# US 4,399,973 A · Christmas tree stand > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,399,973 A - Document ID: US4399973A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/407,333 - Filed: 1982-08-12 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1982-08-12 - Inventors: Robert H. Spry; Robert R. Spry; Gloria Koller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399973A ## 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 stand (10) for supporting a Christmas tree (12) having a trunk (14) with a butt end (16). The stand includes a base (18) having an upwardly opening tree well (20) adapted to receive the butt end (16) of the trunk (14). The base (18) also has an upwardly opening support post well (34) and a support post (28) adapted to be rigidly engaged in the support post well in unturning relation in an upright position. A trunk brace (36) has a multiplicity of support post holes (40) adapted to slip over the end of the support post (28), to engage it in unturning relation. The support post (28) is adapted to so engage the sides of the support hole (40) through which it extends as to support the trunk brace (36) at a selected distance above the base (18) in rigid, unturning relation with respect thereto. A retention band (42) is adapted to bias and retain the trunk (14 ) against an engaging surface (38) of the trunk brace, securing the tree (12) in the stand (10). ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 receive the butt end (16) of the trunk (14) of the Christmas tree (12); (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 in the support post well (34) in unturning relation; (e) a trunk brace (36) having a substantially arcuate trunk engaging 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) adapted to slip over and thus engage the second end (32) of the support post (28); (f) means to support the trunk brace (36) at a selected distance above the base (18) in rigid, unturning relation with respect to the support post (28); and (g) a retention band (42) adapted to bias and retain the trunk (14) against the engaging surface (38). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stand (10) specified in claim 1 wherein the first end (30) of the support post (28) has a selected, nonround cross sectional configuration, and the support post well (34) has substantially the same cross sectional configuration as the first end (30), whereupon the first end (30) may be inserted into the support post well (34) to be engaged therein in unturning relation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The stand (10) specified in claim 2 wherein the selected nonround cross sectional configuration of the first end (30) of the support post (28) is substantially elliptical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stand (10) specified in claim 1 wherein the support post (28) has a selected, nonround cross sectional configuration for a selected distance from the second end (32) thereof; and the support post holes (40) have 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stand (10) specified in claim 4 wherein the cross sectional configurations of the second end (32) and of the support post holes (40) are substantially elliptical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The stand (10) specified in claim 5 wherein the size of the support post (28) increases over a selected distance from the second end (32) whereby the support post (28) is adapted, at a selected distance from the second end (32), to contact and come to rest against surfaces defining a selected support post hole (40) when the support post (28) is engaged therein, to support the trunk brace (36) at a selected distance above the base (18) in unturning relation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The stand (10) specified in claim 4 wherein the support post holes (40) include a first group of support post holes (40) located at selected distances from the trunk engaging surface (38), each hole (40) of the first group having a common orientation relative to a line normal to the trunk engaging surface (38) and extending to the hole (40), and a second group of support post holes (40) each having an orientation different from that of the first group holes (40) relative to a line normal to the trunk engaging surface (38) and extending to the hole (40) of the second group. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stand (10) specified in claim 1 wherein a part of the support post (28) is adapted to extend through and beyond the trunk brace (36) for a selected distance, and the retention band (42) includes an elastomeric band adapted to be engaged over that part of the support post (28) that extends through and beyond the trunk brace (36), then around the trunk (14) of the tree (12), and then back over the support post (28), the length of the elastomeric band being selected to be such that the band is stretched to a selected extent, thereby biasing and retaining the trunk (14) against the engaging surface (38). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stand (10) specified in claim 1 wherein the tree well (20) has sides (22) and a bottom (24), and including an upwardly extending spike (26) rigidly fastened to the bottom (24) of the tree well (20) and adapted to engage the butt end (16) of the trunk (14) of the Christmas tree (12). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stand (10) specified in claim 1 wherein the tree well (20) is adapted to contain water. ### Claim 11 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). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The stand (10) specified in claim 11 wherein the cross sectional configurations of the second end (32) and of the support post holes (40) are substantially elliptical, and wherein the size of the support post (28) becomes increasingly large over a selected distance from the second end (32), the support post (28) being adapted, at a selected distance from the second end (32), to contact and come to rest against surfaces defining a support post hole (40) when the support post (28) is engaged therein and support the trunk brace (36) at a selected distance above the base (18). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The stand (10) specified in claim 11 wherein the support post holes (40) include a first group of support post holes (40) located at selected distances from the trunk engaging surface (38), each hole (40) of the first group having a common orientation relative to a line normal to the trunk engaging surface (38) and extending to the hole (40), and a second group of support post holes (40) each having an orientation different from that of the first group holes (40) relative to a line normal to the trunk engaging surface (38) and extending to the hole (40) of the second group. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The stand (10) specified in claim 11 wherein a part of the second end (32) of the support post (28) is adapted to extend through and beyond the trunk brace (36) for a selected distance, and the retention band (42) includes an elastomeric band adapted to be engaged over that part of the support post (28) that extends through and beyond the trunk brace (36), then around the trunk (14) of the tree (12), and back over the support post (28), the length of the elastomeric band being selected to be such that the band is stretched to a selected extent, thereby biasing and retaining the trunk (14) against the engaging surface (38).