MULTI-POSITIONAL, LOCKING ARTIFICIAL TREE TRUNK

Abstract

A locking artificial tree trunk including a first generally cylindrical, hollow trunk portion including an upper end, the upper end defining a notch, and a second generally cylindrical trunk portion including a body portion, a lower end having an insertable portion, and an upper end. The locking artificial tree trunk also includes a coupling mechanism having a body portion and an upper portion having a tab, and defining a channel for receiving the insertable portion of the lower end of the second trunk portion. The body portion is inserted substantially into the upper end of the first trunk portion with the tab of the upper portion aligned with the notch, thereby preventing rotation of the coupling mechanism within the upper end of the first trunk portion.

Claims

1. A locking artificial tree trunk, comprising: a first generally cylindrical, hollow trunk portion including an upper end, the upper end defining a notch; a second generally cylindrical trunk portion including a body portion, a lower end having an insertable portion, and an upper end; and a coupling mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention can be understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front view of a modular, artificial tree trunk assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first trunk portion, a securing sleeve, and a second trunk portion according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first trunk portion depicted in FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the securing sleeve depicted in FIG. 2;

[0027] FIGS. 5-6 are perspective views of the second trunk portion depicted in FIG. 2;

[0028] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a first trunk portion, a securing sleeve, and a second trunk portion according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second trunk portion depicted in FIG. 7;

[0030] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the securing sleeve depicted in FIG. 7;

[0031] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of two trunk portions in a coupled configuration by a securing sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0032] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a trunk portion, a securing plug, and an upper trunk portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an artificial tree trunk 100 of the present invention is depicted. Artificial tree trunk 100 includes first trunk portion 102, second trunk portion 104, and coupling mechanism 106. In some embodiments, artificial tree trunk 100 may include more trunk portions, such as third trunk portion 108, and may be secured by a second coupling mechanism 110, or may include fewer trunk portions. When tree trunk 100 is assembled, as depicted, trunk portions 102, 104, and 108 are aligned along a common vertical axis and held in a general vertical orientation. To maintain the general vertical orientation, first trunk portion 102 is insertable into a base or stand portion (not depicted) that supports the entire assembly. Such a base includes a receiver, such as a channel or other opening, as understood by those skilled-in-the-art, for receiving a bottom portion of trunk portion 102, the receiver having an inside diameter equal to or slightly larger than, an outside diameter of the bottom portion of trunk portion 102.

[0035] Referring also to FIGS. 2-3, first trunk portion 102 as depicted comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow structure including trunk portion body 112 having a lower end 114, an upper end 116, outside wall 118, and one or more branch-support rings 122. One or more notches 120 are defined in upper end 116 of outside wall 118.

[0036] Lower end 114 of first trunk portion 102 may be tapered as depicted in FIG. 1 or not tapered as depicted in FIG. 2 for ease of coupling to an appropriate base or stand portion.

[0037] One or more notches 120 may be substantially trapezoidal as depicted in FIGS. 2-3, or substantially rectangular, or any other shape useful in receiving a tab and keeping the tab fixed in place by having opposite containing edges.

[0038] Branch-support rings 122 include multiple branch receivers 124 extending outwardly and away from first trunk portion 102. In some embodiments, branch receivers 124 define a channel 126 for receiving a primary branch extension 130 of a branch 128.

[0039] Each branch 128 generally includes primary branch extension 130 and may also include multiple secondary branch extensions 132 extending away from branch extension 130. Branch 128 is connected to trunk portion 102 at a branch receiver 124 at trunk-end 134.

[0040] Primary branch extension 130 of branches 128 may be bent or otherwise formed to define a loop or circular opening such that primary branch extension 130 of branch 128 may be secured to branch receiver 124 by way of a pin (not depicted) extending through branch receiver 124 and the loop formed at trunk-end 134 of branch 128. In this way, a branch 128 may be allowed to pivot about the pin and branch receiver 124, allowing first trunk portion 102 to collapse to a smaller envelope size for convenient storage.

[0041] Referring also to FIG. 2 and FIGS. 5-6, second trunk portion 104 as depicted also comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow structure including trunk portion body 136 having a lower end 138, an upper end 140, outside wall 142, and in some embodiments, one or more branch-support rings 122. A length of insertable portion 144 of trunk portion body 136 may vary depending on overall tree height. A taller tree will generally require a longer insertable portion 144. In some embodiments, the length of insertable portion 144 ranges from 10% to 35% of the length of its corresponding trunk portion 104. Insertable portion 144 is defined by a relative circumference that is not perfectly circular, and is smaller than the circumference of the rest of second trunk portion 104.

