DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] The present invention is a multiple stem artificial tree 10 with shelves 12 incorporated herein. The tree 10 may be a Christmas tree for displaying Christmas nick-nacks as described below, decorative tree for displaying collectibles of any kind, or holiday tree such as for displaying nick-nacks for any holiday such as Easter, St. Patricks Day, Valentines Day, Passover, Hanukkah, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day or the like.

[0026] Basically, the invention is a tree 10 that employs a system where multiple legs 14 separate shelves 12 that are stacked on top of each other. The top shelf may stand alone as the top-most piece or it allows but does not require an artificial tree top that more accurately depicts a finished tree top (the conical-like point of an evergreen or other tree such as 13 in FIG. 1) or typical tree top decorations such as an angel or star such as 23 in FIG. 2. The legs may be affixed at both ends to the respective shelves, or only at one end while merely resting against the other end as described below in more detail. At the ends the legs are affixed, standard leg mounting hardware is used to mount the substantially vertical legs 14 to the shelves 12, that is typically at least to the underside of the shelves and where affixed at both ends to the underside and top side of the shelves. In design, the edge of the shelf is designed to allow artificial pine tree garland, ornaments, lights and other items to be attached.

[0027] In more detail and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tree 10 includes a plurality of shelves 12 (in the embodiment shown five shelves 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and 12E, but any number of shelves is contemplated) separated by a plurality of substantially vertical legs 14, the number of which may vary between shelves but is preferably at least two or three, and more likely three to six although any number of legs are contemplated so long as the number is at least two. In addition, on the bigger and typically lower shelves more legs may be used versus on the smaller and typically higher shelves.

[0028] In one embodiment (not shown), a base shelf sits on the floor thereby providing substantial stability and a flat shelf surface for display purposes. Alternatively in other embodiments including those shown, base legs may be provided extending up from the floor to this base or lowermost shelf 12A.

[0029] All, some or none of the shelves may be permanently connected to the adjacent shelves. Alternatively, all, some or none of the shelves may be removably connected to the adjacent shelves. The embodiment in FIG. 1 shows a combination of permanent and removable connections; specifically, shelves 12B-12E are permanently connected to each other via the legs therebetween, while base shelf 12A is an adder shelf referenced as 15 where the legs of the shelf above it (shelf 12B) are only connected to the underside of the shelf above it (shelf 12B) rather than both the undersigned of the shelf above it (shelf 12B) and the base shelf 12A. In effect, the tree 10 may be used with or without the adder shelf thereby adjusting the number of shelves and height of the overall tree. It is contemplated that all of the shelves may be permanently connected as shelves 12B-12E are, that only some may be with one or more adder shelves, or that all of the shelves may merely sit on the adjacent shelf thereunder in a removable fashion.

[0030] Any number of shelves may be used to provide the height, size or appearance desired. For example, a one foot shelf (adder shelf 15 which may be of other sizes) may be added to the bottom of a tree, such as a 6′6″ tree to make it a taller tree, such as a 7′6″ tree. The system is thus very flexible.

[0031] To give the appearance of a typical evergreen or pine tree that is used as a Christmas tree, typically each shelf is larger than the one that sits on it substantially adding to the pyramid like stability of the structure. This is shown in the Figures. The shelves may each be of a round or oval design as shown in the Figures, or optionally may also include a flat face thereon for better positioning the tree against a wall or in a corner.

[0032] As noted above, the shelves are separated from one another using legs that are either removably mounted or securely affixed to the respective shelf that the legs set on and shelf the legs support. Specifically, legs 14 all of which may be identical molded legs are mounted to the bottom side of each shelf or to the top side or to both sides. Optionally detents 17 to position legs or fastening features may be used. FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the 3 legs attached to a shelf.

[0033] FIG. 8 shows a typical leg 14. A fastener 81 fastens the leg 14 to a top bracket 82, and more specifically in the embodiment shown the fastener is a bolt or screw that is inserted through a hole in the bracket 82 and threaded into the end of the leg 14. The bracket 82 is mounted to the bottom of a shelf 84 (could be any shelf 12A-12E) using fasteners 83 such as screws or bolts. The leg may be removed by unscrewing from bracket. An optional detent 85 may be provided in the shelf to help to position the leg within the lower face of the shelf 84.

