INVERTIBLE CHRISTMAS TREE

• US 20180160836A1
• Filed: 01/26/2018
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balsam International Unlimited Company (Balsam Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Balsam International Unlimited Company (Balsam Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: SCHOOLEY, BRUCE A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,638,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/1273 comprising transport wheels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/12 Christmas tree stands sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/2238
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

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. An artificial tree, comprising:

a trunk that is the main stem of the artificial tree, which is an artificial version of a perennial woody plant, the trunk including at least two trunk portions comprising;

a first trunk portion; and

a second trunk portion including limbs,

wherein the second trunk portion is coupled to the first trunk portion to allow the second trunk portion to move relative to the first trunk portion to change an angle between the first and second trunk portions along their lengths.

2. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the limbs are primary branches that include additional branches, the artificial tree further comprising needles attached to one or more of the primary branches and the additional branches.

3. The artificial tree of claim 2, wherein the limbs are coupled to the second trunk portion to allow movement of the limbs relative to the second trunk portion.

4. The artificial tree of claim 3, wherein the limbs move between a deployed position of the artificial tree, in which the limbs extend away from said second trunk portion and a storage position of the artificial tree, in which the limbs are closer to the second trunk portion than when in the deployed position.

5. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second trunk portion is configured to turn around an axis that is movable relative to the first trunk portion.

6. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the coupling of the second trunk portion to the first trunk portion allows the second trunk portion to slide relative to the first trunk portion.

7. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the artificial tree is an artificial evergreen tree suitable for decorations with lights and ornaments as part of Christmas celebrations.

8. The artificial tree of claim 1, further comprising a base to support the artificial tree, an end of the first trunk portion coupled to the base, the first trunk portion extending from the base.

9. The artificial tree of claim 1, further comprising a third trunk portion including limbs, the third trunk portion for coupling to an end of the second trunk portion, wherein the limbs of the third trunk portion are coupled to the third trunk portion to allow movement thereof relative to the third trunk portion.

10. The artificial tree of claim 1, further comprising a joint that couples the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion, the joint allowing the second trunk portion to move relative to the first trunk portion to change the angle between the first and second trunk portions along their lengths.

11. The artificial tree of claim 10, wherein the joint allows the second trunk portion to transition between an upside down position and a right side up position.

12. The artificial tree of claim 10,

wherein the second trunk portion includes a first end and a second end, and

wherein the joint is located away from both the first end and the second end of the second trunk portion.

13. The artificial tree of claim 10, wherein the limbs are primary branches that include additional branches, which include needles that extend from the additional branches.

14. The artificial tree of claim 10, further comprising needles attached to one or more of the limbs.

15. The artificial tree of claim 10, wherein the joint is near a midpoint of the second trunk portion.

16. The artificial tree of claim 10,

wherein the second trunk portion includes a first end and a second end, and

wherein the joint is closer to the first end of the second trunk portion.

17. The artificial tree of claim 10,

wherein the first trunk portion includes a first end and a second end, and

wherein the joint is closer to the second end of the first trunk portion than to the first end of the first trunk portion.

18. The artificial tree of claim 17, wherein the joint is adjacent to the second end of the first trunk portion.

19. The artificial tree of claim 10, wherein the limbs are coupled to the second trunk portion to allow movement of the limbs relative to the second trunk portion, and wherein the limbs move between a deployed position of the artificial tree, in which the limbs extend away from said second trunk portion and a storage position of the artificial tree, in which the limbs are closer to the second trunk portion than when in the deployed position.

20. An artificial Christmas tree, comprising:

a first trunk portion extending longitudinally between an upper end and a lower end; and

a second trunk portion extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending from the second trunk portion including branches radiating from the limbs, the second trunk portion including needles extending from the branches,

wherein the second trunk portion is attached to the first trunk portion to enable rotational movement of the second trunk portion relative to the first trunk portion between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration of the artificial Christmas tree.

21. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 20, further comprising a joint that attaches the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion, the joint allowing the rotational movement of the second trunk portion relative to the first trunk portion between the deployed configuration and the storage configuration.

22. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 21, wherein the joint is located near a midpoint of the second trunk portion, and

wherein the joint is located adjacent the upper end of the first trunk portion.

23. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 21, wherein the joint is located closer to the first end of the second trunk portion than to the second end of the second trunk portion.

24. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 20, wherein the second trunk portion is offset laterally from the first trunk portion to facilitate the rotational movement of the second trunk portion relative to the first trunk portion.

25. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 20, wherein the first trunk portion is spaced away from a center of mass of the artificial Christmas tree and the second trunk portion has a center of mass that is more closely aligned with the center of mass of the artificial Christmas tree than the first trunk portion.

26. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 20, wherein the plurality of limbs are attached to the second trunk portion in a manner which allows movement of the plurality of tree limbs relative to the second trunk portion, such that tips of the plurality of limbs are closer to the second trunk portion when in the storage configuration than when in the deployed configuration.

27. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 20, further comprising a fastener to releasably secure the first and second trunk portions in at least one of the deployed configuration or the storage configuration.

28. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 20, further comprising another trunk portion with limbs that extend outwardly therefrom, the other trunk portion being attachable to at least one of the first or second ends of the second trunk portion.

29. The artificial Christmas tree of claim 20,

wherein the first end of the second trunk portion is configured to be below the second end of the second trunk portion when the tree is in the deployed configuration, and

wherein the second trunk portion is configured to have the first end above the second end thereof when in the storage configuration.

30. An artificial tree, comprising:

a trunk that is a main stem of the artificial tree, the tree being an artificial version of a perennial woody plant, the trunk comprising,

a fixed trunk that extends along a first axis between spaced apart ends thereof,

a rotating trunk that extends along a second axis between spaced apart ends thereof, the rotating trunk including a plurality of limbs with branches, the limbs extending from at least the rotating trunk, the rotating trunk including needles extending from the branches, the rotating trunk coupled to the fixed trunk to allow the rotating trunk to turn relative to the fixed trunk between a stored condition of the artificial tree and a deployed condition of the artificial tree; and

a base to support the artificial tree, one end of the fixed trunk attached to the base, such that the fixed trunk extends vertically from the base.