EP2886023A1 - Device for vertically positioning an object - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for vertically positioning an object (2) with a predetermined diameter, and comprises a support device (4), the circumference enclosing both a vertical center axis of the device (1) and a portion of the article (2) a plurality of two-armed tilting members (6) pivotally mounted on the support means (4) about a horizontal axis (7) and each having upper and lower arms (8, 10), the arms (8, 10) of the tilting members (6) are respectively disposed within the support periphery and extend radially inward toward the center axis, such that the article (2) can be brought into contact with at least some of the arms for vertical fixing, and a plurality of leg members (12) for setting up the device (1) on a ground contact surface (100).

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

For setting up and vertical fixing of Christmas trees a variety of different devices are known in the market, which differ according to the principle of clamping the trunk of the Christmas tree. Devices of a simple type are z. B. formed as a cast iron stand with lateral clamping screws with which the trunk is clamped from different sides. Such devices have the disadvantage that the clamping screws are cumbersome to use and difficult to access. Alternative devices may include a pinch wire that wraps around a lower end of the stem and has e.g. is operated by means of a foot pedal. Such devices place increased demands on the kinematics of the foot pedal and may also have the disadvantage that the clamping wire inadvertently cuts into the trunk of the Christmas tree, which can lead to instability.

In another known type of Christmas tree stands, a plurality of each two-armed levers are provided, which are hinged to a support member, container or the like. An upper end of the levers may be brought into contact with the circumference of the trunk of a Christmas tree, with a lower end of the levers being pivoted radially outward, serving as a leg member for placement on a floor surface. When in contact with the trunk of a Christmas tree, the pivoting of the levers is such that the lower ends of the levers pivot outwardly, while the upper ends come into contact with the circumference of the trunk. This fixes the Christmas tree in its vertical position. Such Christmas tree stands are z. B. off DE 631248 . DE 8306173 U1 . DE 4004175 A1 or US 1,714,498 known. Such devices are subject to the disadvantage that possible bumps when setting up a Christmas tree not or only can be sufficiently compensated or the construction is mechanically complex, which leads to correspondingly high costs.

Another type of Christmas tree stand is z. B. off US 2,634,070 and DE 29919551 U1 known, wherein also two-armed rocker arms are provided which are pivotally mounted about a horizontal pivot axis on a support ring or the like and can fix the trunk of a Christmas tree in a vertical position. Nevertheless, in this type of Christmas tree stand, a fixedly defined contact area is provided by means of a base plate or a base ring or the like, so that it is not possible to compensate for possible uneven floors with these devices.

Accordingly, the invention has the object, a device for vertical placement of an object with a predetermined diameter, in particular a Christmas tree or the like, to further develop that both a balance of bumps and a simple installation of the device is possible in conjunction with a safe stand.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

A device according to the invention serves to erect an article vertically with a predetermined diameter, and comprises a carrying device whose circumference encloses both a vertical center axis of the device and a section of the article. Furthermore, the device comprises a plurality of two-armed tilting elements, which are pivotally mounted on the support means about a horizontal axis and each having an upper arm and a lower arm. These arms of the tilting elements are respectively disposed within the circumference of the support means and extend radially inwardly in the direction of Center axis of the device, so that the object for fixing in its vertical position can be brought into contact with the arms. The device also comprises a plurality of leg elements, by means of which the device can be placed on a ground contact surface. The carrying device is designed in the form of a carrier ring and has a recess, by means of which the tilting elements can each be mounted on the carrier ring.

The invention is based on the essential finding that the tilting elements can be easily mounted without the use of tools or the like through the recess on the support ring. This makes it possible to ship the device to customers in the disassembled state, in which case the tilting elements can then be easily re-mounted on the carrier ring before the device is put into use by passing the tilting elements through the recess. In the same way a targeted replacement of individual tilting elements is possible, if necessary.

