Hanging Ornamental Christmas Tree with a Hollow Interior

Abstract

Provided is an ornamental Christmas tree with a hollow interior that is adapted to be suspended from a support. The device includes a cording system attached to a base board. The cording system includes a plurality of elongated cords threaded halfway through a ring support and one or more wraparound cords. The elongated cords are supported by a ring support, such that the cords angle outward therefrom and towards the base to form a conical representation of a Christmas tree with an open interior. Wraparound cords are positioned around the outer perimeter of the device in a spiral or multiple ring configuration. In a suspended state, the ring support is hooked onto an overhead support. A user can decorate the device as the user would normally decorate a Christmas tree and fill the interior of the simulated tree with holiday decorations or presents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hanging ornamental Christmas tree for storage and decoration. More specifically, the present invention describes a cording system fastened onto a base board that resembles a hollow Christmas tree in its suspended state. The present invention functions as a home décor and as a storage area for holiday gifts. A ring support located at the top of the device enables a user to hang the device from an overhead support.

Evergreen fir trees are traditionally decorated in a celebration of Christmas. Putting up a real Christmas tree every year, however, can be inconvenient and costly. Real Christmas trees require regular maintenance and watering. When a real tree is placed in its stand or bucket, the tree absorb water quickly. If the tree is not watered for a length of time, the tree becomes dry and loses its ability to effectively absorb water. To prolong the life of the tree, a user must remove the tree from the stand and saw a slice from the bottom of the trunk so that it can absorb more water. This is especially inconvenient if the tree is already decorated. Real trees also tend to become messy as they drop needles on the floor over time. Even after use, real trees require proper disposal after the holidays.

Real Christmas trees are also not ideal for individuals who suffer from allergies. The mold spores, pollens, herbicides, and fertilizers on the trees can trigger allergy symptoms, such as sneezing and congestion. To make the Christmas trees less inclined to trigger allergies, a user can hose down the tree before bringing them inside, but this can be impractical and inconvenient especially due to cold temperatures in the winter. Due to such inconveniences, some people may skip putting up a Christmas tree altogether and resort to an artificial Christmas tree. Conventional artificial Christmas trees, however, are generally bulky and made from oil-based products that use up natural resources.

The present invention relates to a hanging ornamental Christmas tree designed for storing Christmas presents and other holiday decorations. The device includes a cording system and a base board. The cording system comprises a plurality of elongated cords threaded halfway through a preferably heavy duty metal ring support and one or more wraparound cords. An opposite end of each elongated cord is fastened to the opposite ends of the base board near the perimeter edge such that the center of the elongated cords overlap at the center of the base board. The elongated cords are supported by a ring support that is positioned at the center of the elongated cords. When the ring support is extended upward from the center of the base board, the cording system and a base board form a conical representation of a Christmas tree with a hollow interior. One or more wraparound cord is wrapped around the outer perimeter of the conical structure to secure the elongated cords in place and balance the device. The ring support may be hooked to an eye bolt or a similar overhead support to suspend the device from above. The present invention provides a convenient way to decorate for Christmas and to store presents under the simulated tree without the recurrent, annual expense of a real Christmas tree. Furthermore, the present invention can be used year after year and require very little clean up after each use.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to artificial Christmas trees. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. Some of these patents describe an artificial Christmas tree. Other patents disclose an ornamental Christmas tree for hanging. These devices, however, do not allow users to store items in a hollow interior of the simulated tree. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,731,752 to Erickson describes an artificial tree. The Erickson device comprises several pairs of wire loops that are wrapped with translucent fabric. Each wire loop has a different outer perimeter, and the loops are collectively arranged in an increasing perimeter order from a vertical point of support. The Erickson device also comprises a stand for placing the device on the floor. Unlike the present invention, the Erickson device lacks a solid base board to support items stored in the hollow cavity of the device. The vertical point of support would also prevent a user from freely arranging items placed in the cavity of the device. Furthermore, the Erickson device lacks any means to hang the artificial tree from above. The present invention allows a user to hang the simulated tree from above and store items within its cavity.

Similarly, U.S. Design Pat. No. D478,021 to Duncan describes a hanging Christmas tree. The Duncan device comprises a series of metal rings connected by metal cords, and a loop on top of the metal cords for hanging. While the Duncan device discloses a simulated Christmas tree that can be suspended from above, the Duncan device fails to address the issue of storing items within its interior. The present invention addresses this issue by disclosing a solid base board that is attached to the cording system, which allow users to place presents or other items inside the simulated tree. Additionally, the Duncan device has limited use in that it comprises metal cording that may be too heavy for hanging.

