Patent Grant
9125508
Various embodiments relate generally to artificial trees, and more particularly to artificial trees adapted to be easily erected from a compact state.
Artificial plants, such as Christmas trees are widely used in both residential and commercial environments to incorporate plants in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Artificial plants can serve many useful purposes, such as for example, providing décor for holidays and special occasions. In many instances, it is necessary to assemble and disassemble the artificial plant or tree, which may require an assembly and disassembly of many parts. Over time, the parts may become lost, which often times requires the purchase of new artificial trees or plants. It can also be time consuming to assemble and disassemble certain artificial plants and trees.
Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a collapsible tree system having limbs which automatically pivot from a low-profile position while the tree is in a collapsed state to an in-use position when the tree is in an extended state. In an illustrative example, the system may include limb supports movably disposed along a central support. Movement of the limb supports closer together and further apart may cause the limbs to pivot to and from positions. For example, due to limb contact with an adjacent limb support, the limbs may be caused to pivot to the low-profile position. When no forcible contact is present between an adjacent limb support and limb, gravitational forces may permit the limbs to freely pivot to the in-use position. In an illustrative example, each limb support may include a nesting cup for receiving a proximal end of the limbs while in the stowed position.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, each of the limb supports may be connected in an equally spaced apart manner via one or more tethers. For example, tethers may connect adjacent limb supports and prevent the limb supports from separating beyond a predetermined distance. In an exemplary embodiment, the tethers may be formed from a flexible elongated member, such as for example a string or a cable. In an illustrative example, when the central support is moved to a collapsed state, such as for example via telescopic adjustment, the tethers may flex out of the way of the limbs to permit the limbs to pivotally seat within an adjacent nesting cup and be retained in the stowed position.
Various embodiments may achieve one or more advantages. For example, some embodiments may permit for an artificial tree system which is fully assembly and erected by simply extending the central support to an extended state. For example, when the central support is extended, the limbs may be automatically unseated from the adjacent nesting cup of the limb support via a tether pulling upward on the limbs. When the limbs are unseated from the adjacent nesting cup, the limbs may freely pivot downwards to an in-use position, such as for example a generally horizontal position relative the central support. Movement of the central support to a collapsed position may likewise cause the proximal ends of the limbs to be seated within the nesting cup of the adjacent limb support, thus moving the limbs to a more vertical position relative the vertically oriented central support.
The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
To aid understanding, this document is organized as follows. First, the collapsible tree system is briefly introduced in an extended state with reference to
A plurality of limb supports 112, 114, 116 are disposed along the central support 104. The plurality of limb supports 112, 114, 116 includes a lower support 112 disposed about the lower pole 106, an upper support 114 secured with respect to a top (e.g., distal end) of the upper pole 108, and a plurality of intermediary supports 116 slidably disposed along the central support 104. Attached to the upper end of the upper pole 108 is an upper element 118. In the example of
In some embodiments, the upper support 114 may be mechanically secured directly to the upper pole 108. For example, a removable anchor pin may extend through the pole 108, and the ends of the anchor pin may provide attachment features for supporting the upper limb support 114. In some embodiments, the upper support 114 may be mechanically secured directly to the upper element 118. For example, attachment points may be formed in the bottom side of the upper element 118 to receive hooks from which the upper limb support 114 may be suspended by a number of rods or flexible cables. In some implementations, a support collar system separate from the upper element 118 may engage (e.g., by threaded attachment to the distal end of the upper pole 108) the upper pole 108 to support the upper limb support 114 from underneath, and/or by cable suspension.
Attached to the collars 122 of the upper and intermediary limb supports 116, 118 are a plurality of radial supports 124 that extend outwards from the collar 122, each of which has a limb 126 extending therefrom. The limb 126 is pivotally supported by the radial supports 124 such as to permit angular deflection within a vertical plane that contains a longitudinal axis of the central support 104. For purposes of explanation, each of the radial supports 124 can be separately considered to lie along a line that forms an upward facing angle with, for example, the longitudinal axis of (or other imaginary line substantially parallel to) the central support 104. For example, when the central support 104 is extended as shown in
As measured with respect to the longitudinal axis, the second angle is less than the first angle such that the limbs 126 are directed closer to a vertical orientation and, as such, closer to alignment with a longitudinal axis of the central support 104. The peripheral side walls of the nesting cup 120 are angled upwardly at an angle similar to the second angle of the limbs 126 when the central support 104 is in the fully collapsed position. The first angle is achieved by the radial supports 124 having an angled outer wall which the respective limb 126 engages when freely pivoting outwards and which stops or restricts further downward and outward movement of the limb 126.
In the depicted example, the limbs 126 also have an increasingly greater length from the uppermost limbs 126 to the lowermost limbs 126 such that the limbs 126 adjacent the lower pole 106 are longer than the limbs 126 adjacent the upper pole 108. The length of the limbs 126 monotonically increases from the upper end of the collapsible tree system 100 to the lower end of the collapsible tree system 100 to form a conical shape, such as to mimic the natural shape of a coniferous tree, for example.
In some embodiments, the limbs 126 may have a uniform radial length. In some implementations, the limbs may receive attachments to provide different types of appearances. In some other embodiments, the limbs may have lengths that form a circumference profile that alternately increases and decreases, for example, to provide a multiple peak profile distributed along the length of the central support 104. In some implementations, for example, a deciduous leaf attachment may be applied to at least some of the limbs 126. In another example, frosted white coniferous branches may be attached or rest on at least some of the limbs 126 to provide the appearance of a snow-covered pine tree.
When the limbs 126 are moved to the second upward angle of the collapsed position, the respective outer ends of the limbs 126 are closer to the central support 104, which may advantageously provide, for example, a more compact circumference that may be more easily handled, stored or transported, for example. In some embodiments, the radial supports 124 of the adjacent upper limb support 114 or 116 rest upon the resting surface 128 of the adjacent lower limb support 112, 116 when the central support 104 is in the collapsed state.
Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, other embodiments are contemplated. For example, a motor module may be coupled to the central support to permit automated extension and retraction of the pole. In an example implementation, a controller may generate signals to retract and extend the central support to produce a time-varying tree height profile to achieve, for example, a dramatic visual effect or display. In some implementations, a self-deploying tree may be advantageous to simplify user operation and increased convenience, for example, with set up and take down between storage, display, and back to storage. Some examples may advantageously provide for storage in a compact form factor that may be substantially easier to handle due to the reduced circumference of the branches in the stowed (refracted) position. In addition, the assembly may occupy substantially reduced storage volume in the collapsed position.
In some examples, a permanently attached top-open ended case may be attached to the collapsible tree system below the lower limb support such as to contain the collapsible tree for storage or transport, for example. The case may be flexible, such as for example a duffel bag type. In some examples, the case may be extended over the collapsible tree to cover and contain the collapsible tree in either the extended state or the collapsed state.
In some examples, artificial or real tree branches may removably attach to the limbs. In some examples, artificial or real tree branches may be permanently attached to the limbs. In some examples, the tree branches may be pre-decorated with ornamental objects, such as, for example, lights.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modification may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are contemplated.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the nesting cup may be omitted from the limb support such that the collars of the limb supports stack upon themselves when the collapsible tree system is in a collapsed state. It may be advantageous to directly stack the collars upon themselves to permit the central support to collapse further, such that an overall length of the central support when in a collapsed state is minimal.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modification may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e) of United States provisional patent application entitled “Collapsible Tree System”, Ser. No. 61/666,864, which was filed on Jun. 30, 2012. The 61/666,864 application is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140004280 A1 | Jan 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61666864 | Jun 2012 | US |
