Abstract:
A reversible revolving, illuminated, musical and speaking Christmas tree stand that is remotely controlled. The stand rotatably supports an artificial or natural Christmas tree, other decorative trees or other devices supported for rotational movement about a generally vertical axis. The stand includes a structure for reversibly rotatably, supportingly engaging a tree or other device, a structure for illuminating the tree or other device and a structure for producing musical renditions, songs or the like relating to the tree or other device and an infrared remote control by which all functions of the stand can be independently controlled without approaching the tree. The stand has a housing shaped and configured to carry out the theme or symbolism of the tree or other device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a reversible revolving illuminated musical and speaking Christmas tree stand and more specifically to a remotely controlled stand of this type. The stand is adapted to rotatably support an artificial or natural Christmas tree, other decorative trees or other devices for reversible rotational movement about a generally vertical axis. The stand includes a structure for supportingly engaging the tree or other device, structure for illuminating the tree or other device and an audio device for producing a musical rendition, song or the like relating to the tree or other device and a remote control by which all functions of the stand can be independently controlled at a distance from the stand. The stand has a housing shaped and configured to carry out the theme or symbolism of the tree or other device. The remote control includes an infrared transmitter which is preferably hand held and the stand includes an infrared signal receiver to control the functions in accordance with the infrared control device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various types of rotating and non-rotating Christmas tree stands are well known in the art as well as stands or Christmas trees which incorporate lights, music and manual control apparatus. Also, various remote control devices are provided to enable remote control of various electrically powered appliances or devices. The following U.S. patents generally relate to this field of endeavor. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,153,860 5,485,068 5,647,569 5,455,750 5,634,622. 
     While the prior art discloses various remotely controlled devices and manually controlled stands supporting a Christmas tree for rotation, the specific arrangement of the components and the remote control characteristics of the present invention are not found in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The remotely controlled, illuminated, musical and speaking Christmas tree stand of the present invention comprises a hollow housing of generally star shaped configuration. The tree stand includes an upwardly and inwardly tapering peripheral wall having a substantially flat closed and removable bottom which can rest upon a supporting surface. The stand further includes structure at its upper end for clampingly engaging a Christmas tree, a drive mechanism for reversibly rotating the Christmas tree, a mechanism providing electrical energy to decorative light bulbs on the tree and an audio device for producing music, song and/or vocal message traditionally associated with the Christmas season. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the stand is provided with an infrared control signal receiver either on the housing or extended from the housing which receives infrared signals transmitted from a portable battery powered control device. The portable control device is provided with manually controlled switches to selectively and independently energize the lights on the tree, selectively and reversibly rotate the tree and selectively operate the audio device. This enables operation and control of the functional capabilities of the stand from a remote location by utilizing the portable infrared control device in a manner well known in the art of remote controlling various appliances such as television and the like. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stand for a Christmas tree or similar device utilizing components that enable the tree or other device to be reversibly rotated about a vertical axis, that enable decorative lights on the tree or other device to be energized when rotating or when stationary and that actuate an audio device for producing music or songs relating to the Christmas season, or that relate to other decorative devices supported by the stand. All functional operations of the stand are controlled by a remote infrared control device that transmits signals to an infrared signal receiver either on the stand or located adjacent to and connected to the stand to facilitate operation of all functions of the stand from a remote location. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a remote control for a Christmas tree or other device as set forth in the preceding object in which the remote control device provides an infrared signal to the receiver associated with the stand for independently controlling each of the functions, operating selected multiple functions and simultaneous operation of all functions from a remote location. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a remotely controlled, illuminated, musical revolving Christmas tree stand which stably supports a natural or artificial Christmas tree and is simple, safe and dependable in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, maintain and operate. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree stand having a star shaped configuration in green or other color or colors to conform with the symbolism of the tree and the Christmas season. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a Christmas tree with the Christmas tree stand of the present invention supporting the tree. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the stand of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the stand of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the stand of the present invention with the top wall removed in order to illustrate the relationship of the components on the bottom wall. 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the stand of the present invention, on an enlarged scale, taken along section line  5 — 5  on FIG. 4, with the top wall of the stand removed and spaced above the bottom wall. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the top wall of the stand of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the preferred embodiment, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. As used herein, the term “Christmas sounds” or “sounds” is intended to include music, songs, verbal message, or any combination, of the Christmas season or other circumstances consistent with the supported decoration. 
