Patent Application
20160215971
The present invention generally relates to holiday decorations. More particularly, the disclosed invention relates to an electric or non-electric candle holiday tree. In further detail, the holiday tree, in preferred embodiments, combines the ornamental features of a Christmas tree shape and lights with the features of nine distinct candles used in a Hanukkah menorah, or the features of seven distinct candles as used in Kwanzaa celebrations.
Holiday celebrations for varied religious denominations often use candles or lights as a celebratory symbol. Prime examples of such use of lights as a celebratory symbol include, by way of example, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other holidays. There are, for example, Christmas trees, Hanukkah menorahs, Hanukkah bushes, Kwanzaa candles, and many others. Each such holiday symbol has a distinctive configuration or shape and/or a specific number of lights or candles. Christmas trees, for example, are generally in the shape of an evergreen or pine tree decorated with a multitude of lights. A Hanukkah menorah has nine total lights, while there are seven lights used for Kwanzaa celebrations.
As families have diversified, today many families celebrate multiple holidays, including Christmas and Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. While the dates of the celebrations often do not overlap, for many years, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa celebrations do occur on overlapping dates. On those occasions where an overlap of distinct holidays occurs, multiple holiday decorations are placed throughout homes, shopping areas, and places of business. Instead of having distinct and separate celebratory symbols, some interfaith families often find it enjoyable to combine certain of their holiday celebratory traditions.
Some products have been developed to attempt to address this desire for combined celebratory symbols. There is for example a “menorah tree” which is no more than a menorah shaped device having nine vertical arms, with the menorah arms wrapped or covered in a green leaf or needle-like material. None of the prior art devices, however, have effectively addressed the need for an aesthetically pleasing and combined celebratory holiday symbol.
Accordingly what is needed is an apparatus that can be used to symbolize the celebratory aspects of Christmas and Hanukkah, or Christmas and Kwanzaa, or other combined holidays. Such an apparatus should present ornamental and utility aspects of the joint holidays being celebrated, and still be true to each individual holiday symbolism. Such celebratory items or devices or decorations do not appear to have been fully and specifically designed or used in the prior art.
The above noted problems inadequately or incompletely resolved by the prior art are addressed and resolved by the present invention.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is an electric candle holder shaped as a holiday evergreen tree for use with holiday celebrations, comprising (a) a single central trunk, having a top end and a bottom end, said central trunk top end comprising an element to hold an electric bulb; (b) a plurality of branches rotatably connected to said single central trunk, wherein each such plurality of branches comprising at its distal end an element to hold an electric bulb; (c) a base section to which said central trunk bottom end is attached; and (d) electric wiring running within said central trunk and each of said plurality of branches to provide electrical current to said trunk and branches elements to hold an electric bulb.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is a non-electric candle holder shaped as a holiday evergreen tree for use with holiday celebrations, comprising (a) a single central trunk, having a top end and a bottom end, said central trunk top end comprising an element to hold a candle; (b) a plurality of branches rotatably connected to said single central trunk, wherein each such plurality of branches comprising at its distal end an element to hold a candle; and (c) a base section to which said central trunk bottom end is attached.
The invention will be best understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings briefly described below.
For the purposes of illustrating the invention, the attached drawings show several aspects and embodiments that are presently preferred. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and configuration shown in the accompanying drawings.
The following provides a disclosure of an inventive holiday tree shaped electric light display, or non-electric candle holder. The holiday tree may include or use electric and/or non-electric candles. In one preferred embodiment, as shown in
The branches 120 are each rotatably connected to the central trunk 110 by a collar or O-ring device 130 that allows for repositioning of each branch 110 with a slight force. In an alternative embodiment, the collar or O-ring device 130 may be able to tightened or locked into position so that each branch is held in place until the collar 130 is loosened to allow the branch 110 to be repositioned.
The branches 110 and central trunk 110 may be manufactured, as shown in
In one embodiment, eight total branches 110 may be attached to the central trunk 100, such that each successive branch 110 attached to the central trunk 100 is shorter in length as they approach the top of the central trunk 100, as illustrated in
As also shown in
As noted, the base 150 of the holiday tree 10 may include a series of electrical switches 170, shown in
As noted, in a further embodiment depicted in
In a preferred embodiment, for safety concerns, certain sections or elements of the holiday tree 10 may be manufactured from fire resistant materials. For example, the central trunk 100, plurality of branches 110, and/or the pine needles 115 may be manufactured from fire resistant materials. As should be understood from the drawings and the above description, the holiday tree 10 may be manufactured to be most any size. A smaller holiday tree may be sized to fit on a small table or window sill. Such a holiday tree could be approximately two feet or less in height. Alternatively, the holiday tree may be manufactured to be free standing, and have a height of approximately 5 to 7 feet tall or more.
While preferred embodiments of the inventive methods and systems have been described and disclosed, in particular by reference to certain figures and exemplary embodiments relating to holiday tree shaped candle holders, such type of holiday tree configurations are not to be construed as limiting the scope of application of the inventive devices or products. For example, alternative means for attaching the branches to the central trunk, or the use of different materials for the leaves or needles of the branches could be incorporated into the holiday tree design to provide other configurations that may be equally useful and operational. Similarly, alternative remote control means for the lights, and alternative monitors or sensors may be incorporated into alternative embodiments of the holiday tree.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that such other modifications, substitutions, and/or other applications are possible and all such modifications, substitutions and applications are within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. It is likewise understood that the above disclosure and attached claims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions, and/or applications.
