US3159523A

US3159523A - Knock-down simulated christmas tree constructions having adjustable and collapsible branches

Info

Publication number: US3159523A
Application number: US90455A
Authority: US
Inventors: Abramson Abraham
Original assignee: Raylite Electric Corp
Current assignee: Raylite Electric Corp
Priority date: 1961-02-20
Filing date: 1961-02-20
Publication date: 1964-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-01

Description

Dec. 1, 1964 A. ABRAMSON 3,159,523

KNOCK-DOWN SIMULATED CHRISTMAS TREE CONSTRUCTIQNS HAVING ADJUSTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE BRANCHES Filed Feb. 20. 1961 INVENTOR.

- ABRAHAM ABRANSON A Troy YE Y United States Patent Office 3,159,523 Patented Dec. 1, 1964 3,159,523 KNOCK-DGWN SHVIULATED CHRESTMAS TREE CQNSTRUCTIGNS HAVING ADJUSTABLE AND CQLLAPSIBLE BRANCHES Abraham Ahramson, New York, N .Y., assignor to Ra lite Electric Corp, Bronx, N.Y., a corporation of New Yorir Filed Feb. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 90,455 9 Ciaims. (Cl. 1161-24) This invention relates to ornamental and decorative devices and more particularly is directed to artificial simulated Christmas tree constructions. I

Among the objects of the invention is to improve artificial simulated Christmas tree constructions of the character described which shall be particularly adaptable for packaging and shipping in a knock-down condition yet requiring a minimum of skill and time for assembly into an attractive ornamental tree, which tree shall comprise an assembly of interfitting trunksegments which can be manufactured by quantity production methods in a variety of colors from ,plastic resinous material to be relatively light in weight yet rugged in construction to withstand breakage in periodic assembly and dismantling, which shall provide some of said segments with integrally formed hinged mounting holders for branches of any one of a variety of known constructions, which integrally formed hinged mounting holders shall permit pivoting of the branches from a predetermined outstretched angular relation with respect to the vertical axis of the trunk to a collapsed position whereby the branches are disposed substantially lengthwise along the axis of the trunk, which hinged mounting holders shall provide for selectively positioning each of the branches individually at a desired angle with respect to the vertical axis of the trunk to shape the tree in 'a variety of contours and configurations, which tree can be erected to a wide range of desired heights by duplicating said trunk segments and which shall be efiicient and practical to a high degree in use.

This invention is a continuation-in-pa1t of subject matter covered in my copending application entitled Molded Plastic Segmented Trunk and Branch Holder Means for Simulated Christmas Trees, filed herewith, now US. Patent No. 3,131,112, and application Serial No. 78,- 938, filed December 28, 1960, now U.S. Patent No. 3,115,435, for Decorative Simulated Christmas Tree Constructions.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which various embodiments of the invention are shown:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly in phantom of a Christmas tree constructed to embody the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the segmented trunk of the Christmas tree shown in FIG. 1, one of the branch holders being shown in an adjusted position by means of a shim, an arrow indicating the direction of swinging of the branch holder to a collapsed posit-ion against the trunk.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one of the segments shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the integrally formed hinge between the trunk body and bran-ch holder and a modified form of shim.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of Christmas tree construction having thebranch holders integrally formed with a collar provided as an element of the segmented trunk for positioning between two tubular trunk bodies, the collar having an integral shim for selectively adjusting the angular disposition of the branch holder with respect to the vertical trunk.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of collar construction and shim combination.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shim shown utilized in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified shim shown utilized in FIG. 4 having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface thereof, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another modified form of shim shown utilized in FIG. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes an artificial Christmas tree constructed to embody the invention comprising a base 16a supporting a vertical trunk 10!) having branches 11 extending therefrom in a radial and upward direction.

Branches 11 may be of any conventional construction, but each, as shown in FIG. 2, formed generally with a leafless medial or trunk attaching end 11a which may be an extension of an axial core 11b carrying simulated leaves 110.

