RECONFIGURABLE HOLIDAY TREE

Abstract

A reconfigurable holiday tree is provided that includes a plurality of discs configured to receive or connect with a plurality of trunks about its circumference. The trunks may be configured to accept a plurality of leafs therewithin. The leafs may be arranged to mimic leaves of a tree and may be arranged about the circumference of the discs held by the trunks. The leafs may overlap one another.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/884,369 filed Aug. 8, 2019, entitled “RECONFIGURABLE HOLIDAY TREE,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure is directed generally to a reconfigurable holiday tree and, more particularly, to an apparatus comprising a reconfigurable holiday tree having insertable leaves into a series of trunks, among other features.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In aspects, a reconfigurable holiday tree is provided that may mimic a real natural tree.

In one aspect, an apparatus may comprise a plurality of layers of discs including a first layer of discs and a second layer of discs, each layer of discs having a circumference; a plurality of trunks positionable about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs and each trunk connectable to each disc; and a plurality of leafs arrangable as circumferential rows of leafs about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs, and each of the plurality of leafs connectable to at least one of the plurality of trunks for creating a reconfigurable holiday tree, wherein each disc has a plurality of first connecting mechanisms arranged about a circumference of each disc or each of the plurality of trunks has at least one second connecting mechanism, and each trunk is connectable to each disc using either one of the first connecting mechanisms or the at least one second connecting mechanism. A first circumferential layer of the plurality of discs may comprise discs that have a surface area smaller than a second circumferential layer of the plurality of discs. A first circumferential layer of the plurality of discs may be nearer a top of the reconfigurable holiday tree when constructed. Each of the first connecting mechanisms may comprise a friction-fit slit. Each of the second connecting mechanisms may comprise a friction-fit slit. Each trunk may connectable to each disc using both of the at least one of the first connecting mechanisms and the at least one of the second connecting mechanisms.

The plurality of trunks may each comprise a tip with a flat inner edge located at a top end of each trunk and constructed so that the flat inner edge on one of the plurality of trunks aligns with a second flat inner edge of another of the plurality of trunks. The plurality of trunks may connect with each of the plurality of discs resulting in the plurality of trunks being at an angle to vertical. The first row of the circumferential rows of leafs may have leafs with a smaller surface area as compared with an adjacent second row of the circumferential rows of leafs. The first row of the circumferential rows of leafs may overlap at least in-part with the adjacent second row of the circumferential rows of leafs. One of more of the plurality of leafs may include at least one of a etched pattern, a scored pattern, an embossed design, a pattern that cuts through the one of more of the plurality of leafs, a photo, a lenticular layer, or combinations thereof. One of more of the plurality of leafs may be constructed from one or more of: a plastic, wood, a composite material, and a metal. Each disc may have a different circumference.

In one aspect, a method for providing a reconfigurable holiday tree is provided that include the following steps providing a plurality of layers of discs including a first layer of discs and a second layer of discs, each layer of discs having a circumference; providing a plurality of trunks positionable about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs and each trunk connectable to each disc; and providing a plurality of leafs arrangable as circumferential rows of leafs about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs, and each of the plurality of leafs connectable to at least one of the plurality of trunks for creating a reconfigurable holiday tree, wherein each disc has a plurality of first connecting mechanisms arranged about a circumference of each disc or each of the plurality of trunks has at least one second connecting mechanism, and each trunk is connectable to each disc using either one of the first connecting mechanisms or the at least one second connecting mechanism. A first layer of the plurality of discs may comprise a disc that may have a surface area smaller than a second layer comprising another disc of the plurality of disc. The first layer of the plurality of discs may be nearer a top of the reconfigurable holiday tree when constructed. Each of the first connecting mechanisms may comprise one of: a friction-fit slit, a magnet, a snap fit and a hook and loop connector. Each of the second connecting mechanisms may comprise a friction-fit slit a magnet, a snap fit, a hook and loop connector or a hole and pin connector. Each trunk may be connectable to each disc using both of the at least one of the first connecting mechanisms and the at least one of the second connecting mechanisms. The step of providing a plurality of leafs may permit the first row of the circumferential rows of leafs to overlap at least in-part with the adjacent second row of the circumferential rows of leafs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various drawings provided are meant to assist in explaining the concepts of the various aspects of the example embodiments, and are incorporated by reference herein as part of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exploded view of an example of a reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a cut-away side-view illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a cut-away axonometric view of an illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 2C is a cut-away top view illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 2D is a cut-away side view illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a side-view illustration of an example of a reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 3B is an axonometric view of an illustration of an example of a reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 3C is an illustration of a top-view of an example reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 3D is an illustration of a front-view of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 4A-4D are example illustrations of different leafs for use in a reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a close up view of an illustration of a connecting mechanism for releasably connecting a leaf to the trunk, configured according to principles of the disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is an illustration of partial reconfigurable holiday tree, configured according to principles of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawing and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof, as used in this disclosure, mean “including, but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this disclosure, means “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. The term “leafs” used herein is synonymous with “leaves.”