The present invention discloses an ornamental Christmas tree with a hollow interior that is adapted to be suspended from an overhead support. The device includes a plurality of elongated cords extending outward towards the base board from a ring support to form a conical representation of a Christmas tree with an open interior. An opposite end of each elongated cord is fastened to the opposite ends of the base board. The wraparounds cords are secured around the outer perimeter of the device to secure the elongated cords and provide support for string lights and Christmas ornaments. The present invention allows a user to store items and hang the device from a ceiling or another overhead support. It is therefore submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing ornamental Christmas trees. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of ornamental Christmas trees now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new improvement to a hanging ornamental Christmas trees wherein the same can be utilized for providing a convenient way to store presents while providing a festive appearance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hanging ornamental Christmas tree device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hanging ornamental Christmas tree device having a light weight and durable solid base board.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanging ornamental Christmas tree device having a flexible, light weight cording system.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hanging ornamental Christmas tree device that can be suspended from a ceiling or an overhead support.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hanging ornamental Christmas tree device that can be repeatedly used with very little clean up.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hanging ornamental Christmas tree device that can be collapsible and compact for easy storage after each use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a close up view of the cords attached to the upper surface of the base.

FIG. 2B shows a close up view of the cords attached to the bottom surface of the base.

FIG. 2C shows a close up view of the cords knotted below a hole in the base board in which the cords are fed through.

FIG. 3 shows a close up view of the cording system.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the present invention in use as a storage for presents.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view another embodiment of the present invention in use as a storage for presents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the hanging ornamental Christmas tree. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for storing presents and Christmas decorations in a suspended state. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there are shown views of the ornamental tree of the present invention. The device comprises a cording system that includes at least one wraparound cord 19, a plurality of elongated cords 12 of equal length, and a solid base board 13 attached thereto. The base board 13 has a flat upper and lower surface and a defined perimeter. The base board 13 can be constructed into various shapes and sizes, but it has a preferably rounded surface area or a polygonal surface area. The base board 13 is made of light, but durable material that can support weight placed on top of the base board 13. The elongated cords 12 and the wraparound cords 19 are flexible and comprise light weight and durable strands of rope. The rope has a high tensile strength and can comprise of suitable fibrous materials, such as natural or artificial plies, yarns, or strands which are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form.

One end of each elongated cord 12 is threaded halfway through a preferably heavy duty round metal ring support 11 to form a common point. Both ends of each elongated cord are secured near the edge of the perimeter of the base board 13 such that the center of the elongated cords 12 overlap at the center of the base board 13 and an opposite end of each elongated cord 12 is fastened to the opposite ends of the base board 13 perimeter. The ends of the elongated cords 12 are spaced evenly apart around the perimeter of the base board 13. The length of the elongated cords 12 and the wraparound cords 19 may depend on size of the base board 13. For instance, longer elongated cords 12 and the wraparound cords 19 may be used for a larger base board 13. When the ring support 11 is pulled upward from the center of the base board 13, the elongated cords 12 angle outward therefrom and towards the base board 13 perimeter edge, forming a conical representation of a Christmas tree with a hollow interior.

In one embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1A, a single wraparound cord 19 is used to secure the elongated cords 12 in place. The length of the wraparound cord 19 is greater than the length of the elongated cords 12. One end of a single wraparound cord 19 is secured near the common point on top of the device and the remaining portion of the wraparound cord 19 wraps around an outer perimeter of the elongated cords 12 in a downward spiral fashion. The opposite end of the wraparound cord 19 is secured near a perimeter edge of the base board 13. In the second embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1B, a plurality shorter wraparound cords 19 are used to secure around the outer perimeter of the elongated cords 12. The ends of each wraparound cord 19 are secured together to form loops of various diameters. The loops are arranged such that the loop having the smallest diameter is secured near the common point and the loop having the largest diameter is secured near the base board 13. In either embodiments, the wraparound cords 19 may be affixed to the elongated cords 12 by using an epoxy, a tie, a fastener, or the like. Alternatively, the wraparound cords 19 may be tied to the elongated cords 12 where they intersect. The wraparound cords 19 help reinforce the conical shape of the device and keep the base board 13 level to the ground in its suspended state, preventing items stored in the hollow interior from falling out of the device.