[0042] In an embodiment, insertable portion 144 may be shaped such the outside wall 142 of insertable portion 144 forms a: blossom having a plurality of substantially semi-circular ridges all connected to form an enclosed blossom shape. In such an embodiment, the apertures formed by the connecting of the semi-circular ridges at the relative vertices, in combination with the ridges themselves, form one half of a locking mechanism. In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 7-8, as depicted, second trunk portion 204 has an insertable portion 216 that forms a hexagonal shape having six edges and six vertices. In such an embodiment, the edges in combination with the vertices form one half of a locking mechanism.

[0043] In other embodiments, the second trunk portion can have an insertable portion comprising any number of useful shapes having edges and vertices, like a rectangle, square, parallelogram, octagon, heptagon, pentagon, etc. The more repeating edges or ridges of the shape, the easier the sections will be to align because less rotation is required to line up to the corresponding rib or aperture of the receiving other half of the locking mechanism. However, a shape having a substantial edge or ridge is desirable in order to provide leverage against rotation of the first and second trunk portions, once seated. As the shape approaches a circle, the locking mechanism will be less and less effective.

[0044] Similar to first trunk portion 102, primary branch extension 130 of branches 128 extending from second trunk portion 104 may be bent or otherwise formed to define a loop or circular opening such that primary branch extension 130 of branch 128 may be secured to branch receiver 124 by way of a pin (not depicted) extending through branch receiver 124 and the loop formed at trunk-end 134 of branch 128. In this way, a branch 128 may be allowed to pivot about the pin and branch receiver 124, allowing second trunk portion 102 to collapse to a smaller envelope size for convenient storage.

[0045] Coupling mechanism 106 as depicted in FIGS. 1-3 comprises a substantially sleeve-shaped hollow structure including body portion 144 having a lower end 146, an upper end 148, an outside wall 150, an inner surface 158 formed by the opposite side of outside wall 150, and radially-extending ribs 156 that run along at least a portion of the length of the inner surface 158. In an embodiment, outside wall 150 may also form multiple longitudinal rib-like projections 159 along a length of body portion 144.

[0046] Coupling mechanism 106 further comprises lip 152 that extends over a portion of body portion 144 from upper end 148. Lip 152 includes one or more tabs 154 located on the distal edge of lip 152, such that one or more tabs 154 extends beyond the edge of lip 154. The void created by the outside wall 150 and the underside of lip 152 defines a channel for receiving first trunk portion 102 at upper end 116. One or more tabs 154 mirror the shape of one or more notches 120 defined in the upper end 116 of outside wall 118 of first trunk portion 102 so that one or more notches 120 can receive the one or more tabs 154 and make a fit such that the opposite containing edges of the one or more notches 120 restrict the movement of the one or more tabs 154 and therefore the entire coupling mechanism 106.

[0047] Radially-extending ribs 156 along at least a portion of the length of the inner surface 158 of body portion 144 form channels mirroring the shape of the ridges or edges of second trunk portion 104. Likewise, the ribs 156 themselves mirror the shape of the apertures formed by the connecting of the ridges or edges. In such a configuration, insertable portion 144 of second trunk portion 104 is slideable along the inner surface 158 of coupling mechanism 106 such that coupling mechanism 106 can receive insertable portion 144 and therefore, second trunk portion 104. In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, coupling mechanism 206 has radially-extending ribs 230 that are substantially flat along the inner surface 232, but form channels that mirror the shape of the vertices of the edges around second trunk portion 204 in a hexagonal shape. In such a configuration, insertable portion 216 of second trunk portion 204 is slidable along the inner surface 232 of coupling mechanism 206 such that coupling mechanism 206 can receive insertable portion 216 and therefore second trunk portion 204.

[0048] Coupling mechanism 106 is designed to have an outside wall 150 circumference slightly less than the circumference of first trunk portion 102, and an inner surface 158 relative circumference greater than the relative circumference of the shape of insertable portion 144 of second trunk portion 104. Coupling mechanism 106 can be made of a plastic or rubberized material, thus enabling a tighter fit between first and second trunk portions. For example, injection-molded plastic, polyethylene, or polypropylene are considered.