Although process steps, method steps, algorithms, or the like, may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes, methods or algorithms described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device or article may be used in place of a single device or article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a single device or article may be used in place of the more than one device or article. The functionality or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality or features.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exploded view of an example of a reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. The reconfigurable holiday tree 100 comprises a plurality of discs 110a-110d, a plurality of trunks 105a-105c and a plurality of leafs 115a-115c. There may be more or less discs 110a-110d, trunks 105a-105c and leafs 115a-115c than shown, depending on the desired size of a reconfigurable holiday tree. FIG. 1 is also a reduced component illustration for explanation purposes, many more leafs 115, and more trunks 105, along with potentially more discs 110, may be commonly employed to create a reconfigurable holiday tree 100. The plurality of discs 110a-110d may be sized from a smaller diameter to increasing larger diameters as shown, i.e., in relation to disc 110a through disc 110d, which provides for an infrastructure to permit an increasing outer circumference 104 of the reconfigurable holiday tree 100 to mimic a holiday tree that increases in circumference from a narrow top 101 to an expanded bottom 102. A next larger disc, e.g., disc 110b compared with an immediately prior smaller disc 110a, may have a radius that is from about 10% to about 50% larger. In some embodiments, the radius of a next larger disc, e.g., disc 110b compared with an immediately prior smaller disc 110a, may be from about 15% to about 40% larger. In some embodiments, the radius of a next larger disc, e.g., disc 110b compared with an immediately prior smaller disc 110a may be from about 12% to about 30% larger. In some embodiments, the radius of a next larger disc, e.g., disc 110b compared with an immediately prior smaller disc 110a, may be from about 7% to about 20% larger. Any of the above radius change in dimension from a first disc to a second larger disc may apply to any or all the discs 110a-110d. In this way, layers of leafs 115 (e.g., L1, L2, L3, Ln) may be releasably connected to the trunks 105. Each layer or row of discs may contain increasing numbers of leafs compared with an adjacent layer or row of discs nearer or towards a top of the tree. Each layer or row of discs may overlap, at least in part, an adjacent layer or row of discs.

