Patent Publication Number: US-2021186247-A1

Title: Foldable Upright Tree Skirt

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/247,849, filed Jan. 15, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No, 10,827,869, which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/098,451, filed Apr. 14, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,213,039, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/147,277, filed Apr. 14, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates generally to devices for covering a base of a tree. More particularly, this disclosure relates to foldable or collapsible devices for covering a base of a tree or Christmas tree, such as a tree skirt. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Christmas tree skirts are typically ornamental bases which are placed around the bottom of a Christmas tree in order to cover the Christmas tree stand which holds the tree in an upright position. The Christmas tree stand usually is not decorative and often is covered with a more decorative or ornamental type cover. To overcome a non-decorative Christmas tree stand, decorative skirts can be employed to conceal the stand and/or otherwise enhance the holiday furnishings. The decorative skirts are usually made of fabric, however, some skirts are made of other more rigid materials such as wicker, metal, or wood, in order to create an upright skirt. These rigid skirts often require a large amount of storage and retail space and are therefore difficult to store and retail. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is disclosed herein a rigid tree skirt to cover a tree stand for a Christmas tree that may also be easily collapsed or folded to a smaller size for easier storage and retail display. The cover includes a plurality of enclosed pockets containing rigid panels therein, and at least one attachment device for attaching a first end of the cover with a second end of the cover. The cover with the enclosed or sealed panels within the pockets of the cover is foldable in a disassemble state. In an assembled state, the cover can be releasably secured together to form a three-dimensional enclosure having a substantially continuous sidewall adapted to surround a Christmas tree stand of a Christmas tree. The plurality of poles with pole connectors is assembled to removably fit onto the top of the sidewall and onto the bottom of the sidewalls. The plurality of poles fits within the sidewall of the enclosure so as to maintain the enclosure in the three-dimensional shape, such as a cone shape, drum shape, cylindrical shape or barrel shape. The cover is formed of a single piece that wrappers around the tree stand and/or fits around the tree trunk. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for assembling a foldable skirt device, including the step of: providing a foldable cover including a first set of pole loop connectors and a second set of pole loop connectors and multiple pockets; the step of providing at least one attachment device in communication with the foldable cover for attaching a first end of the foldable cover with a second end of the foldable cover; the step of inserting multiple panels into the multiple pockets of the foldable cover and enclosing each rigid panel of the multiple panels within each pocket of the multiple pockets of the foldable cover; the step of threading a first pole through the first set of pole loop connectors of the foldable cover and connecting a first end of the first pole to a second end of the first pole with a first pole connector; the step of threading a second pole through the second set of pole loop connectors of the foldable cover and connecting a first end of the second pole to a second end of the second pole with a second pole connector; and the step of attaching the first end of the foldable cover to a second end of the foldable cover with the at least one attachment device. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for dis-assembling a foldable skirt device, comprising: the step of de-attaching at least one attachment device from a first end of a foldable cover from a second end of the foldable cover; the step of de-attaching a first pole connector from a first end and a second end of a first pole and de-threading the first pole from a first set of pole loop connectors from the foldable cover; the step of de-attaching a second pole connector from a first end and a second end of a second pole and de-threading the second pole from a second set of pole loop connectors from the foldable cover. 
     Further features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is first perspective view of the collapsible cover assembled according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is second perspective view of the collapsible cover assembled according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the collapsible cover assembled according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the collapsible cover assembled according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the collapsible cover assembled according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a folded view of the collapsible cover disassembled without the poles or pole connectors, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the poles and pole connectors, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of another set of poles and pole connectors, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a view of an alternate set of poles and pole connectors, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a view of pole loops located on a top side of the cover, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a view of pole loops located on a bottom side of the cover, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12A  is a view of the rigid panels, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12B  is an inside view of the cover having pockets and the pole loops but without the rigid panels sealed within the pockets, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12C  is an outside view of the cover having pockets with the rigid panels sealed within the pockets and the attached devices at the end of the cover, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     While the above-identified drawings set forth presently disclosed embodiments, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. This disclosure presents illustrative embodiments by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of the presently disclosed embodiments. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the following description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, systems, processes, and other elements in the invention may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known processes, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments. Further, like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicated like elements. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show perspective views of a collapsible or foldable tree skirt  100  to cover a tree stand for a Christmas tree. The foldable tree skirt  100  is configured to cover unsightly tree stands as well as provide further holiday cheer by being pleasing in appearance. Further, the foldable tree skirt  100  is structured and arranged to be able to be disassembled, so after use the foldable tree skirt  100  can be easily packed away into a flat arrangement. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of the foldable tree skirt  100  that illustrates the pleasing appearance, such that the cover  110  may include one or more holiday decorations such as images that are digital or non-digital, screen printed or any other image of the like. It is contemplated the foldable tree skirt  100  may have holiday decorations attached to an outer surface of the cover  110 . In appearance, the cover  110  appears to be a seamless tree skirt, such that appears to be a unitary device. 
