Invertible Christmas tree

• US 8,993,077 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balsam International Unlimited Company (Balsam Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Balsam Hill LLC (Balsam Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schooley, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRUPICKA, ADAM C
• Application Number:
  US13/302,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20120301636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 428/18
• US Class Current: 428/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/956 having appearance of living plant, e.g. christmas tree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An artificial Christmas tree includes a central trunk broken into at least two separate portions including a fixed trunk portion and at least one rotating trunk portion. The fixed trunk extends up from an underlying base. Rotating trunks rotatably attach at midpoints thereof at least indirectly to an upper end of the fixed trunk. Limbs are pivotably attached to the rotating trunks with optional lights coupled thereto. These limbs pivot between a perpendicular orientation extending from the rotating trunks and a collapsed configuration closer to a centerline of the rotating trunks. The rotating trunks can be pivoted from a first collapsed configuration with a first end above a second end to a deployed configuration with the second end above the first end. During pivoting, the limbs attached to the rotating trunk transition between a collapsed to a deployed configuration automatically. A wheeled base and cover further facilitate storage and deployment.

Claims

1. A collapsible artificial tree, comprising in combination:

a first trunk portion having an elongate form extending between an upper end and a lower end;

a second trunk portion having an elongate form between a first end and a second end;

said second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending laterally therefrom; and

said first trunk portion pivotably attached to said second trunk portion at a location spaced from said first end and said second end of said second trunk portion, in a manner allowing pivoting of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion.

2. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said plurality of limbs are attached to said second trunk portion in a manner which allows pivoting of said limbs relative to said second trunk portion.

3. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 2 wherein said limbs are restricted to movement between substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said second trunk and a collapsed form with a tip of each limb closer to the second trunk portion than when in a deployed position extending substantially perpendicularly from said second trunk portion.

4. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 1 wherein a plurality of lights are provided along at least one cord, said cord routed up said first trunk portion and transitioning from said first trunk portion to said second trunk portion adjacent said location with said cord feeding electric power to a plurality of lights deployed on at least one limb coupled to said second trunk portion.

5. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said second end of said second trunk portion is attachable to a bottom end of a cap portion of the collapsible Christmas tree, said cap portion including a top trunk and top limbs extending laterally from said top trunk with said top trunk substantially aligned with said second trunk portion when said bottom end of said cap is coupled to said second end of said second trunk portion.

6. A collapsible artificial tree, comprising in combination:

a first trunk portion having an elongate form extending between an upper end and a lower end;

a second trunk portion having an elongate form between a first end and a second end;

said second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending laterally therefrom;

said first trunk portion pivotably attached to said second trunk portion in a manner allowing pivoting of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion; and

wherein a pivot joint element is located between said first trunk portion and said second trunk portion at a location spaced from both said first end and said second end of said second trunk portion, said pivot joint element allowing for at least about 180°

of rotation of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion.

7. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 6 wherein said pivot joint element includes an axle aligned with a rotational axis with said axle coupled directly to both said first trunk portion and said second trunk portion with said second trunk portion pivoting about said axle relative to said first trunk portion.

8. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 6 wherein said pivot joint element is located at substantially a midpoint of said second trunk portion.

9. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 6 wherein said pivot joint element is positioned at substantially a balance point of said second trunk portion aligned with a center of mass of said second trunk portion.

10. The collapsible artificial tree of claim 6 wherein said pivot joint element is located adjacent said upper end of said first trunk portion.

11. An artificial tree, comprising:

a fixed trunk portion with an upper end above a lower end;

a rotating trunk with a first end opposite a second end;

said rotating trunk pivotably joined to said fixed trunk at a location between said first end and said second end; and

a plurality of limbs extending laterally from said rotating trunk.

12. The artificial tree of claim 11 wherein a pivot joint element is interposed between said fixed trunk and said rotating trunk, said pivot joint element adapted to allow rotation of said rotating trunk substantially 180°

relative to said fixed trunk.

13. The artificial tree of claim 12 wherein said rotating trunk is oriented substantially parallel with said fixed trunk both before and after rotation of said rotating trunk relative to said fixed trunk.

14. The artificial tree of claim 11 wherein said plurality of limbs are pivotably attached to said rotating trunk, such that said limbs can pivot by gravity from a collapsed position to a deployed position with tips of said limbs closer to said rotating trunk when said limbs are in said collapsed position than in said deployed position.

15. The artificial tree of claim 11 wherein lights are coupled to said limbs, said lights coupled to a light cord routed up said fixed trunk, then to said rotating trunk before being coupled to said lights to supply power to said lights.

16. The artificial tree of claim 11 wherein a clasp is removably attachable between said fixed trunk and a portion of said rotating trunk, between where said rotating trunk is coupled to said fixed trunk, to keep said rotating trunk locked relative to said fixed trunk until said clasp is removed.

17. A collapsible artificial tree, comprising in combination:

a first trunk portion having an elongate form extending between an upper end and a lower end;

a second trunk portion having an elongate form between a first end and a second end;

said second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending laterally therefrom;

said second trunk portion having at least two orientations including a deployed orientation with said second end above said first end and a collapsed orientation with said first end above said second end; and

said first trunk portion pivotably attached to said second trunk portion in a manner allowing pivoting of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion between said deployed orientation and said collapsed orientation.

18. The artificial tree of claim 17 wherein a pivot joint element is located between said first trunk portion and said second trunk portion at a location spaced from both said first end and said second end of said second trunk portion.

19. The artificial tree of claim 18 wherein said pivot joint element allows for at least about 180°

of rotation of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion.

20. The artificial tree of claim 18 wherein said pivot joint element is located at substantially a midpoint of said second trunk portion.

21. The artificial tree of claim 18 wherein said pivot joint element is positioned at substantially a balance point of said second trunk portion aligned with a center of mass of said second trunk portion.

22. The artificial tree of claim 18 wherein said pivot joint element is located adjacent said upper end of said first trunk portion.

23. The artificial tree of claim 18 wherein a plurality of lights are provided along at least one cord, said cord routed up said first trunk portion and transitioning from said first trunk portion to said second trunk portion adjacent said location with said cord feeding electric power to a plurality of lights deployed on at least one limb coupled to said second trunk portion.

24. The artificial tree of claim 17 wherein said plurality of limbs are attached to said second trunk portion in a manner which allows pivoting of said limbs relative to said second trunk portion.