Simulated and modular three-dimensional tree and kit for manufacturing same

Abstract

A cardboard three-dimensional tree comprises: two primary substantially triangular sheets and four secondary substantially triangular sheets, each having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge. A first primary sheet has a primary slot extending downwardly from the apex and a second primary sheet has a primary slot extending upwardly from the base edge and engageable in the downwardly extending primary slot defined in the first primary sheet. Each primary sheet has two secondary slots extending upwardly from the base edge. Each secondary sheet has a primary slot extending downwardly from the apex and engageable in one of the secondary slots defined in the primary sheets. The primary and the secondary sheets are engageable in an interlocking intersecting relation at the slots and cooperating to form a self-standing generally substantially triangular three-dimensional structure generally in the form of an evergreen tree.

1 . A three-dimensional tree comprising:
 at least two primary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the primary sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, a first one of the primary sheets having a primary slot extending downwardly from the apex and a second one of the primary sheets having a primary slot extending upwardly from the base edge; about centrally thereof, and engageable with the downwardly extending primary slot defined in the first one of the primary sheets, each one of the primary sheets having two secondary slots, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof; and   at least four secondary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the secondary substantially triangular sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, each one of the secondary substantially triangular sheets having a primary slot, the secondary slots of the primary sheets extending one of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the side edges and the primary slot of the secondary sheets extending the other of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the apex and being engageable with one of the secondary slots defined in the primary sheets in an interlocking intersecting relation, the primary and the secondary sheets being engageable in an interlocking intersecting relation at the slots and cooperating to form a self-standing generally pyramidal three-dimensional structure generally in the form of an evergreen tree.   
     
     
         2 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein two first ones of the secondary sheets further comprise two secondary slots extending downwardly from the side edges, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side and spaced-apart from the primary slot and two second ones of the secondary sheets further comprises two secondary slots extending upwardly from the base edge, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof, the secondary slots defined in the first ones of the secondary sheets being engageable with a respective one of the secondary slots defined in the second ones of the secondary sheets in interlocking intersecting relation, wherein the first ones of the secondary sheets intersect substantially perpendicularly the second ones of the secondary sheets and wherein the first ones of the secondary sheets extend substantially parallel to one another and are spaced-apart from one another and the secondary ones of the secondary sheets extend substantially parallel to one another and are spaced-apart from one another, and wherein the first one of the primary sheets intersects substantially perpendicularly the second one of the primary sheets. 
     
     
         3 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least four tertiary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the tertiary substantially triangular sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, each one of the tertiary substantially triangular sheets having a primary slot extending about centrally thereof, and two secondary slots, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof;
 each one of the primary sheets having two tertiary slots extending one of downwardly from the side edges and upwardly from the base edge, the primary slot of the tertiary sheets extending the other one of downwardly from the apex and upwardly from the base edge, each one of the tertiary slots of the primary sheet being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart from the primary and secondary slots and engageable with the primary slot defined in one of the tertiary sheets, the primary and the tertiary sheets being engageable in an interlocking intersecting relation at the slots with the tertiary sheets being substantially perpendicular to their respective interlocking primary sheets; and   each one of the secondary sheets having two tertiary slots extending one of downwardly from the side edges and upwardly from the base edge, the two secondary slots of the tertiary sheets extending the other one of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the side edges, each one of the tertiary slots of the secondary sheets being located on a respective side of the primary slot of the respective secondary sheet and spaced-apart from the primary and secondary slots and engageable with a respective one of the secondary slots defined in one of the tertiary sheets, the secondary and the tertiary sheets being engageable in an interlocking intersecting relation at the slots with the tertiary sheets being substantially perpendicular to their respective interlocking secondary sheets.   
     
     
         4 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base edges of the sheets extend in a single plane and the sheets are positioned substantially perpendicularly to the plane defined by the base edges. 
     
     
         5 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sheets are pre-cut to conform anatomically to an evergreen tree and the tree has a substantially pyramidal shape. 
     
