CA2748164A1 - Tree stand - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved stand for clamping rod-like parts, in particular Christmas trees, is characterized by the following features - a plurality of push pins (18, 18a, 18b) is provided in the circumferential direction of the stand, - the push pins (18, 18a, 18b) have elevations (21) spaced apart from one another, between which grooves (28) are designed, - the push pins (18, 18a, 18b) in each case penetrate a passage opening (20) of an adjustable support device (2), - the push pins (18, 18a, 18b) are preloaded in the direction of holding elements (17, 17a, 17b) by a spring loaded system (23), - a fixing and/or locking means (25) is provided, in which passage openings (26, 26a, 26b) located offset in the circumferential direction are designed, which are at least partially aligned with the passage openings (20, 20a, 20b) in the adjustable support device (2) and through which push pins (21, 21a, 21b) pass.

Description

WO 2010/086166 Al Tree stand The present invention relates to a tree stand, in particular a Christmas tree stand according to the preamble of claim 1.

A Christmas tree stand is known from DE 3932473 C2, for example. It comprises a holding vessel on which a plurality of levers, each pivotable about a horizontal axis, is arranged positioned offset in the circumferential direction. The levers are interconnected via a circumferential stay line which leads to a tensioning device. When the tensioning device is actuated, the levers are moved about the respective horizontal axis thereof onto a trunk of a tree, this trunk being inserted into the centre, the levers being arranged and orientated in such a way that the levers are each moved more or less onto the vertical axis of symmetry of a trunk which is to be adjusted.

A corresponding Christmas tree stand is also known from DE 202 18 172 U1. It comprises a housing cover and a housing base having a seam, which are permanently welded together.
As a result, the internal chamber is to be sealed off in a liquid-tight manner from the adjacent regions of the stand, so as to create a large space for holding water. This should make it possible to preserve a Christmas tree, which is inserted into the stand and is to be fixed, over as long a period as possible.

A further stand for vertically fixing rod-shaped items is known from DE 38 24 675 Al. It comprises a cup-shaped foot part having a positive-locking cover part having a plurality of passage openings around a centrally-arranged passage opening, which is formed as a guide mounting for an insertion sleeve which is placed on the trunk of the inserted article, for example a Christmas tree. This embodiment requires precise fitting of the inserted article to the insertion sleeve.

Christmas tree stands are also known which dispense with techniques such as cable pull with ratchets, having an insertion region around which a plurality of wing screws having a normal thread pitch are arranged. Stands of this type only have small devices, if any, for watering or are designed as inserts into separate vessels which only have a small base surface and can therefore only fix trees of a limited height securely.

However, all of the so-called functional tree stands known thus far have the drawback that assembling the entire Christmas tree stand, including assembling the holding device having the associated pivot axles, tensioning device etc., is extremely work-intensive, and thus also time-consuming and expensive.

The conventional stands have a relatively tall construction so as to make the tree trunk sufficiently stable, and they thus have high transport costs.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tree stand, in particular a Christmas tree stand, which is improved in this respect, is of a simple construction, optimally absorbs the relevant holding and tensioning forces despite the simple construction, and nevertheless comprises a large holding container for holding water to preserve a tree which is to be fixed.
The object is achieved according to the invention by the features set out in claim 1. The dependent claims set out advantageous configurations of the invention.

The present invention provides a considerable improvement over conventional solutions in a surprisingly simple manner.

The Christmas tree stand according to the invention preferably comprises a circular shell having a circumferential rim, which is arranged on the upper edge and provides dimensional stability of the shell as well as making it possible to fix a plurality of feet arranged spaced apart. A cylindrical container having an insertion opening is preferably provided in the central interior of the shell, and in a first embodiment has a plurality of approximately evenly spaced through-threads for receiving threaded bolts, to the outwards-facing ends of which a toggle of the like is attached and of which the ends facing the central axis are provided with a circumferential notching or a groove.

So as to make the tree stable, by way of as large an upper contact zone as possible of the holding members on the tree stump, and also to achieve as flat a construction as possible for the stand because of the transport costs, easily detachable holding members may be provided which project beyond the stand when inserted into it.