[0034] The bottom end of the leg may be similarly secured to the adjacent shelf, or alternatively may be removably affixed or merely rested against the adjacent shelf. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, the bottom end of the leg includes a fitting 86 that is alignable and fits within a detent 87 in the top side of the adjacent shelf. In another embodiment, the leg merely ends and is set upon the top face of the adjacent shelf. In yet another embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 with reference to the adder shelf 12A, a non-skid bumper, glide or interface 18 may be used such that the bottom of the leg is insertable therein. This bumper 18 may also selectively add height if desired and in effect be a spacer.

[0035] Artificial pine garland 16 may typically be attached to the shelves, and it may alternatively include lights, ornaments, or the like therein. FIGS. 5 and 6 show one embodiment of shelf with a plurality of holes or perforations 51 therein such as by extrusion on an outer perimeter, periphery or edge. These perforations are used to attach garland, lights, other ornaments and the like, or a mixture thereof. In the preferred embodiment an edge molding 61 may be pressed into the perforations 51 on the shelf whereby a press tang 62 facilitates this fastening. FIG. 7 shows ornaments 71 and garland 72 attached to the shelf edge.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a typical decorated shelf. Garland 101, lights 102, power cords and other items may be attached to the edge. Miniature buildings 103, miniature trees 104, miniature automobiles, and many other items may be placed on the shelves.

[0037] In addition to adding artificial pine tree garland to the shelves to make the tree look more like a real tree the legs may be natural wood logs or be molded plastic made to look like natural logs. For quicker set up and take down an option is to use collapsible legs like on a card table or such.

[0038] It is also contemplated that quick set up may also be accomplished by having the electrical system incorporated. Each shelf could have a multi-plex outlet mounted. The garland would be pre-cut to length with light bulbs and twist ties. Once assembled each shelf could be independent electrically with one plug. Each shelf cord would follow, and be concealed by, the rear leg to a main multi-plex outlet. For take down and storage the user may only need to remove the collectables and ornaments, unplug electrical, remove the legs and stack the shelves in a compact space.

[0039] It is contemplated that the legs may be constructed of or by blow molding plastic, injection molding plastic, steel tubes, extrusion, wicker, wire, sheet metal, wood, particle board, actual tree branches, or the like. The shelves may be constructed of or by wire, wire frames, blow molding plastic, injection molding plastic, steel tubes, extrusion, wicker, woven basket material, foam sheets, sheet metal, plywood, particle board, plexiglass, or the like. The edge molding 61 may alternatively be weld clips, wire clips, pegboard clips, plastic clips, hooks, fasteners, twist ties, or any other method of affixing the garland or ornaments to the shelf.

[0040] In one embodiment, the plastic foam may be white that would give the appearance of a snow covered ground. The legs may be molded to appear as tree trunks, and/or be actual branches to give the appearance of tree trunks where by the garland encapsulated edge of the shelves give the appearance of tree tops above the tree trunks.

[0041] In another embodiment, the legs include passages therein through which wires may pass thereby functioning to hide the wires which is both aesthetically pleasing and safer. The shelves may include corresponding holes through which the wires pass. In legs designed to be or appear to be logs, this hole may have the appearance of a crack or crevice in the log such as a “raccoon hole”.

[0042] In yet a further embodiment, the shelves include recesses that act as seats for the legs. This provides a designated spot for the legs to be placed thus better assuring proper assembly and a more secure seating of each shelf. The legs include passages that extend into the base of the leg and correspond with a passage extending out of the recess and through to the bottom of the shelf for wire passage.

[0043] Power strips or extension cords with one or more outlets may be incorporated into the tree 10 such as via the legs, the shelves, or both. In one example, a power strip is seated within a recess in the shelf so as to be substantially flush with the shelf surface.

[0044] It is also contemplated that the shelves not need to be stacked in a uniform or symmetrical fashion. The shelves for instance may be staggered, or a particular level may include more than one shelf. The distance between shelves need not be uniform.

[0045] As to storage, the legs may be readily removable via a snap fit, a threaded fit, or any other connections means. The legs may alternatively be hinged and thus fold or retract out of the way. It is also contemplated that the legs may be positioned such that the shelves may be flipped over and the smaller shelves may be stacked within the larger shelves.

[0046] It is even further contemplated that a base may be added beneath the tree whereby the base is an enclosed chamber which may have doors therein. This provides storage which may be desirable in a residential or more likely in a commercial setting.

[0047] Accordingly, the artificial tree is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

[0048] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

[0049] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

[0050] Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved artificial tree is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.