Constructible cardboard tree

Abstract

There is provided a constructible cardboard tree comprising at least a first branching layer, the first branching layer comprising a trunk portion, the trunk portion comprising an inner core and an outer core substantially surrounding the inner core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross-section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein each of the first vertices is substantially aligned with and in physical contact with one of the second vertices, and wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices.

Description

[0001]10430 / 7607 / P / GB Title – Constructible cardboard tree The present invention relates to a constructible cardboard tree, and more particularly to a constructible cardboard Christmas tree. It is estimated that around 350 million Christmas trees are sold worldwide every year, and the sales of real Christmas have declined in recent years due to the popularity and availability of artificial Christmas trees. In particular, because artificial trees can be used for multiple years, they generally work out cheaper for the end consumer on a cost-per-use basis than real Christmas trees, making them more popular. However, despite lasting longer, artificial Christmas trees are still typically less environmentally friendly than real Christmas trees. The average lifespan of an artificial Christmas tree remains relatively short at around five years, and artificial trees require intensive carbon emissions to produce and ship them. Moreover, because of the material they are made of, most artificial Christmas trees are not recyclable and end up in local landfills at the end of their life. More recently, to overcome this problem, cardboard Christmas trees have been provided that are fully recyclable and therefore more environmentally friendly. However, these cardboard alternatives are typically structurally weak, which means that they do not last long, making them poor value for the end consumer on a cost-per-use basis. Moreover, because of their structural weakness, it is difficult to decorate the cardboard trees with decorations in the same way that a real or artificial tree would be decorated. As a result, cardboard trees are typically unauthentic, making them undesirable. There has now been devised an improved constructible cardboard tree, which overcomes or substantially mitigates disadvantages associated with the prior art. 10430 / 7607 / P / GB According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a constructible cardboard tree comprising at least a first branching layer, the first branching layer comprising a trunk portion, the trunk portion comprising an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross-section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein each of the first vertices is substantially aligned and in contact with one of the second vertices, and wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing a constructible cardboard tree, the method comprising: providing a first branching layer, the first branching layer comprising a trunk portion, the trunk portion comprising an inner core, and an outer core substantially surrounding the inner core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross-section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices; and positioning the inner and outer cores such that each of the first vertices is substantially aligned and in contact with one of the second vertices. The tree according to the first aspect of the invention may be advantageous in that the arrangement of the inner and outer cores enables the construction of a cardboard tree that is structurally strong enough to last longer than conventional cardboard trees, and to hang decorations on, thereby providing a viable environmentally friendly alternative to real and artificial Christmas trees. By constructible, it is meant that the cardboard tree is constructible and dismantlable, i.e. so that the tree may be put together and taken apart multiple times. In this regard, the tree may be provided as a kit of parts that is intended to be fixed together to form the tree according to the first aspect of the invention. For example, the tree may be provided as a plurality of panels that are intended to be 10430 / 7607 / P / GB folded and / or fixed together to form the tree according to the first aspect of the invention. Hence, according to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts arranged to form a constructible cardboard tree comprising at least a first branching layer, the kit of parts comprising a plurality of inner panels and a plurality of outer panels, the inner panels being configured to be fixed together to form an inner core, the outer panels being configured to be fixed together to form an outer core, the inner and outer panels being configured to be fixed together such that the outer core substantially surrounds the inner core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross-section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein of the first vertices is substantially aligned with and in physical contact with one of the second vertices, and wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices. The term “cardboard” may be defined as any material made from cellulose fibre, such as wood pulp, and is used as a generic term to cover heavy paper-based materials. The cardboard may be a thick paper, known in the field as paperboard, or a corrugated fibreboard, which is made of multiple plies of material, and is made of a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards. Each of the first vertices may be substantially aligned with a different one of the second vertices. Each of the first vertices may be substantially aligned with alternating vertices of the second vertices, such that alternating second vertices are aligned and in contact with a first vertex, and alternating second vertices are not aligned with or in contact with a first vertex. The number of second vertices may be an integral multiple of the number of first vertices, and the multiple or integral multiple is more than one. 10430 / 7607 / P / GB The inner core may be formed by a plurality of inner core portions fixed together. Each inner core portion may comprise an engagement portion arranged to engage an adjacent inner core portion and / or a receiving portion arranged to receive an adjacent inner core portion. Each of the inner core portions may have at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom. Each of the inner core portions and the at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom may be formed by a single cardboard panel. The outer core may be formed by a plurality of outer core portions fixed together. Each outer core portion may comprise an engagement portion arranged to engage an adjacent outer core portion and / or a receiving portion arranged to receive an adjacent outer core portion. Each of the outer core portions may have at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom. Each of the outer core portions and the at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom may be formed by a single cardboard panel. The first cross-section may be a substantially triangular cross-section and the number of first vertices may therefore be three. The second cross-section may be a substantially hexagonal cross-section and the second number of vertices may therefore be six. The three first vertices may therefore be substantially aligned with three different second vertices. Those three second vertices may be alternating second vertices, such that alternating second vertices are aligned and in contact with a first vertex, and alternating second vertices are not aligned with or in contact with a first vertex. The first branching layer may comprise at least one intermediate branch portion that extends between two branch portions. The at least one intermediate branch portion may extend between an inner branch portion and an outer branch portion. The at least one intermediate branch portion may comprise a plurality of intermediate branch portions. 