Another advantage of an embodiment of the carrier ring with a recess is due to the fact that thanks to this recess possible unevenness of a ground contact surface, when the device is placed on it, can be compensated by the carrier ring twisted. For the purposes of the invention, it should be pointed out that such a torsion of the carrier ring is possible because of its recess and is to be understood that in the case of such a torsion, the free end faces of the carrier ring, which face each other in an initial state of the carrier ring in the region of its recess , can move away from each other in a vertical direction. In this regard, it is understood that the material for the carrier ring is suitably selected such that torsion of the carrier ring is possible in the case of ground unevenness of the ground contact patch as explained above.

In an advantageous development of the invention, each of the tilting elements can each be firmly connected to a leg element arranged outside the support device circumference and below the horizontal axis. In this case, the tilting elements are automatically pivoted about the horizontal axis of the support means because of the fixed connection with the respective leg elements, when the object to be erected comes into contact with the arms of the tilting elements. This leads to the advantage that as a result of the weight of the object, the lower arms of the tilting elements are automatically pivoted radially outward, wherein simultaneously pivoting of the upper arms of the tilting elements radially inwardly and at the same time also a pivoting of the leg members to the outside. This operation of the device corresponds to a self-centering of the object thanks to its weight. In this context, it should be noted that the tilting elements are each independently pivotable about their respective horizontal axis, whereby a different wide spreading or pivoting of the leg elements to the outside and thus a compensation of uneven floors is possible.

The fixed connection of the leg members to the respective tilting members has the advantage that pivoting of the leg members radially outwards automatically causes the upper arms of the tilting members to pivot radially inwardly, thereby forcing the upper arms against the periphery of the object around it to fix in its vertical position.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the leg member and the upper arm can be arranged at an angle to each other in a respective tilting element. This leads to the advantage that the free ends of the leg elements, which come into contact with a ground contact surface, claim a comparatively larger circumference, which leads to an improved stability of the device. Conveniently, in this case, the leg member and the upper arm may be integrally formed, which on the one hand leads to improved rigidity and on the other hand to an inexpensive manufacturability. The fact that the leg element and the upper arm at a respective tilting element are integrally formed, the stability of the device is improved on a ground contact surface.

Below, further advantages of the invention are explained.

At the support means, at least three tilting elements may be pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis, wherein the tilting elements are arranged around the circumference of the support means at an equal distance from each other. By this number of tilting elements ensures that the object is sufficiently supported by different sides and can not tip over.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tilting elements are each independently pivotable about its horizontal axis. This means that the tilting elements are not synchronized with each other when pivoting about the horizontal axis. This ensures that a respective tilting element, for example, with its upper arm is pivoted or pressed sufficiently against the circumference of the object, depending on an application of the respective lower arm of a tilting element by the object and / or by pivoting a leg member attached thereto radially outward, due to the weight of the object.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the upper arm above the horizontal axis and the lower arm below the horizontal axis are arranged at a respective tilting element, wherein the arms are arranged at an angle to each other. This angle can be, for example, 90 °, or, depending on the nature of the object to be erected, also ± up to 25 ° smaller or larger than 90 °, ie be selected from a range between 65 ° and 115 °. Optionally, it is also possible that the angle between the upper and lower arm can be manually adjusted by a suitable clamping device as needed. In any case, the arrangement of the two arms at an angle to each other that a respective tilting element performs the function of a two-armed lever, wherein a pivoting of the lower arm radially outward, ie away from the center axis of the device automatically leads to a pivoting of the upper arm radially inwardly, ie in the direction of the vertical center axis, and vice versa.

