Foldable Upright Tree Skirt

Abstract

A foldable tree skirt to cover a tree stand for a tree or Christmas tree. The cover includes a plurality of enclosed pockets containing rigid panels therein, and an attachment device for attaching a first end of the cover with a second end of the cover. The cover with the enclosed panels within the pockets of the cover is foldable in a disassemble state. In an assembled state, the cover is releasably secured together to form a three-dimensional enclosure having a substantially continuous sidewall adapted to surround the tree stand of the Christmas tree. The plurality of poles with pole connectors are assembled to removably fit onto the top of the inside sidewall and onto the bottom inside sidewalls of the cover, so as to maintain the three-dimensional shape, i.e. cone shape. The cover can be a single piece that wrappers around the tree stand and/or fits around the tree trunk.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A foldable tree skirt device comprising:
 a cover including a first end, a second end, and at least one pocket positioned between the first end of the cover and the second end of the cover;   at least one attachment device in communication with the cover for releasably attaching the first end of the cover to the second end of the cover;   a plurality of rigid panels that are inserted into the at least one pocket;   wherein the cover and the plurality of rigid panels are configured such that, when the attachment device does not attach the first end of the cover to the second end of the cover, the cover is foldable in a manner such that the plurality of rigid panels are positioned on top of one another so as to form a stack of panels, and   wherein the cover and the plurality of panels are configured such that, when the attachment device attaches the first end of the cover to the second end of the cover, the plurality of rigid panels maintain the cover in a position so as to form a three-dimensional enclosure having a substantially continuous sidewall.   
     
     
         22 . The foldable tree skirt device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one attachment device is a fastener selected from the list consisting of a hook and loop type fastener, a tie, a hook, a clip, a button and a magnet. 
     
     
         23 . The foldable tree skirt device of  claim 22 , wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop type fastener, the loop component disposed on the first end of the cover and the hook component on the second end thereof, the components arranged to register with and engage each other when the first and the second ends are brought together. 
     
     
         24 . The foldable tree skirt device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one pocket includes a plurality of pockets, such that a quantity of the plurality of rigid panels equals a quantity of the plurality of pockets. 
     
     
         25 . The foldable tree skirt device of  claim 21 , wherein the three-dimensional enclosure has one of a conical shape, a drum shape, or a barrel shape. 
     
     
         26 . The foldable tree skirt device of  claim 21 , wherein the cover includes at least one decorative image. 
     
     
         27 . The foldable tree skirt device of  claim 21 , wherein the cover is adapted to surround a Christmas tree stand. 
     
     
         28 . The foldable tree skirt device of  claim 21 , wherein the foldable tree skirt device is configured to be disassembled for storage. 
     
     
         29 . A method for assembling a foldable tree skirt device, comprising:
 providing a foldable cover including a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the foldable cover at least one pocket positioned between the first end of the foldable cover and the second end of the foldable cover;   providing at least one attachment device in communication with the foldable cover for attaching the first end of the foldable cover to the second end of the foldable cover;   providing a plurality of rigid panels, wherein the plurality of rigid panels are positioned within the at least one pocket; and   attaching the first end of the foldable cover to the second end of the foldable cover with the at least one attachment device so as to form a three-dimensional enclosure having a substantially continuous sidewall.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein each pocket of the at least one pocket is closed by one of a glue, a hook and loop type fastener, a liquid type enclosing device or a mechanical type enclosing device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the three-dimensional enclosure has one of a conical shape, a drum shape, or a barrel shape. 
     
     
         32 . A method for dis-assembling a foldable tree skirt device, comprising:
 providing an assembled foldable tree skirt including:
 a foldable cover including a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the foldable cover, and at least one pocket, wherein the at least one pocket is located on an inside of the foldable cover and between the first end of the foldable cover and the second end of the foldable cover; 
 at least one attachment device attaching the first end of the foldable cover to the second end of the foldable cover; 
 a plurality of rigid panels, wherein each of the plurality of rigid panels is enclosed within one of the at least one pocket of the foldable cover; 
   detaching the at least one attachment device so as to detach the first end of the foldable cover from the second end of the foldable cover; and   folding the foldable cover with the plurality of rigid panels, by folding each rigid panel of the plurality of rigid panels over another rigid panel of the plurality of rigid panels while within the foldable cover, so as to position the plurality of rigid panels one on top of each other to form a stack of the rigid panels.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further including placing the stack of rigid panels into a foldable skirt storage container. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further including opening the at least one pocket of the foldable cover and withdrawing each of the at least one rigid panel from the at least one pocket of the foldable cover. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising placing the plurality of rigid panels and the foldable cover into a foldable skirt storage container. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one attachment device is a fastener selected from the list consisting of a hook and loop type fastener, a tie, a hook, a clip, a button and a magnet. 
     
     
         37 . A tree skirt device comprising:
 a cover having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top edge extending from the first end to the second end, and a bottom edge opposite the top edge and extending from the first end to the second end, the cover comprising at least one pocket located on the inside of the cover;   at least one attachment device in communication with the cover for attaching the first end of the cover to the second end of the cover; and   a plurality of rigid panels located in the at least one pocket,   wherein the plurality of rigid panels maintain the cover in a position so as to form a three-dimensional enclosure having a substantially continuous sidewall.   
     
     
         38 . The tree skirt device of  claim 37 , wherein the three-dimensional enclosure has one of a conical shape, a drum shape, or a barrel shape. 
     
     
         39 . The tree skirt device of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one attachment device is a fastener selected from the list consisting of a hook and loop type fastener, a tie, a hook, a clip, a button and a magnet. 
     
     
         40 . The tree skirt device of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one pocket includes a plurality of pockets, such that a quantity of the plurality of rigid panels equals a quantity of the plurality of pockets.