Abstract:
The specification and drawing disclose the steps and structure involved in making one of a wide variety of three-dimensional branching structures that can be individually formed into extremely complex spatial representations of natural or abstract shapes suitable for viewing from many perspectives. A branching structure in the form of a wall-mounted tree is comprehensively disclosed along with means for affixing leaves to the tree to further simulate the form of a tree and for the further (optional) purpose of physically memorializing persons or events. A second embodiment is also disclosed to suggest the wide range of variations possible through employment of the basic method steps and to illustrate a form of branching structure that can be viewed from any horizontal or vertical perspective.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to three-dimensional branching structures and methods for making and using such structures, which are often used to depict, represent or simulate naturally occurring, synthesized or mathematically defined branching patterns for artistic, educational, technical or expressive purposes. Some of the branching patterns are observed in trees, shrubs, grasses, bacterial colonies, arterial networks, antlers, corals, ferns, cacti, river systems, watersheds, respiratory networks, as well as fractal, electronic, logical and mathematical patterns and networks. 
         [0002]    Over the years, the branching patterns observed in woody plants—especially trees—have been the frequent subject of efforts at three dimensional depiction. Indeed, there are currently over 400 United States patents classified or cross referenced in Class 428/18 which includes simulated trees and any other “article wherein the product simulated or treated is at least part of the woody portion of a woody perennial plant, which plant is generally distinguished by a substantially sized single or main trunk with attached branches and foliage.” Sculptors have applied their creativity in producing thousands of different forms of trees in both bas-relief and fully three-dimensional configurations. 
         [0003]    Trees have been simulated by means of simple cutouts (as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,925); by connecting artificial branches so they radiate outward from various points on a central “trunk” (as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,893,149); by connecting large leaves to one or more portions of a central “trunk” (as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,227, 5,759,645 and 6,033,753); by connecting flat planes to vertical “trunks” to represent arrays of leaves (as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,503,359, 5,284,536 and 6,329,028); and, by cutting out and folding uniform pairs of bough-shaped or spike-shaped segments and connecting the pairs along a common fold (as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 1,906,989). One of the most realistically depicted branching patterns are those associated miniature plants that have been subjected to extensive, long-term human pruning and manipulation techniques known as bonsai. Bonsai trees, already largely human-directed in their form, have been very successfully depicted through the use of wire forming techniques (such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,829,687 and 5,962,088). 
         [0004]    Two factors combine to make it both difficult and expensive to create realistic and aesthetic representations of natural branching patterns, such as those found in trees. These factors can be characterized in terms of the spatial volume and inherent complexity of these naturally occurring structures. The meaningful translation of this complexity into proportionate space-filling simulations has been the goal of artists and sculptors for centuries. While some degree of success has been achieved in the case of small three-dimensional structures, like bonsai simulations, the techniques used do not effectively scale up to larger representations. Artificial Christmas trees, which typically measure up to about 8 feet in height, have been developed to a point where many commercially available, machine-made, products provide a fair approximation of the texture, density and uniform conical shape seen in farm grown trees. However, the techniques used to produce these trees are limited to basic conifer varieties that are generally characterized by a single central trunk from which straight side branches extend to fill the surrounding space and define the shape of the tree. The Douglas Fir provides a prototype variety for the simulation techniques used in producing many artificial Christmas trees. True branching structures are far more complex in their growth patterns and overall forms, with multiple levels of divergent branches and sub-branches growing at many different angles and through many divergent plains. These complex branching patterns, which are far more engaging to the viewer, can be seen in natural varieties such as elm, dogwood, maple, eucalyptus, palo verde, mesquite, walnut, juniper and even baobab trees. The branching patterns of shrubs, corals and many sea creatures are similarly complex and resistant to meaningful three-dimensional representations. 
