Stand

• US 5,869,151 A
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cindex Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: BOTO Limited An Isle of Man Company of 3/F
• Inventors: Chong, Kao Cheung
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US08/883,608
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 211/196, 248/188.7, 248/519, 428/122, 428/18, 428/19, 428/20
• US Class Current: 428/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/1266 Stackable, foldable, collapsible, nestable or sale packaged
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/12 Christmas tree stands sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/2238
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2238 to be placed on the ground Christmas tree stands A47G33/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24198 Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]

Abstract

A stand for supporting an elongate object such as a Christmas tree in a substantially vertical orientation has a central tubular support (4) adapted to receive an end of the object, and a plurality of legs (12) pivotally secured to the tubular support (4) so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the legs extend radially outwardly therefrom, and a locking collar (10) which is slidably disposed on the support (4) to engage lugs (24) on the legs (12) to secure them in the extended position.

Claims

1. A stand for supporting an elongate object in a substantially vertical orientation, comprising a central tubular support to receive an end of the object, a plurality of legs pivotably secured on the tubular support so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the legs extend outwardly from the support, and a locking collar which is slidably disposed on the support to engage each of the legs to secure them in said extended position.

2. A stand according to claim 1 wherein the legs have a proximal end at which they are pivotably connected to the support at a proximal end thereof, the pivotal connection being provided at a lower region of the proximal end.

3. A stand according to claim 2 wherein at an upper region of the proximal of each leg, there is provided a lug upstanding therefrom over which the locking collar is slidably engagable, in order to lock the upper region of the leg against the central support.

4. A stand according to claim 3 wherein the locking collar comprises a short central tubular sleeve portion which overlies the upstanding lugs when moved to engage the lugs.

5. A stand according to claim 1, wherein the central tubular support has an outwardly extending flange portion at its lowermost region from which extend a plurality of protruding portions, one for each leg, to which the legs are attached.

6. A stand according to claim 5, wherein the legs are channel-shaped of inverted U-shape section, opposed walls of the channel engaging opposite sides of the protruding portions.

7. A stand according to claim 1 wherein the central support is provided at its upper end with a gripping portion having means defining a central aperture for receiving in use the end of the elongate object, the said means being resiliently deformable in order to provide a tight fit with the object inserted therein.

8. A stand according to claim 7 wherein said means include a plurality of axially extending fingers depending from an upper lip of the gripping portion separated by recesses, so as to allow a degree of outward bending as the object is inserted therein.

9. A stand according to claim 1 wherein the gripping portion is a separate collar part which can be fitted on and removed from the end of the support, the support including an L-shaped slot therein having an axial portion, and a circumferential portion, the collar having a locating lug which in use is engaged in the slot by a push and twist action of the collar.

10. A stand according to claim 9 wherein the collar includes an aperture above the locating lug for viewing the lug as it is inserted into the slot.

11. A stand according to claim 1 in combination with an artificial tree.

12. A stand for supporting an elongate object in a substantially vertical orientation, comprising a central tubular support to receive an end of the object, a plurality of legs permanently secured in a pivotable manner on the tubular support so as to be movable between a retracted position in which the legs lie generally parallel to the axis of the central tubular support, and an extended position in which the legs extend outwardly from the support, and a locking collar which is slidably disposed on the support to engage each of the legs to secure them in said extended position.