Tree Shaped Display Stand and Table Structure Assembled from Components of Same
A tree shaped display stand features elongated post pieces each having an externally threaded male feature at a first end, an internally threaded female feature at an opposing second end, and first and second annular faces respectively surrounding the male and female features. Shelves of different diameter each have a central hole therein through which the externally threaded male feature at the first end of one of the post pieces is engagable with the internally threaded female feature at the second end of a next one of the post pieces to clamp the shelf unit between the first and second annular faces of the post pieces. Hook members each have a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof. The same pieces forming the tree-shaped display stand may be assembled in another manner to form a table.
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/658,561, filed Jun. 12, 2012.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to tree-shaped display stands in which a series of different diameter shelves are supported at vertically spaced positions on an upright post and decrease in diameter moving up the post to follow a generally conical outline simulating the appearance of a coniferous tree.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is previously known to provide shelving units in the form of a central upright post having vertically spaced shelves that decrease in diameter or width in an upward direction to approximate the conical three-dimensional shape, or triangular two-dimensional shape, of coniferous trees of the types commonly employed as ‘Christmas trees’, for example to provide an alternative to a conventional natural or artificial tree where the gifts, conventionally placed beneath such a tree, can instead by stored off the ground on the shelves of the unit.
Examples of such tree-shaped stands can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,577,207, 2,615,583, 3,674,612, 6,688,239, 7,144,610, D325,358, D414,056, and D447,889 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0106472.
However, there remains room for improvement, and Applicant has developed a unique tree-shaped display stand solution offering advantages and improvements over the aforementioned prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces each having an externally threaded male feature at a first end, an internally threaded female feature at an opposing second end, and first and second annular faces respectively surrounding the male and female features; and
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, each having a central hole therein through which the externally threaded male feature at the first end of one of the post pieces is engagable with the internally threaded female feature at the second end of a next one of the post pieces to clamp the shelf unit between the first and second annular faces of the post pieces;
whereby assembly of the post pieces end to end to form an upright post with the shelf units clamped between the post pieces in an order decreasing in diameter moving upwardly along the upright post defines a tree-shaped shelving unit.
Preferably each post piece comprises a length of tubing having flanged ends that define the annular faces of the post piece.
Preferably the tubing of the plurality of elongated post pieces are of different diameter, whereby assembly of the post pieces in a sequence of decreasing tube diameter gives the upright post a tapered appearance moving upwardly therealong.
Preferably there is provided a tip piece having a threaded feature at an end thereof for engagement with one of the threaded features of an uppermost one of the post pieces in the upright post to define a tip thereof.
Preferably the tip piece is of smaller diameter than the post pieces.
Preferably there is provided at least one wiring opening in each shelf at a location radially outward from the central hole to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.
There may be provided pin members selectively pierceable into an outer periphery of any of the shelves to anchor one or more decorative elements thereto.
There may be provided hook members selectively engagable to an underside of any of the shelves in the tree shaped shelving unit to enable hanging of one or more ornamental elements therefrom.
Each of the shelves may comprise pre-defined attachment points at which the hook members are selectively engagable to the shelf.
Each shelf may be pre-drilled at each attachment point for selective engagement with a threaded connection feature on each hook member.
There may be provided multi-hook members each configured for selectively releasable engagement with any of the shelves and each having multiple hook elements by which multiple items can be hung from the shelf on said multi-hook member.
Each multi-hook member may comprise a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof.
Each multi-hook member may comprise a first hook element disposed at an outer side of the clip portion that faces away from where the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf, and at least one additional hook element depending from an underside of the clip portion to reside under the shelf when the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf.
At least some of the multiple hook elements may be positioned so as to be vertically spaced from one another when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.
At least some of the multiple hook elements may be positioned so as to be radially spaced from one another relative to the upright post when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces; and
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit;
wherein each shelf comprises at least one wiring opening passing therethrough to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces;
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit; and
a plurality of multi-hook members each configured for selectively releasable engagement with any of the shelves and each having multiple hook elements by which multiple items can be hung from the shelf on said multi-hook member.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces;
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit; and
a plurality of hook members each comprising a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof and at least one hook element by which one or more decorative elements can be hung from the shelf on said hook member.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a table comprising:
(a) obtaining a kit of parts which may be assembled into a tree-shaped display stand, the kit of parts comprising a base, plurality of post pieces connectable together end-to-end to define an upright post, and a plurality of shelves of different diameter for support on the upright post; and
(b) assembling the base with two or more of the post pieces and a first one of the shelves so that the two or more post pieces project upward from the base in an end-to-end manner to support the one of the shelves on an uppermost one of the two or more post pieces, whereby the first one of the shelves forms a table-top of a resulting table structure.
Preferably the first one of the shelves is a largest of the shelves.
Step (b) may comprise, during assembly of the base with the two or more post pieces and the first one of the shelves, assembling a second one of the shelves with the two or more post pieces so as to position the second one of the shelves beneath the tabletop in the resulting table structure.
