US20050121591A1

US20050121591A1 - Christmas tree stand

Info

Publication number: US20050121591A1
Application number: US10/783,015
Authority: US
Inventors: Yuan-Hui Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-04
Filing date: 2004-02-23
Publication date: 2005-06-09
Also published as: CN2664524Y

Abstract

A Christmas tree stand is disclosed and comprises a main frame including a main tube having upper and lower shoulders and a pair of first supporting legs. An auxiliary frame is configured with first and lower collars which can be enveloped onto the upper and lower shoulders, the auxiliary frame further including a pair of second supporting legs. A bolt is provided to lock the auxiliary tube with respect to the main tube.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tree stand, and more particularly to an improved Christmas tree stand in which supporting legs can be readily and conveniently fixed with respect to a main tube.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ARTS

The most amiable season for a year is Christmas in which the lamps string has been widely used in decoration, especially in western countries. Even more and more oriental countries start to celebrate this worldwide holiday. Nevertheless, more and more eastern people enjoy this global festival. No doubt, the pleasant and amiable atmosphere provided by the lamps string is very touching and moving, especially in the Holy Night. Of course, in some occasion, such as family union, the lamps string is indispensable also.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,004 issued to Frost et al. disclose a collapsible Christmas tree stand supporting a Christmas tree or the like from a longitudinal tube supported by two pair of opposing legs. The second pair of legs being rotatable about the tube in relation to a first pair of legs between a storage position and a plurality of support positions. The position of the two pair of legs with respect to one another is maintained with a locking wing nut, such as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 1A. It can be understood from the disclosure that unless the wing nuts are completely loosened, the legs can not be rotated with respect to the tube. After the legs are positioned, the wing nuts are locked up again. However, it can be seen from the disclosure that the elements 8 and 10 are slideably mounted onto the element 2, there is a high potential that the elements 8 and 10 will slide downward.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,977 issued to the present inventor, discloses a Christmas tree pedestal, includes a main body and a secondary body wherein the main body forms an inner sleeve portion and a first outer sleeve portion, and the secondary body forms a second outer sleeve portion. The inner sleeve portion of the body is received within the second outer sleeve portion of the secondary body whereby the main body and the secondary body are capable of being freely rotated over 90 degrees with regard to each other for folding a plurality of first and second supporting legs of the main body and the secondary body together in a limited space for transportation, storage, delivery and packing thereof. The invention does solve the shortcoming of the prior arts, while it suffers a comparable complicated manufacturing process thereby there is still a room for improvement.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,512 issued to Ho provides a collapsible support frame comprised of an inner tube, an outer tube, and a plurality of support legs. The support legs are fastened to the inner tube and the outer tube. The inner tube is rotatably fitted into the outer tube. The folding and the unfolding of the support legs are attained by turning the inner tube an angle. The inner tube has a hollow interior for holding a Christmas tree, a flag pole, and the like. See FIGS. 2 and 2A.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a Christmas tree stand in which supporting legs can be readily adjusted and positioned.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a Christmas tree stand in accordance with the present invention comprises a main frame including a main tube having upper and lower shoulders and a pair of first supporting legs. An auxiliary frame is configured with first and lower collars which can be enveloped onto the upper and lower shoulders, the auxiliary frame further including a pair of second supporting legs. A bolt is provided to lock the auxiliary tube with respect to the main tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art Christmas tree stand disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,004;
FIG. 1A is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a prior art Christmas tree stand disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,512;
FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a Christmas tree stand in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing first and second supporting legs are arranged in collapsed arrangement;
FIG. 5A is a top view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing first and second supporting legs are spaced between 90 degrees;
FIG. 6A is a top view of FIG. 6; and
FIG. 7 is an illustration showing a Christmas tree is mounted onto the stand in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 3, a Christmas tree stand made in accordance with the present invention includes a main frame 1 and an auxiliary frame 2. The main frame 1 includes a main tube 11 provided with a plurality of first supporting legs 12. The main tube 11 further includes a washer 13 attached to a lower end of the main tube 11. The main tube 11 is further provided with a first threaded hole 14. The main tube 11 is provided with upper and lower shoulders 11 a and 11 b.
The auxiliary frame 2 is configured by first and second collars 21 and 22 with a pair of second supporting legs 23 attached thereto. The first collar 21 is further provided with a second threaded hole 24. The upper collar 21 has a rounded flange 21 a.
The first and second collars 21, 22 are designed such that the inner diameter thereof is equal to the outer diameter of the shoulders 11 a, 11 b such that the first and second collars 21 and 22 are readily enveloped onto the shoulders 11 a, 11 b. After the first and second collars 21 and 22 are properly positioned onto the shoulders 11 a, 11 b, a blot 25 can be used and inserted from the threaded hole 24 of the first collar 21 into the threaded hole 14 of the main tube 11. By this arrangement, the auxiliary tube 2 can be fixedly positioned onto the main tube 1.
Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly, the auxiliary tube 2 can be easily assembled to the main tube 1 by enveloping the first collar 21 onto the upper shoulder 11 a of the tube 1, then enveloping the second collar 22 onto the lower shoulder 11 b of the main tube 11. After the second supporting legs 23 are positioned, the bolt 25 is used to complete the assembly.
FIGS. 5 and 5A are cross sectional views showing the supporting legs 12, 23 are located in collapsed position, i.e. the first and second supporting legs 12, 23 are arranged side-by-side for storing as the overall dimension is reduced. As disclosed, the auxiliary tube 2 can rotate through 180 degrees with respect to the main tube 1.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, the main tube 1 and the auxiliary tube 2 are positioned with respect to each other such that the first and second supporting legs 12, 23 are spaced 90 degrees. The bolt 25 is used to keep such arrangement and which extends through from the threaded hole 24 of the first collar 21 into the threaded hole 14 of the main tube 11 such that the supporting legs 12 and 23 spaced for 90 degrees.
Once the main tube 1 and the auxiliary tube 2 are assembled, the main trunk 3 of the Christmas tree can be mounted into the main tube 1, such as shown in FIG. 7, with end of the trunk 3 rests onto the washer 13. The bolt 25 can be further locked up such that the trunk 3 is fixedly positioned within the main tube 11.
One of the features of the present invention is the main tube 1 is provided with upper and lower shoulders 11 a, 11 b having the outer diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first and second collars 21, 22. As such, the engagement between the main tube 1 and the auxiliary tube 2 are rigid and reliable. In addition, when the first collar 21 is assembled to the upper shoulder 11 a, the flange 21 a covers the upper edge of the shoulder 11 a, see FIG. 5. This further ensures the overall rigidity as well as reliability. Specially, when the first collars 21 is mounted onto the upper shoulder 11 a, it is fully supported. The prior art problems are completely solved.

Claims

1. A Christmas tree stand, comprising

a main frame including a main tube having upper and lower shoulders and a pair of first supporting legs, the upper shoulder having an upper edge; and

an auxiliary frame configured with upper and lower collars which can be enveloped onto the upper and lower shoulders, the auxiliary frame further including a pair of second supporting legs extending from the upper and lower collars respectively;

wherein the upper collar includes a flange extending inwardly and rotatably resting onto the upper edge of the upper shoulder.

2. The Christmas tree stand as recited in claim 1, further including a bolt to lock the main tube and the upper collar into desired position.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)