WO2023061929A1

WO2023061929A1 - A christmas tree stand

Info

Publication number: WO2023061929A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/078080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uffe H. JØNSSON
Original assignee: Uffe H Jønsson
Priority date: 2021-10-13
Filing date: 2022-10-10
Publication date: 2023-04-20

Abstract

A stand (100) for a Christmas tree, the stand (100) comprises: an integrated body (110) the lower region (120) of the body (110) comprises at least three fastening members (180), each being for a rotatable connection with an elongated lever members fulcrum member (160); at least three elongated lever members (140) having two ends, one end being equipped with two parts, one part being the engagement member (150) for engaging with the trunk of the Christmas tree and the other part being the fulcrum member (160), the other end of the elongated lever member being equipped with a support member (170) for supporting the Christmas tree stand on a floor. The upper region (130) of said body (110) comprises at least three guides. The elongated lever members s (140) rotate about the connections between the fulcrum members (160) and the fastening members (180) and thereby press said engagement members (150) into the trunk of a Christmas tree when the Christmas tree is inserted into the opening for receiving a trunk of a Christmas tree while said engagement members (150) are slidably extending through the guides for receiving said engagement members.

Description

A Christmas tree stand

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a stand for a Christmas tree, the stand comprises: a body having a lower region and an upper region with an opening for the receiving of a trunk of a Christmas tree, the lower region of the body comprises at least three fastening members, each being for a rotatable connection with an elongated lever members fulcrum member; at least three elongated lever members having two ends, one end being equipped with two parts, one part being an engagement member for engaging with the trunk of the Christmas tree and the other part being a fulcrum member, the other end of the elongated lever member being equipped with a support member for supporting the Christmas tree stand on a floor.

Background of the invention

Various types of Christmas tree stands or holders are known in the prior art. A typical stand includes screws to hold the trunk of the tree in place and an annular ring which supports these screws.

Several disadvantages of this design are apparent. For example, the mounting and dismounting operations of these prior art stands are time consuming and challenging. Often two persons are needed to mount the tree, and stability and alignment problems often occur, especially with heavier trees. Occasionally the fastening means may come loose from the tree trunk.

International patent application WO17097277 A1 describes a Christmas tree stand comprising a three-legged clamping device. Each of these legs is designed as a weight arm adapted to the Christmas tree stand and designed so that the weight arm can be attached at a pivot point in the stand and thereby act as a clamping weight arm when one end supports a Christmas tree trunk while its other end supports the Christmas tree stand with an inserted Christmas tree against the surface on which the Christmas tree stand with Christmas tree is placed.

When this Christmas tree stand with tree needs to be moved around on a floor, in practice this is often done by a user grabbing the tree and turning it around while pushing it over the floor. This causes a twist (torque) in the legs, which can therefore be crooked or even come loose from the Christmas tree stand which of course is dangerous.

Another issue with the known prior art Christmas tree stands is that they consist of many different parts. This firstly results in more complicated production, assemble and packaging line for the manufacturer and therefore a more tiresome and expensive production. Secondly, a prior art Christmas tree stand comprising many small items that the end-user results in longer and more complicated assemble for the user. Furthermore, as Christmas tree stands are an item that is used once every year, they are usually stored away most of the year, and a prior art Christmas tree stand comprising many small parts such as screws and bolts, creates the risk of losing some of those smaller items during storage, rendering the Christmas tree stand useless and creating a need for a new Christmas tree stand and therefore is also more expensive for the end-user.

Description of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a Christmas tree stand by which the above-mentioned issues with prior art Christmas tree stand, or any other problems are reduced or eliminated.

