US3872906A

US3872906A - Christmas tree cover

Info

Publication number: US3872906A
Application number: US118642*[A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerrit Martin Bolanz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-02-26
Filing date: 1971-08-16
Publication date: 1975-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-25

Abstract

A cover assembly for a Christmas tree. In a container having a bottom and side walls, a portion of the bottom wall is removable so as to provide an opening within the bottom wall. A tree cover, which is adapted for completely covering the tree, is formed by a flexible back which has a closed bottom and an open top. This bag is stored within the container in a collapsed condition. The container is provided with a lid, which has an opening therein. This opening within the lid is aligned with the opening in the bottom wall. The bag is disposed within the container with its closed bottom overlying the opening in the bottom wall.

Description

baited ttes Patent 1191 Bolanz Mar. 25, 1975 3,431,706 3/1969 Stuck 53/390 3,445,985 5/1969 Manetta 53/390 FQREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 304,927 2/1928 United Kingdom 248/38 587,067 l/1959 Italy 53/390 1,204,576 11/1965 Germany 53/390 1,244,932 9/1960 France 53/390 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or FirmWatsor1, Cole, Grindle &

Watson [57] ABSTRACT A cover assembly for a Christmas tree. In a container having a bottom and side walls, a portion of the bottom wall is removable so as to provide an opening within the bottom wall. A tree cover, which is adapted for completely covering the tree, is formed by a flexi ble back which has a closed bottom and an open top. This bag is stored within the container in a collapsed condition. The container is provided with a lid, which has an opening therein. This opening within the lid is aligned with the opening in the bottom wall. The bag is disposed within the container with its closed bottom overlying the opening in the bottom wall.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 1 CHRISTMAS TREE COVER [76] Inventor: Gerrit Martin Bolanz, Basler Str.

491. 1353 W am. Rhine. Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 118,642

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 27, 1970 Germany 7007153 Feb. 26, 1970 Germany 2031564 [52] US. Cl 150/52 R, 248/44, 53/390 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 65/02 [58] lField of Search 248/38, 44, 46, 47, 48; 150/52 R; 53/390 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 820,511 5/1906 Marten 248/346 2,733,032 1/1956 Farley et a1 248/44 2,771,260 11/1956 Thom 1 248/44 2,868,255 1/1959 Fancher 150/52 R 2911,025 11/1959 Paros 150/52 R 2,989,828 6/1961 Warp 53/390 3.3501143 11/1967 Apple 248/48 41111111 I! l lww j PATENTEDmesms snmagfg BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is for use with a pedestal for Christmas trees or similar applications. Such pedestals have been known for a long period of time; they consists ofa rectangular frame forming the floor contact area and a sleeve fitted to the frame for accommodating the trunk end of the Christmas tree and equipped with clamp screws to hold the trunk. After some time in a normally heated apartment, the Christmas tree begins to dry out and to lose its needles. Particularly if the Christmas tree is taken out of the pedestal, which can be re-used, so that it can be thrown away, unavoidable pushes and shocks will cause a remarkable loss of needles, which in turn means a remarkable soiling of the apartment. Further soiling of the passage way through the apartment including the hallway and the staircase down to the place of deposit including this place of deposit is unavoidable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose ofthe invention is to eliminate these disadvantages and to prevent the used and dispensable Christmas tree from soiling the area of its location or on final disposal the transportation way by falling needles. According to the invention, this is achieved by providing a stand body equipped with a holding device for the trunk of the tree with a container in which a stow-away-bag or similar device for the tree is accommodated when the tree is to be disposed, the stowaway-bag will be pulled out of the container up and over the Christmas tree; the falling needles will drop into the stow-away-bag and may be removed from the apartment together with the entire tree. With this version the container of the stow-away-bag also will preferably be disposed of. However, it is also possible for the container and the stow-away-bag to be separated and'the container designed to accommodate the new stow-away-bag. Preferably the stand body is separated from the tree and stored for re-use. An advantageous improvement of the invention consists in the holding device and stand body consisting of one unit, as is the case with the already known Christmas tree pedestals, while the container for the stow-away-bag is attached to the pedestal. This results in a most reasonable design version offering the additional advantage that it may be used together with already available pedestals. With using this device, it is only necessary to purchase each year a new container with stow-away-bag along with the new Christmas tree, while the original pedestal may be re-used. A further developed modified version of this device consists of the stand body for the trunk and the bottom part of the container holding the stowaway-bag or a similar device forming a one-piece shaped body. With using such a shaped body it is also possible to only throw away the stow-awaybag with the used'Christmas tree and to store the shaped body, to which a new stow-away-bag can be attached, for use the next year. It is practical to provide the shaped body with retaining springs to hold the trunk. For transportation and packing of the pedestal it is practical to provide the retaining springs in a way that they can be inserted into slot holes in the shaped body, in which position they will be only in a work position, i.e., when they hold the trunk end; during transportation of the shaped body etc. they will be stored in a different manner. It is advantageous if the shaped body has box-type recesses to accommodate the retaining springs during transportation or presentation for sale of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The device with its details subject to the invention is shown on the drawing. It depicts:

FIG. 1 is a top view ofa firt design version of the device without a stow-away-bag.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along lines II-Il through the device as per FIG. 1 with a stow-away-bag inserted.

