Stand for artificial Christmas tree or the like

A stand assembly (10) for supporting an upright pole (12), said assembly comprising:

• a base (16) having a lowermost bearing surface (18);
• a receptacle (34) formed centrally in said base (16) having an inwardly tapering side wall and a bottom (36) elevated above said bearing surface (18);
• collet means (44) receivable into said receptacle (34) for surrounding and centering an upright pole (12) seated in the receptacle (34);
• fastener means (68) for progressively and forcibly urging said collet means (44) into said receptacle (34);
• and characterized by said collet means (44) including a neck (46) and a plurality of wedge-shaped grippers (48) extending in cantilever fashion from said neck (46), a slit (60) between each of said grippers (48), said wedge-shaped grippers (48) reacting against said inwardly tapering side wall of said receptacle (34) as said fastener means (68) forcibly urges said collet means (44) into said receptacle (34) for gradually and uniformly displacing said grippers (48) inwardly against the upright pole (12) to hold the upright pole (12) in a vertical posture.