Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Three dimension imitation or 'treated' natural product – Flora
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-22
2001-08-07
Jones, Deborah (Department: 1775)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Three dimension imitation or 'treated' natural product
Flora
C428S019000, C428S020000, C362S123000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270864
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an artificial Christmas tree with stand in accordance with the introductory clause of claim
1
of the type known from the U.S. Pat. No. 1,490,409 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,783.
In view of the background of a spreading awareness of environmental aspects and the criticised cutting-down of natural Christmas trees every year, which perform their function only two weeks and must then be disposed of, there is a need for the creation of an artificial Christmas tree suitable for re-use every year.
What is also known are plastic imitations of natural Christmas trees. Such artificial Christmas tree imitations are usually very bulky and require an appropriate storage capacity for the period in which they are not used, i.e. approximately 50 weeks a year, which space is not available at any place, Such plastic Christmas trees involved moreover a high expenditure of a final disposal after a prolonged period of service. There is hence a need for the creation of an artificial Christmas tree with a pleasing appearance which may be disassembled when it is not used and which can be stored in a compact form.
In accordance with the present invention an artificial Christmas tree is provided which consists of the following elements for stacking one on top of the other: a stand base, a stand pillar, at least two truncated-cone elements conically graduated in terms of size, and a conical element for the top of the tree, with elements are detachably fastened to each other so as to form a stylised tree.
On account of the inventive design of the artificial Christmas tree with a stand it is easy even for persons with reduced engineering talents and skills to set up, in case of need, an attractive stylised Christmas tree without any problems, using individual sections which do not create any problems in storage, and to disassemble the tree later on.
In accordance with the invention each truncated-cone element comprises a circular board adapted to be attached in the region of its bottom and top sides, which boards are adjacent to each other when the stylised tree is formed, and which include complementary plug-and-socket or screw connectors or Velcro-type devices, respectively. With these provisions the truncated-cone elements may be easily stored one inside the other and the circular boards are easily stacked when the tree is not used, so that the required storage capacity is kept at a minimum.
What is moreover expedient for the attractive appearance of the stylised Christmas tree is the provision that the circular board forming the bottom side is attached on the truncated-cone elements and the conical element with an inward offset, so that fastening brackets for suspending decorative items may preferably be disposed also in the region of the lower ends of the conical shells,
It is furthermore expedient for the further stylised approximation to a Christmas tree to provide receiving elements for candle holders, decorative or ornamental items in the conical shell surfaces, which elements are preferably formed by threaded sleeves, and to design the shell surfaces of the truncated-cone elements and of the conical element for receiving coloured and decorative coatings. The tip of the conical element may be additionally provided with an further decorative top.
The inventive artificial Christmas tree includes a stand which is preferably of a two-piece design and preferably vertically adjustable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this stand pillar is suitable for attachment by its first end on the stand base and by its other end in the area of the underside of the largest truncated-cone element. Moreover provisions are expediently made for screw-mounting the stand pillar both in the stand base and in the underside of the largest truncated-cone element, with a retaining plate being provided on the side of the stand pillar for securing the underside of the largest truncated-cone element. In an alternative design, the stand pillar mount may equally be provided with one or several plug-and-socket connectors, too.
The stand base as such presents preferably a circular and/or polygonal plate-shaped design, with perforations in the form of geometric figures such as triangles or circles being provided in a preferred embodiment.
The two or more truncated-cone elements and the conical element consist either of wood, such as steamed beechwood, of synthetic material or varnished or lacquered paperboard or millboard, of metal or of veneer, cardboard, hardboard plywood or plastic material. As far as the outside design of the artificial Christmas tree is concerned numerous variants are conceivable, e.g. in purely natural wood or in the form of coloured coatings, e.g. based on natural wood or in green or red or blue with silver or golden stars, etc. Various ornamental items may, of course, also be applied on the shell surfaces. The receiving elements provided for the candle holders, decorative or ornamental items may, for instance, also receive angles, figures, Santa Claus figures or the like, and even electric candles with the associated electric plug-and-socket connectors may be provided between the individual elements.
Depending on the selected material, it is also possible to provide fitting reinforcements in the form of glued-in profiled elements, e.g. triangles, for attachment of the lower circular board on the truncated-cone element, whereas for reasons of stability the upper circular board or terminating board is expediently glued to the respective truncated-cone elements.
An integral threaded sleeve may also be provided as a receiving element for the tip of the conical element, which is closed, for instance, by a plastic part and may be removed for insertion of an additional decorative top, e.g. in the form of a glossy arrow.
The stand pillar may be composed of two telescopic elements so as to be vertically adjustable, which elements may be secured by means of a crossbolt relative to each other in specified withdrawn positions. In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible to achieve a fixation at a desired height with such a two-piece telescopic formation of the stand pillar by a frictional resistance operative between the two parts, i.e. in a force-locking manner, or in any other simple appropriate way.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1490409 (1924-04-01), Ventresca
patent: 3544783 (1970-12-01), Williams
Jones Deborah
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
Savage Jason
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