GB1569099A - Supports for christmas trees - Google Patents

Supports for christmas trees Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1569099A
GB1569099A GB1844878A GB1844878A GB1569099A GB 1569099 A GB1569099 A GB 1569099A GB 1844878 A GB1844878 A GB 1844878A GB 1844878 A GB1844878 A GB 1844878A GB 1569099 A GB1569099 A GB 1569099A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
rotor
christmas tree
socket
support according
tree support
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB1844878A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Phillips B R
Original Assignee
Phillips B R
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phillips B R filed Critical Phillips B R
Priority to GB1844878A priority Critical patent/GB1569099A/en
Publication of GB1569099A publication Critical patent/GB1569099A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
    • A47G33/04—Christmas trees 
    • A47G33/12—Christmas tree stands
    • A47G33/126—Christmas tree stands allowing the tree to rotate or vibrate thereon
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
    • A47G33/04—Christmas trees 
    • A47G33/12—Christmas tree stands
    • A47G2033/122—Christmas tree stands involving electricity

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SUPPORTS FOR CHRISTMAS TREES (71) I, BRYAN RICHARD PHILLIPS, a British subject, of 39 Charlotte Street, Folkestone, Kent, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:: - According to my invention I provide a Christmas tree support comprising a base, a rotor mounted on the base for rotation about an axis which is vertical when the base is resting on a horizontal surface, an electric motor which is arranged to drive the rotor, means on the rotor for supporting a Christmas tree in an upright position for rotation with the rotor about the vertical axis, an electrical socket which is mounted for rotation with the rotor and which is provided to receive the plug of a decorative lighting circuit on a Christmas tree which is supported on the rotor, and electrical circuit means for connection to an electricity supply to drive the motor and including a sliding contact arrangement through which, in use, the electricity supply is connected to the socket.
In use, the support in accordance with the invention is placed on a flat surface and a Christmas tree is mounted centrally on the rotor so that it is supported firmly in upright position. The tree is then decorated as desired, and if a set of fairy lights are used these will be plugged into the socket which is provided for the purpose on the support. Then, when the electrical circuit means of the support is connected to a suitable electricity supply, which will usually be mains electricity, the socket is energised so that the fairy lights on the tree are lit up and the rotor is driven so that the tree slowly revolves with the rotor, thereby enhancing the visual effect of the decorated tree in a striking and delightful manner.
The Christmas tree support in accordance with the invention is of course a novelty device, and the novelty effect may be increased still further if the support also comprises a musical box movement which is arranged to play a tune, such as a Christmas carol, whenever the motor drives the rotor. Usually it will be convenient for the musical box movement to be driven by the rotor, the driving engagement between the motor and the rotor, and between the rotor and the musical box movement, preferably being frictional in nature and preferably occurring at the periphery of an annular flange portion of the rotor. By suitably selecting the diameter of the flange portion in relation to the diameter and angular velocity of the friction drive wheel of the motor, the rotational speed of the rotor, and hence the Christmas tree supported thereby, can be set at the required relatively low value.
Preferably the electrical circuit means of the support includes a switch for shutting off the electricity supply to the motor while maintaining the supply to the socket for the Christmas tree lights. In this way the support can be used to hold the tree in a stationary position, with its fairy lights still lit, when it is not desired to have the tree rotating and the musical box, if provided, playing.
The means on the rotor for supporting the Christmas tree may simply comprise a surface for supporting and locating a conventionally potted tree, but preferably the means comprises a socket for receiving the lower end of the trunk of a tree, and means for gripping the trunk in the socket so that the tree is held firmly in the upright position. Obviously, the axis of the socket will preferably be aligned with the rotational axis of the rotor.
Preferably the sliding contact arrangement comprises two electrically conducting rings which are carried by the rotor concentrically about the rotor axis and which are electrically connected to the socket terminals, the rings being electrically insulated with respect to the rotor and each other, and a pair of electrically conducting brushes which are mounted so that they are in continuous sliding contact with the rings, one brush with the other ring, as the rotor rotates. Preferably the two rings are located on the underside of the annular flange portion of the rotor, but they may of course be located in any other suitable position on the rotor, such as on the upper surface of the annular flange or on a side surface of the rotor.Alternatively, it may be the brushes which are mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith and which are connected to the socket terminals, the conducting rings being suitably fixed in position relative to the base for contact by the brushes.
An example of a Christmas tree support in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which is a part elevational and part vertical sectional view of the support.
The support comprises a casing 1 which is in two parts, namely a lower bowl shaped part 2 and an upper part 3 forming a cover which fits over the top of the lower part 2 and which has a raised central portion 4 having a hole 5 at its upper end.
