Tree stand

Abstract

A tree stand which provides both easy and quick mounting of the tree in the tree stand and a source of continuing water supply to the cut end of the tree. Mounting assemblies are provided wherein a mounting shaft may be slide to the tree with a grip plate on the inside end of the mounting shaft to engage the tree and then have a pivot latch engage the thread of the mounting shaft to permit the mounting shaft to be turned on the thread to firmly press the grip plate against the tree. A reservoir holds water which is fed into the container holding the tree when a float actuated valve permits the water to enter the container.

The claims are:  
     
         1 . A tree stand which permits easy mounting of the tree within the tree stand and for retaining the freshness of a cut tree for inside decoration by maintaining the cut tree with water, such tree stand comprising: 
 a base assembly including a container and a means for mounting the container, the container having a top which is open and a bottom which is closed and an outside and an inside;    a plurality of mounting assemblies mounted on the container, each mounting assembly including a latch housing and a mounting shaft having an inside end within the container, the latch housing and the mounting shaft including means to permit the mounting shaft both to slide within the latch housing and to be forced against a tree, a grip plate being mounted on the inside end of the mounting shaft;    a reservoir for retaining a quantity of water and having an inlet opening for supplying water to the reservoir and an outlet opening;    a valve assembly secured to the side of the container and being in fluid communication with the container, the valve assembly including a valve and a float which opens and closes the valve; and    a supply line for connecting the outlet of the reservoir to the valve assembly to supply water to the tank and container when the valve is open.    
     
     
         2 . A tree stand according to  claim 1  wherein the means for mounting the container is a flat plate.  
     
     
         3 . A tree stand according to  claim 1  wherein the base assembly includes a plurality of spikes located at the bottom of the container.  
     
     
         4 . A tree stand according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting shaft is threaded.  
     
     
         5 . A tree stand according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting shaft is threaded and the latch mechanism has a U-shaped notch in it with a pivot latch which is mounted to pivot within the U-shaped notch, the pivot latch including a thread that engages the mounting shaft.  
     
     
         6 . A tree stand according to  claim 1  wherein the valve includes a valve housing with a orifice in it and a plunger which fits securely within the orifice.  
     
     
         7 . A tree stand according to  claim 1  wherein the valve includes a valve housing with an orifice in it and a flow plunger which fits securely within the orifice and wherein the float is mounted to pivot on a float arm, the float arm engaging the plunger into the orifice as the float rises.  
     
     
         8 . A tree stand which permits easy mounting of a tree within the tree stand and for retaining the freshness of a cut tree for inside decoration by maintaining the cut tree in water, such tree stand comprising: 
 a base assembly including a container and means for mounting the container, the container having a top which is open and a bottom which is closed and an outside and an inside, a plurality of spikes being located at the bottom of the container generally toward the center of the bottom of the container;    a plurality of mounting assemblies, each mounting assembly being mounted on the outside of the container adjacent to the top of the container and extending into the inside of the container, each mounting assembly including a latch housing having a U-shaped notch through it and being secured to the outside of the container, the container having an opening through it aligned with the latch housing and with a mounting shaft which is threaded mounted to slide through the latch housing and the opening in the container, the mounting shaft having an outside end located outside the container and an inside end located inside the container, a crank handle being affixed to the outside end of the mounting shaft, a grip plate secured to the inside end of the mounting shaft, each mounting assembly further including a means which engages the threads of the mounting shaft so that the mounting shaft can be extended into and out of the container by turning of the crank handle;    a reservoir for retaining a quantity of water and having an inlet opening for supplying water to the reservoir and an outlet opening;    a valve assembly secured to the side of the container, the valve assembly including a tank in fluid communication with the container, the valve assembly further including a valve housing having an orifice in it and a plunger which fits securely within the orifice, the valve assembly further including a float, the float being mounted to engage the plunger to force the plunger into the orifice as the float rises when the level of water in the tank rises and to permit the plunger to open the orifice when the level of water in the tank drops; and    a supply line connecting the reservoir to the valve assembly to supply water to the tank and container when the float permits opening of the orifice.    
     
     
         9 . A tree stand according to  claim 8  wherein the container is a cylinder.  
     
     
         10 . A tree stand according to  claim 8  wherein the container is a cylinder and the means for mounting the container is a float plate.  
     
     
         11 . A tree stand according to  claim 8  wherein the latch housing has a U-shaped notch in it and wherein the means which engages the threads of the mounting shaft is a pivot latch which is mounted to pivot within the U-shaped notch, the pivot latch including a thread that engages the threads of the mounting shaft.  
     
     
         12 . A tree stand according to  claim 8  wherein the float is mounted to pivot on a float arm, the float arm engaging the plunger.  
     
     
         13 . A tree stand which permits easy mounting of a tree within the tree stand and for retaining the freshness of a cut tree for inside decoration by maintaining the cut tree in water, such tree stand comprising: 
 a base assembly including a base plate and a container mounted on the base plate, the base assembly further including a plurality of supports engaging the sides of the container and the base plate, the container being a cylinder, the cylinder having a top which is open and a bottom which is closed and an outside and an inside, a plurality of spikes being located at the bottom of the cylinder generally toward the center of the bottom of the cylinder;    a plurality of mounting assemblies, each mounting assembly being mounted on the outside of the container adjacent to the top of the container and extending into the inside of the container, each mounting assembly including a latch housing having a U-shaped notch through it and being secured to the outside of the container, the container having an opening through it aligned with the U-shaped notch in the latch housing and with a mounting shaft which is threaded mounted to slide through the U-shaped notch in the latch housing and the opening in the container, the mounting shaft having an outside end located outside the container and an inside end located inside the container, a crank handle being affixed to the outside end of the mounting shaft, a grip plate having a ball socket secured to the inside end of the mounting shaft, each mounting assembly further including a pivot latch which is mounted to pivot within the U-shaped notch, the pivot latch including a thread that engages the mounting shaft when the pivot latch is pivoted toward the container so that the mounting shaft can be extended into and out of the container by turning of the crank handle;    a reservoir for retaining a quantity of water and having an inlet opening for supplying water to the reservoir and an outlet opening;    a valve assembly secured to the side of the container, the valve assembly including a tank in fluid communication with the container, the valve assembly further including a valve housing having an orifice in it and a plunger which fits securely within the orifice, the valve assembly further including a float, the float being mounted to engage the plunger to force the plunger into the orifice as the float rises when the level of water in the tank rises and to permit the plunger to open the orifice when the level of water in the tank drops; and    a supply line for connecting the reservoir to the valve assembly to supply water to the tank and container when the float permits opening of the orifice.    
     
     
         14 . A tree stand according to  claim 13  wherein the float is mounted to pivot on a float arm, the float arm engaging the plunger.