# US 4,393,621 A · Tree holder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,393,621 A - Document ID: US4393621A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/315,712 - Filed: 1981-10-28 - Granted: 1983-07-19 - Earliest claimed: 1981-10-28 - Inventors: Clifford H. Rodell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393621A ## CPC - A47G 33/12: Christmas tree stands {(sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/2238)} - A47G 2033/1286: {comprising watering means, e.g. a water reservoir} - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) ## Abstract A first embodiment of the invention is a tree holder which is comprised of a base and three or more orthogonally projecting members which are pivotably attached to the base at spaced apart locations which define a polygon. The distance between the members, which is varied by their pivoting, determines the maximum diameter of the stem of a tree which may be supported by the holder. The members project orthogonally from the base a distance along the stem of the tree to a position where branches of the tree engage the stem when the end of the trunk touches the base. The base has means for holding the end of the trunk at least partially within the area of the polygon. The members each contain a section offset from the point of attachment which is pivoted and locked in an angular position to engage the branches or the stem of the tree. A second embodiment of the invention is a tree holder which is comprised of a base and three or more orthogonally projecting members which are fixedly attached to the base. The base has means for holding the bottom surface of the trunk at least partially within the area of the polygon defined by the points of attachment of the members of the base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stand for holding trees in an upright position comprising: (a) a base upon which the end of a trunk of a tree rests when the tree is being held in an upright position; (b) at least three orthogonally projecting members attached to a surface of the base at spaced apart locations which define a polygon, each member projecting a distance from the base such that it extends along the trunk to the stem where the branches join to the stem when the end of the trunk touches the base; and (c) means attached to and extending upwardly from the base for holding the end of the trunk at least partially within the area of the polygon defined by the points of attachment to the members of the base, the means having a pointed member located on a line extending between each adjacent pair of vertices of the polygon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A stand in accordance with claim 1 wherein each pointed member is located on the line extending between a pair of adjacent vertices of the polygon midway between the pair of vertices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A stand in accordance with claim 2 wherein the polygon is equilateral. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A stand in accordance with claim 3 wherein the at least three members project orthogonally a distance such that the members engage at least the fourth whorl of branches of a tree when the end of the trunk engages the means for holding the trunk in a fixed area located on the surface of the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A stand in accordance with claim 4 wherein the at least three members are each cylindrical rods and the end of each rod which is not attached to the base is pointed. ### Claim 6 A stand for holding trees in an upright position comprising: (a) a base upon which the end of a trunk of a tree rests when the tree is being held in an upright position; (b) at least three orthogonally projecting members attached to a surface of the base at spaced apart locations which define a polygon, each orthogonally projecting member having a first section, a second section joined to the first section which is not parallel to the first section and a third section joined to the second section which is not parallel to the second section, the first section being parallel to the third section, the first section of each member projecting orthogonally from the base, each member projecting a distance from the base such that it extends along the stem where the branches join to the stem when the end of the trunk touches the base; (c) means for permitting each of the members to be individually pivoted with respect to the base to permit the third section of each member to be locked into engagement with the branches; (d) means for locking each member in a fixed angular orientation with respect to the base; and (e) means attached to the base for holding the end of the trunk at least partially within the area of the polygon defined by the points of attachment of the members to the base, the means having a pointed member located between each adjacent pair of vertices of the polygon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A stand in accordance with claim 6 wherein each pointed member is located on a line extending between a pair of adjacent vertices of the polygon midway between the pair of vertices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A stand in accordance with claim 7 wherein the polygon is equilateral. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A stand in accordance with claim 8 wherein the at least three members project orthogonally a distance such that the members engage at least the fourth whorl of branches of a tree when the end of the trunk engages the means for holding the trunk in a fixed area located on the surface of the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A stand in accordance with claim 9 wherein the at least three members are each cylindrical rods and the end of each rod which is not attached to the base is pointed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A stand in accordance with claim 10 wherein: (a) the means for pivotably attaching each member to the base comprises a bushing joined to the base at the point of attachment of the member to the base, each bushing having a cylindrical aperture for receiving the member; and (b) the means for locking comprises a plurality of slots cut radially in a cross section of the bushing along the axis of the aperture of the bushing and a projection joined to the outside surface of each member, the projection of each member engaging one of the slots of its associated bushing when the member is locked in place. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A stand in accordance with claim 11 wherein the three members are each cylindrical rods and the end of each rod which is not attached to the base is pointed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A stand in accordance with claim 10 wherein: (a) the means for pivotally attaching each member to the base comprises a bushing joined to the base at the point of attachment of the member to the base, each bushing having a cylindrical aperture for receiving the member; and (b) the means for locking comprises a set screw which is held within the bushing by a threaded hole, the set screw engaging the cylindrical surface of the member when it is locked in a fixed angular position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A stand in accordance with claim 13 wherein the stand is contained in a vessel adapted to hold water. ### Claim 15 A stand for holding trees in an upright position comprising: (a) a base upon which the end of a trunk of a tree rests when the tree is being held in an upright position; (b) at least three orthogonally projecting members attached to a surface of the base at spaced apart locations which define a polygon, each orthogonally projecting member having a first section, a second section joined to the first section which is not parallel to the first section and a third section joined to the second section which is not parallel to the second section, the first section being parallel to the third section, the first section of each member projecting orthogonally from the base, each member projecting a distance from the base such that it extends along the stem where the branches join to the stem when the end of the trunk touches the base; (c) means for permitting each of the members to be individually pivoted with respect to the base so that the third section of each member may be rotated with respect to the base to engage the branches of the tree to permit the third section of each member to be locked into engagement with the branches; and (d) means for locking each member in a fixed angular orientation with respect to the base to permit the third section of each member to be locked into engagement with the branches.