         [0005]    For many years organizations have used two-dimensional versions of tree-like branching structures in conjunction with fund-raising programs for hospitals, schools and churches. A flat depiction of a short tree segment is cast in plastic or metal or cut from fiberboard, wood or metal and mounted on a wall in the organization&#39;s office or facility. Minimum donations to the organization are memorialized by gluing or otherwise attaching a small leaf-like plaque bearing the name of the donor on the wall next to one of the branches. The two-dimensional outlines used in these programs do not meaningfully depict the complexity of even the simplest branching structure found in most trees, nor do the adjacent leaves pretend to be more than symbolic. These “donor recognition trees” have been quite successfully used, but the total funding raised is limited by the number of leaves that can be affixed on or adjacent to the flat tree segments. Typically one of these flat trees can support between 350 and 450 leaves and will require between 7 and 8 feet of wall space. By contrast, a three-dimensional tree structure made in accord with the present invention can accommodate some 1230 leaves, requires less wall space and continually engages observers with the sense of volume and complexity that characterize the natural beauty of trees. 
         [0006]    It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide structures and methods for making structures capable of realistically depicting the space-filling complexity of naturally occurring and synthesized branching structures and to achieve this objective at a lower overall cost as compared to other methods when used to produce an equal level of branching volume and complexity. 
         [0007]    It is a further objective to provide methods for use in making articles that meaningfully and aesthetically depict a wide range of naturally occurring and synthesized branching structures and do so in ways that both accommodate and enable individual forms of artistic, educational and technical expression in the final article. 
         [0008]    It is another objective to provide a specific embodiment of the invention that finds particular utility in highly leveraged organizational fund raising programs constructed on the universal aesthetic appeal derived from the complex branching patterns of a tree. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention encompasses three-dimensional branching structures and related methods which can be most efficiently summarized in terms of the steps by which these structures are made, including:
       a. forming a plurality of branching sections, each of said sections being generally flat in relation to an initial plane and having a reference edge from which multiple branching segments extend, said segments being suitable for at least partial deformation through bending and twisting;   b. joining said branching sections in fixed spatial relation to one another by connecting said sections to a common mounting structure;   c. deforming selected portions of said branching segments by transposing them from their initial positions in relation to said initial plane to final positions that are at least partially transverse to said initial plane; and,   d. optionally securing attachments to distributed connection points on said branching segments.       
 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0014]      FIG. 1 . This is a perspective view of an actual tree structure produced as the first embodiment the invention and measuring approximately 8 feet tall, 7 feet wide and 4 feet deep. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2 . This is a detail line drawing showing the trunk and lower branching portions of the tree structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3 . This figure includes three computer-generated drawings ( FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 3C ) that correspond to the tool paths used to cut the flat tree sections used in fabrication of the tree structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4 . This figure includes a partial side view ( FIG. 4A ) and a partial front view ( FIG. 4B ) of one of the tree sections shown in  FIG. 3 , further including a tapered trunk segment fitted to the lower portion of the tree section. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5 . This is a partial section view taken through the plane designated  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6 . This figure includes two detail views ( FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B ) of representative branching segments of the tree sections shown in  FIG. 3  after these segments have been selectively bent and twisted out of and transverse to the initial plane of the tree section. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7 . This figure includes a partially cut away view ( FIG. 7A ) and an assembled view ( FIG. 7B ) of a representative leaf and leaf stem combination to be secured at distributed connection points on the branching sections of the tree shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8 . This is a detailed view of a representative branching segment of a tree section shown in  FIG. 3  which has been marked with dots to indicate some of the distributed connection points to which leaves such as the one shown in  FIG. 7  may be permanently affixed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9 . This figure includes two detailed views of a representative branch stem before ( FIG. 9A ) and after ( FIG. 9B ) it has been stud welded to a branch segment at one of the distributed connection points indicated by the dots in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10 . This figure includes a series of five views ( FIGS. 10A through 10E ) depicting the steps by which a leaf of the type shown in  FIG. 7  is assembled and secured to a branch stem (shown in  FIG. 9 ) located at one of the distributed connection points (shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
           [0024]      FIG. 11 . This figure includes two detailed views ( FIGS. 11A and 11B ) of a bending tool for securing stem pairs and an enlarged view ( FIG. 11C ) of a stem pair assembly showing the two elements secured against lateral displacement and rotation after bending. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12 . This figure includes a series of five views ( FIGS. 12A through 12E ) depicting the structures and steps involved in detachably connecting a finished tree (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to a vertical wall at the final installation site. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13 . This is a partial view showing, by way of example, how two of ten branching sections may be connected along a common edge to form a generally spherical branching structure, which can be ground mounted or suspended from above. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14 . This figure includes two partial section views ( FIG. 14A  and  FIG. 14B ) taken through the plane designated  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13 , showing the structures and steps involved in detachably connecting two sets of five branching sections of the type partially depicted in  FIG. 13  to form a generally ellipsoidal branching structure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    A detailed description of the invention will be presented with primary reference to a branching structure physically embodied in the form of a sculptural tree that was produced for use in a fund-raising program initiated by the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley, Ariz. The three-dimensional tree structure  1  as shown in  FIG. 1  and further described in relation to  FIGS. 2 through 6  was constructed in accord with the present invention and dedicated in the church foyer on Nov. 5, 2006. When donors make contributions to the church in recognition of a person or event, the donation is acknowledged by permanently affixing to the tree a leaf  11  as shown and further described in relation to  FIGS. 7 through 11 . The leaf may optionally bear an inscription, such as the name of the donor, event or honoree (collectively “event”). 
