Abstract:
Christmas tree stand watering apparatus includes a water container which may be located somewhat remotely from a Christmas tree stand and then a conduit extends from the container into the Christmas tree stand. In the embodiment illustrated, the container comprises a pair of reservoir elements, with a connecting conduit connecting the two reservoir elements. A relatively long conduit extends from the connecting conduit to the Christmas tree stand. A pump, with appropriate check valves, is disposed in the conduit for starting the siphon action from the container to the Christmas tree stand. An element, which may be metallic element, is disposed in the conduit to keep the bottom of the conduit from contacting the bottom of the Christmas tree stand and the element extends upwardly within the conduit to provide a stable and secure routing path over the top wall of a stand. A shut off valve may be secured to the end of the conduit in the stand to shut of the flow of water in the event of an accidental removal of the conduit from the stand.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to Christmas tree watering apparatus and, more particularly to siphon apparatus for siphoning water from a container to a Christmas tree in a Christmas tree stand. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The watering of Christmas trees has always been a problem. Christmas trees need to be watered to keep them from drying out as time passes. The manner in which the Christmas trees are watered becomes a problem. Typically, Christmas tree stands are covered by a decorative covering and Christmas presents are then placed around the stand. It is accordingly rather difficult to get to the stand, remove at least a portion of the cover, and put fresh water into the stand. 
     At least one U.S. Patent has attempted to solve the watering problem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,24 (Weckesser) discloses a Christmas tree stand, and a reservoir for holding, a quantity of water is connected to the stand by a conduit. A siphoning action is started by raising the reservoir. The conduit includes a crush-resistant end in the stand. 
     A limitation of the &#39;224 patent is, of course, the requirement of starting the siphon action by raising the reservoir. 
     The apparatus of the present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing a container for water that may be located at a distance away from the Christinas tree stand and may utilize siphon action for allowing the water to move from the container to the Christmas tree stand. The siphon action is started by a pump. The container may be refilled, as needed, in a relatively simple manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described and claimed herein comprises a container, illustrated as including two receptacles, or reservoirs, connected together, and a tubular conduit extending from the container to a Christmas tree stand. In the conduit is a pump with appropriate check valves to start the siphon action. The check valves provide a one way flow of water from the container to the stand. As illustrated, the container comprises a pair of “Santa&#39;s Boots” with a tubular connecting conduit extending between them and a conduit from the connecting conduit extends outwardly to the Christmas tree stand. A metal insert is disposed in the remote end of the conduit which is placed in the Christmas tree stand, with a portion of the metal disposed on the bottom of the Christmas tree stand to prevent the conduit from actually contacting the bottom of the stand. Curvature at the top of the metallic element provides strain relief in the conduit and also prevents the accidental removal of the conduit from the stand. 
     Among the objects of the present invention are the following: 
     To provide new and useful Christmas tree stand watering apparatus; 
     To provide new and useful siphon apparatus for providing water for a Christmas tree stand; 
     To provide new and useful container apparatus for watering a Christmas tree stand; 
     To provide new and useful container apparatus for watering a Christmas tree stand from a location spaced slightly apart from the stand; and 
     To provide new and useful Christmas tree watering apparatus including a siphon pump for starting a siphon action. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in a use environment. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a view in partial section taken generally along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in partial section taken generally along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in partial section taken generally from circle  6  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in partial section taken generally along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in partial section taken generally along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in partial section taken generally from Circle  9  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 10 is a view in partial section of an alternate embodiment of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of a portion of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view in partial section of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of siphon apparatus  30  of the present invention in its use environment. The use environment comprises a Christmas tree  2  which includes a trunk  4  and a plurality of decorated branches  6 . The trunk  4  extends into a Christmas tree stand  10 . Details of the Christmas tree stand  10  and the siphon apparatus  30  are also shown in FIG. 2, which comprises an enlarged view of the apparatus  30  and the trunk  4  and stand  10  which are illustrated in dash dot line. FIG. 3 is a top view of the siphon apparatus  30 , while FIG. 4 is a view in partial section of the apparatus  30  taken generally along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 , and  4 . 
