Disposable tree cover system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inexpensive disposable tree cover system particularly useful for enclosing trees to catch shed leaves and needles. One embodiment is directed at a disposable tree cover system that may be attached at the base of the trunk of the tree then extended up and around the tree to provide a shed-proof enclosure for the tree. The material forming the cover system may be inexpensive fabric, cloth, or plastic. If the material is strong enough, handles may be provided on the enclosure to facilitate handling of the tree. The handles also facilitate manipulating the cover system during enclosing of the tree. The disposable tree bay may also be used in other areas, such as shipping of live trees, where the bag would serve as protection for the tree. If desired, the bag may be manufactured of sturdier material so as to be reusable instead of disposable.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disposable tree cover system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inexpensive collapsible cover configured for efficient transportation and storage of a tree that prevents shed needles or leaves of the tree from escaping the cover during transportation and storage.

2. Background of the Invention and Related Art

It has become tradition to raise and decorate a Christmas tree throughout the Christmas holiday. Part of this tradition involves lighting and displaying the tree in a well traveled location.

Trees are typically decorated with ornaments, candy, and electrical lights, among other decorations.

Living trees shed leaves/needles once they are cut and typically deposit a large amount of these needles over the course of the holiday season. Shedding of needles occurs at all times after living trees are harvested: during transport, during display, and especially on cleanup at the end of the holiday season. Typically, the shedding worsens as time goes on and the tree dries out and dies. Living trees must be transported from the location where they are cut to a location where they are sold, and from there to the home or business of the purchaser for display. Because transport of trees is most convenient when trees are bundled up, trees are most often bundled shortly after harvesting. Most potential purchasers, however, want to see the tree they are buying before making a purchase, so trees are usually unbundled for display during sale.

After a sale has occurred, the buyer typically does not have the space to transport an unbundled tree, or does not desire the hassle. Therefore, trees are often bundled again into a smaller package for transport by individual tree buyers. The bundle is then opened or removed again by the purchaser after the purchaser transports the tree to the final display location. At each of these bundling/unbundling stages, the trees are bundled and unbundled by different entities: while one entity bundles the tree, another entity unbundles the tree. Therefore, what is needed is an inexpensive disposable bundling system that can be used to bundle the tree and then disposed of without major cost to the bundling entity.

A typical cut living tree cannot be used more than one season because it will dry out and die. Therefore, living trees must also be disposed of at the end of the season. However, living trees are typically driest at the end of the season, and so disposal of living trees leads to additional shedding of needles requiring additional cleanup. Therefore, many people wish to bundle the tree one last time in a way that prevents the inevitable shed needles from spreading all over the location where the tree was displayed and during transport for disposal. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved tree cover system that is inexpensive, essentially disposable, and contains shed needles with the tree.

Similar problems may be encountered with artificial trees. In the case of artificial trees, the problem is usually not that the tree sheds leaves and needles. Instead, the user of an artificial tree usually desires to store the tree from year to year to reuse the tree the next year. In doing so, the user may not desire to remove all the decorations one year only to have to restore all the decorations the next year. Or the user may want to have all components of the artificial tree stored in the same convenient package to ensure that no parts are lost, as most artificial trees include multiple parts and sections. Artificial trees can be bulky to store, so the user of an artificial tree may want to have a storage bag that can reduce the volume of the artificial tree to be stored. Thus what is needed is a relatively sturdy bag to contain artificial trees for storage and that may be adaptable to retroactively fit any artificial tree.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inexpensive disposable tree cover system particularly useful for enclosing trees to catch shed leaves and needles. The disposable tree cover system includes a pouch that may be attached at the base of the trunk of the tree, the pouch containing a bag that may then be extended up and around the tree to provide a shed-proof enclosure for the tree. The material forming the cover system may be inexpensive fabric, cloth, or plastic. If the material is strong enough, handles may be provided on the enclosure to facilitate handling of the tree. The handles also facilitate manipulating the cover system during enclosure of the tree. The disposable tree bay may also be used in other areas, such as shipping of live trees, where the bag would serve as protection for the tree. If desired, the bag may be manufactured of sturdier material so as to be reusable instead of disposable. When manufactured of sturdier material, the bag may be advantageously used as a storage bag for artificial trees. The bag may also be provided with circumferential straps to allow the bag to be cinched to reduce the volume contained within the bag.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