       FIG. 4  shows a top view of the foldable tree skirt  100 , wherein the cover  110  includes a seam  120  where a first end of the cover  110  is attached to a second end of the cover  110 . However, the seam  120  is configured so as to appear invisible upon assembly. 
       FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the foldable tree skirt  100 , wherein the attachment devices  120 A and  120 B are located approximate the seam  120 . The attachment devices  120 A and  120 B attach the first end  110 A of the cover  110  with a second end  110 B of the cover  110 . The cover  110  includes a bottom set of pole loop connectors  130 A for at least one bottom flexible pole  130 B, such as a tent pole, that is threaded through the bottom set of pole loop connectors  130 A. Wherein a first end of bottom flexible pole  130 A is attached to a second end of the bottom flexible pole  130 A by a pole connector  130 C, so as to secure the foldable tree skirt  100  in a partially assembled position. The cover  110  also includes an top set of pole loop connectors  140 A for at least one top flexible pole  140 B that is threaded through the top set of pole loop connectors  140 A. Wherein a first end of top flexible pole  140 B is attached to a second end of the top flexible pole  140 B by a pole connector  140 C, so as to secure the foldable tree skirt  100  in a partially assembled position. The foldable tree skirt  100  is in a fully assembled state, upon the attachment devices  120 A,  120 B attached to the first and second end  110 A,  110 B of the cover  110 , the bottom flexible pole  130 B and the top flexible pole  140 B are assembled with their respective set of pole loop connectors  130 A,  140 A and that the bottom flexible pole  130 B and the top flexible pole  140 B are assembled via their respective pole connectors  130 C,  140 C. 
       FIG. 6  shows the foldable tree skirt  100  in a partially unassembled state, wherein the cover  110  is folded. In a folded state,  FIG. 6  shows the attachment devices  120 A,  120 B, the set of pole loop connectors  130 A,  140 A located on an bottom surface of the cover  110 . It is noted that the attachment devices  120 A,  120 B can be located either on the inside surface, an outside surface or both the inside and outside surface of the cover  110 .  FIG. 6  shows the attachment devices  120 A,  120 B located on both the inside surface and outside surface of the cover  110 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of the at least one bottom flexible pole  130 B, such as a tent pole, with at least one pole connector  130 C. Further,  FIG. 7  shows at least one top flexible pole  140 B with at least one pole connector  140 C. 
       FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of a multiple of flexible poles  131 B,  141 B along with a multiple of pole connectors  131 C,  141 C. It is contemplated that the pole connectors  131 C,  141 C could be attached to an end of the flexible poles  131 B,  141 B, such that the unconnected end of the  131 B,  141 B is inserted into the unconnected end of the pole connectors  131 C,  141 C. 
       FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of a multiple of flexible poles  132 B,  142 B along with a multiple of pole connectors  132 C,  142 C that are connected by at least one expandable or elastic string or rope  132 D. It is contemplated that the pole connectors  132 C,  142 C could be attached to an end of the flexible poles  132 B,  142 B, such that the unconnected end of the  132 B,  142 B is inserted into the unconnected end of the pole connectors  132 C,  142 C. 
       FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of the orientation of the cover  110  in relation to the bottom set of pole loop connectors  130 A. In particular, the pole loop connector  130 A is positioned so the loop extends away from the bottom of the cover  110 . 
