GB1571115A - Mounting element for use with artificial pine trees - Google Patents

Description

(54) MOUNTMG ELEMENT, FOR USE WITH ARTIFICIAL PINE TREES (71) I, MARIANO BORELLA, of Italian Nationality, of Via Raffaello, 22032 Albese (Como), Italy, 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: The invention relates to a mounting for branches which can be fitted on artificial pine-trees, enabling the appearance of a Christmas tree to be altered and various requirements to be achieved by attaching one or more additional branches to the primary branches of the tree.

A feature of the above mentioned mounting is the ease with which one or more additional or secondary diverging branches can be arranged and in the possibility of attaching such secondary branches to any desired location on the primary branches without a special mounting element forming a part of a primary branch.

In one embodiment of the invention a mounting element is provided which has a base including means so designed that it can be fitted over a first branch of a pine-tree, without passing over an end of the first branch and a second portion having a plurality of projections wbich extend from the base portion and upon respective ones of which a second branch can be fitted.

Preferably, the base portion is in the form of tongs or a clip in order to facilitate attachment to the pine-tree branches.

In a particular embodiment the projections terminate in a rounded head designed to be a press-fit in a hole at the end of a secondary branch.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 shows a portion of artificial pinetree, to the primary branches of which secondary branches are attached by a mounting element according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the mounting taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 3 and having only one additional or secondary branch attached thereto; and Fig. 3 is a view of the mounting taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of an artificial pine-tree formed of a central trunk 1, with primary branches 2 branching off therefrom and comprising in a manner known per se artificial leaves 3 that, for example, are.

attached to a twisted iron wire.

As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, each of said primary branches 2 may have attached there.to a secondary branch 4 or secondary branches 5 by means of a mounting element 6, which mounting 6 is removably attached to a primary branch 2 from the side of the branch 2 and without passing over an end of the branch 2.

Figs. 2 and 3 show in further detail and on an enlarged scale the details of the mounting element.

As shown in the figures, the mounting element 6 is moulded in one piece and comprises a base or bottom portion 7 which is provided with means for its attachment to a primary branch 2 of the artificial pine-tree, and an upper or top portion provided with projections 8 pointing in different directions, and on each of which an additional or secondary branch 5 can be press-fitted as desired.

The base or bottom portion 7 has its lower end shaped as tongs or as a clip, that is, it has a longitudinal slot 9 defining two resiliently spreadable side arms 10, the ends of which provide a narrow aperture 11 of a width less than that of the remainder of the slot 9, to allow the press-fitting of the mounting onto a primary pine-tree branch 2. To this end, the mounting 6 is made of a resilient material, for example a moulded plastics material.

Projections 8 for supporting additional or secondary branches 5 are directed outwardly from the base or bottom portion 7 at different angles and allow the additional or secondary branches to give the appearance of a natural arrangement of pine-tree branches.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each of the projections 5 terminates with a thickened end defining a head 12 for engagement in a hole in the end 5' of each additional or secondary branch. Thus, one or more branches 5 can each be press fitted to a projection 8 of each mounting 6 for making up an arrangement of branches.

WEtAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A mounting element for use in attach- ing branches to an artificial pine-tree, the said element being moulded in one piece and having a base portion, the base portion including two resilient arms defining a slot and the width of the slot being narrowest near to the free ends of the arms, whereby the element can be attached to a first branch by passing the arms over opposite sides of the first branch to grip the said branch in the slot, and a second portion having a plurality of projections which extend from the base portion, each projection defining a portion of varying thickness upon which a second branch can be fitted, the thickness at a point remote from the base being greater than the thickness at an adjacent portion nearer TO the base.

2. A mounting element according to claim 1, in which said projections of the second portion are directed in different directions.

3. A mounting element according to claim 1, in which each of said projections terminates in a thickened head.

4. An assembly for use with artificial pinetrees, comprising a mounting element according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one secondary pine-tree branch which can be removably press fitted to one of said projections of the mounting element.

5. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. An assembly for use with artificial pinetrees substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. in the end 5' of each additional or secondary branch. Thus, one or more branches 5 can each be press fitted to a projection 8 of each mounting 6 for making up an arrangement of branches. WEtAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A mounting element for use in attach- ing branches to an artificial pine-tree, the said element being moulded in one piece and having a base portion, the base portion including two resilient arms defining a slot and the width of the slot being narrowest near to the free ends of the arms, whereby the element can be attached to a first branch by passing the arms over opposite sides of the first branch to grip the said branch in the slot, and a second portion having a plurality of projections which extend from the base portion, each projection defining a portion of varying thickness upon which a second branch can be fitted, the thickness at a point remote from the base being greater than the thickness at an adjacent portion nearer TO the base.

2. A mounting element according to claim 1, in which said projections of the second portion are directed in different directions.

3. A mounting element according to claim 1, in which each of said projections terminates in a thickened head.

4. An assembly for use with artificial pinetrees, comprising a mounting element according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one secondary pine-tree branch which can be removably press fitted to one of said projections of the mounting element.

5. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. An assembly for use with artificial pinetrees substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.