     Referring to the drawings, the Christmas tree stand of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral  10  and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an artificial Christmas tree generally designated by reference numeral  12  is supported vertically by the stand  10 . The Christmas tree  12  will have vertical and circumferential dimensions enabling the stand  10  to stably support the tree  12 . The Christmas tree is also provided with strings of lights, decorative ornaments and other decorative materials, schematically illustrated at  13 , which are normally employed to decorate a Christmas tree. The tree  12  includes a trunk  14  received in the stand  10  and clampingly supported therein by clamp bolts or other clamp structure, generally designated by reference numeral  16 . The stand  10  includes a hollow housing, generally designated by reference numeral  18 , which has a generally star shaped configuration and includes a top wall  19  tapering downwardly and outwardly from its upper end to a lower end. A bottom wall generally designated by reference numeral  20  is attached to and forms a closure for the top wall  19 . 
     FIGS. 2-6 illustrate in more detail the specific structure of the housing  18  including the top wall  19  and the bottom wall  20 , each of which are generally star shaped in configuration. The top wall  19  preferably includes a generally horizontal, planar pentagonal central top member  23  with the sides extending down from the top member  23  forming vertically depending walls  24 . Extending downwardly from each corner of the pentagonal top member  23  is a plurality of downwardly inclined ridges  26  each defined by a pair of inclined walls  28  and  30 . Each vertically depending wall  24  is connected to a ridge  32  which extends downwardly and outwardly in an inclined manner with each ridge  32  joining with a vertical wall  24  at a level below the pentagonal top  23 , as illustrated in FIG.  3 . The ridge  32  is defined by walls  34  and  36 . Adjacent inclined walls  34  and  30  are connected to form a valley  38  and adjacent walls  28  and  36  are connected to form a valley  40 . Thus, alternating ridges  26  and  32  and alternating valleys  38  and  40  define alternating star points  42  and  43  which are located at different radial distances from the vertical center of the housing as illustrated in FIGS. 2-6. The lower edges  27  and  33  of the ridges  26  and  32  are straight and in alignment to form a straight bottom edge on the top wall  19 . 
     The bottom wall  20  includes a planar, horizontal panel or wall  44  provided with a periphery defined by longer and shorter star points  46  and  48  in alternating relation around the periphery of the bottom wall  20 . The tip ends of the star points  46  and  48  are oriented in different radial spaced relation to the center of the stand  10 . The entire periphery of the wall  44  is provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined narrow flange  50  which extends above and below wall  44 . The upper edge of flange  50  telescopically receives the lower edges of the walls  28 ,  30 ,  34 ,  36  of the top wall  19  with the flange  50  telescoping over the outer surface of the lower edge of the walls which define the star points  42  and  43  on the top wall  19 . 
