Artificial tree

Abstract

An artificial tree has a central trunk, a number of main branches suspended from an upper portion of the trunk in a downwardly and outwardly inclined orientation, and a preformed tree top section extending upwardly from the upper portion of the trunk. Each main branch includes a number of sub-branch clusters and a bundle of fiber optic conduits which terminate in the sub-branches. The bundles of fiber optic conduits are received in an opaque enclosure housing a high intensity light source, which enclosure is attached to the upper portion of the trunk. Electric lights are disclosed as an alternative means to illuminate the tree. The trunk includes upwardly open hook elements which receive pin elements within the interior of rigid support members of the main branches. Each sub-branch cluster is pivotally connected to an associated rigid support member to articulate between a collapsed position for storage and shipping, and an extended position for display.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An artificial tree comprising: 
 a rigid central trunk member having a base portion;    a plurality of main branches each having a rigid support member with top and bottom portions and a number of clusters of sub-branches disposed along a length of said support member;    said central trunk member and said top portion of said main branches including means to removably mount said main branches to said central trunk member, said means to removably mount said main branches to said central trunk member being suitable to support said top portion of each main branch a first predetermined perpendicular distance from a vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member; and    means to support said bottom portions of said main branches a second predetermined perpendicular distance from said vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member, said second predetermined distance being greater than said first predetermined distance such that, when mounted to said central trunk member, said main branches are aligned downwardly and outwardly.    
     
     
         2 . An artificial tree as in  claim 1 , wherein said means to support said bottom portions of said main branches further comprises a lower support connected to said central trunk member below said top portion thereof, said bottom portions of said support members of said main branches contacting said lower support, and said lower support being spaced radially from said vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member a distance sufficient to support said main branches at said second predetermined perpendicular distance from said vertical longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         3 . An artificial tree as in  claim 2 , wherein said means to removably mount said main branches to said central trunk member comprises generally upwardly-open support hooks connected to said central trunk member, said support hooks being radially outwardly spaced from and being angularly disposed around said vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member and each main branch comprising a pin member fixedly connected to said top portion of said main branch, said support hooks being suitable to receive said pin members of said main branches.  
     
     
         4 . An artificial tree as in  claim 1 , further comprising a pre-formed tree-top portion, said tree-top portion being removably attachable to a top portion of said central trunk member.  
     
     
         5 . An artificial tree as in  claim 1 , wherein each main branch includes a set of fiber optic conduits, each fiber optic conduit having a first end portion terminating in one of said clusters of sub-branches, having an intermediate portion extending along said length of said support member of said main branch, and having a second end portion; 
 a source of light is connected to said central trunk member, said source of light being enclosed in an opaque enclosure;    said opaque enclosure having a number of openings suitable to permit the passage of light therethrough, said source of light being suitable to project light through said openings in said opaque enclosure; and    fiber optic conduit retainers suitable to releasably retain said second end portions of said sets of fiber optic conduits in alignment with said openings in said opaque enclosure to expose said second end portions of said sets of fiber optic conduits to light emitted from said source of light.    
     
     
         6 . An artificial tree as in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said central trunk member further comprises a top portion and said artificial tree further comprises a pre formed tree-top portion being removably attachable to said top portion of said central trunk member;    said tree-top portion includes 
 a support member having bottom portion,  
 a number of sub-branches disposed along a length of said support number,  
 a set of fiber optic conduits, each fiber optic conduit having a first end portion terminating in one of said sub-branches of said tree-top portion, having an intermediate portion extending along said length of said support member of said tree-top portion, and having a second end portion; and  
 one of said fiber optic conduit retainers connected to said central trunk member being suitable to releasably retain said second end portion of said set of fiber optic conduits of said tree-top portion in alignment with one of said openings in said opaque enclosure to expose said second end portion of said set of fiber optic conduits of said tree-top portion to light emitted from said source of light.  
   
     
     
         7 . An artificial tree as in  claim 6 , wherein said bottom portion of said support member of said tree-top portion encloses said set of fiber optic conduits.  
     
     
         8 . An artificial tree as in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said opaque enclosure includes a top portion having said openings therein;    said fiber optic conduit retainers are integrally formed with said opaque enclosure, each fiber optic conduit retainer surrounds one of said openings and is sized and shaped to closely receive and releasably retain one of said second end portions of said sets of fiber optic conduits.    
     
     
         9 . An artificial tree as in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said means to removably mount said main branches to said central trunk member comprises generally upwardly-open support hooks integrally formed with said opaque enclosure, said support hooks being radially outwardly spaced from and angularly disposed around a vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member and each main branch comprising a pin member fixedly connected to said top of said main branch, said support hooks being suitable to receive said pin members of said main branches.    
     
     
         10 . An artificial tree as in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 an optical disc disposed between said source of light and said second end portions of said sets of fiber optic conduits, said rotatable disc being enclosed within said opaque enclosure; and    a motor mechanically connected to said optical disc, said motor being suitable to rotate said optical disc with respect to said sets of fiber optic conduits; and    said optical disc including means to vary the characteristics of light projected onto said fiber optic conduits.    
     
     
         11 . An artificial tree as in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said opaque enclosure includes a top portion having said openings therein:    said fiber optic conduit retainers are integrally formed with said opaque enclosure, each fiber optic conduit retainer surrounds one of said openings and is sized and shaped to closely receive and releasably retain one of said second end portions of said sets of fiber optic conduits;    said openings and retainers being regularly angularly spaced about an axis of rotation of said optical disc.    
     
     
         12 . A branch panel for an artificial tree, comprising: 
 a rigid, elongated support member having first and second end portions;    a number of discrete sub-branch clusters disposed along a length of said support member and pivotally connected thereto;    said sub-branches having a collapsed position wherein said sub-branches are in substantial contact with one another and are aligned toward said first end portion of said support member in a first angular orientation with respect to said support member;    said sub-branches having an extended position wherein said sub-branches are substantially separated and are aligned in a second angular orientation with respect to said support member, said second angular orientation being greater than said first angular orientation; and    means to limit the rotation of each sub-branch with respect to said support member in a direction toward said second end portion such that pivotal movement of said sub-branches with respect to said support member is limited to between said collapsed and said extended position;    whereby said sub-branches are articulatable between said collapsed position, for shipping and storage, and said extended position, for display of said branch panel.    
     
     
         13 . An artificial tree, comprising: 
 (a) a support structure;    (b) a branch panel including; 
 (i) a rigid, elongated support member having first and second end portions;  
 (ii) a number of sub-branches clusters disposed along a length of said support member and pivotally connected thereto;  
 (iii) said sub-branches having a collapsed position wherein said sub-branches are in substantial contact with one another and are aligned toward said first end portion of said support member in a first angular orientation with respect to said support member;  
 (iv) said sub-branches having an extended position wherein said sub-branches are substantially separated and are aligned in a second angular orientation with respect to said support member, said second angular orientation being greater than said first angular orientation; and  
 (v) means to limit the rotation of each sub-branch with respect to said support member in a direction toward said second end portion such that pivotal movement of said sub-branches with respect to said support member is limited to between said collapsed and said extended position;  
   (c) said support structure and said first end portion of said support member of said branch panel including means to attach said branch panel to said support structure;    (d) said first end portion of said support member of said branch panel being attached to said support structure and said second end portion thereof being located below said first end portion; and    (e) said sub-branches being loosely pivotally connected to said support member such that the force of gravity biases said sub-branches in said extended positions.    
     
     
         14 . A branch panel for an artificial tree, 
 said branch panel having a rigid support member with top and bottom portions and a number of clusters of sub-branches disposed along a length of said support member;    said artificial tree comprising a rigid central trunk member with top and base portions, first means to removably mount said branch panel to said central trunk member suitable to support said top portion of said branch panel a first predetermined perpendicular distance from a vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member, and second means to support said bottom portion of said branch panel a second predetermined perpendicular distance from said vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member, said second predetermined distance being greater than said first predetermined distance such that, when mounted to said central trunk member, said branch panel is aligned downwardly and outwardly;    each of said clusters of sub-branches pivotally connected to said support member of said branch panel and pivotable between a collapsed position, for shipping and storage, and an extended position, for display of said clusters of sub-branches.    
     
     
         15 . An artificial tree comprising: 
 a rigid central trunk member with top and base portions;    a plurality of branch panels, each said branch panels having a rigid support member with top and bottom portions and a number of clusters of sub-branches disposed along a length of said support member, each of said clusters of sub-branches pivotally connected to said support member and pivotable between a collapsed position, for shipping and storage, and an extended position, for display of said clusters of sub-branches along said length of said support member;    first means to removably mount said branch panels to said central trunk member suitable to support said top portion of each said branch panels a first predetermined perpendicular distance from a vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member; and    second means to support said bottom portion of each said branch panels a second predetermined perpendicular distance from said vertical longitudinal axis of said central trunk member, said second predetermined distance being greater than said first predetermined distance such that, when mounted to said central trunk member, said branch panels are aligned downwardly and outwardly.    
     
     
         16 . An artificial tree comprising: 
 a rigid central trunk member with top and base portions;    a plurality of main branches disposed along a height of said central trunk member, each said main branches having a rigid support member and a number of clusters of sub-branches disposed along a length of said support member;    a source of light disposed along said height of said central trunk member;    a plurality of fiber optic conduits, each said fiber optic conduits having a first end portion exposing to light emitting from said source of light, having an intermediate portion extending along a part of said height of said central trunk member and along a part of said length of said support member of one of said main branches, and having a second end portion terminating in one of said clusters of sub-branches along said length of said support member of said one main branch such that light emits from said second end portion providing illumination in said clusters of sub-branches.    
     
     
         17 . An artificial tree as in  claim 16 , wherein the source of light is located at a preferred height of the central trunk member so to reduce the length of one or more of said fiber optic conduits.  
     
     
         18 . An artificial tree as in  claim 17 , wherein the preferred height is located substantially between one quarter and three quarters of the height of the central trunk member.  
     
     
         19 . An artificial tree as in  claim 17 , wherein the preferred height is located substantially between one third and two thirds of the height of the central trunk member.  
     
     
         20 . An artificial tree as in  claim 17 , wherein the preferred height is located at substantially one half of the height of the central trunk member.  
     
     
         21 . An artificial tree as in  claim 16 , wherein said main branches are removably mounted along the height of the central trunk member.  
     
     
         22 . An artificial tree as in  claim 21 , wherein said main branches are removably mounted at substantially a preferred height of the central trunk member.  
     
     
         23 . An artificial tree as in  claim 22 , wherein the source of light is located at substantially said preferred height of the central trunk member so to reduce the length of said intermediate portion of one or more of said fiber optic conduits extending along the height of the central trunk member.  
     
     
         24 . An artificial tree as in  claim 23 , wherein each of said clusters of sub-branches are pivotally connected to said support member of said main branch and are pivotable between a collapsed position, for shipping and storage, and an extended position, for display of said clusters of sub-branches.  
     
     
         25 . An artificial tree as in  claim 17  or  23 , wherein the preferred height is located at substantially the top portion of the central trunk member.