US3674612A - Folding christmas tree type of display stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding tree-like display stand includes a plurality of axially aligned rings or disks of graduated diameters mounted vertically to form a generally conical shape which stylistically suggests a Christmas tree. Either direct or indirect lighting may be included.

Description

y 4, 1972 G. J. w. GEHL, JR 3,674,612

FOLDING CHRISTMAS TREE TYPE OF DISPLAY STAND Filed July 29. 1970 I III.

INVENTOR GERRY GEHL JR.

BY 22k, M

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,674,612 FOLDING CHRISTMAS TREE TYPE OF DISPLAY STAND Gerry J. W. Gehl, Jr., 4512 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53210 Filed July 29, 1970, Ser. No. 59,071 Int. Cl. A47g 33/04, 33/16 US. Cl. 161-23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention relates to a new and novel type of display stand and more particularly to a device that may be employed as a Christmas tree.

Artificial Christmas trees have become progressively more popular as the cost of real trees has increased. In the past, these artificial trees have tended to be imitations of real trees with plastic or metal branches and needles Sometimes the artificial trees are flocked. As a result, the assembly of the trees has been time consuming. The boxes for storing the trees have been large. The flocking on the trees has tended to come off. Also, these trees have not given the opportunity for creative decorative touches.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a Christmas tree-like display stand of collapsible annular devices of graduated sizes which nest together for easy storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree-like device that may be assembled from a plurality of circular ring sections or circular discs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the described character that may be used to display ornamental objects, or the like, in such a manner that they may be easily installed, removed, or replaced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a devicethat is designed to display any conventional Christmas tree lights or ornaments which may be placed thereon.

In keeping with the invention, an artificial Christmas tree has a plurality of shelves which may support gifts or other ornamental displays. The device may be constructed in the form of shelves made from circular rings or of discs which accommodate the articles disposed thereon. The stem may be telescopically constructed from a plurality of tubes slidably engaging one another. Cables or chains may be employed to support the rings or shelves from the stem and from one another. Obviously, the rings or shelves may also be of any other form, shape or contour and may be spaced at any desired distance,

from one another. Thus, the shelves may be free formed.

Other and further objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with one another and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the entire assembled device;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device as shown in FIG. 1 and taken along line 2--2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the telescopic vertical support and of the shelves made from circular rings supported therefrom (showing partially in cross-section in the lower ring);

FIG. 4 is a modified fragmentary view of a portion of the assembled device showing shelves made from circular discs instead of rings;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the ring, with a ledge or ridge at its top; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of one of the discs with a ledge or ridge at its upper surface and lights on its lower surface.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts and features throughout the several views. More particularly, the character 10 identifies a telescoping vertical support or stem which consists of a plurality of tubular sections slidably engaging one another.

Any suitable stop or pin P may preclude the further slippage of the telescoping sections inside each other. Thus, if the lower end of a small diameter pipe is slipped into the top end of a large diameter pipe, a long pole is formed; however, if the upper end of a small diameter pipe is fit into the bottom of a larger diameter pipe, a short easily stored section of nesting pipes is formed. Also, the pin P may be a spring biased clip which can be pushed in to release the sections.

There is a conical top member 11 attached to the upper section of the support 10 at 12. A base 13 supports the vertical stem 10, which is held in engagement therewith by means of a set-screw 14, or the like. Obviously, the support 10, the top member 11, and the base 13 may be made of any conventional design and constructed of any rigid material, such as metal or plastic.

A plurality of nesting rings 15 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), are formed in any suitable manner. These rings may be flat on their upper surface 16, and they may be of any width. Preferably, however, they have graduated diameters so that they all nest and fit together when in storage. They are here shown as having an inner circular vertical section 17, and an outer vertical circular section 18. If desired, the outer section 18 may also extend upwardly as shown at 19 in FIG. 5, thereby forming a ledge for holding ornaments. The rings 15 may have an inverted U-shaped cross-section and also be constructed of any type of rigid material, such as metal or plastic. They preferably are supported from the top member 11 by means of cords 20 or chains engaging loops 21 on the inner surfaces of the rings 15. Thus, these cords 20 may be in the form of chains or other material for supporting the rings 15, one from the other. The rings 15 vary in size with the top ring being smaller than the next highest ring, which is smaller than the next one. However, for certain unusual affects, other arrangements could be made.

In FIGS. 4 and 6, I show that the rings 15 may be replaced by circular discs 22, which are also supported by cords 20, as at 23, and they vary in size to taper upwardly from a large disc at the bottom to a smaller one at the top, as shown in FIG. 1.

A string of lights L may be run around the skirt formed by a portion of cylindrical wall 25 depending from the bottom of the disc. These lights will give an indirect lighting effect.

The object of the discs 22 is to permit the user to place various articles thereon for display on the upper surface shown as 24. These discs 22 may also be equipped with upwardly disposed ledges formed by the portion of cylindrical wall 25 which projects above the top of the disc in FIG. 6 to prevent the objects set onto the surface 24 from sliding off. The cords 20 are attached to the discs 22 by means of eyelets 26 (see FIG. 6).

From the above description, it should be apparent that the device is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and easy to assemble or disassemble. The vertical support 10 may be easily disassembled, and the base 13 may be easily removed, and the rings 15, or the discs 22 will nest one onto the other, making it easy to store the entire unit.

Although I have shown a specific construction and arrangement of the parts and features constituting my invention, changes may be made in the parts and features without alfecting the operativeness of the device. Therefore, the claims are to be construed to cover all equivalents which do not depart from the spirit or the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A Christmas tree type display stand comprising a telescoping central stem including a plurality of stem members,

said stem members comprising a plurality of concentric cylindrical parts which telescopingly move between a position where the parts nest together and a position where the parts extend outwardly to provide an erect pole,

a plurality of circular shelf members of graduated diameter suspended from said central stern, and a plurality of elongated flexible members suspending said circular members from one another, whereby goods and other material may be displayed on said shelf members,

said circular members meeting together with said flexible members in place for storage and separation when the stem is erected for forming a Christmas tree simulating appearance when suspended by said flexible members.

2. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said circular members are annular rings.

3. The display stand of claim 1 wherein said circular shelf members are discs having at least upper surfaces 4 which are entirely unobstructed from view, in any horizontal direction, except for the obstruction of said stem. 4. The display stand of claim 1 wherein vertical sides are integral with said shelf members, said vertical sides surrounding said circular members to form upper and lower edges for retaining and concealing light means positioned on and supported under said circular members, said light means being attached to the bottom of said shelf members and concealed behind said vertical sides. 5. The display stand of claim 1 and a conical cap attached to the top of said central stem.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,654,427 12/1927 Modlarz 161-24 X 2,586,791 2/1952 Dattilo 161-23 X 1,577,207 3/ 1926 Dieperink-Langereis 161-23 X 227,693 5/1880 Kiesele 240-10 T 2,851,807 9/1958 Taylor 161-23 1,419,721 6/1922 Diederichs 240-10 T 2,731,752 1/1956 Erickson et al. 161-22 X 835,445 11/1906 Leonard 161-23 X PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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