Shape retaining foldable umbrella base

A foldable umbrella base, comprising:

• a foldable container comprising a lateral periphery, a central portion, a bottom surface, and a top surface, the central portion fixedly connected to the bottom surface and comprising a sleeve extending along a portion of the foldable container between the bottom surface and the top surface, the foldable container comprising a ballast retaining space configured to receive and retain a ballast material in a volume bounded by the sleeve of the central portion, the lateral periphery, and the bottom surface, the ballast material being prevented by the sleeve from passing from the ballast retaining space to an interior of the sleeve;
• the lateral periphery comprising a plurality of pockets configured to receive and hold a corresponding plurality of rigid members, at least one of said plurality of pockets having an access opening disposed on the lateral periphery of the container;
• and
• a plurality of elongate supports having a first end connected to the central portion and a second end connected to the lateral periphery above the bottom surface;
• wherein the corresponding plurality of rigid members and the elongate supports are configured to provide structural support to the lateral periphery and the central portion comprising the sleeve, whereby the container can retain a shape upon receiving the ballast
• wherein the foldable container is configured to be placed over at least a portion of a base piece having an upright receptacle for receiving an umbrella pole such that the upright receptacle is permitted to extend through the sleeve.

A foldable umbrella base, comprising:

• a foldable container comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, and a peripheral surface, the peripheral surface being bounded by the top edge and the bottom edge of the foldable container, the foldable container being configured to be placed on a ground surface,
• wherein the foldable container further comprises a central portion and a bottom surface, the central portion comprising a sleeve extending from the bottom surface toward the top edge and the sleeve surrounding a space extending at least partially through the foldable container, and
• wherein the foldable container comprises a ballast retaining space bounded by the bottom surface, the peripheral surface and the sleeve, the space surrounded by the sleeve being isolated from the ballast retaining space such that ballast is prevented from passing from the ballast retaining space into the space surrounded by an imperforate outer surface of the sleeve extending upwards from the bottom surface to the top edge, the imperforate outer surface of the sleeve comprising a polymeric material;
• a plurality of elongate pockets positioned on and aligned with the peripheral surface of the foldable container;
• a plurality of rigid members, one of an upper or a lower end of each of said plurality of rigid members retained in a corresponding elongate pocket between the top and bottom edges of the foldable container;
• whereby the foldable container can retain a shape upon receiving a ballast material, and
• wherein the foldable container is configured to be placed over at least a portion of a base piece having an upright receptacle for receiving an umbrella pole such that the upright receptacle is permitted to extend through the sleeve of the foldable container, and wherein the foldable container further comprises a plurality of elongate supports coupled to the sleeve and extending radially therefrom toward the peripheral surface of the foldable container.