decorative tree

Abstract

Decorative tree with • a base support (10) which forms a trunk (12) and several outer contour sections (16) extending obliquely outwards and downwards from a treetop (14), and • several horizontally arranged rings (20) which are attached to the outer contour sections (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a decorative tree which can be used in particular as a sustainable alternative to a traditional Christmas tree.

[0002] Traditional Christmas trees are real conifers such as spruces or firs, which are set up and decorated by the millions each year. In many cultures, this practice is a central part of Christmas celebrations and festivities. The Christmas trees are often adorned with lights, ornaments, and other decorations to create a festive atmosphere. Traditionally, real trees are used, which must be felled, transported, and disposed of at the end of the festivities. However, this can lead to environmental problems and often involves considerable effort.

[0003] In recent years, artificial decorative trees have become popular as a practical alternative to real trees. They are reusable, require no maintenance, and can be designed to closely resemble real trees. Artificial decorative trees typically consist of a central trunk and several twigs or branches attached to this trunk. The branches can be permanently attached to the trunk or removable to facilitate transport and storage. Such replicas of natural trees are often made of plastic.

[0004] Publication WO 02 / 054923 A1 describes a stylized, three-dimensional decorative tree made of wood or plywood. The Christmas tree consists of two identically designed boards in the shape of a Christmas tree, arranged at a parallel distance from each other. The spacing is maintained by spacers, which simultaneously serve as screw fastenings for a board and / or as lamp holders for electric light bulbs arranged between the two boards. The Christmas tree can also consist of a trunk and three or more tree sections, each consisting of two identically designed boards in the shape of a Christmas tree.

[0005] The document ES 163480 U describes a decorative tree whose trunk consists of sections of a natural trunk. At one end of these sections is a coaxial stem, preferably made of wood, and at the other end is a coaxial hollow. This allows the sections to be interlocked to form a seemingly continuous trunk.

[0006] The publication CN 201422724 Y describes an artificial Christmas tree comprising a base. The base is provided with a lamp hole and an attachable light guide tube. Disc-shaped components resembling a tree are arranged along the periphery of the light guide tube.

[0007] The publication ES 1067745 U describes a decorative item resembling a tree from the conifer family. The tree is preferably made of plywood, compressed wood, plastic, or a similar material and consists of two almost identical parts, each with a slot that can be inserted into one another.

[0008] The publication DE 203 17 291 U1 describes a decorative tree with horizontally arranged rods strung on an axis forming a trunk. The rods can be fanned out along the axis by twisting them to form a three-dimensional, tree-like structure.

[0009] GB 2584093 A describes a decorative tree with slat arrangements extending diagonally outwards and downwards from a tip, forming an outer contour. The slat arrangements are connected at two heights by horizontally arranged support crosses.

[0010] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a decorative tree which is characterized by a simple and practical construction and an improved spatial effect.

[0011] This object is achieved by the decorative tree having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0012] The decoration tree has • a base support forming a trunk and several outer contour sections extending diagonally outwards and downwards from a tree top, and • several horizontally arranged rings attached to the outer contour sections.

[0013] The decorative tree can be made from materials that have a good environmental footprint and can be recycled. In particular, the base and / or rings can be made from a wood-based material such as plywood. This is in line with the growing demands for sustainable products and practices.

[0014] The decorative tree is easy to assemble and disassemble. This is a significant advantage, allowing users to quickly and easily set up the tree and disassemble it again after use. This is especially practical because the tree takes up minimal space when disassembled, making it easy to store.

[0015] The base support forms the basis of the decorative tree and gives it its basic shape. It consists of a trunk and several outer contour sections that run diagonally outwards and downwards from the tree tip. When viewed from the side, the outer contour sections running diagonally downwards from the tip correspond to the typical outer outline of a natural conifer in a more or less abstract form. For example, the outer contour sections can run essentially straight, resulting in an overall roughly triangular outline. A concave or convex curved and / or stepped shape is also possible and can mimic the natural shape of a tree. The base support also features a trunk, which contributes to the typical appearance of a conifer.

