US 9,040,130 B2 · Collapsible artificial tree

Abstract

The artificial tree is collapsible by inverting a main trunk thereof to swap positions of a first end and second end. The limbs are pivotably attached to the main trunk so that they sag under force of gravity from a deployed more horizontally extending orientation to a collapsed more vertically extending orientation when the main trunk is inverted. A base is preferably provided which has wheels and static portions in contact with the ground for supporting the tree thereon. A riser extending up from the base is configured to have an end of the main trunk rest therein. A lock is also preferably provided to hold an end of the trunk within the riser of the base. A separate treetop portion is removably attachable to ends of the trunk to complete the tree when in a deployed configuration and for storage of the treetop when the tree is not collapsed.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A collapsible artificial tree comprising in combination:

a trunk of elongate form between a first end and a second end;
a plurality of limbs pivotably attached to said trunk;
said limbs adapted to pivot from a first position to a second position;
said first position closer to horizontal than said second position when said trunk is oriented substantially vertically;
and
a base having a ground support portion adapted to rest upon an underlying surface, said base including a riser extending upwardly from the ground support portion, said riser adapted to support each of said first end or said second end of said trunk, such that when the first end is supported by the riser with the second end substantially vertically above the first end the limbs are in the second position closer to the trunk than the first position.

3 more elements

A collapsible artificial tree, comprising in combination:

a base having a ground support portion and a hollow core extending along a central axis up from said ground support portion;
a trunk of elongate form between a first end and a second end, both said first end and said second end adapted to be supported by said hollow core of said base with the trunk extending substantially along the central axis;
a plurality of limbs pivotably attached to said trunk;
said limbs adapted to pivot from a first position to a second position;
said first position closer to horizontal than said second position when said trunk is oriented substantially vertically with the first end supported by the hollow core of the base;
and
said second position closer to vertical than said first position when said trunk is oriented substantially vertically with the second end supported by the hollow core of the base.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsible artificial tree

Life of this patent

Collapsible artificial tree

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21