Patent Grant
9648973
The present invention relates generally to a Christmas tree stand with a float system, and a low water indicator apparatus and a method of using same. More particularly, the invention encompasses a Christmas tree stand with a float system, a low water indicator, and an independent spring compression system, and a method of using the same. The present invention also provides a Christmas tree stand that has a low water indicator and has an independent spring compression system that is self-adjusting and serves to position the tree securely and up-right. The low water indicator system is a float device that will rise and fall with the water level, due to a float. A plunger, activation wire, power source, and an alarm or buzzer is built or attached to the tree stand. As the water level drops to, let say, 1 quart, the float-plunger system activates a wire, making a connection with an electrically conductive metal washer, and cause a buzzer or alarm to go ON. At that time the tree stand will require water, once water is added, the buzzer will go OFF, as the float rises due to the addition of water to the water reservoir. The present invention also generally relates to a plant, such as, a Christmas tree, and more specifically relates to a support within the tree stand that will hold the tree in place, and have a low water indicator.
It has been a challenge to place a Christmas tree into the stand with a simplified system, and to keep the Christmas trees alive, from a period starting before Christmas, and often ending well after New Year's Day.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,360 (Samuel Zhihui Jin, et al.), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a Christmas tree stand that is self-watering and rotatable. The self-watering system, that rotates with the tree, mainly includes a water reservoir, a hose, a water tank that holds on to the lower end of the tree, and a valve mechanism that automatically keeps the water in the water tank at optimum level. A rotatable tank assembly is driven by an electric drive motor on a stationary support assembly. Electrical power is passed from the stationary support assembly to the rotatable tank assembly through a slipping-ring connector. In the preferred embodiment, a remote control is provided to supply power for rotation of the rotatable tank assembly, including the tree, and the power receptacle on the rotatable tank assembly for suitable electrical loads, e.g., decorative lights, separately.
This invention improves on the deficiencies of the prior art and provides an inventive Christmas tree stand with a float system, a low water indicator, and an independent spring compression system, and a method of using the same.
The invention is a novel Christmas tree stand with a float system, a low water indicator, and an independent spring compression system, and a method of using the same.
Therefore, one purpose of this invention is to provide a Christmas tree stand with a float system, having a low water indicator.
Another purpose of this invention is to provide a Christmas tree stand with an independent spring compression system, that will stabilize and keep the Christmas tree erect when inside the inventive Christmas tree stand.
Yet another purpose of this invention is to provide a low cost solution for maintaining and extending the life of a Christmas tree when the Christmas tree is cut from its roots and placed in an indoor type environment.
Therefore, in one aspect this invention comprises a tree stand comprising:
(a) a stand having a base and a neck, said neck having at least one opening for passage of a trunk of a tree;
(b) at least one water reservoir contained within said stand, and wherein said water reservoir is between said base and said neck of said stand;
(c) at least one tube secured and interconnected with said water reservoir, and wherein said at least one tube has a plunger which move vertically within said at least one tube, and wherein water freely moves between said at least one tube and said at least one water reservoir;
(d) said plunger having a shaft, and wherein an activation disc is secured to an upper end of said shaft, and at least one float is secured to a lower end of said shaft, and wherein said float is in physical contact with said water in said tube, and wherein said plunger moves vertically within said at least one tube as a result of water movement within said at least one water reservoir and said at least one tube; and
(e) wherein said stand has at least one electrical bridge, at least one activation contact, at least one power source contact, and at least one power source therein, and wherein said activation disc activates an alarm when said water level is below a first threshold, and wherein said alarm is activated when said activation disc comes in contact with said at least one electrical bridge, said at least one activation contact, and said at least one power source contact.
In another aspect this invention comprises a tree stand comprising:
(a) a stand having a base and a neck, said neck having at least one opening for passage of a trunk of a tree;
(b) at least one water reservoir contained within said stand, and wherein said water reservoir is between said base and said neck of said stand;
(c) at least one tube secured and interconnected with said water reservoir, and wherein said at least one tube has a plunger which move vertically within said at least one tube, and wherein water freely moves between said at least one tube and said at least one water reservoir;
(d) said plunger having a shaft, and wherein an activation disc is secured to an upper end of said shaft, and at least one float is secured to a lower end of said shaft, and wherein said float is in physical contact with said water in said tube, and wherein said plunger moves vertically within said at least one tube as a result of water movement within said at least one water reservoir and said at least one tube;
(e) wherein said stand has at least one electrical bridge, at least one activation contact, at least one power source contact, and at least one power source therein, and wherein said activation disc activates an alarm when said water level is below a first threshold, and wherein said alarm is activated when said activation disc comes in contact with said at least one electrical bridge, said at least one activation contact, and said at least one power source contact; and
(f) at least one tree stand spring compression stabilization system contained within said stand, and wherein said at least one tree stand spring compression stabilization system comprises of a metallic band, and a plurality of spring steel, and wherein an upper end of said spring steel is secured to said peripheral wall of said metallic band, and wherein the outer peripheral wall of said metallic band is secured to the inside peripheral wall of said neck of said stand.
