Umbrella stand

An umbrella stand comprising:

• a base formed into a container, said container having a bottom to which is attached a peripheral edge at the periphery of said bottom, said bottom having a center point, an enclosing sidewall attached to said peripheral edge, said enclosing sidewall defining an interior chamber, said container having an open top located at the free edge of said enclosing sidewall, said container being capable of retaining a quantity of a separate weighty substance such as sand;
• and
• a socket arrangement mounted on said bottom and located within said interior chamber, said socket arrangement including an upright socket and an inclined socket, said upright socket having a first elongated recess adapted to receive an umbrella shaft, said inclined socket having a second elongated recess adapted to receive an umbrella shaft, said first elongated recess having a first longitudinal center axis, said second elongated recess having a second longitudinal center axis, said second longitudinal center axis intersecting said first longitudinal center axis at a point located above said open top, said first longitudinal center axis coinciding with said center point, said second longitudinal recess terminating in a bottom end, said bottom end being located directly adjacent said enclosing sidewall, said inclined socket being located between said enclosing sidewall and said first longitudinal center axis.