Tree Topper Support Device

A tree topper support device for securing a topping ornament to a tree having a trunk includes an elongated rod with at least two through-holes sized to receive flexible ties, an ornament receiving member, and a sleeve coupled to the ornament receiving member. The sleeve is configured to receive an end of the elongated rod. The ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material configured to deform when a mounting cage of the topping ornament is placed onto the ornament receiving member so as to secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to tree topper support devices and, more particularly, to a tree topper support device for affixing topping ornaments to a tree, such as a Christmas tree.

BACKGROUND

When decorating a Christmas tree it is common to place a star, angel, or other decorative ornament (collectively referred to as a “topping ornament”) at the top of the Christmas tree. Often the topping ornament will have some type of ring, tube, clamp or other device configured to affix the topping ornament to the top of the tree. The top of the tree is where the trunk is very narrow (thin) and often will not have a singular stalk, but may have multiple terminating stalks that make it difficult to precisely attach the topping ornament. The tree trunk at the top may also be so narrow as to have very little structural rigidity. Consequently, when the topping ornament is placed on the tree trunk at the top, the tree trunk and the topping ornament will bend to one side instead of remaining aligned with the longitudinal axis of the Christmas tree. This bending condition is not aesthetically pleasing and may cause the topping ornament to fall off the Christmas tree.

What is needed, therefore, is a device and method to secure a topping ornament to the top of a Christmas tree.

SUMMARY

To these and other ends, in one aspect of the invention a tree topper support device for securing a topping ornament to a tree having a trunk is disclosed. The tree topper support device includes an elongated rod with at least two through-holes sized to receive flexible ties, an ornament receiving member, and a sleeve coupled to the ornament receiving member. The sleeve is configured to receive an end of the elongated rod. The ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material which is configured to deform when a mounting cage of the topping ornament is placed onto the ornament receiving member. They deformation of the ornament receiving member aids in securing the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member. The tree topper support device may further include at least two flexible ties, where each flexible tie is configured to be inserted into each of the at least two through-holes and each flexible tie is sized to wrap around the trunk of the tree to secure the rod thereto.

In one embodiment, a bottom portion of the ornament receiving member includes an internal cavity and the sleeve is disposed within the internal cavity. The end of the elongated rod is disposed inside an internal bore in the sleeve to thereby couple the rod to the ornament receiving member.

In one embodiment, a top portion of the ornament receiving member includes an internal cavity configured to receive the topping ornament. In another embodiment, the ornament receiving member may be generally conically shaped. In yet another embodiment, the ornament receiving member may be made of foam.

In one embodiment, the sleeve is coupled to and extends away from the bottom portion of the ornament receiving member and the end of the elongated rod is disposed inside an internal bore in the sleeve to thereby couple the rod to the ornament receiving member.

In another aspect of the invention, a tree topper support device for securing a topping ornament to a tree having a trunk includes an elongated rod with at least two through-holes, an ornament receiving member having a bottom portion with an internal cavity, where the ornament receiving member is generally conically shaped. The tree topper support device further includes a sleeve disposed within the internal cavity of the ornament receiving member, where the sleeve has an internal bore. An end of the elongated rod is disposed inside the internal bore to thereby couple the rod to the ornament receiving member. The tree topper support device also includes at least two flexible ties, where each flexible tie is configured to be inserted into one of the at least two through-holes and each flexible tie sized to wrap around the trunk of the tree to secure the rod thereto. The ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material configured to deform when a mounting cage of the topping ornament is placed onto the ornament receiving member so as to secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member. In one embodiment, the ornament receiving member may be made of foam.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of securing a topping ornament to a top of a tree having a trunk is disclosed. The method includes providing a tree topper support device having an ornament receiving member coupled to an elongated rod, securing the rod to the trunk of the tree so that the ornament receiving member is positioned proximate an apex of the tree, and placing the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member.

In one embodiment, the elongated rod includes a plurality of through-holes and securing the rod to the trunk of the tree further includes inserting flexible ties through the plurality of through-holes and wrapping the flexible ties around the trunk of the tree.

In one embodiment, the ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material and the topping ornament includes a mounting cage. Attaching the topping ornament further includes placing the mounting cage onto the ornament receiving member to deform the ornament receiving member to thereby secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member.