This is achieved in that, one embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand that comprises a body or a trunk, lever members and a locking plate, wherein the whole body of the Christmas tree stand is produced as a fully integrated one-piece, the lever members, each also produced as a fully integrated one-piece, are attached to the body of the Christmas tree stand by simple clicked-on rotatable connection and fastened in place by attaching the locking plate, thereby eliminating the multiple step assembly required by prior art Christmas tree stands. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand, comprising a fully integrated one-piece body, wherein the fully integrated body of the Christmas tree stand comprises integrated bearings or fastening members for rotatable connection of the lever members.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand that comprises a fully integrated one-piece body or a trunk, fully integrated one-piece lever members and a fully integrated one-piece locking plate, wherein fully integrated body of the Christmas tree stand comprises integrated bearings or fastening members for rotatable connection of the lever members and the only assembly required during production of the Christmas tree stand provided by the present invention is addition of spring connection being adapted such that the spring connection will pull or push the engagement members out of engagement with the trunk of the Christmas tree.

This is achieved in that the upper region of said body comprises at least three guides, each guide being for slidably receiving the engagement members; said engagement members and said body being mutually adapted such that said elongated lever members rotate about the connections between the fulcrum members and the fastening members and thereby press said engagement members into the trunk of a Christmas tree when the Christmas tree is inserted into the opening for receiving a trunk of a Christmas tree while: said engagement members are engaged with the trunk of the Christmas tree, said engagement members are slidably extending through the guides for receiving said engagement members and said supporting members are supporting the stand on a floor. By letting the body include guides that support engagement members, a large part of the torque - which will normally occur at the point of attachment when turning a Christmas tree inserted in the Christmas tree base - will be absorbed as pressure or pulling forces in these guides rather than as torque at the point of attachment to which engagement members are attached.

In an embodiment of the invention, the body is cylinder shaped. A cylinder is a strong construction, by making the Christmas tree stand with its body shaped like a cylinder, a strong construction is obtained.

In an embodiment of the invention, the guide members are openings or slots provided in the upper region of said body. By making the body so that it can include openings or slots in its upper part and adapt these openings or slots mutually to the at least three engagement members to provide guides for the at least three engagement members, these guides have been obtained in a very easy and technically uncomplicated manner.

In an embodiment of the invention, the stand comprises three, four or five elongated lever members. Three elongated lever members are usually enough to achieve the necessary stability to the Christmas tree stand, but in homes with children or dogs, four or five elongated lever members can add extra stability to the Christmas tree stand.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fastening members and the openings are placed with regular intervals around the body. The regular intervals will result in a uniform support and load.

In an embodiment of the invention, the body is cylinder shaped and comprises a bottom. The providing of the cylinder-shaped body with a bottom, entails an easier attachment of a Christmas tree to the Christmas tree stand, as the Christmas tree trunk can simply be pressed against the bottom, whereby engagement members will be pressed against the Christmas tree trunk.

In an embodiment, the Christmas tree stand comprises a spring connection being adapted such that the spring connection will pull or push the engagement members out of engagement with the trunk of the Christmas tree.

By providing the cylinder-shaped body with a bottom, it is easier to attach a Christmas tree to the Christmas tree stand, as the Christmas tree trunk can simply be pressed against the bottom, whereby engagement members will be pressed against the Christmas tree trunk. However, it is disadvantageous if the engagement members are already assembled before the Christmas tree is inserted in the Christmas tree stand, because in these situations the trunk of the Christmas tree will hit the engagement members. This is prevented by providing a Christmas tree stand with means that pull or push the engaging members apart without the weight of the inserted tree, while pushing them together and creating an attachment by engaging in the tree trunk, when the weight of the Christmas tree presses the Christmas tree stand down.

Other embodiments are recited in dependent claims.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a Christmas tree stand seen in perspective, in resting (without a Christmas tree) position

Figure 2 shows a Christmas tree stand seen in perspective, in attachment (with a Christmas tree (tree not depicted)) position

Figure 3 shows a cross-section A-A (figure 1 ) of the invention

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a Christmas tree stand and through one elongated lever member in attachment position

Figures 5a and 5b zoom in on part B of figure 4, showing the rotatable connection of the elongated lever member achieved by the spring connection Figures 6a and 6b show the invention from below

Figures 7a, 7b and 7c shows how the body of the Christmas tree stand, a crosssection through the body and a locking plate

Figure 8 shows how the engagement member of the invention engages and keeps/fasten the Christmas tree in engaging or attachment position

Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the elongated lever member of the invention

Detailed description of the invention

The following description is to be seen as a non-limiting example of a stand for Christmas trees 100 according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a Christmas tree stand 100 having a body 110 with an upper region 130 with an opening 111 for the receiving of a Christmas tree (not shown in the figures) and a lower region 120. The upper region 130 is provided with a row of openings/slots 190. Each of these slots is mutually adapted for engagement members 150 so that a part of each engagement member can be led/sl ided in and out of the body via a slot/opening.