Trunks 105a-105c (i.e., T1, T2, T3, Tn) may comprise a flat vertical member with a point at a top end and trunks 105a-105c are configured with slits 112 on an inner edge 107 that may be inserted into corresponding slits 111 of the discs 110a-110d (i.e., layers of discs D1, D2, D3, Dn). The tips 109 in the top end of each trunk are formed so that when the trunks 105a-105c are arranged at an angle to vertical about discs 110a-110d, the angled inner side or edge 103 of the tips 109 tend to mate, meet, or align with one another at the top of the holiday tree. The tips 109 being closer to the vertical axis 125 (FIG. 2D) of holiday tree 100 than the bottom end of the trunks. The tips 109 may or may not touch one another. Trunks 105a-105c provide spacing between layers of discs and provide vertical structural support for the discs 110a-110d and also leafs 115a-115b. The trunks 105a-105c when connected to the discs 110a-110d results in the trunks being at an angle to vertical of the central axis of the holiday tree. Alternatively, in some embodiments, slits may be configured in either the discs 110 or the inner trunk side 107, or both. The trunks 105a-105c may be configured with a plurality of slits 113 on an outer edge 108 for receiving a plurality of leafs 115a-115c. In some embodiments, the spacing between slits 113 may be configured closer together proximate the top 101 of reconfigurable holiday tree 100 to permit smaller sized leafs 115 to cover one another. The leafs 115 may be of increasingly greater surface area so that smaller surface area leafs 115a may be located proximate the top 101 of the reconfigurable holiday tree 100, while large surface area leafs, e.g., leaf 115c, may be positioned towards the bottom 102 of the reconfigurable holiday tree 100. In other words, the size of the leafs 115 may increase in surface area from top 101 to bottom 102 as the leafs are positioned on the reconfigurable holiday tree 100. Leafs on an upper layer, e.g., 115a, may overlap, at least in part, with a leaf on a lower layer, e.g., 115b. Leafs 115a-115c may have a plurality of circumferential sides, such as 3, 4, 5 or more circumferential sides. The increasing surface area of a leaf in a first circumferential layer of leafs to a next lower layer of circumferential layer of leafs may increase in surface area by about 10% to about 30%, from about 5% to about 25%, or from about 15% to about 35% or more. In some embodiments the increasing surface area of a leaf in a first circumferential layer of leafs to a next lower layer of circumferential layer of leafs may increase in surface area by at least 20%.

The plurality of leafs 115a-115c may be configured with a slit 117 on an upper edge 119 (FIG. 4A) of the leaf 115. The leafs 115 may be configured with multiple sides, with a narrowing of surface area near an upper edge. The narrowing may be sufficient to create a triangular shape with a small flat edge to create the upper edge. The lower edge or side 118 may be multiple edges or sides of differing directions creating multiple angles, and/or may include edges with one or more radiuses. The thickness of the side 118, as well as the other sides of leafs 115a-115c may be from about 1/64″ to about ⅜″, but can be more or less. In some versions, the thickness of leafs 115a-115c may be different from one row to a next row. For example, the thickness of the leafs may be thicker in a lower row of leafs from a higher row of leafs.

FIG. 2A is a cut-away side-view illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. FIG. 2B is a cut-away axonometric view of an illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. As can be seen in FIG. 2B, the leafs 115 may be smaller near the top 101 and increases row-by-row in surface area, including increasing width and height, as the rows near the bottom 102. The rows of leafs may overlap. FIG. 2C is a cut-away top view illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. FIG. 2C shows the trunks 105 spaced evenly about the outer circumference of the discs 110, but arranged so that the trunks 105 come together to form a cone shape, and also to form a narrow top 121 (FIG. 3A). Fingers 114 are formed in the trunk 105 to permit attaching and detaching of leafs 115. FIG. 2D is a cut-away side view illustration of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. Also shown in FIG. 2D is a vertical axis 125 of the holiday tree. The trunks 105 when assembled with the discs 110 would be at an angle to the vertical axis 125; the angle being related, at least in part, to the overall circumference of each disc from one row to the next. The larger the circumferences of the lower layers of discs, e.g., 110c and 110d, the greater the degree of angle from vertical of the holiday tree the trunks may become.

FIG. 3A is a side-view illustration of an example of a reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. As can be seen in this illustration, the fingers 114 are visible because of smaller leafs 115 near the top 101, which also provides added artistic realism mimicking, to a certain degree, branches in a natural tree, such as a cedar or pine tree. FIG. 3B is an axonometric view of an illustration of an example of a reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. FIG. 3C is an illustration of a top-view of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. FIG. 3D is an illustration of a front-view of an example reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4A-4D are example illustrations of different leafs for use in a reconfigurable holiday tree 100, configured according to principles of the disclosure. FIG. 4A shows a blank leaf that may be provided as part of a product packaging along with the discs 110 and trunks 105, usually as a plurality of leafs 115. The leaf 115 may be a natural wood, a wood type color, or may be unfinished for painting, or otherwise customized by a consumer. FIG. 4B shows that the leaf has cut patterns configured into the leaf 115. The cut patterns may be objects, names, graphic patterns or the like. FIG. 4C shows a leaf 115 that has etched graphics thereon. FIG. 115 shows a leaf with printed graphics, such as a nature scene or any other type of printable graphic. This may include lenticular graphics. The leafs 115 may be any one of more of the leafs in FIGS. 4A to 4D, in any combination.