That the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention are obtained may be understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage pouch for the bag to be placed about a trunk of a tree;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an opened pouch from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a pouch with tree bag material extending horizontally from the pouch; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a tree bag extended fully to completely enclose a tree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

The present invention relates to an inexpensive disposable tree cover system. One embodiment is directed at a disposable Christmas tree cover system that may be attached at the base of the trunk of the tree then extended up and around the tree to provide a shed-proof enclosure for the tree. In one embodiment the material forming the enclosure is fabric. In another embodiment, the material is plastic. If the material is strong enough, handles may be provided on the enclosure to facilitate handling of the bundled tree. While embodiments of the present invention are directed at a disposable Christmas tree cover system, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to other areas. For example, another embodiment of the tree cover system is made of stronger material so as to be made reusable for use as a storage bag for an artificial tree.

As used in this specification, the following terms are defined accordingly:

“tree”—any living or artificial tree including cut living trees, living trees with a living root ball, and a Christmas tree;

“tree cover”—a properly shaped cover configured to completely cover the exterior of a tree;

“bag”—a bag, cover, enclosure, or other structure designed to completely cover the exterior of a tree;

“skirt”—a flexible or semi-flexible material draped around the trunk of a tree near the base of the tree; and

“elastically-biased opening”—is an opening that is biased into a closed configuration with some form of elastic device.

Reference will now be made to the figures in order to describe embodiments of the present invention.

Reference is initially made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a perspective view of a pouch or package 20 (hereinafter “pouch 20”) that initially contains the tree storage bag or tree storage cover. Pouch 20 may be made of any inexpensive disposable material, and may assume any number of configurations that maintains the functionality of the tree cover or bag. In FIG. 1A, the pouch 20 is shown as having a round shape with a center hole 22 configured to accept a trunk 24 of a tree 26, so that the pouch 20 may be fitted about the trunk 24 of the tree 26, as shown in FIG. 1B. The material of pouch 20 is somewhat flexible, allowing the pouch 20 to stretch or bend as needed to fit about the trunk 24 of the tree 26.

Because the pouch 20 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 slips on the trunk 24 of the tree 26 from the bottom, it is anticipated that the pouch 20 will be placed on the trunk 24 of the tree 26 at some point after the tree 26 has been cut, but at some point where the tree 26 is not currently located on or attached to a stable base (not shown) commonly used to support cut trees 26, such as Christmas trees, for display during sale or as a decoration. For example, a tree retailer might place the pouch 20 containing the bag elements on each tree 26 prior to displaying the trees for sale, and might advertise that the tree is sold with the attached pouch and bag to facilitate later tree cleanup, as described below. Alternatively, a homeowner purchasing a Christmas or other decorative cut tree 26 might also purchase a pouch 20 containing a tree bag, then place the pouch 20 around the tree trunk 24 prior to placing the tree 26 on its display base or stand (not shown). Finally, the pouch 20 might also be placed on the tree trunk 24 at the end of the season when the tree is being taken down for disposal.

