ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 25 -- United States Patent no. 12,478,157, issued on Nov. 25.
"Shade holder" was invented by Lance D. McKinley (Creve Coeur, Mo.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A shade holder device has a base, a column upon the base offset from the center of the base, and a shade connecting to the column spaced above the base. The shade its own width greater than the base for casting the base into a shadow. The column has a compartment within that receives a smartphone and a door upon the compartment that covers it. The column connects to the base upon a bench having drain holes. The base also has a plate with drain holes spaced around its perimeter and the plate spaced above the bottom...