Abstract:
An artificial tree structure including a center pole, a number of main branches each attached to the center pole and extending outward, and a number of branch tips each attached to one of the main branches at a predetermined orientation relative to the branch, there being a bias of the tips toward the predetermined orientation when the tips are deflected from the predetermined orientation.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This description relates to artificial trees.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Artificial trees have been provided in various forms and arrangement to simulate the appearance of a natural tree. Some trees include a center pole configured to receive multiple branches of suitable lengths to form a generally conical evergreen tree shape. Branch tips can extend from the main branches to give the tree a full and natural appearance. Such trees are often stored in compact form and require alignment and positioning of the main branches and branch tips to achieve the desired overall appearance for display purposes.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     In general, in one aspect, the artificial tree features a center pole, a number of main branches attached to the center pole and extending outward, and a number of branch tips each attached to the main branches at a predetermined orientation relative to the branch, there being a bias of the tips toward the predetermined orientation when the tips are deflected from the predetermined position.  
         [0004]     In various embodiments, the tree can include main branches which are positionable between a stowed state and a deployed state. The main branches can be configured to be biased toward the deployed state. The branch tips can also be positionable between a stowed state and a deployed state. The branch tips can be configured to be biased toward the deployed state.  
         [0005]     In one example, the branch tips are substantially adjacent the main branches in the stowed state and the branch tips extended away from the main branches in the deployed state at an angle θ. In some embodiments, θ is between about 25 and about 45 degrees.  
         [0006]     In preferred embodiments, the branch tips are formed from spring steel wire, such as for example, high-carbon steel. In other embodiments, the main branches are formed from spring steel wire, such as for example, high-carbon steel. In one example, the diameter of the branch tip wire is between about 0.03 mm (1.2 mils) and about 1.6 mm (63.0 mils). In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the branch tip wire is between about 0.8 mm (31.5 mils) and about 1.2 mm (47.2 mils).  
         [0007]     In various applications, the branch tips are attached to the main branches with a fiber wrapped around one end of each of the branch tips and the adjacent portion of one of the main branches. The main branches can be attached to the center pole with a fiber wrapped around one end of the main branch and the adjacent portion of the center pole.  
         [0008]     In other examples, the main branches are rotatably attached to the center pole at a hinge assembly, for example. In another example, the main branches include a hook extending from one end and the center pole includes a coupler configured for receiving the hook of the main branches.  
         [0009]     In one example, the tree includes a number of light fixtures permanently attached to the branch tips and main branches along uniform intervals. In another example, the tree includes a light source and a fiber-optic wire extending from the light source to one or various locations on the main branches and branch tips. The branch tips can also include needles in a variety of styles including for example, bristle, cone tip, round tip, pointed tip, Canadian tip or any combination thereof. In some examples, the tree needles are between about 2.54 cm (1 inch) and about 25.4 cm (10 inches) in width and are made from polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) or polyethylene.  
         [0010]     In one example, the center pole of the tree includes one or more sections for releasable attachment to each other. In this configuration, the tree can also include one or more containers, such as reclosable bags, which are sized and configured for storing the sections of the center pole when the main branches and the branch tips are in the stowed position.  
         [0011]     In another aspect, an artificial tree structure includes a substantially vertical center pole including a base, a curved element extending from a top portion of the pole to a bottom portion of the base, a number of main branches attached to the element and extending outward. A number of branch tips are attached along the main branches at a predetermined orientation and configured to bias toward the predetermined orientation when deflected.  
         [0012]     In another aspect, an artificial tree structure includes a substantially vertical center pole; a number of main branches attached to the center pole and extending radially outward therefrom, the branches being positionable between a stowed state and a deployed state, and biased toward the deployed state, and a number of branch tips positionable between a stowed state and a deployed state and biased toward the deployed state, each branch tips being attached to one of the main branches at a predetermined orientation relative to the branch, there being a bias of the tips toward the predetermined orientation when the tips are deflected from the predetermined orientation. The branch tips are substantially adjacent the main branches in the stowed state and the branch tips are extended away from the main branches at an angle between about 25 and about 45 degrees in the deployed state.  
