Christmas Tree Stand

Abstract

A Christmas tree stand includes a spike that is driven into the lower end of a Christmas tree trunk; a ball joint is removably attached to the spike that is releasably gripped by a ball clamp positioned within a tree support housing. A user positions the tree in a vertical orientation and pivots a lever on a side of the housing to lock the ball clamp against the ball joint thereby anchoring the tree in the selected position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of provisional application No. 60/972,007 filed on Sep. 13, 2007, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a Christmas tree stand that allows an unassisted user to erect a Christmas tree.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Erecting a Christmas tree with a conventional Christmas tree stand typically requires at least two people. Once the conventional stand is mounted on the tree trunk, the tree is placed upright so that a first person can shift the tree until it is substantially vertical; the first person then holds the tree in the vertical position while a second person tightens tree stand bolts against the tree trunk. However, two persons are not always available when the tree is being erected; in addition, because the bolts are not always tightened sufficiently, or because the tree otherwise shifts, it often topples or leans once released. Accordingly, there is currently a need for a tree stand that allows a single user to quickly and securely anchor a Christmas tree in a vertical orientation. The present invention addresses this need by providing a Christmas tree stand having a uniquely-designed ball clamp mechanism that allows a single user to erect a tree.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A Christmas tree stand includes a spike that is driven into the lower end of a Christmas tree trunk; a ball joint is removably attached to the spike that is releasably gripped by a ball clamp positioned within a tree support housing. A user positions the tree in a vertical orientation and pivots a lever on a side of the housing to lock the ball clamp against the ball joint thereby anchoring the tree in the selected position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a Christmas tree stand that allows a single user to erect a Christmas tree.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a Christmas tree stand that allows a user to quickly and securely anchor a Christmas tree in a vertical, upright position.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, plan view of the Christmas tree stand.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the Christmas tree stand.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the ball joint.

FIG. 4 is a front, plan view of the ball joint.

FIG. 5 depicts the ball joint and associated spike attached to a tree trunk.

FIG. 6 depicts the reusable spike and associated handle.

FIG. 7 depicts the disposable spike.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a Christmas tree stand. The device includes a threaded spike 1 that is driven into the lower, cut end 35 of a Christmas tree trunk. The spike includes a threaded lower portion 2 that penetrates the trunk, and an upper portion 3 that axially extends therefrom. The upper portion has a square or rectangular cross-sectional configuration and includes a transverse passageway 4 for receiving a drive tool 5 that assists a user with installing and removing the spike. The spike may be formed of metal or another durable, reusable.

As depicted in FIG. 7, the spike 41 may alternatively be formed of a disposable material such as plastic allowing it to be safely discarded along with the tree. If so, the lower portion 40 of the spike has a hexagonal cross-section to prevent the tree from rotating relative thereto.

The Christmas tree stand further includes a housing 6 having an interior chamber 36 and at least one outer wall 7 with a shroud 8 superimposed thereon. On the outer wall is a reciprocal, foot-actuated lever 9 that opens and closes a ball clamp 37 positioned within the interior chamber. The ball clamp includes a pair of arcuate gripping members 10 each having serrated inner surfaces for frictionally engaging a ball joint 39, described infra. A conventional, over-center clamping mechanism locks the gripping members until the lever is moved in an opposite direction.

The ball joint 39 includes a panel 12 having an upper surface and a lower surface; depending from the lower surface is a bulb 13 that is inserted between the two gripping members. The ball joint includes an axial, square or rectangular channel 14 that extends from the panel to a predetermined distance within the bulb; the channel is dimensioned and configured to tightly receive the upper portion of the spike.

To erect a Christmas tree, a user drives the spike into the lower end of the Christmas tree trunk and then secures the ball joint to the spike. The user positions the tree in an upright position with the bulb disposed between the ball clamp gripping members. The user then places the tree in a desired, vertical position and pivots the lever to lock the ball clamp mechanism against the bulb; accordingly, the tree is securely anchored in the selected, upright position.

The above described device is not limited to the exact details of construction and enumeration of parts provided herein. Furthermore, the size, shape and materials of construction of the various components can be varied.

Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Claims

1. A Christmas tree stand comprising:

a spike configured to be driven into a lower end of a Christmas tree trunk, said spike having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a ball joint securable to said spike;

a housing having an interior chamber with a releasable ball clamping mechanism received therein for gripping said ball joint to anchor said tree in an upright position.

2. The Christmas tree stand according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said spike has a non-circular cross-sectional configuration.

3. The Christmas tree stand according to claim 2 wherein said ball joint includes:

a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a bulb depending from the lower surface for insertion into said ball clamping mechanism;

an axial channel extending from said panel to a predetermined distance within the bulb, said channel dimensioned and configured to tightly receive the upper portion of said spike to tightly secure said ball clamp thereto.

4. The Christmas tree stand according to claim 1 wherein said spike includes a transverse passageway for receiving a drive tool to assist a user with installing and removing the spike.

5. The Christmas tree stand according to claim 1 wherein said ball clamping mechanism comprises:

a pair of arcuate gripping members received within the interior chamber of said housing;

a reciprocal, foot-actuated lever that expands and contracts said gripping members to releasably engage said ball joint.