Patent Publication Number: US-5291999-A

Title: Christmas tree bag

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention relates generally to baggage and more specifically it relates to a Christmas tree bag. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous baggage have been provided in prior art that are adapted to include trunks, bags, parcels and suitcases in which people carry their belongings while traveling. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a Christmas tree bag that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     Another object is to provide a Christmas tree bag which will enclose an evergreen tree for transportation, so that the needles and secretions from the tree will not be deposited therefrom during transportation before and after the Christmas season. 
     An additional object is to provide a Christmas tree bag that will serve as a skirt decoration underneath the tree, so that Christmas presents may be placed onto the top of the skirt decoration. 
     A further object is to provide a Christmas tree bag that is simple and easy to use. 
     A still further object is to provide a Christmas tree bag that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art showing a cut evergreen tree being transported on top of a motor vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the instant invention before being secured about the cut evergreen tree. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the first embodiment showing the extension flap folded over the cut tree trunk end. 
     FIG. 4 is an end bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of the instant invention, after being secured about the cut evergreen tree. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view taken in direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the instant invention being used as a skirt decoration underneath the tree. 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 6, but placed upon a table. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the prior art. An evergreen tree 10 is being carried on a roof 12 of a motor vehicle 14 by tie down straps 16. The needles 18 form foliage 20 and secretions 22 from a cut tree trunk end 24 are going all over the roof 12 of the motor vehicle 14. 
     The instant invention shown in FIGS. 2 through 7, is a Christmas tree bag 26 for the cut evergreen tree 10, which consists of a flexible cone shaped enclosure 28 having an entrance 30, so that the evergreen tree 10 can be inserted therein. A structure 32 is for sealing the entrance 30 of the flexible cone shaped enclosure 28, to prevent the needles 18 from the foliage 20 of the evergreen tree 10 to exit therefrom, especially when being transported from one location to another. 
     The flexible cone shaped enclosure 28 includes a plurality of triangular shaped panels 34 which are attached together, so as to extend about the foliage 20 of the evergreen tree 10. The sealing structure 32 is an elongated slide fastener 36 which extends from a top end 38 to a bottom end 40 of the flexible cone shaped enclosure 28. 
     The top casing 42 is attached at the top end 38 of the flexible cone shaped enclosure 28. A top drawstring 44 extends through the top casing 42, which when pulled will cause the top casing 42 to tighten about the top end 38 above an apex 46 of the evergreen tree 10. 
     In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bottom casing 48 is attached at a center of the bottom end 40 of the flexible cone shaped enclosure 28. A bottom drawstring 50 extends through the bottom causing 48, which when pulled will cause the bottom casing 48 to tighten about the cut tree trunk end 24 of the evergreen tree 10. 
     An extension flap 52 is secured at one end to the bottom casing 48. The extension flap 52 can be folded over the cut tree trunk end 24 of the evergreen tree 10, to prevent secretions 22 to exit therefrom, especially when being transported from one location to another. 
     In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a circular base panel 54 is provided having a central aperture 56, in which the elongated slide fastener 36 terminates at the circular base panel 54 and is attached to the bottom edges of each of the triangular shaped panels 34. The bottom casing 48 is now attached about the central aperture 56 of the circular base panel 54, while the bottom drawstring 50 also extends through the bottom casing 48, which when pulled will tighten about the central aperture 56 of the circular base panel 54, to prevent the secretions 22 from a cut tree trunk end 24 of the evergreen tree 10 to exit therefrom, especially when being transported form one location to another. 
     The Christmas tree bag 26 can further include at least one handle 58 affixed to one of the triangular shaped panels 34, so that the flexible cone shaped enclosure 28 with the evergreen tree 10 therein can be lifted and carried by the at least one handle 58. 
     In the Christmas tree bag 26, as shown in FIG. 2 and 3, each triangular shaped panel 34, the top casing 42, the bottom casing 48 and the extension flap 52 are all typically, but not limited to, be fabricated out of an upholstery fabric material 60. In the Christmas tree bag 26, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each triangular shaped panel 34, the circular base panel 54, the top casing 42, the bottom casing 48 and the at least one handle 58 are all typically, but not limited to, be fabricated out of an upholstery fabric material 60. 
     After the evergreen tree 10 is removed from the flexible cone shaped enclosure 28, the flexible cone shaped enclosure can be collapsed, as shown in FIG. 6. It can then be placed about the upright cut tree trunk end 24 to be utilized as a skirt decoration, so that Christmas presents may be placed onto the to of the skirt decoration. If the evergreen tree 10 is small, it can then be supported upon a table 62 shown in FIG. 7, with the collapsed flexible cone shaped enclosure 28 thereon, also to act as the skirt decoration. 
     The flexible cone shaped enclosure 28 can come in various sizes to accommodate various sized evergreen trees 10. It can also be made in various colors and durable materials, to enhance its appearance and its usefulness in preventing the spread of the needles 18 and secretions 22 from the evergreen tree 10. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     10 evergreen tree 
     12 roof 
     14 motor vehicle 
     16 tie down strap 
     18 needles 
     20 foliage of 10 
     22 secretions 
     24 cut tree trunk end 
     26 Christmas tree bag 
     28 flexible cone shaped enclosure 
     30 entrance in 28 
     32 sealing structure in 30 
     34 triangular shaped panel in 28 
     36 elongated slide fastener 
     38 top end of 28 
     40 bottom end of 28 
     42 top casing 
     44 top drawstring 
     46 apex of 10 
     48 bottom casing 
     50 bottom drawstring 
     52 extension flap 
     54 circular base panel 
     56 central aperture 
     58 handle 
     60 upholstery fabric material 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the ar without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.