If a lower end side of the object comes into contact with a lower arm of a tilting element and thereby pivots the lower arm about the horizontal axis radially outward, so the upper arm is simultaneously pivoted radially inwardly and thereby pressed against the circumference of the object. Taking into account the plurality of tilting elements which are evenly spaced around the supporting device periphery, this results in automatic self-centering of the article when it is placed in the device from above, thereby coming into contact with the arms of the respective tilting elements.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal extent of a lower arm of a respective tilting element in the direction of the vertical center axis of the device is chosen sufficiently long, such that an upper side of the lower arm can come into contact with a lower end side of the article. If the lower arms of the respectively provided tilting elements are all selected to have the same length and whose free ends adjoin one another in the region of the vertical center axis of the device, this ensures that an object, when introduced from above into the device, has its lower end face in FIG in each case comes into contact with the lower arms of the tilting elements. Another advantage here is when an upper side of the lower arm of a respective tilting element is formed with a toothing. This leads to a "clawing" of a respective lower arm with the lower end side of the object, in particular in the form of the trunk of a Christmas tree, so that the object or Christmas tree can not slip on the lower arms and thus is sufficiently fixed.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tilting elements can each be biased by a spring device about the horizontal axis, such that the upper arm of each tilting element is moved radially outward and away from the center axis of the device in an initial position. For the purposes of the present invention, a starting position is to be understood as one in which the arms of the tilting elements are not in contact with an object. This leads to the advantage that as a result of said bias, the upper arms of the tilting elements are far enough away from each other in their initial position, so that insertion of the object into the periphery of the support means from above without jamming or clamping with the upper arms is possible. Namely, a desired jamming with the upper arms only starts when the object comes with its lower end face in contact with the lower arms of the tilting elements or an upper arm is pivoted radially inward, when due to the weight of the article a leg member attached thereto is pivoted radially outward.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the carrying device and / or at least one tilting element or at least parts thereof, or preferably all tilting elements, may be made of solid round material, preferably of steel or stainless steel. This leads to a high weight of the device, resulting in a correspondingly high stability and at the same time stability of the device.

The present invention is particularly suitable for vertical placement of Christmas trees. As explained above, in this case, for example, different diameters of such Christmas trees can be taken into account that all tilting elements are independently pivotable about a horizontal axis, the angle between the upper arm and the lower arm of each tilting element can be adjusted and the upper end of a respective tilting element is adapted with its width extension to the circumferential course of the object or the tree trunk, z. B. by the choice of a suitable contact element.

It is understood that the device according to the invention is suitable not only for setting up Christmas trees, but also for any other objects having a predetermined diameter, which is adapted to the circumference of the support device accordingly. A diameter of such articles is preferably, but not necessarily cylindrical. As an example, handrails of information or traffic signs are called, which are only temporarily set up.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention is illustrated schematically below with reference to preferred embodiments in the drawing and will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung nach einer ersten Ausführungsform in Verbindung mit einem dadurch fixierten Gegenstand in einer vertikalen Position,

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung von Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine Perspektivansicht der Vorrichtung von Figur 1,

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf eine Trageinrichtung in Form eines Trägerrings, der für die Vorrichtung von Figur 1 vorgesehen ist,

Figur 5a

eine Explosionsansicht eines Kippelementes der Vorrichtung von Figur 1,

Figur 5b,5c,5d

eine Draufsicht, eine Seitenansicht bzw. eine Perspektivansicht desKippelements von Figur 5a,

Figur 6

eine Perspektivansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung nach einer weiteren Ausführungsform,

Figur 7

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung von Fig. 6,

Figur 8

eine Explosionsansicht eines Kippelementes der Vorrichtung von Figur 6,

Figur 9

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung von Figur 1 in einer weiteren Betriebsstellung, falls die Bodenaufstandsfläche einen erhöhten Bereich aufweist,

Figur 10

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung von Figur 1 in einer weiteren Betriebsstellung, falls die Bodenaufstandsfläche einen erhöhten Bereich aufweist, und

Figur 11

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung nach einer weiteren Ausführungsform, falls die Bodenaufstandsfläche einen erhöhten Bereich aufweist.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a side view of a device according to the invention according to a first embodiment in connection with an object fixed thereby in a vertical position,

FIG. 2

a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4

a plan view of a support means in the form of a carrier ring, which is for the device of FIG. 1 is provided,

FIG. 5a

an exploded view of a tilting element of the device of FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 5b, 5c, 5d

a plan view, a side view and a perspective view of the tilting of FIG. 5a .

FIG. 6

a perspective view of a device according to the invention according to a further embodiment,

FIG. 7

a plan view of the device of Fig. 6 .