         [0013]     In another aspect, a method of assembling an artificial tree stored within a container includes removing the tree from the container, releasing main branches attached to a center pole from a stowed state to permit automatic movement of the main branches toward a predetermined orientation relative to the center pole, and releasing the branch tips attached to one of the main branches from a stowed state to permit automatic movement of the branch tips toward a predetermined orientation relative to the main branches.  
         [0014]     In another aspect, a method of disassembling an artificial tree includes providing the artificial tree as described in any of the foregoing aspects; deflecting the branch tips toward an orientation substantially adjacent the main branches against the bias toward the predetermined orientation, deflecting the main branches toward an orientation substantially adjacent the center pole, and then, sliding the tree into storage container. In one example, the method also includes separating the center pole of the tree into two or more sections, and placing each section into a separate container sized and configured for storing each section.  
         [0015]     Other advantages and features will become apparent from the description and the claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an artificial tree.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an artificial tree having multiple attachable sections.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of main branch including a number of branch tips extending therefrom.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are detail views of the junction between a main branch and the branch tips in a deployed and stored position, respectively.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a detail view of a hooked junction between the main branch and the center pole of an artificial tree.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of hinged junction between the main branch and the center pole of an artificial tree.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of a wrapped junction between the main branch and the center pole of an artificial tree.  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a partially assembled artificial tree where the main branches are attached to substantially vertical rib supports.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 9A  to  9 F are views of various styles of branch tips. 
     
    
       [0025]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an artificial tree  10  includes a main body  15  supported by a base  20 . The main body of the tree includes a number of main branches of suitable lengths attached to a center pole to simulate the appearance of a natural tree. In some embodiments, the tree  10  can be between about 0.3048 m (1 ft) and about 3.66 m (12 feet) in height. The center pole can be made from any dimensional stable material, such as metal, wood or plastic, for example.  FIG. 2  depicts a multi-section artificial tree  25  which is formed by upper, middle and lower tree sections,  30 ,  35 , and  40 , respectively. The upper and middle sections  30 ,  35  are releasbly connected at an upper collar  45 , the upper collar including an engageable post  50  and sleeve  55 . The middle and lower sections  35 ,  40  are releasbly connected at a lower collar  60 , the lower collar including an engageable post  65  and sleeve  70 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a main branch  75  of the main body  15  ( FIG. 1 ) is shown schematically attached to a center pole  80  at a junction  85  (branch needles are removed for clarity). The main branch defines an angle Δ from the center pole  80 . In some embodiments, Δ can range from between about 0 to 90 degrees. A branch tips  90  can be attached along the main branch  80  at a junction  95 . The branch tips  90  are sized, configured and attached along the main branch to simulate a natural tree branch. Referring also to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the branch tips  90  define an angle θ from the main branch  75 . In some embodiments, θ can range from about 0 to 90 degrees, in some preferred embodiments, θ can range from about 25 to about 45 degrees.  FIG. 4A  depicts the main branch  75  in a deployed position θ 1  in which the branch tips are positioned such that θ is about 45 degrees.  FIG. 4B  depicts the main branch  75  is a stowed position θ 2  in which the branch tips are positioned such that θ is about 10 degrees.  
         [0028]     In one embodiment, the branch tips  90  are formed from spring steel, such as, but not limited to a high-carbon steel for example, and configured to maintain a predetermined angle θ 1  from the main branch  75  when deflected. In some embodiments, the diameter of the branch tip  90  wire is between about 0.03 mm (1.2 mils) and about 1.6 mm (63.0 mils). In preferred embodiments, the diameter of the branch tip  90  wire is between about 0.8 mm (31.5 mils) to about 1.2 mm (47.2 mils). The diameter of the branch tip wire should be large enough to provide for restorative movement to a predetermined position when deflected but not large enough to so minimize deflection of the branches that the appearance of the tree is unnatural. When storage or shipping of the tree  10  is required, the branch tips  90  can be pressed toward the main branch  75  for reduction of the volumetric size of each main branch and accordingly, the overall size of the tree  10 . The tree can be then be placed in a storage contained such as a suitable box or bag to retain the position of branch tips  90  in the stowed position as shown in  FIG. 4B . For the multi-section artificial tree of  FIG. 2 , separate containers sized and configured for each of the upper, middle and lower tree sections can be provided. The branch tips  90  can be elastically deflected for storage but return to the substantially deployed position shown in  FIG. 4A  when no longer deflected.  
