GB2181645A - A support for assembly of branch-shaped elements to form artificial pine-trees and similar - Google Patents

Abstract

A support (10) for assembly of branch- shaped elements (20) to form artificial trees, particularly Christmas trees, comprising holding arms (16) placed radially, a supporting platform (14) and a spacing sleeve (12), in a single piece. The branches, cut in double length and folded to V-shape, are clicked in between each supporting arm and the platform and can be spread out, laid on the platform, for use, and can be wound up in a wrapped-up position so as to occupy little space for convenient packaging. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A support for assembly of branch-shaped elements to form artificial pine-trees and similar This application relates to the field of artificial tree manufacturing, in particular artificial Christmas trees.

It is known that artificial Xmas trees are manufactured by fixing to a wooden or metal stem, acting as a trunk, branches ofvarious length, placed at various levels, by means of staples or by binding with plastic tape and a thin wire.

The branches are previously prepared by cutting in pieces of predetermined length a continuous plait obtained by helicallywinding, two superficially passivated metal wires together with a good number of plastic monofilaments or plastic ribbon fringed on both sides. The product has a good aesthetical value, but its assembly is slow and therefore the cost for assemblying the artificial tree bears negatively on the finished product; moreover for packing the branches have to be folded back by twisting the wires, which is a rather long process, and for the setting up of the tree the wires have to be straightened up again.

An aim ofthis application is to obviate to the above mentioned drawbacks.

Said aim has been achieved by carrying out a supportforassembly of artificial pine-trees,which comprises a spacing sleeve part and holding arms substantially placed radially. It generally comprises also a supporting platform forthe branches, which cooperates with the holding arms to support and hold the branches ofthe artificial pine-tree. The support is normally of plastic material.

Thenewsupportisusedbyinserting between each holding arm and the platform an artificial pine branch carried out in a size doublethan the required one and folded at V-shape. Such supports are put on a stick, assembledoneontopoftheother,thusforming various layers of pine branches which will be suitably cut at different lengths, in imitation of a real pine-tree.

The supportthus allows for an easy andfastsetting up of artificial pines. Moreover each branch is held in the respective hold in such a way to be able to rotate in the half-plane defined by the platform and containing the holding arms; thisallowsforeasy pivoting ofthe branches, so as to place them side by side for packing and space and spread them out easily for usage.

The new support offers then the substantial advantages of facilitating and speeding up the setting up of the tree, with reduction in production costs, and also facilitating'its manufacturing and opening for usage; moreover with the new support, Xmas trees of a particularly esthetical look are carried out.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described hereafter with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. lisa pa rt elevational, part sectiona I view of the support, according to 1-1 in Fig. 2; an artificial pine branch is illustrated in it; Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe support, partly in section according to 2-2 in Fig. 1 ,with an artificial pine V-branch held in it; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of several supports mounted on a stick, so as to form an artifical Xmas tree.

A support 10, according to the invention, comprises generally, in a single piece, a spacing sleeve part 12, a supporting platform part 14 and an arrangement of holding arms 16, all parts being integral to one another. The platform is generally circular and, in the shown example, is joined to the sleeve also by means of stiffening ribs 18 on the lower side. The holding arms are substantially placed radially to the axis of the sleeve, are cantilever extending from the platform and are preferably formed with a substantiallyvertical portion 16' and a substantially horizontal portion 16" forming, near its end a projection ortooth 16"' turned towards the platform. The projection 16"' defines with portions 16'and 16" andthe platform a seat 19fora branch to be held.The support is generally made of plastic material and presents a certain resilience, so that a branch-shaped element 20, having a section of suitable dimension, to be housed in seat 19, can click past tooth 16"' and remain lodged in the seat.

The support is used by sliding on a stick 22 (fig. 3) of desired length (or by assemblying in any other piled position) a required number of supports 10; sliding then in each seat 19 a V-folded branch element 20 so as to form two branches jetting out substantially radially. It is to be noted that each branch element 20 can be easily rotated without being dislodged from seat 19, between a spread out position in which is supported on platform 14, and a folded position, occupying less space, where it is drawn near the axis of the upper support; this last position is useful for packing. The stick can be made integral with a foot imitating the foot of a tree.

It is to be noted that even if the support is illustrated with particular reference to Xmas trees, it can be obviously utilized to set up other types of trees.

1. Asupport for the assembly of branch-shaped elements, characterized in that it comprises a spacing sleeve part, a supporting part and holding arms cooperating with the supporting partto resiliently hold said branch-shaped elements.