     The planar pentagonal top member  23  includes a central circular opening  52  (see FIG. 6) and vertical walls  24  extend downwardly to a point spaced a short distance above the lower edges  27  and  33  of the top wall  19  to provide rigidity to the top wall  19 . The bottom wall  44  includes a central short upstanding pentagonal flange  53  aligned with and forming a continuation of walls  24 . When assembled, the lower edges of walls  24  engage the upper edge of flange  53  to rigidify the central portion of top wall  19  together with the bottom wall  20 . The top wall  19  also includes reinforcing walls  54  extending outwardly from each apex of the pentagonal vertical walls  24  along the underside of the ridges  26 . The bottom edges of the reinforcing walls  54  are spaced so as not to protrude below the plane defined by the lower edge of the top wall  19  and are spaced above the bottom of the vertical pentagonal walls  24 . The top wall  19  is of unitary, monolithic construction, preferably of rigid plastic material which may be colored, preferably green or in any other color or colors desired depending upon the decorative device supported by the stand. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom of the top wall  19  includes screw receiving studs  56  spaced inwardly from the underside of each star point at the outer end of each ridge  26  and  32 . The screw receiving studs  56  on ridges  32  are preferably spaced farther from the star point than the studs  56  on ridges  26 . Also, screw receiving studs  57  are spaced inwardly and upwardly from the lower end of certain of the valleys  40  between inclined walls  30  and  34  or  28  and  36 . These studs  56  and  57  are integral with the top wall  19  and receive fastening screws which extend through apertures  58  in the star points  48  of the bottom wall  44  which are aligned with studs  56  and through upstanding studs  60  on the bottom wall  44  which are aligned with the studs  57 . 
     Mounted centrally in the bottom wall  20  and disposed within the upstanding pentagonal flange  53  is a vertically extending generally cylindrical housing, generally designated by reference numeral  62 , having a plurality of partial peripheral flanges  63  along the base edge thereof which are secured to the bottom wall panel  44 , such as by screw fasteners. The cylindrical housing  62  includes a reversible motor and a rotary electrical contact assembly interiorly thereof, the details of which are not shown and which are of conventional construction. An output clamp ring  64  extends above the housing  62  and is driven by the motor. The clamp ring  64  includes a cylindrical interior  66  in which a Christmas tree trunk can be inserted. A plurality of radial clamp screws  68  are threaded into the clamp ring  64  and the inner ends of screws  68  clampingly engage the Christmas tree trunk inserted into interior  66  in a well known manner. The clamp screws  68  may have a loop shaped outer end to facilitate rotation of the clamp screws. Also, an electrical conductor  70  extends through the clamp ring  64  and terminates in a receptacle  72  at its exposed free end in a manner such that the receptacle  72  is oriented adjacent the upper end of the housing  62  but is movable in relation thereto within the limits of the flexible electrical conductor  70 . This electric receptacle  72  enables a male electrical plug to be inserted therein to supply electrical energy to the lights on a Christmas tree supported by the stand. 
     The lower end of the cylindrical housing  62  includes a plurality of electrical conductors  74  extending from a circuit board  76  that is mounted on the bottom wall panel  44 . The circuit board  76  is provided with electrical components which receive electrical energy from an electric cord  78  having a male plug  80  on the free end thereof. The electric cord  78  extends through a notch  82  in the flange  50  and through a strain relief structure  84  in a recess  86  in the bottom wall panel  44 . The circuit board  76  also includes components of an audio producing device including a speaker  88  mounted in an opening  90  in the bottom wall panel  44 . The speaker  88  includes a perforated cover positioned below the bottom wall panel  44  to facilitate sound emissions from the audio producing device. The electrical components include switches for the reversible electric motor, connecting electrical energy to the female receptacle  72  and operating the audio producing device. These switches are operated by electrical conductors  92  extending to an input jack  94  in the bottom wall panel  44  which opens to the bottom. A male jack component is inserted from the undersurface of the panel  44  from an electrical conductor  96  which extends out through a notch  98  in the flange  60  and has the infrared receiver  98  at the outer end thereof. The infrared receiver  98  can then be positioned so that it is accessible to an infrared transmitter  100  which has multiple switches  102  including a switch for selectively actuating the audio producing device, a switch for selectively energizing the electric lights on the Christmas tree and a switch for selectively rotating the clamp ring  64  and Christmas tree supported thereby in either rotational direction. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. For example, while infrared signals are the preferred means for remote transmission, other wireless frequencies or signals for remotely controlling the operation of the stand could be used. Further, other possible decorative devices supported by the stand  10  could be controlled remotely by the transmitter  100 , such as blinking lights, lighted color wheels and the like. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.