damage to their ends, and if the soil

  is hard, it can even be difficult to introduce the ex-

  tremities of the feet of the parasols in the ground. In addition, strong winds often tear the foot off easily.

parasols from the ground.

  The object of the present invention is to design a support device, by means of which articles such

  beach umbrellas, among others, can be sup-

  raised above the ground, without having to be themselves

  inserted or sunk into the ground.

  - The support device according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an elongate tube, open at one end, an auger attached to the tube and extending from the latter, and a clamping element, resiliently biased, attached to and extending within the tube, said clamping member being

  adapted to bear against an object of sufficient size

  and tighten it, when the object is introduced into

the tube.

  A preferred form of the invention, one of which

  general finish has just been given and some variations

  of it, will now be described with reference to the

  FIGS. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view, FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a detachable handle detached from the tube, FIG. means by which the

  auger can be connected to the tube ,.

  Figure 5 shows another means by which the auger can be attached to the tube, Figure 6 shows a variant of the invention, in which the handles are pivotally mounted on the tube, Figure 7 shows a variant of the invention. in which the tube is of square section, and also shows another embodiment of the handle that can be used with such a tube, and Figure 8 shows a section of the upper end of the tube with a clamping member of the tube. type

with elastic clip.

  The preferred embodiment of the device

  support of the present invention is shown on the

  Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings in the appendix. The device-

  support comprises an elongated tube 1, which is of

  It is circular and is open at one end 2. An auger 3 is attached to the tube at the end of the latter opposite to that which is open. The auger extends into

  the extension of the tube, and the axes of the tube and the

  are substantially aligned. The tube and the auger

  both are preferably made of steel, and the

  is welded to the tube. If necessary, the end of the auger to be attached to the tube can be welded to a

  steel plug, which is inserted into the corresponding end

  of the tube and is in turn welded to this

  deny. Preferably at the open end of the tube, or

  towards the latter, the tube presents means which allow

  put the removable assembly of a handle on the tube, and in this preferred embodiment of the invention,

  these means comprise a pair of holes 4 passing through

  towards the tube. The handle comprises an elongate member, such as an elongate bar or tube, preferably made of high strength steel, and this handle can be passed through the holes 4 to extend laterally on one or preferably on both sides of the tube. The

  handle is then in the operating position, allowing

  both drive the device in rotation about the axis of the auger, to screw the latter in the

  ground. The weight of the person using the device-

  support can be applied on the handle, to facilitate this operation. When the auger has been sufficiently introduced into the ground, the handle 5 is removed. If the support device is to be used to support a beach umbrella, the lower end of the parasol foot

  is then introduced into the tube 1 of the support device.

  To prevent strong winds from detaching the parasol from the support device, means may be

  designed to hold the umbrella to its support. According to the

  an elastically biased clamping member is attached to and extends into the tube, the object of the clamping member being to press against an object,

  size, and to tighten the latter, when the ob-

  jet, which is for example the foot of a parasol, is introduced

  duit into the tube. The clamping force exerted by the clamping element must be sufficient to prevent any shrinkage

  accidental footing of the parasol, caused by wind, for example

  but must allow the foot of the parasol to be

  leaning from the tube by a person wishing to

coupled.

  As it appears best in Figure 8, the

  The preferred clamping arrangement is a steel spring clamp 13,

  which is attached to the open upper end of the tube 1.

  The clip is hung over the top edge and the

  most of the length of the clamp extends to the

  of the tube, in which it has a curved shape.

  The foot of an umbrella can be pushed beyond the portion

  curve, which causes flattening, in a certain

  measured the latter and led it to firmly support

  against the foot. The outer end of the clamp is preferably folded towards the tube, and engages in a notch provided in the latter. This prevents the clamp

  is easily dissociated from the tube.

  The use of the clip allows articles, whose feet can be relatively thinner than the inner dimensions of the tube, to be held in place.

place relatively safely.

  The spring clip may have other shapes and be attached to the tube in different ways, and other types of resiliently biased clamp members may

also be used.

  In addition to the clamping means, holes may be provided in the base of the beach umbrella at such a height that, when the foot of the umbrella is introduced into the tube 1 of the support device, these holes line up.

  on the holes 4 formed in the tube of the support device.

  This allows the handle 5 to be put back in place -

  in the holes 4 of the tube and also in the holes

  from the foot of the parasol, to fix the parasol to the

support.

  When - the handle 5 is separated from the rest of the disc

  Positive-support, as has been described, its loss can be prevented by attaching it to the support device by means of a flexible link. In FIG. 3, the ends of a chain 6 are respectively attached, by any suitable means, for example by screws, on the one hand to the tube 1,

  and on the other hand at one end of the handle 5. Alterna-

  a clamp can be used to hold the handle

in a removable manner.

  The dimensions of the device depend on its particular application, but for its use with most beach umbrellas, a total length of approximately cm, of which three quarters of this

  length are occupied by the tube 1, appears satisfactory.

  The outer diameter of the tube may be approximately 2.5 to 3 cm. The bar or the tube forming the handle may have a diameter of between 0.5 and 1 cm, and a length of between 20 and 30 cm, although

  it has a sufficient length of lateral projecting handle

  Usually, on each side of the tube, when the handle is inserted into the holes 4, and thus gives an adequate manual grip on each side, with an effective lever arm.

  We have just described the preferred form of reali-

  of the invention, and to indicate some variants

  possible, but many other variants and modifications

  cations can be made without departing from the scope of

  vention, and some of these variants and modifications

are specified below.

  By the term "auger" is meant any element

  threaded thread having a tapered tip at one end or

  elongated helical Preferably the auger is an essentially cylindrical elongate member, i.e. having essentially parallel edges, with a throat

  helicoidal which extends along its length to an extreme

  of the element, as shown in the figures.