While this method of placing the pouch 20 on the tree 26 has certain advantages of simplicity and continuity of the eventual bag, cover, or enclosure to surround the tree, it is anticipated that in certain situations other forms of pouches 20 might be desired. For example, a pouch 20 might be provided that forms a tube shape instead of the circular shape shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the tube shape could be wrapped around the trunk 24 of the tree 26, even while the tree is in a tree stand or even before a live tree is cut. The two ends of the tube shape would be close to each other after the tube shape is wrapped around the trunk 24, so that the tube shape approximates the circular donut shape shown in FIG. 1. Other shapes of pouch 20 could also be advantageously used, depending on the particular situation, as may be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

For example, although the pouch may be designed to be disposable, it is appreciated that some people are willing to pay additional costs for designer products. Therefore, to satisfy those needs, the pouch 20 might be provided in a number of decorative shapes or colors to satisfy those individual needs. This might be especially desirable since the pouch 20 may be designed to remain attached to the tree throughout its display period. Thus the pouch 20 might form a triangle, square, star, or other shape to fit the purchaser's festive needs and whims. This is possible since the pouch 20 essentially serves two basic functions: to secure the bag elements to the tree 26 and to provide storage of the other bag elements. As long as the pouch 20 performs these two functions, it may assume any shape desired.

As seen in FIG. 1A, the pouch 20 has a rim 28. In this embodiment, the rim 28 is located approximately at the outermost radial portion of the pouch 20. The rim 28 extends the entire circumference of the pouch 20. The rim 28 provides a location for accessing the contents of pouch 20. To achieve this, a zipper (not shown) may be placed at rim 28. Alternatively, if the pouch is desired to be disposable, the rim 28 may be designed so as to be weaker than the remainder of the pouch 20, and access to the contents of the pouch 20 may be achieved by tearing the pouch 20 at the rim 28. After unzipping the zipper or tearing the rim 28, the pouch 20 is opened as may be seen in FIG. 2. For clarity, FIG. 2 shows an opened pouch 20 as it would be found on the trunk 24 of the tree 26 without showing the trunk 24 or the tree 26. Once the pouch 20 is opened at rim 28, the pouch 20 is split into two halves, an upper half 30 and a lower half 32. These two halves 30, 32 are still joined near the trunk 24 of the tree 26. While FIG. 2 shows the pouch 20 split symmetrically at rim 28, one of skill in the art can readily recognize that rim 28 may be provided at any location that adequately provides access to the contents of the pouch 20.

Inside the pouch 20 may be found a pouch drawstring 34. The pouch drawstring 34 is attached to the pouch 20 near the trunk 24 of the tree 26 in such a way as to encircle the trunk 24. The pouch drawstring 34 may be used to tightly tie the pouch 20 to and around the trunk of the tree, so that once the bag is placed over the tree no needles or leaves may escape the bag at the bottom by slipping between the pouch 20 and the trunk 24. Alternatively, the center hole 22 of the pouch 20 may be provided with an elastic member so that the center hole 22 forms an elastically-biased opening to provide a secure attachment to the tree and to prevent shed needles or leaves from escaping. In configurations where the pouch 20 is tied around the tree, such as the tube-pouch configuration, the pouch drawstring 34 may also serve to secure the pouch 20 around the trunk 24 so as to form the round shape described. Any of these means described can serve as a means for securing the pouch to the trunk of the tree.

Also located within the pouch 20, is a bag material 36. The bag material 36 may be bunched up or rolled up so as to fit within the pouch 20. The bag material 36 is attached to the pouch 20 within the pouch 20 so as to be secured to the trunk 24 through the pouch 20. Alternatively, the bag material 36 may be attached to the pouch drawstring 34 to achieve the same attachment. Another alternative attachment would be to have the bag material 36 form a unitary part of the pouch 20 so that the bag material 36 is merely an extension of pouch 20. In any event, bag material 36 is formed so as to completely encircle the tree trunk 24 and tree 26 when in its fully-extended configuration so as to form a bag, cover, or enclosure completely around the tree 26. The bag material 36 may be made of any inexpensive material known in the art, including plastic, cloth, and fabric, depending on the cost and strength needs for the eventual bag. In instances where the user anticipates reusing the bag, such as for use with an artificial tree, the bag material 36 may be chosen so as to be a more expensive and more durable material. The bag material 36 may also be chosen to be a flexible material to provide optimum flexibility as the bag is extended around a tree as described below.

