Multi-positional, locking artificial tree trunk
AssigneeWillis Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorJohnny Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A locking artificial tree trunk including a first generally cylindrical, hollow trunk portion including an upper end, the upper end defining a notch, and a second generally cylindrical trunk portion including a body portion, a lower end having an insertable portion, and an upper end. The locking artificial tree trunk also includes a coupling mechanism having a body portion and an upper portion having a tab, and defining a channel for receiving the insertable portion of the lower end of the second trunk portion. The body portion is inserted substantially into the upper end of the first trunk portion with the tab of the upper portion aligned with the notch, thereby preventing rotation of the coupling mechanism within the upper end of the first trunk portion.
Claims16
A multi-positional interlocking artificial tree assembly, comprising:
- a first trunk portion, the first trunk portion being hollow and defining a trunk cavity and a terminal first end;
- a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism including a male body portion at a first end and a terminal lip or flange portion at a second end;
- the male body portion inserts into the trunk cavity of the first trunk portion, and the terminal end of first the trunk portion abuts the lip such that the lip and the terminal end are both exposed, and
- wherein the lip defines a portion of an inner cavity of the coupling mechanism, the inner cavity defined by an inner wall continuous with the lip, the inner wall further comprising a plurality of ribs.
A coupleable artificial tree assembly, comprising:
- a first trunk portion having a first end, a second end, and defining a first trunk cavity;
- and
- a first coupling mechanism inserted partially into the trunk cavity, the coupling mechanism including a first male portion fit inside the first trunk cavity and a second portion having a flange portion forming a bottom circumferential edge, the flange portion remaining outside the first trunk cavity, the first male portion forming an outside wall defining a surface having a plurality of recesses, the surface engaging an inside wall of the first trunk, the coupling mechanism forming an inside surface, the inside surface defining an opening of the coupling mechanism and including at least four ribs distributed about the inside surface,
- wherein the first end of the first trunk portion at a top edge abuts the bottom circumferential edge of the flange portion, both the first end of the trunk portion and the flange portion being thereby outwardly exposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.