       FIG. 11  shows an embodiment of the orientation of the cover  110  in relation to the top set of pole loop connectors  140 A. In particular, the pole loop connector  140 A is positioned so the loop extends away from the top of the cover  110 . 
       FIG. 12A ,  FIG. 12B  and  FIG. 12C  show the components of the cover  110 , which include at least one rigid panel  113  and at least one pocket  113 A to hold the at least one rigid panel  113 .  FIG. 12A  shows the at least one rigid panel  113 , and  FIG. 12B  shows an inside view of the cover  110  having at least one pocket  113 A for the at least one rigid panel  113  to be inserted into.  FIG. 12C  shows an assembled view of the outside surface of the cover  110 , wherein the rigid panels  113  are inserted into and enclosed into the pockets  113 A of the cover  110 . It is contemplated the enclosing of the rigid panels  113  into the pockets  113 A could be by one of sewing, gluing or any other enclosing, sealing or fixing the rigid panels  113  into the pockets  113 A. 
     According to embodiments, the cover includes a plurality of enclosed pockets containing rigid panels therein, and at least one attachment device for attaching a first end of the cover with a second end of the cover. The cover can include the enclosed or sealed rigid panels within the pockets of the cover so the cover is foldable in a disassemble state. In an assembled state, the cover can be releasably secured together to form a three-dimensional enclosure having a substantially continuous sidewall adapted to surround a Christmas tree stand of a Christmas tree. The plurality of poles with pole connectors can be assembled to removably fit onto the top of the sidewall and onto the bottom of the sidewalls of the cover. The plurality of poles fits within the sidewall of the enclosure so as to maintain the enclosure in the three-dimensional shape, such as a cone shape, drum shape, cylindrical shape or barrel shape. It is possible that the enclosure, i.e. cover, could include three sets of poles and pole connectors attached at different location on the cover, such as the top, middle and bottom. For example, a first set of pole(s) with pole connectors may be located at the top of the enclosure, a second set of pole(s) with pole connectors may be located at a middle of the enclosure, and a third set of pole(s) with pole connectors may be located at bottom of the enclosure. Further, it is possible that each diameter of the assembled pole(s) with pole connectors (i.e. of the three sets of pole(s) with pole connectors) could be one of equal, different or some combination thereof. For example, in an assembled state, the first set of pole(s) with pole connectors could have a larger or smaller diameter than either of the second or third assembled pole(s) with pole connectors. Further still, the first, second or third set of pole(s) with pole connectors could all have the same or different diameters in the assembled state. 
     The cover can be formed of a single piece that wrappers around the tree stand and/or fit around the tree trunk. It is contemplated the cover could be made of materials including fabric, a blended fabric, a synthetic like fabric, a combination of fabric and synthetic material. It is possible the cover could also be made of a non-natural material, a natural material or a combination of a natural material with a non-natural material. 
     The cover could be include one or more elements such as a rigid material that is foldable as noted above or two or more materials so as to be foldable as also noted above. For example, the cover could be a unitary rigid material that replaces the pockets and rigid panels that has a softer material joining the unitary rigid material, so the cover is foldable as noted above. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a collapsible or foldable tree skirt to cover a tree stand for a Christmas tree. The cover includes a plurality of enclosed pockets containing rigid panels therein, and at least one attachment device for attaching a first end of the cover with a second end of the cover. It is contemplated that the attachment device could include one of mechanical or non-mechanical devices. For example, the mechanical devices could include a hook and loop device, a metal attachment device, a non-metal material mechanical attachment device or the like. The non-mechanical attachment device may include one of adhesive such as glue, stitching such as needle and thread, or some other non-mechanical attachment device. The cover with the enclosed or sealed panels within the pockets of the cover is foldable in a disassemble state. In an assembled state, the cover can be releasably secured together to form a three-dimensional enclosure having a substantially continuous sidewall adapted to surround a Christmas tree stand of a Christmas tree. The plurality of poles with pole connectors is assembled to removably fit onto the top of the sidewall and onto the bottom of the sidewalls. The plurality of poles fits within the sidewall of the enclosure so as to maintain the enclosure in the three-dimensional shape, such as a cone shape, drum shape or barrel shape. The cover is formed of a single piece that wrappers around the tree stand and/or fits around the tree trunk. 
