Supports – Staff type – Stand or base
Patent
1998-07-06
2000-01-11
Ramirez, Ramon O.
Supports
Staff type
Stand or base
F16M 1300
Patent
active
060126981
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an apparatus for clamping the trunk of a Christmas tree or the like, consisting of a stand, with at least three clamping jaws, which are disposed in a base plate with an opening for accommodating the trunk and are distributed about this opening and can be moved into the accommodating opening for clamping the trunk.
For setting up Christmas trees, apparatuses are known, which are called stands and consist of a housing-like or frame-like supporting body, which has an accommodating opening, into which the lower region of the trunk of the Christmas tree can be inserted. Since the cross section of the trunks of Christmas trees differs and the Christmas trees must be aligned with their trunk in a vertical position, the opening of the supporting body is always larger than the maximum cross section of the trunk. Different apparatuses have become known for securing or clamping the trunk in this accommodating opening.
The German Offenlegungsschrift 36 06 778 discloses a Christmas tree stand, for which roll-shaped holding elements are pressed by a rotational movement against the trunk. It is not possible to fit this holding element individually to the shape of the trunk. Since the trunks of Christmas trees rarely are straight and uniformly round, the trunk can be aligned only by mechanical processing or connections. In order to be able to carry out the rotational movement, the Christmas tree stand must be fixed to the floor so that it does not rotate along. No safety mechanism is provided to prevent an automatic opening.
The German Auslegeschrift 28 14 830 discloses a stand, which is also suitable for accommodating Christmas trees. In the case of this stand, the holding force is applied exclusively by a strong spring. The opening is accomplished by way of a lever at the bottom of the sleeve accommodating the trunk. As a result, the simultaneous use of the sleeve as a water container is precluded.
In the German utility patent 94 18 483, a Christmas tree stand is described and shown, for which several holding elements are moved against the trunk by means of a rod with a denticulation and a lever with locking mechanism engaging thereon are moved against the trunk. In the case of trunks with relatively small cross sections, several lifting motions of the lever are required, until the clamping position is reached.
Finally, the German Offenlegungsschrift 39 32 473 discloses a Christmas tree stand, for which several holding elements are brought up to the trunk by shortening a rope loop. At the same time, the holding force becomes active only when all holding elements lie against the trunk. The rope is put under tension by a foot lever, so that, in every case, several lifts are required before all holding elements lie against the trunk. The rope, functioning as the actual clamping element, is fixed in its holding position by a latch mechanism. An additional lever is required for loosening the rope. The rope, serving as clamping element, cannot transfer any forces when the holding elements are opened. For this reason, for the reverse motion of the holding elements, special springs are provided, the force of which must be dimensioned so that they can pull out holding elements, which may have penetrated into the trunk, and can also overcome the friction of the rope.
It is therefore an object of the invention to indicate a method for clamping the trunk of a Christmas tree or the like, by which method it becomes possible to adapt the clamping jaws easily to the cross section of the trunk and to clamp the trunk securely and which does not require a large lift for the actual clamping motion. Moreover, it shall be an easy matter to loosen or cancel the clamping.
Pursuant to the invention, it is proposed for accomplishing this objective for a method of the type described above that the clamping jaws are moved by way of the fastener against the force of elastic elements out of the accommodating opening, that, after the trunk is inserted, the clamping jaws are released by a movement of the fastener and, at firs
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Hardt Rainer
Schaaf Balthasar
Schaaf Johann
Krinner GmbH
Ramirez Ramon O.
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