# US 5,702,086 A · Portable tree holding device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,086 A - Document ID: US5702086A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/643,832 - Filed: 1996-05-07 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-05-07 - Inventors: Randy D. Hunt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702086A ## CPC - A47G 33/12: Christmas tree stands {(sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/2238)} - A47G 2033/1273: {comprising transport wheels or the like} - A47G 2033/1286: {comprising watering means, e.g. a water reservoir} - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) ## Abstract A new Portable Tree Holding Device for creatively and innovatively holding a Christmas tree or the like in a vertical upright position. The inventive device includes a snow sled with runners, a water cup, a cup support supported by a support base, and sled boards with internal arcuate ends and internal arcuate sides. An object of the present invention is to provide a new Portable Tree Holding Device that is capable of watering the tree to keep it fresh while providing a clever, new, ornamental look. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A Portable Tree Holding Device comprising: a snow sled stand with sled runners, a water cup, a cup support supported by a support brace, and sled boards each having internal arcuate ends and internal arcuate sides; wherein the sled runners are fastened to the sled boards by vertical supports; wherein the sled boards further include a center board, a hole left side board, a hole right side board which collectively define an aperture for receiving the water cup; wherein the center board further comprises a rear center board and a front center board each having an arcuate end portion for defining said aperture and wherein the hole left side board and the hole right side board each have an arcuate side portion for defining said aperture; wherein the water cup comprises a base tube forming a vertical wall for surrounding the lower end of a tree trunk; wherein the lower end of the base tube further comprises a cup bottom mounted to the tube base; and wherein the base tube includes an upper end and a base support rib and a plurality of base tighteners rotatably mounted in said upper end for advancing into abutment with a tree trunk inserted into said base tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The Portable Tree Holding Device of claim 1, additionally comprising a tree base plate adapted to be attached to the lower portion of a tree trunk by a base plate retainer, said tree base plate having a size and size adapted to be inserted in said base tube. ### Claim 3 A portable tree holding device comprising: a tree transport apparatus for transporting a tree along the ground, said transport apparatus comprising a substantially planar platform; a pair of sled runners mounted to said platform for supporting said platform in an elevated condition above the ground; and a tree trunk mounting means for supporting a tree on said platform in a substantially vertical orientation and comprising a mounting cup removably mountable to the trunk of a tree to be transported on said transport apparatus, said mounting cup being mounted on said platform for removability of said cup from said platform in an upwards direction without requiring removal of said mounting cup from the trunk of a tree. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The portable tree holding device of claim 3 wherein said platform comprises a plurality of elongate parallel board members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The portable tree holding device of claim 3 wherein said platform includes an aperture for removably receiving said mounting cup. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable tree holding device of claim 5 wherein said mounting cup comprises a substantially cylindrical base tube with an open upper end and a closed lower end and an annular collar protruding from the rim of said open upper end, wherein the diameter of said base tube is smaller than the diameter of the aperture in said platform and the diameter of said annular collar is larger than the diameter of the diameter of the aperture in said platform such that the platform is capable of supporting said mounting cup at its annular collar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The portable tree holding device of claim 3 wherein said mounting cup comprises a substantially cylindrical base tube with an open upper end and a closed lower end, and additionally comprising a tree base plate for mounting on the end of a tree trunk, said base plate having a diameter being sufficiently small enough to fit in the interior of said cylindrical base tube and sufficiently large enough to restrict lateral movement of said base plate in said base tube, whereby a base plate mounted to the trunk of a tree mounted in said mounting cup restricts lateral movement of said tree trunk regardless of the difference in diameter between said tree trunk and the interior of said cylindrical base tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The portable tree holding device of claim 3 wherein said mounting cup additionally comprises at least three base tighteners threadedly mounted in the upper end of said mounting cup for rotatably advancing into abutment with a tree trunk inserted in said mounting cup. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The portable tree holding device of claim 3 additionally comprising a mounting cup support extending below said mounting cup such that said mounting cup rests upon said mounting cup support when said mounting cup is mounted on the platform of said transport apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The portable tree holding device of claim 3 additionally comprising vertical supports mounted between said platform and said sled runners.