Tree stands including cantilevered support legs

Abstract

The present disclosure describes tree stands. In one embodiment, a tree stand is provided comprising a central tree support configured for supporting a base of a real or artificial tree and four support legs configured to stabilize the tree stand on a surface. In this embodiment, each support leg of the four support legs comprises a single substantially straight cantilevered beam connected to the central tree support at a proximal end portion and extending outward from the central tree support to a distal end portion. The present disclosure also provides a method of forming a tree stand comprising securing two upper support legs to an upper sleeve of a central tree support, wherein each of the two upper support legs comprises a single substantially straight cantilevered beam extending away from the upper sleeve at a first oblique angle and securing two lower support legs to a lower sleeve of the central tree support, wherein each of the two lower support legs comprises a single substantially straight cantilevered beam extending away from the lower sleeve at a second, different oblique angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tree stand, comprising:
 a central tree support configured for supporting a base of a real or artificial tree; and   four support legs configured to stabilize the tree stand on a surface, wherein each support leg of the four support legs comprises a single substantially straight cantilevered beam connected to the central tree support at a proximal end portion and extending outward from the central tree support to a distal end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the central tree support comprises a receptacle configured to receive the base of the real or artificial tree. 
     
     
         3 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein each of the support legs comprises a round body. 
     
     
         4 . The tree stand of  claim 3 , wherein the round body comprises a round tubular body. 
     
     
         5 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the central tree support comprises an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve rotatable relative to the upper sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The tree stand of  claim 5 , wherein the four support legs comprise two upper legs coupled to the upper sleeve and two lower legs coupled to the lower sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The tree stand of  claim 5 , further comprising a locking mechanism positioned and configured to maintain the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve in an open rotational position relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portions of the four support legs are welded to the central tree support. 
     
     
         9 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the four support legs are welded to the central tree support around substantially an entire circumference of each proximal end portion of the four support legs. 
     
     
         10 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , further comprising four end feet respectively coupled to the distal end portions of the four support legs. 
     
     
         11 . The tree stand of  claim 10 , wherein each foot of the four end feet comprises a rounded polymer foot. 
     
     
         12 . The tree stand of  claim 11 , wherein each rounded polymer foot is positioned at least partially within a respective distal end portion of the support leg. 
     
     
         13 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein each support leg of the four support legs extends away from the central tree support at an oblique angle. 
     
     
         14 . The tree stand of  claim 13 , wherein two upper support legs of the four support legs extend away from the central tree support at a first oblique angle and two lower support legs of the four support legs extend away from the central tree support at a second, different oblique angle. 
     
     
         15 . The tree stand of  claim 14 , wherein the distal end portions of the four support legs are substantially positioned in a common plane with each other. 
     
     
         16 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , further comprising a central foot extending downward from the central tree support and positioned to rest on the surface. 
     
     
         17 . A tree stand, comprising:
 a central tree support configured for supporting a base of a real or artificial tree;   four support legs configured to stabilize the tree stand on a surface, wherein each support leg of the four support legs comprises a single substantially straight cantilevered beam welded to the central tree support at a proximal end portion and extending outward from the central tree support to a distal end portion at an oblique angle relative to the central tree support;   four end feet respectively coupled to the distal end portions of the four support legs; and   a central foot extending downward from the central tree support and positioned to rest on the surface.   
     
     
         18 . The tree stand of  claim 17 , wherein each of the support legs comprises a round tubular body. 
     
     
         19 . The tree stand of  claim 17 , wherein the four end feet and the central foot are substantially positioned in a common plane with each other. 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a tree stand, the method comprising:
 securing two upper support legs to an upper sleeve of a central tree support, wherein each of the two upper support legs comprises a single substantially straight cantilevered beam extending away from the upper sleeve at a first oblique angle; and   securing two lower support legs to a lower sleeve of the central tree support, wherein each of the two lower support legs comprises a single substantially straight cantilevered beam extending away from the lower sleeve at a second, different oblique angle.