The leafs 115 may be constructed as a graphic or illustrative puzzle, so that when the reconfigurable holiday tree 100 is provided, such as a kit, a consumer may find enjoyment assembling the reconfigurable holiday tree in proper order, by having to organize the intended scene or graphic associated with the kit or product.

FIG. 5 is a close up view of an illustration of a connecting mechanism 124 for releasably connecting a leaf 115 to the trunk 105, configured according to principles of the disclosure. The slit 117 on the leaf 115 configured to be inserted into, and removed from, the trunk 105, thereby making possible reconfiguring the reconfigurable holiday tree 100. A finger 114 configured on the trunk 105 may be a flexible finger 114 that moves slightly when the leaf 115 is inserted into the slit 113 of trunk 105 under finger 114. An opening 118 in the leaf 115 receives the foot 123 of the finger 114 when the leaf 115 is inserted and aligned in slit 113 of the trunk. The distance D1 and the distance D2 may be essentially the same distance. The foot 123 holds the leaf 115 onto the trunk 105. The finger 114 is flexible to open slightly to permit the leaf 115 to be removed. The connecting mechanism 124 may take on other techniques including, but not limited to: a friction fit connection, a screw, a magnetic connector, a snap fit, a hook and loop connector, an adhesive, and the like.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of partial reconfigurable holiday tree 200, configured according to principles of the disclosure. The holiday tree 200 may give an impression or otherwise mimics a natural tree, such as, e.g., a fir tree, pine tree, cedar tree or the like. The materials for the trunks 105, the discs 110 or the leafs 115 described herein may be selected from sheet material including cardboard, wood, metal, plastic, a composite material, or a combination thereof. Some leafs may be one material while other leafs made from another material. The leafs forming the apparent branches may be any shape with different shapes from one branch to another branch, or from one row to another row. The leafs may have increasing circumferences from one row to another row. Moreover, the leafs may have increasing lengths of sides, e.g. side The leafs may attach to the trunks using a slot or other fastening mechanism such as, e.g., adhesive, tape, magnets, hole and pin, nails or screws, or combinations thereof. The leafs may be different sizes or the same size or a combination of repeating sizes and shapes in a pattern. The leafs may be plain or decorated with printing, etched or scored patterns or patterns cut through the leafs. The decorative pattern may be confined to individual leafs and repeated on other leafs, or the pattern may span some or all of the leaves. The leafs 115a-115c may be removed and replaced. The leafs may have one or more different visual effects such as color, a visual design, an etching, a printing, a photo, a lamination, a lenticular layer, an embossed design, or combinations thereof, so that a reconfigurable holiday tree is possible. In some applications, different sized trunks, different discs, with more or less leafs can be reconfigured. The collective set of different leafs when viewed together as a whole may produce a visual effect or scene, e.g., a nature scene or an image of a person or persons, that cannot be achieved with a single standard leaf design. Alternatively, the collective set of leafs may be constructed as a puzzle so that the leafs have to be arranged in a scenic-type order to achieve an effect or a scene. The puzzle could also be, e.g., a teaching tree that when constructed properly (i.e., leafs being arranged in a predetermined or ordered sequence) delivers a teaching moment, such as, e.g., a math lesson or a pictorial lesson on animals.

