Patent Publication Number: US-2010108850-A1

Title: Stand for supporting a tree

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to stands for supporting a tree. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many stands for displaying a decorative or Christmas tree are available. Typically, these stands include a wide base to provide stability for the stand, and a structure positioned generally in the center of the base for gripping the lower end of the tree. Such a stand attempts to display the decorative or Christmas tree in a straight and upright orientation. However, in many situations, it may be difficult and/or time consuming to properly orient the decorative or Christmas tree in using these stands due to difficulty in accessing the lower end of the tree as well as compensating for bends, notches and/or other deformities that are commonly found in the lower trunk of such trees. Thus, there is an ongoing need to provide alternative stand structures for displaying a tree. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present disclosure and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the disclosure can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
     The present disclosure relates generally to tree stands. In one illustrative embodiment, a tree stand is provided that suspends a tree from a location that is well above the lower end of the tree such as above the center of gravity of the tree. In some cases, the tree stand may include a base for providing stability for the tree stand and one or more center poles for suspending the tree above the base. The center pole may have a first end, a second end, and a length extending therebetween. The first end of the center pole may be coupled to the base, and the second end may be spaced a distance from the base defining an angle between the center pole and the base. The second end of the center pole may be configured to be coupled to the tree. In some cases, the center pole may be extendable and, in some cases, the tree stand may be collapsible, but this is not required. 
     The preceding summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present disclosure and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the disclosure can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various illustrative embodiments of the disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a tree stand; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the illustrative tree stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the illustrative tree stand of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed state; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the illustrative tree stand of  FIG. 1  suspending a tree; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative tree connector configured to engage the illustrative tree stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tree connector of  FIG. 5  coupled to an illustrative tree trunk; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the illustrative tree stand of  FIG. 1  suspending a tree, similar to  FIG. 4 , showing a container for watering the tree. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description should be read with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The detailed description and drawings show several embodiments which are meant to be illustrative of the claimed invention. 
     The following disclosure has be described with reference to relative terms, such as “upwards”, “downwards”, “top”, “bottom”, “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, as well as other relative terms. It is to be understood that this is merely for simplicity and is not meant to be limiting in any manner. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of an illustrative embodiment of a tree stand  10 . In the illustrative embodiment, the tree stand  10  may include a base, generally shown at  12 , configured to provide stability to the stand  10 . The illustrative tree stand  10  also includes a center pole  14  configured to extend a distance upwards from the base  12  to suspend a decorative or Christmas tree from an upper end of the center pole  14 . As illustrated, the base  12  may include leg  11  and leg  13 . In the illustrative example, one end of leg  11  may be connected to one end of leg  13  via a connector  15  forming a generally v-shaped configuration. Fastener  36  may connect leg  11  to connector  15  and fastener  34  may connect leg  13  to connector  15 . In one example, fasteners  34  and  36  may be a screw, bolt, or other fastener as desired. In other example, it is contemplated that the legs  11  and  13  may be welded or otherwise secured to connector  15 , or in yet other example, legs  11  and  13  may be welded or otherwise secured directly to each other. 
     In some embodiments, a support rod  24  may be connected to leg  11  and leg  13  to help maintain the relative position or angle between the legs  11  and  13 . To secure support rod  24  to leg  11  and leg  13 , fasteners  38  and  39 , respectively, may be used. In one example, fastener  38  may be provided through an opening in one end of the support rod  24  and through an opening provided in leg  11 . Similarly, fastener  39  may be provided through an opening in one end of the support rod  24  and through an opening provided in leg  13 . Similar to the fasteners discussed above, fasteners  38  and  39  may be a screw, bolt, or other fastener as desired. In other example, it is contemplated that the legs  11  and  13  may be welded or otherwise secured to support rod  24 . 
     The foregoing base  12  is merely illustrative and it is contemplated that any suitable base structure may be used, as desired. For example, the base  12  may be a generally planar structure, the base  12  may include more than two legs  11  and  13 , and/or the base  12  may be formed in a different shape (e.g. rectangular, square, circle, etc.). These are just a few example alternative structures. Although not shown, it is contemplated that the legs  11  and  13  may be telescopic or extendable, if desired. 
