The present invention relates to a collapsible holiday decoration, such as one suggestive of a Christmas tree, and which is combined with a base having internal storage.
Artificial trees are often used for decorations. One popular use is for holiday decorations, such as in the form of an artificial Christmas tree. Trees of this type are typically conical in shape. Other ‘trees’ are more stylized and have branch-like or spiral forms that are suggestive of a conical holiday tree. The tree is formed around a central post that fits into a stand, such as one having three or four legs. These stands are not attractive and a tree skirt is typically used to hide them from view.
It is common to decorate artificial trees with lights, ornaments, and other elements. Even if the artificial trees comes with strand lights prewrapped around the branches, additional ornaments are typically added.
One drawback to decorative trees of this type is the need to store the tree at the end of the holiday season. Although some trees can fold or be separated into two or more parts, these parts are often bulky and cumbersome to store. After the holiday, the decorations are removed from the tree and must be stored as well. These decorations are conventionally stored in their own bags and boxes at the end of the holiday season. This can create issues since the multiple storage containers can be separated from the stored tree over time and it may not always be easy to find them all the following year.
There is a need for an artificial tree that is easy to store and that provides an improved way to store decorations and other paraphernalia associated with the tree.
These and other features and advantages of the invention, as well as structure and operation of various implementations of the invention, are disclosed in detail below with references to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The body portion 16 in one embodiment is comprised of spiral narrowing towards its top and made of a flat, relatively stiff yet bendable decorative material, such as plastic. In one configuration, the body portion 16 is a spiral disk and that returns to a substantially disk shape when collapsed. Strings 17 can be threaded through the body portion 16 to provide support for the body portion 16 when extended. Instead of a spiral cut disk, the body 16 could instead be made from a spiraled hollow tube, such as a clear plastic tubing, and that can contain lights or other decorations and/or to which lights and decorations can be attached, e.g., through holes in the tubing. The tubing is preferably preformed so it will naturally rest in a a coiled spiral and can be extended in a manner similar to the spiral disk. Other configurations of decoration 16 can alternatively be used. Examples include, but are not limited, to a series of disks of decreasing diameter, each attached to the pole 14 and optionally to each other, branches connected to the pole 14, or other designs. Some of these variations are illustrated in other figures discussed below.
The central pole 14 is preferably a telescoping pole that extends through an opening in the top 11a of the base 10. The pole 14 has a collapsible portion 22 comprising multiple nestled segments 23A that fit in whole or part into an end portion 24 when the pole is collapsed. Each segment 23A can include a spring loaded locking button 23B or other mechanism to prevent the pole 14 from collapsing accidentally.
The bottom 25 of the end portion 24 of pole 14 is mounted to bottom 11b of the base 10, such as by means of a mounting plate 26. The end portion 24 and mounting plate 26 can be formed as an integral unit or the two components can be separately connected, such as by screws or other means. Mounting plate 26 can be permanently attached to the base 10 or removably attached, e.g., by butterfly screws, bolts, toggles, or other connectors that allow a user to detach the mounting plate 26 from the base. The base 10 can be provided with adjustable feet 27, such as screw-in feet, to allow a user to ensure that the base 10 sits flat.
In one configuration, and as shown in
Turning to
If the collapsible part 22 of the pole 14 extends above the top 11a, as in
A second embodiment is shown in
As in the first embodiment, the body portion 16 can be configured to collapse onto the top 11a of the base 10 for storage. The top 11a can also be recessed as discussed above. With reference to
Although the collapsible portion 22 is shown in a telescoping configuration, in other embodiments, it can be made of discrete sections that can be fitted together to assemble the pole and taken apart for storage. In one embodiment, shock cord is used to allow the parts to remain connected even when not fitted to each other. When the sections are taken apart, they can be folded in a zig-zag form. The folded pole can be stored on the top. 11a of the base 10 in a manner similar to the telescoping pole.
In a variation of this embodiment, the top 11a of the base 10 is removable. The collapsed pole can be attached to the top 11a of the base, e.g, using straps 34. The entire top 11a can then be flipped over and placed back onto the base 10 with the body portion 16 and pole inside the base 10. A retaining cover 36 may be placed over pole and body portion and connected, e.g., around a periphery, to hold the pole and body portions in place against the top 11a. Retaining cover 36 can be connected to the top 11a along its periphery (in which case separate straps 34 can be omitted if desired). Alternatively, or in addition, the retaining cover 36 can have edge flanges (not shown) that are sandwiched between the top 11a and the top edge of the sidewall 11c to hold it in place.
A third embodiment is shown in
As noted, the base 10 in the various embodiment discussed above is hollow can be used for storage. Other than a removable top, other means to provide access to the storage area inside the base can be provided. In one configuration, one or more drawers are fitted into the base.