FIG. 8

an exploded view of a tilting element of the device of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 9

a side view of the device of FIG. 1 in another operating position, if the ground contact patch has an elevated area,

FIG. 10

a side view of the device of FIG. 1 in another operating position, if the ground contact patch has a raised area, and

FIG. 11

a side view of a device according to the invention according to a further embodiment, if the ground contact surface has a raised portion.

In the FIGS. 1 to 5 a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention and its components are explained in detail. The device 1 is used for vertical placement of an object 2, which may be the trunk of a Christmas tree. Accordingly, in FIG. 1 the trunk of such a Christmas tree provided with the reference numeral "2" and subsequently always referred to as a tree trunk, without being seen therein for the subject of a restriction.

The device 1 is in the FIGS. 1 . 2 and 3 respectively in a side view, plan view and perspective view, respectively. The device 1 comprises a carrying device 4 in the form of a carrier ring, on which a total of three tilting elements 6 each having an upper arm 8 and a lower arm 10 are pivotally mounted. By the support ring 4, a horizontal axis 7 is defined, around which the individual tilting elements 6 are pivotable. At each tilting element 6, a leg member 12 is attached, wherein the leg members are placed on a ground contact surface 100. The structure of the tilting elements 6 and the connection with the leg members 12 is below in the FIGS. 5a-5d still explained in detail.

The carrier ring 4 is in the FIG. 4a shown as a single component in a plan view. The perspective view of the carrier ring 4 as shown in FIG. 4b illustrates that the support ring 4 is made in cross section as a round profile. The support ring 4 has a recess 14, in the form of an interruption, and on its surface three through holes 16, whose operation will be explained in more detail below.

The support ring 4 is configured circular and encloses a vertical center axis 5 of the device. This vertical center axis 5 is in the Figures 2 and 4a simplified by an "x" indicated. In this context, it should also be noted that the scope of the support ring 4, also referred to as Trageinrichtungsumfang, adapted to the diameter of the log 2 so far or larger, so that the circumference of the support ring 4 encloses a portion of the log 2 (see , FIG. 1 ).

The structure of a tilting member 6 will be described below with reference to FIGS FIGS. 5a-5d explained in more detail.

According to the exploded view according to FIG. 5a the lower arm 10 is integrally connected to a contact plate 18. At a lower arm 10 opposite side of the contact plate 18 semi-circular grooves 20 are formed. Both the upper arm 8 and the leg member 12 are in the form of a round profile, wherein the free ends of these round profiles can be introduced into the semicircular grooves 20. For fixing the upper arm 8 and the leg member 12 with the lower arm 10, a holding plate 22 is screwed by means of a screw 24 and a clamping plate 26 to the contact plate 18, if previously said free ends of the upper arm 8 and the leg member 12 in the Grooves 20 have been introduced. In connected position, these elements are in the FIGS. 5b . 5c 5d, which show a side view, a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, of a tilting element 6.

The lower arm 10 is provided adjacent to the contact plate 18 with a through hole 28 whose diameter is selected to be slightly larger than the diameter of the carrier ring 4. Furthermore, in the lower one Arm 10, approximately in a central region thereof, a further through-hole or recess 29 is formed. An upper side of the lower arm 10 is provided with a toothing 30, the purpose of which will be explained below.

The above-mentioned recess 14 in the support ring 4 makes it possible to mount the individual tilting elements 6 on the support ring 4 by the through holes 28 formed in the lower arms 10 are pushed onto the support ring 4. Such as Tie Figures 2 and 3 it can be seen, the three tilting elements 6 are positioned on the support ring 4 at a uniform distance from each other. Because of the cylindrical cross-section of the carrier ring 4, the tilting elements 6 can be pivotally mounted thereon without further bearing means or the like, wherein the through-holes 28 are adapted with their diameter suitable to the diameter of the carrier ring 4 without play. When mounting the tilting elements 6 on the support ring 4, one torsion spring 32 per tilting element (cf. Fig. 2 . Fig. 3 ) is provided, which is introduced with free ends respectively in the through holes 16 of the support ring 4 and in the through holes 29 of the lower arms 10. By means of these torsion springs 32, a bias of the tilting elements 6 is effected about the support ring 4, such that the upper arms 8 are positioned radially outwardly away from the central axis 5 in an initial position (see. FIG. 3 ).

