US2905414A - Christmas tree stand - Google Patents

Description

Sept 22, 1959 F. P. zlERDEN 2,905,414

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Filed Dec. 28, 1953 INVENTOR. /Cwk/. Z/EeoE/J BY m ML.- fl

United States Patent 2,905,414 crmrsrMAs'rREE j Frank P. zierden, Milwaukee, Wit. Application December 28, 1953, Serial No.' @0,5m z claims. (ci. 24Min f This invention relates to improvements in stands or 'bases for Christmas trees and other-objects, Vsuch as ,door lamps and the like. f i lIt is one object of the present inventionto provide a Astand 'or support for Christmas trees-.andthe like, having a base member of such shape and size as ,to support larger offset or overhung weights than are'likely Yto be imposed on the stand, thereby providing a safe support even` though the article mounted in 'the stand is noffothen wise supported.` f

Another object of the invention is to provide stand or support for Christmas trees, clothes trees ,and the like, having a base member of such flexibility 'as to adjust 'to the unevenness of or variations fromv levelnes's which may be found in oors or other surfaces' on which ythe base Vand the object thereon, are placed.

- Another object of the invention is to l'provide a base member so shaped and constructed as to minimize 'the damage done to the pile of a carpet or r'ug on -which the stand and the object supported therebyrnay be placed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Separable base member and cup member for Vr'ece'ti-vin'g vthe end of a Christmas tree trunk and the like, toffacilitate placing the cup in centered position on thetree trunk' and placingthe cup in centeredposition in the base. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree support or stand comprising a separable base and cup in which the coac'ting surfaces thereof are only frictionally engaged but substantially sealedI and completely scalable against leakage of waterfbetw'een such surfaces and beneath the stand.v Y

Another object of the invention isto 'provide a stand or support for Christmas trees and the like in which a base member is provided with a cuplike-por`tin having a plurality of rounded end screws for positioningA vthe trunk r other vertical mem-ber in the base in easily adjustable vertical relation thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree stand or support having a base member and a Vcup member which are easily separated antlseverally nested for shipment and storage of apl'urality. of stands or for storage of the stand in .a household. f

Objects and advantages other than those, above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stand with the base member and the cup member thereof shown in separated positions. A

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view diametrically through the assembled stand.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cup member; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional fragmentary view of portions of the base member.

Generally, the base member comprises a base and sleeve in the base. The base is made of sheet metal with a flange-like relatively low frusta-conical oorengaging or rim section, a substantially horizontal intermediate section of considerable width and a relatively high and wide angle frusto-conical central section having a frusto-conical sleeve through an aperture centrally therein. The base member is preferably 18 inches or more in diameter which provides a base capable of snpporting a weight, with no tendency toward tipping, of at least 200 pounds on a lever arm from the center of the base to a point vertically above 4the rim. The v"rim section and intermediate section 'of the base flex to adjust to as much as 1/2 inch differences (in a 18 inch diameter base), in level of a oo'r. The cone angle of the rim section and its height yare such that the weight of Athe Vstand and tree are distributed overv a large area and, when used with deep pile 'carpet or rugs, some of the weight is borne by the intermediate section of the stand.

A fr'usto-conical sleeve of approXinrately 5 inches diameter, is hanged to provide 'a groove for receiving an edge of the central base section, one sleeve flange being formed over the edge of such section to prevent removal orl shifting of the sleeve relative to the base unless vsuch parts Vare partially destroyed.` A cup member with a fru'sto-coni'cal side-wall is fitted into the sleeve to center the cup in the base and to retain the cup bottom above the level of the intermediate base section. A pointed pin or screw is xed centrally in the bottom of the cup for initial positioning of the tree trunk and screws are provided through the cup side-wall and adjacent the lip thereof for further aligning the tree trunk with its axis on the cup axis, the 'screws having a spherical or rounded end for easily adjusting the tree trunk or other vertical member in truly vertical position.

Referring specifically to the drawings,reference numeral 10 generally designates a base member, numeral 11 generally `designates a sleeve in the base member and 12 generally designates a cup member. Thebase member 10 is preferably of relatively light sheet metal (16 to 22 gauge) with some resilience when formed as shown in the drawings. Such metal need not be spring metal, the base proportions and shape being such as to obtain ilexibility and resilience in some parts thereof while `securing a high degree of rigidity in other parts thereof. The metal from which the base is formed, is initially annular but is formed to provide rst or rim and second or top conical sections with one intermediate horizontal section.

The rimor 'rst conical base section 1 6 of the base is formed inwardly (toward the center of the base) to provide a double thickness edge Vand the entire rim is formed as the frustum of a hollow cone of Wide angle'. I'n -the usual case, the rim is the only portion of the stand engaging a flooror floor/covering and the rim retains suineient exibility Vto hear on the oo'r around its entire periphery, the rim eXing and compensating for up to 1pinch difference in elevation at the ends of 'a rim diameter. Hence, the stand gives the equivalent of three legs in stability on an uneven floor while retaining the full radius of the base as the cantileverarrn on which weights may be hung from the vertical aXi's of thebase. t

Theintermediate base section 17 is substantially horizontal and is preferably from one-eighth to one-tenth of a radiueof the entire base in width. Ifeesired, thesection 17 may he sloped slightly toward the center of the base but such sloping should be minimized to retain exibility and resilience both radially and peripherally in thebase section 17, even though such section is an annulus attached to other base sections at both of its circumferential edges.