     As illustrated, the center pole  14  may have a first end connected to the base  12  via connector  15 , or in other cases directly, and a second end extending away from the base  12  at an angle. In the illustrative embodiment, the angle between the base  12  and the center pole  14  may be any suitable angle between 0 and 90 degrees, between 45 and 90 degrees, between 50 and 80 degrees, between 60 and 80 degrees, or any other suitable angle or angle range, as desired. In the illustrative embodiment, the center pole  14  may be telescopic or otherwise extendable, but this is not required. When telescopic, the center pole  14  may include an inner pole member  16  and an outer pole member  18  configured to at least partially receive the inner pole member  16 . In some cases, the center pole  14  may include a fixed state and a moveable state. In the fixed state, the inner pole member  16  may be fixed relative to the outer pole member  18 , as will be discussed in further detail. In the moveable state, the inner pole member  16  may be moveable relative to the outer pole member  18  to adjust the length of the center pole  14 . 
     As illustrated, outer pole member  18  may include a plurality of openings  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  to assist in adjusting the length of the center pole  14 . In some cases, the inner pole member  16  may have a corresponding opening that may be adjusted to align with one of openings  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32 . Once the holes are aligned, a pin or other fastener (not shown) may be inserted into the openings of the outer pole member  18  and inner pole member  16  to maintain the alignment. For example, the pin or other fastener may include a bolt, screw, pin, threaded knob, or other fastener, as desired. In other cases, a spring biased button (not shown) may be provided on the inner pole member  16  and as the inner pole member  16  is adjusted relative to the outer pole member  18 , the button may protrude through one of openings  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  to secure the position. A user may depress the button and move the inner pole member  16  relative to the outer pole member  18  to adjust the length of the center pole  14 . A tension device such as a threaded knob or spring loaded mechanism may be used to provide unlimited adjustment of inner pole member  16  along the length of outer pole member  18 . 
     In some cases, openings  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  may correspond to different heights of the center pole  14  or heights of the tree to be suspended. For example, opening  32  may correspond to a tree height of 6 feet, opening  30  may correspond to a tree height of 7 feet, opening  28  may correspond to a tree height of 8 feet, and opening  26  may correspond to a tree height of 9 feet. In some cases, inserting the inner pole member  16  all the way in outer pole member  18  may correspond to a tree height of 5 feet. It will be understood that the foregoing tree heights are merely illustrative and that any suitable heights may be used, as desired. 
     In some cases, the inner pole  16  and outer pole  18  may be locked together at any relative position by, for example, rotating a collet or the like (not shown) that secures the inner pole relative to the outer pole. Such locking mechanisms are often used on telescoping legs of, for example, tripods used for supporting cameras or the like. This may allow the inner pole  16  to be secured relative to the outer pole  18  at any desired position, resulting in any desired length of the center pole  14 . 
     In some cases, support rods  22  and  23  may be provided to help support the center pole  14  at an angle to the base  12 . As illustrated, support rod  22  may have a first end connected to leg  11  and a second end connected to a fastener plate  42 . Similarly, support rod  23  may have a first end connected to leg  13  and a second end connected to fastener plate  42 . In some cases, fastener plate  42  may be secured to the center pole  14  using a u-shaped bolt  40  and a pair of nuts  46  and  48 . U-shaped bolt  40  may be disposed about the center pole  14  and disposed through two holes of fastener plate  42 . Nuts  46  and  48  may be tightened on the two ends of the u-shaped bolt  40  to secure the fastener plate  42  to the center pole  14 . In some cases, the angle of the center pole  14  relative to the base  12  may be adjusted by sliding the u-shaped bolt  40  or other connecting mechanism, such as for example a sleeve, along the center pole  14 . In other cases, the u-shaped bolt  40  may be fixed relative to the center pole  14  providing a stationary angle of the center pole  14  relative to the base  12 . In some cases, the upper ends of support rods  22  and  23  may have a reduced diameter section that may be configured to be received within corresponding openings of the connector plate  42 . The openings of the connector plate  42  may be sized to pass the reduced diameter of support rods  22  and  23 , but not the non-reduced diameter portion. It is contemplated that any other suitable method of connecting the support rods  22  and  23  to the center pole  14  may be used, as desired. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, an upper end of the center pole  14  may include an opening  20  configured to receive a portion of a tree connector (example shown as  60  in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). While the opening  20  is disposed at the upper end of the center pole  14 , it is contemplated that the opening  20  or other connector may be disposed at any desired location along the length of the center pole  14 , as desired. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the illustrative tree stand  10  of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed state. As illustrated, the tree stand  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be collapsible, but this is not required. In alternative embodiments, it is contemplated that the angles of the legs  11  and  13  and the center pole  14  may be fixed and non-collapsible, such as by welding or other methods of attachment, if desired. 
