Christmas tree watering ornament

A decorative Christmas tree ornament which functions as a funnel system to aid in the watering of the tree is herein disclosed. The ornament comprises a flip-open lid, thus exposing an interior reservoir. The ornament itself takes the form of a common Christmas icon such as a snowman, an angel, a bell, a gingerbread man, a globe or the like. The bottom of the reservoir is connected to a section of tubing approximately four (4) to five (5) feet long. The tubing is routed along the branch and down the trunk where it empties into a conventional Christmas tree stand supplied with a water basin. The tubing and ornament are held in place with a plurality of clips. Thus, to water the tree, one simply opens the ornament, pours in a quantity of water and walks away. The system is viewed as being particularly useful for trees that are difficult to reach, or for people who have difficulty in bending over, kneeling or crawling under a Christmas tree.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Jan. 11, 2008, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a Christmas tree watering ornament and, more particularly, to said watering ornament comprising an interior reservoir connected to a section of tubing approximately four (4) to five (5) feet long routed along a tree branch and down a tree trunk where it empties into a conventional Christmas tree stand supplied with a water basin, thereby allowing a user to water the tree simply by opening the ornament, pouring in a quantity of water, and allowing the water to drain into the water basin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is prevalent for people to bring evergreen trees into their homes for decoration as Christmas trees during the holiday season. These trees require maintenance and a constant water supply to keep from drying out. After a few days with no water, the tree will begin to look lifeless, dry out, and lose its green color. Any water provided after that does little or no good with respects to reviving it. This creates a hazardous condition in that the tree has now become a fire hazard. Any spark, flame or amount of high heat will turn it into a blazing inferno in seconds. A common cause of infrequent watering is that it is somewhat difficult to do, as it requires bending over, kneeling down, crawling and the like, which is an inconvenience for many, particularly those who are elderly or disabled. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which Christmas trees can be ensured an adequate amount of water that is easily replenished without the difficulties as described above. The development of the invention described herein fulfills this need.

There have been attempts in the past to invent ornaments that water Christmas trees. U.S. Pat. No. D 483,234 issued to Hansen discloses a tree watering ornament that appears to be attachable to a tree and has tubing. Unfortunately, this design patent does not appear to be similar in appearance to the disclosed invention, nor does it appear to comprise a ball valve and watering system to prevent the flow of water from the reservoir, nor does it appear to comprise a self closing lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,479 issued to Greenberg et al discloses a Christmas tree watering apparatus that appears to be a funnel shaped opening attached to tubing that connects to the tree base reservoir. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to be a Christmas tree ornament that comprises hanging appendages to be maintained in a tree with a reservoir and tubing that provides a fluid conduit to the tree reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. D 417,596 issued to DeMarino discloses a Christmas tree watering device that appears to comprise a cane shaped ornament that is connected to tubing. Unfortunately, this design patent does not appear to be similar in appearance to the disclosed system, nor does it appear to comprise a ball valve and watering system to prevent the flow of water from the reservoir nor does it appear to comprise a self closing lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,043 issued to Andrews discloses a Christmas tree watering device that appears to comprise an ornament with an electrically operated sensor mounted in the tubing to control the flow of water from the reservoir in the ornament. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an ornament that is secured to a tree via a pair of hanging appendages, nor does it appear to disclose a ball valve system to control the flow of water from the ornament to the tree base reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,390 issued to Baudier discloses a funnel like structure that is mounted in the branches of a Christmas tree and that provides a fluid conduit to the tree base reservoir. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose a Christmas tree watering ornament with a ball valve structure to conduct water via tubing to the tree base reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,926 issued to Granger discloses a Christmas tree watering funnel with indicating system. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an ornament that is secured to a tree via a pair of hanging appendages, nor does it appear to disclose a ball valve system to control the flow of water from the ornament to the tree base reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,838 issued to Denbigh discloses a Christmas tree watering device that appears to comprise a funnel like structure that is clipped onto a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose a Christmas tree ornament with a self closing lid, and a ball valve structure that provides a means of fluid communication between the ornament and the tree base reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,839 issued to Granger discloses a Christmas tree watering funnel with indicating light and float. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an ornament that is secured to a tree via a pair of hanging appendages, nor does it appear to disclose a ball valve system to control the flow of water from the ornament to the tree base reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,997 issued to Rial discloses a system for watering inside trees utilizing what appears to be a funnel that is in fluid communication with a base reservoir. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose a Christmas tree ornament with a self closing lid, and a ball valve structure that provides a means of fluid communication between the ornament and the tree base reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. D 373,939 issued to Crowder discloses a Christmas tree watering ornament that appears to be an ornament mounted on top of an elongated funnel. Unfortunately, this design patent does not appear to be similar in appearance to the disclosed invention, nor does it appear to comprise a ball valve and watering system to prevent the flow of water from the reservoir, nor does it appear to comprise a self closing lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,236 issued to Sands discloses what appears to be a funnel like reservoir mounted on a spiral tubing structure. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an ornament that is secured to a tree via a pair of hanging appendages, nor does it appear to disclose a ball valve system to control the flow of water from the ornament to the tree base reservoir.