The second conical ortop base section 18 is also a frustum of a hollow cone and has a larger base diameter of more than three-fourths of the total diameter of the base member. Thetop section 18 extends upwardly from theintermediate base section 17 at a slightly greater angle than the angle of the base rirn 16 relative to a floor. The top base section is intended to be substantially rigid, and it has been impossible for applicant to detect flexing of such section even when as rnuch as 200 pounds is applied on the end of a lever arm from the center of the base and at a point above the base rim.

Sleeve 11 is formed with a conical side-wall 23 and a larger end of substantially the diameter of the aperture in thebase section 18. Adjacent the larger end of the sleeve, aange 24 is formed by folding the sleeve side-wall on itself. In manufacturing the base member, the sleeve is then inserted in the base and the sleeve edge is formed over thebase section 18 to provide aange 25. The two sleeve anges 24, 25 thus deiine a groove in the sleeve side-wall in which the edge of thebase section 18 is retained, the ange being preferably vformed into frictional horizontal relation with the base to avoid relative movements of the sleeve and the base. The closely spaced double ring formed by the iianges adds very materially to the rigidity of the top base section. The smaller end of the sleeve extends into the base to a sutiicient distance above the plane of theintermediate base section 17 to avoid interference with flexing of thebase sections 16 and 17.

Thecup 12 has a conical side-wall 30 of the same angle as the wall of sleeve 11 and the side-wall is rounded into a atbottom 31. The diameter of the cup is such that it is automatically centered and held in the sleeve 11 in vertical position when seated in the sleeve. A pin or screw 3S is iixed or threaded centrally in the bottom of the cup and extends a considerable vdistance upwardly from the cup bottom and on the axis of the cup. The pin orscrew 35 is formed with a relatively long taper point which can be readily driven into the trunk of the usual Christmas tree if desired. Thecup 12 is preferably of one piece and of relatively heavy metal while thepin 35 is so affixed thereto as to be undisturbed by relatively heavy blows. It is however merely necessary to align the pin with the axis of the tree trunk and to adjust other means in the cup to hold the tmnk securely in vertical position.

Thecup 12 is of a depth to provide a space of four 'to tive inches from the bottom of the cup to a number of threaded holes through the cup side-wall, in which screws are severally adjustable. The screws comprise round or spherical surfacedpads 36 at one end to bear on the tree trunk and haveheads 37 at the other end which are knurled or otherwise formed for easy gripping. It has been found that the best alignment and adequate centering of a Christmas tree or the like is obtained by the use of rounded screw pads which permit slight adjustments of the tree trunk as the pads form only round indentations in the bark and sap wood of the tree. Three screws are adequate but four screws v tively close fit is obtained and leakage between the sleeve andthe cup can be completely prevented by placing a water-insoluble material such as petroleum jelly between the two parts, thus avoiding all possibility of unnoticed leakage of water onto the floor or door covering beneath the stand.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base of unitary sheet metal having a bottom portion and a top portion and an intermediate portion, the bottom and top portions being hollow frusto-conical in shape and the intermediate portionA being annular and planar, the top portion ,having an,V aperture therethrough and having a larger radius of substantially three-fourths of the bottom portion radius and the intermediate portion having a width of approximately one-fifth of the bottom portion radius, a hollow frusto-conical sleeve fixed at its larger end in the aperture in the top portion, and a cup havingra conical side wall at the same angle as the sleeve and fitting into the sleeve for the entire length thereof but extending no farther into the stand than the intermediate portion when the stand is in tree-supporting position whereby the bottom and intermediate portions are free to iiex under the weight of a tree, the top portion being substantially rigid due to stiffening by the sleeve for holding the cup axially in substantially vertical position when supporting a tree thereby preventing contraction of the edges defining the aperture.

2. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base of unitary sheet metal having a bottom portion and a top portion and an intermediate portion joining the bottom and top portions, the bottom and top portions being hollow frusto-conical in shape and the intermediate portion being annular and planar, the smaller end of the top portion being uppermost and having an aperture therethrough, a frusto-conical sleeve iixed at its larger end in the aperture in the top portion and extending downv wardly into the. base, and a cup fitting into the sleeve for substantially the entire length thereof but extending no farther into ythe stand than the intermediate portion whenv the stand is in tree-supporting position whereby the bottom and intermediate portions are free to flex under theweight of a tree, the top portion being stiffen'ed to substantial rigidity by the sleeve and the cup for holding the cup axially in substantially vertical position when supporting a tree, thereby preventing con- References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,631,227 see June 7, 1927 1,789,789 Tallmadge Ian. 20, 1931 1,805,095 Horni May 12, 1931 1,855,762 Kaminski Apr. 26, 1932 1,914,150 Muldoon June 13, 1933 2,371,903 Maier Mar. 20, 1945 2,532,931 Miller ,Dec. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden Ian. 30, 1907

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