     To collapse the illustrative tree stand  10 , support rods  22  and  23  may be removed from fastener plate  42  and/or sleeve and rotated to be longitudinally parallel to legs  11  and  13 , respectively. In some cases, this may require the loosening of the other end of the support rods  22  and  23  attached to the legs  11  and  13 . Additionally, fastener  38  securing an end of the support rod  24  to leg  11  may be removed and support rod  24  may be longitudinally parallel with leg  13 . In some cases, fastener  38  may then be used to secure the end of support rod  24  to leg  13 . Alternatively, fastener  39  may be removed from support rod  24  and leg  13  and connector rod  24  may be positioned to be longitudinally parallel with leg  11 , if desired. 
     With the support rods  22 ,  23 , and  24  moved, center pole  14  may be moved to a position in a plane with both legs  11  and  13 . Also, the legs  11  and  13  may be moved together adjacent the center pole  14 . In some cases, the inner pole member  16  may be slid within outer pole member  18  to decrease the overall length of the center pole  14 , if desired. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the illustrative tree stand  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  suspending a tree  50 . As illustrated, a tree  50  may be connected to the upper end of stand  10  (e.g. opening  20 ), although it is contemplated that a tree  50  may be connected to a part that is proximal of the upper end of stand  10 . In any event, the height of the center pole  14  may be adjusted so that the bottom of the tree trunk  72  of tree  50  may be raised slightly above a plane extending through both legs  11  and  13  of the base  12  of the stand  10 . In other words, the center pole  14  may be adjusted so that the bottom of the tree trunk  72  is raised slightly off the ground, such as for example, about 1 inch, about 2 inches, about 3 inches, about 4 inches, about 5 inches, about 6 inches, about 1 foot, or any other distance off the ground, as desired. As such, the tree  50  may be suspended in a generally vertical and generally straight orientation relative to the ground. 
     In some cases, the stand  10  may be connected to the trunk  72  of the tree  50  at a point at or above the center of gravity of the tree  50 . In such an attachment position, the weight of the tree  50  may help position the tree in a straight and upright orientation relative to the ground. Although the tree stand  10  is shown outside of the tree  50 , it is contemplated that some of the branches of the tree  50  may extend around the stand  10 , depending on the angle of the center pole  14  from the base  12 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative tree connector  60  configured to engage the opening  20  of the illustrative stand  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As illustrated, the tree connector  60  may include a hook portion  62  that may be received within tree stand opening  20 . Tree connector  60  may include two arms  68  and  69  extending outward from a body of the tree connector  60 , and may have a slight backward bend, but this is not required. In such a configuration, the arms may better engage the tree trunk  72 , but this is not required. Also, arms  68  and  69  may each include an opening  64  and  66 , respectively, configured to receive a strap for securing a tree to the tree connector  60 . 
     While illustrative tree connector  60  has been shown and described, it is contemplated that any suitable connector may be used to connect the tree to tree stand  10 , such as, for example, an s-shaped hook and strap, a strap connected directly to the stand  10 , a connector that clamps around the tree trunk  72 , or any other suitable connector as desired. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tree connector  60  of  FIG. 5  coupled to trunk  72  of the illustrative tree  50 . As illustrated, the tree connector  60  may be positioned on a side of the trunk  72 . Arms  68  and  69  may extend around a portion of the trunk  72  and strap  70 , which is connected to the tree connector  60  through openings  64  and  66 , may extend around the remainder of the trunk  72 . 
     As illustrated, the hook portion  64  of the tree connector  60  may be configured to be received in opening  20  of the inner pole member  16  of the center pole  14 . In some cases, with the tree connector  60  attached to the trunk  72  of the tree  50  above the center of gravity of the tree  50 , the tree  50  may be lifted so that hook portion  64  is positioned within opening  20 , or stand  10  may be tilted at an angle so that the opening  20  engages the hook portion  64  of the tree connector  60 . Then, the tree stand may be moved to a position with the base  12  flat on the ground causing tree  50  to be lifted off and suspended above the ground. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the illustrative tree stand  10  of  FIG. 1  suspending a tree  50 , similar to  FIG. 4 , with a container  74  positioned around the lower end of the tree trunk. As illustrated, and to help provide water to a decorative tree, such as a Christmas tree, a container  74  may be positioned under the lower end of the trunk  72  of the tree  50 , and may be configured to hold a liquid, such as water. In this configuration, the lower end of the trunk  72  may be exposed to the water to water the tree  50 . In some cases, the container  74  may be easily removable by tilting the tree  50  on the stand  10 . 
     While the foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to suspending a tree, it is contemplated that the stand  10  may be used for suspending other items, such as, for example, a workout heavy bag, a speed bag, a campfire pit grill, a flower pot, as well as any other suitable item, as desired. 
     Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that yet other embodiments may be made and used within the scope of the claims hereto attached. Numerous advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is, in many respect, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention. The invention&#39;s scope is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed.