US2093753A - Christmas tree yard ornament - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1937. F. EHLER, JR I 2,093,753

CHRISTMAS TREE YARD ORNAMENT Filed Oct. 22, 1936 I 8M0 MM FTECIEFIIEI" Jr- Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNHTED STATES PATET OFFICE CHRISTMAS TREE YARD ORNAMENT Fred Ehler, Jr., Sheboygan, Wis.

Application October 22, 1936, Serial No. 107,008

7 Claims.

will permit the forming of extremely attractive garden settings under Christmas trees.

I have found that rope lends itself ideally to the forming of miniature hedges, trees, bushes,

and so forth, in that the strands of the rope, and the fibers thereof, can be easily shaped and twisted, to assume and hold different attractive shapes simulating foliage, and that the fibers will easily take dyes, and the like, whereby the trees and other plants made can be readily colored.

Therefore, another salient object of my invention is the forming of miniature trees, hedges, bushes, and the like, out of sections of rope, with the fibers of the rope opened and spread in different manners to closely simulate the actual article being copied.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of novel means for directly moulding the base of the rope, or rope strands, in a metallic foot or holder, whereby when the molten metal becomes set, the same will function to hold the rope strands and fibers in correct position, and act as a weight to prevent the acci dental tipping over of the trees and shrubs.

A still further object of my invention is to provide miniature artificial trees, bushes, hedges, and so forth, for Christmas tree gardens, which will be durable and efficient in use, easy and simple to manufacture, and which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the miniature artificial tree constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a length of hedge formed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the length of hedge.

Figure i is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating a step in the manufacture of a hedge.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 generally indicates a miniature artificial tree constructed in accordance with the present invention. This tree 5 is formed from a length of rope 6, embodying a plurality of strands i. In the present instance I have shown a length of rope embodying four strands. For the purpose of classifying the rope, the same can be considered as being made from sisal.

The length of rope 6 has wound thereabout for a portion of its length a cord 8 to form the trunk of a tree, and certain strands of the rope are untwisted a short distance above the trunk, and other strands of the rope are carried a greater distance above the lower strands and the trunk. In other words, the various strands of the rope are untwisted and brought out at different points to form the limbs of the tree. The cord 8 is wrapped around these limbs, and the limbs or rope strands are cut off at the desired points to give different lengths of limbs, and the desired height to the tree. The sisal fibers 9 at the ends of the strands or tree limbs are left free, and are spread outwardly with the hands to form the tree foliage or branches. The tree trunk 6 and the limbs I can be dyed or painted a brown color, while the tree foliage or branches 9 can be painted a green color.

The lower end of the trunk of the tree is provided with a suitable heavy base I0, whereby the tree can be set upon a floor, or other support. It is preferred to give this base 10 considerable weight or mass, whereby to effectively hold the tree in an upright position against accidental displacement.

Many different kinds of trees, bushes, hedges, and the like, can be made from the rope, in accordance with my invention, but for the purpose of simplifying the illustration I have only shown in the drawing the forming of a hedge ll, besides the one form of tree 5.

The hedges l I can be formed in various lengths suitable to the consumer, and each length of hedge includes a plurality of rope strands l2. Thus, to form the hedge the rope is preferably separated into its different strands, and I utilize as many strands as is necessary to form the desired length of hedge. The lower ends of the rope strands l2 are suitably anchored in an elongated base l3, which also has considerable mass to hold the hedge in an upright position. In effect, the base ill of the tree, and the base [3 of the hedge, form a continuation, and part of the device being made. Thus, the base In of the tree may constitute a continuation of the tree trunk,

and the base l3 for the hedge may constitute the wooden branch part of a hedge, and the bases l0 and i3 can then also be suitably colored.

The fibers of the rope strands [2 are opened and spread apart above the base It so as to provide the foliage for the hedge, and these strands are painted or dyed the desired green, or any other color.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated one step in the method of anchoring the rope, or rope strands, in a base. This figure more specifically represents the forming of a hedge or bush. In accordance with this step of manufacture, the inner ends of the rope strands are clamped within a two-part mould M, and after the rope strands are held in correct position, the mould is filled with moulten metal, such as lead, I5. This moulten metal firmly unites the fibers of the rope strands, and prevents the accidental displacement thereof. After the metal has cooled, the mould sections can be removed, and the rope strands are then trimmed off the desired distance, and the fibers are then spread out to give the appearance of a hedge or a bush. The stiffness of the fibers assures the holding of the desired shape.

Obviously, in the forming of bushes, the bush can be given more than one color, and if desired drops of paint can be placed on a bush to simulate the appearance of flowers, berries, and the like.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally simple means for economically forming miniature artificial trees, bushes, and the like, which will closely simulate the appearance of real trees, bushes, and the like. Due to the nature of the materials employed, the miniature trees, bushes, and the like, are enabled to withstand rough handling and treatment, and thus the articles can be used year after year.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. An artificial miniature tree, bush, or the like, comprising a length of rope including a plurality of strands, one portion of the rope constituting a trunk, the other portion of the rope above the trunk being separated into strands to form limbs with the outer ends thereof spread apart to simulate foliage.

2. An artificial tree, bush, or the like, constructed from a length of rope including a plurality of twisted strands, a portion of the rope forming the trunk, a base receiving the lower end of the trunk for supporting the same, the portion of the rope above the trunk being separated into strands to form limbs, with the outer ends thereof spread open to form foliage.

3. The method of forming a miniature artificial tree which consists in taking a length of rope including a plurality of twisted strands, winding 2. binding member around a portion of the rope to simulate the trunk of a tree, separating the strands of the rope above the trunk to form limbs, and separately binding the limbs leaving the outer ends of the strands free, and separating the ends of the strands to simulate foliage.

4. The method of forming a miniature artificial tree which consists in taking a length of rope including a plurality of twisted strands, Winding a binding member around a portion of the rope to simulate the trunk of a tree, separating the strands of the rope above the trunk to form limbs and separately binding the limbs leaving the outer ends of the strands free, separating the ends of the strands to simulate foliage, and then coloring the trunk, limbs, and foliage.

5. The process of forming miniature artificial trees, bushes, hedges, and the like, which consists in taking a section of a rope, clamping the inner end of the rope section in a mould, pouring moulten metal in the mould around the inner end of the rope section, allowing the moulten metal to cool, trimming off the outer end of the rope section, and then opening up the fibers of the rope section beyond the mould to form foliage.

6. The process of forming miniature artificial trees, bushes, hedges, and the like, which consists in taking a section of a rope, clamping the inner end of the rope section in a mould, pouring moulten metal in the mould around the inner end of the rope section, allowing the moulten metal to cool, trimming off the outer end of the rope section, then opening up the fibers of the rope section beyond the mould to form foliage, and coloring the foliage and moulten base.

'7. A miniature artificial tree, bush, hedge, and the like, comprising a length of rope with the upper end thereof separated into fibers to simulate foliage, and a moulten metal base around the inner end of the rope section constituting a continuation of the article simulated.

FRED EHLER, JR.

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