Inside the cylindrical container, in the vertical axis, beneath the through-threads, cams are provided as close as possible to the base, preferably on the internal wall thereof, and together with the notches on the threaded bolts can each receive a holding member in a vertical position. The holding members are preferably provided in the axis thereof with a slot or a plurality of slots, in such a way that they engage the cams from behind and engage in the notches on the threaded bolts, and this means that when the threaded bolts are screwed into the through-threads provided therefor, the holding members remain mounted approximately in the region of the outer wall of the insertion container by the ends thereof facing the base, whilst the contact regions are pressed towards the central axis, i.e. into contact with the trunk.

The cylindrical container should contain a plurality of passage openings for the exchange of liquid towards the shell, and one or more mandrels are provided on the base for fixing the trunk.

The invention provides that the passages in the rim of the insertion container preferably have no thread, in such a way that instead of threaded bolts, push bolts having circumferential protrusions (ribs, springs etc.) which are arranged mutually spaced are provided so as to form between them grooves which preferably have guides on the outwards-facing ends for receiving an extension spring which is preferably guided around the insertion container. The holding members may be fitted with vertically extending slots for rapid assembly or removal, but extend above the contact region thereof, it being possible for the extensions to be bent outwards (towards the stand edge) at an angle of approximately 700.

The biased spring presses the push bolts through the passage openings provided therefor in the insertion container, and with them the holding members detachably coupled thereto, towards the central axis, resulting in an insertion funnel inside the ends, which now face diagonally upwards and outwards, of the holding members.

If the tree trunk is now inserted into the funnel-shaped opening, the tree trunk slides, driven by the tree's own weight, along the inner faces of the holding members, presses these and the push bolts coupled thereto against the spring tension, further and further from the starting position thereof, until it is definitively standing on the fixing mandrel, which penetrates entirely or in part into the underside of the tree trunk. The tree trunk is now fixed at the underside thereof and pre-fixed in the region of the holding member contact, making it possible to align the tree.

A fixing ring is provided for definitively fixing the tree trunk, by means of the holding members and the push bolts coupled to these members, which fixing ring preferably comprises the upper rim of the insertion container, and preferably has, in the region of the passage openings, slots, preferably extending horizontally, which can be brought into a position overlapping the through-openings on the insertion container. In this position, the push bolts can pass through the through-openings in the fixing and/or locking ring and the through-openings positioned coincidently therewith in the insertion container.
By twisting the fixing and/or locking ring, the push bolts can then be gripped in such a way that they will no longer release a clamped tree trunk. For this purpose an elongate through-opening, extending in the circumferential direction and tapering in the locking direction, is preferably made in the fixing and/or locking ring, and the rim of said elongate through-opening can thus engage in the push bolt in the groove-shaped depressions between two protrusions, securing the push bolt against being urged out away from a tree trunk which is to be fixed. It is also possible to grip the push bolt in such a way that the protrusions and the grooves positioned between them jam against rims or edges in the region of the through-openings on the insertion container etc. Any desired variants are possible in this regard.

As has thus been mentioned above in connection with a preferred embodiment, if the fixing ring is rotated around the insertion container, the limits of the tapering slots are urged in between the protrusions (i.e. projections, ribs, webs, springs etc.); in other words the rim of the tapering slots moves into the grooves between the protrusions, fixing the push bolts in position.

In a development of the invention, a plurality of feet are provided to make the stand particularly stable and are preferably each arranged evenly spaced on the outside, facing away from the stand, for which purpose a circumferentially crimped rim on the stand shell is adapted in particular in that an indentation in the stand foot is slid from the upper side thereof onto the crimped rim from above.

The stand feet, which are preferably arranged so as to be detachable, may be formed in various configurations. The simplest embodiment is a planar stand foot, preferably manufactured from plastics material. To achieve a greater weight of the stand, hollow stand feet may be provided which can be filled with weighting materials such as sand or water.

As a result of a further embodiment, recesses preferably on the undersides of the stand feet may be used to accommodate batteries for the power supply of strings of LED
lights or lighting fixtures in the circumferential rim of the stand shell. A further embodiment, which can provided increased stability, is an additional container, which may be partially filled with weighting materials or is itself manufactured from an inherently high-density material, and has a wide, smooth base, and the rim of which impinges on the crimped rim of the stand shell.

The simple final assembly by the consumer of the bulky parts, such as holding members and stand feet, additionally preferably leads to a considerably smaller packaging volume, as a result of which substantially reduced storage and transport costs are achieved. A further saving results from the fact that the entire stand apart from the spring energy store can be made of plastics material.