To reach its fully-extended configuration so as to form the bag completely around the tree 26, the bag material 36 may be withdrawn horizontally around the tree to assume the configuration shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the bag material 36 may be provided with handles 38 to facilitate withdrawing the bag material 36 from the pouch 20 into the horizontally-extended configuration shown. In this configuration, the bag material 36 may serve to form a skirt around the tree for decorative purposes and to catch shed leaves or needles during display of the tree 26. Therefore, the bag material 36 may optionally be provided with decorative markings or be manufactured of an eye-pleasing fabric and color for use during display as a skirt, allowing the bag material 36 to serve as a skirt for an extended period of time.

From the horizontally-extended configuration of the bag material 36, the handles 38 may serve an additional purpose to assist in moving the bag material 36 to its fully-extended configuration shown in FIG. 4. When it is time to enclose the tree 26 in a bag for transport or disposal, the bag material 36 or the handles 38 may be grasped to manipulate the bag material 36 so as to extend upward to completely surround the tree 26. In this way, the bag material 36 forms a bag beginning at the trunk 24 and extending outward and upward to enclose the tree 26 completely. As seen in FIG. 4, when the bag is pulled up over the tree a top opening 40 remains. The top opening 40 may be closed by any means known in the art, such as by tying a string or cord similar to pouch drawstring 34, or by providing an elastic element in top opening 40 so that top opening 40 forms an elastically-biased opening. Because the tree bag may be designed to be disposable, the top opening 40 may also be closed by other closing means, such as stapling, cinching, folding over, hook-and-loop closure systems, or any other bag closing means known in the art.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, the bag formed by bag material 36 begins at a narrow base surrounding the trunk 24, flares outward to enclose the larger lower branches of the tree 26, and then tapers upward to the top opening 40. The bag material is formed or stitched to assume this final fully-extended configuration. However, any number of possible final shapes may be formed and are contemplated as functional depending on the needs of the user. For example, the bag material 36 may be formed into an essentially-cylindrical bag, and the bag may merely be bunched at the top and bottom as needed to close the bag. This may be advantageous in making it easier to pull the bag material 36 over the tree, and may also simplify manufacture. Alternatively, the bag material 36 might be shaped differently to accommodate differently-shaped trees than the standard Christmas tree. In one example, the bag might be used to protect live trees during shipping. In such a circumstance, the pouch used might be of the tube-shaped variety described above, and the bag thus formed would have a slit extending upward along the side of the bag that could optionally be closed by means of a zipper, ties, snaps, or other closure mechanisms. The bag material 36 might then be shaped and sized to form a bag roughly conforming to the shape and size of the live tree's branches, whatever that shape and size might be.

The bag material 36 may also be provided with circumferential straps (not shown) that may be used to cinch down the bag formed to make a smaller, tighter package for transport. This may be useful for use with artificial trees to reduce the volume of the stored artificial tree. This may also be especially useful to get a tree through a tight opening, such as up or down a stairwell, or out a door. To make the circumferential strap inexpensive, it may be replaced with twine provided as part of bag material 36. In circumstances where bag material 36 is sufficiently strong, the enclosed tree 26 may be carried by using the handles 38 or by using the circumferential strap or string. Thus the handles 38 serve a multitude of purposes during use of the bag.