As will be appreciated, decorations can be attached to and/or embedded in the body portion 16. For example, a series of holes 20 can be formed in the body portion 16 allow decorations to be easily attached. The holes can be sized to allow ornament hooks and other decorations to be passed through to hang things from the tree 14. The holes can also be sized to allow decorative lights to be pushed through and held in place, e.g., through friction or a snap-fit connection, so that a string of lights can be attached. If pushed through from the bottom, the connecting lighting wire can be hidden.
Magnets can be embedded within the body portion 16 so that decorations that have magnetic materials in them can be easily attached and removed. Alternatively, steel or other magnetic material can be embedded within the body portion 16 to allow decorations with magnets in them to be attached. In one configuration, a flat strip of metal, such as spring steel, is formed in a spiral pattern that is embedded along the spiral of the body portion 16. Instead of a continuous strip, magnetic dots can be embedded along the length of the spiral.
In a further configuration, the body 16 is non-magnetic and decorative ornaments are provided that contain one or more strong magnets on their tops. A small metal coupling bar or disk can be placed on the opposite side of the body from a magnet in an ornament. The magnet adheres to the metal through the body portion 16 to allow the ornaments to be attached to the tree. Magnets and coupling bars used in magnetic bar fasteners commonly incorporated into removable name badge holders are suitable for this. Unlike name badge holders, however, where the metal coupling bar is hidden, e.g., in a pocket or behind a lapel, the backing may be visible. Instead of a plain metal bar, more exciting decorative shapes can be used, such as stars, crosses, snowflakes, bells, angels, leaves, and other designs. These can also be colored on at least one side to provide further decorative features.
In a variation, instead of an exposed metal coupling bar to which a magnet in an ornament can adhere (or vice versa) the entire ornament can be provided in two parts that are held together by pairs of opposing magnets and or opposed magnet/coupling bar pairs. When the two halves are attached they form a complete decoration. With reference to
A set of decorations, such as described herein, configured or intended for attachment to the body portion 16 can be provided as a set and pre-stored within the base 10 and made available to a consumer thereby at the time of purchase.
Instead of a strand of lights that is separately attached to the tree by a user, decorative lighting, such as LEDs or 12V mini-incandescent lights can be integrated into the tree 12 in advance, such as by integrating them within the body portion 16 where they are visible along an exposed surface. (See lights 90 in
In yet a further configuration, optical fibers can be run through the material of body portion 16 and terminate at various locations along its length and periphery to provide a decorative effect. The light(s) which feed the optical fibers can be hidden in the base 10, within pole 14, or other location. A light pipe could also be used to provide a lighting effect along the tree.
In one particular configuration, the body portion material 16 is comprised of a multi-layer sandwich structure with outer top and bottom surfaces that are decorative and a middle portion through which wires, optical fibers, LEDs, and/or other elements can be run. The connecting wires will be hidden by the outer layers. The light emitting portions can be arranged along the periphery of the body portion 16 or at points along its upper and/or lower surface.
With reference to
Although separate contacts 90 are shown, the magnets 74 and/or metallic portions 76 may also serve as the magnetic contacts used to draw power from the terminals. If both halves of the ornament require power, body 16 can be configured to provide access to the terminals 84 from the top and bottom of the body 16. In another configuration, the two halves of the ornaments can have an electrical connection between them suitable for transferring power from one part of the ornament to the other. For example the two haves 72a, 72b of the ornament 70 can be connected via a wire that wraps around the side of the body 16 to carry power from one half to the other.
As noted previously, the specific configuration of the body portion 16 can vary. Some variations are shown in
The configurations and embodiments discussed herein advantageously provide a collapsible holiday tree with internal storage. Preferably, the container 10 is formed of a rigid material, such as molded plastic. The collapsible pole can be plastic or metal. The cover of the tree storage area and accessory storage areas can be rigid or flexible, such as being of plastic, vinyl, or similar materials as may be appropriate to one of skill in the art according to the given design. Preferably, the when closed, the container 10 provides sufficient structural strength to protect its contents and to allow other items to be stacked on the closed container. Decorative ornaments, such as discussed herein, can be provided and pre-stored in the base.
While the decorative ‘tree’ has been illustrated in the form of a spiral or series of disks and strands, alternatively a series of ‘branches’ can be formed extending radially from each segment of the central pole and arranged in a staggered manner to provide a more tree-like configuration.
The base and pole are typically circular in cross-section. However, other shapes can be used instead. For example, the cross section of the pole and/or the base can be polygonal.
Various aspects and embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described herein. Various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/656,655 filed on Apr. 12, 2018, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62656655 | Apr 2018 | US |