Patent ID: 9375109
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: A47G

Claim Text:
1. A tree stand comprising: a) a supporting base including a base threaded wall portion and a socket comprised of an upwardly facing hemispherical lower surface and a side wall terminating at an upwardly facing annular surface, an annular cavity surrounding a portion of the socket, and a first passageway extending from the annular cavity to the hemispherical lower surface of the socket; b) a positioning sphere having an outer surface and a cavity bounded by a side wall and a bottom wall and having an open top and including a second passageway extending from the outer surface of the sphere to the cavity of the sphere, the positioning sphere disposed in the socket with the open top of the cavity directed upwardly; and c) a compression collar comprising a collar threaded wall portion engaged with the base threaded wall portion of the supporting base and an inwardly extending flange comprising a first surface contactable with the positioning sphere and a second surface located radially outwardly from the first surface and separated from the upwardly facing annular surface of the supporting base by a gap; wherein maximal threaded engagement of the compression collar with the supporting base contacts the first surface of the inwardly extending flange with the outer surface of the positioning sphere and immobilizes the positioning sphere in the socket, while maintaining at least a portion of the gap separating the second surface of the flange from the upwardly facing annular surface of the supporting base.