[0049] In another embodiment not depicted, the interlocking pieces of second trunk portion 104 and coupling mechanism 106 may be swapped. For example, the ribs that, in previously-described embodiments, extend along a portion of the length of the coupling mechanism 106 body portion 144 may instead be machined into the insertable portion 144 of trunk portion body 136 of second trunk portion 104. In such a configuration, the insertable portion 144 forms channels for insertion rather than coupling mechanism 106. Likewise, the edges, ridges, and vertices of insertable portion 144 in previously-described embodiments may instead be formed into the inner surface 158 of body portion 144.

[0050] Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, artificial tree trunk 100 may include third trunk portion 108 and coupling mechanism 110. In such an embodiment, second trunk portion 104 further comprises one or more notches 180 defined in upper end 140 of outside wall 142.

[0051] Third trunk portion 108 comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow structure including trunk portion body 160 having a lower end 162, and an upper end 164. In an embodiment, third trunk portion 108 further comprises base 166 extending vertically from lower end 162 to a point along trunk portion body 160. Base 166 encloses around trunk portion body 160 to create an insertable portion that is wider than trunk portion body 160 itself. Base 166 comprises a non-cylindrical shape, for example, a square as depicted in FIG. 11. Such a shape creates a non-rotatable trunk portion when secured in a similarly-shaped aperture in coupling mechanism 110. In an alternative embodiment without base 166, trunk portion body 160 is non-cylindrical. For example, trunk portion body 160 may comprise a hexagonal shape. When secured in a similarly-shaped aperture in coupling mechanism 110, third trunk portion 108 is likewise non-rotatable.

[0052] Third trunk portion 108 may further comprise branch-support rings (not depicted) adaptable to couple to the body 160 of third trunk portion 108, where multiple branch receivers extend outwardly and away from third trunk portion 108, just as branch-support rings 122 along first trunk portion 102 and second trunk portion 104. In some embodiments, branch receivers define a vein for receiving a primary branch extension 130 of a branch 128. In an alternative embodiment, branches 128 are directly coupled to the body 160 of third trunk portion 108.

[0053] Coupling mechanism 110 comprises a substantially plug-shaped hollow structure including plug body 168 having a lower end 170, an upper end 172, an outside wall 174, and a top wall 180 formed orthogonally from the plug body 168 across the opening at upper end 172. Coupling mechanism 110 further comprises lip 182 that extends over a portion of plug body 168 from upper end 172. Lip 182 includes one or more tabs 176 located on the distal edge of lip 182, such that one or more tabs 176 extends beyond the edge of lip 182. The void created by the outside wall 174 and the underside of lip 182 defines a channel for receiving second trunk portion 104 at upper end 140. One or more tabs 176 mirror the shape of one or more notches 180 defined in the upper end 140 of outside wall 142 of second trunk portion 104 so that one or more notches 180 can receive the one or more tabs 176 and make a fit such that the opposite containing edges of the one or more notches 180 restrict the movement of the one or more tabs 176 and therefore the entire coupling mechanism 110. Aperture 178 defined in the center of top wall 180 mirrors the shape and length of trunk portion body 160, if an embodiment without a base, or base 166 if an embodiment with a base.

[0054] In the aforementioned configurations, third trunk portion 108 is connectable to second trunk portion 104 by coupling mechanism 110. In an embodiment of third trunk portion 108 without base 166, trunk portion body 160 is directly insertable into similarly-shaped aperture 178 of top wall 180. In an embodiment of third trunk portion 108 with base 166, trunk portion body is insertable by inserting base 166 into similarly-shaped aperture 178 of top wall 180.

[0055] In another embodiment of an artificial tree trunk 200, as briefly discussed above with respect to the second trunk portion and coupling mechanism, and referring to FIGS. 7-9, the shape of second trunk portion and coupling mechanism are not limited to a blossom. Artificial tree trunk 200 includes first trunk portion 102, second trunk portion 204, and coupling mechanism 206.

[0056] First trunk portion 102 as described above can be utilized in the embodiment of artificial tree trunk 200.