None of the prior art particularly describes a Christmas tree watering ornament comprising an interior reservoir connected to a section of tubing approximately four (4) to five (5) feet long routed along a tree branch and down a tree trunk where it empties into a conventional Christmas tree stand supplied with a water basin, thereby allowing a user to water the tree by opening the ornament and pouring in a quantity of water that the instant system possesses. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which Christmas trees can be ensured an adequate amount of water that is easily replenished that operates without the disadvantages as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the disadvantages as described above in the prior art, it is apparent that there is a need for a system and method for a Christmas tree watering system which functions as a funnel system to aid in watering of a tree and comprises an ornament assembly with a flip-open cap exposing an interior reservoir.

An object of the Christmas tree watering system is provided in a variety of decorative ornament bodies comprising various exterior shapes such as a snowman, an angel, a bell, a gingerbread man, or other common seasonal icons.

Another object of the Christmas tree watering system provides various external colors, patterns, and textures, as well as indicia depicting alphanumeric characters, names, logos, cartoon characters, and the like, based upon a user's preference.

A further object of the Christmas tree watering system provides ornament assemblies that may be acquired individually or as a set of two (2) or more having matching or different ornament bodies, colors, indicia, and the like.

Still another object of the Christmas tree watering system is a tube connector assembly that is attached to and detached from the drain aperture allowing a user to manually detach a particular ornament assembly from the system and replace it with another ornament as desired without spilling or loss of water.

Still a further object of the Christmas tree watering system is that to use the device and water the tree, a user simply opens the fill cap, and pours in a quantity of water.

Another object of the Christmas tree watering system provides such a system that is particularly useful for trees that are difficult to reach, or for people who have difficulty in bending over, kneeling or crawling under a Christmas tree.

An aspect of the Christmas tree watering system comprises an ornament assembly, a tube connector assembly, a reservoir, a length of tubing, a plurality of clips, and a pair of hangers.

Another aspect of the Christmas tree watering system comprises an ornament assembly that provides a convenient water receiving and delivering means to a tree via a length of tubing being routed along tree branches and a said trunk portion via a plurality of clips. The ornament assembly provides an attachment means to the tree branches by a pair of hangers comprising common formable metal wires having hooked end portions enabling sturdy configurable attachment to adjacent branches of the tree. The ornament assembly further comprises a fill cap and a pair of hanging appendages.

Still another aspect of the Christmas tree watering system comprises a reservoir connected to a section of tubing approximately four (4) to eight (8) feet long. The tubing is routed along a tree branch and down a trunk portion where it empties into a conventional Christmas tree stand reservoir. The reservoir further comprises an automatic valve allowing a particular ornament to be disconnected from the tubing and replaced with a different ornament without leakage.

Yet another aspect of the Christmas tree watering system comprises an ornament assembly comprising a spring-loaded valving means to a water supply within the reservoir comprising a ball valve, a first spring, a spring housing, and an “O”-ring groove. The ornament assembly is removably attached to the tube connector assembly and attached tubing portion by a drain aperture located along a bottom surface of the ornament assembly allowing detachment and installation of a different ornament assembly.

A further aspect of the Christmas tree watering ornament comprises hanging appendages comprising inverted “U”-shaped closures providing the ornament assembly with two (2) points of support, stabilizing said ornament, and providing a non-rotating means to the ornament assembly allowing a user to hang the ornament assembly in an easily accessible outward facing direction.

Another aspect of the Christmas tree watering system comprises clips that hold the tubing and ornament in place. The clips comprise common easily installed fastening devices such as tie-wraps, hook-and-loop strapping, and the like.

Still a further aspect of the Christmas tree watering system comprises a tube connector assembly comprising a molded plastic conduit fitting, a rubber “O”-ring, a plurality of flow apertures, and an integrally molded aesthetically-shaped flange. The tube connector assembly and ball valve work in conjunction with one another to provide effective control of a water flow from the reservoir to the tubing.

