FR3057452A1 - WATER RESERVE SUPPORT FOR CUTTING SHAFT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water-saving carrier (20) for cut-off trees, such as cut-to-diameter cut firs with a base of substantially 50 or 60 mm, comprising a first portion (21) forming a container for storing the water enveloping at least partially a second portion (22, 60, 70) forming a housing for receiving the base of the cut trunk of the tree. According to the invention, the second housing portion is configured so that the base of the trunk fits substantially fitted into the second housing portion and includes a plurality of lumens (57) for allowing the passage of water between the first and the second part.

Description

SUPPORT FOR WATER RESERVE FOR CUT SHAFT

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of plant decoration.

More specifically, the invention relates to a tank support for cut trees.

The invention finds particular application in the installation of a tree erected during Christmas celebrations, in an interior or exterior of a habitat.

2. State of the art

It is an ancient tradition to set up a Christmas tree in the foyer for the Christmas party. In this context, the consumer favors natural fir, the cut presentation of which currently concerns 90% of sales.

The Nordmann, more resistant than spruce, wins in three quarters of the cases the choice of customers, who favor the aesthetics and comfort of a tree that loses its needles rather than a tree that gives off a pleasant fragrance, but dry and loses needles quickly.

Cutting the trees and eliminating the root system facilitates storage, distribution and even transportation by the customer. However, it requires the use of a support to erect and maintain the tree.

Thus, we have proposed different solutions for installing a tree. There is shown in Figure 1 an upright Christmas tree 1, the base 2 of the trunk 3 is held by a support 10 of the prior art. This support 10 is formed by a tripod 11 and a metal tube 12 in which the base of the trunk is pushed in and held in place with a locking screw 13. It has also been proposed to use a crosspiece of wood nailed under the base of the trunk to hold a Christmas tree. We also know the split log in which a hole is dug to accommodate the base of the trunk.

These known supports have many drawbacks.

They are not particularly suitable for large trees, because they do not provide sufficient stability to trees which are often too heavy.

Another disadvantage of these supports is that they do not make it possible to slow the dehydration of the tree and therefore to extend its duration of use.

However, we see that sales of Christmas trees, particularly Nordmann, are starting earlier and earlier. A quarter of the trees are now bought between December 1 and 9. There is therefore an expectation of solutions to keep a cut fir tree in good condition for several weeks, and at least from its date of purchase until the day after Christmas or even New Years.

To improve the longevity of a cut tree, we thought of using a support having a portion of reservoir in the form of a funnel resting on a rigid tube in which we forcefully press the base of the cut trunk of the tree. To stabilize the support, the rigid tube is plugged into a hole in a log.

A disadvantage of this known technique of support with reservoir, in addition to being hardly aesthetic, is that it requires the use of an additional base.

Another drawback of this known technique is that only the upper part of the trunk, above the rigid tube, is submerged.

Another drawback of this known technique is that the needles of the tree fall into the tank, where they begin to rot.

It has also been proposed to use plinths with a water reserve comprising a tapered chimney flared upwards in which the trunk of a cut fir tree is placed, the fir tree being held in position in the chimney by filling the mouth with this last with expansive foam.

This known technique has the disadvantage that the submerged base of a large diameter trunk is weaker than that of a small trunk, because it is engaged less deeply in the chimney. As a result, a large tree with a large diameter trunk is hydrated for a shorter time because of the drop in the water level in the reserve.

Another disadvantage of this technique is that it is necessary to replenish the water level very often when a large tree is installed.

Another disadvantage of this known technique is that installing the tree in such a support is tedious, because it is necessary to keep the Christmas tree vertical while the foam hardens.

3. Objectives of the invention

The invention therefore aims in particular to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art cited above.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide a water reserve support for cut trees, which increases the shelf life of the tree in good condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a support technique for a cut tree which makes it possible to keep the tree in a vertical position.

It is also an objective of the invention to provide such a support technique for a cut tree which makes it possible to support trees of different diameters at the base of the trunk.

In particular, an objective, in particular embodiments of the invention, is to provide a support for a cut tree making it possible to receive calibrated trees at the base of the trunk, for example by machining of diameter at the base substantially equal to 50 or 60 mm.

An objective of the invention is also to provide such a support technique which is simple to implement, and of a reduced cost price.

Another object of the invention is to propose such a support technique which is easy to store.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a support technique which is stable.