[0016] The horizontally arranged rings are attached to the outer contour sections. This fixes the rings relative to the base support. Attaching the rings to the outer contour sections also fixes the arrangement of the base support elements, thus significantly contributing to the stabilization of the base support.

[0017] The rings are spaced vertically apart, and the number of rings used can be tailored to the height of the decorative tree, creating a harmonious overall effect. For example, a small decorative tree might use just two rings, while a very large one might use eight or more. For a typical height in the range of 1.5 m to 2.5 m, three to six rings can be used.

[0018] There is usually a larger amount of free space above and below the rings, so the rings offer a good opportunity to attach tree decorations such as Christmas balls, fairy lights, garlands and candles to the decorative tree to create a varied and appealing appearance.

[0019] The combination of the base with the horizontally arranged rings creates a spacious, three-dimensional impression that immediately recalls a natural tree and offers comparable visual depth. At the same time, the decorative tree is fundamentally different from a realistic imitation of a natural tree, which makes it particularly attractive.

[0020] The decorative tree according to the invention can be designed in various sizes, from small table decorations to large decorative trees for public spaces or shopping centers. Preferably, the decorative tree can have a height of at least 80 cm, at least 1.2 m, or at least 1.5 m. It can be made of various materials, such as wood, metal, or plastic, depending on the desired aesthetic properties and intended use.

[0021] The decorative tree is simple in design and easy to assemble and disassemble, making it particularly suitable for seasonal use, such as during the Christmas season. The simplicity of the structure also contributes to the tree's ease of decorating, as the rings provide a clear structure for arranging the decorations.

[0022] Furthermore, the decorative tree can be manufactured inexpensively. This is due to the simplicity of the design and the ability to use different materials for the base and rings. This low-cost manufacturing makes the tree an affordable option for consumers looking for a sustainable, decorative, and functional alternative to a traditional Christmas tree.

[0023] In one embodiment, the outer contour sections end at a vertical distance from a lower end of the base support. When the decorative tree is placed on the ground with the base support, the outer contour sections are then located above the ground, similar to the branches or crown of a natural tree.

[0024] In one embodiment, a base is formed at a lower end of the base support. This base can be used to securely place the decorative tree on a surface, such as a table or the floor. The base can have various shapes, for example, it can be designed as a circular plate or as a tripod. The base can be permanently attached to the base support or be removable to enable easy storage and transport of the decorative tree. In a particularly simple and practical solution, the base support has several laterally projecting supports at the lower end of a section forming the trunk, which together form the base.

[0025] In combination with outer contour sections that end at a vertical distance from the lower end of the base, a base foot formed at the lower end of the base ensures a stable and sturdy construction of the decorative tree. This is especially important when the tree is decorated with heavy decorations, such as large Christmas balls or string lights.

[0026] In a further embodiment, the base support has at least two vertically arranged plates that are connected to one another in the area of ​​the trunk. Each plate forms a section of the trunk and at least one outer contour section. This design enables simple and cost-effective production of the base support, as the plates can be cut from flat materials such as wood, metal, or plastic and then connected to one another. The plates can have a thickness in the range of, for example, 4 mm to 24 mm, preferably in the range of 8 mm to 14 mm. The connection of the plates in the area of ​​the trunk ensures high stability of the base support. In addition, more complex tree shapes can be realized by using at least two plates, as each outer contour section can be individually designed. In one variant, each plate forms a section of the trunk and two of the outer contour sections.This creates a stable element from one panel that extends across the entire width of the decorative tree.

[0027] The use of panels in the construction of the base beam, particularly those made of wood-based materials such as plywood, offers a number of advantages that significantly simplify its manufacture. Plywood is a versatile material that is easy to cut and shape, making it an ideal choice for the production of the panels. Furthermore, plywood is a relatively inexpensive material, which reduces the overall cost of manufacturing the base beam. Wood-based materials obtained from sustainable forestry also have a good environmental footprint, are largely free of pollutants, and have a natural look and feel. The panels can be precisely cut to achieve the desired shape and size for each section of the log and each outer contour section. This allows for a high degree of flexibility in the design of the base beam, as each section can be individually designed.In addition, the use of at least two panels allows the realization of more complex tree shapes, since each outer contour section can be designed individually.

[0028] The connection of the panels near the trunk contributes to the stability of the base support. The use of plywood, which offers high strength and rigidity, further increases the stability of the base support. The panels can be connected in a variety of ways, such as by gluing, screwing, or bolting, depending on the specific requirements of the base support. Preferably, the connection is designed so that it can be made without tools and is easy to remove, for example, by plugging the panels together using suitable slots or receptacles for fasteners such as wooden dowels.

[0029] In one embodiment, at least one of the panels has at least one cutout between the part forming a section of the trunk and the outer contour section. This cutout can serve to reduce the weight of the decorative tree and save material. Furthermore, the cutout can improve the appearance of the tree by making it appear less flat. The cutout can have various shapes, for example, it can be round, oval, rectangular or in the form of a pattern or design. The cutout can be created in the panel using various processes, such as milling, laser cutting, or punching. By using cutouts, the decorative tree can be individually designed and adapted to different requirements and preferences.

[0030] In a further embodiment, at least one of the panels has a strip-shaped section that borders one of the recesses and connects the part of the panel forming a section of the trunk with the outer contour section of the panel. This strip-shaped section can serve to increase the stability of the panel and thus of the entire decorative tree. It connects the part of the panel forming the trunk with the part of the panel forming the outer contour section, thus contributing to the structural integrity of the tree. The strip-shaped section can have various shapes and sizes, depending on the specific requirements of the tree. For example, it can be straight, curved, or wavy and can have a constant or variable width. In particular, the strip-shaped section can be modeled after a natural branch or twig.

[0031] In one embodiment, each panel has a recess in an area enclosing a central longitudinal axis of the tree, so that the recesses together form a centrally located free space. This centrally located free space can be used to reduce the weight of the decorative tree and save material. Furthermore, the central free space can enhance the tree's appearance. The central free space can also be used to attach decorations, such as a Christmas bauble, inside the tree.

[0032] In one embodiment, at least one of the rings has a horizontally arranged ring surface on its top. This ring surface can be used to securely place and attach decorations, such as candles or candle holders, to the ring.

[0033] In one embodiment, at least one of the rings has an outer edge on its outer circumference that is flush with an outer contour section. This design ensures a clean and aesthetically pleasing appearance of the decorative tree, as the rings and the outer contour sections form a continuous, smooth outer contour.

[0034] In one embodiment, at least one of the rings has a slot on its inner circumference that accommodates an outer contour section. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the outer contour sections can have a slot that accommodates one of the rings. This embodiment enables a simple and stable connection between the rings and the outer contour sections. The slots can be designed so that the rings and the outer contour sections can be easily inserted into one another and thus connected to one another. This facilitates the assembly of the decorative tree and allows the tree to be easily disassembled and stored in a space-saving manner if necessary.

[0035] In one embodiment, the rings each have an outer diameter and an inner diameter, with the outer diameter of a ring being smaller than the inner diameter of a ring arranged below this ring. This design allows the rings to be stacked inside each other during storage or transport of the decorative tree, which reduces the space required and facilitates transport. On the other hand, the rings can be cut out of a plate with little waste. This design can also improve the appearance of the tree by enabling a more realistic representation of the shape of a tree, with the branches becoming wider from top to bottom.

[0036] In one embodiment, at least one of the rings is divided into ring segments at two or more division points. This design allows for particularly compact storage of the disassembled decorative tree. The division points are located, in particular, on one of the outer contour sections. This makes reassembling the ring segments particularly easy and stable, because the outer contour sections can stabilize the ring at the division points.