     According to aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure, at least one attachment device includes a hook and loop type fastener, the loop component disposed on the first end of the cover and the hook component on the second end thereof, the components arranged to register with and engage each other when the first and the second ends are brought together. In some embodiments, the attachment device may be a tie, a snap, a hook, or any other kind of fastener. In some embodiments, at least one first pole and at least one second pole can be flexible tent poles or wires, each pole or wire can be capable of flexing so as to connect the first end of the pole or wire to the second end via the at least one pole connecter or hooked end of the wire, so as to form a cylindrical shape. Further still, the at least one first pole and the at least one second pole can have different lengths or be the same length. The poles may be non-sectioned or sectioned, and in some embodiments each pole of the at least one first pole and the at least one second pole may include multiple sections of a pole length that are connected via an elastic material, or may be a wire with a hook on each end allowing for connection of each end via the hooks. In some embodiments, each pole may comprise a length of flexible material configured to be threaded through each set of pole loops and having a connector at each end of the flexible material, the connector configured to connect each end of the flexible material to form a closed loop shaped. 
     According to aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure, at least one rigid panel includes multiple panels and the at least one pocket includes multiple pockets, such that a number of the multiple panels equals a number of the multiple pockets. Further, the at least one pocket, the at least one first pole, the at least one second pole can be located on an inside of the cover. Further still, the first set of pole loop connectors can be located approximately a long a first edge of the cover and the second set of pole loop connectors are located approximately a long a second edge of the cover. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for assembling a foldable skirt device, including the step of: providing a foldable cover including a first set of pole loop connectors and a second set of pole loop connectors and multiple pockets; the step of providing at least one attachment device in communication with the foldable cover for attaching a first end of the foldable cover with a second end of the foldable cover; the step of inserting multiple panels into the multiple pockets of the foldable cover and enclosing each rigid panel of the multiple panels within each pocket of the multiple pockets of the foldable cover; the step of threading a first pole through the first set of pole loop connectors of the foldable cover and connecting a first end of the first pole to a second end of the first pole with a first pole connector; the step of threading a second pole through the second set of pole loop connectors of the foldable cover and connecting a first end of the second pole to a second end of the second pole with a second pole connector; and the step of attaching the first end of the foldable cover to a second end of the foldable cover with the at least one attachment device. 
     According to aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the method of assembling the foldable skirt device can include the multiple pockets, the at least one first pole, the at least one second pole being located on an inside of the foldable cover. Further, enclosing each opening for each pocket of the multiple pockets can be by one of a glue, a hook and loop type fastener, a liquid type enclosing device or a mechanical type enclosing device. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for dis-assembling a foldable skirt device, comprising: the step of de-attaching at least one attachment device from a first end of a foldable cover from a second end of the foldable cover; the step of de-attaching a first pole connector from a first end and a second end of a first pole and de-threading the first pole from a first set of pole loop connectors from the foldable cover; the step of de-attaching a second pole connector from a first end and a second end of a second pole and de-threading the second pole from a second set of pole loop connectors from the foldable cover. 
     According to aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the method of dis-assembling the foldable skirt device can include the step of further including folding the foldable cover with the multiple panels, by folding each panel of the multiple panels while within the foldable cover, so each panel of the multiple panels are one on top of each other to form a stack of panels. The step of further including placing the stack of panels into a foldable skirt storage container. The step of further including opening multiple pockets of the foldable cover and withdrawing multiple panels from the multiple pockets of the foldable cover. (The step of further including placing the multiple panels and foldable cover into a foldable skirt storage container. The step of further including dis-assembling the first pole and the second pole, wherein each pole includes multiple pole lengths connected by an elastic material so that each pole in an dis-assembled assembled state includes multiple pole lengths dis-connected to form a stack of multiple pole lengths. The step of further including placing the dis-assembled first pole and the second pole and the first and the second pole connectors into a foldable skirt storage container. 
     Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present disclosure will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that the particular embodiments shown and described by way of illustration are in no way intended to be considered limiting. Further, the disclosure has been described with reference to particular preferred embodiments, but variations within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will occur to those skilled in the art. It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure in its aspects. Although the present disclosure has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present disclosure extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.