FIG. 3 is a view of the standdevice in use in a section along lines III-III in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a second design example of the device in a view similar to FIG. 3 corresponding to a sectional view along lines IV-IV in FIG. 5,

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 4 in a somewhat smaller and simplified illustration,

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the container shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a third version example with minor modification.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERED EMBODIMENTS In general, the stand body 1 for a Christmas tree consists of a shaped body 2 with two pull-out-

type support legs

3 and 4 and four retaining springs 5 plus a folded up stow-away-bag 6 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The shaped body 2, preferably made of synthetic material, has a one-piece flat bottom 7 which rests on the floor B (FIG. 2) when in use. The ground plot of shaped body 2 has a rectangular shape in the illustrated example; it may, however, have a different form, e.g. an oval shape. From the bottom side 7 of shaped body 2 runs a rim 8, vertically erected, around the circumference of the shaped body. On the opposing narrow sides this rim 8 has indentations 9 and I I) which are lower in height level.

A groove 12 is arranged between the oval center area 11 of shaped body 2 and its rim 8. A hose-shaped stowaway-bag 6 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is inserted into this groove 12 in a folded condition. The lower end of the bag is fixed to the groove 12 (details are not shown on drawing).

The two

support legs

3 and 4 of shaped body 2 can be used, if necessary, to increase the resting area of the stand body 1, in particular if the stand is to hold a large tree. The

support legs

3 and 4 run in guide slots 14 in the oval center area 11 of shaped body 2 and penetrate the rim 8 in the apertures 15. When the stand is being transported or when the support legs merely are not needed, the

support legs

3 and 4 rest inside their guide slots 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the left support leg 3. The pulled out position is demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the right hand support leg 4. The pull out length of the

support legs

3 and 4, in addition, could be limited by a stop, not shown in the drawing, which could lock, for example, support leg 4 with the guide slot 14.

The top of the oval area 11 of shaped body 2 is provided with four box-type recesses 17 into which the retaining springs 5 will be inserted for transportation or sales pesentation of the stand body 1. The center of the oval area 11 shows a tapered portion 18 which is to serve as a retainer for the trunk end as shown in FIG. 3. Four slot holes 19 are provided equally spaced around the retainer 18. The retaining springs 5 of sheet metal or synthetic material are inserted within the slot holes 19 when the stand is used.

FIG. 3 shows the position during utilization of stand body 1 with the end of the trunk 20 inserted into the tapered retainer 18. The retaining springs 5, which are preferably formed from sheet metal or synthetic material, are inserted into the slot holes 19 with their spoonshaped bent ends 21 resting against the outside of trunk 20 and thus holding it in position. When the Christmas tree is to be removed from the apartment to be thrown away, the stow-away-bag 6 is pulled by the top ends 22 in direction of arrow Pf 1 upward and out of the groove 12. Since the circumference of the stow-away-bag 6 normally will be much more than the groove 12, the bag 6 may, in addition, be drawn outward through the indentations 9 and in the rim 8, thus ensuring easy unfolding. The bag then can be pulled over the branches of the tree without any difficulties. When the stow-away-bag 6 has been drawn over the tip of the tree, it will be closed thereby ensuring that any dropping needles from the tree will remain inside the bag and shaped body 2, which forms the lower end of the stow-away-bag. The entire unit consisting of shaped body 2, stow-away-bag 6 and the Christmas tree can now be deposited in a suitable location for immediate or later removal. Thus, soiling of the apartment, transportation ways and the location of deposit is avoided.

Preferably shaped body 2 is covered by a top D shown as dotted line in FIG. 3, e.g., of cardboard, thus forming a handy unit for transportation and sale. In addition this top D will cover shaped body 2 during utilization, covering the body around the trunk of the tree. Top D is a suitably perforated to permit removal of a center portion for inserting the trunk additional perorations could be provided for those spots of top D that cover the slot holes 19, in order to permit easy insertion of the retaining springs 5 through top D. If bag 6 is to be pulled up for storing away the Christmas tree, top D must be torn open, preferably along marked attenuating lines, thus permitting access to the stowaway-bag. Top D or its parts may then also be stuffed into bag 6.

A modified, somewhat simplified version of the stand and packing unit is shown in FIGS. 4 through 7. With this version, the end of the trunk 20 of the Christmas tree rests in a taper bushing which is part ofa known stand body la for Christmas trees already available on the market. Trunk 20 is held in position by threaded bolts 31 through the bushing 30. On top of stand body In rests a container 32 which accommodates a rolled up stow-away-bag 6a as shown in FIG. 4. The bottom of stow-away-bag 6ais inserted into bushing 30 and includes trunk 20 of the Christmas tree, while bag 6a is pressed against the outside of the trunk by the bolts 31; due to the lack ofits inherent stability it will not impede with the fastening of trunk 20 by the bolts 31.

