TRUNK SIZE ADAPTER AND TREE STAND SYSTEM

Abstract

A decorative tree stand device is has a tree trunk mount that further includes a securing neck secured to an upper portion of the tree trunk mount and a plurality of tightening adjusters spaced around a circumference of an outside surface of the securing neck and configured to move inward and outward as actuated. One or more sizing adapters are structurally configured to engage into an opening in the securing neck, the one or more sizing adapters having an internal tree trunk opening oriented to receive a tree trunk of a comparatively sized diameter and to allow the tightening adjusters to actuate inward to secure the tree trunk and a support base coupled to the tree trunk mount to maintain the tree trunk mount in a vertical position.

Claims

1. A decorative tree stand device, comprising: a tree trunk mount, further comprising: a securing neck secured to an upper portion of the tree trunk mount; a plurality of tightening adjusters spaced around a circumference of an outside surface of the securing neck and configured to move inward and outward as actuated; and one or more sizing adapters structurally configured to engage into an opening in the securing neck, the one or more sizing adapters having an internal tree trunk opening oriented to receive a tree trunk of a comparatively sized diameter and to allow the tightening adjusters to actuate inward to secure the tree trunk; and a support base coupled to the tree trunk mount to maintain the tree trunk mount in a vertical position.

2. The decorative tree stand device of claim 1, wherein the tree trunk mount further comprises a bottom stabilizer positioned at a bottom surface of the tree trunk mount to stabilize a bottom of a tree trunk when positioned in the tree trunk mount.

3. The decorative tree stand device of claim 2, wherein the bottom stabilizer further comprises a plurality of vertically offset concentric rings centered on a top surface of the bottom stabilizer, such that tree trunks of different diameters engage in different concentric rings coinciding with the internal tree trunk opening size.

4. The decorative tree stand device of claim 1, wherein the sizing adapter has an outer circular configuration as a disk shape.

5. The decorative tree stand device of claim 4, wherein the sizing adapter has a cutout section between an surface and the internal tree trunk opening sized and configured to allow one of the plurality of tightening adjusters to contact the tree trunk.

6. The decorative tree stand device of claim 1, wherein the sizing adapter further comprises a plurality of sizing adapters of different outside diameters sized to be removably coupleable within one another, where one of the sizing adapters has an outside diameter configured to couple and engage the opening in the securing neck and each of the sizing adapters is configured to couple and engage the internal tree trunk opening for another one of the plurality of sizing adapters to match various outer diameters of tree trunks of artificial trees.

7. The decorative tree stand device of claim 6, wherein the tightening adjustors are positioned to actuate and engage a tree trunk regardless of the number of the plurality of sizing adjustors.

8. The decorative tree stand device of claim 1, wherein the support base further comprises a plurality of lateral supports extending away from the tree trunk mount to secure the tree trunk mount in an upright vertical position.

9. The decorative tree stand device of claim 1, where each of the plurality of lateral supports includes a castor coupled to a distal end.

10. A decorative tree stand system, comprising: a tree trunk mount, further comprising: a securing neck secured to an upper portion of the tree trunk mount; a plurality of tightening adjusters spaced around a circumference of an outside surface of the securing neck and configured to move inward and outward as actuated; and a plurality of sizing adapters having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and sizably configured to couple inside one another to sizable engage different tree trunk diameters of artificial trees, wherein the outermost sizing adapter of the plurality of sizing adapters is sizably configured to couple and engage an opening in the securing neck and to allow the tightening adjusters to actuate inward to secure the tree trunk through the plurality of sizing adapters; and a support base coupled to the tree trunk mount to maintain the tree trunk mount in a vertical position.

11. The decorative tree stand device of claim 10, wherein the tree trunk mount further comprises a bottom stabilizer positioned at a bottom surface of the tree trunk mount to stabilize a bottom of a tree trunk when positioned in the tree trunk mount.

12. The decorative tree stand device of claim 11, wherein the bottom stabilizer further comprises a plurality of vertically offset concentric rings centered on a top surface of the bottom stabilizer, such that tree trunks of different diameters engage in different concentric rings coinciding with the internal tree trunk opening size.

