Tree Topper Support Device

Abstract

A tree topper support device for securing a topping ornament to a tree having a trunk includes an elongated rod with at least two through-holes sized to receive flexible ties, an ornament receiving member, and a sleeve coupled to the ornament receiving member. The sleeve is configured to receive an end of the elongated rod. The ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material configured to deform when a mounting cage of the topping ornament is placed onto the ornament receiving member so as to secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tree topper support device for securing a topping ornament to a tree having a trunk comprising:
 an elongated rod with at least two through-holes sized to receive flexible ties;   an ornament receiving member; and   a sleeve coupled to the ornament receiving member, the sleeve configured to receive an end of the elongated rod;   wherein the ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material configured to deform when a mounting cage of the topping ornament is placed onto the ornament receiving member so as to secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member.   
     
     
         2 . The tree topper support device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two flexible ties, each flexible tie configured to be inserted into one of the at least two through-holes and each flexible tie sized to wrap around the trunk of the tree to secure the rod thereto.   
     
     
         3 . The tree topper support device of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the ornament receiving member includes an internal cavity and the sleeve is disposed within the internal cavity and wherein the end of the elongated rod is disposed inside an internal bore in the sleeve to thereby couple the rod to the ornament receiving member. 
     
     
         4 . The tree topper support device of  claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the ornament receiving member includes an internal cavity configured to receive the topping ornament. 
     
     
         5 . The tree topper support device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is coupled to and extends away from a bottom portion of the ornament receiving member and wherein the end of the elongated rod is disposed inside an internal bore in the sleeve to thereby couple the rod to the ornament receiving member. 
     
     
         6 . The tree topper support device of  claim 1 , wherein the ornament receiving member is generally conically shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The tree topper support device of  claim 1 , where the ornament receiving member is made of foam. 
     
     
         8 . A tree topper support device for securing a topping ornament to a tree having a trunk comprising:
 an elongated rod with at least two through-holes sized;   an ornament receiving member having a bottom portion with an internal cavity, the ornament receiving member being generally conically shaped;   a sleeve disposed within the internal cavity of the ornament receiving member, the sleeve having an internal bore, wherein an end of the elongated rod is disposed inside the internal bore to thereby couple the rod to the ornament receiving member; and   at least two flexible ties, each flexible tie configured to be inserted into one of the at least two through-holes and each flexible tie sized to wrap around the trunk of the tree to secure the rod thereto   wherein the ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material configured to deform when a mounting cage of the topping ornament is placed onto the ornament receiving member so as to secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member.   
     
     
         9 . The tree topper support device of  claim 9 , wherein the ornament receiving member is made of foam. 
     
     
         10 . A method of securing a topping ornament to a top of a tree having a trunk comprising:
 providing a tree topper support device having an ornament receiving member coupled to an elongated rod;   securing the rod to the trunk of the tree so that the ornament receiving member is positioned proximate an apex of the tree; and   placing the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated rod includes a plurality of through-holes, and the step of securing the rod includes inserting flexible ties through the plurality of through-holes and wrapping the flexible ties around the trunk of the tree. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ornament receiving member is made of a semi-collapsible material and the topping ornament includes a mounting cage, and the step of attaching the topping ornament includes placing the mounting cage onto the ornament receiving member to deform the ornament receiving member to thereby secure the topping ornament to the ornament receiving member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ornament receiving member includes an internal cavity with a sleeve therein and wherein an end of the elongated rod is disposed within an internal bore of the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ornament receiving member is generally conically shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ornament receiving member is made of foam.