     
         6 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sheets are periodically slotted such as to structurally engage compatible periodic slots in orthogonally disposed sheets and the sheets are positioned at a substantially equal distance from each other. 
     
     
         7 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary slots of the primary sheets extend upwardly from the base edge and the intersecting primary slots of the secondary sheets extend downwardly from the apex. 
     
     
         8 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the tertiary slots of the primary sheets extend downwardly from the side edges and the intersecting primary slots of the tertiary sheets extend upwardly from the base edge and wherein the tertiary slots of the secondary sheets extend downwardly from the side edges and the intersecting secondary slots of the tertiary sheets extend upwardly from the base edge. 
     
     
         9 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein two engageable slots of two orthogonally disposed sheets have substantially the same length and wherein each one of the slots has a length corresponding substantially to half a length of the respective sheet at a position of the respective slot. 
     
     
         10 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the three-dimensional tree comprises two primary sheets, four secondary sheets, and four tertiary sheets. 
     
     
         11 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the secondary slots are equidistantly spaced-apart from the primary slots and the tertiary slots are equidistantly spaced-apart from the secondary slots. 
     
     
         12 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sheets are made of cardboard. 
     
     
         13 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a support base for supporting the three-dimensional tree on a surface, the support base including four substantially flat sheets engageable with one another wherein orthogonally disposed sheets are interlockable with one another. 
     
     
         14 . A three-dimensional tree kit comprising:
 at least two primary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the primary sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, a first one of the primary sheets having a primary slot extending downwardly from the apex and a second one of the primary sheets having a primary slot extending upwardly from the base edge, about centrally thereof, and engageable with the downwardly extending primary slot defined in the first one of the primary sheets, each one of the primary sheets having two secondary slots, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof; and   at least four secondary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the secondary substantially triangular sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, each one of the secondary substantially triangular sheets having a primary slot extending one of downwardly from the apex and upwardly from the base edge, the secondary slots of the primary sheets extending the other one of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the side edges and being engageable with one of the primary slots defined in the secondary sheets.   
     
     
         15 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein two first ones of the secondary sheets further comprise two secondary slots extending downwardly from the side edges, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective one of the side edges and spaced-apart from the primary slot and two second ones of the secondary sheets further comprise two secondary slots extending upwardly from the base edge, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising at least four tertiary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the tertiary substantially triangular sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, each one of the tertiary substantially triangular sheets having a primary slot extending one of downwardly from the apex and upwardly from the base edge, about centrally thereof, and two secondary slots extending one of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the side edges, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof; each one of the primary sheets and secondary sheets having two tertiary slots extending one of downwardly from the side edges and upwardly from the base edge, each one of the tertiary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot of the respective primary sheet and secondary sheet and spaced-apart from the primary and secondary slots. 
     
     
         17 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the sheets are pre-cut to conform anatomically to an evergreen tree, the sheets are periodically slotted such as to structurally engage compatible periodic slots in orthogonally disposed sheets and the slots are positioned at a substantially equal distance from consecutive and adjacent slots. 
     
     
         18 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the secondary slots of the primary sheets extend upwardly from the base edge and the intersecting primary slots of the secondary sheets extend downwardly from the apex. 
     
     
         19 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the tertiary slots of the primary sheets extend downwardly from the side edges and the intersecting primary slots of the tertiary sheets extend upwardly from the base edge and the tertiary slots of the secondary sheets extend downwardly from the side edges and the intersecting secondary slots of the tertiary sheets extend upwardly from the base edge. 
     
     
         20 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the slots have a length corresponding substantially to half a length of the sheet at a position of the slot and. 
     
     
         21 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the three-dimensional tree comprises two primary sheets, four secondary sheets, and four tertiary sheets. 
     
     
         22 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the secondary slots are equidistantly spaced-apart from the primary slots and the tertiary slots are equidistantly spaced-apart from the secondary slots. 
     
     
         23 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the sheets are made of cardboard. 
     
     
         24 . A three-dimensional tree kit as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a support base for supporting the three-dimensional tree on a surface, the support base including four flat sheets, two first ones of the flat sheets having two spaced-apart slots extending upwardly from a lower edge and two second ones of the flat sheets having two spaced-apart slots extending downwardly from an upper edge. 
     
