Artificial tree with hinged branches

• US 3,928,689 A
• Filed: 11/07/1974
• Issued: 12/23/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alan Mottel
• Original Assignee: Alan Mottel
• Inventors: Mottel, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Schulz, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/521,935
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 161/14,22-24 D29/1A 428/9,20
• US Class Current: 428/9
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees

Abstract

There is disclosed an artificial tree which includes a number of artificial branches circumferentially arranged about a central trunk. Each artificial branch is hinged to the trunk of the tree, whereby the branches are capable of being swung between vertically erect and outwardly disposed, up-swept positions. Hinge means for the branches includes a collar fixed to the trunk and a number of pivotable branch receivers, each of which engages a single artificial branch so that the branch can move between its respective positions. Each branch receiver includes a face which contacts the trunk to determine the outward position of each branch.

Claims

1. AN ARTIFICIAL TREE INCLUDING A CENTRAL CYLINDRICAL TRUNK AND A NUMBER OF BRANCHES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED ABOUT THE TRUNK, HINGE MEANS FOR JOINING THE BARNCHES TO THE TRUNK FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXES BETWEEN VERTICALLY ERECT POSITIONS AND OUTSTRECHED, UP-SWEPT POSITIONS, THE HINGE MEANS INCLUDING A RTAINING SLEEVE FIXED TO THE TRUNK, ELONGATED TUBULAR, HOLLOW BRANCH RECEIVERS FOR RECEIVING THE INTERIOR END OF A BRANCH, THE HINGEE MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING PAIRS OF PARALLEL TABS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED ABOUT THE RETAINING SLEEVE, THE INTERIOR PORTIONS OF EACH BRANCH RECEIVER BEING SITUATED BETWEEN A PAIR HOF TABS, PIVOT MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING THE BRANCH RECEIVERS ON THE RETAINING MEMBER, THE PIVOT MEANS INCLUDING A PIN PASSING THROUGH EACH PAIR OF TABS AND THROUGH THE INTERIOR PORTION OF THEBRANCH RECEIVER, AND PROVIDING AXES OF ROTATION PASSING THE BRANCH RECEIVERS, THE AXES BEING OFFSET INTERIORLY FROM THE CENTERLINES OF THE BRANCH RECEIVERS SO THE BRANCH RECEIVERS WITH THEIR BRANCHES WILL TEND TO ROTATE BY THE FORCE OF GRAVITY FROM THE ERECT POSITIONS TO THE UP-SWEPT POSITIONS, AND STOP MEANS FOR LIMITING THE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BRANCHES AS THEY REACH THEIR UPSWEPT POSITIONS, SAID STOP MEANS COMPRISING THE INTERIOR FACES OF THE TUBULAR, HOLLOW BRANCH RECEIVERS BEING IN ALIGMENT WITH AND COMING INTO CONTACT SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE LINE DESCRIBED BY A CLOSED FIGURE, WITH THE EXTERIOR OF THE CYLINDRICAL CENTRAL TRUNK.