[0057] Similar to artificial tree trunk 100, artificial tree trunk 200 has a second trunk portion 204 that comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow structure including trunk portion body 208 having a lower end 210, an upper end 212, outside wall 214, and in some embodiments, one or more branch-support rings 122 (not depicted). A length of insertable 144 of trunk portion body 136 may vary depending on overall tree height. A taller tree will generally require a longer insertable portion 144. In some embodiments, the length of insertable portion 144 ranges from 10% to 35% of a length of its corresponding trunk portion 104. Insertable portion 216 is defined by a relative circumference that is not perfectly circular, and is smaller than the circumference of the rest of second trunk portion 204. As described above in relation to artificial tree 100 embodiment, second trunk portion 204 has an insertable portion 216 that forms a hexagonal shape having six edges and six vertices.

[0058] Coupling mechanism 206 as depicted in FIGS. 7-9 comprises a substantially sleeve-shaped hollow structure including sleeve body 218 having a lower end 220, an upper end 222, an outside wall 224, an inner surface 232 formed by the opposite side of outside wall 224, and radially-extending ribs 230 that run along at least a portion of the length of the inner surface 232. Coupling mechanism 206 further comprises lip 226 that extends over a portion of sleeve body 218 from upper end 222. Lip 226 includes one or more tabs 228 located on the distal edge of lip 226, such that one or more tabs 228 extends beyond the edge of lip 226. The void created by the outside wall 224 and the underside of lip 226 defines a channel for receiving first trunk portion 102 at upper end 116. One or more tabs 228 mirror the shape of one or more notches 120 defined in the upper end 116 of outside wall 118 of first trunk portion 102 so that one or more notches 120 can receive the one or more tabs 228 and make a fit such that the opposite containing edges of the one or more notches 120 restrict the movement of the one or more tabs 228 and therefore the entire coupling mechanism 206.

[0059] As described above in relation to artificial tree 100 embodiment, coupling mechanism 206 has radially-extending ribs 230 that are substantially flat along the inner surface 232 and thereby form channels that mirror the shape of the vertices of the edges around second trunk portion 204 in a hexagonal shape.

[0060] Artificial tree 200 may also optionally include third trunk portion 108 and coupling mechanism plug 110 as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11.

[0061] In an embodiment, in operation, to assemble artificial tree 100, first trunk portion 102 is positioned orthogonally relative to the ground, with lower end 114 affixed in a base or stand and upper end 116 pointed upward. Branches 128 are folded down along the axis of branch receiver 124 pin to create a fully extended branch in a display (non-storage) configuration. If needed, branch extensions 132 are bent or otherwise formed to fill out any gaps in the tree branches.

[0062] Coupling mechanism 106 is aligned above first trunk portion 102 at upper end 116 such that, when inserted downward into first trunk portion 102, one or more tabs 154 of coupling mechanism 106 align with one or more notches 120 of first trunk portion 102. Once so aligned, force is applied downward on coupling mechanism 106 until it fits snugly inside the aperture created by the cylinder of the body 112 at upper end 116 of first trunk portion 102 in an interference fit. When fully seated, the upper end 116 of first trunk portion 102 makes contact with the channel created by the outside wall 150 and the underside of lip 152 of coupling mechanism 106.

[0063] Second trunk portion 104 is positioned above the new combination of coupled first trunk portion 102 and coupling mechanism 106. Force is applied downward on second trunk portion 104 so that it contacts coupling mechanism 106. If the corresponding edges or ridges of second trunk portion 104 align with the channels created by radially-extending ribs 156 along at least a portion of the length of the inner surface 158 of body portion 144 of the insertable portion 144 of coupling mechanism 106, second trunk portion 104 will slide easily into the receivable inner surface 156 of coupling mechanism 106. However, if the edges or ridges of second trunk portion 104 are not aligned with the channels of coupling mechanism 106, a slight rotation of second trunk portion 104 is required.

[0064] In an embodiment utilizing a blossom shape for insertable portion 144 of second trunk portion 104 wherein six substantially semi-circular ridges extend radially along the length of insertable portion 144, no more than a maximum of 30 degrees of rotation is required one way or the other, depending on where the ridges align with the radially-extending ribs 156. Such a minimal rotation provides a significant advantage over known trunks. Most known trunks include trunk sections that spin freely about one another. Others require that the trunk sections be rotationally aligned to a single, predetermined locking position. As the size and weight of artificial trees increase, especially pre-lit trees, including hundreds, even thousands, of lights supporting a second trunk section aloft while rotating and aligning it relative to a first trunk section is cumbersome and difficult. Consequently, universal, or multi-point alignment feature, of the present trunk and coupling device provide significant advantages over the prior art.

