Patent Application
20060186300
The present invention relates generally to a new arrangement for displaying a decorative tree such as a Christmas tree. More specifically, the present invention relates to a unique assembly that provides for hanging a Christmas tree for display in upright position while also including a variety of additional features that facilitate installing the tree in the desired position and allow for adjustment of the position of the tree as necessary.
Generally, Christmas tree stands such as are typically found in the prior art are well known. They are formed to include a wide stand base to provide stability in order to hold the tree upright and include a means for gripping the base of the tree that is generally positioned centrally in the stand base. Due to the manner in which these stands support the tree in a vertical position, all of these prior art stands by their nature tend to be unstable to some extent. The instability is simply the result of the fact that the lever arm that the tree possesses will always be greater than the lever arm that the base stand possesses. Accordingly, anytime a force is exerted against the tree, the force is likely to be sufficient to result in overturning the tree. Additionally, prior art stands also suffer from the shortfall of being unable to adequately support a tree that has a trunk that is substantially off center or that is not substantially straight. In such cases, should the center of gravity of the tree lie close to the edge of or outside the radius of the base of the tree stand, the tree may be highly unstable or even impossible to stand upright.
There are a number of Christmas tree stands that attempt to deal with the above problem and generally take the form of a two-part stand that includes some form of swivel that receives the trunk of the tree, which is in turn received in a stand base. The swivel is installed onto and grips the base of the tree trunk. The tree with the swivel attached is then placed into a lockable receptor in the base stand and with the tree oriented vertically the receptor and swivel are secured to one another. One such prior art stand includes a cup-shaped holder that can be inclined relative to a vertical orientation to permit proper positioning of the tree thereby compensating for irregularities in the tree shape. Additionally another such stand includes a hemispherical ball that is received and retained by two adjustable jaws. Finally, another such stand includes three adjustable length legs to straighten the tree.
The difficulty with all of these prior art stands is that in the context of the overall problem stated above, that is the large mechanical advantage which the tree has over any of these stands, a base type stand solution will always be flawed. In view of this inherent problem, other prior art solutions have been directed towards suspending the decorative tree from above. In general these systems include a hook assembly that is installed into the ceiling, a tree engaging member that is installed onto or around the tree trunk and a strap that extends between the tree engaging member and the hook thereby suspending the tree. Some of these devices utilize a mesh type tube that engages the top of the tree, however this is quite unsightly. Another option provides for engaging the tree utilizing straps that are configured similar to wire ties. The difficulty here is that these devices do not allow readjustment of the tree once installed and require that the user support the weight of the tree when suspending it.
In view of the shortcomings in the prior art solutions, there is a need for a means for hanging a Christmas tree for display that is convenient, adjustable and easy to use while providing a secure support for maintaining the tree in an upright position.
In this regard, the present invention provides a hanging assembly for suspending a decorative tree, such as a Christmas tree, from an overhead support. In this manner, the present invention provides for a structurally secure and balanced way for a Christmas tree to be displayed while virtually eliminating the possibility that the tree be overturned.
The assembly of the present invention includes generally an anchoring device that is installed into an overhead support and includes a hook or concealed anchor from which to hang the assembly. A hanging cable extends downwardly from the hook or concealed anchor wherein the hanging cable is preferably a heavy gauge monofilament or light gauge wire cable that is discrete and difficult to see when installed. In one embodiment, a hook is attached to the end of the hanging cable. In this configuration a strap is provided that is wrapped around and engaged with the trunk of the tree. The strap is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes that are provided to receive the hook and serve to support the tree while also facilitating adjustment of the tree simply by placing the hook into a different hole. Alternately, the strap may be replaced with a bar that includes a series of pins thereon. In this case the bar is engaged along the trunk of the tree and the hook is received around the desired pin to support the tree. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a pulley (or pulleys) is installed onto the end of the hanging cable and a double purchase rope is engaged around the tree placed over the pulley and extended back to a cleating assembly. This provides the user with a mechanical advantage when moving and positioning the tree in the hanging position while also allowing easy adjustment of the height of the tree as necessary.
