Method for constructing an artificial tree, and tree thus constructed

Abstract

 The method for forming an artificial tree (1), wherein the branches (5) are applied to a central support (3) with suitable seats, their ends being inserted into said seats, comprises the following operations: forming a plurality of joints (7) each comprising two elements (11,31) intended to be coupled with each other so as to form seats for the ends of the branches (5); inserting the ends of the branches (5) in said seats; firmly coupling said two elements (11,31), thereby attaching the branches to the elements themselves; and connecting a plurality of said joints (7) by interposing spacing members (9).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for constructing an artificial tree, for example a Christmas tree, and to a tree constructed using this method.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a method for forming an artificial tree, which envisages the use of a central support with suitable seats into which the bottom ends of the branches are inserted.

[0003] A method of this type is described in Italian Patent No. 1217021. According to this known method, the trunk of the tree is formed by a tubular member having, in several successive sections, a plurality of holes distributed along the cylindrical surface. The bottom ends of the branches are inserted into these holes and are then fixed by inserting a wedging member inside the tubular member. Fixing is achieved as a result of folding of the ends of the branches, which are held fast between the internal surface of the tubular member and the wedging member.

[0004] The invention relates to a different method for constructing an artificial tree, allowing faster and easier assembly and a greater degree of versatility.

[0005] Substantially the method according to the invention is characterised by the following operations: forming a plurality of joints each comprising two elements intended to be coupled with each other, one of which forms force-fitting seats for the ends of the branches; inserting the ends of the branches in said seats; firmly coupling said two elements; and connecting a plurality of said joints by interposing spacing members.

[0006] According to this method, the branches are attached to joining members, any number of which may then be assembled in a variable manner depending on the requirements, for example according to the dimensions of the tree which is to be constructed. With this method, therefore, trees of variable dimensions can be constructed in an extremely versatile manner. Furthermore, the coupling operations may be performed separately from the tree assembly operations, with the possibility of automating the individual stages of production.

[0007] The invention relates, moreover, to an artificial tree comprising a trunk to which branches arranged at different heights along the trunk itself are attached, characterised in that said trunk comprises a plurality of joints connected together by spacing members, and in that the branches are connected to the trunk in the region of and by means of said joints.

[0008] Each joint may advantageously consist of two elements which can be coupled together and which form the seats for the ends of the branches to be connected to the trunk and which form at the same time members for anchoring the branches. Special stems may be used to connect the individual elements, and thus the joints formed by them, to the spacing members which connect successive joints to form the trunk of the tree.

[0009] Further advantageous features of the artificial tree according to the invention are described in the accompanying claims.

[0010] The invention also relates to a joining member for forming an artificial tree, characterised in that it comprises two elements which can be coupled together and which are equipped with means for effecting connection to spacing members, said elements forming seats for receiving the ends of the branches and fixing means for attaching said branches to the joint itself. In practice, a first of said elements has a cavity and the second of said elements has a flange portion designed to be inserted into said cavity so as to fix the ends of the branches.

[0011] Further advantageous embodiments of the joining member according to the invention are described in the accompanying claims.

[0012] The invention will be better understood with reference to the description and accompanying drawings which show a practical non-limiting example of the said invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an artificial tree which can be obtained using the method according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the trunk with two branch joining zones, one of which is sectioned longitudinally along the line II-II of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of a branch joining zone in longitudinal section along III-III of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 shows a section along IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a front view of one of the branch connecting elements;

Fig. 6 shows, in isolation and in partial longitudinal section, a side view of one of the branch joining elements; and

Fig. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the member for connecting successive joints.

[0013] Fig. 1 shows in very schematic form a tree, in particular a Christmas tree, constructed according to the invention. The tree, denoted generally by 1, has a trunk 3 to which branches 5 are connected. The branches are attached to the trunk in several successive joining zones denoted by 7. At each joining zone, a ring of branches is arranged uniformly around the trunk 3. Each branch consists, in a manner known per se, of wire or other suitable twisted material to which strips of plastic material or the like, forming the leaves or needles of the tree, are attached.