In the following, the invention is explained in greater detail by way of drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective plan view of a first embodiment of the tree stand according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the tree stand according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a support for the tree stand according to the invention, Fig. 4 is a perspective plan view, in section in part, of a second embodiment of the tree stand according to the invention, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a push bolt, Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of a stand portion in the region of a push bolt, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the fixing ring of the tree stand according to the invention, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stand foot which is open on one side, Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of a stand foot having an energy store, Fig. 10 is a three-dimensional drawing of a modified embodiment having a twisting means for twisting the fixing and locking ring, Fig. 11-13 show three embodiments modified slightly from Fig. 10, Fig. 14 is a sectional drawing, schematic in parts, of a modified embodiment in the release position, Fig. 15 is an enlarged partial cutout view of an elongate passage opening in the fixing and locking ring in the embodiment of Fig. 14, Fig. 16 is a three-dimensional representation of a push bolt of rectangular or square cross-section as used in the embodiment of Fig. 14 to 17, Fig. 17 is a vertical cross-section corresponding to Fig. 14 when the push bolt is fixed, Fig. 18-19 are a schematic, horizontal cross-sectional view of a foot which can be pivoted in and out, and Fig. 20 is a vertical cutout side view of the foot shown in Fig. 18 and 19 which can be pivoted out.

First, Fig. 1 to 3 show a basic construction of a stand, which already comprises preferred variants of the invention for some features, the embodiment of the stand according to the invention being explained in greater detail by way of the further examples according to Fig.
3. Fig. 1 shows an upwardly open stand shell 1 having an insertion container 2, which is arranged inside the stand shell 1, and is arranged approximately central and upwardly open or has a better construction, and from which the plurality of approximately evenly spaced and preferably detachably arranged holding members 3, 3a, 3b are provided, which can be pressed towards the central axis into a holding position by means of screws 4, 4a, 4b respectively associated therewith by screwing into the threaded openings 5, 5a provided for this purpose in the insertion container. Two stand feet 6, 7 of different embodiments are also shown. The stand foot 6 may be hollow and fillable with weighting material (such as water or sand). The stand foot 7 is of a simple, planar form. To fasten the feet 6, 7 stably, slots 8 are provided in the feet 6, 7 and comprise the crimped, downwards-facing rim 9 of the stand shell 1. To restrict their freedom of movement to the sides, reinforcing walls 10, 10a are provided and are attached inside the crimped rim 9. Moreover, the crimped rim 9 of the stand shell is excellently adapted for accommodating lighting fixtures such as LED lamps 11.
Fig. 2 is a section primarily showing the operation of the holding members 3, 3a, 3b, which are configured in such a way that they can be used quickly and easily and can be removed again, and which are initially inserted, using a slot 12 in the vertical axis thereof, into a groove on the screws 4, 4a, 4b, and come to be pivotably mounted by the downwards-facing end thereof behind cams 13 or in pockets 14 which are preferably connected to the base of the stand shell 1. Passage openings 15 are provided for water exchange between the stand shell 1 and the insertion container 2. To increase stability, an upwardly open shell 16 according to Fig. 3 can be used without using feet 6, 7, and either provides a high inherent weight of its own accord or is partially filled with weighting materials and is placed so as to be detachable with the upper circumferential rim thereof engaging in the crimped rim 9 of the stand shell 1, beneath said stand shell.

Fig. 4 shows a development according to the invention of the tree stand shown in Fig. 1, which differs from the previously disclosed embodiments by way of further features. The tree stand according to the invention comprises a foot part 1, which because of its shape is also referred to in the following as a stand shell 1. This foot part or stand shell 1 has in the central, middle region a receiving chamber la, in which the further means for fixing a tree trunk are provided. The holding members 17, 17a, 17b are bent outwards at an angle of approximately 70 above the region thereof provided for the trunk contact, in such a way that when they are in the starting position thereof, close to the central axis, an insertion funnel is produced. As disclosed in connection with Fig. 2, the plurality of approximately evenly spaced holding members 17, 17a, 17b, preferably three, four or more, are slid by the slot 12 thereof, extending approximately in the vertical axis, into grooves 19 provided for this purpose on push bolts 18, so as subsequently to mount them pivotably behind stops, preferably comprising cams 13, by the downwards-facing ends thereof. An essential component of this embodiment is the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b, which are mounted slidably in passage openings 20 in the rim region of the insertion container 2 and comprise, starting from the end thereof facing the central axis, a groove 19, according to Fig. 5 and 6, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rings 21, and, at the ends thereof projecting from the insertion container 2, a recess 22 adapted for guiding a spring energy store 23.

Since the insertion container 2 may be of any shape, i.e. may consist of any desired construction, it is also referred to at least sometimes in the following as an insertion support means 2.

However, the aforementioned holding members 17, 17a, 17b may also be rigidly and undetachably fastened or formed at a suitable position on the inside of the stand shell 1. In principle, it would even be possible to use holding members which were connected to or impinged on by the respective push bolts 18, 18a and 18b, so as to exert pressure on a tree trunk standing in the centre. In the extreme case, the inwardly projecting end-face end of the bolts may act as holding members 17, 17a, 17b, which lie against the external circumference of a tree trunk to be fixed and are held pressed into it.

However, the holding members shown, with the upward funnel-shaped construction thereof, provide increased convenience when introducing a tree trunk to be fixed, as will be described further in the following. In this context, the aforementioned opening angle of 70 is mentioned purely by way of example. Any angle which facilitates the insertion of a tree trunk is suitable. Consequently, the angles may also be as much as 80 or 85 , forming a relatively narrow, sharp funnel, or else may if appropriate be even smaller, for example 65 or 60 .

When a tree trunk is inserted into the funnel-shaped opening of the holding members 17, 17a, 17b, the latter are urged outwards (i.e. away from the central axis) by the end of the trunk and the weight of the tree, moving the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b which are coupled thereto against the spring tension of the spring energy store 23 guided thereon. As a result, and because of the positioning of the tree trunk on a centring mandrel 24, the tree is pre-fixed and can be orientated into its final position. For fixing the tree stably, a fixing ring 25 is provided in accordance with Fig. 7, which is mounted circumferentially on the upper rim of the insertion container 2, which has a number corresponding to the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b of slot-shaped passages 26, 26a, 26b, which taper towards a common side and encompass the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b, and a movement grip 27. If the fixing ring 25 is now moved around the central axis, the tapering passage openings 26, 26a, 26b (i.e. the rim 126 or particular portions of the rim 126 of the tapering passage opening) engage in the intermediate space between two rings 21 on the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b, and block them and with them the holding members 17, 17a, 17b coupled thereto. The slot-like passage openings 26, 26a, 26b are thus divided into a tapering portion 26' and an extended portion 26".

From the drawings and the described construction, it can also be inferred that the slot-shaped passage openings 26, 26a, 26b need not primarily be tapered to fix the bolts 18, since these passage openings 26, 26a, 26b in the fixing and/or locking ring 25 are arranged coincidently, at least in part, with the passage openings 20 in the rim region of the insertion container 2, it merely being necessary for the slot-shaped passage openings 26, 26a, 26b to be formed and/or arranged in such a way that the portion of the respective passage opening 26 covering or overlapping the container opening 20 decreases in cross-section in such a way that for example a rim portion 126 of the slot-shaped passage openings 26, 26a and 26b engages between two spaced raised portions 21 (protrusions 21), i.e. in a groove 28 between them, blocking and locking the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b against axial displacement.
Fig. 6 shows a particularly advantageous arrangement of the spaced rings 21 or the grooves 28 on the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b. The oblique positioning of the rings 21 (i.e. the projecting protrusions, rib-like or spring-like protrusions etc.) or the corresponding oblique positioning of the grooves 28 means that the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b and with them the mounted holding members 17, 17a, 17b are not only blocked, but are also urged from the fixing ring 25 towards the central axis by the angle of the oblique positioning, i.e.
additionally impinged on by a force towards the central axis, resulting in improved holding and fixing of a tree trunk.
The aforementioned protrusions 21, sometimes also referred to as rings 21, thus form projections 21 or raised portions 21, which may also for example be referred to web-shaped, rib-shaped, tooth-shaped or ring-shaped raised portions 21, a plurality of which are provided spaced apart, and between which a relatively deep groove 28 is formed. This results in a toothed-rod-like, rib-like or threaded-bolt-like structure having raised portions 21 and groove-shaped depressions 28 in succession. These are provided mutually offset in the longitudinal direction of the push bolts 18 or formed thereon, and as mentioned are preferably orientated at a slight angle (obliquely) to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolts and thus to the longitudinal adjustability of the bolts 18, 18a, 18b, in such a way that in cooperation with the fixing means there is an axial pushing movement towards the tree trunk to be fixed, i.e. at least approximately towards the centrally positioned central or vertical axis (not shown in greater detail), when the fixing means is adjusted into the fixing position. The central or vertical axis rises extending through the centring mandrel 24 (perpendicular to the base surface) of the stand shell 1.

