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US 5,707,037 AGranted
Tree stand
AssigneeCounty Line Limited, L.L.C.
InventorJohn J. Pastrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved Christmas tree stand comprises a receptacle for receiving the trunk of a tree and a base for receiving the receptacle and tree. The base includes an upper shell which can be easily swiveled to any position with respect to a lower shell so as to position a tree vertically in any desired portion without shimming.
Claims35
A tree stand for receiving and supporting a tree, said stand comprising a receptacle for receiving the trunk of said tree and a base for supporting said receptacle when said tree is received therein,
- said receptacle including a clamping assembly for securing said trunk in said receptacle, said base including
- (a) a top portion for receiving said receptacle, said top portion having a spherical surface defining at least one set of grooves therein,
- (b) a bottom portion for supporting said top portion,
- (c) a locking assembly movable between a locking position in which said top portion is prevented from moving with respect to said bottom portion and a disengaged position in which said top portion is permitted to swivel with respect to said bottom portion, said locking assembly including a locking element for engagement with a selected groove in said set of grooves depending on the position of said top portion with respect to said bottom portion, and
- (d) a universal joint preventing rotation of said top portion about the Z axis of said top portion,
- each of said grooves being configured to maintain surface-to-surface contact with said locking element regardless of the position of said top portion with respect to said bottom portion, and said top portion is adapted to pivot about a pivot point fixed in space with respect to said bottom portion, both said top portion and said bottom portion defining respective central axes, said bottom portion further defining orthagonally arranged X, Y and Z axes, said Z axis being aligned with the central axis of said bottom portion.
3 more elements
A tree stand for receiving and supporting a tree, said stand comprising a receptacle for receiving the trunk of said tree and a base for supporting said receptacle when said tree is received therein,
- said receptacle including a clamping assembly for securing said trunk in said receptacle, said base including
- (a) a top portion for receiving said receptacle, said top portion having a spherical surface defining at least one set of grooves therein, and having a central axis adapted to pivot about a pivot point fixed in space,
- (b) a bottom portion for supporting said top portion, said bottom portion defining orthagonally arranged X, Y and Z axes, said Z axis being aligned with said central axis of said bottom portion,
- (c) a locking assembly movable between a locking position in which said top portion is prevented from moving with respect to said bottom portion and a disengaged position in which said top portion is permitted to swivel with respect to said bottom portion, said locking assembly including a locking element for engagement with a selected groove in said set of grooves depending on the position of said top portion with respect to said bottom portion, and
- (d) a universal joint preventing rotation of said top portion about its central axis, said selected groove being defined by the intersection of said spherical surface and a plane perpendicular to said X axis.
2 more elements
A device comprising
- (a) an inner portion defining a central axis, said inner portion further defining orthagonally arranged X, Y and Z axes, said Z axis being aligned with said central axis,
- (b) an outer portion outside said inner portion and which defines a central axis, said outer portion being adapted to pivot about a pivot point fixed in space with respect to said inner portion, said outer portion having a spherical surface defining at least one set of grooves therein,
- (c) a locking assembly movable between a locking position in which said inner portion is prevented from moving with respect to said outer portion and a disengaged position in which said inner portion is permitted to move freely with respect to said outer portion, said locking assembly including a locking element for engagement with a selected groove in said set of grooves depending on the position of said top portion with respect to said bottom portion, said selected groove being defined by the intersection of said spherical surface and a plane perpendicular to said X axis, and
- (d) a universal joint preventing rotation of said outer portion about its central axis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.