Supports – Staff type – Stand or base
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-16
2001-09-11
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Staff type
Stand or base
C248S519000, C248S521000, C047S040500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286804
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to molded stands suitable for use in supporting the trunk of a decorative tree, and more particularly, to a molded plastic tree stand having a unitarily molded body with a pentagonal recess in which the tree is supported that can serve as a water reservoir for live trees.
2. Related Prior Art
Plastic tree stands are well known, having previously been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 351,570, Des. 364,831, Des. 368,674 and the references cited therein. A molded tree having an oversize reservoir with side wall sections projecting into the reservoir is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,508. U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,193 discloses a tree stand comprising a generally cylindrical, cup-shaped container having five detachable, radially extending legs and an optional connecting ring to improve stability of the stand. Three locations are provided for the insertion of bolts useful for securing the tree inside the stand. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 382,227 discloses another tree stand comprising a cylindrical container with five detachable legs without an optional connecting ring. Five locations are provided around the top rim of the container for the insertion of tree attachment bolts, with each location being aligned with one of the radially extending legs.
A unitarily molded plastic tree stand is needed that has a stable and compact footprint; that is sturdy; that has a large reservoir opening in combination with relatively smooth inside walls to receive and support a natural tree having a large or irregular trunk diameter; that has sufficient reservoir volume to accommodate a significant quantity of water, even when a large diameter trunk is inserted into the reservoir; and that has more than three bolt-receiving positions useful for securely attaching the stand to the tree.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The tree stand disclosed herein comprises a unitarily molded plastic body having a reservoir with a pentagonal cross-section, a top rim, smooth side walls slightly tapered downwardly and inwardly from the top rim to a bottom; a downwardly curved buttress extending radially outward on each side of the reservoir to a peripherally extending base flange defining inwardly curving arcs between adjacent buttresses; upwardly directed retaining walls disposed along said arcs; and a bolt receptacle elevated above the top rim at the top of each buttress.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the inwardly directed surfaces of each bolt receptacle are substantially continuous with the inside surface of the adjacent side wall of the pentagonal reservoir. Concave recesses are desirably molded into the top of each buttress radially outward of the bolt receptacles to provide relief for the head of a rotatable bolt insertable through apertures provided in the bolt receptacles. Concave recesses are also desirably provided at the base of each buttress to facilitate insertion of anchor screws downwardly through flange apertures vertically aligned with the recesses.
Each corner of the pentagonal top rim extends radially outward beyond an imaginary line connecting the inwardly facing midpoint of the bolt receptacle to the bolt receptacle of the next adjacent side in each direction around the pentagonal reservoir. A plurality of unitarily molded reinforcing ribs are desirably provided beneath the upwardly facing surfaces of the tree stand, including the bottom of the pentagonal reservoir, to provide additional structural reinforcement to the stand.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 188862 (1960-09-01), Krastel
patent: D. 269571 (1983-07-01), Geshwind
patent: D. 299217 (1989-01-01), Schoenborn
patent: D. 351570 (1994-10-01), Fillipp
patent: D. 364831 (1995-12-01), Fillipp
patent: D. 382227 (1997-08-01), Adams et al.
patent: 558433 (1896-04-01), Stoddard
patent: 1742212 (1930-01-01), Muldoon
patent: 2733032 (1956-01-01), Farley et al.
patent: 5725193 (1998-03-01), Adams
patent: 5743508 (1998-04-01), Fiveash
patent: 5845890 (1998-12-01), Earsley et al.
Avinger Andrew G.
Fillipp Stephen L.
Gary Products Group, Inc.
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
Ramirez Ramon O.
Ross Monty L.
Wood Kimberly
LandOfFree
Molded pentagonal tree stand does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Molded pentagonal tree stand, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Molded pentagonal tree stand will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436740