Preferably the second one of the shelves is smaller than the first one of the shelves.
Step (b) may comprise assembling an additional one of the post pieces and an additional one of the shelves to the two or more post pieces and the first one of the shelves so that the additional post piece projects upward from the tabletop to support the additional shelf in a position over the tabletop in the resulting table.
Preferably the selected additional one of the shelves is smaller than the selected first one of the shelves.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of converting a tree-shaped display stand to a table, the method comprising:
(a) from a tree shaped shelving unit comprising a series of different diameter shelves mounted in an order of upwardly decreasing shelf diameter on an upright post formed of endwise-coupled post sections, partially disassembling the shelving unit from top down until a largest diameter one of the shelves has been removed;
(b) to a one of the post sections located above another of the post sections that previously supported a lowermost one of the shelves in the tree shaped shelving unit, securing a selected one of the shelves in order to define a tabletop of a resulting table structure.
Preferably the selected shelf was the lowermost one of the shelves in the tree-shaped shelving unit.
Preferably the selected shelf is the largest of the shelves.
Step (a) may comprise partially disassembling the shelving unit from top down until the selected one of the shelves has been removed from the tree shaped shelving unit, and step (b) may comprise re-installing a previously removed one of the post sections atop a remaining post section from which the selected shelf was removed, and installing the selected shelf on the re-installed post section.
Step (b) may comprise first installing a smaller one of the shelves in place of the lowermost one of the shelves from the tree shaped shelving unit.
The method may comprise step (c) of reinstalling a previously removed shelf of smaller size than the tabletop in a position over the tabletop at a height spaced thereabove.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method of converting a table to tree-shaped display stand, the method comprising:
(a) from a table structure comprising a plurality of post sections coupled end to end atop a base to carry a removable tabletop on an uppermost one of said post sections, removing said tabletop;
(b) installing a largest one of a plurality of shelves on a lower post section found below where the tabletop was previously supported on the uppermost one of said post sections; and
(c) installing additional post sections and additional shelves over the largest shelf to build an upright post of greater height than the former table structure with vertically spaced shelves that decrease in diameter moving upward along said height.
Preferably the largest one of the plurality of shelves installed step (b) is the tabletop that was removed in step (a).
Step (a) may comprise first removing an upper shelf of smaller size than the tabletop from a position thereover.
Step (a) may further comprise removing a lower shelf of small size than the tabletop from a position thereunder.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
With reference to
A trunk or post base adapter 24 is fixed to the base 12 to enable connection of the trunk or post pieces 14 thereto in a vertical orientation standing upright from the topside of the base 12. The adapter 24 features a round metal plate 26 that has a central hole therein, and is fastened against the underside of the circular top plate 18 of the base by wood screws 26. A bolt 28 has its head fixed to the underside of the metal plate 26 by welding 30, with the threaded shaft of the bolt 28 passing vertically upward through the center opening in the metal plate 26, and onward through an aligned central hole passing vertically through the circular top plate 18 of the base. The threaded shaft of the bolt 28 thus projects perpendicularly upward from the top base plate 18 at the center thereof to form a site for threaded connection of a lowermost one 14a of the post or trunk pieces.
Each of the post pieces 14 shares a common structure, which is described with reference to the lowermost post section 14a of
Still referring to
Although the post sections of the illustrated embodiment share the same general structure, the diameter of the tubing 32 used for the post sections decreases moving from one post section to the next moving up the trunk or post that is defined by the end-to-end coupling of the post sections one over the other. Likewise, the diameter of the end plates of the post sections may also decrease moving up the resulting post/trunk structure. The illustrated embodiment features five post sections 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e and five shelves 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e. To simulate the pointed upper tip of a generally conical coniferous tree, a tip piece 42 is coupled to the uppermost post section 14e through the central opening in the uppermost shelf 16e to present a spike or tip projecting upward from the uppermost shelf 16e. The illustrated tip piece 42 has a round base plate 44 with a central opening therein to accommodate receipt of the bolt shaft of the uppermost post piece 14e therethrough, and a coupling nut 46 fixed atop the base plate 44 by welding 30. The internal threading at the bottom end of the coupling nut 46 is accessible and engagable by the bolt through the central opening in the base plate to couple the tip piece 42 to the uppermost post section 14e and clamp the uppermost shelf 16e in place between the base plate 44 of the tip piece and the upper end plate of the uppermost post section 14e. The threaded internal passage running axially through the coupling nut 46 also accommodates the lower end of a dowel, rod or spike 48 that has been fed into the open upper end of the passage and fixed therein, so that the dowel, rod or spike 48 projects upward from the coupling nut to define the upper tip of the display stand 10.