In addition the hanging assembly may be provided in a kit that also includes a plumb line device and/or a stud finder for assisting in locating the anchor member in the correct location, an assembly for anchoring the bottom end of the tree to prevent displacement of the tree once it has been hung and a container into which the trunk of the tree is placed to facilitate watering of the tree.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly for easily supporting a decorative tree in a manner that facilitates easy installation and adjustment of the tree. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hanging assembly for a decorative tree that is discreet and not easily seen once the tree has been installed. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an assembly for hanging a decorative tree that provides the user with a mechanical advantage when installing and adjusting the position of the tree.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
Now referring to the drawings, the hanging assembly for suspending a decorative tree is shown and generally illustrated in the figures. Referring to
In the context of the present invention, is should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term decorative tree 18 is not intended to be limiting with regard to the particular type of tree 18. For example, one possible type of tree 18 that would fall within the scope of the meaning intended by the term decorative tree would be a Christmas tree. Further, such a tree 18 could be a real cut tree, a real balled tree or an artificial tree. Any type of decorative tree 18 is intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. In any case, the tree 18 includes a plurality of structural members that support and provide the shape of the tree. In a real tree 18 the structural members are the trunk 20 and tree branches 22 that extend outwardly from the trunk 20. In an artificial tree, the structural members are the central support and the rigid rod or wires that are shaped to represent branches.
To support the hanging assembly of the present invention, including the decorative tree 18 to be suspended, an anchoring device 12 is provided. The anchoring device 12 preferably includes a first end capable of engaging the overhead support 14 and a second configured to engage and retain the suspension member as will be described in more detail below. Preferably, this anchor 12 is a threaded device that has an open hook on one end and has a threaded shank that is configured to engage a structural overhead support 14 such as a joist, wood structural member, suspended ceiling support, masonry, etc. located in the ceiling where the anchor 12 is to be installed. Alternatively, various other suitable masonry anchors or drywall type anchors may be utilized provided they develop sufficient strength to support the assembly and the weight of the tree 18. The anchor 12 could also take the form of an eyebolt and still fall within the scope of the present invention.
Turning to
Each of these anchors 12a-12f is formed to receive and engage the upper end of the suspension member 10. Anchor 12a includes a simple groove 312 formed in the side that is configured to receive the upper end of the suspension member and frictionally retain it. Similarly anchor 12b includes the same groove 312 but provides a hole 314 at the terminal end of the groove 312 into which the terminal end of the support member 10 is placed to further enhance the ability of the anchor 12b in retaining the upper end of the support member 10. Anchor 12c also includes a groove 312 that terminates in an enlarged aperture 316. The enlarged aperture allows for a swedge, knot or other device to be installed onto the end of the terminal end of the support member 10 preventing the support member 10 from being withdrawn from the groove 312 once the assembly is placed in its installed position. Anchor 12d includes a groove 312 on two opposing sides of the anchor 12d. A hole 318 extends through the shaft 300 of the anchor 12d and thereby allows the upper terminal end of the support member 10 to extend down one of the grooves 312, through the hole 318 and back along the groove 312 on the opposing side in the shaft 300 providing additional security in retaining the terminal end of the support member 10. In anchor 12e, a lateral groove 320 is shown. This allows for the terminal end of the support member 10 to be formed into a loop and received within the lateral groove 320. Finally, anchor 12f provides a groove 322 that spirals around the upper portion of the shaft 300 into which the terminal end of the support member 10 is placed and frictionally retained.
In each of the anchor embodiments 12a-12f that were illustrated in
In order to position the anchor 12 in the desired and structurally suitable location the hanging assembly of the present invention may be provided in the form of a kit that may also include a plumb line as is well known in the art, so that a vertical plumb line can be used to transfer the desired floor location of the tree up onto the ceiling. Further, a stud finder device may be provided to assist the user in location wood structure into which the anchor 12 can be installed. Additionally, to assist in installation of the anchor 12, the kit may include a drill bit suitable for drilling a pilot hole thereby allowing the anchor 12 to more easily be connected to the overhead support structure 14.
In contrast to many of the prior art devices, the present invention provides both a suspension member 10 and an adjustable tree engaging member 16. The suspension member 10 is preferably heavy-duty monofilament. Similarly, wire, cable, coated wire, string, twine, braided nylon or rope may also be utilized and still fall within the scope of the invention. The ends of the suspension member 10 may be terminated in any manner known in the art and may be formed to include a hook 24 as shown, any other suitable hook or simply as a loop suitable for engagement between the various components of the present invention while all of the suitable structures are not disclosed or described herein with particularity, there are a large number of open hooks, closed hooks, ferrules, and operable hooks that are well known in the art and would suitable for an interface between the suspension member and the other components of the present invention. The benefit to providing such a suspension member 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is that the suspension member 10 is preferably of a thin gauge material and more preferably a transparent thin gauge material that allows the suspension member 10 to be installed without having a great deal of visual weight or impact. This gives the illusion that the tree 18 is supported in a traditional manner and not supported from overhead by a bulky and visually unattractive assembly.