The bowl shaped lower part 2 has a wide flat bottom 6 so that the support will rest in a stable manner on a horizontal surface, and fixed (such as by bolts) to the bottom 6 inside the bowl 2 is a base 7 on which other components of the support are mounted. Ideally the base 7 should be relatively heavy and is therefore preferably made of cast metal.
Mounted centrally on the base 7 is a bearing block 8 which supports a rotor 9 for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the bottom 6 of the casing 1 (i.e. vertical when the casing is resting on a horizontal surface) and which is aligned with the axis of the bowl shaped part 2.
The rotor 9 has an annular radially extending flange portion 10, and an upstanding portion 11 having an axially extending socket 12 which is open at its upper ePfI 13, the axis of the socket 12 being aligned with the axis of the rotor 9 and the centre of the hole 5 in the cover 3 of the casing.
Towards the upper end of the upstanding portion 11, a number of annularly spaced clamping screws 14 (in this case there are three such screws 14) project into the socket 12 through radially extending tapped bores 15 in the wall of the socket, the heads of the clamping screws 14 being accessible through openings 16 in the raised central portion 4 of the cover 3.
The rotor 9 is arranged to be driven by frictional engagement between the outer periphery 17 (which may be suitably roughened) of the annular flange portion 10 of the rotor, and a driving wheel 18 which is fixed on the driven output shaft 19 of an electric motor 20 mounted on the base 7. Also mounted on the base 7 is a musical box movement 21 of the type which has a drum (not shown) provided with a number of radially projecting pins which are arranged in a particular order circumferentially and axially of the drum so as to engage musical leaf springs to play a tune as the drum rotates. The drum of the musical box movement 21 is mounted on a driving shaft 22 provided with a driving wheel 23, and is rotated by frictional engagement between the periphery 17 of the rotor flange portion 10 and the driving wheel 23.The driving wheels 18 and 23 may be made of rubber or any other suitable material.
Fixed on the cover 3 of the casing 1 is a two pin shuttered electrical socket 24 which has its terminal connected by wires extending through an aperture 25 in the rotor flange portion 10, one to each of a pair of circular strips or rings 26 of an electrically conducting material, e.g. copper, mounted on the underside of the flange portion 10 concentrically about the rotor axis. The circular strips 26 are electrically insulated from the rotor 9 and from each other, and are contacted by a pair of carbon brushes 27 which are mounted on the base 7 so that each brush remains in sliding contact with one of the strips 26 as the rotor 9 is rcta- ted.
Electrical power for operating the support in accordance with the invention is obtained from the electricity mains via a lead 28 which enters the casing 1 at 29 and is connected to a junction box 30 mounted on the base 7. From the junction box 30 wiring 31 is provided for connecting the electricity supply to the motor 20, and wiring 32 is provided for connecting the electricity supply to the carbon brushes 27 for energising the electrical socket 24 through the sliding contact of the brushes 27 with the circular strips 26. The wiring 31 includes a switch 33 so that the electricity supply to the motor can be shut off while maintaining the supply to the socket 24.
In use, the trunk 34 of the Christmas tree to be supported is inserted through the hole 5 in the cover 3 and vertically into the socket 12. The trunk 34 is then anchored in the socket 12 by suitably tightening the clamping screws 14. The decorative lighting circuit of the tree is plugged into the socket 24, and when the cable 28 is connected to a mains electricity supply and the supply is switched on, the socket 24 becomes live and the tree lighting circuit is lit up.
Switching on the switch 33 then energises the motor 20 to drive the rotor 90 so that the tree 34 is slowly revolved by the rotor.
The cover 3 of the casing 1 is mounted to rotate with the rotor 9 relative to the lower part 2 of the casing, and the socket 24 on the cover 3 therefore rotates with the Christmas tree, the socket being maintained live by means of the sliding contact arrangement between the carbon brushes 27 and the strips 26 on the underside of the rotor.
WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A Christmas tree support comprising a base, a rotor mounted on the base for rotation about an axis which is vertical when the base in resting on a horizontal surface, an electric motor which is arranged to drive the rotor, means on the rotor for supporting a Christmas tree in an upright position for rotation with the rotor about the vertical axis, an electrical socket which is mounted for rotation with the rotor and which is provided to receive the plug of a decorative lighting circuit on a Christmas tree which is supported on the rotor, and electrical circuit means for connection to an electricity supply to drive the motor and including a sliding contact arrangement through which, in use, the electricity supply is connected to the socket.
2. A Christmas tree support according to claim 1, in which the electrical circuit means includes a switch for shutting off the electricity supply to the motor while maintaining the connection of the supply to the socket.
3. A Christmas tree support according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a musical box movement which is arranged to play a tune whenever the motor drives the rotor.
4. A Christmas tree support according to claim 3, in which the musical box movement is driven by the rotor.
5. A Christmas tree support according to claim 4, in which the driving engagement between the motor and the rotor, and between the rotor and the musical box movement, is frictional.