[0065] Once seated, second trunk portion 104 remains fixed by means of an interference fit. Without branches, the coupling of second trunk portion 104 to the coupled combination of first trunk portion 102 and coupling mechanism 106 is depicted in FIG. 10. Branches 128 are operably coupled to second trunk portion 104 as described above with respect to first trunk portion 102. Or, if already coupled to second trunk portion 104, branches 128 are folded along the axis of the branch receiver 124 pin as described above with respect to first trunk portion 102.

[0066] Optionally, to couple third trunk portion 108 to first and second trunk portions 102 and 104, coupling mechanism 110 is aligned above second trunk portion 104 at upper end 140 such that, when inserted downward into second trunk portion 104, one or more tabs 176 of coupling mechanism 110 align with one or more notches 180 of second trunk portion 104. Once so aligned, force is applied downward on coupling mechanism 110 until it fits snugly inside the aperture created by the cylinder of the body 136 at upper end 140 of second trunk portion 104 in an interference fit. When fully seated, the upper end 140 of second trunk portion 104 makes contact with the channel created by the outside wall 174 and the underside of lip 182 of coupling mechanism 110.

[0067] Third trunk portion 108 is positioned above the new combination of coupled first trunk portion 102, coupling mechanism 106, second trunk portion 104, and coupling mechanism 110. Force is applied downward on third trunk portion 108 so that it contacts coupling mechanism 110. If the corresponding edges, ridges, or base 166 of third trunk portion 108 align with the edges of aperture 178 of top wall 180 across the opening at upper end 172 of coupling mechanism 110, third trunk portion 108 will slide easily into the aperture 178 of coupling mechanism 110. However, if the edges or ridges of third trunk portion 108 are not aligned with the edges of aperture 178, a slight rotation of third trunk portion 108 is required, just as described in relation to the seating of second trunk portion 104 into coupling mechanism 106. Once seated, third trunk portion 108 remains fixed by means of an interference fit. Again branches 128 are operably coupled to third trunk portion 108 as described above with respect to first trunk portion 102 and second trunk portion 104. Or, if already coupled to third trunk portion 108, branches 128 are folded along the axis of the branch receiver 124 pin as described above with respect to first trunk portion 102 and second trunk portion 104.

[0068] To disassemble artificial tree 100, in an optional embodiment utilizing third trunk portion 108 and coupling mechanism 110, force is applied vertically to third trunk portion 108 near coupling mechanism 110 such that the interference fit between third trunk portion 108 and coupling mechanism 110 is disrupted enough to recede third trunk portion 108 from the aperture 178 of coupling mechanism 110. Optionally, branches 128 may be pivoted about the pin and branch receiver 124, allowing third trunk portion 108 to collapse to a smaller envelope size for convenient storage.

[0069] Once third trunk portion 108 is removed and coupling mechanism 110 is fully exposed on along upper end 140 of second trunk portion 104, force is applied vertically to coupling mechanism 110 such that the interference fit between coupling mechanism 110 and second trunk portion 104 is disrupted enough to recede coupling mechanism 110 from the aperture created by the cylinder of the body 136 at upper end 140 of second trunk portion 104. Optionally, coupling mechanism 110 may remain coupled to second trunk portion 104 in storage.

[0070] Force can then be applied vertically to second trunk portion 104 near coupling mechanism 106 such that the interference fit between second trunk portion 104 and coupling mechanism 106 is disrupted enough to recede second trunk portion 104 from the inner surface 158 of coupling mechanism 106. Optionally, branches 128 may be pivoted about the pin and branch receiver 124, allowing second trunk portion 104 to collapse to a smaller envelope size for convenient storage.

[0071] Once second trunk portion 104 is removed and coupling mechanism 106 is fully exposed on along upper end 116 of first trunk portion 102, force is applied vertically to coupling mechanism 106 such that the interference fit between coupling mechanism 106 and first trunk portion 102 is disrupted enough to recede coupling mechanism 106 from the aperture created by the cylinder of the body 112 at upper end 116 of first trunk portion 102. Optionally, coupling mechanism 106 may remain coupled to first trunk portion 102 in storage.

[0072] First trunk portion 102 can then be removed or disengaged from the base or stand to which it was coupled. Optionally, branches 128 may be pivoted about the pin and branch receiver 124, allowing first trunk portion 102 to collapse to a smaller envelope size for convenient storage.

[0073] The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are within the claims. In addition, although aspects of the present invention have been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

[0074] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the invention may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the invention may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the invention may comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

[0075] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.