US20090199467A1 - Christmas Tree Stand Adapter Ring - Google Patents
Christmas Tree Stand Adapter Ring Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090199467A1 US20090199467A1 US12/027,372 US2737208A US2009199467A1 US 20090199467 A1 US20090199467 A1 US 20090199467A1 US 2737208 A US2737208 A US 2737208A US 2009199467 A1 US2009199467 A1 US 2009199467A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- adapter ring
- christmas tree
- thumbscrews
- tree stand
- screws
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 241000191291 Abies alba Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 24
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
- A47G33/04—Christmas trees
- A47G33/12—Christmas tree stands
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
- A47G33/04—Christmas trees
- A47G33/12—Christmas tree stands
- A47G2033/1286—Christmas tree stands comprising watering means, e.g. a water reservoir
Definitions
- the field of the present invention relates to an apparatus that supports a Christmas tree in a vertical position, commonly referred to as a Christmas tree stand.
- the present invention addresses the above deficiency of the prior art by providing for a device that rigidly holds the screws in alignment with the axis of the Christmas tree trunk.
- the present invention is an adapter ring that fits inside the collar of a commercially available Christmas tree stand.
- the screws of the tree stand pass through holes in the adapter ring and are held in convergent alignment about the tree trunk.
- the adapter ring has sufficient structural strength to prevent lateral movement of the screws. As a result, the screws remain in alignment with the axis of the tree trunk and firmly hold the tree in the vertical position.
- An additional benefit to the present invention is that it can be applied to existing tree stands so a person can, in effect, upgrade his/her tree stand inexpensively.
- the preferred shape is a right cylinder, however it could also be in the form of a torus, or a right pentagon (for five screws) or hexagon (for six screws). It could be made of wood, metal or plastic or any material having suitable structural strength.
- FIG. 1 is an orthographic top view of the prior art showing lateral misalignment of the screws allowing the tree trunk to shift out of the center of the tree stand and lean to one side.
- FIG. 2 is an orthographic side view of the prior art showing the tree trunk leaning to one side.
- FIG. 3 is an orthographic top view of the invention shown positioned within the collar of a typical commercially available Christmas tree stand. It illustrates how the screws are constrained in alignment with the axis of the tree trunk.
- FIG. 4 is an orthographic side view of the Christmas tree stand.
- FIG. 5 is an orthographic top view of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is an orthographic side view of the invention.
- FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate the inability of the prior art to maintain the thumbscrews 5 in convergent alignment with and perpendicular to the axis of the tree trunk 3 .
- Other elements of the tree stand are the collar 6 , the legs 8 , and the bowl 9 .
- FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate how the holes 2 in the adapter ring 1 constrains the thumbscrews 5 in convergent alignment with and perpendicular to the axis of the tree trunk 3 .
- FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate the adapter ring 1 removed from the Christmas tree stand for clarity. It has one hole 2 for each thumbscrew 5 in the Christmas tree stand.
- the thumbscrew holes 2 are about the same size as the thumbscrews 5 to provide a slip fit.
- the outside diameter of the adapter ring 1 is smaller than the inside diameter of the Christmas tree stand collar 6 .
- the diameter of the concentric hole 7 is the maximum possible while leaving enough material to provide sufficient structural strength to support the tree in a vertical position without fracturing.
Abstract
A typical Christmas tree stand has legs made of stamped metal with thumbscrews threaded through the stamped metal, which provides almost no resistance to lateral movement of the thumbscrews. The rotational action of tightening the thumbscrews actually causes the tree trunk to rotate about its axis thus twisting the thumbscrews laterally and loosening the contact of the thumbscrews with the tree trunk thus allowing the tree to lean or fall over.