The upper arms 8 have at their upper ends a width extension, which is curved and thus adapted to the circumference of the log 2. As a result, an effective surface clamping between each upper arm 8 and the tree trunk 2 is achieved, which also prevents slipping of the tree trunk 2 with respect to the upper arms 8.

The side view according to FIG. 5c illustrates angular relationships between both the upper arm 8 and the leg member 12, as well as between the upper and lower arms 8, 10. Between the upper arm 8 and the leg member 12, a first angle α is included, which is about 145 ° can amount. By this first angle α is causing a footprint of the leg members 12, such. B. by the representation of FIG. 1 clarified, radially outwardly effectively increased, which gives the device 1 greater stability. Furthermore, a second angle β between the upper arm 8 and the lower arm 10 is about 90 °, the purpose of this second angle β is explained below. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the above statements for the first angle α and second angle β are only to be understood as examples and can also assume other values in adaptation to an object to be erected.

In the FIGS. 6-8 a further embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention is shown. In the FIGS. 6 and 7 this further embodiment is shown in a perspective view and a plan view, respectively. The similarity of this embodiment with that of FIG. 1 is through a comparison with the Figures 2 and 3 clear. Same features as in the embodiment FIG. 1 are here provided with the same reference numerals and not explained again to avoid repetition.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 or 7 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in the embodiment of the tilting elements 6, to which the exploded view according to FIG. 8 is referenced. It can be seen that a lower arm 10 of a tilting element 6 is connected by means of a screw 33 both with a leg member 12 and with an upper arm 8. The upper arm 8 and the leg member 12 may be made of a metal sheet or of a plastic material having, for example, a rectangular cross-section, which leads to cost advantages. The angular relationships relating to the FIG. 5b are explained in the same way apply to a tilting element 6 after the FIG. 8 , At an upper end of the upper arm 8, a contact element 34 is attached, for example by means of rivets 35 or a screw, said contact element 34 has a curvature adapted to the trunk 2 of a Christmas tree. If necessary This contact element 34 can be replaced, preferably using a screw instead of the rivets 35th

In the lower arm 10, a spring 36 is integrated, which in the same way as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 provided torsion spring 32 for the tilting element 6 ensures a bias, by means of which the upper arms 8 are moved radially outward ..

• In einer Ausgangsposition der Vorrichtung 1 werden die oberen Arme 8 der jeweiligen Kippelemente 6 mittels der Vorspannung, die von den Torsionsfedern 32 bzw. den Federn 36 ausgeübt werden, radial nach außen verschwenkt, weg von der Mittenachse 5 der Vorrichtung. Somit kann der Baumstamm 2 aus Richtung des Pfeils E (vgl. Figur 3, Figur 6) in die Vorrichtung 1 eingeführt werden. Sobald eine untere Stirnseite des Baumstamms 2 in Kontakt mit den unteren Armen 10 der Kippelemente 6 gelangt, werden diese um die Horizontalachse 7 derart verschwenkt, dass die oberen Arme 8 um ihre Horizontalachse 7 radial nach innen verschwenkt und somit gegen den Umfang des Baumstamms 2 gedrückt werden. Gleichzeitig werden dabei die Beinelemente 12 radial nach außen verschwenkt, so dass die Vorrichtung 1 dadurch einen sicheren Stand erlangt. Dies ist beispielhaft in der Seitenansicht von Figur 1 dargestellt. Es versteht sich, dass die Ausführungsform gemäß der Figuren 6-8 nach dem gleichen Prinzip funktioniert und in Verbindung damit ein Baumstamm 2 lediglich zum Zwecke der Vereinfachung nicht gezeigt ist.

