Christmas tree stand having grippers including spikes

• US 5,938,168 A
• Filed: 03/17/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adams Mfg Corporation (Keter Group SA)
• Original Assignee: Adams Mfg Corporation (Keter Group SA)
• Inventors: Adams, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US09/042,851
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 248/519, 248/529, 248/518, 248/523, 248/346.01, 248/346.03, 248/346.06, 248/346.3, 248/188.7, 47/40.5
• US Class Current: 248/523
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/1266 Stackable, foldable, collapsible, nestable or sale packaged
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/1286 comprising watering means, e.g. a water reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/12 Christmas tree stands sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/2238

Abstract

A compact tree stand has a generally cylindrical container having an open top, closed bottom and a wall extending therebetween which together define a central cavity. A plurality of legs are releasably attached to the exterior of the container and may be interconnected by braces. The cavity and the legs are sized so that the diameter of the cavity is greater than the height of the legs half the length of each leg is less than the depth of the cavity. This enables the legs to be nested within the cavity so that the tree stand can be placed in a relatively small box for shipment and sale. An inner cup can be placed within the cavity and may rotate relative to the container. Stepped ribs or an insert having a conical cavity may be placed within the inner cup or the container to enable the tree stand to hold artificial trees having different trunk diameters. A water reservoir is preferably attached to the container and legs. A wick and water retaining pad may also be provided.

Claims

1. A tree stand comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical container having an open top, closed bottom and a wall extending therebetween which together define a central cavity having a cavity diameter and sized to receive a tree trunk, the container also having a plurality of container connectors on an exterior surface thereof, the connectors being sized and configured to releasably receive one end of a leg;

b. a plurality of tree trunk holders attached to the container near the open top, said tree trunk holders being hand screws;

c. a plurality of legs, one for each container connector;

d. a gripper attached to each said hand screw, said gripper having an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface and a threaded opening into which one of the hand screws is engaged and at least one spike protruding from the inner surface; and

e. the threaded opening having a bottom surface and a dimple on the bottom surface against which each said hand screw rest and pivots.

2. The tree stand of claim 1 wherein said at least one spike is a plurality of spikes.

3. The tree stand of claim 1 wherein the inner surface is generally rectangular and there is one spike adjacent one side of the inner surface and a second spike adjacent an opposite side of the inner surface.

4. The tree stand of claim 1 further comprising an inner cup placed within the central cavity and having a diameter sized to receive the tree trunk.

5. A tree stand comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical container having an open top, closed bottom and a wall extending therebetween which together define a central cavity having a cavity diameter and sized to receive a tree trunk, the container also having a plurality of container connectors on an exterior surface thereof, the connectors being sized and configured to releasably receive one end of a leg;

b. a plurality of tree trunk holders attached to the container near the open top, said tree trunk holders being hand screws;

c. a plurality of legs, one for each container connector, the plurality of legs sized and configured so that all of the legs can be placed in the container for storage and shipping, each leg having a first end sized and configured to be releasably attached to said container connector, the first end having a height which is not greater than the diameter of the central cavity and a length half of which is less than the depth of the central cavity; and

d. a gripper attached to each hand screw, said gripper having an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a threaded opening into which one of the hand screws is engaged and at least one spike protruding from the inner surface, the threaded opening having a bottom surface and a dimple on the bottom surface against which each said hand screw rests and pivots.

6. A tree stand comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical container having an open top, closed bottom and a wall extending therebetween which together define a central cavity having a cavity diameter and sized to receive a tree trunk, the container also having a plurality of container connectors on an exterior surface thereof, the connectors being sized and configured to releasably receive one end of a leg;

b. a plurality of tree trunk holders attached to the container near the open top;

c. a plurality of legs, one for each container connector;

d. said tree trunk holders being hand screws and the container having a slot for each hand screw and also an insert placed within the slot and having a hole through which a hand screw is threaded; and

e. a gripper attached to each said hand screw, said gripper having a generally flat surface, a threaded opening into which each said hand screw can be engaged and the threaded opening having a bottom surface and a dimple on the bottom surface against which each said hand screw rests and pivots.

7. The tree stand of claim 6 further wherein at least one spike protruding from the generally flat inner surface.

8. The tree stand of claim 7 wherein said at least one spike is a plurality of spikes.

9. A tree stand comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical container having an open top, closed bottom and a wall extending therebetween which together define a central cavity having a cavity diameter and sized to receive a tree trunk, the container also having a plurality of container connectors on an exterior surface thereof, the connectors being sized and configured to releasably receive one end of a leg;

b. a plurality of tree trunk holders attached to the container near the open top;

c. a plurality of legs, one for each container connector, the plurality of legs sized and configured so that all of the legs can be placed in the container for storage and shipping, each leg having a first end sized and configured to be releasably attached to a container connector, the first end having a height which is not greater than the diameter of the container cavity and a length half of which is less than the depth of the cavity; and

d. said tree trunk holders being hand screws and the container having a slot for each hand screw and also an insert placed within the slot and having a hole through which a hand screw is threaded, a gripper attached to each said hand screw, said gripper having a generally flat surface, a threaded opening into which each said hand screw can be engaged and at least one spike protruding from the generally flat inner surface, the threaded opening having a bottom surface and a dimple on the bottom surface against which each said hand screw rests and pivots.