US3801415A

US3801415A - Collapsible mounting of arms,rods or branches on a central support

Info

Publication number: US3801415A
Application number: US00314473A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Fristot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-12-12
Filing date: 1972-12-12
Publication date: 1974-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-02

Abstract

In this artificial tree the central bole comprises substantially rectangular openings off-set both laterally and vertically and each branch is adapted to engage a corresponding opening by means of a tenon formed integrally therewith and by being force-fitted therethrough. To this eand, each tenon comprises laterally projecting lips or catches adapted to undergo an elastic deformation when said tenon is introduced through the opening, the branch being subsequently retained in their inclined position by engaging with a heel the inner surface of said tubular hole. Internal cam means may be provided in said bole for actuating said tenon and thus fold the branches to an inoperative position alongside the bole. These cams may be carried by a common rod.

Description

United States Patent [191 [111 3,801,415 Fristot Apr. 2, 1974 1 COLLAPSIBLE MOUNTING 0F ARMS, Primary Examinerwilliam E. SChUlZ RODS OR BRANCHES ON A CENTRAL SUPPORT [76] Inventor: Alfred Jean Fristot, Domaine dArmont Faramans, Ain, France [22] Filed: Dec. 12, 1972 211 App]. No.: 314,473

[52] US. Cl. 161/24, D29/1 [51] Int. Cl A47g 33/06 [58] Field of Search 161/24, 22, 23; D29/l B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,523 12/1964 Abramson 161/24 3,616,102 10/1971 Baus et al. 161/27 3,616,107 10/1971 Kershner 161/24 3,746,600 Circelli 161/22 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno [57] ABSTRACT In this artificial tree the central bole comprises substantially rectangular openings off-set both laterally and vertically and each branch is adapted to engage a corresponding opening by means of a tenon formed integrally therewith and by being force-fitted therethrough. To this eand, each tenon comprises laterally projecting lips or catches adapted to undergo an elastic deformation when said tenon is introduced through the opening, the branch being subsequently retained in their inclined position by engaging with a heel the inner surface of said tubular hole. Internal cam means may be provided in said bole for actuating said tenon and thus fold ,the branches to an inoperative position alongside the bole. These cams may be carried by a common rod.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE MOUNTING OF ARMS, RODS OR BRANCHES ON A CENTRAL SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates more particularly but not ex clusively to the mounting of rods of arms of an artificial tree or cluster on a central element constituting a bole, trunk or like central upright, such as artificial trees for decorative purposes, notably Christmas trees.

2. Description of the Prior Art Up to now, articles of the kind above referred to were designed in various ways, namely:

either with branches mounted permanently on the bole or stem, for example by fitting on tenons,

or with branches separable from the bole or stem.

The inconvenience of the first solution lies on the one hand in the considerable over-all dimensions of the complete article during the storage, transport, sale and private storage periods, i.e. outside the periods of actual use, and on the other hand the fragility of the mounting of the branches on the bole or stem, since the fitting tenons are liable to break in case of careless or rough handling.

Besides, the trees designed according to case n 2 hereinabove are at least partly free of the inconveniences mentioned in the preceding paragraph, but they require on the other hand considerable manpower for assembling the tree, an operation during which, furthermore, the order in which the branches are preferably disposed must be observed carefully, since these branches differ from one another by their size and inclination, length and width.

Other mountings have already been proposed wherein the branches are pivotally mounted to a central bole in a manner permitting of floding them alongside the bole. However, in these known mountings the means for fastening each branch in position is independent and involves the use of some auxiliary means or tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a different mounting wherein the article is presented for sale in a fully assembled condition but with its branches folded against the bole, the conversion to its operative position being obtained by releasing these branches which, by tilting naturally about the means retaining them on the bole, assume automatically the inclined spread-out position imparted thereto by construction.

According to this invention the bole consisting in a manner known per se of a hollow tubular upright having openings formed in its wall at locations off-set both angularly and vertically, each arm provided with its foliage or the like, formed by injection molding from a suitable plastic material comprises at its inner or root end a tenon also molded integrally with the branch and shaped to engage, and be retained by, one of said openings while preserving the possibility, at the beginning of its natural inclination resulting from the slope imparted to the lower bearing surface of said tenon against the bole surface, or raising the arm to the vertical or substantially to the vertical so as to be folded back against said bole and, conversely, in its released condition, to automatically resume its initial, spread-out position.

According to a preferred form of embodiment of the invention each tenon having a thickness corresponding substantially to the width of the opening engageable thereby comprises at its lower portion a rounded contour adapted slidably to engage the wall of the opening co-acting therewith and, at its upper portion, a heel constituting an element for retaining said branch against the inner wall of the bole, in combination with a lower, stopforming element adapted to engage or bear on the opposite side against the outer surface of said bole.

According to another specific feature characterising this invention each tenon aforesaid advantageously comprises, on each one of its lateral edges, lips or catch means adapted, by temporary elastic deformation, to penetrate through the bole opening during the assembling or mounting operation so as to subsequently prevent the untimely removal of the branch from outside, without interfering with the free folding movement of the branches.

