Patent Publication Number: US-2005121591-A1

Title: Christmas tree stand

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a tree stand, and more particularly to an improved Christmas tree stand in which supporting legs can be readily and conveniently fixed with respect to a main tube.  
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ARTS  
      The most amiable season for a year is Christmas in which the lamps string has been widely used in decoration, especially in western countries. Even more and more oriental countries start to celebrate this worldwide holiday. Nevertheless, more and more eastern people enjoy this global festival. No doubt, the pleasant and amiable atmosphere provided by the lamps string is very touching and moving, especially in the Holy Night. Of course, in some occasion, such as family union, the lamps string is indispensable also.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,004 issued to Frost et al. disclose a collapsible Christmas tree stand supporting a Christmas tree or the like from a longitudinal tube supported by two pair of opposing legs. The second pair of legs being rotatable about the tube in relation to a first pair of legs between a storage position and a plurality of support positions. The position of the two pair of legs with respect to one another is maintained with a locking wing nut, such as disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A. It can be understood from the disclosure that unless the wing nuts are completely loosened, the legs can not be rotated with respect to the tube. After the legs are positioned, the wing nuts are locked up again. However, it can be seen from the disclosure that the elements  8  and  10  are slideably mounted onto the element  2 , there is a high potential that the elements  8  and  10  will slide downward.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,977 issued to the present inventor, discloses a Christmas tree pedestal, includes a main body and a secondary body wherein the main body forms an inner sleeve portion and a first outer sleeve portion, and the secondary body forms a second outer sleeve portion. The inner sleeve portion of the body is received within the second outer sleeve portion of the secondary body whereby the main body and the secondary body are capable of being freely rotated over 90 degrees with regard to each other for folding a plurality of first and second supporting legs of the main body and the secondary body together in a limited space for transportation, storage, delivery and packing thereof. The invention does solve the shortcoming of the prior arts, while it suffers a comparable complicated manufacturing process thereby there is still a room for improvement.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,512 issued to Ho provides a collapsible support frame comprised of an inner tube, an outer tube, and a plurality of support legs. The support legs are fastened to the inner tube and the outer tube. The inner tube is rotatably fitted into the outer tube. The folding and the unfolding of the support legs are attained by turning the inner tube an angle. The inner tube has a hollow interior for holding a Christmas tree, a flag pole, and the like. See  FIGS. 2 and 2 A.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of this invention to provide a Christmas tree stand in which supporting legs can be readily adjusted and positioned.  
      In order to achieve the object set forth, a Christmas tree stand in accordance with the present invention comprises a main frame including a main tube having upper and lower shoulders and a pair of first supporting legs. An auxiliary frame is configured with first and lower collars which can be enveloped onto the upper and lower shoulders, the auxiliary frame further including a pair of second supporting legs. A bolt is provided to lock the auxiliary tube with respect to the main tube. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a prior art Christmas tree stand disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,004;  
       FIG. 1A  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 2  is a prior art Christmas tree stand disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,512;  
       FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a Christmas tree stand in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view showing first and second supporting legs are arranged in collapsed arrangement;  
       FIG. 5A  is a top view of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view showing first and second supporting legs are spaced between 90 degrees;  
       FIG. 6A  is a top view of  FIG. 6 ; and  
       FIG. 7  is an illustration showing a Christmas tree is mounted onto the stand in accordance with the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , a Christmas tree stand made in accordance with the present invention includes a main frame  1  and an auxiliary frame  2 . The main frame  1  includes a main tube  11  provided with a plurality of first supporting legs  12 . The main tube  11  further includes a washer  13  attached to a lower end of the main tube  11 . The main tube  11  is further provided with a first threaded hole  14 . The main tube  11  is provided with upper and lower shoulders  11   a  and  11   b.    
      The auxiliary frame  2  is configured by first and second collars  21  and  22  with a pair of second supporting legs  23  attached thereto. The first collar  21  is further provided with a second threaded hole  24 . The upper collar  21  has a rounded flange  21   a.    
      The first and second collars  21 ,  22  are designed such that the inner diameter thereof is equal to the outer diameter of the shoulders  11   a ,  11   b  such that the first and second collars  21  and  22  are readily enveloped onto the shoulders  11   a ,  11   b . After the first and second collars  21  and  22  are properly positioned onto the shoulders  11   a ,  11   b , a blot  25  can be used and inserted from the threaded hole  24  of the first collar  21  into the threaded hole  14  of the main tube  11 . By this arrangement, the auxiliary tube  2  can be fixedly positioned onto the main tube  1 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , in assembly, the auxiliary tube  2  can be easily assembled to the main tube  1  by enveloping the first collar  21  onto the upper shoulder  11   a  of the tube  1 , then enveloping the second collar  22  onto the lower shoulder  11   b  of the main tube  11 . After the second supporting legs  23  are positioned, the bolt  25  is used to complete the assembly.  
       FIGS. 5 and 5 A are cross sectional views showing the supporting legs  12 ,  23  are located in collapsed position, i.e. the first and second supporting legs  12 ,  23  are arranged side-by-side for storing as the overall dimension is reduced. As disclosed, the auxiliary tube  2  can rotate through 180 degrees with respect to the main tube  1 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6 A, the main tube  1  and the auxiliary tube  2  are positioned with respect to each other such that the first and second supporting legs  12 ,  23  are spaced 90 degrees. The bolt  25  is used to keep such arrangement and which extends through from the threaded hole  24  of the first collar  21  into the threaded hole  14  of the main tube  11  such that the supporting legs  12  and  23  spaced for 90 degrees.  
      Once the main tube  1  and the auxiliary tube  2  are assembled, the main trunk  3  of the Christmas tree can be mounted into the main tube  1 , such as shown in  FIG. 7 , with end of the trunk  3  rests onto the washer  13 . The bolt  25  can be further locked up such that the trunk  3  is fixedly positioned within the main tube  11 .  
      One of the features of the present invention is the main tube  1  is provided with upper and lower shoulders  11   a ,  11   b  having the outer diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first and second collars  21 ,  22 . As such, the engagement between the main tube  1  and the auxiliary tube  2  are rigid and reliable. In addition, when the first collar  21  is assembled to the upper shoulder  11   a , the flange  21   a  covers the upper edge of the shoulder  11   a , see  FIG. 5 . This further ensures the overall rigidity as well as reliability. Specially, when the first collars  21  is mounted onto the upper shoulder  11   a , it is fully supported. The prior art problems are completely solved.