Yet another aspect of the Christmas tree watering ornament is a spherical ball valve that during use is contacted and lifted from its seat by the inserted conduit fitting portion enabling a water flow to commence from the reservoir and enter the tube connector assembly via a plurality of flow apertures. Said water flow proceeds through the tubing and subsequently to the stand/reservoir until such time as the reservoir becomes empty or until the ornament assembly is manually disconnected from the tube connector assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention describes a system and method for a Christmas tree watering ornament (herein described as the “system”)10, which functions as a funnel system to aid in watering of a tree100and comprises an ornament assembly20with a flip-open cap23exposing an interior reservoir30. The ornament20itself may take on a variety of decorative exterior shapes depicting common Christmas icons. The bottom of the reservoir30is connected to a section of tubing50approximately four (4) to eight (8) feet long. The tubing50is routed along a tree branch100and down a trunk portion110where it empties into a conventional Christmas tree stand reservoir115. The tubing50and ornament20are held in place with a plurality of clips65and hangers60, respectively. Additionally, the reservoir20comprises an automatic valve26allowing a particular ornament20to be disconnected therefrom the tubing50and replaced with a different ornament20without leakage. To water the tree100, a user simply opens the fill cap23, pours in a quantity of water31and walks away. The system10is viewed as being particularly useful for trees100that are difficult to reach, or for people who have difficulty in bending over, kneeling or crawling under a Christmas tree100.

Referring now toFIG. 1, an environmental view of the system10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The system10comprises an ornament assembly20, a length of tubing50, a plurality of clips65, and a pair of hangers60. The ornament assembly20provides a convenient water receiving and delivering means thereto a tree100via a length of tubing50being routed along tree branches100and a said trunk portion110via a plurality of clips65. The clips65provide common easily installed fastening devices such as tie-wraps, hook-and-loop strapping, and the like. The tubing50terminates and is inserted therein a conventional tree stand/reservoir device115located at a base of the trunk portion110. The ornament assembly20further provides an attachment means thereto the tree branches100via a pair of hangers60comprising common formable metal wires having hooked end portions enabling sturdy configurable attachment thereto adjacent branches of the tree100in an expected manner.

Referring now toFIGS. 2aand2b, close-up views of an ornament assembly portion20of the system10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The system10comprises an ornament assembly20and a tube connector assembly40. The ornament assembly20is illustrated here taking the form of a globe; however, the ornament assembly20is envisioned to be introduced having a variety of decorative ornament bodies21comprising various exterior shapes such as a snowman, an angel, a bell, a gingerbread man, or other common seasonal icons. Furthermore, the ornament assembly20may provide various external colors, patterns, and textures, as well as indicia22depicting alphanumeric characters, names, logos, cartoon characters, and the like, based upon a user's preference. It is envisioned that ornament assemblies20may be purchased individually or as a set of two (2) or more having matching or different ornament bodies21, colors, indicia, and the like. The ornament assembly20further comprises a fill cap23and a pair of hanging appendages25. The fill cap23provides a spring-loaded inward hinging door for convenient opening and receiving of water31therefrom a container (seeFIGS. 4aand4b). The hanging appendages25are located along an upper surface being adjacent thereto opposing edges of the fill cap23providing a convenient loop-shaped fastening means with which to secure the ornament assembly20therefrom adjacent branches via the aforementioned hangers60. The hanging appendages25comprise inverted “U”-shaped closures providing the ornament assembly20two (2) points of support, thereby stabilizing said ornament20such as when water31is being added therein. The hanging appendages25also provide a non-rotating means thereto the ornament assembly20allowing a user to hang the ornament assembly20in an easily accessible outward facing direction. The ornament assembly20is removably attached thereto the tube connector assembly40and attached tubing portion50via a drain aperture24located along a bottom surface of the ornament assembly20allowing detachment and installation of a different ornament assembly20as illustrated inFIG. 2b.

