US 8,062,718 B2 · Invertible christmas tree

Abstract

An artificial Christmas tree includes a central trunk broken into at least two separate portions including a fixed trunk portion and at least one rotating trunk portion. The fixed trunk extends up from an underlying base. Rotating trunks rotatably attach at midpoints thereof at least indirectly to an upper end of the fixed trunk. Limbs are pivotably attached to the rotating trunks with optional lights coupled thereto. These limbs pivot between a perpendicular orientation extending from the rotating trunks and a collapsed configuration closer to a centerline of the rotating trunks. The rotating trunks can be pivoted from a first collapsed configuration with a first end above a second end to a deployed configuration with the second end above the first end. During such pivoting, the limbs attached to the rotating trunk transition between a collapsed to a deployed configuration automatically. A wheeled base and cover further facilitate storage and deployment.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A collapsible Christmas tree, comprising in combination:

a first trunk portion;
said first trunk portion having an elongate form extending between an upper end and a lower end, said upper end above said lower end when said first trunk portion is supported upon a floor;
a second trunk portion having an elongate form between a first end and a second end;
said second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending laterally therefrom;
a pivot joint coupling said first trunk portion to said second trunk portion in a manner allowing pivoting of said second trunk portion relative to said first trunk portion;
said pivot joint interfacing with said first trunk portion at a location closer to said upper end than to said lower end;
and
said pivot joint interfacing with said second trunk portion at a location spaced from both said first end and said second end of said second trunk portion.

5 more elements

A method for erecting a collapsible Christmas tree, the steps including:

providing a Christmas tree having a first trunk portion, the first trunk portion having an elongate form extending between an upper end and a lower end, the upper end above the lower end when the first trunk portion is supported upon a floor, a second trunk portion having an elongate form between a first end and a second end, the second trunk portion including a plurality of limbs extending laterally therefrom, a pivot joint coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion in a manner allowing pivoting of the second trunk portion relative to the first trunk portion, the pivot joint associated with the first trunk portion at a location closer to the upper end than to the lower end, and the pivot joint associated with the second portion at a location spaced from both the first end and the second end of the second trunk portion;
initially positioning the collapsible Christmas tree with the first trunk portion extending substantially vertically with the first end of the second trunk portion above the second end of the second trunk portion and with the second trunk portion extending substantially vertically;
and
pivoting the second trunk portion about the pivot joint substantially 180° to be substantially vertical with the second end above the first end.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Invertible christmas tree

Life of this patent

Invertible christmas tree

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24