, Trunk 10b is preferably formed as a segmented structure, each segment, as is clear from FIG. 2, comprising a tubular body 12 having an upper end section 12a of larger cross-sectional area in relation to a lower section 1211 of smaller cross-section area and a shoulder 12c therebetween. All bodies 12 may be identical with lower section 12b of each body forming an inner sleeve member and upper end section 12a forming an outer sleeve member of a telescoping interfitting connection between adjoining segments with the free upper end 120. of upper end section 12a seated on shoulder 120.

One of the features of the invention is the hinged integrally formed mounting means for branches 11 providing foldability of the branches from an out-stretched position at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical axis of the trunk to a folded or collapsed position against the trunk. To this end a plurality of substantially radially extending branch holders 13 are integrally attached to tubular bodies 12, preferably adjacent free upper ends 12d thereof by a relatively thin foldable bight portion 122. Tubular bodies 12 with integral branch holders 13 may be molded as a unitary structure of a suitable plastic resinous material, such as, for example, polypropylene, having tough foldable characteristics of sufficient tensile strenght and durability for withstanding the required flexure of thin bight portion 12e.

Branch holders 13 may each be formed as an elongated structure having an axial bore 13:: open at an outer free end 13b to provide a seat for receiving therein leafless attaching end 11a of branch 11. As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, foldable bight portion 12e connects to an upper or top edge of the inner end of holder 13 and suspends end 130 therefrom to contact the wall of tubular body upper end 12a. As will be seen from FIG. 2, the lower portion of branch holder inner end 130 contacting the wall of tubular body upper end 12a serves as means for disposing holder 13 and its branch 11 at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical axis of trunk 1012. Branch holders 13 and branches 11 may be collapsed for storing purposes against trunk 10b as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 by folding at bight portion 12e. holders 13 may be provided on tubular body 12 and such holders may be arranged in any desired spacing. For most purposes, 4, 5 or 6 branch holders symmetrically spaced around body 12 will prove satisfactory.

In dependent adjustment of the angular disposition of each holder 13 and its branch 11 may be readily accomplished by a suitable shim positioned between branch holder inner end 13c and the wall of tubular body 12. Two

such shims

15 and 16 are exemplified in FIGS. 7

Any suitable number of branch and S and shown in operative position in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively.

Shims

15 and 16 may be molded or otherwise fashioned from any suitable material to serve the intended purpose as for example, rubber, plastic resins, wood or metal.

Shim 15 may be formed as a twin unit comprising two aligned oppositely extending wedges 15a and 161) having apex ends 150 and 16d, respectively, interconnected at 150 along one side thereof forming a slot 15 therebetween for receiving bight portion 12@ therein. Faces 15g and 15h of wedges 15a and 151), respectively, may be of concave contour to conform to the exterior surface of tubular body upper end 1211 to more snugly fit in operative position. As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 7, wedges 15a and 15b, have different thicknesses, that is, different apex angles, so that each shim 15 by selective inversion will provide two angular adjustment positions for each holder 13.

Shim 16 may comprise a simple wedge and include a face 16a of concave contour to conform to the exterior surface of tubular body upper end 12a and an opposite face 16b carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive coating A for securing shim 16 to branch holder inner end 13c. Shim 16, prior to attachment, may be provided with a conventional removable protective cover 160 for coating A. As an alternative, adhesive coating A may be applied to concave face 16a instead of face 161) for attachment of shim 16 to the exterior surface of tubular body upper end 12a.

The utility and operation of the invention will now be apparent. Christmas tree it? may be packed for shipping in a carton in a knock-down condition, that is, preferably with tubular bodies 12, branches 11 and

shims

15 or 16 separated from each other to save space and prevent breakage but, if desired, each branch leafless end 11a may be pro-inserted in axial bore 13a of a branch holder 13 and the holders folded in collapsed position parallel to the axis of the tubular body 12.

Assembly of Christmas tree is readily accomplished by first interconnecting base ltla with several branchless tubular bodies formed without branch holders 13, such as body 22 shown in FIG. 5, in the manner fully shown and described in my said copending application. Then tubular bodies 12 with integrally formed pivoted branch holders 13 each carrying a branch 11 are interconnected in telescoping fashion, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to a desired height and may be topped with a suitable ornament or finial (not shown). Where the parts of tree 10 are provided in complete knock-down condition, trunk 10b may be assembled first and thereafter branches 11 inserted into the axial bores 13a of holders 13. The weight of holders 13 and branches 11 will cause holders 13 to fold downwardly at bight portion 12e until holder inner ends 130 abut the walls of tubular body upper ends 12a disposing holders 13 and branches 11 in a substantially radially extending outstretched position in said predetermined angular relation with respect to the vertical axis of trunk 10b.