[0037] In one embodiment, at least one of the ring segments has at least one end face at each of its two ends, which rests against a side surface of one of the outer contour sections. This embodiment enables a precise, visually appealing arrangement of the ring segments on the outer contour sections and can simplify a stable and secure attachment of the ring segments to the outer contour sections.

[0038] In one embodiment, at least one of the ring segments has a fastening section on at least one end, which is inserted into a recess of an outer contour section and / or extends through a recess of an outer contour section. This embodiment enables stable and secure fastening of the ring segments to the outer contour sections. The fastening sections of the ring segments can be designed such that they fit precisely into the recesses of the outer contour sections in order to ensure the most stable connection possible. If the fastening section is passed through the recess, a locking mechanism, in particular a positive locking mechanism, can be provided on the end of the fastening section protruding from the recess in order to reliably prevent the fastening section from slipping out.

[0039] In one embodiment, the attachment portion of a ring segment is inserted into a complementarily shaped receptacle of an adjacent ring segment. This enables a stable and secure connection between the ring segments and facilitates the assembly of the decorative tree, as the ring segments can be easily inserted into one another.

[0040] In particular, a locking element can be provided that positively locks the fastening section in the receptacle and / or on the outer contour section. This increases the stability of the connection between the ring segments or between the respective ring segment and the outer contour section and prevents the ring segments from accidentally falling apart during use of the decorative tree.

[0041] The locking element can, in particular, be a locking pin that is inserted vertically into an opening located between the fastening section and the receptacle. The locking pin can be designed such that it can be easily inserted into the opening and removed again, thus facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the decorative tree.

[0042] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a decorative tree in a perspective view, Fig. 2 the top of the decoration tree Fig. 1 in an enlarged view, Fig. 3 a section of the trunk of the decoration tree Fig. 1 in an enlarged view, Fig. 4 the decoration tree Fig. 1 in a view from above, Fig. 5 two elements of the base support of the decoration tree from Fig- 1 before assembly in a perspective view, Fig. 6 the base support of the decoration tree from Fig- 1 with two ring segments before assembly in a perspective view, Fig. 7 an enlarged view of the ends of two ring segments to be joined in a perspective view and Fig. 8 Two ring segments assembled at an outer contour section in an enlarged, perspective view.

[0043] The decoration tree from Fig. 1 has a base support 10 consisting of two vertically aligned, interconnected plates 10a and 10b. The base support 10 forms a trunk 12 along a central longitudinal axis of the decorative tree, extending from the ground to a tip 14. The base support 10 also forms four outer contour sections 16, which extend obliquely outward and downward from the tip 14.

[0044] At the lower end, the base support 10 has a base 18 with four sections of the two plates 10a, 10b extending from the lower end of the trunk 12 and pointing radially outwards.

[0045] The decorative tree also has four horizontally arranged rings 20, which are arranged at approximately equal intervals one above the other. Each ring 20 is approximately circular and attached to the outer contour sections 16 along its circumference. The outer contour sections 16 run from the tip 14 to the uppermost ring 20 with a slight, concave curve, somewhat flatter outwards than in the sections arranged below the uppermost ring 20. The outer contour sections 16 end at the bottom just below the lowest ring 20 at a distance from the ground. The rings 20 are cut out of plywood. On their upper side, they each have a horizontally arranged ring surface with a width in the range of approximately 3 cm to 8 cm.

[0046] The Fig. The decorative tree shown in Figure 1 is already partially decorated, including some candles in the form of tea lights 22, which are each arranged in a circular hole on the top side of the rings 20, centrally between two adjacent outer contour sections 16. For the attachment of further Fig. 1 tree decoration not shown, the rings 20 have some small holes 24 along their inner circumference.