13. The decorative tree stand device of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of the sizing adapters has an outer circular configuration as a disk shape.

14. The decorative tree stand device of claim 13, wherein each of plurality of sizing adapters has a cutout section between the outer diameter and the inner diameter aligned to allow at least one of the plurality of tightening adjusters to contact the tree trunk.

15. The decorative tree stand device of claim 10, wherein the support base further comprises a plurality of lateral supports extending away from the tree trunk mount to secure the tree trunk mount in an upright vertical position.

16. The decorative tree stand device of claim 10, where each of the plurality of lateral supports includes a castor coupled to a distal end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] These drawings are provided to illustrate various aspects of the invention and are not intended to be limiting the scope in terms of dimensions, materials, configurations, arrangements or proportions unless otherwise limited by the claims.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 4A is a plan view of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the plan view from 4A of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure FIG. 4C is a plan view of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the plan view from 4C of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure

[0011] FIG. 4E is a plan view of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 4F is a perspective view of the plan view from 4E of a device according to one aspect of the present disclosure

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purpose of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details can be made and are considered included herein. Accordingly, the following embodiments are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, any claims set forth. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Also, the same reference numerals appearing in different drawings represent the same element. Numbers provided in flow charts and processes are provided for clarity in illustrating steps and operations and do not necessarily indicate a particular order or sequence.

[0014] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of formulas, procedures, ingredients, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that such detailed embodiments do not limit the overall concepts articulated herein but are merely representative thereof. One skilled in the relevant art will also recognize that the technology can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, formulas, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure.

[0015] In this application, comprises, comprising, containing and having and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law and can mean includes, including, and the like, and are generally interpreted to be open ended terms. The terms consisting of or consists of are closed terms, and include only the components, structures, steps, or the like specifically listed in conjunction with such terms, as well as that which is in accordance with U.S. Patent law. Consisting essentially of or consists essentially of have the meaning generally ascribed to them by U.S. Patent law. In particular, such terms are generally closed terms, with the exception of allowing inclusion of additional items, materials, components, steps, or elements, that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics or function of the item(s) used in connection therewith. For example, trace elements present in a composition, but not affecting the composition's nature or characteristics would be permissible if present under the consisting essentially of language, even though not expressly recited in a list of items following such terminology. When using an open-ended term in this written description, like comprising or including, it is understood that direct support should be afforded also to consisting essentially of language as well as consisting of language as if stated explicitly and vice versa.

[0016] As used herein, the term substantially refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is substantially enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of substantially is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is substantially free of particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is substantially free of an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.

[0017] As used herein, the term about is used to provide flexibility to a given term, metric, value, range endpoint, or the like. The degree of flexibility for a particular variable can be readily determined by one skilled in the art. However, unless otherwise expressed, the term about generally provides flexibility of less than 1%, and in some cases less than 0.01%. It is to be understood that, even when the term about is used in the present specification in connection with a specific numerical value, support for the exact numerical value recited apart from the about terminology is also provided.

[0018] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

[0019] Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of about 1 to about 5 should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 1.5, 2, 2.3, 3, 3.8, 4, 4.6, 5, and 5.1 individually.

[0020] This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

[0021] Reference throughout this specification to an example means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of phrases including an example or an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example or embodiment.

[0022] The terms first, second, third, fourth, and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a series of steps, the order of such steps as presented herein is not necessarily the only order in which such steps may be performed, and certain of the stated steps may possibly be omitted and/or certain other steps not described herein may possibly be added to the method.

[0023] The terms left, right, front, back, top, bottom, over, under, and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

[0024] As used herein, comparative terms such as increased, decreased, better, worse, higher, lower, enhanced, and the like refer to a property of a device, component, or activity that is measurably different from other devices, components, or activities in a surrounding or adjacent area, in a single device or in multiple comparable devices, in a group or class, in multiple groups or classes, or as compared to the known state of the art. For example, a data region that has an increased risk of corruption can refer to a region of a memory device which is more likely to have write errors to it than other regions in the same memory device. A number of factors can cause such increased risk, including location, fabrication process, number of program pulses applied to the region, etc.