The abovementioned embodiments of the device 1 according to the invention now function as follows:

• In an initial position of the device 1, the upper arms 8 of the respective tilting elements 6 are pivoted radially outward by means of the bias exerted by the torsion springs 32 and the springs 36, respectively, away from the center axis 5 of the device. Thus, the tree trunk 2 from the direction of the arrow E (see. FIG. 3 . FIG. 6 ) are introduced into the device 1. As soon as a lower end face of the tree trunk 2 comes into contact with the lower arms 10 of the tilting elements 6, they are pivoted about the horizontal axis 7 such that the upper arms 8 are pivoted radially inwardly about their horizontal axis 7 and thus pressed against the circumference of the tree trunk 2 become. At the same time, the leg elements 12 are pivoted radially outwards, so that the device 1 thereby attains a secure state. This is exemplary in the side view of FIG. 1 shown. It is understood that the embodiment according to the Figures 6-8 works on the same principle and in connection therewith a tree trunk 2 is not shown for the sake of simplicity only.

The side view of FIG. 1 clarifies further that a holding of the tree trunk 2 takes place on the principle of automatic self-fixation. This means that a pinching of the tree trunk 2 by the upper arms 8 with a higher force, the greater its weight. In the course of this is also advantageous if the device 1 a high weight has, for example, which can be achieved by the use of steel or stainless steel.

The toothing 30 on the upper side of the lower arms 10 advantageously causes a lower end face of the tree trunk 2 with respect to the lower arms 10 can not slip when it rests on the top of the lower arms 10.

The side view of FIG. 9 illustrates that with the device 1 according to FIG. 1 It is also possible to compensate for unevenness in the floor when the ground contact area 100 has an elevated area 102. At least one leg member 12 may stand on the raised ground contact surface 102. Here, the support ring 4 of the device 1 is aligned so that it is further aligned with the plane defined by its circumference, substantially parallel to the horizontal. The pivoting of the upper arm 8, whose lower arm 10 can not make contact with the log 2, in the direction of the center axis 5 or against the log 2 is ensured by the fact that the weight of the tree trunk 2 and the device 1, the associated leg member 12th pivoted about the support ring 4 radially outward.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the device 1 similar to FIG. 9 , in contrast to the carrier ring 4 is arranged obliquely to the horizontal. This means that the support ring 4 is aligned with the plane defined by its circumference, obliquely to the horizontal or with the horizontal forms an angle. This inclination of the support ring 4 results from the fact that all three tilting elements 6 can pivot independently about their horizontal axis 7 about the support ring 4. This causes the upper arm 8 of the tilting member 6 shown in the image area on the right, the leg member 12 of which stands on the raised portion 102, to make the tree trunk 2 higher in the vertical axis than the respective upper arms 10 of the two leg members 12 on the lower side standing ground contact surface 100 stand. This results in a 3-point lever that holds the tree trunk 2 effectively stabilized even in uneven floors in the vertical position.

The representation of FIG. 10 further illustrates that the two leg members 12 standing on the lower ground contact patch 100 assume a slight inclination 100. Thus, these leg members 12 virtually "seek" a position that is as optimal as possible in order to ensure the illustrated inclined position of the carrier ring 4 and thus a stable vertical alignment of the tree trunk 2 at the given raised area 102 of the ground contact area. Finally, the image foreground of FIG. 10 shown recess 14 that the support ring 4 is not deformed or twisted in the illustrated skew.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention 1. Here, the support ring 4 is selected in its choice of materials or the dimensioning of its diameter, that in particular in a tree trunk 2 with high weight torsion of the support ring 4 with respect to its recess 14 is possible, if the ground contact patch 100 has a raised portion 102. Such a torsion of the carrier ring 4 is in the representation of FIG. 11 to recognize that the two free end side portions of the support ring 4 adjacent to the recess 14 are not aligned with each other, but are spaced apart in the vertical direction. This torsion of the carrier ring 4 causes the upper arm 8 of the tilting member 6, which stands on the raised portion 102 of the ground contact surface, in comparison with the illustration of FIG. 10 the circumference of the tree trunk 2 in the vertical direction contacted even further above, resulting in a further stabilization of the tree trunk 2 in its vertical position.