         [0029]    As constructed, the tree  1  of  FIG. 1  measures approximately 8 feet tall, 6 feet wide and 4 feet deep. It has the capacity to receive approximately 1230 separate leaves that would serve to acknowledge approximately $600,000 in donations at $500 per leaf. The modular and scaleable nature of the structure allows higher densities to be achieved by increasing the size of the structure or by expanding it from a 180 degree wall-mounted configuration to a 360 degree free standing configuration, as described in relation to another branching structure described in relation to  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
         [0030]    The branching tree structure  1  of  FIG. 1  consists of an upper branching portion and a lower trunk portion. The lower trunk portion is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . The tree  1  is made up of five connected sections of the type shown in  FIG. 3 . The tree section shown in  FIG. 3A  is generally designated by the letter reference A while the tree sections shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C  are respectively designated by the reference letters B and C. As generally shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tree structure  1  includes five radiating tree sections shown in  FIG. 3 : two of the sections are type A, two are type B and one is type C. These tree sections are connected along their reference edges  5  to a central mount  8  as shown in the section view of  FIG. 5  and the detailed views of  FIGS. 12A and 12B . 
         [0031]    The tree section drawings in  FIG. 3  are reproductions of the tool path drawings used in cutting these sections from flat sheets of steel. These tree sections A, B and C each lie in an initial plane defined by the 4 foot by 8 foot sheets of 10 gauge (nominally 0.120″ thick) steel from which they were cut using a computer controlled plasma torch. While the tree structure  1  was fabricated from branching sections cut from sheet material, similar branching sections could be formed by metal or other casting techniques that would produce functionally equivalent sections having varying thicknesses and surface textures. Likewise, while the tree structure  1  was fabricated from steel, other materials suitable for subsequent deformation by bending and twisting could be used; including, by way of example, brass, bronze, aluminum and heat formable plastic materials. Materials having positional memory or spring are not preferred and may require heating to assure fixed transformation from bending and twisting. 