It is also an objective of the invention to provide such a support technique for cut trees which is reusable every year.

4. Statement of the invention

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved with the aid of a water reserve support for cut trees, such as fir trees cut with a trunk with a diameter at the base substantially equal to 50 or 60 mm, comprising a first part forming a container for storing water at least partially enveloping a second part forming a housing for receiving the base of the cut trunk of the tree.

According to the invention, the second housing part is configured so that the base of the trunk fits substantially adjusted into the second housing part and includes a plurality of lights intended to allow the passage of water between the first and the second part.

Thus, in an unprecedented manner, the invention proposes to implement a housing of dimension adjusted relative to the diameter of the trunk pierced with a multitude of holes, allowing both to effectively maintain the foot of the tree while allowing a proper hydration of the base of the cut tree over a substantial part of the surface of the base of its trunk.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the internal face of the wall has a plurality of internal ribs extending substantially perpendicularly to the seat portion of the support, projecting towards the inside of the second part forming a housing, the height of which is adapted so that the ribs come substantially into contact with the base of the trunk.

Thus, the base of the trunk is effectively held by the ribs, and can neither lean nor turn around itself.

In addition, the implementation of internal ribs effectively maintains trees with small variations in diameter between them.

The internal ribs also provide spaces between the wall of the housing and the surface of the calibrated trunk containing water, which effectively hydrates the base of the tree trunk.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second part forming a housing is a sleeve, and a positioning and holding well is formed on the bottom of the first part forming a container for receiving the base of the sleeve.

Thus, after having mounted the sleeve around the base of the trunk, it suffices to place the sleeved trunk in the well to erect the tree.

In addition, the sleeve associated with the tree trunk forms a perfectly rigid assembly.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the external face of the wall of the sleeve comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending substantially perpendicular to the seat portion of the support, projecting from the wall towards the outside of the sleeve and able to cooperate with the well.

Thus, it can then be erected with this support trees of diameter at the base of different trunk, by choosing a suitable sleeve from a range of sleeves.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper end of the well has a substantially flared portion.

Thus, it facilitates the insertion of the sleeve into the well.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the well is formed of two half-moon portions, separated by at least one space intended to allow the passage of water.

Thus, when the water level is lower than the height of the walls of the well, the water still invades the interior of the well and passes through the lights of the housing.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, at least one of the openings is a slot formed in the wall of the second part forming a housing.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one of the openings extends substantially perpendicular to the seat portion of the support.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slots and the internal ribs are formed alternately on the wall of the second part forming a housing.

Thus, each space between two internal ribs is supplied with water by at least one lumen, which promotes its filling.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a water reserve support for a cut tree as described above further comprises a cover having an opening substantially opposite the second part forming a housing.

This prevents sheets or needles from falling into the first container part, or a gift pack from accidentally falling into the first container part.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first container part has at least one transparent or translucent wall portion making it possible to visualize the level of water present in the first container part.

Thus, the user can easily control the water level in the first container part.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover comprises a filling orifice.

Thus, the user can easily top up the water level of the first container part, without having to remove the shaft from the support.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said first container part comprises on an outer edge a lug on which the cover is clipped.

Thus, the cover is held securely on the container and does not move when the sleeved shaft is deposited in the well.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said first part forming a container has a housing intended to receive means for ballasting the support.

Thus, the support remains stable once a ballast is placed in the corresponding housing, when the water level drops in the support.

5. List of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of three embodiments of the invention, given by way of simple illustrative and nonlimiting examples, and of the appended drawings among which:

Figure 1 is a situation view of a Christmas tree erected and maintained by a base according to the prior art;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a water reserve support according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a top view of the first container portion of the water reserve support presented with reference to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the support presented with reference to Figure 2;

Figures 5a and 5b are sectional views, respectively from the front and side, of the support sleeve presented with reference to Figure 2;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of another exemplary embodiment of a support sleeve with water reserve according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a side view of another alternative embodiment of a water reserve support sleeve according to the invention.

6. Detailed description of the invention

6.1. Example of embodiment of the invention

Illustrated in Figure 2, a water reserve support 20 for a tree cut according to the invention, in exploded view.

This support 20 comprises a first part forming a container 21, a sleeve 22 and a cover 23 which covers the container 21.

The sleeve 22 is intended to be mounted around the base of the trunk of the tree. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the sleeve 22 is provided for shafts with a diameter of 60 mm.

