Abstract:
A holder for affixing a user chosen decorative element to the top trunk of a tree is shown and described. Multiple methods are provided for affixing the holder to the decorative element. The holder is easily secured to the trunk and can be adjusted to obtain the most pleasing vertical and horizontal position of the decorative element. Electrical wiring can also be routed through the device to provide electrical power to the decorative element from a power supply.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present version of these embodiments relate generally to the field of holders that can be used to attach decorative elements to the top of, for example, a Christmas tree or any other tree or bush. 
     BACKGROUND 
     These embodiments relate to devices that can be used to affix decorative elements to a Christmas tree or any other tree or bush. These embodiments relate to a holder that can be attached to various user chosen decorative elements by several methods and still be affixed securely and vertically even if the tree trunk is not exactly straight. Wiring can be routed through the device providing electrical power to the decorative element if desired. 
     Many persons celebrate the Christmas holiday and enjoy obtaining and decorating a Christmas tree. Others enjoy decorating trees for Christmas and many other holidays and events. One problem is attaching the decorative element to the top trunk of the tree. There exist several different methods to affixing these decorative elements to the top of the tree trunk. Several problems can occur in achieving this goal with traditional methods. Many times the trunk of the tree near the top is not straight. This can make installing a decorative element difficult. If the trunk is not relatively straight, then the decorative element will not extend beyond the top or near the top in a desirable position relative to those on the ground. 
     A second issue exists if the decorative element is somewhat heavy, this can cause the top trunk of the tree to bend and not allow a vertical location of the decorative element relative to the tree. 
     Another issue with decorative tree elements is that there does not appear to be much of a selection for decorative items or elements to mount to the top of the tree. 
     Many persons would enjoy installing such custom decorative items or elements such as sports team paraphernalia, paper-mache and anything else imaginable. Currently most users are limited to products that the market produces which are commonly called tree toppers. The problem becomes mounting these custom decorative items or elements to the tree such that they are secure, affixed in a relatively vertical position, customizable and easily installed. 
     Others may enjoy providing lighting, custom sounds or music to their decorative elements and thus need electrical power. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a Tree Decoration Holder. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the background art there is a need for a device that allows the installation of decorative elements to the top trunk of a tree and especially a holiday or Christmas tree. 
     A first objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that can affix decorative elements to the top of a tree. 
     Another objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that can affix decorative elements to the top of a tree securely. 
     It is yet another objective of these embodiments to provide a device that allows adjustment to the vertical orientation of the decorative element when affixed to the tree. 
     It is a still further objective of these embodiments to provide a device that is relatively easy to install on the top trunk of a tree. 
     An additional objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that can allow the user to choose which personal decorative element that they would like to affix to the top trunk of the tree. 
     Another objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that can be attached multiple ways to the user&#39;s chosen decorative element. 
     A final objective of these embodiments is to allow the use of electrically powered custom decorative elements affixed to the top trunk of a tree. 
     These together with other objectives of these embodiments, along with various features of novelty which characterize these embodiments, are pointed out with particularity in the claims attached which form a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of these embodiments, the operating advantages and the specific objectives attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of one embodiment of the holder attached to a decorative element, the decorative element having a cutway portion. 
         FIG. 2  shows a first side view of one embodiment of a coupler. 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial cross sectional view of one embodiment of the coupler. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of one embodiment of a rod. 
         FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the holder affixed to the decorative element in an alternate manner. 
         FIG. 6  shows a second side view of one embodiment of the coupler with an alternative method of affixing the coupler to the decorative item. 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of one embodiment of the holder attached to a partial cutaway trunk of a tree. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a side view of one embodiment of the holder  14  affixed to a decorative element  65  having a partial cutaway view. The holder  14  has a coupler  16  affixed to a rod  42 . 
       FIGS. 2, 3  show the coupler  16  having a first side  18  and a second side  20 . Also seen is a ledge  25 . A plate  22  is located on the second side  20  and the plate  22  is affixed to a cylinder  24 . The plate  22  has a through hole  28  which is concentric with a hole  28  in the cylinder  24 . The plate  22  also has a plurality of attachment holes  30 . This embodiment shows four holes  30  located on a common circumference approximately ninety degrees from the center line of the hole  28 . It should be appreciated that more or fewer holes  30  could be made dependent upon the anticipated loads in supporting the decorative element  65 . 
     The outer surface  27  of the cylinder  24  could also have ribs parallel to the center line to increase the strength of the cylinder  24 , not shown. There are threads  26  on the interior of the hole  28  for affixing the coupler  16  to the rod  42 . 
     It should be understood that this embodiment shows but one method of attachment of the coupler  16  to the rod  42 ,  FIG. 1 . It should be apparent that the coupler  16  and rod  42  could be manufactured as one complete unit, for example, in a plastic injection mold. 
       FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the rod  42 . What is shown is a cylindrical rod  42  having a first end  44  and a second end  46 . Second end  46  is shown in this embodiment having threads  48 . Threads  48  correspond with the threads  26  of the coupler  16 . It should be appreciated that the rod  42  would not have to be a cylinder in cross section. Any cross section for the rod  42  could be used. 