         [0032]    The tree  1  incorporates five tree sections of the types shown in  FIG. 3 , but could have included a greater or lesser number of these sections. The tree sections themselves could have been designed to use an almost unlimited variety of naturally inspired or synthesized branching patterns. The tree structure  1  shown in  FIG. 1  was designed to mount against a flat wall (180 degree version); however, the same basic design with fewer tree sections could be modified for mounting in a corner (90 degree version) or, with two of the tree structures  1  joined together, as a single, free-standing structure (360 degree version). An example of a 360 degree version is described in relation to  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
         [0033]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the lower portions of the tree sections A, B and C each include a curved outer edge  3 , a bottom edge  4  and a reference edge  5 . The two views in  FIG. 4  show the lower portion of one representative tree segment, in this case, the lower portion of tree segment A.  FIG. 4A  shows a side view and  FIG. 4B  shows an edge view of this representative tree segment. A tapered trunk segment  6 , cut (or otherwise formed) from the same material as the tree sections themselves, is positioned perpendicular to and centered on the outer edge  3  of tree segment A and is then shaped by clamping to conform to the outer edge  3  and then secured in position by welding or other suitable method. When trunk segments  6  are welded to the outer edges  3  of each of the tree segment A, B and C, they function to substantially stiffen the tree segments against lateral movement and deformation. This stiffening effect is further enhanced when the bottom edge  4  of each trunk segment is welded to the semi-circular base  7 . As further described in conjunction with  FIGS. 5 and 12 , the reference edge  5  of each of the tree sections, is secured to a central mount  8  which holds the tree sections in fixed spatial relation to one another while providing further stiffening to the lower portion of the tree structure  1 . As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the trunk segments  6 , when viewed together as part of the finished tree structure  1 , produce a more realistic visual impression of an actual tree trunk while also enhancing overall structural integrity and rigidity. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a partial section of the lower part of tree structure  1  viewed through the plane designated  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . A portion of each of the five tree sections A, B and C are shown connected to and radiating from the central mount  8 . Central mount  8  is secured to the vertical wall  9  by means that will be further described in relation to  FIG. 12 . The reference edge  5  on each of the tree sections lies in the initial plane of the tree section and is affixed to the mount  8  by welding. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows the outer edges  3  of the tree sections (broken line) in relation to the corresponding trunk segments  6  and the semi-circular base  7 . As indicated in  FIG. 5 , the tree sections are angularly spaced at approximately 36 degrees with respect to one another and by half this angle in relation to the wall  9 . This angular spacing is not critical and is dictated primarily by the number of branching segments that are included in any particular design. The angular spacing shown in  FIG. 5  (36 degrees) accommodates the connection of two tree structures  1  along their common mount  8  to form a single free standing tree structure that can be viewed from any angle around its central axis. An example of a 360-degree embodiment (having a different branching pattern) is described in relation to  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  includes two representative views of the distal portions of the tree sections shown in  FIG. 3  after individual branches and groups of branches have formed by bending and/or twisting to final positions out of the original planes defined by the corresponding tree sections shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6A  illustrates how an initial bend on radius R- 1  brings the outer portion of the affected branch segment out of the original plane defined in part by the edge  10  that is initially coplanar with reference edge  5  and the remainder of the tree section as depicted in  FIG. 3 . A surprisingly natural look can be achieved by continuing to form this representative branch by means of twist T- 1  and by further bending on radius R- 2 . A similarly natural effect can be seen in  FIG. 6B  where the branch segment has been formed through the introduction, for example, of twist T- 2 , twist T- 3  and a bend on radius R- 3 . Obviously, the tree segments shown in  FIG. 6  have been subject to additional bending and twisting deformations beyond those specifically referenced. 
         [0037]    When the flat tree sections A, B and C are initially secured to mount  8 , their respective branching patterns extend outward from their reference edges  5  in planes that diverge with approximately 36 degrees of separation. The bending and twisting process illustrated in  FIG. 6  transposes the tree sections of  FIG. 3  from essentially flat, two-dimensional, branching structures into more realistic three-dimensional, space-filling structures as shown by the representative embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The branch segments are preferably formed so as to occupy much of the space between the initial planes of the tree sections. 
         [0038]    Forming the branches to positions out of each tree section&#39;s original plane can produce a wide variety of effects and allows for significant visual and spatial expression in the production of the final branching structure. The bending and twisting of branch segments in the production of the tree structure shown in  FIG. 1  was accomplished without heating the steel, aided only by simple sets of hand tools such as adjustable wrenches and hand-held benders. In cases where the width or thickness of a branch segment is too great for cold forming, heat may be widely applied to the area designated for deformation. Care should be taken to not to overheat a small, localized area as this may result in unnaturally sharp bends or twists. In cases where branch segments from adjacent sections crossed one another or came in very close proximity, a small stitch weld was used to inconspicuously secure the adjacent branch segments together. A dozen or so of these connections added a networked rigidity to the overall branching structure and limited relative movement between adjacent tree sections, which was especially advantageous during transportation and installation. 
         [0039]    While the novel methods and structures of the present invention have substantial utility in producing or simulating a wide range of three-dimensional branching structures, further utility can be realized through the novel incorporation of attachments to augment the appearance and usefulness of such branching structures. These additional improvements will be described in relation to  FIGS. 7 through 11 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  illustrates a leaf  11  and leaf stem  12  which together form an attachment suitable for connection to the tree structure  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . Specifically,  FIG. 7A  shows a cut away view and  FIG. 7B  shows an assembled view of the leaf/stem combination. The leaves  11  as designed for use in conjunction with the tree  1  in  FIG. 1  measured 2 inches wide and were cut from 0.022 inch thick copper sheet using a computer-controlled abrasive water jet system. The leaf stem  12  was formed from 3/16 inch (O.D.) medium hard copper tubing having a 0.032 inch wall thickness and cut to a length of approximately 1⅜ inches. An axially centered slit  13  was cut approximately ¼ inch into one end of each leaf stem  12  to receive the stem end of the leaf  11 . The slit  13  was cut using a saw blade having a width of approximately 0.025 inches to produce a sliding fit with the leaf  11 . The small stem tip  14  at the bottom of the leaf  11  serves to orient and register the leaf  11  in the bottom of slit  13  and in axial relation to stem  12 . With the leaf  11  fully inserted into the slit  13 , a two-ton manual arbor press was used to flatten the slit end  20  of the stem  12  and secure the leaf  11  within the slit  13 , as shown in  FIG. 10C  and further described in relation to the other views in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  shows a representative segment from one of the branching sections shown in  FIG. 3 . The small circles  15  indicate a few of the many possible connection points that would be suitable locations for the attachment of a leaf  11  of the type shown in  FIG. 7B . The branching tree structure of  FIG. 1  was constructed with approximately 1230 of these connection points  15  distributed on both sides of the individual branches. While there are many different ways to secure the leaves  11  at the connection points  15 , the preferred method employed in producing the structure of  FIG. 1  is described below in relation to  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  shows a branch stem  16  in the form of a commercially available weld stud having a small point  17  extending from below its shouldered base. The branch stem  16  chosen for this application was a standard stainless steel stud measuring one inch long and having a nominal diameter of 0.107 inch. Branch stems  16  are secured by the stud welding process at the various connection points  15  generally indicated in  FIG. 8 . Stud welding is a well-known process. The tip  17  of the weld stud (branch stem  16 ) is located over a connection point  15  while being held in a spring-loaded gun that exerts a continuous downward force on the branch stem  16  and maintains it in contact with the electrically grounded branch segment  18 . While in this position, a capacitor is discharged and a controlled surge of current passes through the branch stem  16 , melting the tip  17  and welding the bottom of the branch stem  16  to the surface of branch segment  18 . Preferably, the stems  16  are secured to the branching sections (A, B, and C) while the sections are in their initial planar state, before any bending or twisting deformation of the branch segments has occurred. 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  includes a series of five views that further illustrate the steps involved in assembling and securing leaf  11  by means of stems  12  and  16  to representative branch segment  18 .  FIG. 10A  is an exploded view showing the edge of leaf  11  in aligned relation to the slotted end of leaf stem  12 , branch stem  16  and branch segment  18 . In  FIG. 10B  the bottom of leaf  11 , including stem tip  14  is shown engaged in slot  13  at the end of leaf stem  12  while branch stem  16  is shown welded at one of the connection points on branch segment  18 .  FIG. 10C  shows the slotted end portion  20  of branch stem  16  after it has been pressed and flattened over the lower portion of leaf  11  to form a tight connection. 
         [0044]      FIG. 10D  shows the leaf stem  12  fully engaged over branch stem  16  (broken line). At this point, the leaf  11  can be rotated to a final position. The final connection step is shown in  FIG. 10E , where parallel bending forces  22  are opposed by the central bending force  21  to slightly deform the pair of coaxially engaged connection elements  12  and  16 . With a limited difference between the inside diameter of leaf stem  12  and the outside diameter of branch stem  16 , a very small bending deformation of these coaxial elements will fix them in relation to one another and prevent rotation or removal of the leaf  11  from branch segment  18 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  includes three views showing the structures and steps involved in securing the stems  12  and  16  to one another to form a stem pair  26 .  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B show a hand operated bending tool  23  adapted to exert the opposed bending forces  21  and  22  shown by the arrows in  FIGS. 10E and 11C . These bending forces correspond to and include the same reference numerals as the opposing jaws  22  and arm  21  of bending tool  23  shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . The bending tool  23  was made by adding opposing jaws  22  to a compound hand nibbler (catalogue number 35748) available from Draper Tools. When the bending tool  23  is closed over a stem pair  26 , the arm  21  exerts the force indicated by arrow  21  and the two jaws  22  exert the opposing forces indicated by arrows  22  ( FIGS. 10E and 11C ). 
         [0046]      FIG. 11C  shows an enlarged view of a leaf stem  12  inserted over a branch stem  16  to form a stem pair  26 . The opposing forces  21  and  22  bend the two coaxial stem parts and this deformation secures the two parts against axial displacement and rotation that would otherwise occur as indicated by the directional arrows on the right side of  FIG. 11C . The leaves  11  ( FIG. 7B ) as fabricated for installation on tree  1  ( FIG. 1 ) were made from a leaf stem  12  having an outside diameter of 3/16″ and a wall thickness of 0.032″ which resulted in an inside diameter of approximately 0.123″. The weld stud used to form branch stems  16  had an outside diameter of 0.107″ that was effectively increased to a diameter of about 0.114 when the entire tree structure  1  (including the branch stems  16 ) was powder coated. In this case, the inside diameter of leaf stem  12  was approximately 0.01″ greater than the finished outside diameter of branch stem  16 . This close sliding fit allowed the two stems  12  and  16  to be secured against rotation and separation by bending the combined stem pair  26  by any amount in excess of this small difference between their respective inside and outside dimensions. 
         [0047]    The branch stems  16  are preferably welded at connection points  15  after the profiles of the tree sections (A, B and C) have been cut out (or otherwise formed) but before their various branching segments have been deformed out of the section&#39;s original plane by bending and twisting. This order greatly facilitates the process of stud welding the stems  16  at distributed points on both sides of the tree sections and perpendicular to the corresponding flat surfaces. After the stems  16  have been secured in place and the tree sections have been secured to the central mount  8 , the various branching segments are formed by bending and twisting as shown in  FIG. 6 . As a result, the stems  16  are relocated into scores of different planes and realigned in hundreds of different directions. The resulting structural and visual complexity is multiplied as hundreds of leaves  11  are attached to the randomly oriented branch stems  16  extending from the distributed connection points  15 . As more leaves are attached, the tree  1  is transformed from an image of deciduous winter to one of fully developed spring. 
         [0048]    As indicated in  FIG. 7B , the leaves  11  can bear inscriptions that physically memorialize people, events or contributions (“events”). The leaves  11  and stems  12  for use on tree  1  were made from copper sheet and tubing, as previously described. After the stem  12  was secured to the leaf  11 , the combination was cleaned using an ammonia solution, rinsed with water and then repeatedly treated over several days with a spray patina solution produced by mixing the following compounds with 16 oz of water in the following amounts and order: (1) 4 tsp (20 mg) of ammonium chloride, (2) 2 tsp (10 mg) of copper sulfate, and (3) one-half tsp (2.5 mg) of copper acetate (while heating slightly, if required, to aid the solution process). This solution produced a natural medium green patina characterized by irregular green/blue-green variegation. After the patina was fully dried, the surface of the leaf/stem combination was sealed through the application of two clear coats of a matte lacquer spray. Indicia, such as the names shown in  FIG. 7B  were added through the use of standard burnishing techniques and equipment well known in the field of engraving. A mechanically controlled rotating burnishing tool was used to selectively remove the clear coat, the patina and the underlying film of oxidized copper, resulting in the exposure of the bright copper surface below and defining the desired indicia in terms of this exposed copper surface in visual contrast to the darker patina covering the remainder of the leaf. A second clear coat of matte lacquer spray was applied to prevent oxidation of the copper surface exposed as a result of the burnishing process. 