     The stand  10  includes a bottom  12  and a side wall  14  extending upwardly from the bottom  12 . The side wall  14  includes an upper wall portion  16 , and a plurality of screws  18  are shown extending through the upper wall portion  16 . The screws  18  extend to the trunk  4  to hold the trunk  4 , and the tree  2 , generally vertically relative to the stand  10 . The tree  2  includes a bottom  8  of the trunk  4 . The bottom  8  is shown in FIG.  2 . Typically, there will be a spike (not shown) of some kind on the bottom  12  of the stand  10 , and the bottom  8  will be impaled on the spike or rib to help stabilize the tree  2  in the stand. Obviously, there are many different configurations of stands, and the apparatus of the siphon apparatus  30  of the present invention will function appropriately with all of them. 
     The siphon apparatus  30  comprises a pair of receptacle or reservoir elements  32  and  42  which are configured as boots, or “Santa Claus Boots,” for purposes of being decorative items, as well as functional items. The boot reservoirs  32  and  42  comprise a container for holding water which flows under siphon principles to the stand  10 . 
     The boot reservoir  32  includes a top lid  34  with a fill aperture  36  extending through the lid  34 . At the bottom of the boot reservoir  32  is a drain aperture  38 . 
     The boot reservoir  42  includes a top lid  44  and a fill aperture  46  extends through the lid  44 . The lids  34  and  44  are concave and thus essentially comprise funnels to facilitate filling the reservoirs with water. The boot reservoir  42  also includes a drain aperture  48 . The two drain apertures for the boot reservoirs  32  and  42  are connected by a conduit  60 . The conduit  60  is best shown in FIG.  5 . FIG. 5 comprises an enlarged view in partial section, with the drain apertures  38  and  48  for the boot reservoirs  32  and  42 , respectively, shown. Reference will primarily be made to FIG. 5 for the following discussion. 
     The connecting conduit  60  comprises a tee element which includes an arm  62  extending through the drain aperture  38 . The arm  62  includes a lock element  64  which locks the arm  62  to the reservoir  32  at the drain aperture  38 . A seal element  66  is disposed about the arm  62  on the outer side of the aperture  38  to seal the arm  62  at the aperture  38  to the main body  61  of the connecting conduit  60 . The seal  66  is disposed between a shoulder of the body  61  and the arm  62 . Another seal element, not shown, may be disposed in the reservoir  32  about the lock element  64 , if desired. 
     The connecting conduit  60  also includes an arm  72  which is substantially identical to the arm  62 . The arm  62  includes a lock element  74  which extends through the aperture  48  and secures the arm  72  to the reservoir  42 . A seal element  76  is disposed about the arm  72  between the wall of the reservoir  42  at the drain aperture  48 . The seal element  76  is disposed against a shoulder at the main body  61 , substantially identical to the placement of the seal element  66  with respect to the arm  62  and the boot reservoir  32 . Again, a seal element (not shown) may be placed in the reservoir  42  about the lock element  74 , if desired. 
     The connecting conduit  60  also includes an arm or tee base  80  extending generally perpendicular to the aligned arms  62  and  72 . A conduit  90  is appropriately secured to the arm  80 . The conduit  90  extends to a manual siphon pump assembly  100 . 
     Details of the siphon pump  100  are shown in FIG. 6, which comprises a view in partial section of a portion of the siphon pump  100  and its adjacent conduit elements, namely the conduit  90  which extends from the arm  80  of the connecting conduit  60 , and a flexible conduit  140  which extends from the siphon pump  100  to the stand  10  and in FIG. 12, which is a perspective view in partial section of the elements shown in FIG.  6 . For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIG.  6  and FIG.  12 . 
     The siphon pump assembly  100  includes a tee element  102  which includes a pair of oppositely extending arms  104  and  114 . In the arm  104  there is a valve conduit  106  spaced apart from an I-beam restrictor  110 . The conduit  106  includes a bore  107 . Between the valve conduit  106  and I-beam resistor  110  is a ball  108 . The ball  108  has a smaller diameter than the inside diameter and the arm  104  but a larger diameter than the bore  107  of the conduit  106 . The valve conduit  106  is placed upstream in the conduit  90  relative to the flow of water from the water container, namely the boot reservoirs  32  and  42 , and the Christmas tree stand  10 . The conduit  90  is appropriately secured to the arm  104 . 
