Patent Publication Number: US-9883762-B1

Title: Tree skate

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a tray to be used with a tree stand, and more particularly to a tray for moving a tree stand that holds a Christmas tree, which accommodates movement and rotation of the stand and the tree by means of a pan with a smooth, low-friction bottom surface and a detachable handle to direct the movement of the apparatus and tree. 
     One of the most recognized traditions of the Christmas holiday is the Christmas tree. Families across the world put up Christmas trees in their homes, decorate them with lights and varieties of ornaments, and place their Christmas gifts underneath them. The Christmas tree is often the focal point of the Christmas decorations. 
     The Christmas trees are often placed in a supportive stand to brace the tree in an upright position. These stands often further provide a basin for holding water for the tree. Many stands serve only these and other limited purposes, and are not assistive in the decorating of the tree, or in transport of the tree into a desired position. In fact, depending on the form, weight, size, or material of the stand, its design might severely impede mobility. 
     It is known in the art of Christmas trees and tree stands to provide desired mobility by designing a tree stand utilizing wheels. However, most owners continue to use basic stands that do not comprise wheels, due to availability in stores, cost, familiarity with the presently-owned stand, or various other reasons that stands with wheels are not widely used. In addition, equipping the stand with wheels enables the stand to move with little effort, and could result in movement that was unintentional—which is of particular concern when homes are filled with many people and many activities are taking place around the tree, as during the holiday season. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for an apparatus that promotes mobility of the tree that can be used in association with a presently owned, basic tree stand. In addition, there remains a need for a pan for a tree that is easily moveable, yet sufficiently stable to prevent unintentional shifting and movement. The present invention satisfies this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a tray apparatus for use under a tree stand, such as a Christmas tree stand, that is configured for efficient movement of the stand and the tree supported by the stand. In the preferred embodiment, the tray apparatus for the tree stand has a shallow, concave pan, similar in design and appearance to a common frying pan. The pan has a flat, smooth bottom surface which is in contact with the floor or ground. The pan is configured to hold the tree stand on the upper surface of the pan and within side walls. These side walls turn upwardly from the flat surface to contain the tree stand as well as any water that might spill from the tree stand reservoir or needles from the tree. 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the tray apparatus also has a handle to provide and control movement of the pan and tree. The handle accommodates sliding the tree between locations, and also rotating the tree during decoration. The handle is preferably releasably attached to the pan, so that it may be removed from the tray apparatus once the tree is in place. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a tray apparatus according to the present invention 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the pan of a tray apparatus according to the present invention 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a tray apparatus according to the present invention exhibiting one possible configuration of the releasably attached handle, particularly showing the cylindrical t-shaped end  36  and compatible hooks  32 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of one possible configuration of the releasably attached handle wherein the cylindrical t-shaped handle  36  and compatible hooks  32  are engaged 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a tray apparatus according to the present invention exhibiting a second possible configuration of the releasably attached handle, particularly showing the flat, t-shaped end  46  and the compatible substantially flat hook devices  42 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second possible configuration of the releasably attached handle wherein the flat, t-shaped end  46  and compatible hooks  42  are engaged 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a tray apparatus according to the present invention exhibiting a third possible configuration of the releasably attached handle, particularly showing a handle attachment piece  52  and a compatible end  56  on the handle. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a third possible configuration of the releasably attached handle wherein the handle attachment piece  52  compatible handle end  56  are engaged 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a tray apparatus according to the present invention being used in association with a Christmas tree. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tray apparatus  10  having a pan  20  to contain a tree stand and a handle  30  used to assist in movement of the apparatus, stand, and tree. In the preferred embodiment, the pan  20  is designed much like a common frying pan, having a diameter slightly larger than that of the average-sized tree stand, generally between three feet and four feet, although any sized pan capable of containing the tree stand is suitable for the present invention. The peripheral edges of the pan  20  are bowed up to form side walls  24 . The walls  24  serve as retaining means that may retain water spilled from the tree stand, tree needles, or any other article that is desired to be kept off the floor or carpet on which the tree is placed. The pan  20  is shallow in depth, defined by the height of the side walls  24 , as shown in the figures. The height of the side walls  24  is preferably at least one inch, although any wall height capable of retaining the tree stand, water, needles, etc may be appropriate for the present invention. 
     The pan  20  is preferably made of a material with two surfaces, at least one of the surfaces substantially lacking ribs, grooves, or other friction-creating elements. This smooth surface is configured as the bottom face  22  of the pan  10 , which is smooth to lessen friction between the tray and the floor or carpet, thereby increasing ease of mobility. The tree stand is placed on an upper face  26  of the pan, within the area contained between the side walls  24 . 
     To further assist in the mobility of the pan  20 , as well as the tree stand and tree, the present invention comprises a handle member  30  extending from the outer surface of the side wall  24  on the pan  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The handle  30  is useful during decorating the tree as a means of rotating the tree for placing lights or ornaments on the tree. It is also useful for moving the tree into a desired final placement in a room, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The handle  30  is preferably a rigid member with an accessory  31 , at the end opposite of attachment to the pan  20 , that is configured for grasping the handle member and using it to control movement of the tray  10 . As shown in the figures, the accessory  31  may be a substantially d-shaped accessory with an aperture through which a user may grasp the handle, although any configuration allowing for grasping the handle member  30  may be used. The handle  30  is preferably releasably attached to the pan  20 , thus able to be removed after the tree has been moved to its desired position. 
     Various means of releasable attachment have been contemplated for the present invention. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , a pair of circular hook-shaped devices  32 , with gap positioned in a downward direction, are fixed to a portion of the side wall  24 . The compatible handle  34  has a cylindrical t-shaped end  36 . The handle is releasably attached to the pan by placing the t-shaped end  36  below the hook devices  32 , pulling the handle  34  up, whereby snapping the t-shaped end  36  into engagement with the hook devices  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In a second embodiment of the releasably attached handle, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a pair of substantially flat hook devices  42  are fixed to a portion of the side wall  24 . The opening of the hook  42  is positioned in an upward direction. The compatible handle  44  has a flat, t-shaped end  46  which can be placed in a position above and relative to the opening of the hook  42  and moved in a downward direction to slide the flat t-shaped end  46  into place for engagement with the hook  42 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In a third embodiment of the releasably attached handle, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the connecting end  56  of the handle  54  is configured for compatibility with a handle attachment  52  fixed to a portion of the side wall  24 . The lower portion of the connecting end  56  is placed in position relative to the lower portion of the handle attachment piece  52 . The handle  54  is then rotated up to snap the upper portions of the handle attachment piece  52  and connecting end  56  into engagement, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Any means of releasable attachment may be used for this purpose, it is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. 
     A method for use of the tray apparatus  10  is also contemplated, comprising the steps of providing the apparatus  10  described above, placing a tree in a tree stand and the tree stand on the upper surface  22  of the pan  20  of the apparatus. Then, the tree may be rotated for decoration or placement, and/or may be moved laterally along the floor to a desired final position in a room or an area, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The method also comprises removing and attaching the rigid handle  30  by means of releasable attachment. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, 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. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.