Patent Application
20060245177
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to decorative tree, especially to a decorative tree that occupies a small volume when stowed.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Decorative trees are used as decorations especially during the Christmas season in homes, department stores, shopping malls and expositions. The decorative trees are usually used only for a limited period of time. A conventional decorative tree comprises a body and multiple light bulbs. The body is usually a real tree that cannot be taken apart or an artificial tree that is not easy to be taken apart. The real tree and the artificial tree both have multiple branches. The light bulbs are hung on the branches. Because the decorative tree is used only for a limited period of time, the decorative tree has to be stowed when the decorative tree is not used. If the body is a real tree, the branches of the real tree cannot be removed. If the body is an artificial tree, the branches of the artificial tree are not easy to be removed. Therefore, the branches of the real trees occupy a large volume when the decorative tree is stowed. Even when the artificial tree is taken apart, the components of the artificial tree still occupies a large volume.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a decorative tree that occupies a small volume when stowed and can be taken apart easily to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a decorative tree that occupies a small volume when the decorative tree is stowed and can be taken apart easily. The decorative tree has a branch assembly and multiple light strings. The branch assembly has a bottom pole, at least one top pole, multiple branches and multiple outer rings. The poles are attached to each other. The branches are attached pivotally to each pole. The outer rings are attached to the branches respectively on the poles. The light strings are attached securely to the outer rings to form a tree-shaped decorative tree.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
With further reference to
The branch assembly (20) is mounted on the ground, a floor or a base panel or is mounted on the base (10) and has a bottom pole (21), at least one top pole (22), multiple branches (23) and multiple outer rings (24).
The bottom pole (21) is mounted on the ground, a floor or a base panel or is mounted on the base (10) and has a lower end, an upper end, a lower connector (212), an outer wall, an upper connector (211) and multiple optional brackets (213). The lower connector (212) is-formed on the lower end of the bottom pole (21), connects to the connector (111) on the base (10) and is a sleeve when the connector (111) on the base (10) is a post or is a post when the connector (111) on the base (10) is a sleeve. The upper connector (211) is formed on the upper end of the bottom pole (21), is the complement of the lower connector (212), is a sleeve or a post and is a post when the lower connector (212) is a sleeve or is a sleeve when the lower connector (212) is a post. The brackets (213) are attached to and protrude out from the outer wall of the bottom pole (21), and each bracket (213) has a pivot pin hole (215) and at least one wing (214) with the pivot hole (215) formed through the at least one wing (214). When the bracket (213) has two wings (214), the wings (214) are parallel, and the pivot pin hole (215) is formed through both wings (214).
With further reference to
Branches (23) are mounted pivotally on the outer wall of each pole (21, 22). Each branch (23) has a distal end, a proximal end, an optional outer hook (231), an optional inner eye (232) and an optional pivot pin (233). The branches (23) mounted on higher top poles (22) are shorter than the branches (23) mounted on lower poles (21, 22) of the decorative tree. The outer hook (231) is formed on the distal end of the branch (23). The inner eye (232) is formed on the proximal end of the branch (23). The pivot pin (233) extends through the inner eye (232) on the proximal end of the branch (23) and the pivot holes (215, 225) in the wings (214, 224) to attach the branch (23) pivotally to the poles (21, 22).
The outer rings (24) are attached to the distal ends of the branches (23), and may be hooked by the outer hooks (231) on the branches (23). With further reference to
With further reference to
The at least one light string (30) is mounted securely on the outer rings (24). Each light string (30) has multiple wires (31), multiple bulbs (32), a plug (35) and an optional socket (34). The bulbs (32) are mounted on and electrically connected to the wires (31), and each bulb (32) may have a decorative shell (321). The wires (31) are mounted through the fasteners (33) to attach the wires (31) to the segments (241) of the outer rings (24). The plug (35) electrically connects to the wires (31) to provide electricity to the bulbs (32) when the plug (35) connected to a source of electricity. The socket (34) electrically connects to the wires (31) to provide electricity to an adjacent light string (30) when the plug (35) on the adjacent light string (30) is plugged into the socket (34).
The tree-crown (40) is attached to the uppermost top pole (22) and has a connector (41). The connector (41) is formed on the tree-crown (40), is the complement of the upper connector (221) on the top poles (22) and is connected to the upper connector (221) on the uppermost top pole (22).
The decorative tree as described has numerous advantages. Because the poles (21, 22) and the outer rings (24) can be taken apart and the branches (23) can be pivoted, the decorative tree only occupies a small volume when the decorative tree is stowed. Because the light strings (30) are mounted on the outer rings (24) to form a tree-shaped decorative tree, the decorative tree does not need to have many branches (23) and still provides the distinct impression of being a tree. Using fewer branches can reduce the cost and decrease the volume when the decorative tree is stowed.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