The container 21 makes it possible to constitute a water reserve for the tree. It has, in its center, a well 25 for positioning and holding the sleeve 22.

As can be seen in Figure 3, in a top view of the container 21, the well 25 is formed of two semi-cylindrical portions 32 projecting from the bottom 31 of the container, between which there are provided free passage areas 33 for water between a central zone 34 and a peripheral zone 35 of the container 21.

The cover 23 includes an opening 26 allowing the mounting of the sleeve 22. This opening has a bearing surface at the level of a shoulder 28 to ensure proper positioning of the sleeve. A funnel-shaped water filling inlet 200 is also formed in the cover 23 to allow the water level in the container 21 to be made or to be completed.

There is shown, in relation to Figure 4 a vertical sectional view of the water reserve support 20. It can be seen in this Figure 4 that the sleeve 22 is held in vertical position at its base by the well 25 and at the level of its head through the cylindrical hole 27 of the opening 26.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the container 21 is reinforced on its outer face by ribs 24a, 24b and has, on its outer contour, lugs 201 for clipping the cover on the container 2. It also includes on its bottom two housings 36 each intended to receive a ballast bag. These housings 36 are delimited by lugs 37 for positioning the ballast bags.

The sleeve 22 is shown alone, respectively in a top view and a vertical sectional view in Figures 5b and 5a. As can be seen in these figures, the sleeve 22 has a frustoconical body 53 surmounted at its head by a centering collar 52 extended by a flange 51.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the internal diameter of the body 53 of the sleeve 22 at its base 56 is substantially equal to 58 mm, and is substantially equal to 62.1 mm at approximately 3/4 of the length relative to base 56.

The centering collar 52 is adjusted to cooperate with the cylindrical hole 27 of the opening 26, while the flange 51 is intended to rest on the bearing surface 28 of the cover 23.

The body 53 of circular section has a series of slots 57 intended to allow the passage of water in the housing 55 delimited by the wall 54 of the body 53, from the container 21. These slots 57 are in the form of narrow slots , elongated and straight extending from the base 56 of the body 53, in a longitudinal orientation substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical body 53 over a length substantially from a quarter to a third of the length of the body 53. It will be noted that the openings 57 are advantageously regularly distributed in the wall 54 on the circumference of the body 53.

The base 56 of the body 53 of the sleeve is able to cooperate with the well 25 for positioning and holding the container 21. Its outside diameter equal to 65 mm is here slightly less than the inside diameter of the bottom of the then 25.

Furthermore, the inner face of the wall 54 which delimits the housing 55 has a plurality of internal ribs 58. These internal ribs 58 which project into the housing 55 extend in a radial orientation relative to the wall 54 with a height adapted to come substantially into contact with the base of the trunk. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the height of the internal ribs 58 is between 1 and 3 mm, advantageously between 1.2 and 2.4 mm, preferably substantially equal to 1.5 mm.

It can also be seen in FIG. 5a that the internal ribs have a longitudinal orientation substantially parallel to the axis of the body 53.

During installation, the sleeve 22 is mounted around the calibrated base of the tree, in a first step. In a second step, the cover is clipped onto the container 21, then the tree fitted with the sleeve 22 is placed on the assembly consisting of the reservoir 21 and the cover 23, by inserting the sleeve 22 into the opening 26 of the cover 23. Once the base 56 of the body of the sleeve 22 is positioned and maintained by the well 25, that the centering tube 52 is positioned by the cylindrical hole 27 and that the flange 51 is supported by the bearing surface 28 of the cover 23 , the tree is held stably. It then suffices, if necessary, to make the water level through the water filling inlet 200. Thus, the base of the tree trunk is permanently immersed in the water inside the support 20.

6.2. Other examples of embodiment of the invention

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a sleeve 60 of a support according to the invention intended to replace the sleeve 22 previously described in the support when the base of the tree base is machined to a diameter of 50 mm. Thus, like the sleeve 26, the sleeve 60, cooperates with the cover 23 and the well 25 of the container 21.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the body of the sleeve 60, of thickness 3 millimeters, has an internal diameter equal to 48, at its base 66 and an internal diameter equal to 52.1 mm at approximately 3/4 of its length relative to its base 66. For this, the height of each internal rib 68 is substantially between 2 and 5 mm, advantageously between 3 and 4 mm, preferably between substantially 3.4 at the base 66 of the sleeve and substantially 3.5 at the other end of it.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the wall 64 has on its external face a plurality of reinforcing ribs 69 projecting radially with respect to the external face of the wall 64, arranged regularly, in pairs between each lumen 67. These ribs 69, oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 60, are configured to cooperate with the internal face of the well 25 and participate in the positioning and maintenance of the sleeve 60.