  In general, a tapered tip is provided for the ex-

  end of the tube 1. Instead of being an element permanently attached to the tube, the auger may be a separate element that can be mounted on the tube. For example, in FIG. 4, the auger is welded to a threaded plug 7, which is screwed into the threaded end of the tube 1. Preferably, means are provided to prevent

  the cap is unscrewed from the tube when the device

  support is rotated to introduce the auger

  in the soil or to remove it from the soil. On the

  5, the auger is also welded to a stopper 7,

  which is simply introduced into the appropriate end

  In this case also, means, such as a slotted head screw 9, are provided to prevent

  accidental separation of the tube auger.

  Many variants of the handle are also

  possible. For example, two handles may be rigidly attached to the tube by welding, so as to protrude laterally from opposite sides of the tube. Alternatively, two nuts can be welded on opposite sides of the tube, and two bars, each of which forms a handle, can be threaded at one of their ends, so that they can be screwed into the nuts. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of fastening tabs 10 are welded to opposite sides of the tube, and between each of these pairs of tabs, one end of a handle is pivotally mounted by means of

  pin 11. In Figure 6, the handles are shown in FIG.

  pivoting tees between a lateral or user position

  as shown on the right side of the figure, and a folded position, as shown on the

  left. In this case, the handles are folded into position

  the disadvantage of this embodiment is that it is then difficult to apply the weight of the user on the handles to facilitate the introduction of the auger

  in the ground. This problem can be solved by

  vote the handles in the opposite direction, that is to say toward the open end 2 of the tube. Alternatively, any ratchet device or any suitable locking device may be provided to hold the handles in their positions of use, while allowing the

  folding handles, when these devices are released.

  The tube may have other sections than a section

  circle. For example, in Figure 7, it is shown with a square section. In this case, the handle may have the shape of a T-shaped element, the tab 12 of the T being also of square section and forming a pin that can be inserted into the open end 2 of the tube,

as shown.

  The main advantage of the embodiments

  of the invention in which the handle or handles are

  motive or detachable is that the device is more

stored or packaged.

  When there are provided pivoting handles, these may include a clamping flange penetrating into the tube through an opening in the wall of the latter. When folded, the handles can then also tighten an article maintained in

  the support device to prevent accidental removal.

  In the position of use of the device, the tail is screwed into the ground, while the tube extends above the latter, and constitutes a socket in which the base of an umbrella may be introduced so as to to be maintained there. In this way, the end of the foot of the umbrella does not need to be driven into the ground and can be kept safe from any environment that could

Corrode it.

  In other embodiments of the invention,

  the auger and the tube are not necessarily

  if the device is to be used to support

  an article in a position other than vertically.

  The device according to this invention can be used to support a wide variety of articles other than beach umbrellas, for example fishing rods,

  stems of flags and pennants, signposts

  bikes, ball game stakes and many other

  ticks that should otherwise be sunk into the ground. It is much easier to drive the auger into the ground than

  the right end of a stake or post, in particular

  bind when the soil is hard. The auger also provides

  a much better fixation in the ground.

  The device according to the invention can be

  other non-corrosive materials, such as aluminum or aluminum alloys or

plastics.

Claims (15)

  1. Support device characterized in that it com-   takes an elongated tube (1), open at one end (2), an auger (3), attached to and extending from the tube (1) and an elastically biased clamping member (13) attached to the tube (1), and extending into the latter, said clamping element (13) being adapted to press against an object of different size, and the   tighten when the object is inserted into the tube (1).   2. Support device according to claim 1, characterized in that the auger (3) is fixed to the tube (1) at the end of the latter opposite its open end (2), the auger (3) extending in the prolongation   of the tube (1), so that the axes of the tube and the   are substantially aligned.   3. Support device according to one of the claims   1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a handle (5) or means for fixing or removable mounting a handle (5) on the tube (1).   4. - Support device according to claim 3,   characterized in that the handle (5) or said means are disposed at the open end (2) of the tube (1) or towards the latter.   5. Support device according to one of the claims   3 and 4, characterized in that the handle (5), in position   of use, extends laterally with respect to the tube (1).   6. Support device according to one of the claims   3 to 5, characterized in that the handle (5) extends   side of the tube (1) in two directions opposed.   7. Support device according to one of the claims   3 to 6, characterized in that the handle (5) comprises an element   lying elongated from the tube (1), while the means   putting the handle (5) to be fixed or removably mounted on the tube comprise holes (4) in the tube (1)   in which the handle (5) passes when this   It extends laterally with respect to the tube (1).   8. Support device according to one of the claims   3 to 7, characterized in that the handle (5) is attached to   tube (1) by a flexible link (6) or a clamp.   9. Support device according to one of the claims   3-7, characterized in that the handle (5) is fixed to the tube (1).   10. Support device according to one of the claims   3 to 7, characterized in that the handle (5) is pivotally mounted   on the tube (1) and can be moved between a position   of use and a folded position in which   it extends substantially against the tube (1).   11. Support device according to one of the claims   1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises two handles (5)   arranged on opposite sides of the tube (1).   12. Support device according to one of the claims   1 to 11, characterized in that the auger (3) is screwed in the tube (1). -   13. Support device according to one of the claims   1 to 11, characterized in that one end of the auger (3) is inserted into one end of the tube (1) and is fixed thereto by a screw (9) passing through a hole in the tube (1) and screwed into said end of the auger (3).   14. Support device according to one of the claims   1 to 11, characterized in that the auger (3) is welded to the tube (1).   15. Support device according to one of the claims   1 to 14, characterized in that the clamping element comprises a spring clip (13) attached to the upper part of the tube (1).