The container 32 is of a box-typeconstruction and consists of a bottom portion 33 and of a top portion 34. The bottom portion 33 and the top portion 34 have

circular openings

35 and 36 in the center for the trunk 20 and bushing 30. These

openings

35 and 36 can be closed, with the stow-away-bag 6a in an unused condition, and marked by circular perforating lines as shown in FIG. 6 at 350. Prior to putting the container upon the stand body 1a, the container material within the perforating lines 350, preferably cardboard, will be removed so as to expose the

openings

35 and 36.

The container 32 with stow-away-bag 6a will be utilized together with a stand body In as will be discussed below. First, the

openings

35 and 36 in a bottom portion 33 and top portion 34 are exposed, then the container 32 will be placed upon stand body la and bushing 30, as shown in FIG. 4. The bottom of the stowaway-bag 6a will be placed loosely over bushing 30. Now the end ofthe trunk 20 is inserted into bushing 30 of stand body la, by which action the bottom of the bg 6a will be pushed into the bushing 30. For consecutive tightening of the threaded bolts 31 by hand either top opening 36 will be used or the container 32 is lifted in order to make the bottom opening 35 available for access to the bolts 31. In order to reduce interference by the bottom portion 33 as much as possible, cuts 37 can be provided in star-type arrangement around the opening area 35. These cuts 37 also facilitate adjustment of the bottom portion 33 to the inclined base form of stand body la. However, container 32 can also be handled without the cuts 37.

After use of the Christmas tree and to prevent dropping needles from soiling the area, the top portion 34 will be torn into two parts along a perforated attenuating line 38 (FIG. 5).

Now the stow-away-bag 6a can be unrolled and drawn over the Christmas tree. The parts of the torn container top can also be stowed into bag 6a. Also bottom portion 33 may be torn along an attenuating line illustrated illtrated on drawing) and stowed away in the bag 6a.

The design example as shown in FIG. 7 differs from that of FIG. 4 in that the stow-away-bag 6a is not rolled into the container 32, but stored in a zig-zag-type folding position. The stand body 10 and container 32 in the embodiment of FIG. 7 may be designed as described with respect to FIGS. 4 through 6.

FIGS. 4 through 7 show an advantageous design primarily in view ofthe fact that here a conventional stand body 10 may be used, and the user must only purchase a new container 32 with stow-away-bag 6a, which should cause only minor expenses. Neither should the effective sales presentation of the container 32 cause any difficulties.

In deviation of the examples given particularly in FIGS. 1 through 3, the shaped body can also be constructed in two pieces, one piece incorporating bottom portion 7 with

support legs

3 and 4 plus rim 8 with groove 12 and the second piece consisting of the center area 11 and retainer 18. These two parts may be composed in a way permitting their separation and clamping the stow-away-bag 6 at its bottom with their flange faces. Thus the stow-away-bag 6 is made interchangeable by separating the shaped body.

All above described features may be subject to this invention either individually or in any combination with each other.

I claim:

1. A cover assembly for a Christmas tree and the like, usable with a tree supporting stand, comprising a container having a bottom and side walls, said bottom wall having a removable portion therein defining an opening when removed, a tree cover adapted for completely covering the tree comprising a flexible bag having a closed bottom and an open top, said bag being stored in said container in a collapsed condition, a lid for said container having an opening therein aligned with said bottom wall opening, and said bag being disposed in said container with its closed bottom overlying said bottom wall opening, said container and its lid are adapted to be disposed over the tree supporting portion of the stand so that said closed bottom will overlie such portion for the reception of the lower end of the tree trunk when mounted within the tree supporting portron.

2. The cover assembly according to claim 1 wherein said bag is stored in a rolled-up condition within said container.

3. The cover assembly according to claim 1 wherein said bag is stored in a zig-zag folded condition within said container.

stand.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a Christmas tree and the like, usable with a tree supporting stand, comprising a container having a bottom and side walls, said bottom wall having a removable portion therein defining an opening when removed, a tree cover adapted for completely covering the tree comprising a flexible bag having a closed bottom and an open top, said bag being stored in said container in a collapsed condition, a lid for said container having an opening therein aligned with said bottom wall opening, and said bag being disposed in said container with its closed bottom overlying said bottom wall opening, said container and its lid are adapted to be disposed over the tree supporting portion of the stand so that said closed bottom will overlie such portion for the reception of the lower end of the tree trunk when mounted within the tree supporting portion.

4. The cover assembly according to claim 1 wherein said removable portion in said container bottom wall is defined by an enclosed line of weakening located tHerein.

5. The cover assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lid is provided with a line of weakening therein to facilitate removal of said lid after the tree is mounted in place.

6. The cover assembly according to claim 1 wherein said container bottom wall is provided with slits extending radially outwardly from said bottom wall opening to facilitate the lowering of said container over the tree stand.