US2022354291A1PendingUtilityA1

Ornamental cardboard tree kit

30
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 5, 2021Filed: May 4, 2022Published: Nov 10, 2022
Est. expiryMay 5, 2041(~14.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Tara M. Robertson
A47G 33/06
30
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

An apparatus includes a plurality of rings and a connective material. The plurality of rings includes a first ring with a first diameter and a second ring with a second diameter. The first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. The connective material is directly coupled to each of the plurality of rings. The connective material is configured to collapse when the plurality of rings is arranged in a storage position and configured to expand when the plurality of rings is arranged in a display position. When in the storage position, the first ring and the second ring are coplanar, and when in the display position the first ring is suspended in a first plane and the second ring is suspended in a second plane. The first plane is a distance from the second plane. The distance is based at least in part on the direct coupling of the connective material to the plurality of rings.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of rings including a first ring with a first diameter and a second ring with a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter; and   a connective material directly coupled to each of the plurality of rings, the connective material configured to collapse when the plurality of rings is arranged in a storage position and configured to expand when the plurality of rings is arranged in a display position;   wherein when in the storage position, the first ring and the second ring are coplanar, and when in the display position the first ring is suspended in a first plane and the second ring is suspended in a second plane, the first plane being a distance from the second plane, the distance being based at least in part on the direct coupling of the connective material to the plurality of rings.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rings has a circular shape, an oval shape, or a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of retentive members attached to the connective material, the plurality of retentive members arranged periodically along the connective material such that the distance between the first plane and the second plane is based at least in part on locations of the plurality of retentive members on the connective material.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of retentive members includes corks, rubber members, knots, and plastic members. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including:
 a solid shape;   wherein the plurality of rings includes at least six rings, wherein each of the rings has a different diameter, and wherein each subsequent ring in the plurality of rings seats inside a previous ring and the solid shape seats inside a smallest one of the plurality of rings when in the storage position.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further including:
 a plurality of retentive members attached to the connective material, wherein when in the display position, the plurality of retentive members holds each of the plurality of rings and the solid shape in respective planes.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a respective one of the plurality of rings is directly coupled to the connective material at evenly spaced locations around a circumference of the respective one of the plurality of rings and wherein the solid shape is directly coupled to the connective material at evenly spaced locations around a circumference of the solid shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connective material includes one or more of threads, wires, yarn, or fish lines. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each ring in the plurality of rings has at least one of a same thickness or a same width. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including:
 a ceiling coupler directly attached on a first end to a ceiling and coupled to the plurality of rings at a second end, the ceiling coupler holding a weight of the plurality of rings and the connective material when in the display position.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of rings is foldable to place the apparatus in a shipping position. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rings is made from cardboard material. 
     
     
         13 . An ornamental tree comprising:
 a stand;   a plurality of rings including a first ring with a first diameter and a second ring with a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter;   a connective material directly coupled to each of the plurality of rings, the connective material configured to collapse when the plurality of rings is arranged in a storage position and configured to expand when the plurality of rings is arranged in a display position; and   a plurality of retentive members attached to the connective material, the plurality of retentive members arranged periodically along the connective material;   wherein when in the storage position, the first ring and the second ring are coplanar, and when in the display position, the stand is coupled to the plurality of rings and the connective material, the first ring is suspended in a first plane and the second ring is suspended in a second plane, the first plane being a distance from the second plane, the distance being based at least in part on the direct coupling of the connective material to the plurality of rings.   
     
     
         14 . The tree of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of rings has a circular shape, an oval shape, or a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         15 . The tree of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of rings is made from cardboard material. 
     
     
         16 . The tree of  claim 13 , wherein the connective material includes one or more of threads, wires, yarn, or fish lines. 
     
     
         17 . The tree of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of retentive members includes corks, rubber members, knots, and plastic members. 
     
     
         18 . The tree of  claim 13 , wherein each ring in the plurality of rings has a different diameter, and each subsequent ring in the plurality of rings seats inside a previous ring when in the storage position. 
     
     
         19 . The tree of  claim 13 , wherein when in the display position, the stand is coupled to the plurality of rings via a solid shape. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a tree apparatus, comprising:
 threading a connective material through a plurality of rings that include a first ring with a first diameter and a second ring with a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter;   attaching a plurality of retentive members to the connective material wherein consecutive retentive members are separated by at least one ring in the plurality of rings;   expanding the plurality of rings such that tension develops in the connective material; and   hanging the connective material on a stand such that the first ring is suspended in a first plane and the second ring is suspended in a second plane, the first plane being a distance from the second plane, the distance being based at least in part on the locations of at least a portion of the plurality of retentive members.

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