A connector system facilitates the connection of a first tree trunk to a second tree trunk of an artificial tree system. The connector system can prohibit rotation of the first tree trunk relative to the second tree trunk.

A fabricated decorative tree with insertable branches system is provided that includes a tree trunk configured with at least one limb stub that is configured to receive a branch. The trunk, stub, and branch all have internal supports and an external decorative skin. The stub internal support has a proximal end fixedly attached to the trunk internal support and has a stub distal end having a receptor with a channel cut at least through the internal support distal edge. Only the distal end of the branch internal support is covered with the external skin. The uncovered proximal end of the branch internal support is a male sleeve insert having an outwardly projecting alignment protuberance sized to fit within the stub's channel. Means to further secure the stub-branch joint and methods by which one set of interchangeable branches are replaced by a second set of branches are also provided.

A grass covering apparatus for use in camouflaging and concealing a person during a variety of different outdoor and/or wildlife activities, particularly during hunting. A grass covering apparatus comprising a plurality of blades that are manufactured from a substantially synthetic material, wherein said synthetic grass covering apparatus is able to withstand an outdoor environment and a variety of different environment elements and remain in a substantially wet and damp environment without rotting, molding, or deteriorating.

A combustion-resistant branch assembly for an artificial tree, the branch assembly including a first branch portion including a first rod having a main portion intermediate a first end portion and a second end portion; a first group of sub-branches attached to the first branch portion, each sub-branch of the first group of sub-branches including a member having a first end portion; and a first winding, including a combustion-resistant strand, wrapped about the first end portion of the first rod of the first branch portion and the first end portion of each sub-branch of the first group of sub-branches, thereby attaching the first group of sub-branches to the first branch portion.

An article of manufacture for providing an O.sub.2 Tree for removing CO.sub.2 gas from the atmosphere according to the present invention is disclosed.

The disclosed invertible structures rely on combinations of translational movements to effect inversion. An exemplary invertible structure includes a track operable to be slidably coupled to a connector element of a longitudinal structure. In an embodiment, the connector element may include at least two connectors at least partially disposed in a slot defined in the track, which may have a plurality of translational axes for translational movements of the connectors of the longitudinal structure that would effect the inversion of the longitudinal structure.

The disclosed invertible structures rely on combinations of translational movements to effect inversion. An exemplary invertible structure includes a track operable to be slidably coupled to a connector element of a longitudinal structure. In an embodiment, the connector element may include at least two connectors at least partially disposed in a slot defined in the track, which may have a plurality of translational axes for translational movements of the connectors of the longitudinal structure that would effect the inversion of the longitudinal structure.

A connector system facilitates the connection of a first tree trunk to a second tree trunk of an artificial tree system. The connector system can prohibit rotation of the first tree trunk relative to the second tree trunk.

A topiary arrangement with foliage tiers having stems that are telescopic with respect to each other in order to achieve desired spacings between the foliage tiers. Each foliage tier includes a spherical foliage bundle with a tubular stem extending downwardly therefrom. Successive tiers of the foliage tiers have tubular stems that are somewhat different in diameters so that the stems are telescopic with respect to neighbor stems. A respective O-ring is stretched around the foliage stem to function as an adjustment mechanism to space the tiers from each other a desired distance. When one tubing stem is inserted into an underlying tubing stem, the O-ring on the upper tubing stem can be adjusted thereon so that the tubular stem telescopes downwardly only a desired distance within the underlying tubing stem, thus making the foliage tiers individually adjustable as to spacing therebetween.

A surface covering for use as a moss covering or patch of grass via application to a surface or substrate. The surface covering provides a decorative and durable and easily maintained surface covering. The covering is fabricated using groups of fibers, such as metallic, plastic, or other material fibers, e.g., stainless steel fibers or strands available commercially as steel wool or the like. The fibers or strands provide a core of a body of each blade or piece of the surface covering, which is useful to replicate a blade of grass or moss or to mimic a strand of hair. Each body of the strands further includes an outer layer or coating, which can be formed by painting, e.g., with an epoxy or other useful material that may be colored, the mesh of metal fibers to provide a durable body with a desired look and feel.