Turning to
Turning to
The multi-hook hanger 54 features a first J-shaped hook element 58 that juts horizontally outward from the central span 56c of the clip portion to a side thereof opposite the clip legs 56a, 56b, and then curves upward. Second and third J-shaped hook elements 60, 62 are defined by a somewhat anchor-shaped appendage 66 integrally joined to the clip portion 56 at the end of the lower clip leg 56b opposite the central clip span 56c. The appendage 66 depends downward from the lower leg clip 56b, with the J-shaped hook elements situated back-to-back to defined the overall anchor-like shape. The hook elements thus define hook mouths that open in opposing directions, one facing radially outward relative to the post of the display stand, like the first hook element 58, and the other facing the opposite radially inward direction. These hook elements 60, 62 are situated beneath the shelf 16 just inward of the circumferential outer edge 64 thereof. The three hook elements may be used to hang a number of different ornament combinations, for example supporting the garland 100, bauble 200 and light string 300 of
Referring again to
The tree-shaped display stand of
Conversion of a table to a tree-shaped display stand is basically the reverse of the above process, first involving removal of any above-table shelf and associate post section(s) above the tabletop, then removal of the tabletop-defining shelf 16a, and the post section therebelow, together with any under-table shelf 16d that may be in place. The largest shelf 16a is then installed on the bottom post section 14a, over which the second post section 14b is then installed, with the remaining post sections and shelves then added, in an alternating manner, in order of decreasing diameter before the tip piece is finally installed over the smallest shelf to complete the conversion.
Although the tree-shaped structure is referenced above for particular usefulness as a Christmas decoration or display accessory, other uses are course contemplated, especially in view of the systems ability to a partial selection of its components to assemble a table of generic shape useful for any occasion.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A tree shaped display stand comprising:
- plurality of elongated post pieces each having an externally threaded male feature at a first end, an internally threaded female feature at an opposing second end, and first and second annular faces respectively surrounding the male and female features; and
- a plurality of shelves of different diameter, each having a central hole therein through which the externally threaded male feature at the first end of one of the post pieces is engagable with the internally threaded female feature at the second end of a next one of the post pieces to clamp the shelf unit between the first and second annular faces of the post pieces;
- whereby assembly of the post pieces end to end to form an upright post with the shelf units clamped between the post pieces in an order decreasing in diameter moving upwardly along the upright post defines a tree-shaped shelving unit.
2. The display stand of claim 1 wherein each post piece comprises a length of tubing having flanged ends that define the annular faces of the post piece.
3. The display stand of claim 2 wherein the tubing of the plurality of elongated post pieces are of different diameter, whereby assembly of the post pieces in a sequence of decreasing tube diameter gives the upright post a tapered appearance moving upwardly therealong.
3. The display stand of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated post pieces comprise post pieces of different diameter, whereby assembly of the post pieces in a sequence of decreasing diameter gives the upright post a tapered appearance moving upwardly therealong.
4. The display stand of claim 1 comprising a tip piece having a threaded feature at an end thereof for engagement with one of the threaded features of an uppermost one of the post pieces in the upright post to define a tip thereof.
5. The display stand of claim 4 wherein the tip piece is of smaller diameter than the post pieces.
6. The display stand of claim 1 comprising at least one wiring opening in each shelf at a location radially outward from the central hole to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.
7. The display stand of claim 1 comprising pin members selectively pierceable into an outer periphery of any of the shelves to anchor one or more decorative elements thereto.
8. The display stand of claim 1 comprising hook members selectively engagable to an underside of any of the shelves in the tree shaped shelving unit to enable hanging of one or more ornamental elements therefrom.
9. The display stand of claim 8 wherein each of the shelves comprises pre-defined attachment points at which the hook members are selectively engagable to the shelf.
10. The display stand of claim 9 wherein each shelf is pre-drilled at each attachment point for selective engagement with a threaded connection feature on each hook member.
11. The display stand of claim 1 comprising multi-hook members each configured for selectively releasable engagement with any of the shelves and each having multiple hook elements by which multiple items can be hung from the shelf on said multi-hook member.
12. The display stand of claim 11 wherein each multi-hook member comprises a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof.
13. The display stand of claim 12 wherein each multi-hook member comprises a first hook element disposed at an outer side of the clip portion that faces away from where the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf, and at least one additional hook element depending from an underside of the clip portion to reside under the shelf when the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf.
14. The display stand of claim 11 wherein at least some of the multiple hook elements are positioned so as to be vertically spaced from one another when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.
15. The display stand of claim 11 wherein at least some of the multiple hook elements are positioned so as to be radially spaced from one another relative to the upright post when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.
16. A tree shaped display stand comprising:
- plurality of elongated post pieces; and
- a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit;
- wherein each shelf comprises at least one wiring opening passing therethrough to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.
17. A tree shaped display stand comprising:
- plurality of elongated post pieces;
- a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit; and
- a plurality of hook members each comprising a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof and at least one hook element by which one or more decorative elements can be hung from the shelf on said hook member.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 12, 2013
Inventor: George Sideen (Thunder Bay)
Application Number: 13/796,514
International Classification: A47F 5/04 (20060101);