         [0049]    The embodiment of the invention described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 through 6  was designed to be supported from below by a floor under base  7  ( FIG. 2 ) and secured to wall  9  ( FIG. 5 ) to prevent lateral movement.  FIG. 12  includes six detailed views that illustrate the method and structures used to detachably secure the central mount  8  (and thus the tree  1 ) to wall  9 .  FIG. 12A  is a top view looking down on the central most portion of tree  1  where the five branching sections A, B, C are joined by their reference edges  5  to the central mount  8 . The five branching sections are separately identified as one of the A, B or C configurations shown in  FIG. 3  and these sections are oriented in the same order shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5  (counterclockwise order: A-B-C-A-B). In the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the central mount  8  was fabricated from a 42-inch length of 2 inch OD steel tubing having a nominal wall thickness of 0.090 inch. This tube was cut in half along its central axis to form the semi-circular section of central mount  8  as shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . Secured across the diameter and inside the central mount  8  are at least two (preferably three) cross bars  32  spaced apart along the length of the central mount  8 . One of the cross bars  32  is shown in the top views of  FIGS. 12A and 12B  and in each of the partial section views of  FIGS. 12C through 12E . 
         [0050]    Secured to the wall  9  is a receiver  31  consisting of two vertical tubes  36  connected by a continuous bridge plate  35 . Receiver  31  may be substantially the same length as the central mount  8  and is secured to the wall  9  by lag bolts or other means not shown. For each cross bar  32  included on central mount  8 , there is a cleat consisting of a spacer  34  and an upward extending retainer  33  each secured to the bridge plate  35 . As best shown in the side views of  FIGS. 12C ,  12 D and  12 E, the central mount  8  (to which the entire tree structure  1  is connected) is detachably connected to the wall-mounted receiver  31  by: (a) lifting the central mount  8  (and tree  1 ) upward as indicated by directional arrow  37  in  FIG. 12C ; (b) moving the central mount  8  into alignment above the receiver  31 , as indicated by arrow  38  in the intermediate illustration of  FIG. 12D ; and (c) lowering the central mount  8  so that cross bar  32  slides behind retainer  33  securing the cross bar  32  and thus the entire tree  1  to the wall  9  as shown in the side view of  FIG. 12E  and the top view of  FIG. 12B . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 13 and 14  suggest another of the almost unlimited number of branching structures that can be made using the basic techniques described in relation to the tree  1  of  FIGS. 1 through 12 .  FIG. 13  shows two (left and right) generally co-planar sections of a different branching structure  2 , one that does not include a trunk. The structure  2  can be supported from below by a foundation  44  or it can be suspended from above by a cable  45 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  consists of two partial section views taken at  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13 . The two halves of central mount  40  correspond structurally to the central mount  8  shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . While the central mount  8  of  FIG. 12  is designed to be secured to a vertical wall, the two halves of the central mount  40  in  FIGS. 13 and 14  are designed to be secured to a concentric shaft  42  by means of bolts  46  and nuts  47  extending through the walls of mount  40  and shaft  42  as shown in the assembled view of  FIG. 14B . The shaft  42  can extend downward and be secured to a suitable base plate  48  or within a foundation-mounted sleeve  43 . Alternatively, the branching structure  2  can be suspended from above by a cable or chain  45 . 
         [0053]    The left and right sections of branching structure  2 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , consist of branching segments cut from different parts of the three tree sections shown in  FIG. 3  and assembled into two branching sections having their reference edges  41  affixed to central mount  40 . The left and right branching sections of structure  2  represent two of ten such sections secured at their reference edges  41  and extending from the central mount  40  in equally spaced radial planes as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . By way of example, the five individual branching sections identified by reference numerals  51  through  55  would be secured along their reference edges  41  to one of the halves forming central mount  40  as shown in  FIG. 14A . The branching sections incorporated into structure  2  can be variations of the two representative segments shown in  FIG. 13  or any other branching configuration selected to provide a desired spatial representation. After the branching sections  51  through  55  have been connected to central mount  40 , the individual branches and groups of branches on each section can be formed by selectively bending and twisting different segments and branches out of their original planes in the same manner previously shown and described in conjunction with  FIG. 6 . This will produce a complex branching structure having a natural form that can be viewed from any vertical or horizontal perspective while occupying an ellipsoidal volume that measures approximately 8 by 10 feet. The structure  2  can incorporate attachments (with or without inscriptions) by using the structures and following the steps described in conjunction with  FIGS. 7 through 11 .