CHRISTMAS TREE STAND

Abstract

Many forms of Christmas tree stand, for use with real (i.e. cut) Christmas trees are known, such as those that may be filled with water to prolong the life of the tree. The present invention relates to a Christmas tree stand, and a method of maintaining a Christmas tree in a substantially upright position, and includes a reservoir 3 with retaining parts 9 at upper and lower ends thereof, and an outer container into which the reservoir is configured to be securable, the container configured to substantially conceal the reservoir and having a base larger than the reservoir. This prevents damage to floor surfaces (such as carpets and tiles) and prevents accidental contact by passers-by with difficult-to-see legs and/or arms.

Claims

1. A Christmas tree stand, comprising: an open-top water reservoir comprising a first tree-retention part at a lower end thereof, and a second tree-retention part at an upper end thereof, the open-top water reservoir configured for a lower end of a trunk of a Christmas tree to be inserted therein and secured by means of the first and second tree-retention parts; an outer container into which the open-top water reservoir is configured to be securable, the outer container having a base with a surface area at least 30% larger than a surface area of the lower end of the open-top water reservoir, wherein the outer container is assemblable from a plurality of substantially flat panel components.

2. The Christmas tree stand of claim 1, wherein the outer container has a base with a surface area at least 400% larger than a surface area of the lower end of the open-top water reservoir.

3. The Christmas tree stand of claim 1, wherein the open-top water reservoir is configured to be removably securable into the outer container.

4. The Christmas tree stand of claim 1, wherein the outer container comprises at least one aperture for passing a lighting cable therethrough.

5. The Christmas tree stand of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir insert configured to be removably insertable into the open-top water reservoir and, when inserted, configured to support the lower end of the trunk of the Christmas tree thereon, the reservoir insert comprising a third tree-retention part at an upper end thereof, and a support for spacing the third tree-retention part from the first tree-retention part, the Christmas tree stand configured for a lower end of the trunk of the Christmas tree to be secured by means of the second and third tree-retention parts.

6. A method of maintaining a Christmas tree in a substantially upright position, the method comprising the steps of: providing a Christmas tree stand according to claim 1; assembling the outer container from the plurality of substantially flat panel components; inserting a lower end of a trunk of the Christmas tree into the open-top water reservoir; and securing the Christmas tree in the open-top water reservoir by means of the first and second tree-retention parts.

Description

[0016] The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is an exterior perspective view of a stand in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stand shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0020] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0021] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

[0022] It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0023] Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

[0024] Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0025] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0026] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

[0027] In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

[0028] The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances.

[0029] The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows an exterior perspective view of a stand 1 having a substantially cylindrical reservoir 3 inserted within a hole (not shown) within an upper surface 5 of a cube-shape outer container. The reservoir 3 includes a collar 7, which has a diameter larger than the hole (not shown) within the upper surface 5, such that the collar 7 rests on the upper surface 5. Three screw-thread clamping members 9 are provided symmetrically disposed around the collar to grip the lower portion of a trunk of a Christmas tree. In some embodiments the clamping members 9 may have sharp and/or pointed ends to grip the trunk; however, in the arrangement shown the members 9 have flat ends similar to bolts.

[0031] A circular hole 11 in the rear face 13 of the container allows electrical cables to be fed into the container, and a further circular hole 15 of smaller diameter in the upper surface 5 allows the lighting cables to be run out to the tree, for lighting purposes. The remaining faces 17 of the container are decorated to look like a present, so that they blend in with the surroundings.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stand shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the opposite side. The reservoir 3 can be seen inserted into a socket 19 in the interior of the base 21 of the container. The socket 19 is supported by reinforcing ribs 23. A flange 25 extends around the hole in the upper surface 5 upon which the collar 7 rests. The flange 25 is also supported by corresponding reinforcing ribs 27.

[0033] Inside the reservoir 3 is provided a spike 29 located centrally in the bottom, onto which a trunk of a tree may be placed. The spike 29 is configured to push into the trunk to prevent lateral movement thereof relative to the reservoir 3. The reservoir is water tight and may be filled with water once the tree has been inserted.

[0034] Also shown inside the reservoir is a removable insert 31 comprising a cylindrical spacer 33 configured to fit snugly inside the reservoir 3, a upper plate 35, and a second spike 37 centrally located on the upper plate 35. The function of the second spike 37 is identical to the spike 29, but for use with trees having shorter trunks.

[0035] Grooves 39 are provided in the upper surface 5 and the base 21 for insertion of the side panels 12 and the rear panel 17 therein. Similar grooves are provided for connecting the side panels 12 and the rear panel 17 together.

[0036] There is provided sufficient space within the outer container to house electrical connectors, extension blocks, plugs, lighting controls, etc, protected from water and dropped pine needles.