     
         25 . A three-dimensional tree comprising:
 at least one primary substantially triangular sheet having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, and a primary surface area; and   four secondary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the secondary substantially triangular sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, and a secondary surface area, the secondary surface area being smaller than the primary surface area, the secondary substantially triangular sheets being engageable in an interlocking intersecting relation wherein two first ones of the secondary sheets are substantially parallel to one another and spaced-apart from one another and two second ones of the secondary sheets are substantially parallel to one another, spaced-apart from one another, and substantially perpendicular to the two first ones of the secondary sheets; wherein the at least one primary sheet is engageable with the two first ones of the secondary sheets in an interlocking intersecting relation with the at least one primary sheet extending outwardly past and substantially perpendicularly to the two first ones of the secondary sheets, the at least one primary sheet extending substantially parallel to the two second ones of the secondary sheets, between the two second ones of the secondary sheets and spaced-apart therefrom.   
     
     
         26 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 25 , comprising two primary substantially triangular sheets, a first one of the primary sheets having a primary slot extending downwardly from the apex and a second one of the primary sheets having a primary slot extending upwardly from the base edge, about centrally thereof, and engageable with the downwardly extending primary slot defined in the first one of the primary sheets wherein the first one of the primary sheets intersects substantially perpendicularly the second one of the primary sheets, each one of the primary sheets having two secondary slots, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof, wherein each one of the secondary substantially triangular sheets comprises a primary slot, and wherein the secondary slots of the primary sheets extend one of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the side edges and the primary Slot of the secondary sheets extends the other one of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the apex and are engageable with one of the secondary slots defined in the primary sheets in an interlocking intersecting relation. 
     
     
         27 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the two first ones of the secondary sheets further comprise two secondary slots extending downwardly from the side edges, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side and spaced-apart from the primary slot and the two second ones of the secondary sheets further comprises two secondary slots extending upwardly from the base edge, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof, the secondary slots defined in the first ones of the secondary sheets being engageable with a respective one of the secondary slots defined in the second ones of the secondary sheets in interlocking intersecting relation. 
     
     
         28 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising four tertiary substantially triangular sheets, each one of the tertiary substantially triangular sheets having an apex, a base edge opposed to the apex, and two side edges connecting the apex and the base edge, each one of the tertiary substantially triangular sheets having a primary slot extending about centrally thereof, and two secondary slots, each one of the secondary slots being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart thereof;
 each one of the primary sheets having two tertiary slots extending one of downwardly from the side edges and upwardly from the base edge, the primary slot of the tertiary sheets extending the other one of downwardly from the apex and upwardly from the base edge, each one of the tertiary slots of the primary sheets being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart from the primary and secondary slots and engageable with the primary slot defined in one of the tertiary sheets, the primary and the tertiary sheets being engageable in an interlocking intersecting relation at the slots with the tertiary sheets being substantially perpendicular to their respective interlocking primary sheets; and   each one of the secondary sheets having two tertiary slots extending one of downwardly from the side edges and upwardly from the base edge, the two secondary slots of the tertiary sheets extending the other one of upwardly from the base edge and downwardly from the side edges, each one of the tertiary slots of the secondary sheets being located on a respective side of the primary slot and spaced-apart from the primary and secondary slots and engageable with a respective one of the secondary slots defined in one of the tertiary sheets, the secondary and the tertiary sheets being engageable in an interlocking intersecting relation at the slots with the tertiary sheets being substantially perpendicular to their respective interlocking secondary sheets.   
     
     
         29 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the base edges of the sheets extend in a single plane and the sheets are positioned substantially perpendicularly to the plane defined by the base edges. 
     
     
         30 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein two engageable slots of two orthogonally disposed sheets have substantially the same length and each one of the slots has a length corresponding substantially to half a length of the respective sheet at a position of the respective slot. 
     
     
         31 . A three-dimensional tree as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the sheets are made of cardboard.