     This embodiment of the rod  42  also has attached at the first end  44  a cap  74 . Cap  74  has a slot  75  that runs there through. In this embodiment of the rod  42 , the center of the rod  42  has a cavity  76  that runs the length forming essentially a hollow rod or pipe. The cavity  76  runs from the second end  46  to the first end  44 . There is also an opening  78  in the cap  74  such that electrical wiring (not shown) can be run into the slot  75 , through the cap  74  and into and through the rod  42  from the first end  44  to the second end  46 . This would allow electrical power to be available to the decorative element  65  via the wiring running through the holder  14  and to a power supply (not shown). This feature would allow even more variety to the decorative element  65  in that various colors of lights, music and other sounds and any feature that requires electrical power could also be utilized to enhance decorative element  65 . 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the holder  14  affixed to a decorative element  65 . In this embodiment, the decorative element  65  has a cavity  69 . To affix the coupler  16  to the decorative element  65  requires that the cylinder  24  be inserted into the cavity  69 . The plate  22  ledge  25  is mounted flush against the surface of the decorative element  65 . If needed holes can be drilled into the surface of the decorative element and fasteners  32  can be inserted from the second side  20  of the plate  22  through the attachment holes  30  and secured into the base of the decorative element  65 ,  FIGS. 1, 2 . 
     The rod  42  second end  46  threads  48  can then be screwed into the plate  22  and the cylinder  24  thereby securing the rod  42  to the coupler  16 ,  FIGS. 1,2,3,5 . This then affixes the holder  14  to the decorative element  65 . 
     To install the holder  14  to the top of trunk  60  of tree  58 ,  FIG. 7 , requires the user to align the plate  22  at or near the top of trunk  60  and locate the rod  42  as close to the trunk as is possible.  FIGS. 1, 5, 7  also show two fasteners  54 . These fasteners  54  can be strapping with hook and loop fasteners. The fasteners  54  would be wrapped around the trunk  60  and secured with the hook and loop fasteners such that the rod  42  is located near or against the trunk  60 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative arrangement of the lowest fastener  54 . In this embodiment of the holder  14 , there is a cap  74  on the first end  44  of rod  42 . Cap  74  has a slot  75  ( FIG. 4 ) through which the fastener  54  can be threaded and then wrapped around the trunk  60  and secured to itself. Cap  74  also has an opening  78  that provides access to the cavity  76  of the rod  42 . This slot  75  thereby serves two purposes, the first to provide greater security to the holder  14  by preventing the holder  14  from possibly sliding on the straps  54  or trunk  60  and provides access to or communication with the cavity  76  to allow electrical wiring (not shown) to be routed within the rod  42  to the decorative element  65  from a power supply (not shown). 
     While the embodiment in  FIG. 7  shows two fasteners  54 , it should be understood that more fasteners  54  could be utilized to retain the holder  14  in place. The fasteners  54  should be locatable by the user such that the holder  14  and decorative element  65  is secured to the trunk  60  of the tree  58 . 
     It should be understood that the fasteners  54  could have adhesive on one side such that they could be positioned on the rod  42  at the best location relative to the trunk  60 . The limbs of the tree  58  may prevent a fixed fastener from securely attaching the holder  14  to the tree  58  trunk  60 . If fasteners  54  had adhesive on one side, or part of one side, then the user could align the holder  14  to the trunk  60  and use the adhesive to affix the fasteners  54  to the rod  42  at the optimum positions. 
     The user should also insure that the decorative element  65  is vertical. If the decorative element  65  is not vertical, it should be appreciated that the fasteners  54  could be loosened and the rod  42  re-positioned relative to the trunk  60  of the tree  58  to obtain a pleasing vertical position. 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative method to affix the coupler  16  to the decorative element  65 . In this embodiment there is no cavity  69  in the decorative element  65 . The coupler  16  is rotated 180 degrees relative to the rod  42  such that the second side  20  is relatively flush with the bottom surface of the decorative element  65 . Holes  67  can then be drilled into the decorative element  65  to allow fastening of the coupler  16  via fasteners  32  (not shown) inserted into attachment holes  30  of the plate  22 . Attachment holes  67  in the bottom of decorative element  65  corresponding in size and location the holes  30 . The rod  42  second end  46  can thereby be threaded into the cylinder  24  first side  18  to secure the rod  42  to the coupler  16 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a coupler  16  and alternative method of affixing the coupler  16  to the decorative element  65 . In this embodiment, either the hook or loop part of the hook and loop fastener can be attached to the second side  20  of the coupler  16  with adhesive. This hook or loop can have cutouts to allow the fasteners  32  and the rod  42  to engage and wiring (not shown) to pass through. While the user should determine if the decorative element  65  can be affixed to the holder  14  with only hook and loop, if greater securing is needed, this embodiment would allow the use of fasteners  32  to the holes  67  in the decorative element  65  if needed. Obviously, the hook and loop could be affixed to the plate  22  second side  20  without the cutouts for the fasteners  32  or the cutout for the rod  42 . The other portion of the hook or loop would be affixed to the decorative element  65  with an adhesive as is known in the art. 
       FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of the holder  14  affixed to a partial cut away view of a tree trunk  60 . This embodiment shows the rod  42  having the cap  74  with the cavity  76 . This embodiment could thereby have electrical wiring (not shown) passed through the rod  42  to power electrical elements of the users&#39;s choosing in the decorative element  65 . 
     It should be appreciated that several methods could be used to affix the holder  14  to the decorative element  65 . This would allow the user to choose their own decorative element  65  to attach to the tree  58 . This also provides the best, easiest, least destructive attachment method to the decorative element  65  and safest and most adjustable method of affixing to a tree  58  trunk  60  the decorative element  65 . 
     It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this application, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.