6. A Christmas tree support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the means on the rotor for supporting a Christmas tree comprises a socket for receiving the lower end of the trunk of the tree, and means for gripping the trunk in the socket so that the tree is held firmly in the upright position.
7. A Christmas tree support according to claim 6, in which the means for gripping the trunk comprises a number of clamping screws which are angularly spaced around the socket and which project into the socket through radially extending bores in the wall of the socket.
8. A Christmas tree support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sliding contact arrangement comprises two electrically conducting rings which are carried by the rotor concentrically about its axis and which are electrically connected to the socket terminals, the rings being insulated with respect to the rotor and each other, and a pair of electrically conducting brushes which are mounted so that they are in continuous sliding contact with the rings, one brush with one ring and the other brush with the other ring, as the rotor rotates.
9 A Christmas tree support according to claim 8, in which the two electrically conducting rings of the sliding contact arrangement are located on the underside of an annular flange portion of the rotor.
10. A Christmas tree support according to claim 9 when dependent upon claim 5, in which the frictional drive between the motor and the rotor, and between the rotor and the musical box movement, occurs at the periphery of the flange portion of the rotor.
11. A Christmas tree support according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a casing which is in two parts, namely a lower part to which the base is fluxed, and an upper part which is attached to the rotor so that it rotates with the rotor relative to the lower part of the casing, the socket for the tree lighting circuit being mounted on the upper part of the casing.
12. A Christmas tree support according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the cover 3 therefore rotates with the Christmas tree, the socket being maintained live by means of the sliding contact arrangement between the carbon brushes 27 and the strips 26 on the underside of the rotor. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-
1. A Christmas tree support comprising a base, a rotor mounted on the base for rotation about an axis which is vertical when the base in resting on a horizontal surface, an electric motor which is arranged to drive the rotor, means on the rotor for supporting a Christmas tree in an upright position for rotation with the rotor about the vertical axis, an electrical socket which is mounted for rotation with the rotor and which is provided to receive the plug of a decorative lighting circuit on a Christmas tree which is supported on the rotor, and electrical circuit means for connection to an electricity supply to drive the motor and including a sliding contact arrangement through which, in use, the electricity supply is connected to the socket.
2. A Christmas tree support according to claim 1, in which the electrical circuit means includes a switch for shutting off the electricity supply to the motor while maintaining the connection of the supply to the socket.
3. A Christmas tree support according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a musical box movement which is arranged to play a tune whenever the motor drives the rotor.
4. A Christmas tree support according to claim 3, in which the musical box movement is driven by the rotor.
5. A Christmas tree support according to claim 4, in which the driving engagement between the motor and the rotor, and between the rotor and the musical box movement, is frictional.
6. A Christmas tree support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the means on the rotor for supporting a Christmas tree comprises a socket for receiving the lower end of the trunk of the tree, and means for gripping the trunk in the socket so that the tree is held firmly in the upright position.
7. A Christmas tree support according to claim 6, in which the means for gripping the trunk comprises a number of clamping screws which are angularly spaced around the socket and which project into the socket through radially extending bores in the wall of the socket.
8. A Christmas tree support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sliding contact arrangement comprises two electrically conducting rings which are carried by the rotor concentrically about its axis and which are electrically connected to the socket terminals, the rings being insulated with respect to the rotor and each other, and a pair of electrically conducting brushes which are mounted so that they are in continuous sliding contact with the rings, one brush with one ring and the other brush with the other ring, as the rotor rotates.
9 A Christmas tree support according to claim 8, in which the two electrically conducting rings of the sliding contact arrangement are located on the underside of an annular flange portion of the rotor.
10. A Christmas tree support according to claim 9 when dependent upon claim 5, in which the frictional drive between the motor and the rotor, and between the rotor and the musical box movement, occurs at the periphery of the flange portion of the rotor.
11. A Christmas tree support according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a casing which is in two parts, namely a lower part to which the base is fluxed, and an upper part which is attached to the rotor so that it rotates with the rotor relative to the lower part of the casing, the socket for the tree lighting circuit being mounted on the upper part of the casing.
12. A Christmas tree support according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB1844878A 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Supports for christmas trees Expired GB1569099A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1844878A GB1569099A (en) 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Supports for christmas trees