The engagement members 150 are constructed for engagement with the trunk of a Christmas tree. Therefore, each engagement member is preferably provided with a tip or other suitable design, adapted to engage the trunk of the Christmas tree. In an embodiment the tip is adapted to this engagement by making the tip pointed. The engagement members are parts of lever mechanisms which comprise elongated lever members 140.

Each elongated lever member is rotatably mounted via a fulcrum member 160 and each elongated lever member 140 has two ends. One of the lever members 140 end is divided into, two parts, the engagement member 150 and the fulcrum member 160, wherein the engagement member 150 is constructed for engaging with the trunk of the Christmas tree and the fulcrum member 160 is constructed to be rotatably mounted to the body 110. The other end of the elongated lever member is equipped with a support member 170 for supporting the Christmas tree stand on a floor.

The embodiment of the present invention disclosed in figure 1 , comprises an upper region 130 of the body 110, comprising five slots 190, which are called guides in the following. Each guide 190 being adapted for slidably receiving the elongated lever members engagement member 150.

When a Christmas tree stand with Christmas tree must be moved around on a floor, in practice this is often done by a user grabbing the tree and turning it around while pushing it over the floor. This causes a twist (torque) in the legs, which therefore may be crooked or even come loose from the Christmas tree stand which of course is dangerous.

Adding guide means (the slots) in the upper part of the body stabilizes the Christmas tree stand so that it can better withstand the forces that may arise when, for example, you move a Christmas tree stand with a Christmas tree inserted.

In the embodiment shown, guide means are made as slots, but these slots 190 could also be openings in the body. The elongated lever members 140 in the embodiment shown are made with reinforcements 171 in the form of rod connections between the supporting members 170 and the engagement members 150. This rod connection 171 increases the strength of the elongated lever member 1 0. Thereby, the distance between the fulcrum member and the supporting member can be increased, without this requiring a corresponding (massive) increase in the thickness of the elongated lever member.

Figure 2 depicts the same perspective of the Christmas tree stand provided by the invention, as figure 1. However, while figure 1 demonstrated the invention in resting position (without an inserted tree) and accordingly the engagement members 150 are in open position, resting outside of the body of the invention. In figure 1 , the Christmas tree stand provided by the invention is in attachment position, wherein the engagement members 150 are in locking position, sticking into the body of the Christmas tree stand and thereby grabbing and holding the tree trunk in place. This attachment/grabbing or locking is further demonstrated in figure 8.

Figure 3 depicts an elongated lever member 140 and its connection to a body 110 shown in greater details. The elongated lever member 1 0 as shown in the embodiment of figure 3 is roughly constructed as a triangle, comprising three edges or sides and three angles or vertices, wherein the three angles or vertices of the elongated lever member can be seen as the first angle comprising the engagement member 150, the second angle comprising the supporting member 170 and the third angle comprising the fulcrum member 160. The fulcrum member 160 depicted in figure 3 comprises a fastening member 180 comprising a first projecting part 162 constructed to be attached to the spring connection 200 by grabbing the fix point 215 of spring connection 200, and a second projecting part 163 that projects into the body 110 of the Christmas three stand.

In figure 3, the stand 100 is shown as if a tree were placed in the stand 100. The elongated lever member 140 is in the shown embodiment provided with a supporting member 170, which can be a wheel.

When a force F is applied, as shown in the lower right corner of figure 3, a torque is created, this torque will (force) rotate the elongated lever member as shown by the arrow r in the figure and thereby, the tip of the engagement member 150 will be forced to the left (into the body 110) in the figure.

The elongated lever member 140 may be made of a sheet metal, plastic, or wood. If it is made from wood, there would typically not be a wheel as supporting member 170 but the wood would in that case be shaped so it would be able to slide over the floor.

Figure 3 shows in the lower right side a spring mechanism 200. This spring mechanism comprises two ends, the first end comprising a fix point 215 constructed to be attached to the first projecting part 162 on the fastening member 180 of the fulcrum member 160 of the elongated lever member 140 and the second end of the spring connection 200 is connected to the fastening pin 210 that is a part of or fastened to the body 110. In the embodiment shown, the spring connection is a tension spring and therefore this arrangement will form a moment that goes in the opposite direction of r. Thereby forcing the engagement member 150 out of the body 110. If such a force is not created and the engagement members rotate freely, the engagement members may very well be assembled before the Christmas tree is inserted in the Christmas tree stand. Not least because the weight of the Christmas tree stand itself will create a moment that affects the engagement members towards the center of the body if the Christmas tree stand is simply standing on a floor. If the engagement members are already assembled before the Christmas tree is inserted in the Christmas tree stand, the trunk of the Christmas tree will hit the engagement members and the insertion of the Christmas tree will fail.

This is prevented by providing the Christmas tree stand booth with means that pull (or push) the engaged members apart, so the resting position of the invention is with the engaged members 150 apart for easy insert of a tree trunk.

A person skilled in the art will be able to vary the strength of the spring connection, and he will also be able to change the construction so that compression springs can be used instead. A compression spring arrangement will therefore not be further described in this application.

The Christmas tree stand provided by the present invention is demonstrated in both figure 1 and figure 2 as comprising five elongated lever members 140. This is not a requirement for the stability of the Christmas tree stand provided by the present invention, as at least tree elongated lever members provide stability, but five elongated lever members have been found to be advantageous for this.

In the middle at the bottom of the embodiment demonstrated in figure 3 is placed a spike 220. It can also be a screw. This spike or screw 220 serves to fixate the center of a Christmas tree inserted into the body, the spike, metal screw or a wood screw 220 is an option for ensuring the tree in the stand 100.

By providing the cylinder-shaped body with a bottom as shown e.g. in figure 1 to 3, it is easier to attach a Christmas tree to the Christmas tree stand, as the Christmas tree trunk can simply be pressed against the bottom, whereby the engagement members 150 will be pressed against the Christmas tree trunk.

However, it is disadvantageous if the engagement members are already assembled in the middle of the Christmas tree stand before the Christmas tree is inserted into the Christmas tree stand, because in these situations the trunk of the Christmas tree will hit the engagement members.

This is prevented by providing the Christmas tree stand with means that pull (or push) the engaged members 150 apart.

Figure 4 depicts an embodiment of elongated lever member 140 and its connection to a body 110, where a zooming box B is drawn in for details and is shown in figures 5a and 5b.

Figures 5a and 5b show how the spring connection 200 of the present invention works. In figure 5a the Christmas tree stand of the invention is shown in attachment or grabbing position (as shown in figure 8), where the spring connection 200, here demonstrated as a compression spring, is stretched out, because of the weight of the Christmas tree is pressing down on the Christmas tree stand provided by the invention. As soon as the pressure or weight of the tree trunk is lifted, by removing the tree trunk, the spring connection 200 retracts or pulls back, and as the spring connection 200 is fastened in one side to a nonmovable object, that is the fastening pin 210 that is either an integrated part of the body 110 or securely and non-movably attached to the body 110 of the Christmas tree stand, the contraction of the spring connection 200 will pull the first projecting part 162 by the fix point 215 and thereby pulling or moving the fastening member 180 of the fulcrum member 160 and creating the relaxed position where the engagement members are outside the body, as depicted in figure 5b and in figure 1 .

One embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand comprising a fully solid and seamless integrated body 110 comprising fully integrated holders 112. That is, the body 110 of the Christmas tree stand provided by the invention is produced as a one piece, comprising integrated holders 112 with elongated recess 113. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand comprising a fully solid and seamless integrated body 110 comprising fully integrated fastening pins 210. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand comprising a fully solid and seamless integrated body 110 comprising fully integrated holders 112 comprising elongated recess 113 and fully integrated pins 210.

In reference to figure 6b, an embodiment is shown providing a Christmas tree holder provided with holders 112 on the bottom of the body 110, each holder 112 comprising elongated recess 113 comprising semicircular recess 173, and wherein each holder 112 is constructed for receiving a fastening member 180 of the fulcrum member 160 comprising first projecting part 162, the second projecting part 163 and tubular members 172, and wherein each elongated lever member 140 is mounted to the body 110 by sliding the fastening member 180 into elongated recess 113 and placing tubular members 172 to semicircular recesses 173 and then establishing a spring connection (shown in figure 2) between the elongated lever member 140 via first projecting part 162 and the body 110 via fastening pin 210.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a Christmas three stand is provided wherein the mounting of each elongated lever member and establishment of the spring connection is performed by a slide-and-click movement. In another embodiment of the present invention a Christmas three stand is provided wherein the mounting of each elongated lever member and establishment of the spring connection is performed by a slide-and-click movement, wherein the slide- and-click movement or connection is achieved attaching the fulcrum member 160 to holder 112 by sliding the fastening part 180 comprising first projecting part 162 and tubular members 172, through the elongated recess 113 comprising fix point 215 and recesses 173, thereby pushing or placing the tubular member 172 in the recess 173, and then by clicking the first projecting part 162 into place, whereby the first projecting part 162 grasp the fixing point 215 and establishing the spring connection that forms the focal point (fulcrum) between the elongated member 140 and the holder 112.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand comprising lever members 140 and a body 110 that are mutually adapted such that the lever members 140 is rotatably supported about the connections means 161 between the fulcrum members 160 and fastening members 180, as shown in figure 3. The connections between the fulcrum members and the fastening members 160 are in the shown embodiment bolt connections.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand 100 comprising a fully solid and seamless integrated body 110 with integrated holders 112 for rotatable connection of the lever members 140 of the invention to the body 110. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a Christmas tree stand comprising a fully solid and seamless integrated body 110 with integrated holders 112 comprising elongated recess 113 comprising semicircular recesses 173 for rotatable connection of the lever members 140 comprising fastening member 180 comprising tubular member 173, and wherein the rotatable connection between lever member 140 and body 110 is established by placing the tubular members 172 in semicircular recesses 173 allowing for a rotation of tubular members in the recesses, as demonstrated in figures 5a and 5b.

In Figure 5b, one embodiment of the present invention is demonstrated, wherein the spring connection 200 serves to pull on the first projection part 162 of the fastening member 160 thereby creating movement or a rotation of the fastening member and the elongated lever member and moving the engagement members 150 back and forth from attaching or engagement position to relaxed nonengaging position.

However, please note that figure 6a is shown with a locking plate 300 being mounted in the bottom of the housing, while figure 6b is shown without a locking plate.

After mounting of the fastening members 180 in the holders 112, the body 110 and fulcrum members 114 are locked together by use of a locking plate 300 as shown in figures 7a, 7b and 7c.

Figure 7a shows a body 110 of one embodiment of a stand for a Christmas according to the present invention, with a line K marking cross-section through the body 110. Figure 7b demonstrates the cross-section K of the body 110. Figure 7c shows the locking plate 300.

Figure 8 shows how the elongated lever member 140 of the invention engages with a tree placed within the body 110 by engagement member 150 and screw 220. Figure 9 shows an embodiment elongated lever member of the present invention. One embodiment of the present invention provides an elongated lever member 1 0 as a fully seamlessly integrated one piece.