6.3. Other examples of embodiment of the invention

Illustrated in Figure 7, another embodiment of a sleeve of a support according to the invention for a base of the trunk calibrated by machining to a diameter of 60 mm.

This sleeve 70 has at the wall 74 of its body 73 a series of microperforations 77, intended to let water pass from the outside to the interior 75 of the body 73. Advantageously, the microperforations 77 are arranged in a pattern recurring staggered. This arrangement of microperforations is intended to maximize the permeability of the wall 74

Thus, the surface of the water passages represents at least between 20 and 25% of the total surface of the external wall 74 of the body 73,

In variants of this particular embodiment of the invention, it can also represent substantially 30% of the total surface of the outer wall 74 of the body 73 of the sleeve 70. Advantageously, this surface can be between 38 % and 44%. It can reach 60 to 70% if microperforations with a hexagonal outline are provided.

In variants of this particular embodiment of the invention, the porosity of the wall 74 of the body 73 and / or the diameter of the microperforations may be different between two zones of the body 73. For example, the porosity of the wall 74 of the body 73 can vary gradually from 28% at its base 76 to a value of 48% at the junction with the flange.

In another variant of this particular embodiment of the invention, the body of the sleeve can have both a microperforated wall and ribs on its external face.

6.4. Other optional features and advantages of the invention

In variants of the embodiments of the invention detailed above, provision may also be made:

combining a series of slots in the form of slots at the base of the sleeve body with a plurality of microperforations in the sleeve body between the series of slots and the flange;

placing lights on the sleeve body between the base and the centering tube;

integrate a window for viewing the water level in the tank;

- Adding a plug integral with the cover and configured to cooperate with the funnel-shaped conduit in order to close off the water supply inlet;

use sand to fill the container at least partially and thus ballast the support, for example with a sand / water mixture.

As can be seen in the figures, the container, the sleeve and the cover are parts produced by a molding process, for example by injection. For this, they have clearance angles necessary for correct demolding. However, it is entirely possible to manufacture a support according to the invention by any other known manufacturing process, such as for example an additive manufacturing process by adding material, without going beyond the ambit of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. Support for water reserve (20) for a cut tree, such as fir trees cut with a trunk with a diameter at the base substantially equal to 50 or 60 mm, comprising a first part (21) forming a container for storing water at least partially enveloping a second part (22, 60, 70) forming a housing for receiving the base of the cut trunk of said tree, characterized in that said second housing part is configured so that the base of said trunk is inserted so substantially fitted in said second housing part and comprises a plurality of lights (57) intended to allow the passage of water between said first part and said second part. 2. Support for water reserve according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner face of the wall (54) of said second housing part has a plurality of internal ribs (58) extending substantially perpendicular to the portion d seat of said support, projecting towards the inside of said second housing part, the height of which is adapted so that said ribs come substantially into contact with said base of said trunk. 3. Support for water reserve according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said second part (22, 60, 70) forming a housing is a sleeve and in that a well (25) for positioning and holding is formed on the bottom of said first container portion to receive the base of said sleeve. 4. Support for water reserve according to claim 3, characterized in that the external face of the wall (54) of said second part forming a housing of said sleeve comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs (69) extending substantially perpendicularly to the seat portion of said support, projecting from said wall towards the outside of said sleeve and capable of cooperating with said well. 5. Support for water reserve according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the upper end of said well (25) has a substantially flared portion. 6. Water reserve support according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said well (25) is formed by two half-moon portions (32), separated by at least one space intended to allow the passage of water. 7. Support for water reserve according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of said slots (57) is a slot formed in the wall of said second housing part. 8. Support for water reserve according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one of said slots (57) extends substantially perpendicular to the seat portion of said support. 9. Support for water reserve according to claim 2, characterized in that the slots (57) and the internal ribs (58) are formed alternately on the wall of said second part forming a housing. 10. Support for water reserve according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises a cover (23) having an opening substantially opposite said second portion forming a housing.