US2337914A

US2337914A - Christmas tree stand

Info

Publication number: US2337914A
Application number: US421970A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy W Meldrum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-12-06
Filing date: 1941-12-06
Publication date: 1943-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1960-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1943. R, W MELDRUM 2,337,914

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND l Filed Dc. 6, 1941 y V INVENTORv mwman ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1943 'UNTTED STATES .eq

TENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in Christmas tree stand, wherein it is desired to provide a simple and eiective device for holding a Christmas tree or the like in vertical position.

It has been found desirable to maintain the lower or cut end of a Christmas tree, or the like, in water while it is on display. It has been found that liquid often prevents the premature falling of the needles of the tree and keeps the tree in good condition for a considerable period of time. Various types of stands or holders have been made, some of which hold the lower end of the tree in a bath of water. Most of these previous constructions, however, are expensive to manufacture and thewater may be easily spilled from the stand.

It is the object of the present invention to construct a stand or holder for Christmas trees, and the like, which will securely hold the tree in an upright position, which will allowthe lower end of the tree to be immersed in water, and which will not allow water to spill readily therefrom. This holder may be made at an extremely low cost and may be readily produced in large quantities.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a Christmas tree stand or holder having a substantially at under surface and having an upwardly bowed upper surface secured marginally to the lower surface. This upper surface is provided with an integral downwardly extending central sleeve, which projects toward the relatively flat under surface. This sleeve is open at both ends so that the trunk of a tree may be inserted therethrough into the holder. Thus the tree is supported in an upright position by the sleeve, and at the same time the water within the body of the holder is prevented from escaping by this sleeve.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the holder may be partially lled with water or a prepared solution and may be readily carried about or shipped without danger of spilling the liquid. The holder when lled is lled only to the lower level of the sleeve, as the space above this point forms an air pocket. The water may be carried within the holder with little danger of spilling, as the holder may be substantially inverted in most instances without spilling the liquid. As the sleeve is integral with the top of the holder there is no danger of leakage between the holder top and the sleeve.

In the rst constructions of the holder the central sleeve was a separate element in the form of a brass tube which extended through a central opening in the cover plate and which was riveted or otherwise secured in place. This previous construction had certain disadvantages. y In the first place, as the tubing was a separate element this tube did not support the tree as well as an integral sleeve. In the second place, the joint between this tubing and the top of the holder was often not Water-tight, allowing leakage at this point. f

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that a spacing tube may be used between the top and bottom surfaces of the holder if it is found necessary or desirable. This spacing tube is often not required as the holder is possessed of considerable strength due to its convex shape and the reinforcing ribs. When it is desired, however, a spacing tubing may be inserted between the upper and lower plates, thus reinforcing the plates and holding them in spaced.

relation. This spacing tube may freely encircle the sleeve integral with the holder tube.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that spring means may be used to hold the tree in upright position if it is so desired. Spring strips may be readily incorporated within the holder to hold the tree in upright position under spring tension.

These and other objects and. novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully, setforth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view on a Vertical plane through the center of the holder.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the holder.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the joint between the upper and lower holder surfaces.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the central sleeve formed integrally with the holder top surface.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modiedform oi construction.

The stand or holder A is particularly designed for the support of a Christmas tree or the like so as to hold the tree in upright position during its period of display. The holder A includes a disc-shaped lower base wall I0, which may be formed of thin metal, or the like. An upper covering member Il is secured to the lower base wall I0 in a manner which will now be described in detail.

The upper covering member ll is preferably punched from a flat sheet of metal and is formed into concave shape by one or a series of forming place.

operations. The upperf member II is preferably provided with a series of stiffening ribs I2 which extend in a substantially radial direction and the convex body is provided with a peripheral outwardly extending flange I3. A gasket I4 is interposed between the flange I3 and the marginal edge of the disc I and the marginal edge I5 of the flange I3 is bent downwardly and inwardly to enclose the marginal edge of the disc I0. The gasket I4 is pressedbetween the disc I0 and the ange I3, providing a` Water-proof joint.

At the center of the upper covering member II, I provide a downwardly projecting sleeve I6;-V

which is integral with thetop surface II. This sleeve I6 is drawn downwardly in a series of forming operations intoa cup shape and thebottom or the cup is punched out to form an open ended an opening in said covering member, a sleeve insleeve.

I'I are formed in the upper member I I adjacent theV sleeve I6 and these ribs strengthen the upper covering member adjacent the center.

If it is desired, a spacing sleeve I9 may be pro- 'videdwithin the holder to hold the upper member II and the disc-shaped lowerfwall memberv IQ in 'eid form of construction which embodiesvspring supporting elements.

In this holder, which is illustrated generally by the letter B, I provide a disc 2| which is marginally secured to a top 22. The top 22 is secured marginally at 23 to the disc 2|, the edge 24 of the ange 23 being folded beneath and clamping the marginal edge of the disc 2 I. A gasket 25 is interposed between the disc 2I and the flange 23- to seal the ange with respect to the disc. v Y

At angularly spaced points I provide resilient elements 26 which extend inwardly toward the center of the holder. These resilient elements 26 include at stripe like portions'2'l which are tere minally secured at 29 between-the gasket 25 and the ange 23 and are thus clamped securely in The strips 21 are uprightly inclined at 29 and extend to form spring loops 30 which engage the surface of the Vtrunk of a tree inserted into the holder. An integral sleeve 3| projects downwardly from the upper covering member 22 into spaced relation with the disc shaped bottom member 2 I.

The operation of my stand or holder is believed obvious kfrom the foregoing description.v Water is placed within the holder and the lower end of v Substantially radially extending grooves tipped over, there is little danger of the water spilling, as the sleeve I6 or 3I prevents such action. A cup, such as 32 may be formed in the disc 2| or III, if it is desired, to better hold the tree in an upright position.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my Christmas tree supporting stand or holder, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A Christmas tree stand comprising a substantially flat base, an upwardly bowed covering member peripherally secured to said flat base,

tegral with ,said covering member and extending downwardly from said opening into spaced relation with said flat base, and a spacing tube encircling said sleeve andextending between said base and said covering member.

2. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base, a vcovering member in spaced relation thereto, means marginally connecting said covering member and said base, a sleeve von said covering member extending downwardly toward said base,

and resilient means 'between said base and said 'covering member positioned to engage the trunk of a tree extending through saidv sleeve.

3. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base, an upwardly bowed covering member secured peripherally to said base, a central opening in said covering member, and a series of angularly spaced resilient means extending inwardly from the periphery of said base designed to engage the'trunk of'a tree extending through said openmg.

4. A Christmas tree stand comprising a ilat disk forming'a base, an upwardly bowed covering `member of sheet material having a peripheral ange extending about the same, means attaching said flange marginally to said base, a central opening in said covering member, and an integral sleeve on said covering member about said opening extending downwardly from said opening toward said base and terminating in spaced relation to said base.

5. A Christmas tree holder comprising a at disk forming a base, an upwardly bowed covering member o f sheet material, a peripheral flange extending marginally'about said covering member and' extending parallel to and adjacent the marginal edge of said base, gasket means between said marginal flange on said covering member and said base, means marginally securing said flange to said base, said covering member having a central opening therein, an integral sleeve about said opening on said covering member extending downwardly from said covering member to a point in spaced relation to said base.

yROY w. MELDRUM.