In one embodiment, the ornament receiving member includes an internal cavity with a sleeve therein and an end of the elongated rod is disposed within an internal bore of the sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS.1-4, a tree topper support device10is shown according to one embodiment of the invention. The tree topper support device10includes an elongated rod12with a series of through-holes14through which flexible ties16may be inserted therethrough. The flexible ties16may be zip ties, wire ties, and the like. The tree topper support device10further includes an ornament receiving member18having a sleeve20. The sleeve20is inserted into an internal cavity22(FIG.3) in the bottom of the ornament receiving member18. The sleeve20includes an internal bore24configured to receive an end26of the rod12. The end26may be held in the internal bore24with an interference fix or with adhesive applied to the end26and/or the internal bore24to thereby secure the rod12to the ornament receiving member18.

In one embodiment and referring toFIG.5, the ornament receiving member18may not have the internal cavity22and the sleeve20is instead affixed to and extends away from the exterior surface of the ornament receiving member18. In this configuration, the end26of the rod12is still inserted into the internal bore24of the sleeve20to couple the ornament receiving member18to the rod12. The sleeve20may be secured to the ornament receiving member18with suitable fasteners or adhesives.

In one embodiment, the tree topper support device10may have an overall length LOA(FIG.4) in the range of 14 inches to 24 inches, preferably in the range of 16 inches to 20 inches, and more preferably about 18 inches. The rod12may be made from any suitable material, such as wood, metal, plastic, with a diameter D in the range of ¼ inch to ½ inch, and preferably 5/16 inch. The rod12may be of any suitable length LR(FIG.3), such as between 8 and 24 inches, preferably between 12-20 inches, and most preferably between 16 and 17 inches. While the rod12is illustrated with six through-holes14, the rod12may have as few as two through-holes14and more than six through-holes14, such as eight or ten through-holes14. Each through-hole14may have a diameter sufficient to allow the flexible tie16to pass therethrough, such as a ⅛ inch diameter. Each flexible tie16may have a length in the range of 6 inches to 14 inches, more preferably 8 inches to 12 inches, and preferably 10 inches.

In one embodiment, the ornament receiving member18is generally conically shaped with a bottom portion30and a top portion32. The top portion32may include an internal cavity34configured to receive a topping ornament as will be discussed below. With its conical shape, the bottom portion30of the ornament receiving member18may have a diameter DB in the range of 2 inches to 5 inches and the top portion32may have a diameter DT in the range of 1 inches to 3 inches. The ornament receiving member18may be made of any suitable material. In an embodiment, the ornament receiving member18may be made of a semi-collapsible (flexible) material, such as foam, rubber, or sponge. These types of material will aid in securing a topping ornament to the tree topper support device10as will be discussed below.

To help conceal (camouflage) the tree topper support device10relative to the tree, such as a Christmas tree, the rod12and ornament receiving member18may have a dark or even green exterior and have a flat or satin finish. Additionally, the flexible ties16may have a dark exterior to conceal them as well.

With reference toFIGS.3,6A, and6B, another aspect of the invention includes a method of securing a topping ornament40to a top (apex)42of a tree44having a trunk46. In practice, the tree topper support device10may be used on a variety of trees. For purposes of the following discussion, the tree topper support device10will described whereby the tree44is a Christmas tree. The ornament receiving member18with the sleeve20is placed onto the end26of the rod12. One or more flexible ties16may then be inserted into the through-holes14. The rod12is then placed adjacent to and vertically aligned with the trunk46of the Christmas tree44. The rod12is located along the trunk46so that the ornament receiving member18is positioned proximate the top (apex)42of the Christmas tree44. The flexible ties16are then wrapped around the trunk46so as to secure the tree topper support device10in the desired vertical position along the trunk46as illustrated inFIG.6A. The topping ornament40, such as a star or angel, which includes a mounting cage48may then be placed onto the ornament receiving member18as illustrated inFIG.6B. With the ornament receiving member18made of the semi-collapsible (flexible) material, the mounting cage48of the topping ornament40may deform the ornament receiving member18when the mounting cage48is placed onto the ornament receiving member18. The deformation of the ornament receiving member18aids in securing the topping ornament40to the ornament receiving member18. Alternatively, the topping ornament40may have a rod extending therefrom that is configured to slide into the internal cavity34to thereby secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member18.

While the tree topper support device10has been described specifically for use with a Christmas tree, the tree topper support device10may be used with other trees and other settings where one desires to secure a topping ornament40.