Multi-positional, locking artificial tree trunk
AssigneeWillis Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorJohnny Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A locking artificial tree trunk including a first generally cylindrical, hollow trunk portion including an upper end, the upper end defining a notch, and a second generally cylindrical trunk portion including a body portion, a lower end having an insertable portion, and an upper end. The locking artificial tree trunk also includes a coupling mechanism having a body portion and an upper portion having a tab, and defining a channel for receiving the insertable portion of the lower end of the second trunk portion. The body portion is inserted substantially into the upper end of the first trunk portion with the tab of the upper portion aligned with the notch, thereby preventing rotation of the coupling mechanism within the upper end of the first trunk portion.
Claims14
An artificial tree, comprising:
- a first tree portion comprising a generally cylindrical, hollow first trunk portion including a first end and a second end, and a plurality of branches attached to the first trunk portion, the second end of the generally cylindrical, hollow first trunk portion defining a generally circular edge;
- a second tree portion configured to be coupled to the first tree portion, the second tree portion comprising a generally cylindrical, hollow second trunk portion including a first end and a second end, and a plurality of branches attached to the second trunk portion;
- and
- a coupling mechanism located substantially within the second end of the first trunk portion, the coupling mechanism comprising a body portion inserted into the second end of the first trunk portion and having an upper end, a lower end and an inside cavity defined by a cylindrical inner surface of the body portion, and a flange portion, the flange portion adjacent to and in contact with the generally circular edge of the first trunk portion, the body portion having a plurality of ribs on the cylindrical inner surface and extending axially in a direction from the upper end to the lower end and radially toward a central portion of the body portion, each of the plurality of ribs displaced axially from the flange portion;
- wherein the second tree portion is configured to couple to the first tree portion in a plurality of discrete rotational alignments, and is configured to couple such that the second end of the first trunk portion overlaps with the first end of the second trunk portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.