The trunks 105, the discs 110 and the leafs 115 may comprise a kit for retailing of a holiday tree type product. The images on the leafs may be customized for particular usage or visual effect, such as to individualize one or more, scenes, photographs, or other images. Alternatively, a consumer may customize the leafs themselves. The trunks 105, the discs 110 or the leafs 115 described herein may be scaled to nearly any practical size for producing a desired reconfigurable holiday tree 100. The trunks 105, the discs 110 and/or the leafs 115 described herein may be constructed with wood, plastic, composite materials, metal, or combinations thereof. The trunks 105, the discs 110 and/or the leafs 115 may be constructed with openings. Such openings may be for reducing material of trunks 105, the discs 110 and/or the leafs 115 by greater than 10%, 20% or 30%, or may be to achieve an effect. In embodiments, the discs may be round, oval, or star-shaped.

While the disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of layers of discs including a first layer of discs and a second layer of discs, each layer of discs having a circumference;

a plurality of trunks positionable about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs and each trunk connectable to each disc; and

a plurality of leafs arrangable as circumferential rows of leafs about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs, and each of the plurality of leafs connectable to at least one of the plurality of trunks for creating a reconfigurable holiday tree,

wherein each disc has a plurality of first connecting mechanisms arranged about a circumference of each disc or each of the plurality of trunks has at least one second connecting mechanism, and each trunk is connectable to each disc using either one of the first connecting mechanisms or the at least one second connecting mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first circumferential layer of the plurality of discs comprises discs that have a surface area smaller than a second circumferential layer of the plurality of discs.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a first circumferential layer of the plurality of discs is nearer a top of the reconfigurable holiday tree when constructed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first connecting mechanisms comprise a friction-fit slit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the second connecting mechanisms comprise a friction-fit slit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each trunk is connectable to each disc using both of the at least one of the first connecting mechanisms and the at least one of the second connecting mechanisms.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of trunks each comprise a tip with a flat inner edge located at a top end of each trunk and constructed so that the flat inner edge on one of the plurality of trunks aligns with a second flat inner edge of another of the plurality of trunks.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of trunks connect with each of the plurality of discs resulting in the plurality of trunks being at an angle to vertical.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first row of the circumferential rows of leafs having leafs with a smaller surface area as compared with an adjacent second row of the circumferential rows of leafs.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first row of the circumferential rows of leafs overlap at least in-part with the adjacent second row of the circumferential rows of leafs.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of more of the plurality of leafs include at least one of a etched pattern, a scored pattern, an embossed design, a pattern that cuts through the one of more of the plurality of leafs, a photo, a lenticular layer, or combinations thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of more of the plurality of leafs are constructed from one or more of: a plastic, wood, a composite material, and a metal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each disc has a different circumference.

14. A method for providing a reconfigurable holiday tree, comprising:

providing a plurality of layers of discs including a first layer of discs and a second layer of discs, each layer of discs having a circumference;

providing a plurality of trunks positionable about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs and each trunk connectable to each disc; and

providing a plurality of leafs arrangable as circumferential rows of leafs about the circumference of the plurality of layers of discs, and each of the plurality of leafs connectable to at least one of the plurality of trunks for creating a reconfigurable holiday tree,

wherein each disc has a plurality of first connecting mechanisms arranged about a circumference of each disc or each of the plurality of trunks has at least one second connecting mechanism, and each trunk is connectable to each disc using either one of the first connecting mechanisms or the at least one second connecting mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a first layer of the plurality of discs comprises a disc that has a surface area smaller than a second layer comprising another disc of the plurality of discs.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first layer of the plurality of discs is nearer a top of the reconfigurable holiday tree when constructed.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the first connecting mechanisms comprise one of: a friction-fit slit, a magnet, a snap fit and a hook and loop connector.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the second connecting mechanisms comprise a friction-fit slit a magnet, a snap fit and a hook and loop connector.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein each trunk is connectable to each disc using both of the at least one of the first connecting mechanisms and the at least one of the second connecting mechanisms.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of providing a plurality of leafs permits the first row of the circumferential rows of leafs to overlap at least in-part with the adjacent second row of the circumferential rows of leafs.