US2679371A

US2679371A - Christmas tree stand

Info

Publication number: US2679371A
Application number: US104129A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy W Meldrum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-07-11
Filing date: 1949-07-11
Publication date: 1954-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1971-05-25

Description

y 1954 R. w. MELDRUM 2,679,371

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Filed July 11 1949 IN VEN TOR.

Fay W Mclnlrum 2W m. and

ATTOR Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in Christmas tree stand wherein it is desired to proseveral years and has proven extremely satisfactory for its purpose. However, in some instance it has been found desirable to provide a means for engaging the portion of the tree trunk enclosed within the stand for insuring the vertical position of the tree trunk. By engaging a portion of the trunk near the lower extremity thereof the trunk is engaged at two spaced points and is thus more firmly held. Attempts have been made to provide a cup shaped receptacle in the base for engaging the lowermost end of the tree trunk. However, in some instances the tree trunks are not forced into the stand to the extent necessary to engage the lower end of the tree with the base of the stand. Accordingly it has been found desirable to engage the tree trunk at a point spaced upwardly from the base of the stand.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a tree engaging member within the Christmas tree stand so as to hold the tree at two spaced points. This support is formed of scrap metal produced during the stamping of the portions of the stand and therefore may be produced at low cost. Furthermore, the support extends between the center portion of the top of the stand and I the base of the stand, acting to resist compression on the top of the stand. As a result the stand incorporating the support is stronger than it would otherwise be, or else may be made of lighter metal without sacrificing compressive strength.

A feature of the present invention resides in providing a support which may be automatically located in proper position without the necessity of welding or other aflixing the support in place. Th support includes a ring-shaped portion designed to encircle the downwardly extending sleeve in the center of the top of the stand so that when the top of the stand is secured to the base, the support is automatically aligned with the sleeve. An apertured flange is supported spaced above the base of the stand for engagement with the lowermost end of the tree trunk to hold the same in vertical position.

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

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional view centrally through the stand showing the support in place therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the support removed from the stand.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the stand is formed.

The stand A is generally similar to the construction illustrated in my previously described Patent No. 2,337,914. The stand includes a substantially flat bottom disc it and an upwardly bowed upper portion l l. The upper portion II is convex on its upper surface and is provided with a peripheral outwardly extending marginal flange l2 designed to lie flat against the base along the periphery thereof. A gasket may be provided between the flange l2 and the base NJ if desired. The marginal edge l3 of the top portion is crimped over the marginal edge of the bottom disc' ID to seal the parts It! and H marginally together.

The upwardly bowed top portion l l is provided with an integral down-turned sleeve M at its center point. This sleeve M is bent downwardly from the body of the top H to form a guide and support for the trunk of the tree inserted thereinto. The sleeve [4 also tends to prevent the spilling of liquid or semi-liquid material within the body of the stand A. The stands are usually partially filled with material which serves to keep the tree in a fresh condition and to keep the needles of the tree from dropping off for a considerable period of time.

The support B which is interposed into the stand A to form a support for the top member H is best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. This support B includes a back panel i5 which is foldably connected along vertical parallel fold lines [6 and ll to side panels l9 and 20. The side panels I9 and 20 are connected along fold lines 2| and 22 to

base flanges

23 and 24 respectively. A top flange 25 is connected to the back panel I5 along a fold line 26. A bottom panel 21 is connected along the rear panel [5 along a fold line'29. Supporting flanges 30 and 3| are connected to the bottom flange 2! along

parallel fold lines

32 and 33.

A sleeve 34 is punched from the top flange 25 and is downwardly directed toward the bottom flange 21. A sleeve 35 is punched in the bottom flange 21 to extend downwardly therefrom. The

flanges

34 and 35 are in alignment in the formed position of the support B. g

It will be noted that the lower edge of the rear base panel ill of the stand A. As a result the aperture 35 may engage the lower edge of the tree even though this lower edge is not inserted into the stand a distance sufficient to contact the bottom panel 10.

In assembling the stand, the standard B is preferably placed so that the sleeve 34 is in telescoping relation with the integral sleeve 14 of the stand top member II. This arrangement automatically locates the support within the stand body and insures the fact that the lower sleeve 35 is in alignment with the upper sleeve 34. The

side panels

19 and 20 bear against the undersurface of the stand top member II and thus are able to resist considerable compressive force on the top member of the stand. The down-turned flanges 30 and 3| on the lower flange 2'! support this lower flange in parallel relation to the bottom ll) of the stand and also resist substantial downward force. As a result the stand A .is much stronger made of the same metal, or may possess similar compressive strength even though made of lighter gauge metal.

If desired the standard may be first attached to the base by means of spot welding or the like through the use of a suitable jig or fixture to properly locate the support upon the base. However, the support usually provides the strength required without this welding operation and therefore the simpler assembly method is usually preferred.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my Christmas tree stand, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment 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 including a receptacle having a base and a top portion marginally secured thereto, the top portion including a centrally down-turned sleeve providing an opening through said top portion, a support including a pair of vertically disposed spaced panels of proper dimensions to engage the top portion and the base and to hold the same in proper spaced relationship, and means on said sup ort encircling said sleeve for holding said panels in proper position.

.2. A Christmas tree stand including a top porthan previously if tion and a base marginally secured thereto, a downwardly extending sleeve centrally positioned on said top portion circumjacent an opening in said top portion, and a support interposed between said top portion and said base, said support including a pair of generally parallel panels extending from said top portion to said base to hold the same in properly spaced relationship, a connecting panel connecting an edge of said parallel panels, and means on said support encircling said sleeve for locating said panels relative to the sleeve.

3. The structure described in claim 2 in which the last named means comprises a flange connected to said connecting panel and having an aperture therethrough encircling said sleeve.

4. The construction described in claim 2 and including flanges on said parallel panels designed to overlie said base.

5. The structure described in claim 2 and in-- cluding a flange on said support extending parallel to the base of the stand and having an aperture therethrough in alignment with said sleeve.

6. The structure described in claim 2 and including a flange on said connecting panel extending parallel to the base of the stand and spaced therefrom, and an aperture therethrough in alignment with said sleeve.

'7. A Christmas tree stand including a hollow receptacle having a base and a top member connected together, a central downwardly extending sleeve in said top member, the bore of said sleeve communicating with an opening in said top member, and a support interposed between said top member and said base provided with a pair of vertically disposed spaced panels for holding said top member and base in properly spaced relation; said support including a guide located between said top and said base for engaging the trunk of a tree inserted through said sleeve.

8. A support for spacing the top and bottom members of a Christmas tree stand, the support including a pair of substantially parallel panels having top, bottom, front and rear edges, a connecting panel connecting the rear edge of said panels, a top flange connected to the connect.- in panel adja ent its pp r e. a b ttom panel connected to the connecting panel adja cent its bottom edge and extending parallel to said p fla e, s id dbo om fla es having aligned apertures therethrough, and downturned flanges on said bottom panel for support,- ing same above the plane in which the bottom edges of said first mentioned parallel panels lie.

Re eren e Cited n he fil hi patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,240,376 Saucier Sept. 18, 191'? 1,263,323 Kaempf 7 Apr. 16,1918 2,337,914 Meldrum Dec. 28, 1943