     The arm  114  includes a valve conduit  116  spaced apart from an I-beam restrictor  120 . The conduit  116  includes a bore  117 . A ball  118  is disposed between the conduit  116  and the restrictor  120 . Again, the diameter of the ball  118  is less than that of the arm  114  but greater than that of the bore  117  of the conduit  116 . 
     For the arm  114 , the valve conduit  116  is upstream relative to the flow of water between the conduits  90  and  140 . 
     The siphon pump  100  also includes an arm  124  which extends from the tee element  102  generally perpendicular to the arms  104  and  114 . A bulb  126  is appropriately secured to the arm  124 . 
     The purpose of the bulb  126  is, of course, to begin the siphon action to cause water to flow from the container elements  32  and  42  to the Christmas tree stand  10  through the respective conduits, as discussed above. It will be understood that the manually squeezing of the bulb  126  will cause the ball  108  to seat against the conduit  106  and will cause the ball  118  to move against the restrictor  120 . Thus, no air or water will flow into the conduit  90 , but water will flow from the bulb  126  into the conduit  140 . When the bulb  126  is released and after water is flowing out from the end of the conduit  140 , the lower pressure in the tee element  102  will allow atmospheric pressure in container elements or reservoirs  32  and  42  to begin siphon action, which is well known and understood. Hence, water will flow from the container, defined by the two reservoirs  32  and  42 , through the conduits  90  and  140  to the Christmas tree stand  10  regardless of the elevation of conduit  140  with respect to reservoirs  32  and  42 . This is best shown in FIGS. 2,  7 ,  8 , and  9 . 
     FIG. 7 is a view in partial section through the conduit  40  taken generally along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  2 . FIG. 7 shows a conduit  140  open, for conveying water from the container which is comprised of the boot reservoirs  32  and  42 , to the stand  10 . 
     FIG. 8 is a view in partial section through the conduit  40  taken generally along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 2, showing the conduit  140  with a metal rod  150  disposed therein. 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in partial section taken generally from circle  9  of FIG. 2, showing the conduit  140  within the stand  10 . For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIGS. 2 and 9. 
     The rod  150 , which is preferably made of brass or other water non-corrosive material, includes a bottom loop  152  which extends downwardly from the conduit  140 . The conduit  140  includes a distal end  142 , and the bottom loop  152  of the rod  150  extends below the distal end  142  and is typically disposed on the bottom  12  of the stand  10 . The loop  152  extends back to the conduit  140  and is disposed against the conduit  140  to help secure the rod  150  to the conduit  140 , as best shown in FIG.  9 . The rod  150  then extends upwardly within the conduit  140  and includes an upper bend  154 . The bend  154  also defines a loop  144  in the conduit  140  and prevents the conduit from collapsing on itself at the loop  144 , which may otherwise occur. The bend  154  may be made by a user of the apparatus adjacent to the upper wall portion  16  of the stand  10 , or slightly above it. The rod  150  and its upper bend  154  and the loop  144  also serves as a strain relief for the conduit  140 . The bend  154  and loop  144  also helps to prevent the accidental removal of the conduit  140  from the stand  10 . 
     The bottom loop  152  keeps the bottom or distal end  142  of the conduit  140  off the bottom  12  of the stand  10  and accordingly helps to prevent blockage of the conduit  140 , which may otherwise occur. 
     It will be noted that as long as the height of the water in the reservoir  32 ,  42  of the apparatus  30  is higher than the water in the stand  10 , water will flow by siphon action through the various conduits  60 ,  90 , and  140 , and the check valves, as discussed above. As water is used from the stand  10 , it will be replenished from the container elements or reservoirs  32 ,  42 . The remote location of the container elements or reservoirs  32 ,  42  allows the water to be replenished easily and conveniently regardless of the height of loop  144  at the upper portion of the wall  16 . Thus, the heights of the tree stand wall  16 , with respect to the height of the reservoirs  32  and  42  is relatively unimportant, and siphon action will still occur, providing that there is a difference between the height of the water in the reservoir  32 ,  42  and the bottom  142  of the conduit  140 . 