The present invention is a Christmas tree stand adapter ring, hereinafter referred to as adapter ring, having unthreaded screw holes arranged radially to coincide with thumbscrews in the legs and collar of a typical Christmas tree stand. The adapter ring is positioned inside the collar of the typical Christmas tree stand in an orientation that allows the thumbscrews of the Christmas tree stand to pass through the adapter ring and make contact with the Christmas tree trunk. The adapter ring holds the screws in alignment with the center of the tree trunk and prevents lateral movement of the screws, thus holding the tree firmly in a vertical position.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The field of the present invention relates to an apparatus that supports a Christmas tree in a vertical position, commonly referred to as a Christmas tree stand.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- Most Christmas tree stands are designed to accommodate tree trunks of varying diameters. One usual method is to use multiple screws that converge on the tree trunk and hold it in a vertical position. Each thread that a screw passes through is one thread in length because the thread is created by punching and forming the thread in a stamped sheet steel leg of the tree stand. When the diameter of the tree trunk is rather small, each screw has to be extended farther through the single thread to make contact with the tree trunk. Under this condition, the single screw thread in the stamped sheet steel tree stand offers almost no resistance to lateral movement of the screw. Due to this weakness, as the screw is tightened against the tree trunk, the tree trunk rotates and the screw “walks” laterally thus losing its ability to hold the tree in a vertical position because the screw is no longer in alignment with the axis of the tree trunk.
- The present invention addresses the above deficiency of the prior art by providing for a device that rigidly holds the screws in alignment with the axis of the Christmas tree trunk.
- The present invention is an adapter ring that fits inside the collar of a commercially available Christmas tree stand. The screws of the tree stand pass through holes in the adapter ring and are held in convergent alignment about the tree trunk. The adapter ring has sufficient structural strength to prevent lateral movement of the screws. As a result, the screws remain in alignment with the axis of the tree trunk and firmly hold the tree in the vertical position.
- An additional benefit to the present invention is that it can be applied to existing tree stands so a person can, in effect, upgrade his/her tree stand inexpensively.
- For the purpose of illustrating the current invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentalities shown. For example, the preferred shape is a right cylinder, however it could also be in the form of a torus, or a right pentagon (for five screws) or hexagon (for six screws). It could be made of wood, metal or plastic or any material having suitable structural strength.
-
FIG. 1 is an orthographic top view of the prior art showing lateral misalignment of the screws allowing the tree trunk to shift out of the center of the tree stand and lean to one side. -
FIG. 2 is an orthographic side view of the prior art showing the tree trunk leaning to one side. -
FIG. 3 is an orthographic top view of the invention shown positioned within the collar of a typical commercially available Christmas tree stand. It illustrates how the screws are constrained in alignment with the axis of the tree trunk. -
FIG. 4 is an orthographic side view of the Christmas tree stand. -
FIG. 5 is an orthographic top view of the invention. -
FIG. 6 is an orthographic side view of the invention. - Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals and the invention is referred to as an adapter ring 1,
FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 illustrate the inability of the prior art to maintain thethumbscrews 5 in convergent alignment with and perpendicular to the axis of thetree trunk 3. Other elements of the tree stand are thecollar 6, thelegs 8, and thebowl 9. -
FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 illustrate how theholes 2 in the adapter ring 1 constrains thethumbscrews 5 in convergent alignment with and perpendicular to the axis of thetree trunk 3. -
FIG. 5 andFIG. 6 illustrate the adapter ring 1 removed from the Christmas tree stand for clarity. It has onehole 2 for eachthumbscrew 5 in the Christmas tree stand. Thethumbscrew holes 2 are about the same size as thethumbscrews 5 to provide a slip fit. The outside diameter of the adapter ring 1 is smaller than the inside diameter of the Christmastree stand collar 6. The diameter of the concentric hole 7 is the maximum possible while leaving enough material to provide sufficient structural strength to support the tree in a vertical position without fracturing.