[0014] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail, in partial longitudinal section, of the trunk 3 of the tree and of two joining zones 7. As can be seen in this figure, a tubular spacing member 9 is arranged between two successive joining zones 7, inside the two opposite ends of which member two elements forming the joint 7 for the branches are inserted. The first of these elements (also shown in isolation in Fig. 6), denoted by 11, has a hollow cylindrical stem 13, intended to be inserted into the tubular spacing member 9. A body 15 which forms an abutment 17 for the front part of the tubular spacing member 9 is connected to the cylindrical stem 13. The body 15 has an external surface with a frusto-conical portion and a cylindrical portion. The latter is equipped with a plurality of slots 19 distributed uniformly along the extent of the cylindrical surface of the body 15 of the joining element 11. The slots 19 lead into a cylindrical cavity 21 of the body 15 and are open along the front edge 23 of the body 15.

[0015] Blind holes 25 are formed in the bottom surface of the cylindrical cavity 21 of the body 15 of the joining element 11 and are uniformly distributed around an axial through-hole 27. There are the same number of blind holes 25 as there are slots 19 and they are arranged so as to coincide with the latter. Projections 29 are also provided in the cavity 21, being of the same number as the slots 19 and being arranged offset with respect to the latter.

[0016] The second joining element is denoted generally by 31. It consists of a hollow cylindrical stem 33 and a flange portion 35. The flange portion 35 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical cavity 21 formed in the first joining element 11, and a height such that, when inserted into the cylindrical cavity 21 of the element 11 with the front surface 35A up against the projections 29, the rear surface 35B of the flange is approximately flush with the front edge 23 of the body 15 of the joining element 11. The front surface 35A of the flange 35 has annular projections 37 (see in particular Fig. 5), concentric with the axis of a central hole 39 which, when the two elements 11 and 31 are coupled, is, aligned with the axial hole 27 of the element 11.

[0017] Assembly of the tree is performed as follows: The bottom ends of the branches 5 are inserted into the blind holes 25 of the joining element 11 and the branches themselves are folded so as to project radially from the slots 19. The joining element 31 is then inserted with its flanged portion 35 into the cylindrical cavity 21 of the element 11 so as to force and deform the ends of the branches 5 as shown in Fig. 2. The two elements 11 and 31 are firmly connected by means of a self-threading screw 41 inserted through the holes 27 and 39 of the two elements 11 and 31. By tightening the screw 41, the two elements 11 and 31 of the joint 7 are locked together and the branches 5 firmly anchored, the bottom ends of the latter being held inside the blind holes.25 as a result of the restraining action of the annular projections 37.

[0018] Any desired number of successive joints 7 with their respective branches 5 are then assembled by means of the tubular spacing members 9. Coupling of the tubular spacing members 9 and the joints 7 is performed by means of force-fitting with the possible addition of an adhesive if desired. The surface of the stems 13 and 33 may be equipped, if necessary, with annular ribs (as shown for the stem 33 in Fig. 3) or longitudinal ribs so as to increase the friction on the internal cylindrical surface of the tubular members 9.

[0019] Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment for the spacer 9 to be arranged between two successive joints 7. In this figure the branches 5 have been omitted for the sake of clarity of the drawing. In this embodiment the spacer is equipped, at its ends, with cylindrically extending seats defined by two coaxial cylindrical walls 51, 53. The cylindrical stems 13 and 33 are force-fitted into the seats. The internal cylindrical walls 53 give the structure of the trunk 3 greater rigidity.

[0020] The spacer of Fig. 7 may be used as an alternative to the spacer shown in Fig. 2. It is also possible, in a single tree, to use both spacers in succession, for example the spacer of Fig. 7 in the bottom part and the spacer of Fig. 2 in the top part of the trunk.

[0021] It is obvious that the drawing shows only one example given merely by way of a practical demonstration of the invention, it being possible for the forms and arrangements to be varied without thereby departing from the scope of the idea underlying the invention itself. Any reference numbers used in the accompanying claims are intended to facilitate reading of the claims with reference to the description and the drawing and do not limit the protective scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Method for forming an artificial tree, wherein the branches are applied to a central support with suitable seats, their ends being inserted into said seats, characterised by the following operations: forming a plurality of joints (7) each comprising two elements (11, 31) intended to be coupled with each other so as to form seats for the ends of the branches (5); inserting the ends of the branches (5) in said seats; firmly coupling said two elements (11, 31), thereby attaching the branches to the elements themselves; and connecting a plurality of said joints (7) by interposing spacing members (9).