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1844878A GB1569099A (en) 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Supports for christmas trees

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1569099A true GB1569099A (en) 1980-06-11

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1844878A Expired GB1569099A (en) 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Supports for christmas trees

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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2198632A (en) * 1986-12-15 1988-06-22 Chu Ven Chung Multi-function automatic revolving christmas tree base
FR2653853A1 (en) * 1989-10-31 1991-05-03 Rimlinger Lucien Support base for a Christmas tree
GB2272369A (en) * 1992-11-17 1994-05-18 Wang Hai Chen Hai A turntable
GB2272634A (en) * 1992-11-06 1994-05-25 Wang Hai Chen Hai A rotating stand for a christmas tree
GB2277437A (en) * 1993-03-19 1994-11-02 Liao Chieh Hsi Rotary ornamental display device
GB2366997A (en) * 2000-09-22 2002-03-27 Herbert Winford Crossman Free standing illuminated display carousel
US9839315B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Multi-wire quick assemble tree
US9843147B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US10765244B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2020-09-08 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10993572B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-04 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11013356B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-25 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2198632A (en) * 1986-12-15 1988-06-22 Chu Ven Chung Multi-function automatic revolving christmas tree base
GB2198632B (en) * 1986-12-15 1991-02-13 Chu Ven Chung Rotatable base assembly for christmas tree
FR2653853A1 (en) * 1989-10-31 1991-05-03 Rimlinger Lucien Support base for a Christmas tree
GB2272634A (en) * 1992-11-06 1994-05-25 Wang Hai Chen Hai A rotating stand for a christmas tree
GB2272369A (en) * 1992-11-17 1994-05-18 Wang Hai Chen Hai A turntable
GB2277437A (en) * 1993-03-19 1994-11-02 Liao Chieh Hsi Rotary ornamental display device
GB2366997A (en) * 2000-09-22 2002-03-27 Herbert Winford Crossman Free standing illuminated display carousel
US10765244B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2020-09-08 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10993571B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-04 Belgravia Wood Limited Architecture for routing multi-channel commands via a tree column
US11712126B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2023-08-01 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11096511B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-08-24 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11096512B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-08-24 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11083319B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-08-10 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10765245B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2020-09-08 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11013356B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-25 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10993572B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-04 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10893768B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-01-19 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10939777B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-03-09 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10985513B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2021-04-20 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction with rotation limiting
US9843147B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US10777949B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2020-09-15 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US10522954B1 (en) 2011-10-28 2019-12-31 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US10404019B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2019-09-03 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US9912109B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2018-03-06 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US11799251B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2023-10-24 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction with rotation limiting
US10842306B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2020-11-24 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Multi-wire quick assemble tree
US9839315B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Multi-wire quick assemble tree

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Legal Events

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PS Patent sealed
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee