Knock-down artificial Christmas tree
First Claim
1. An artificial tree assembly having a base support, and a tubular vertical support disposed upon said base support;
- said assembly comprisinga. a plurality of branch retaining holders, each of said holders having axial bores for receiving said vertical support, the diameter of said bores being larger than the diameter of said vertical support;
b. a plurality of cylindrical spacer elements disposed along said vertical support in alternating fashion with said branch retaining holders, each of said spacer elements having an axial bore larger than the diameter of said vertical support;
c. means in said axial bores of said branch retaining holders for maintaining said holders concentric with said vertical support, said maintaining means being integral with said holders and extending toward but spaced from the axes of said bores; and
d. cooperating means on said holders and said spacer elements for maintaining said spacer elements concentric with said vertical support.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A knock-down artificial Christmas tree is provided utilizing a plurality of branch-retaining rings or holders for connecting the branches to the vertical support pole of the tree, alternating with spacers between those rings. The retaining rings and the spacers are comprised of, advantageously, molded thermoplastic, and the spacers are textured on the outer surfaces thereof to simulate the trunk of a tree, thus negating the necessity to wrap or hide, or otherwise mask an unsightly supporting pole for the tree. The branch-retaining rings, together with the alternating spacers, upon assembly of the tree, serve to place the branch-retaining rings and their associated branches in preselected, spaced fashsion along the trunk, to provide rapid assembly and disassembly of the tree. To impart a natural appearance, the branch-retaining rings are configured to accommodate differing numbers of branches in different areas of the tree. Moreover, the rings include means for holding the individual branches against rotation around their own axes or movement from their desired orientation. The positioning system herein provides for an "automatic" correct vertical spacing of the branches along the trunk, while the branch-retaining rings allow for correcting the circumferential or radial orientation of the branches around the tree.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An artificial tree assembly having a base support, and a tubular vertical support disposed upon said base support;
- said assembly comprising
a. a plurality of branch retaining holders, each of said holders having axial bores for receiving said vertical support, the diameter of said bores being larger than the diameter of said vertical support; b. a plurality of cylindrical spacer elements disposed along said vertical support in alternating fashion with said branch retaining holders, each of said spacer elements having an axial bore larger than the diameter of said vertical support; c. means in said axial bores of said branch retaining holders for maintaining said holders concentric with said vertical support, said maintaining means being integral with said holders and extending toward but spaced from the axes of said bores; and d. cooperating means on said holders and said spacer elements for maintaining said spacer elements concentric with said vertical support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- said assembly comprising
Specification