[0047] In the enlarged view of the tree top in Fig. 2 clearly shows that the two plates 10a, 10b forming the base support 10 each have a recess 26 which encloses a central longitudinal axis of the decorative tree. These recesses 26 are approximately circular, so that the two recesses 26 together form a spherical free space in which a tree decoration in the form of a ball 28 is arranged. Furthermore, in the enlarged view of the Fig. 2 that the rings 20 each have an outer edge 30 on their outer circumference, which is flush with an outer contour section 16.

[0048] Fig. Figure 3 shows a lower section of the trunk 12, in which the two plates 10a, 10b forming the base support 10 have further recesses 26 enclosing the central longitudinal axis. These recesses 26 are trapezoidal and form a larger, somewhat higher free space in which a fragrance bowl 32 containing a tea light 22 is arranged. The fragrance bowl 32 stands with a frame on a circular plate 34, which is attached to the base support 10 in the region of the lower end of the recesses 26.

[0049] In Fig. 4 is the decoration tree from Fig. 1 in a view directly from above. It can be seen that the two plates 10a, 10b of the base support are arranged at right angles to each other, forming a cross. The four rings 20 are sized so that they all fit together. Each ring 20 has a circular outer circumference 36 with an outer diameter and an inner circumference 38 with an inner diameter. The largest ring 20 is arranged furthest down. The next smallest ring 20, arranged above it, has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the lowest ring 20.

[0050] The inner circumference 38 of the rings 20 deviates from a circular shape because the width of the rings 20 is increased in the area of ​​the tea lights 22 and in the area of ​​attachment to the outer contour sections 16. In addition, one can see in Fig. 4, each ring 20 is composed of two ring segments 20a, 20b. The division points are arranged on the outer contour sections 16 of the plate 10a.

[0051] Fig. Figure 5 shows the two plates 10a, 10b forming the base support 10 before assembly. A first plate 10a has a slot 40 along its central longitudinal axis extending from the bottom up to approximately the middle. The other plate 10b has a slot 42 along the central longitudinal axis extending from the tip 14 down to approximately half the height. Using these two slots 40, 42, the two plates 10a, 10b can be plugged together to form the base support 10.

[0052] In addition, Fig. 5 clearly shows that each plate 10a, 10b has a plurality of recesses 44 arranged one above the other between a section forming the trunk 12 and the sections forming the outer contour sections 16. A strip-shaped section 46 is formed below the lowest recess 44 and above and below the middle recess 44. These strip-shaped sections 46 are arranged similarly to the branches of a natural tree and each connect the section forming the trunk 12 to one of the outer contour sections 16.

[0053] Finally, one recognizes in Fig. 5, that the plate 10a has a recess 48 in the area of ​​the outer contour sections 16, where the rings 20a / 20b will later be assembled, forming a through opening. The other plate 10b has horizontally inwardly directed slots 60 on the outer edges of the outer contour sections 16, which serve to secure the ring segments 20a / 20b.

[0054] In Fig. 6 shows the base support 10 after the two plates 10a, 10b have been joined together. Also shown are the ring segments 20a, 20b of the lowermost ring 20, still spaced from the base support 10. The ring segments 20a, 20b each have a slot 62 in the center of their inner circumference 38, which later accommodates a portion of the outer contour section 10b adjacent to the recess 48.

[0055] At both ends of the ring segments 20a, 20b there is a fastening section 50 and a receptacle 52, which Fig. 7. The fastening sections 50 and the receptacles 52 are each designed to complement one another, so that the two ring segments 20a, 20b can be plugged together such that a fastening section 50 of a ring segment 20a engages in a receptacle 52 of the adjacent ring segment 20b.

[0056] Also in Fig. 7 shows that the ring segments 20a, 20b each have two end faces 54 at each end, which, after assembly on the base support 10, rest against an outer contour section 16. A semicircular opening is located within the receptacle 52, as well as on a later opposite side of an associated fastening section 50.