2. A support according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting part is in the shape of a platform.

3. Asupport according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in plastic material, that said holding arms are placed substantially radiallyto the axis ofthe support and each comprises a substantially vertical part, a cantilever extending part and a retaining tooth which defines a seatfor a section of the branch element.

4. A support for the assembly of branch-shaped elements, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A support for assembly of branch-shaped elements to form artificial pine-trees and similar This application relates to the field of artificial tree manufacturing, in particular artificial Christmas trees. It is known that artificial Xmas trees are manufactured by fixing to a wooden or metal stem, acting as a trunk, branches ofvarious length, placed at various levels, by means of staples or by binding with plastic tape and a thin wire. The branches are previously prepared by cutting in pieces of predetermined length a continuous plait obtained by helicallywinding, two superficially passivated metal wires together with a good number of plastic monofilaments or plastic ribbon fringed on both sides. The product has a good aesthetical value, but its assembly is slow and therefore the cost for assemblying the artificial tree bears negatively on the finished product; moreover for packing the branches have to be folded back by twisting the wires, which is a rather long process, and for the setting up of the tree the wires have to be straightened up again. An aim ofthis application is to obviate to the above mentioned drawbacks. Said aim has been achieved by carrying out a supportforassembly of artificial pine-trees,which comprises a spacing sleeve part and holding arms substantially placed radially. It generally comprises also a supporting platform forthe branches, which cooperates with the holding arms to support and hold the branches ofthe artificial pine-tree. The support is normally of plastic material. Thenewsupportisusedbyinserting between each holding arm and the platform an artificial pine branch carried out in a size doublethan the required one and folded at V-shape. Such supports are put on a stick, assembledoneontopoftheother,thusforming various layers of pine branches which will be suitably cut at different lengths, in imitation of a real pine-tree. The supportthus allows for an easy andfastsetting up of artificial pines. Moreover each branch is held in the respective hold in such a way to be able to rotate in the half-plane defined by the platform and containing the holding arms; thisallowsforeasy pivoting ofthe branches, so as to place them side by side for packing and space and spread them out easily for usage. The new support offers then the substantial advantages of facilitating and speeding up the setting up of the tree, with reduction in production costs, and also facilitating'its manufacturing and opening for usage; moreover with the new support, Xmas trees of a particularly esthetical look are carried out. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described hereafter with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. lisa pa rt elevational, part sectiona I view of the support, according to 1-1 in Fig. 2; an artificial pine branch is illustrated in it; Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe support, partly in section according to 2-2 in Fig. 1 ,with an artificial pine V-branch held in it; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of several supports mounted on a stick, so as to form an artifical Xmas tree. A support 10, according to the invention, comprises generally, in a single piece, a spacing sleeve part 12, a supporting platform part 14 and an arrangement of holding arms 16, all parts being integral to one another. The platform is generally circular and, in the shown example, is joined to the sleeve also by means of stiffening ribs 18 on the lower side. The holding arms are substantially placed radially to the axis of the sleeve, are cantilever extending from the platform and are preferably formed with a substantiallyvertical portion 16' and a substantially horizontal portion 16" forming, near its end a projection ortooth 16"' turned towards the platform. The projection 16"' defines with portions 16'and 16" andthe platform a seat 19fora branch to be held.The support is generally made of plastic material and presents a certain resilience, so that a branch-shaped element 20, having a section of suitable dimension, to be housed in seat 19, can click past tooth 16"' and remain lodged in the seat. The support is used by sliding on a stick 22 (fig. 3) of desired length (or by assemblying in any other piled position) a required number of supports 10; sliding then in each seat 19 a V-folded branch element 20 so as to form two branches jetting out substantially radially. It is to be noted that each branch element 20 can be easily rotated without being dislodged from seat 19, between a spread out position in which is supported on platform 14, and a folded position, occupying less space, where it is drawn near the axis of the upper support; this last position is useful for packing. The stick can be made integral with a foot imitating the foot of a tree. It is to be noted that even if the support is illustrated with particular reference to Xmas trees, it can be obviously utilized to set up other types of trees. CLAIMS

1. Asupport for the assembly of branch-shaped elements, characterized in that it comprises a spacing sleeve part, a supporting part and holding arms cooperating with the supporting partto resiliently hold said branch-shaped elements.

2. A support according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting part is in the shape of a platform.

3. Asupport according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in plastic material, that said holding arms are placed substantially radiallyto the axis ofthe support and each comprises a substantially vertical part, a cantilever extending part and a retaining tooth which defines a seatfor a section of the branch element.

4. A support for the assembly of branch-shaped elements, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.