Referring now toFIGS. 3aand3b, cut-away views of a ball valve portion26of the system10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The tube connector assembly40and ball valve26work in conjunction therewith one another to provide effective control of a water flow31therefrom the reservoir30thereinto the tubing portion50. During use the tube connector assembly40is attached thereto and detached therefrom the drain aperture24allowing a user to manually detach a particular ornament assembly20therefrom the system10and replace it with another ornament20as desired without spilling or loss of water31. The ornament assembly20provides a spring-loaded valving means thereto a water supply31therewithin the reservoir30comprising a ball valve26, a first spring27, a spring housing28, and an “O”-ring groove29. The integrally molded spring housing28is located along a bottom interior surface of the ornament body21and is positioned directly above the drain aperture24. The spring housing28comprises a hollow cylindrical shape which vertically guides the included rubber ball valve26and metal actuating first spring27. The tube connector assembly40provides a sealed fluid conduit means thereto said water31as it enters the tubing portion50. The tube connector assembly40comprises a molded plastic conduit fitting41, a rubber “O”-ring42, a plurality of flow apertures43, and an integrally molded aesthetically-shaped flange44. When the tube connector assembly40is inserted therein the drain aperture24, the “O”-ring42provides a sealing means thereto the ornament assembly20being sealingly seated therein a corresponding annular “O”-ring groove29located within the cylindrically-shaped drain aperture24at an intermediate position. During normal use, the spherical ball valve26is contacted and lifted therefrom its seat by the inserted conduit fitting portion41as illustrated inFIG. 3a, thereby enabling a water flow31to commence therefrom the reservoir30and enter the tube connector assembly40via a plurality of flow apertures43located along an upper surface of the conduit fitting41. Said water flow31proceeds therethrough the tubing50and subsequently to the stand/reservoir115until such time as the reservoir30becomes empty or until the ornament assembly20is manually disconnected therefrom the tube connector assembly40. Upon disconnection of the ornament assembly20as shown inFIG. 3b, the ball valve26descends thereto its seat along the upper opening of the drain aperture24stopping the water flow31. The ball valve26is held against the seat via a constant downward force as applied thereto a top surface of said ball valve26therefrom the first spring27.

Referring now toFIGS. 4aand4b, cut-away views of a fill cap portion23of the ornament assembly20depicting closed and open states, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The fill cap23comprises an injection-molded plastic element envisioned to discreetly conform thereto an upper outer surface of the ornament body21by matching curvature and/or particular contours pertaining thereto said ornament body21. The fill cap23comprises a preferably round or elliptical shape; however, the fill cap shape23is to be determined by that of the ornament body21as previously described. The fill cap23provides convenient access thereto the reservoir30for a purpose of adding water31thereinto. The fill cap23comprises an inwardly hinging spring-loaded device being automatically closed upwardly against a top inner surface of the ornament body21via an internal torsion-type second spring33. The ornament assembly20comprises integrally molded features along upper interior surfaces being adjacent thereto the top opening32forming an attachment means thereto the fill cap23and integral second spring33. In use, a user simply presses downwardly thereupon the fill cap portion23which pivots inwardly providing a suitable opening in which to pour water31therefrom a bottle or container to obtain a desired fluid level therein the stand/reservoir115in an expected manner. Releasing the fill cap23allows automatic closure thereof.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system10, it would be installed as indicated inFIG. 1.

The method of utilizing the system10may be achieved by performing the following steps: erecting a Christmas tree100equipped therewith a conventional stand/reservoir115in a normal fashion upon a floor surface; inserting a lower end portion of the tubing50therein the stand/reservoir115; routing remaining tubing50along a trunk portion110; fastening the tubing50thereto the trunk portion110using a plurality of clips65; routing the remaining tubing50along a branch100being approximately four (4) or five (5) feet above said floor surface thereto a desired region on which to hang the ornament assembly20along an exposed outer surface of the tree100; affixing said tubing50thereto said branch100using additional clips65; hanging and securing the ornament assembly20adjacent thereto two (2) locations upon the tree100or branches100at a upper terminating end portion of the tubing50using the pair of wire hangers60; inserting the tube connecting assembly40thereinto the drain aperture portion24of the ornament assembly20; pressing inwardly thereupon the fill cap23using one's fingers to expose the inner reservoir30; pouring a quantity of water31thereinto the reservoir30as needed to obtain a proper level therein the stand/reservoir115; releasing the fill cap23to restore the appearance of the ornament assembly20; adding water31periodically thereto the reservoir30in like manner as needed; replacing the ornament assembly20as desired therewith another ornament assembly20depicting a different shape or figurine by; manually disconnecting the tube connector assembly40therefrom the ornament assembly20; removing said ornament assembly20therefrom the tree100by unhooking the hangers60; hanging and utilizing a new ornament assembly20as previously described to supply a water flow31thereto the tree100; and, benefiting from decreased effort and possible injuries associated with adding water31to a Christmas tree stand/reservoir115while using the present invention10.