Pop-up artificial christmas tree

• US 6,514,581 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheryl A. Gregory
• Original Assignee: Cheryl A. Gregory
• Inventors: Gregory, Cheryl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Abraham
• Application Number:
  US09/780,007
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 428/7, 428/9, 428/12, 428/18, 428/19, 428/20, 211/196, 211/205, 362/123, 362/568, 362/581, D11/118, D11/121, D11/157
• US Class Current: 428/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees

Abstract

A pop-up artificial Christmas tree, for making it much easier for the user to set up and take an artificial Christmas tree. The pop-up artificial Christmas tree includes a base member assembly including a weighted base member; and also includes a tree trunk assembly including a hollow tree trunk member having a bottom end which is removably mounted to the base member, and also including an elongate support member being movably disposed and upwardly biased in the hollow tree trunk member with the hollow tree trunk member having a plurality of holes spaced along and disposed through a side wall thereof; and further includes a branch assembly having a plurality of branch members each being pivotally mounted to the elongate support member and being extended through a respective hole in said hollow tree trunk member; and also includes a light-emitting assembly having a plurality of light-emitting members securely attached to the branch members.

Claims

1. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree comprising:

a base member assembly including a weighted base member;

a tree trunk assembly including a hollow tree trunk member having a bottom end which is removably mounted to said base member, and also including an elongate support member being movably disposed and upwardly biased in said hollow tree trunk member, said hollow tree trunk member having a plurality of holes spaced along and disposed through a side wall thereof;

a branch assembly having a plurality of branch members each being pivotally mounted to said elongate support member;

wherein said tree trunk assembly also includes a spring member disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and upon said bottom end thereof for biasing said elongate support member upwardly in said hollow tree trunk member; and

wherein said tree trunk assembly further includes a catch member securely attached to and extending from said spring member, and also includes a latch member movably disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and being biasedly and releaseably engaged to said catch member, and further includes a spring being disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and being engaged to said latch member for biasing said latch member into engagement with said catch member, and also includes a latch release member movably disposed in one of said holes in said hollow tree trunk member and being securely attached to said latch member.

2. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 1, wherein said weighted base member has a top end, a bottom surface, and a bore extending therein through said top end and being adapted to receive and support said bottom end of said hollow tree trunk member.

3. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 2, wherein said base member assembly also includes a rubberized member securely attached to said bottom surface of said weighted base member.

4. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 1, wherein said latch member includes a first portion having an end to which said latch release member is attached, and also includes a second portion having a flange being disposed at an end thereof and being biasedly engageable to said catch member, and which is angled relative to said first portion for holding said spring member in a compressed position.

5. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 4, wherein said elongate support member includes a plurality of slots being spaced apart and being disposed in a side wall thereof.

6. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 5, wherein each of said branch members extends through a respective said hole in said hollow tree trunk member and having a plurality of needle-like member extending therefrom;

and

wherein said branch assembly also includes a plurality of bracket members being pivotally mounted in said slots of said elongate support member and being attached to said branch members.

7. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 6, wherein each of said bracket members pivotally extends through a respective said hole in said hollow tree trunk member and includes an elongate first end portion having an end which is pivotally attached in a respective slot of said elongate support member, and also includes an intermediate portion which integrally attached to said first end portion and which is angled relative to said first end portion, and further includes an elongate second end portion which is integrally attached to and angled relative to said intermediate portion and which is disposed essentially parallel to said first end portion and which has an end which is securely attached to a respective said branch member.

8. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 7, further comprising a light-emitting assembly having a plurality of light-emitting members securely attached to said branch members;

and

wherein said light-emitting assembly also includes wires connected to said light-emitting members and extending through said branch members and through said hollow tree trunk member, and further includes a power converter unit securely disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and being connected to said wires, and also includes a power cord being connected to said power converter unit.

9. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 8, wherein each of said branch members has a hollow interior and includes a plurality of openings being spaced apart and being disposed in and along a side wall thereof.

10. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 9, wherein said light-emitting assembly includes a plurality of light-emitting support members being connected to said wires and being adapted to support said light-emitting members, each of said light-emitting support members having a side wall and a circumferentially-extending groove disposed in said side wall.

11. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 10, wherein said circumferentially-extending groove of each of said light-emitting support members is adapted to receive an edge forming a respective said opening in a respective said branch member to securely retain and support said light-emitting support member to said branch member.

12. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree comprising:

a base member assembly including a weighted base member;

a tree trunk assembly including a hollow tree trunk member having a bottom end which is removably mounted to said base member, and also including an elongate support member being movably disposed and upwardly biased in said hollow tree trunk member, said hollow tree trunk member having a plurality of holes spaced along and disposed through a side wall thereof;

a branch assembly having a plurality of branch members each being pivotally mounted to said elongate support member and being extended through a respective said hole in said hollow tree trunk member and having a plurality of needle-like member extending therefrom;

a light-emitting assembly having a plurality of light-emitting members securely attached to said branch members;

wherein said weighted base member has a top end, a bottom surface, and a bore extending therein through said top end and being adapted to receive and support said bottom end of said hollow tree trunk member;

wherein said base member assembly also includes a rubberized member securely attached to said bottom surface of said weighted base member;

wherein said tree trunk assembly also includes a spring member disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and upon said bottom end thereof for biasing said elongate support member upwardly in said hollow tree trunk member; and

wherein said tree trunk assembly further includes a catch member securely attached to and extending from said spring member, and also includes a latch member movably disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and being biasedly and releaseably engaged to said catch member, and further includes a spring being disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and being engaged to said latch member for biasing said latch member into engagement with said catch member, and also includes a latch release member movably disposed in one of said holes in said hollow tree trunk member and being securely attached to said latch member.

13. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 12, wherein said latch member includes a first portion having an end to which said latch release member is attached, and also includes a second portion having a flange being disposed at an end thereof and being biasedly engageable to said catch member, and which is angled relative to said first portion for holding said spring member in a compressed position.

14. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 13, wherein said elongate support member includes a plurality of slots being spaced apart and being disposed in a side wall thereof.

15. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 14, wherein said branch assembly also includes a plurality of bracket members being pivotally mounted in said slots of said elongate support member and being attached to said branch members.

16. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 15, wherein each of said bracket members pivotally extends through a respective said hole in said hollow tree trunk member and includes an elongate first end portion having an end which is pivotally attached in a respective slot of said elongate support member, and also includes an intermediate portion which integrally attached to said first end portion and which is angled relative to said first end portion, and further includes an elongate second end portion which is integrally attached to and angled relative to said intermediate portion and which is disposed essentially parallel to said first end portion and which has an end which is securely attached to a respective said branch member.

17. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 16, wherein said light-emitting assembly also includes wires connected to said light-emitting members and extending through said branch members and through said hollow tree trunk member, and further includes a power converter unit securely disposed in said hollow tree trunk member and being connected to said wires, and also includes a power cord being connected to said power converter unit.

18. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 17, wherein each of said branch members has a hollow interior and includes a plurality of openings being spaced apart and being disposed in and along a side wall thereof.

19. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 18, wherein said light-emitting assembly includes a plurality of light-emitting support members being connected to said wires and being adapted to support said light-emitting members, each of said light-emitting support members having a side wall and a circumferentially-extending groove disposed in said side wall.

20. A pop-up artificial Christmas tree as described in claim 19, wherein said circumferentially-extending groove of each of said light-emitting support members is adapted to receive an edge forming a respective said opening in a respective said branch member to securely retain and support said light-emitting support member to said branch member.