According to a complementary and advantageous arangement the branches are adapted to be folded positively and separately against the central bole by a cam member the rotation of which causes a thrust to be exerted against the upper edge of the tenon registering with said cam member, all the cam members being carried by a common rod disposed internally of said bole and adapted to be rotated through manual, mechanical, electrical or other means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a single branch with its anchoring tenon;

FIG. 2 is a plane view from above with a section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an axial section showing one portion of the bole with a few branches mounted thereon, in their outspread position; and

FIG. 4'illustrates the mechanical folding system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Each branch 1 is molded integrally with its foliage 2 and carries at its root end. a tenon 3 comprising:

an inner semi-cylindrical surface 4,

a heel 5 formed at its upper end,

a stop portion 6 imitating the natural portion connecting the branch to its bole, and

a pair of lateral lips or catches 7.

The bole 8 consists of a hollow tube in which rectangular openings 9 are formed. Preferably, these openings 9 are off-set both angularly and vertically from one another.

To mount one of these branches in the corresponding opening it is only necessary to present this branch in a position substantially parallel to the bole and to engage by force the tenon 3 through the opening by causing the temporary defonnation of the lips or catches 7. When these lips or catches 7 have cleared the thickness of tube 8 they resume their initial position, thus preventing any untimely or undesired removal of the branch. Thus, when the branch is released the weight of its foliage causes same to tilt downwards and outwards so as to spread the branch out until its stop portion 6 engages the outer bole surface, the retaining function being devolved to the heel 5.

It is clear that the inclination imparted to the stop portion 6 will determine the natural inclination of the branche, which inclination may vary from one branch to another as in a real tree.

Under these conditions it is clear that by applying a movement in the reverse direction to these branches they can be raised and folded against the bole (i.e. in the position shown in thick lines in FIG. 4).

This folding movement may be obtained either manually, the branches being retained in their folded position by a tie element wound thereon, or mechanically, without using any tie means, by providing (see FIG. 4) at the level of each tenon 3 a cam rigid with a rod 11 adapted, when rotated about its axis, to cause said cam to engage the projecting heel 5 and thus push the tenon 3 so as to cause the branch to pivot about the bearing point assumed thereby through its heel 5 engaging the inner wall of the bole 8, and thus fold the branch against the bole. Of course, this cam registers with the tenon of each branch and all the cams, suitably off-set angularly and vertically are rigid with a common rod 11 so that when this rod 11 is rotated all the arms can be folded simultaneously.

Of course, various modifications and variations may be brought to the specific form of embodiment of this invention which is shown and described herein by way of example, as will readily occur to those conversant with the art, without departing from the basic principle of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

l. Collapsible mounting of arms, rods or branches on a common central support, more particularly for constituting artificial decorative trees, such as Christmas or other trees comprising a bole consisting of a hollow tube having a plurality of openings formed through its wall, said openings being off-set both angularly and vertically, wherein each branch formed integrally by plastic injection molding with its foliage, comprises at its root end a tenon also molded integrally with said branch, having a contour permitting of lockingly engaging one of said openings while preserving the possibility, from its natural inclined position resulting from the inclination given to the lower bearing surface of said tenon which engages the bole surface, of being raised and folded to a vertical or substantially vertical position alongside said bole, and conversely, when said branch is released, of allowing said branch to automatically resume its initial, out-spread position.

2. Mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein each tenon, having a thickness corresponding substantially to the width of the opening through which it can be inserted into said bole, comprises at its lower portion a rounded contour adapted slidably to engage the wall of the opening engaged thereby, and, at its upper portion, a heel acting as a retaining element for said branch by engaging in the out-spread position thereof the inner wall of the bole, in combination with a lower stop portion adapted to engage on the opposite side the outer wall of said hole.

3. Mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein each .tenon comprises projecting catch member adapted, when forced through said opening, to undergo an elastic deformation so as to penetrate into the bole and subsequently prevent any untimely or undesired removal of the corresponding branch.

4. Mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein said branches are adapted to be folded against the bole by positive means comprising for each branch a cam member adapted, when rotated, to exert a thrust against the upper edge of the registering tenon, all the cams of the device being carried by a common rod disposed within said bole and adapted to be rotate through manual, me-

chanical, electrical or other control means.

Claims

1. Collapsible mounting of arms, rods or branches on a common central support, more particularly for constituting artificial decorative trees, such as Christmas or other trees comprising a bole consisting of a hollow tube having a plurality of openings formed through its wall, said openings being off-set both angularly and vertically, wherein each branch formed integrally by plastic injection molding with its foliage, comprises at its root end a tenon also molded integrally with said branch, having a contour permitting of lockingly engaging one of said openings while preserving the possibility, from its natural inclined position resulting from the inclination given to the lower bearing surface of said tenon which engages the bole surface, of being raised and folded to a vertical or substantially vertical position alongside said bole, and conversely, when said branch is released, of allowing said branch to automatically resume its initial, out-spread position.

2. Mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein each tenon, having a thickness corresponding substantially to the width of the opening through which it can be inserted into said bole, comprises at its lower portion a rounded contour adapted slidably to engage the wall of the opening engaged thereby, and, at its upper portion, a heel acting as a retaining element for said branch by engaging in the out-spread position thereof the inner wall of the bole, in combination with a lower stop portion adapted to engage on the opposite side the outer wall of said bole.

3. Mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein each tenon comprises projecting catch member adapted, when forced through said opening, to undergo an elastic deformation so as to penetrate into the bole and subsequently prevent any untimely or undesired removal of the corresponding branch.

4. Mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein said branches are adapted to be folded against the bole by positive means comprising for each branch a cam member adapted, when rotated, to exert a thrust against the upper edge of the registering tenon, all the cams of the device being carried by a common rod disposed within said bole and adapted to be rotate through manual, mechanical, electrical or other control means.