Christmas tree stand

A stand (10) for supporting a Christmas tree (12) having a trunk (14) with a butt end (16), comprising:

• (a) a base (18);
• (b) surfaces of the base (18) defining an upwardly opening tree well (20) adapted to retain water and to receive the butt end (16) of the trunk (14) of the Christmas tree (12), the tree well (20) having sides (22) and a bottom (24) and an upwardly extending spike (26) rigidly fastened to the bottom (24) and adapted to engage the butt end (16) of the trunk (14);
• (c) a support post (28) of a selected length having a first and a second end (30, 32);
• (d) surfaces of the base (18) defining an upwardly opening support post well (34) adapted to receive and hold the first end (30) of the support post (28) in an upright position, rigidly engaged therein, the first end (30) of the support post (28) having a selected, nonround cross sectional configuration, and the support post well (34) having substantially the same cross sectional configuration as the first end (30), whereupon the first end (30) may be inserted therein to be engaged in unturning relation;
• (e) a trunk brace (36) having a substantially arcuate trunk engaing surface (38) adapted to engage the trunk (14) at a selected distance above the base (18) in unturning relation, the trunk brace (36) having surfaces defining a multiplicity of support post holes (40), each adapted to slip over and thus engage the second end (32) of the support post (28), the second end (32) having a selected, nonround cross sectional configuration and the support post holes (40) having substantially the same cross sectional configuration as the second end (32), whereupon the second end (32) may be engaged in the support post holes (40) in unturning relation;
• (f) means to support the trunk brace (36) at a selected distance above the base (18);
• and
• (g) a retention band (42) adapted to bias and retain the trunk (14) against the engaging surface (38).