Regarding the above explanations to the Fig. 9 to 11 It should be noted that such a compensation of a raised portion 102 of the ground contact patch in the same way with the embodiment according to the Fig. 6-8 is possible, wherein the support ring 4 of this embodiment also obliquely to the horizontal (cf. Fig. 10 ) arranged and / or a twist (see. Fig. 11 ).

In all of the above embodiments, the second angle β between the upper arm 8 and the lower arm 10 of the tilting elements 6 is selected so that when the tilting elements 6 are mounted on the support means 4, the upper arm 8 above the horizontal axis 7 and lower arm 10 are arranged below the horizontal axis 7. This leads to the above-described operation of the device 1, according to which a pivoting of the lower arm 10 radially outwardly simultaneously leads to a pivoting of the upper arm 8 radially inwardly.

All of the above-mentioned embodiments of the device 1 are characterized in that the lower arms 10 of the tilting elements 6 support the tree trunk 2 at its lower end face and do not come into contact with the circumference which adjoins the lower end side. Thus, the device 1 is also suitable for holding or fixing tree trunks, which are not uniformly grown or "crooked" in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, this has the advantage that e.g. Knotholes or other irregularities on the circumference of the tree trunk 2 do not come into contact with the lower arms 10 and so far do not affect the desired fixing of the tree trunk in its vertical position.

Claims (14)

Device (1) for vertically positioning an article (2) with a given diameter, comprising
a support device (4) whose circumference encloses both a vertical center axis (5) of the device (1) and a section of the object (2),
a plurality of two-armed tilting elements (6) pivotally mounted on the support means (4) about a horizontal axis (7) and each having an upper arm (8) and a lower arm (10), the arms (8, 10) each of the tilting members (6) is disposed within the supporting frame periphery and extending radially inward toward the center axis (5) so that the vertical fixing member (2) is engageable with the arms (8, 10) , and
a plurality of leg elements (12) for positioning the device (1) on a ground contacting surface (100),
characterized,
in that the carrying device is in the form of a carrier ring (4) and has a recess (14) through which the tilting elements (6) can each be mounted on the carrier ring (4). Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each tilting element (6) is in each case fixedly connected to a leg element (12) arranged outside the support device circumference and below the horizontal axis. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that in a respective tilting element (6) the leg element (12) and the upper arm (8) are arranged at a first angle (α) to each other, Preferably, that the leg member (12) and the upper arm (8) are integrally formed. Device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in a respective tilting element (6) pivoting of the leg member (12) radially outwardly leads to a pivoting of the upper arm (8) radially inwardly. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that , when the arms (8, 10) are in contact with the object (2) and at least one leg element (12) on a raised portion (102) of the ground contact surface (100). stands, the support ring (4) is arranged obliquely to the horizontal. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the carrier ring (4) with respect to its recess (14) is twistable. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the support means (4) at least three tilting elements (6) about a horizontal axis (7) are pivotally mounted, wherein the tilting elements (6) around the support device circumference around at an equal distance are arranged to each other. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilting elements (6) are each independently pivotable about the horizontal axis (7). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of a respective tilting element (6), the upper arm (8) is arranged above the horizontal axis (7) and the lower arm (10) below the horizontal axis (7) the arms (8, 10) are arranged at a second angle (β) to each other. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal extent of a lower arm (10) of a respective tilting element (6) in the direction of the center axis (5) of the device (1) is sufficiently long, so that an upper side of the lower Arms (10) with a lower end side of the article (2) is brought into contact. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper side of the lower arm of a respective tilting element (6) with a toothing (30) is formed. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilting elements (6) in each case by means of a spring device (32, 36) are biased about the horizontal axis (7), such that the upper arm (8) of a respective tilting element ( 6) is positioned radially outwardly away from the central axis (5) of the device (1) in an initial position. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper arm (8) of a respective tilting element (6) has a width which is adapted to a circumferential course of the object (2), preferably at the free end of the said device upper arm (8) a contact element (34) is attached, which is adapted to the circumferential course of the article (2). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrying device (4) and / or at least one tilting element (6) or at least parts thereof (8, 10, 12) made of solid round material, preferably made of steel or stainless steel are.

Images