The ring support 11 enables a user to hang the ornamental tree of the present invention. A user may hook the ring support 11 to a screw eye bolt 17 or another fastener secured to a ceiling or an overhead surface. In its suspended state, a user can decorate the device as the user would normally decorate a Christmas tree. For instance, the user may wrap string lights around the outer perimeter of the device or hang Christmas tree ornaments. The string lights can be woven in between the cords or the string lights may cascade down the outer perimeter of the device. The Christmas tree ornaments may be hooked onto the string lights or on the cords. Additionally, the user can add ribbons and a tree topper for a more festive appearance.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, there are shown close up views of the elongated cords secured to the base board 13. The ends of the elongated cords 12 are spaced evenly apart around the perimeter of the base board 13. The ends of the elongated cords 12 may be fastened using screws, nails, staples, or the like, near the perimeter edge of the base board 13. The ends of the elongated cords 12 may be secured on either the upper or lower surface of the base board 13 as depicted in FIG. 2A or 2B, respectively. The elongated cords 12 may wrap slightly over the perimeter edge of the base board 13 if it is secured to the lower surface of the base board 13, as depicted in FIG. 2B. The ends of the elongated cords 12 may be heat sealed or bound with a whipping knot to prevent the cords 12 from unraveling or fraying after it is fastened to the base board 13. Alternatively, each elongated cord 12 can be knotted below an aperture in the base board 13 in which each elongated cords 12 is fed through, as depicted in FIG. 2C. In this embodiment, the base board 13 further comprises small apertures evenly spaced around its perimeter near the perimeter edge. The number of small apertures correspond with the number of the ends of the elongated cords 12. The ends of the elongated cords 12 are threaded through the apertures and secured in a knot to prevent the cords 12 from slipping back through the apertures.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a close up view of a cord. The cords are flexible and comprise light weight and durable strands of rope. The rope may comprise of various fibrous materials, such as natural or artificial plies, yarns, or strands. Each cord comprises three or more individual strands of rope 16 that may be braided or twisted together. The strands 16 are knotted at intervals to keep from unraveling and to support string lights 14 or Christmas ornaments hooked in between the strands 16. The user may fold or wrap the cording system when the device is stored between uses.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, there are shown views of the present invention in use. In use, the present invention serves as a decorative Christmas tree, providing ornamental features that one may find attractive, while also providing functionality in the form of a storage unit. The ornamental tree of the present invention can be decorated as desired by the user. For instance, the tree may be decorated with ornaments and/or a string light assembly 14 as depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Two embodiments are contemplated for the construction of the device. The first embodiment comprises a spiral wraparound cord 19, and the second embodiment comprises a plurality of wraparound cords 19 forming rings of various sizes around the device, as depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively. The construction of the ornamental tree of the present invention may vary depending upon a user's preference. The user can fill the device with presents 15 by maneuvering it in between the cording system and string lights 14. The presents 15 are preferably stacked from bottom of the device to the top of the device, with larger sized presents at the bottom. The solid base board 13 holds the presents 15 stacked in the hollow cavity of the present invention. The elongated cords 12 and wraparound cords 19 keep the presents 15 from sliding out of the hollow interior, while allowing the user to see the presents 15 stored in the hollow interior by providing an unobstructed view to the user. The user can easily access the presents as needed. When all of the presents 15 are given to individuals, the user can store other items, such as Christmas decorations, in the cavity of the device. The present invention may be used as a year-round home décor or be stowed away between uses. It is not desired to limit the design of the ornamental features to just that shown in the figures, but to provide an embodiment contemplated for completing the disclosed tasks and functions.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An ornamental tree adapted for storage in a suspended state, comprising:

a base board having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a perimeter edge;

a cording system comprising a plurality of elongated cords having a first and a second end and at least one wraparound cord;

a ring support adapted to be securable to an overhead attachment;

said ring support supporting said plurality of elongated cords at their substantial midpoint between said first and second end, said ring support forming a common point;

said first and second end of each elongated cord being secured to opposite ends of said base board in close proximity to said perimeter, wherein said plurality of elongated cords define a hollow conical structure between said common point and said base board when in a suspended state; and

said wraparound cord positioned around said plurality of elongated cords and on the outside of said hollow conical structure.

2. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one wraparound cord comprises a wraparound cord having a first end and a second end forming a spiral shape between said ring support and said base board;

said first end of said wraparound cord being secured to said ring support, said wraparound cord being disposed on the outside of said conical in a downward spiral, and said second end of said wraparound cord being secured to said base board in proximity to said perimeter edge.

3. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one wraparound cord comprises a plurality of loops substantially parallel to said base board and having of different diameters arranged in increasing diameter from said ring support to said base board.

4. The ornamental tree of claim 1, further comprising a string of lights wrapped around said outer perimeter.

5. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein said elongated cords and said at least one wraparound cord further comprise a plurality of individual stands of rope knotted at intervals.

6. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein said first and second end of said elongated cords are heat sealed.

7. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein said first and second end of said elongated cords are bound in a knot.

8. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein said first and second end of said elongated cords are secured to said base board upper surface.

9. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein said first and second end of said elongated cords are secured to said base board lower surface.

10. The ornamental tree of claim 1, wherein:

said base board further comprises a plurality of apertures adjacent to said board perimeter edge;

wherein said first and second end of said elongated cords are knotted below said apertures of said base board.