Several methods of using the bag will now be described. In a first method of using the bag, the pouch 20 is placed on the trunk 24 of the tree 26 as shown in FIG. 1B. Then the tree 26 is placed in a display stand, as is commonly known in the art. The tree 26 is displayed thus throughout the holiday season, and when the season comes to an end and the tree 26 is to be disposed of, any decorations to be saved are removed from the tree. Then pouch 20 is opened at rim 28, and the pouch drawstring 34 is secured to the trunk 24 of the tree 26, if a pouch drawstring 34 is provided. Bag material 36 is withdrawn from pouch 20 horizontally until it is spread out around the tree 26 as in FIG. 3, and then one or more people grasp the bag material 36 (or handles 38 if provided) and pull the bag material 36 upward to surround the tree 26. It is anticipated that using several people to pull the bag material 36 upward will help prevent jostling that might lead to unwanted shedding before the bag is in place. The top opening 40 is then closed, the tree is removed from its display stand, and the tree may be transported for disposal. The bag formed by bag material 36 serves to trap any shed needles or leaves, making removal and transport of the tree a much cleaner process than is currently available.

In another method of use, the pouch 20 is placed on the trunk 24 of the tree 26 as before, and the tree 26 is placed in its display stand. Then the pouch 20 is opened, and the pouch drawstring 34 secured as previously described. The bag material 36 is pulled out horizontally to form a skirt around the tree 26, as in FIG. 3, and then the tree is decorated and displayed. The bag material 36, used as a skirt, serves to catch any leaves or needles shed during display. When the period of display is over, the decorations are removed as described above and the bag material 36 is pulled upward and closed to form a bag as described. The tree 26 may then be removed from its display stand for transport and disposal of the tree 26, without fear of messy spread of shed needles or leaves.

The tree bag may also be used even after display of the tree 26. The tree 26 is simply removed from its display stand, and then the pouch 20 is attached to the trunk 24, the bag material 36 withdrawn and extended to enclose the tree 26, and the bag closed for transport. Although this is less advantageous than the previous methods because the tree must be handled before being enclosed in the bag (leading to some dispersal of shed needles or leaves), this is still more advantageous than fully moving around an unbagged tree at the end of a display season.

If a tube-type pouch 20 is used, it may be secured around the trunk even while the tree is in its display stand. This may be advantageous when a bag is desired but was not attached prior to placing the tree in its stand. It also may be advantageous when a live tree is used. Although this type of bag has a slit in it, it may be closed as described above to prevent the escape of needles, or the bagged tree may be carried and transported with the slit upward so as to prevent shed needles and leaves from dispersing.

Although the described bag is advantageous for situations where a disposable bag is desired, the described bag may also be made in a reusable fashion. The rim 28 may be provided with a zipper instead of being torn, and the bag material 36 and pouch 20 may be manufactured of a stronger, more durable material. This allows the bag to be, used then stored again within the pouch 20 for future use. This may be particularly advantageous for use with artificial trees. In use with artificial trees, the bag becomes a storage bag instead of a needle-catching bag. A bag of this type might be used to prevent loss of decorations or essential tree parts.

Even a disposable bag may be reused. This may occur, for example, if a tree is initially bagged after cutting for transport to a point of sale. The tree may be unbagged and the bag stored in the pouch 20 during sale. Upon sale, the bag may be redeployed for transport to the purchaser's home. Upon arriving in the purchaser's home, the tree may be unbagged, displayed, and re-bagged for disposal, as described above. Or the bag might be used for only one or two of the above-described uses. Thus it may be seen that the disposable bag is flexible and useful in a variety of situations.

Thus, as discussed herein, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a disposable tree bag and cover system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tree bag configured for efficient transportation and disposal of a tree while catching and securing any shed leaves or needles. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A disposable tree storage and transportation bag for containing tree leaves and needles:

during transport and disposal comprising:

a storage pouch configured to store a bag and configured to fit around a trunk of a tree;

a bag material configured to form a bag around the tree, the bag formed from the bag material comprising: a substantially-circular base opening attached to the storage pouch; sides extending outward and upward from the base opening; and a substantially-circular top opening large enough to permit the top opening to pass around the branches of the tree as the top opening is drawn vertically from the bottom of the tree to the top of the tree;

means for securing the storage pouch to the trunk of the tree; and

means for closing the top opening;

wherein the storage pouch and the bag material are configured so as to be able to assume at least two configurations: a first stored configuration wherein the bag material is contained within the storage pouch, and a second deployed configuration wherein the bag material is extended from the storage pouch upward and outward to form a tree bag.