         [0029]     The branch tips  90  are biased toward the properly aligned deployed position to reduce or eliminate the need for manually positioning each branch tip for the desired appearance. Manually shaping the tree branch tips can require considerable amounts of time and at least a modicum of skill to obtain the desired overall appearance of the tree. Accordingly, an artificial tree may not be shaped properly for retail or consumer display.  
         [0030]     In one embodiment, the main branch  75  is also formed from spring steel, such as, but not limited to a high-carbon steel for example, and configured to maintain a predetermined angle Δ 1  from the center pole  80  when deflected.  
         [0031]     As with the branch tips  90 , when storage or shipping of the tree  10  is required, the main branches  75  can be pressed toward the center pole  80  for reducing the overall size of the tree  10 . The tree can be then be placed in a storage contained such as a suitable box or bag to retain the position of branch tips  75  in the stowed position. For the multi-section artificial tree of  FIG. 2 , separate containers sized and configured for each of the upper, middle and lower tree sections can be provided. The main branches  75  permit elastic deflection for storage but return to the substantially deployed position shown in  FIG. 4A  when no longer deflected. Other embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the main branch  75  can include a hook  100  at one end which is sized and configured for insertion into a slot  105  of a coupler  110 . The coupler  110  includes a bore through which the center pole  80  extends. The slots  105  can be arranged about the coupler  110  at regular intervals and include an open portion  115  and a closed portion  120 . After the hook  100  of the main branch  75  is positioned within the open portion  115 , the main branch can be pushed downward to releasable attach the hook  100  within the closed portion  120 .  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the main branch  75  can be rotatably attached to the center pole  80  at a hinge assembly  125 . In one example, a position ring  130  is located along the center pole  80  proximate to the hinge assembly  125 . The main branch  75  can be rotated upward about the hinge assembly  125  from the deployed position shown in  FIG. 6  to a stowed position wherein the main branch is substantially adjacent to the center pole  80  (not shown). The position ring  130  engages a portion of the hinge assembly  125  to limit rotation of the main branch  75  at the desired angle Δ from the center pole  80 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the main branch  75  can be attach to the center pole  80  by winding a wrap  135  about a hook  100  of the main branch  75  and a portion of the center pole which is adjacent thereto. In this configuration, the main branch  75  the main branch is formed from spring steel, such as, but not limited to a high-carbon steel for example, and configured to maintain a predetermined angle Δ from the center pole  80  when deflected.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the artificial tree  30  can include what is known as a “panel” design. In this example, the main branches  75  of varying lengths are attached along the span of a number of rib supports  140 . The rib supports  140  extend from an upper hub  145  positioned at the top of the center pole  80  to a large ring support  150  positioned proximate on the center pole  80  proximate the base  30 . The ring support  150  is secured to the center pole by a number of spokes  155  radially extending from a lower hub  160  which is secured to the center pole  80 .  
         [0036]     In some examples, the needles extending from the main branches  75  and branch tips  90  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  can be formed from polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) or polyethylene and can vary in width from between about 2.54 cm (1 inch) and 25.4 cm (10 inches). In one example, needle construction can be between 2-ply and 4-ply. FIGS.  9 A to  9 F depict needles configured the branch tips  90  in varying tip styles. For example,  FIG. 9A  shows a round tip style  165 ,  FIG. 9B  shows a coned tip style  170 ,  FIG. 9C  shows a pointed tip style  175 ,  FIG. 9D  shows a Canadian tip style  180 ,  FIG. 9E  shows a bristle-tip style  185  and  FIG. 9E  shows a mixed-tip style  190 .  
         [0037]     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the tree  10  can manufactured to include a number of light fixtures permanently attached to the main branches  75  and branch tips  80  along uniform intervals (not shown). Alternatively, the tree  10  can include a unitary light source and a number of fiber-optic wires extending from the light source to suitable locations on the main branches  75  and branch tips  80  to uniformly illuminate the tree (not shown). Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.