In principle, the push bolts 18, 18a, 18b may be of any desired construction.
As mentioned, the use of screw bolts is even suitable in some cases, since they comprise teeth, springs and the like, which may be referred to as spaced protrusions or spaced projections 21, projecting through the threaded passage, between which grooves are formed in which a rim 126 of a passage opening, tapered as a whole, can engage in a groove formed between two tooth-shaped or spring-shaped protrusions of this type.

Fig. 8 shows a normal, conventional support foot 6 which can be used in conjunction with the tree stand according to the invention.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a support foot 6a, the hollow space of which not only can be filled with weighting materials, such as sand or water, but also can accommodate an energy store 30 by way of a recess 29, preferably on the underside.

Fig. 10 shows a modification to the effect that in this case the sliding ring 25 cannot be adjusted with a manually activated handle 27 as shown in Fig. 7 (i.e. in a direction of rotation extending around the central axis, in the locking direction and in the opposing release direction), but comprises a rotating lever means 127. For this purpose, the fixing and locking ring 25 comprises, in a circumferential sub-portion 128, a tooth engagement 129 in which a toothed wheel 130 engages. The toothed wheel 130 is positioned on a shaft 131, which is supported on the stand shell 1, in this case on the upper rim 1' of the stand shell, at least indirectly, in a corresponding opening (not shown in greater detail) or a journal bearing in the insertion container 2 (i.e. in the insertion support means 2) and also in a guide 132. Via an external rotation grip 135, adjustment is possible either in the fixing direction or in the opposing release direction by rotating the fixing and locking ring.

The fixing and locking ring 25 does not require any separate guide means to hold it on the outer circumference of the insertion container 2, since the push bolts 18, which pass through the corresponding openings in the fixing ring and in the upper rim region of the insertion container 2, ensure that the fixing and locking ring 25 cannot fall down or be pulled upwards.
At this point, it is also noted that a corresponding fixing ring can in principle also be arranged internally in the insertion container 2, with otherwise identical or comparable operation, if corresponding requirements on the adjustment are to be met.

Fig. 11 to 13 show slight modifications.

In the variant of Fig. 11, the tooth engagement 128 is formed as a separate component 128a, which is fastened to the fixing and locking ring 25.

In the variant of Fig. 12, an eccentric 137 is used, and engages in a corresponding eccentric recess 139 on the rim of the fixing and locking ring. By rotating the rotating lever 135, the eccentric or the tab 137 is pivoted left or right depending on the direction of rotation, and as a result, the entraining engagement between the eccentric 137 and the recess 139 displaces the fixing ring left or right so as to release or lock the bolts for the adjustment.

The variant of Fig. 13 merely exhibits a slight modification, and instead of a downwardly open recess 139 exhibits a hole recess 139', having a corresponding extension in which the eccentric 137 or the tab 137 in turn engages so as to carry out the rotational movement for the fixing and/or locking sleeve 25.

The following refers to a modification according to Fig. 14 to 17, in which slightly modified push bolts 18 are used.