     Moreover, it will be noted that the rod  150  may be disposed on the outside or integrated into the conduit  140  and secured thereto. In such case, the “rod” may actually be appropriately configured plate, or the like. Also, the “rod” or plate, or whatever, need not be made of metal, but may be made of any appropriate material which is relatively non-corrosive in water and which provides the desired rigidity. 
     FIG. 10 is a view in partial section of an alternate embodiment of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention. A valve adapter  170  is utilized in place of the lower portion of the conduit  140 , including the distal end  142  and the loop  144 . In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the adapter  170 , which is preferably made of rigid material, such as plastic, mates with a shut off valve  190  to prevent a flooding situation if the conduit  140  is pulled free, or out of the stand  10 . 
     If the adapter  170  and valve  190  are used, then a brass rod  150  may not be necessary. In such case, the brass rod  150  is simply removed from the conduit  140 , and the conduit is either shortened or the distal end  142  may be connected directly to a tubing connector portion  172  on the adapter  170 . 
     The adapter  170  includes an upper bend portion  174  which then replaces the loop  144  in the conduit  140 . The adapter  170  is simply placed over the top of the tree stand, with the upper bend portion  174  disposed on the wall of the tree stand or in the general area thereof. The adapter  170  includes a straight lower portion  176  and a shoulder  178  adjacent to a bottom end  180 . The shoulder  178  receives the upper portion of the valve  190 . 
     The shut off valve  190  includes a bottom wall  194  remote from the upper end  192 . An orifice  196  extends through the bottom wall  194 . 
     A tapered valve element  200  is disposed in the orifice  196 . A stem  202  extends upwardly from the upper part of the valve element. The tapered valve element  200  is biased within the valve such that the tapered portion closes the orifice  196 . The valve element  200  is biased by a compression spring  204 . The spring  204  extends about the stem  202  and is disposed against the bottom end  180  of the adapter  170 . 
     The spring  204  is a relatively light weight spring such that when the bottom of the valve element  200  contacts the bottom  12  of the stand  10  (see FIG. 9) the element  200  is moved upwardly in the orifice  196  to allow water to flow from the conduit  140 , to the adapter  170 , and through the orifice  196  into the stand  10 . However, if the adapter  170 , secured to the conduit  140 , is removed from the stand  10 , then the spring  204  biases the valve element  200  in the valve  190  against the orifice  196  to prevent the flow of water outwardly. The valve element  200  accordingly comprises a seal to prevent inadvertent flooding, or the like, in case the conduit  140  and the adapter  170  are inadvertently removed from the stand  10 , and also, of course, prevents such flooding or dripping at the conclusion of the Christmas season when the conduit  140  and the adapter  170 , with the valve  190  secured thereto, are removed from the Christmas tree stand. 
     Under some circumstances it may be desirable to simply add the valve  190  to the end of the conduit  140  with the brass rod in place. In such case, an adapter  210  may be used. FIG. 11 comprises a view in partial section of an adapter  210  for mating a valve  190  directly to the end  142  (see FIG. 9) of the conduit  140 . 
     The element  210  may be referred to as an interconnector because it comprises an intermediate element between the valve  190  and the tubing  140 . 
     The interconnector  210  includes a generally cylindrical portion  212  with a top  214  and a connector flange  216  extending outwardly from the top  214 . The connector flange  216  extends into the bottom of the tube  140  at the bottom end  142 . The cylinder  212  includes a bottom  218  and adjacent to the bottom  218  there is a shoulder  220 . The shoulder  220  is comparable to the connector shoulder  178  of the adapter  170 . The valve  190  is disposed on the shoulder  220 . 
     Extending through the cylinder  212  is a bore  222  which receives the water flow from the tubing  140 . A second bore  224  extends into the cylinder  212  generally parallel to the bore  222 . However, the bore  224  does not extend all the way through the cylinder  212 , while the bore  222  does extend all the way, longitudinally, through the cylinder  212 . The purpose of the bore  224  is to receive the brass rod  150 . The bottom loop  152  of the brass rod will, of course, be cut off, while the lower portion of the brass rod is thus enabled to extend into the bore  224 . 
     Thus, there are various elements to allow the siphon apparatus  30  to be used with virtually any type of tree stand and to enable the apparatus to be used under varying circumstances, depending on the user&#39;s circumstances and desires. 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.