After assembly in the above described manner, tree 10 may be shaped by rotating the various tubular bodies 12 with respect to each other to either vertically align or stagger branches 11. The angular disposition of branches 11 with respect to trunk 16'!) may then be adjusted where desired for shaping tree 19, as for example, by progressively reducing the angle of branches 11 with respect to the vertical axis of trunk 10b in the upper levels. This may be readily accomplished, after shim 15 is first oriented so that the desired size wedge of wedges 15a or 15!) is at the bottom and sufiicient clearance is provided therefor by lifting branch holder free end 13b, by slipping shim 15 in position with bight portion 12 extending through slit 15 the uppermost of wedges 15a and 15.) serving as a supporting hook means for shim 15. Similarly, as an alternative, shim 16 is readily secured in position by first removing adhesive protective cover 16c, lifting branch holder free end 13b to expose inner end and pressure mounting face 16b thereto, if concave face 16a carries adhesive A, by pressing face against tubular body upper end 12a in alignment to be engaged by branch holder inner end 130.

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of tree trunk 20b constructed to embody the invention in which each of the segments comprises a tubular body 22 and a collar 23 having a plurality of integrally formed branch holders 24 connected thereto by relatively thin foldable bight portions 23a. Tubular bodies 22 are similar to body 12 but lacking branch holders 13 and foldable bight portions He and are preferably utilized in an inverted position from that shown in FIG. 2, namely, with larger cross-sectional end section 22a lowermost and smaller cross-sectional endsection 22b uppermost, collar 23 having a diameter sized to fit smaller end section 22b and seat on shoulder 220. In a preferred form shown in FIG. 5 collar 23 has an L-shaped cross-section providing an internal horizontal flange 23c and a vertical flange 23b, the latter cooperating with the smaller end section 2212 to provide a groove for receiving free bottom end with respect to the vertical axis of body 22.

Branch holder 24 may be formed, similar to holder 13, as an elongated structure having an axial bore 2411 open at an outer free end 24b to provide a seat for receiving therein branch leafless attaching end 11a, foldable bight portion 23a connecting an upper edge of collar 23 to an upper edge of inner end 24c and suspending the latter to contact the exterior vertical wall of collar 23 to disposed holder 24 at a predetermined angle with erspect to the vertical axis of body 22.

Collar 23 may also be formed with an integral wedge shaped shim 25 pivotally attached thereto by a foldable bight portion 23d extending from the lower edge of collar 23 to the base of shim 25 for selectively positioning shim 25 in an inoperative downwardly extending position shown in FIG. 5 on the right side of the trunk or in an operative upwardly extending position between the Wall of collar 23 and branch holder inner end 24c shown in FIG. 5 on the left side of the trunk.

A modified collar 33 is shown in FIG. 6, similar in construction to collar 23 except for the omission of integral shim 25. Instead, branch holder 34 of collar 33 is formed at inner end 340 with a seat 34d for frictionally receiving shank 35a of shim 35. As shown in FIG. 9, shim 35 is formed as a peg having shank 35a terminating in an enlarged conical head 35b sized and shaped to abut the vertical wall of collar 33 to position branch holder 34 in a desired adjusted angular relation to the axis of the trunk. Providing shim 35 in different sizes that is, with heads 3517 having different apex angles will render a wide range of selective adjustability to branch holders 34.

Collars 23 with integral foldable branch holders 24, with or without integral foldable shims 25 and collars 33 with integral foldable holders 34 may be molded of polypropylene or similar material having physical properties required for

thin bight portions

23a and 23d. However, tubular bodies 22 may be molded of less expensive material, such as, polystyrene, polyethylene or the like.

When ready for storage Christmas tree 10 affords a variety of choims, such as, collapsing branches 11 against tree trunks ltlb or 2012, removing branches 11 from holders 14, 24 or 34 and separating the tree trunk segments, or retaining branches 11 in holders 24 or 34 and separating

collars

23 or 33 from tubular bodies 22.

It is to be understood that within the scope of the invention branch holders 14, 24 and Y34 may be provided at their branch connecting ends with male elements such as projections or pins for engaging seats, bores or other types of female elements provided on the ends of branches 11.

Without departing from the scope of the invention,

if? branch holders 34 with seats 34d for shims 35 may be integrally formed with tubular bodies 12 instead of branch holders 13. Likewise shims 1d or 16 may be utilized with collar 33 instead of shim 35.

It is thus seen that there is provided knock'down simulated Christmas tree constructions in which the several objects of the invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an artificial Christmas tree construction, an elongated trunk formed of separable segments, a plurality of branches, some of said segments each having a branch holder including means for supporting one of the branches in a radially extending predetermined angular relation to the axis of the trunk, said segment and branch holder being molded of plastic resinous material as an integral structure with an interconnecting relatively thin and flexible strip extending therebetween, said strip forming a hinge member located to position an end portion of said branch holder in abutment with a surface of said segment to support the branch holder and branch in said predetermined angular relation and to swing the branch holder and branch out of said abutment to a collapsed position substantially parallel to said axis against said trunk.

2. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 including a shim interposed between said surface of the segment and said branch holder end portion to adjust the angle to a desired intermediate position between said predetermined angular relation and said collapsed position.

3. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 including a shim having a hanger portion resting on said flexible strip, said hanger portion being attached to a branch holder positioning portion of the shim extending beneath said strip interposed between said surface of the segment and said branch holder end portion to adjust the angle to a desired position between said predetermined angular relation and said collapsed position.

4. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 including a shim formed as an invertible twin unit comprising two aligned oppositely extending wedges having apex ends interconnected along one side of the unit and formed with a slot therebetween, said shim being mounted with said flexible strip extending therethrough with one wedge supporting the other between said sur- 629 face of the segment and said branch holder end portion to adjust the angle to a desired position between said predetermined angular relation and said collapsed position, said wedges having different apex angles providing two selective adjustment positions.

5. The artificial Christmas tree constructions defined in claim 1 in which said branch holder end portion is formed With a recessed seating means, a shim having a shank removably mounted in said seating means and a head portion extending to contact said surface of the segment to adjust the angle to a desired position between said predetermined angular relation and said collapsed position.

6. In an artificial Christmas tree construction, an elongated trunk formed of separable segments, a plurality of branches, some of said segments each having branch holders including means for supporting the branches in radially extending predetermined angular relation to the axis of the trunk, means carried by said segment for adjusting said predetermined angular relation, said segments, branch holders and adjusting means being molded of plastic resinous material as integral structures with relatively thin and flexible strips extending as interconnections between said segments and branch holders and said segments and adjusting means, each of said strips forming hinge members.

7. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 including a shim having a pressure sensitive adhesive surface removably mounted between said branch holder end portion and said trunk segment surface adjusting said angular relation to a desired position.

8. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 in which said segments having branch holders are formed as collars supported between two elongated separable segments.

9. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 in which said segments having branch holders are formed as collars supported between two elongated separable segments, some of the branch holders each having a coacting shim integrally connected by a second relatively thin and flexible strip to said collar, said shim and strip being constructed and arranged to selectively swing into and out of operative engagement between the collar and said branch holder end portion to adjust said predetermined angular relation.

Claims

1. IN AN ARTIFICAL CHRISTMAS TREE CONSTRUCTION, AN ELONGATED TRUNK FORMED OF SEPARABLE SEGMENTS, A PLURALITY OF BRANCHES, SOME OF SAID SEGMENTS EACH HAVING A BRANCH HOLDER INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ONE OF THE BRANCHES IN A RADIALLY EXTENDING PREDETERMINED ANGULAR RELATION TO THE AXIS OF THE TRUNK, SAID SEGMENT AND BRANCH HOLDER BEING MOLDED OF PLASTIC RESINOUS MATERIAL AS AN INTEGRAL STUCTURE WITH AN INTERCONNECTING RELATIVELY THIN AND FLEXIBLE