In this embodiment, on the one hand, the passage openings 20 in the upper rim region of the insertion container 2, i.e. in the upper rim region of the insertion support means 2, are sized considerably larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of a push bolt 18 engaging in them. Likewise, the slot-shaped or slot-like passage opening 26 in the fixing and/or locking ring 25 is sized larger, at least in the release position, than the cross-section of the push bolt 18, which in this embodiment has a rectangular or square cross-section and is provided with the corresponding rib-like projections and protrusions 21, i.e. raised portions 21, and the grooves 28 formed between them merely on two opposite sides, in this case the upper and lower sides 118a, 118b. Fig. 14 is a schematic, partial vertical section of the starting situation, in which a corresponding push bolt engages in a corresponding rearward groove merely through an outer spring energy store means (not shown in Fig. 14; shown in Fig. 4 with reference numeral 23) and the push bolt is instead merely impinged on, inwards towards the central axis, by the force of the spring energy store 23, in such a way that the holding members 17 are pivoted forwards and inwards. In the drawing of Fig.
14, the fixing and locking ring 25 is thus located in the release position thereof, in which the push bolt 18 on the left-hand side of Fig. 15 passes through the slot-like passage opening 26, where it thus has play upwards and downwards from the rims 126. In this situation, a tree trunk can at this point be inserted, and runs on the oblique, upwardly funnel-shaped extended portions of the holding lever, and the holding levers shown are pivoted outwards at this point, the push bolts 18 also being pivoted outwards with them, specifically against the force of the spring energy store (not shown in Fig. 14, but shown in Fig. 4). Subsequently, the inserted tree trunk can be rigidly fixed.

For this purpose, the aforementioned adjustment ring 25 rotates into the locking position, the push bolt 18 being adjusted from the release position thereof according to Fig. 14 into the locking position according to Fig. 17. In this position, the rearward end of the push bolt 18 come to lie in the portions 26', which are smaller in height and thus smaller in size, in the slot-like passage opening 26. The curved shape of the lower rim 26' of the slot-like shape of the passage opening 26 thus means that the rearward end of the push bolt 18 is raised and positioned slightly obliquely by the interaction with the edges of the through-opening 20 as shown in Fig. 17, in such a way that the respective push bolt 18 is jammed for example by an upper edge 102a and a lower edge 102b, one lying towards the outside and one lying towards the inside, on a reinforced portion 102c of the insertion support means 2 (i.e. the insertion container 2), and as a result cannot be moved further outwards.

The tilting movement of the respective push bolt 25, produced during the locking process upon rotating the fixing and locking ring 25, pivots downwards the front end thereof which acts on the holding members 17, the holding members being orientated extending obliquely outwards in relation to the lower fixing position (anchoring) thereof, resulting in an additional small pivot movement and pivot force being exerted on the holding lever 17 towards the central axis. This leads to force-increasing fixation of a tree trunk when the fixing ring is adjusted into the locking position.

Fig. 18 to 20 further show purely schematically that the feet 6, 7 may also consist of pivot feet which are pivotable about a preferably vertical axis 106 between a retracted transport position and a radially outwardly pivoted operating position. In this case, the respective pivot lever may be provided, in the region adjacent to the pivot axis 106 thereof, for example with a first and second preferably straight or planar stop edge or stop face 107, 108. These stop faces 107, 108 may each cooperate with a resiliently deformable fixing stop 110, which is for example formed so as to resiliently deformable on the stand shell 1. When the foot pivots from the retracted into the extended position or vice versa, as is shown in Fig. 17, the transition or corner region 111 projecting further radially from the axis 106 pivots slightly outwards between the two mutually perpendicular stop faces 107, 108 of the fixing stop 110, the fixing stop subsequently being positioned in turn against the respective other stop face 107, 108 when the foot has reached the radially outwardly extending operating position thereof or the transport position thereof folded through 90 .

Claims (21)

1. Stand for mounting rod-shaped parts, in particular Christmas trees, having the following features:
- having a foot part (1), - having a plurality of holding members (17, 17a, 17b) which are positioned offset around a central axis and/or axis of symmetry of a receiving chamber (1a) and are each pivotable between a fixing position and a release position about a horizontal pivot axis or about a pivot axis having a horizontal component, characterised by the following further features:
- a plurality of push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) is provided in the circumferential direction of the stand, - the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) comprise mutually spaced raised portions (21) between which grooves (28) are formed, - the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) each pass through a through-opening (20) in an insertion support means (2), - the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) are biased towards the holding members (17, 17a, 17b) by a spring energy store (23), - a fixing and/or locking ring (25) is provided, in which passage openings (26, 26a, 26b) are formed which are offset in the circumferential direction and at least in part are aligned with the through-openings (20, 20a, 20b) in the insertion support means (2) and passed through by push bolts (21, 21a, 21b), and - the fixing and/or locking ring (25) can be twisted between a release direction and a locking direction, the respective push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) being displaceable towards or away from a tree trunk to be fixed through the aligned through-openings (20) and the passage openings (26) when the fixing and locking ring (25) is twisted into the release position, whilst in the locking position of the fixing and locking ring (25), the push bolts (28) are jammed in such a way that they cannot be displaced.