Claims (4)
1. A Christmas tree stand adapter ring, hereinafter referred to as adapter ring, comprising;
a right cylinder shape with a concentric hole;
any structurally suitable material such as metal, wood or plastic;
a plurality of unthreaded screw holes spaced radially around and perpendicular to the centerline of said adapter ring, with the diameter of said unthreaded screw holes being a size that provides a slip-fit with screws that are furnished with a typical stamped steel Christmas tree stand, said screws being arranged radially to converge on and anchor a Christmas tree trunk, either natural or artificial, in a vertical position;
a thickness that is sufficiently greater than said unthreaded screw holes to provide adequate structural strength to withstand the forces required to hold said Christmas tree trunk in a vertical position;
an outer diameter of said adapter ring that is sufficiently smaller than a collar of said Christmas tree stand, through which said Christmas tree is inserted, to avoid interference and to facilitate easy alignment of said screws into said unthreaded holes of said adapter ring;
an inside diameter of said adapter ring that is the maximum possible while leaving enough material to provide sufficient structural strength to support said Christmas tree trunk in a vertical position without fracturing.
2. An adapter ring as in claim 1 , wherein it has a torus shape in lieu of having a right cylinder shape with a concentric hole.
3. An adapter ring as in claim 1 , wherein it has a right pentagon shape with a concentric hole in lieu of having a right cylinder shape with a concentric hole.
4. An adapter ring as in claim 1 , wherein it has a right hexagon shape with a concentric hole in lieu of having a right cylinder shape with a concentric hole.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/027,372 US20090199467A1 (en) | 2008-02-07 | 2008-02-07 | Christmas Tree Stand Adapter Ring |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/027,372 US20090199467A1 (en) | 2008-02-07 | 2008-02-07 | Christmas Tree Stand Adapter Ring |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090199467A1 true US20090199467A1 (en) | 2009-08-13 |
Family
ID=40937682
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/027,372 Abandoned US20090199467A1 (en) | 2008-02-07 | 2008-02-07 | Christmas Tree Stand Adapter Ring |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090199467A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014127011A1 (en) * | 2013-02-12 | 2014-08-21 | Davenport Natalie Lorene | Tree segregation and protection system |
CN106962061A (en) * | 2017-03-22 | 2017-07-21 | 浙江德润市政园林有限公司 | A kind of novel garden device for fixing plant |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2913202A (en) * | 1955-08-22 | 1959-11-17 | Roy W Meldrum | Christmas tree holder |
US4159096A (en) * | 1977-05-12 | 1979-06-26 | General Foam Plastics Corp. | Super stable, simply assembleable tree stand |
US4571881A (en) * | 1983-08-05 | 1986-02-25 | Lathim Industries, Inc. | Christmas tree stand |
US4825586A (en) * | 1988-05-23 | 1989-05-02 | Benjamin Coppedge | Christmas tree stand |
US5209450A (en) * | 1992-07-08 | 1993-05-11 | Grapes Jacklyn O | Christmas tree stand |
US6051423A (en) * | 1996-03-13 | 2000-04-18 | University Technologies International Inc. | Biofilm assay |
-
2008
- 2008-02-07 US US12/027,372 patent/US20090199467A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2913202A (en) * | 1955-08-22 | 1959-11-17 | Roy W Meldrum | Christmas tree holder |
US4159096A (en) * | 1977-05-12 | 1979-06-26 | General Foam Plastics Corp. | Super stable, simply assembleable tree stand |
US4571881A (en) * | 1983-08-05 | 1986-02-25 | Lathim Industries, Inc. | Christmas tree stand |
US4825586A (en) * | 1988-05-23 | 1989-05-02 | Benjamin Coppedge | Christmas tree stand |
US5209450A (en) * | 1992-07-08 | 1993-05-11 | Grapes Jacklyn O | Christmas tree stand |
US6051423A (en) * | 1996-03-13 | 2000-04-18 | University Technologies International Inc. | Biofilm assay |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014127011A1 (en) * | 2013-02-12 | 2014-08-21 | Davenport Natalie Lorene | Tree segregation and protection system |
US10524428B2 (en) | 2013-02-12 | 2020-01-07 | RN Holdings, LLC | Tree segregation and protection system |
CN106962061A (en) * | 2017-03-22 | 2017-07-21 | 浙江德润市政园林有限公司 | A kind of novel garden device for fixing plant |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |