Convertible/inverted tree

Abstract

An invertible decorative tree having sections that are each provided with complementary receiving portions and/or extending members. The sections include a stand, a trunk segment, at least one tree body, and a tree top. Through the complementary relationships of the receiving and associating mechanisms, the tree can be arranged to provide a triangular appearance with its apex at the top or its apex near the bottom. In order to provide for this inversion, the tree top is equipped to connect with the trunk segment or with a tree body segment.

1 . A decorative artificial tree system comprising:
 a stand assembly comprising a receiving portion;   a tree trunk segment comprising a first end and a second end, both the first end and the second end comprise extending members;   a first tree body assembly comprising a first end and a second end, the first end comprising an extending member and the second end comprising a receiving portion; and   a tree top portion comprising first and second ends, both the first and second ends comprise receiving portions,   the receiving portion of the stand assembly sized to receive the extending member of the first end of the tree trunk segment,   the receiving portion of the second end of the first tree body assembly sized to receive the extending member of the second end of the tree trunk segment,   the receiving portion of the second end of the tree top portion sized to receive the extending member of the first end of the first tree body assembly,   the receiving portion of the first end of the tree top portion sized to receive the extending member of the first end of the tree trunk segment enabling inversion of the tree top portion and the first tree body assembly, and   the receiving portions of the first and second ends of the tree top portion sized to the receive an extending member of an ornament.   
   
   
       2 . The tree system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tree body assembly, the second tree body assembly comprising a first end comprising an extending member and a second end comprising a receiving portion, the receiving portion of the second end of the second tree body assembly sized to receive the extending member of the second end of the tree trunk segment, and the extending member of the second end of the second tree body assembly receivable by the receiving portion of the second end of the first tree body assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The tree system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first tree body assembly further comprises a plurality of branches of varied lengths arranged from shortest to longest, and   the tree top portion further comprises a plurality of branches of varied lengths less than or equal to the shortest of the plurality of branches of the first tree body assembly and arranged from shortest to longest.   
   
   
       4 . A decorative artificial tree system having a generally triangular shape, the tree system comprising:
 a tree top section comprising first and second receiving portions on opposing ends of the tree top section;   a tree body assembly comprising a extending member and a receiving portion on opposing ends of the tree body assembly; and   a trunk segment comprising first and second extending members on opposing ends of the trunk segment.   wherein any of the first receiving portion on the tree top section, the second receiving portion on the tree top section, or the receiving portion on the tree body assembly are adapted to receive one of the extending members of the trunk segment or the extending member of the tree body assembly, and   the tree system having a generally upright orientation, wherein the lower most point is adjacent the trunk segment and the upper most point is adjacent the tree top section,   the tree system having a generally inverted orientation, wherein the lower most point is adjacent the tree top section and the upper most point is adjacent the tree body portion, and   the receiving portions of the first and second ends of the tree top portion sized to the receive an extending member of an ornament.   
   
   
       5 . The tree system of  claim 4 ,
 the upright orientation further comprises an apex near the upper most point, and   the inverted orientation further comprises an apex near the lower most point.   
   
   
       6 . The tree system of  claim 4 , the inverted orientation comprises an inversion from the upright orientation of the tree top section and the tree body section. 
   
   
       7 . The tree system of  claim 4 , further comprising a stand assembly comprising a plurality of feet and a base comprising an receiving portion, the receiving portion sized to receive one of the extending members of the trunk segment, the stand assembly adapted to stabilize the tree system in both the upright and inverted orientations. 
   
   
       8 . The tree system of  claim 4 , the tree body assembly and the tree top section both comprising a plurality of branches of varied length. 
   
   
       9 . A method of converting a decorative tree from an inverted orientation to an upright orientation, the method comprising:
 assembling the decorative tree in an inverted orientation, comprising:
 connecting a first extending member of a trunk segment to a stand assembly; 
 connecting a first receiving portion of a tree top section to a second extending member of the trunk segment; and 
 receiving an extending member of a tree body assembly with a second receiving portion of the tree top section; and 
   reversing the decorative tree from the inverted orientation to the upright orientation, comprising:
 connecting the first extending member of the trunk segment to the stand assembly; 
 connecting the second extending member of the trunk segment to the receiving portion of a first tree body assembly; and 
 receiving the extending member of the first tree body assembly with the first receiving portion of the tree top section. 
   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , reversing the decorative tree from the inverted orientation to the upright orientation further comprising removing the assembled tree in the inverted orientation. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , inserting branches into a plurality of apertures along the length of any one of the tree top section or the tree body assembly.