2. Stand according to claim 1, characterised in that the passage holes (26) are slot-like and comprise in the fixing and/or locking ring (25) a tapering portion (26') which in the locked position interacts with the raised portions (21) and the grooves (28) in the push bolts (28) and locks them against axial displacement, and in that the slot-like passage openings (26, 26a, 26b) comprise an extended portion (26") in which the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) come to lie in the release position of the fixing and/or locking ring (25) so as to make axial displacement of the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) possible in this position.

3. Stand according to claim 2, characterised in that the slot-like passage openings (26, 26a, 26b) comprise a rim (126) which defines the passage opening (26, 26a, 26b) and engages in a groove (28) between two adjacent protrusions (21) in the locking position of the fixing and locking ring.

4. Stand according to claim 3, characterised in that the raised portions (21) and the grooves (28) located between two raised portions (21) are arranged offset from the longitudinal direction of a push bolt (18, 18a, 18b) and are positioned oblique thereto in such a way that when the fixing and locking ring (25) is adjusted, the relevant push bolt (18, 18a, 18b) can be moved towards the central axis and/or axis of symmetry with an additional axial force component.

5. Stand according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the insertion support means (2) comprises through-openings (20), which allow tilting of the push bolts (21) passing through them, and in that when the fixing and locking ring (25) is adjusted into the locking position, the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) can be tilted in such a way that the edges (102a, 102b) defining the passage openings (20, 20a, 20b) engage between two raised portions (21) in a groove (28), located between them, of the relevant push bolt (18, 18a, 18b) and lock the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) against axial displacement.

6. Stand according to claim 5, characterised in that, when the fixing and/or locking ring (25) is adjusted into the locking position, the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) are tilted in such a way that the front end thereof, facing the central axis and/or axis of symmetry, is pivoted downwards, resulting in the holding members (17, 17a, 17b) which cooperate therewith experiencing an additional force component and adjustment component towards the central axis and/or axis of symmetry.

7. Stand according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spring energy store (23) impinges on the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) on the outwards-facing ends thereof.

8. Stand according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) are formed by threaded bolts (4, 4a, 4b).

9. Stand according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the raised portions or protrusions (21) are formed as webs or ribs or as circumferential rings, the orientation of these raised portions or protrusions (21) and the grooves (28) formed between them being arranged at an angle other than 900 to the longitudinal axes of the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b), at least in some cases, in particular arranged at another angle which is less than 60°, less than 45°, less than 30°, less than 20° or less than 100.

10. Stand according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the raised portions or protrusions (21) are formed only on two opposing faces (118a, 118b) of the push bolts (118, 118a, 118b).

11. Stand according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the holding members (17, 17a, 17b) have a cross-section which corresponds to a U profile.

12. Stand according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holding members (17, 17a, 17b) are bent at the upper ends thereof counter to the contact surfaces thereof, at a variable angle.

13. Stand according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the push bolts (18, 18a, 18b) comprise on the outwards-facing ends thereof a guide means (22, 22a) on which the spring energy store (23) preferably engages.

14. Stand according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the insertion support means (2) consists of or comprises an insertion container (2) which has at least one passage opening (15) to the foot part (1) comprising a stand shell.

15. Stand according to claim 14, characterised in that the stand shell has a crimped circumferential rim (9).

16. Stand according to claim 15, characterised in that transverse webs (10, 10a) are arranged inside the crimped rim (9).

17 17. Stand according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterised in that the stand shell (1) is impinged on by detachable stand feet (6, 6a, 7).

18. Stand according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterised in that a slot-shaped indent (8) formed on the stand foot (6, 6a, 7) comprises the crimped rim (9) of the stand shell (1).

19. Stand according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the foot part (1) preferably comprises stand feet (6, 6a) in the form of a stand shell, which accommodate weighting material in a concealed manner.

20. Stand according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that the foot part (1) comprises stand feet (6a) having a recess (29) for accommodating an energy store.

21. Stand according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the foot part (1) comprises feet (6), preferably in the form of a stand shell, which can be pivoted between an inwardly pivoted storage position and an outwardly pivoted operating position and which are preferably positively secured both in the inwardly pivoted and in the outwardly pivoted position thereof.