Now turning back to
Turning to
It can be seen that in any of the above described embodiments, the interface between the lower end of the suspension member 10 and the tree engaging member 16 facilitates a hanging assembly that is easily adjustable thereby allowing the height of the suspended tree 18 to be controlled as desired by the user. Once any one of the tree engaging members 16, 116, 216 is attached to the tree 18, the tree 18 is ready for engagement with the lower end of the suspension member 10. As was stated above, the lower end of the suspension member 10 may be formed as a loop that is directly engaged with the pins 122 on the second embodiment tree engaging member 116. Further, a hook 24 may be utilized to facilitate attachment of the lower end of the suspension member 10 with either the pulley 228 of the third embodiment tree engaging member 216 or the holes 28 provided in the first embodiment tree engaging member 16. When the strap style tree engaging member 16 is utilized, a hook 24 interface will be provided to engage the grommet holes 28 in the strap. When a hook 24 is utilized, it is preferred that the hook 24 has a configuration and properties that allow easy release and removal of the hook 24 even when the hook 24 is under load. Similarly, when the elongage tree engaging member 116 is utilized, the ends of the suspension member 10 preferably will be formed as a loop or an open hook that is simply positioned beneath the desired peg 122 to transfer the load from the tree 18 into the suspension member 10.
To further facilitate installation of the tree 18, a spacer block may be utilized beneath the tree as it is positioned and installed. The spacer block is placed on the floor and the trunk 20 of the tree 18 is placed onto the spacer block as the tree 18 is brought into a vertical position. The spacer block assists in lifting the tree 18 so that the installer does not have to lift the tree 18 when attempting to connect it with the suspension member 10. Further, the spacer block lifts the tree 18 sufficiently such that once the tree 18 is placed in the hanging position and the spacer block is removed, as the suspension member 10 stretches, substantially all of the weight of the tree 18 is supported from above. To lend additional stability, straps 30 having hook and loop fasteners are provided that may be wrapped around the tree trunk 20 and the suspension member 10 thereby engaging the upper portion of the tree 18 with the suspension member 10. In this manner the tree 18 will hang more vertically relative to the suspension member 10 and be less likely to tilt.
To further stabilize the tree 18 and facilitate watering of the tree 18 in the case of suspending a live tree 18, a base support 32 in the form of a bucket may be provided for placement under the cut end of the tree 18. The bucket may also include raised protrusions 34 from the bottom thereof to serve as stand-offs that prevent the tree 18 from sitting directly on the bottom of the bucket. The protrusions 34 may extend from an insert 36 that is placed into the bucket or preferably may be molded integrally with the bottom of the bucket. The bucket may include a cover that has a cut out arrangement so that the cover can be reinstalled after the tree trunk 20 is installed and the bucket is filled with water. Also, the bucket may include a secondary cover structure that serves to enclose and contain the entire kit for storage when not in use.
The present invention is also directed to a method for suspending a decorative tree 18 from an overhead support 14 including the installation of an anchor member 12 into the overhead supporting structure 14. The suspension member 10 is then attached to the anchor 12 allowing a second end to hang downwardly from the anchor 12. The tree engaging member 16 is then installed onto at least one structural member 20, 22 of the tree 18. With the tree engaging member 16 installed, the tree 18 is lifted into an upright position and the tree engaging member 16 is connected to the lower end of the suspension member 10. The suspension height of the tree 10 can then be varied by adjusting the selective engagement between the lower end of the suspension member 10 and the tree engaging member 16 as described in detail above.
It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides a novel and easy to use hanging assembly for suspending a decorative tree from an overhead structural support. The method and assembly of the present invention provides unique functionality that makes the assembly less visible and makes installation and adjustment of the relative height of the tree quite simple as compared to the systems provided in the prior art. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art, which has substantial commercial merit.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/655,056, filed Feb. 22, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60655056 | Feb 2005 | US |