2. An artificial tree comprising a trunk (3), to which branches (5) arranged at different heights,along the trunk itself are attached, characterised in that said trunk comprises a plurality of joints (7) connected together by spacing members (9), and in that the branches (5) are connected to the trunk in the region of and by means of said joints (7).

3. Artificial tree according to Claim 2, characterised in that each joint comprises two elements (11, 31) which can be coupled together, said elements forming seats for receiving the ends of the branches and fixing means for attaching said branches to the joint itself.

4. Artificial tree according to Claim 3, characterised in that said elements (11, 31) have stems (13, 33) for effecting connection to the spacing members (9).

5. Artificial tree according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that a first (11) of said elements has a cavity (21) and the second (31) of said elements has a flange portion (35) designed to be inserted into said cavity (21) so as to fix the ends of the branches (5).

6. Artificial tree according to Claim 5, characterised in that said first element (11) has a plurality of holes (25) inside which the ends of the branches are inserted, and a plurality of slots (19) from which said branches emerge, said holes (25) opening out into said cavity (21).

7. Artificial tree according to Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that said cavity (21) of said first element (11) is cylndrical and said flange portion (35) of said second element (31) is cylindrical with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cavity.

8. Artificial tree according to one or more of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that projections (29) are arranged inside said cavity (21) and form an abutment for the flange portion (35) of said second element (31) intended to be inserted into said cavity.

9. Artificial tree according to one or more of Claims 5 to 8, characterised in that said flange portion (35) of said second element (31) has a front surface (35A) with a plurality of projections (37) for clamping the ends of the branches (5).

10. Artificial tree according to one or more of Claims 3 to 9, characterised in that said elements (11, 31) forming the joint (7) are coupled together by means of a screw member (41).

11. Artificial tree according to Claim 4, characterised in that said stems (13, 33) have grooves designed to increase the friction between the stems themselves and the spacing members (9).

12. Artificial tree according to one or more of Claims 2 to 11, characterised in that said spacing members (9) consist of tubular members.

13. Artificial tree according to Claims 4 and 12, characterised in that said spacing members (9) have at their ends two coaxial cylindrical walls (51, 53) defining seats for the stems of the elements (11, 31) forming the joints (7).

14. A joining member for forming an artificial tree of the type comprising a trunk and branches attached to said trunk, characterised in that it comprises two elements (11, 31) which can be coupled together and are equipped with means (13, 33) for effecting connection to spacing members (9), said elements forming seats for receiving the ends of the branches (5) and fixing means for attaching said branches to the joint itself.

15. Joining member according to Claim 14, characterised in that a first (11) of said elements has a cavity (21) and the second (31) of said elements has a flange portion (35) designed to be inserted into said cavity (21) so as to fix the ends of the branches (5).

16. Joining member according to Claim 15, characterised in that said first element (11) has a plurality of holes (25) inside which the ends of the branches are inserted and a plurality of slots (19) from which said branches emerge, said holes (25) opening out into said cavity (21).

17. Joining member according to Claim 15 or 16, characterised in that said cavity (21) of said first element (11) is cylindrical and said flange portion (35) of said second element (31) is cylindrical with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cavity.

18. Joining member according to one or more of Claims 15 to 17, characterised in that projections (29) are arranged inside said cavity (21) and form an abutment for the flange portion (35) of said second element (31) intended to be inserted into said cavity.

19. Joining member according to one or more of Claims 15 to 18, characterised in that said flange portion (35) of said second element (31) has a front surface (35A) with a plurality of projections (37) for clamping the ends of the branches (5).

20. Joining member according to one or more of Claims 14 to 19, characterised in that said elements (11, 31) forming the joint (7) are coupled together by means of a screw member (41).

21. Joining member according to Claim 14, characterised in that said stems (13, 33) have grooves designed to increase the friction between the stems themselves and the spacing members (9).

Drawing