[0025] An initial overview of embodiments is provided below, and specific embodiments are then described in further detail. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in understanding the disclosure more quickly, and is not intended to identify key or essential technological features, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0026] The use of artificial decorative trees is widespread, encompassing holiday celebrations as well as aesthetic decorative embellishments in homes, businesses, and the like. Difficulties can arise when displaying such artificial trees, however, due to the tree stand mechanism used to hold the tree in an upright position. Generally such mechanisms include a number of thumb screws that protrude through the tree stand to contact the trunk of the tree. The most common type, a three-screw system, for example, contacts the tree trunk at only three discrete points, which allows the tree to slip in the tree stand and tilt from its upright position. A more substantial securing mechanism is problematic as well, due to the fact that artificial trees have different sizes of trunk diameters.

[0027] The present disclosure solves the above-mentioned issues by through a novel tree stand having screw mechanisms that tighten against interchangeable inserts that match the tree trunk size, thus allowing the same tree stand to be used with artificial trees having different trunk diameters.

[0028] In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, a tree stand can have three or more leg extensions 102 which can optionally include castors 104 or similar mechanisms for allowing the tree to be easily moved while in the tree stand. The leg extensions 102 are secured to a tree trunk mount 106, which allows the tree to be secured to the leg extensions 102 when positioned in the tree trunk mount 106. The bottom of the tree trunk thus rests at the bottom of the tree trunk mount 106 when positioned in the tree stand. A securing neck 108 is positioned at the top of the tree trunk mount 106, which secures the tree trunk in an upright and stable position in the tree trunk mount 106. A plurality of screw adjusters 110 are positioned around the securing neck 108, which press into elongate pressure plates 112 to apply pressure and secure the tree trunk in position. While such is not limiting, the example shown in FIG. 1 includes one screw adjustor 110 and elongate pressure plate 112 that move under screwing pressure through groove 114 to directly contact the tree trunk, while the other screw adjustors 110 and elongate pressure plates 112 apply pressure an inner portion of the securing neck 108 to maintain the tree trunk and the securing neck 108 in a stable position in the tree trunk mount 106. Furthermore, the example of FIG. 1 shows a number of sizing inserts 116 that can be sequentially removed to match the diameter of the tree trunk.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an example of a cross section through a tree stand with leg extensions 102, castors 104, and a tree trunk mount 106. A securing neck 108 is shown positioned at the top of the tree trunk mount 106 to secure the tree trunk in an upright and stable position in the tree trunk mount 106. A plurality of screw adjusters 110 are positioned around the securing neck 108, which press into elongate pressure plates 112 to apply pressure and secure the tree trunk in position. In this example, sizing inserts 116 are shown within the securing neck 108 to match the diameter of the tree trunk.

[0030] FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of tree stands having leg extensions 302, optional castors 304, and a tree trunk mount 306 coupled to the leg extensions 302. A securing neck 308 is secured to the top of the tree trunk mount 306. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, separate securing necks 308 for different size trunks are provided, and the properly sized securing neck 308 is selected that is appropriate for the diameter of the tree trunk 330. The securing neck 308 can fit over the top of the tree trunk mount 306 between the screw adjustors 310 and pressure plates 312, or each securing neck 308 can include and attached set of screw adjustors 310 and pressure plates 312 that attach to the tree trunk mount 306 with the securing neck 308.

[0031] It is noted that in the examples shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A and 3B, the sizing inserts 116 and the different sized securing necks 308 extend downward along a portion of the tree trunk to allow the pressure plates to engage and stabilize a greater length of tree trunk compared to using screw connectors alone. Also, it is noted that while FIGS. 3A and 3B show two sizes of securing necks 308, such is not limiting and multiple sizes matching various trunk diameters are contemplated.

[0032] FIGS. 4A-4F show various views of different sizes of securing necks 408 including the size adjusters (not shown for clarity), with FIGS. 4A, 4C, and 4D showing top down view and FIGS. 4B, 4D, and 4F showing isometric views. Each securing neck 408 includes a screw engagement 420 and a differently sized tree trunk opening 426. The securing neck 408 additionally includes pressure plate openings 424, at least one of which 422 adjusts to contact the tree trunk when in position. Thus by switching the securing neck 408 to a different size, trees having different trunk diameters can be stably and securely held in the same tree stand.

