INVERTIBLE CHRISTMAS TREE

• US 20120301636A1
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balsam International Unlimited Company (Balsam Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Balsam International Limited (Balsam Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schooley, Bruce A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,993,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/9
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/956 having appearance of living plant, e.g. christmas tree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An artificial Christmas tree includes a central trunk broken into at least two separate portions including a fixed trunk portion and at least one rotating trunk portion. The fixed trunk extends up from an underlying base. Rotating trunks rotatably attach at midpoints thereof at least indirectly to an upper end of the fixed trunk. Limbs are pivotably attached to the rotating trunks with optional lights coupled thereto. These limbs pivot between a perpendicular orientation extending from the rotating trunks and a collapsed configuration closer to a centerline of the rotating trunks. The rotating trunks can be pivoted from a first collapsed configuration with a first end above a second end to a deployed configuration with the second end above the first end. During pivoting, the limbs attached to the rotating trunk transition between a collapsed to a deployed configuration automatically. A wheeled base and cover further facilitate storage and deployment.

Claims

1. :

A collapsible artificial tree, comprising in combination;

a first trunk portion having an elongate form extending between an upper end and a lower end;

a second trunk portion having an elongate form between a first end and a second end;

said second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending laterally therefrom; and

said first trunk portion pivotably attached to said second trunk portion in a manner allowing pivoting of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion.

2. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said plurality of limbs are attached to said second trunk portion in a manner which allows pivoting of said limbs relative to said second trunk portion.

3. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 2 wherein said limbs are restricted to movement between substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said second trunk and a collapsed form with a tip of each limb closer to the second trunk portion than when in a deployed position extending substantially perpendicularly from said second trunk portion.

4. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 1 wherein a pivot joint is located between said first trunk portion and said second trunk portion at a location spaced from both said first end and said second end of said second trunk portion, said pivot joint allowing for at least about 180°

of rotation of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion.

5. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 4 wherein said pivot joint includes an axle aligned with a rotational axis with said axle coupled directly to both said first trunk portion and said second trunk portion with said second trunk portion pivoting about said axle relative to said first trunk portion.

6. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 5 wherein said pivot joint is located at substantially a midpoint of said second trunk portion.

7. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 5 wherein said pivot joint is positioned at substantially a balance point of said second trunk portion aligned with a center of mass of said second trunk portion.

8. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 4 wherein said pivot joint is located adjacent said upper end of said first trunk portion.

9. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 1 wherein a plurality of lights are provided along at least one cord, said cord routed up said first trunk portion and transitioning from said first trunk portion to said second trunk portion adjacent said pivot joint with said cord feeding electric power to a plurality of lights deployed on at least one limb coupled to said second trunk portion.

10. :

The collapsible artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said second end of said second trunk portion is attachable to a bottom end of a cap portion of the collapsible Christmas tree, said cap portion including a top trunk and top limbs extending laterally from said top trunk with said top trunk substantially aligned with said second trunk portion when said bottom end of said cap is coupled to said second end of said second trunk portion.

11. :

A method for erecting a collapsible artificial tree, the steps including;

identifying an artificial tree having a first trunk portion with an elongate form extending between an upper end and a lower end, a second trunk portion having an elongate form between a first end and a second end, the second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending laterally therefrom, the first and second trunk portions pivotably attached together;

initially positioning the collapsible artificial tree with the first trunk portion extending substantially vertically with the first end of the second trunk portion above the second end of the second trunk portion and with the second trunk portion extending substantially vertically; and

pivoting the second trunk portion about the pivot joint substantially 180°

to be substantially vertical with the second end above the first end.

12. :

The method of claim 11 including the further step of allowing the limbs coupled to the second trunk portion to pivot relative to the second trunk portion between a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the second trunk portion and a collapsed orientation pivoted closer to the second trunk portion with the limbs in the collapsed orientation when the first end of the second trunk portion is above the second end of the second trunk portion and with the limbs extending substantially horizontally when the second end of the second trunk portion is located above the first end of the second trunk portion.

13. :

The method of claim 11 including the further step of securing the first end of the second trunk portion to a portion of the first trunk portion in a temporary fashion to hold the second trunk portion in a deployed position with the second end of the second trunk portion above the first end of the second trunk portion.

14. :

The method of claim 11 including the further step of providing a cap having a top trunk with a plurality of top limbs extending laterally from the top trunk, the top trunk removably attachable to the second end of the second trunk portion with the top trunk extending substantially colinearly with said second trunk portion; and

attaching the top trunk of the cap portion to the second end of the second trunk portion.

15. :

The method of claim 11 including the further steps of;

providing a cover with a height similar to a length of the first trunk portion plus about half of a length of the second trunk portion and with a width similar to a width of the Christmas tree when in a collapsed form with the first end of the second trunk portion above the second end of the second trunk portion, such widths defined by tips of limbs attached to the second trunk portion.

16. :

The method of claim 15 including the further step of removing the cover before said pivoting step.

17. :

The method of claim 15 including the further step of removing the cover after said pivoting step.

18. :

The method of claim 11 including the further steps of;

providing a wheeled base;

fixing the lower end of the fixed trunk to the wheeled base; and

using the wheeled base to transport the artificial tree from a storage location to a location where deployment of the tree is intended.

19. :

An artificial tree, comprising;

a fixed trunk portion with an upper end above a lower end;

a rotating trunk with a first end opposite a second end;

said rotating trunk pivotably joined to said fixed trunk at a location between said first end and said second end; and

a plurality of limbs extending laterally from said rotating trunk.

20. :

The artificial tree of claim 19 wherein a pivot joint is interposed between said fixed trunk and said rotating trunk, said pivot joint adapted to allow rotation of said rotating trunk substantially 180°

relative to said fixed trunk.

21. :

The artificial tree of claim 20 wherein said plurality of limbs are pivotably attached to said rotating trunk, such that said limbs can pivot by gravity from a collapsed position to a deployed position with tips of said limbs closer to said rotating trunk when said limbs are in said collapsed position than in said deployed position.

22. :

The artificial tree of claim 21 wherein lights are coupled to said limbs, said lights coupled to a light cord routed up said fixed trunk, then to said rotating trunk before being coupled to said lights to supply power to said lights.

23. :

The artificial tree of claim 20 wherein said rotating trunk is oriented substantially parallel with said fixed trunk both before and after rotation of said rotating trunk relative to said fixed trunk about said pivot joint.

24. :

The artificial tree of claim 19 wherein a clasp is removably attachable between said fixed trunk and a portion of said rotating trunk, between where said rotating trunk is coupled to said fixed trunk, to keep said rotating trunk locked relative to said fixed trunk until said clasp is removed.