2. The bag of claim 1 further comprising handles attached to the bag material for at least one of:

facilitating changing the bag material between the stored and deployed configurations; and

facilitating handling of the tree within the tree bag.

3. The bag of claim 1 wherein the storage pouch is circular in shape with a hole passing through the pouch configured to accept the passage of the trunk of the tree.

4. The bag of claim 3 wherein the storage pouch comprises:

pouch material shaped to form a storage area in the shape of a donut; and

a rim extending circularly around the storage pouch to provide circular access to the contents of the pouch.

5. The bag of claim 1 wherein the means for securing the storage pouch to the trunk of the tree comprises a drawstring.

6. The bag of claim 1 wherein the means for securing the storage pouch to the trunk is an elastically-biased opening.

7. The bag of claim 1 wherein the means for closing the top opening comprises a string.

8. The bag of claim 1 wherein the means for closing the top opening comprises an elastically-biased opening.

9. The bag of claim 1 wherein the storage pouch and the bag material are made from materials selected from the group of plastic, fabric, and cloth.

10. A method of containing shed needles and leaves of a tree in a disposable tree bag during transport and disposal, the method comprising:

providing a tree;

providing a storage pouch about a trunk of the tree, the storage pouch containing a tree bag, the tree bag configured to extend upward and outward from the storage pouch and the trunk to enclose limbs of the tree so that the needles and leaves of the enclosed limbs cannot escape the tree bag, the tree bag comprising a top opening sized so as to allow passage of the opening around the branches of the tree;

opening the storage pouch;

extending the tree bag horizontally from the storage pouch about the trunk of the tree;

lifting the tree bag vertically so that the top opening passes over the branches of the tree until the branches of the tree are contained within the tree bag; and

closing the top opening.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising securing the storage pouch to the trunk of the tree.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising leaving the horizontally-extended tree bag in its horizontally-extended position for a time to catch shed tree leaves and needles.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

re-opening the tree bag; and lowering the tree bag to re-expose the branches of the tree.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

re-lifting the tree bag to cover the branches of the tree; and re-closing the tree bag.

15. A disposable tree storage and transportation bag for containing tree leaves and needles during transport and disposal comprising:

a storage pouch configured to store a bag and configured to fit around a trunk of a tree, the storage pouch comprising: a drawstring contained within the pouch to secure the storage pouch to the trunk of the tree; a rim at which the storage pouch may be opened

a bag material configured to form a bag around the tree, the bag formed from the bag material comprising: a substantially-circular base opening attached to the storage pouch; sides extending outward and upward from the base opening; and a substantially-circular top opening large enough to permit the top opening to pass around the branches of the tree as the top opening is drawn vertically from the bottom of the tree to the top of the tree;

means for closing the top opening;

wherein the storage pouch and the bag material are configured so as to be able to assume at least two configurations: a first stored configuration wherein the bag material is contained within the storage pouch, and a second deployed configuration wherein the bag material is extended from the storage pouch upward and outward to form a tree bag.

16. The bag of claim 0 further comprising a zipper provided at the rim of the storage pouch to permit opening of the storage pouch.

17. The bag of claim 0 wherein the storage pouch and rim are made of a material such that the rim may be torn open to permit opening of the storage pouch.

18. The bag of claim 0 wherein the storage pouch and the bag material comprise an inexpensive disposable material selected from the group of plastic, fabric, and cloth.

19. The bag of claim 0 further comprising handles attached to the bag material for at least one of:

a. facilitating changing the bag material between the stored and deployed configurations; and

b. facilitating handling of the tree within the tree bag.

20. The bag of claim 0 wherein the storage pouch and the bag material are configure to be able to assume a third configuration wherein the bag material forms a skirt around the trunk of the tree.