[0057] Fig. 8 shows the two ring segments 20a, 20b from Fig. 7 after attachment to an outer contour section 16. The two semicircular openings now together form a vertically extending opening 56, into which a locking pin 58 is inserted. As a result, the two segments 20a, 20b are positively fixed relative to each other and in their arrangement on the outer contour section 16. List of reference symbols 10 base supports 10a, 10b plate 12 tribe 14 lace 16 outer contour sections 18 Stand 20 rings 20a, 20b ring segment 22 tealights 24 bore 26 recess 28 balls 30 outer edge 32 fragrance bowl 34 plate 36 outer circumference 38 inner circumference 40 slot 42 slot 44 recess 46 strip-shaped section 48 Recess (through opening) 50 fastening section 52 recording 54 frontal area 56 Opening 58 Locking pin 60 slot 62 slot QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 02 / 054923 A1

[0004] ES 163480 U

[0005] CN 201422724 Y

[0006] ES 1067745 U

[0007] DE 203 17 291 U1

[0008] GB 2584093 A

[0009]

Claims

[1] Decoration tree with • a base support (10) which forms a trunk (12) and several outer contour sections (16) extending obliquely outwards and downwards from a tree top (14), and • several horizontally arranged rings (20) which are attached to the outer contour sections (16). [2] Decorative tree according to claim 1, wherein the outer contour sections (16) end at a vertical distance from a lower end of the base support (10) and / or wherein a base (18) is formed at a lower end of the base support (10). [3] Decorative tree according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base support (10) has at least two vertically arranged plates (10a, 10b) which are connected to one another in the region of the trunk (12), each plate (10a, 10b) forming a section of the trunk (12) and at least one outer contour section (16). [4] Decorative tree according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the plates (10a, 10b) has at least one recess (26) between the part forming a section of the trunk (12) and the outer contour section (16). [5] Decorative tree according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the plates (10a, 10b) has a strip-shaped section (46) which adjoins one of the recesses (26) and connects the part of the plate (10a, 10b) forming a section of the trunk (12) to the outer contour section (16) of the plate (10a, 10b). [6] Decorative tree according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each plate (10a, 10b) has a recess (26) in a region which includes a central longitudinal axis of the tree, so that the recesses (26) together form a centrally arranged free space. [7] Decorative tree according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the rings (20) has a horizontally arranged ring surface on the upper side. [8] Decorative tree according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the rings (20) has on its outer circumference (36) an outer edge (30) which is flush with an outer contour section (16). [9] Decorative tree according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of the rings (20) has a slot (62) on its inner circumference (38) which receives an outer contour section (16) and / or that at least one of the outer contour sections (16) has a slot (60) which receives one of the rings (20). [10] Decorative tree according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the rings (20) each have an outer diameter and an inner diameter, wherein the outer diameter of a ring (20) is smaller than the inner diameter of a ring (20) arranged below this ring (20). [11] Decorative tree according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one of the rings (20) is divided into ring segments (20a, 20b) at two or more division points, wherein the division points are arranged in particular on one of the outer contour sections (16). [12] Decorative tree according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the ring segments (20a, 20b) has at least one end face (54) at each of its two ends, which bears against a side face of one of the outer contour sections (16). [13] Decorative tree according to claim 11 or 12, wherein at least one of the ring segments (20a, 20b) has at least one end a fastening portion (50) which is inserted into a recess (26) of an outer contour portion (16) and / or is passed through a recess (26) of an outer contour portion (16). [14] Decorative tree according to claim 13, wherein the fastening section (50) of a ring segment (20a, 20b) is inserted into a complementarily shaped receptacle (52) of an adjacent ring segment (20a, 20b), wherein in particular a locking element is provided which locks the fastening section (50) in a form-fitting manner in the receptacle (52) and / or on the outer contour section (16), wherein the locking element is in particular a locking pin (58) which is inserted in the vertical direction into an opening (56) which is arranged between the fastening section (50) and the receptacle (52).

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