The inventive Christmas tree stand with a float system, a low water indicator, and an independent spring compression system 23, and a method of using the same, will now be discussed with reference to
With the inventive design through self-adjusting spring system placement of the tree is quick and easy. The tree is pushed into the tree stand and the tree will stay where placed, and with this invention there is no more need of getting on the floor to screw the tree into the stand. Any adjustments that are needed are simply accomplished by positioning the tree straight and letting go, and not by adjusting the screws. For most applications the inventive tree stand spring compression stabilization system will hold between about a 2½ inch to about a 5 inch diameter tree trunk (average size) and up to about 8 feet tall tree. The low water indicator system activates a buzzer to inform the user or owner that water is needed for the tree in the stand, and which will assist in a longer life for the tree. This inventive design improves on the existing products by informing the user or owner exactly when the tree needs to be watered, and again there is no longer a need for any screw adjustment system. With this invention there is no more guessing on how much water to add, no overfill, and the tree placed within the inventive tree stand will never go dry.
The invention further comprises of a Christmas tree stand with a float system, and a low water indicator means. The inventive stand, depending on the size, can hold up to, for example, about 3 quarts of water, or with about 2 quarts of water with the tree or plant inside the inventive stand or planter. At least one low water indicator, or a buzzer, or an alarm, or a light, will automatically get activated when the water is low, such as, for example, when about 1 quart of water is needed, or when for example, the water reservoir is down to say 1 quart of water. With this invention the Christmas or plant tree stand will not run dry. This invention greatly improve the functionality of a Christmas tree stand by having a low water indicator, thus preventing the dryness of a Christmas tree, which can also be a cause or source of fire, especially, when a Christmas tree is adorned with Christmas lights.
In operation typically a Christmas tree is preferably placed in the center of the planter or stand, and is then pushed down into the planter or the tree stand. The tree should be stabilized using the automatic adjustment means of the spring compression stabilization system. To adjust the lean (if needed) one would move or rotate the tree or the plant to where it is preferably straight or erect, and the tree or the plant will be secured to stay where placed. This inventive Christmas tree stand can hold trees or plants up to about 8 feet high, and from about 2½ inch to about 5 inches in diameter (average size). It should be understood that for a larger diameter tree one would need an enlarged or bigger version of this inventive apparatus, and similarly for a smaller diameter tree one would need a smaller version of this inventive apparatus.
Now referring to
It should be appreciated that water 50, when replenished reaches a water level 26, which could be the first water level threshold 51, and then as the water 50, is consumed by the tree 1, or evaporates, the water level 26, then reaches a second water level threshold 52. Thus, the first water level threshold 51, is when the alarm 17, automatically deactivates, as the float 7, rises with the water level 26, and moves the electrical activation disc or tab 28, away from the electrical contacts 9, 10, and 11. Similarly, when the second water level threshold 52, is reached, the alarm 17, automatically gets activated to indicate that the water 50, needs to be replenished for the inventive apparatus 23, as the electrical activation disc or tab 28, creates the electrical connection between the electrical contact 9, activation wire or tab 10, and the power source wire or tab 11, due to the lowering of the float 7, within the water 50.
The low water 51, indicator can be a buzzer 17, an alarm 17, a light 17, an LED type of light 17, or any other indicating means 17, that will visually 17, or by sound 17, provide an indication to a user that water level 26, is either low or is needed in the tree/plant stand 2.
It should be appreciated that liquid level floats 7, also known as float balls 7, are typically spherical, cylindrical, oblong or similarly shaped objects, made from either rigid or flexible material, that are buoyant in water 50, and other liquids 50. These are non-electrical hardware 7, and frequently used as visual level measurement. Here the float 7, has been incorporated into a switch mechanisms in a fluid tube 12, as a component in monitoring liquid level. It is well known that liquid level floats, or float switches, use the principle of material buoyancy (differential densities) to follow fluid levels, thus the float 7, would move up or down with the up or down movement of the liquid level 26. Solid floats 7, are often made of plastics with a density less than water 50, or other application liquid 50, and so they float. Hollow floats 7, filled with air are much less dense than water 50, or other liquids 50, and are appropriate for some applications.
The Christmas tree stand 2, that was experimented with had a 7 inch diameter opening 45, and was about 7 inches deep, from the stand base 42, to the stand mouth 46. A plastic tube 12, about 5½ inches long, and having an opening of about 1 inch, was inserted into the Christmas tree stand 2, along with a thermometer, such as, a cooking thermometer, which was electrically connected to a buzzer 17. A Styrofoam 7, was used as a float 7. A triple A Battery Pack 16, with an ON/OFF switch 24, was used to provide the electrical power, however, one can also use an A/C current 16, or an A/C current with a DC adaptor 16, to provide the needed electrical circuit to the inventive Christmas tree stand 2, for the visual or sound activation of the alarm 17.
The cross-sectional area for the inventive activation disc or tab 28, can be selected from a group comprising a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a circle, an oval, a polygonal shape, a cylindrical shape, and combinations thereof, to name a few.
The cross-sectional area for the float 7, can be selected from a group comprising a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a circle, an oval, a polygonal shape, a cylindrical shape, and combinations thereof, to name a few.
The stand 2, can be made using at least one material selected from a group comprising a metallic material, a plastic material, a polymeric material, a composite material, and combinations thereof, to name a few.
Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and the constituent elements of the invention can be modified in various manners without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Various aspects of the invention can also be extracted from any appropriate combination of a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. Some constituent elements may be deleted in all of the constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. The constituent elements described in different embodiments may be combined arbitrarily.
Still further, while certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions.
It should be further understood that throughout the specification and claims several terms have been used and they take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may. Additionally, the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, various embodiments of the invention may be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
While the present invention has been particularly described in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
The instant patent application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/929,751, filed on Jan. 21, 2014, titled “Christmas Tree Stand With Float System & Low Water Indicator,” the entire disclosure of which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150201783 A1 | Jul 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61929751 | Jan 2014 | US |