References

100 Stand

110 Body

111 Opening

112 Holder

113 Elongated recess

120 Lower region

130 Upper region

140 Elongated lever member

150 Engagement member

160 Fulcrum member

161 Connection means

162 First projecting part

163 Second projecting part

170 Supporting member

171 Rod connection

172 Tubular member

173 Recess

180 Fastening member

190 Openings

200 Spring connection

210 Fastening pin

215 Fix point

220 Wood screw

300 Locking plate

400 Tree trunk

Claims

1 . A stand (100) for a Christmas tree, comprising:

- at least three seamlessly integrated elongated lever members (140) each comprising two ends, wherein one end comprises two parts, one part being an engagement member (150) for engaging with the trunk of a Christmas tree and the other part being a fulcrum member (160) comprising fastening member (180), said fastening member comprising two tubular members (172) and first projecting part (162), and wherein the other end of the elongated lever member (140) comprises a support member (170) for supporting the Christmas tree stand on a floor;

- a seamlessly integrated body (110) comprising: o upper region (130) comprising an opening for the receiving of a trunk of a Christmas tree and at least three guides (190), wherein each guide suitable for slidably receiving the engagement members (150), o a lower region (120) comprising at least three side holders (112) comprising elongated recess (113) comprising two semicircular recesses (173), suitable for receiving and establishing a rotatable connection with the fastening member (180) of the fulcrum member (160) through the rotation of the two tubular members (172) in the two semicircular recesses (173),

- a fastening pin (210)

- and a spring connection (200) comprising a fix point (215) and wherein said engagement members (150) are pressed into the trunk of a Christmas tree when the Christmas tree is inserted into the opening for receiving a trunk of a Christmas tree and:

- said engagement members (150) are engaged with the trunk of the Christmas tree,

- said engagement members (150) are slidably extending through the guides (190) for receiving said engagement members, - said supporting members (170) are supporting the stand (100) on a floor, characterized in that, the spring connection (200) is established by sliding the fastening member (180) of the fulcrum member (160), comprising first projecting part (162) through the elongated recess (113) of side holder (112), thereby pushing or placing the two tubular members (172) in the two semicircular recesses (173) and clicking and clicking the projecting part (163) to grab the fixing point (215), thereby establishing the spring connection.

2. A stand (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the body (110) is cylinder-shaped.

3. A stand (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said guide members are openings or slots (190) provided in the upper region of said body.

4. A stand (100) according to any of the claims 1 - 3, wherein the stand comprises three, four or five elongated lever members.

5. A stand (100) according to any of the claims 1-4, wherein the fastening members (180) and the openings (190) are placed with regular intervals around the body (110).

6. A stand (100) according to any of the claims 1-5, wherein the body (110) is cylinder shaped and comprises a bottom and wherein the body (110) is made watertight, such that the bottom of the body (110), can be filled with water for watering of the Christmas tree.

7. A stand (100) according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the stand comprises a body (110) shaped as a cylinder having a bowl-shaped bottom.

8. A stand (100) according to any of the claims 1 -7, wherein each of the support members (170) comprises a wheel. 17

9. A method of assembling a stand according to any of any of the claims 1 -8, comprising the steps:

- Gliding the fastening member (180) of the fulcrum member (160) comprising first and second projecting parts (162 and 163) through the elongated recess (113);

- clicking the projecting part (163) into place as to grab the fixing point (215), thereby establishing the focal point (fulcrum) between the elongated member (140) and the body (110) of the stand (100), and

- attaching locking plate (300).

10. A method of assembling and using a stand according to any of claims 1 -8 comprising the steps of:

- clicking the projecting part (163) into place as to grab the fixing point (215), thereby establishing the focal point (fulcrum) between the elongated member (140) and the body (110) of the stand (100);

- attaching locking plate (300);

- placing a tree trunk (400) in the body (110) of the stand (100) and onto the wood screw (220);

- releasing the tree trunk (400), thereby pressing the tree down on the bottom of the body (110) and creating a force pressing down on the focal point (fulcrum) between elongated member (140) and the body (110) of the stand (100) and thereby pressing the engagement members (150) into the tree trunk (400).