EXAMPLES

[0033] An example of a decorative tree stand device, including a tree trunk mount, further including a securing neck secured to an upper portion of the tree trunk mount, a plurality of tightening adjusters spaced around a circumference of an outside surface of the securing neck and configured to move inward and outward as actuated, and one or more sizing adapters structurally configured to engage into an opening in the securing neck, the one or more sizing adapters having an internal tree trunk opening oriented to receive a tree trunk of a comparatively sized diameter and to allow the tightening adjusters to actuate inward to secure the tree trunk. The device further includes a support base coupled to the tree trunk mount to maintain the tree trunk mount in a vertical position.

[0034] The decorative tree stand device as above wherein the tree trunk mount further comprises a bottom stabilizer positioned at a bottom surface of the tree trunk mount to stabilize a bottom of a tree trunk when positioned in the tree trunk mount.

[0035] The decorative tree stand device as above, wherein the bottom stabilizer further comprises a plurality of vertically offset concentric rings centered on a top surface of the bottom stabilizer, such that tree trunks of different diameters engage in different concentric rings coinciding with the internal tree trunk opening size.

[0036] The decorative tree stand device as above, wherein the sizing adapter has an outer circular configuration as a disk shape.

[0037] The decorative tree stand device as above, wherein the sizing adapter has a cutout section between an surface and the internal tree trunk opening sized and configured to allow one of the plurality of tightening adjusters to contact the tree trunk.

[0038] The decorative tree stand device as above, wherein the sizing adapter further comprises a plurality of sizing adapters of different outside diameters sized to be removably coupleable within one another, where one of the sizing adapters has an outside diameter configured to couple and engage the opening in the securing neck and each of the sizing adapters is configured to couple and engage the internal tree trunk opening for another one of the plurality of sizing adapters to match various outer diameters of tree trunks of artificial trees;

[0039] The decorative tree stand device as above, wherein the tightening adjustors are positioned to actuate and engage a tree trunk regardless of the number of the plurality of sizing adjustors.

[0040] The decorative tree stand device as above, wherein the support base further comprises a plurality of lateral supports extending away from the tree trunk mount to secure the tree trunk mount in an upright vertical position.

[0041] The decorative tree stand device as above, where each of the plurality of lateral supports includes a castor coupled to a distal end.

[0042] An example of a decorative tree stand system, including a tree trunk mount, further including a securing neck secured to an upper portion of the tree trunk mount a plurality of tightening adjusters spaced around a circumference of an outside surface of the securing neck and configured to move inward and outward as actuated; and a plurality of sizing adapters having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and sizably configured to couple inside one another to sizable engage different tree trunk diameters of artificial trees, wherein the outermost sizing adapter of the plurality of sizing adapters is sizably configured to couple and engage an opening in the securing neck and to allow the tightening adjusters to actuate inward to secure the tree trunk through the plurality of sizing adapters. The system further includes a support base coupled to the tree trunk mount to maintain the tree trunk mount in a vertical position.

[0043] The system as above, wherein the tree trunk mount further comprises a bottom stabilizer positioned at a bottom surface of the tree trunk mount to stabilize a bottom of a tree trunk when positioned in the tree trunk mount.

[0044] The system as above, wherein the bottom stabilizer further comprises a plurality of vertically offset concentric rings centered on a top surface of the bottom stabilizer, such that tree trunks of different diameters engage in different concentric rings coinciding with the internal tree trunk opening size.

[0045] The system as above, wherein each of the plurality of the sizing adapters has an outer circular configuration as a disk shape.

[0046] The system as above, wherein each of plurality of sizing adapters has a cutout section between the outer diameter and the inner diameter aligned to allow at least one of the plurality of tightening adjusters to contact the tree trunk.

[0047] The system as above, wherein the support base further comprises a plurality of lateral supports extending away from the tree trunk mount to secure the tree trunk mount in an upright vertical position.

[0048] The system as above, where each of the plurality of lateral supports includes a castor coupled to a distal end.