10430 / 7607 / P / GB A central longitudinal axis of the inner core of the first branching layer and a central longitudinal axis of the outer core of the first branching layer may be substantially aligned. The constructible cardboard tree may comprise at least a second branching layer. The second branching layer may comprise a trunk portion, the trunk portion comprising an inner core and an outer core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross- section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein each of the first vertices is substantially aligned with one of the second vertices, and wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices. A central longitudinal axis of the inner core of the second branching layer and a central longitudinal axis of the outer core of the second branching layer may be substantially aligned. The central longitudinal axis of the inner core of the second branching layer and the central longitudinal axis of the outer core of the second branching layer may be substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner core of the first branching layer and the central longitudinal axis of the outer core of the first branching layer. The first cross-section of the inner core of the second branching layer may be substantially the same as the first cross-section of the inner core of the first branching layer, and / or the number of first vertices of the inner core of the second branching layer may be the same as the number of first vertices of the inner core of the first branching layer. For example, the first cross-section of the inner core of the second branching layer may be a substantially triangular cross-section and the number of first vertices may therefore be three. 10430 / 7607 / P / GB The second cross-section of the outer core of the second branching layer may be substantially the same as the second cross-section of the outer core of the first branching layer, and / or the number of second vertices of the inner core of the second branching layer may be the same as the number of second vertices of the outer core of the first branching layer. For example, the second cross-section of the outer core of the second branching layer may be a substantially hexagonal cross-section and the second number of vertices may therefore be six. The first and second branching layers may be deliberately or intentionally misaligned or rotationally offset from one another. The inner core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally misaligned with the inner core of the second branching layer, and / or the outer core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally misaligned with the outer core of the second branching layer. The inner core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally rotationally offset from the inner core of the second branching layer, and / or the outer core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally rotationally offset from the outer core of the second branching layer. The first vertices of the first cross-section of the inner core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally misaligned with the first vertices of the first cross-section of the inner core of the second branching layer, and / or the second vertices of the second cross-section of the outer core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally misaligned with the second vertices of the second cross-section of the outer core of the second branching layer. The first vertices of the first cross-section of the inner core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally rotationally offset from the first vertices of the first cross-section of the inner core of the second branching layer, and / or the second vertices of the second cross-section of the outer core of the first branching layer may be deliberately or intentionally rotationally offset from the second vertices of the second cross-section of the outer core of the second branching layer. 10430 / 7607 / P / GB The rotational offset described above may be about the central longitudinal axis of the inner and / or outer cores of the first and / or second branching layers. This may be advantageous in that it gives a non-symmetry to the branch portions of adjacent layers, which gives the tree a more authentic look. The first branching layer may comprise one or more connectors for connecting to the second branching layer in use. The second branching layer may comprise one or more connectors for connecting to the first branching layer in use. The one or more connectors of the first branching layer and the second branching layer may be rotationally offset, i.e. such that the first and second branching layers are rotationally offset as described above. The constructible cardboard tree may comprise a base portion. The constructible cardboard tree may be a Christmas tree. For example, the constructible cardboard tree may be coloured, shaped, dimensioned or decorated in the same way as a conventional Christmas tree. Practicable embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1A is an exploded perspective view of the construction of a base for a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 1B is a perspective view of the constructed base for a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2A is an exploded perspective view of the part-construction of an inner portion of a lower layer of a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; 10430 / 7607 / P / GB Figure 2B is an exploded perspective view of the part-construction of an inner portion of a lower layer of a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2C is a perspective view of the constructed inner portion of a lower layer of a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3A is an exploded perspective view of the part-construction of an outer portion of a lower layer of a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3B is a perspective view of the constructed outer portion of a lower layer of a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4A is an exploded perspective view of the part-construction of an intermediate portion of a lower layer of a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4B is a perspective view of the constructed lower layer of a cardboard tree according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 1A illustrates an exploded view of a base of a cardboard tree. The base is made-up of a first base panel 10, a second base panel 12, a third base panel 14, and a base cover 24. Each of the first base panel 10, the second base panel 12, and the third base panel 14 comprises a pair of legs that extend from a central portion of the panel. The first base panel 10 comprises an upper engagement slot 16 and an upper engagement portion 26. The second base panel 12 comprises a lower engagement slot 18, an upper engagement slot 20, and an upper engagement portion 26. The third base panel 14 comprises a lower engagement slot 22 and an upper engagement portion 26. In use the second base panel is fitted over the first base panel 10 so that the lower engagement slot 18 of the second base panel 12 10430 / 7607 / P / GB engages the upper engagement slot 16 of the first base panel 10. The third base panel 14 is fitted over the second base panel 12 so that the lower engagement slot 22 of the third base panel 14 engages the upper engagement slot 20 of the second base panel 12. The panels are fitted together such that the six legs of the three panels are arranged symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the base. Finally, base cover 24 is fitted over the third base panel 14. The base cover 24 also comprises engagement portions (not labelled in figure 1A) that engage with the legs of the base panels. Figure 1B illustrates the base of figure 1A when constructed. In figure 1B, it can be seen that the base cover 24 comprises a hollow end through which the upper engagement portions 26 of the base panels 10, 12, 14 protrude. In use, these upper engagement portions 26 are used to engage the core or trunk of a first layer of the tree, described below. Figures 2A and 2B illustrate exploded views of a part of an inner portion of a first layer of a tree. The first layer comprises a plurality of inner panels 30. Each inner panel 30 comprises a central portion 32 and inner branch portions 34 extending either side of the central portion. The inner branch portions 34 extend from the central portion 32 via a connecting portion 35. Each central portion 32 comprises a lower engagement portion 38 and an upper engagement portion 36. In use, a first inner panel 30 is fitted into the base 28 in the direction illustrated by the directional arrow shown in Figures 2A and 2B. Subsequently, a second inner panel 30 is slotted over the first inner panel, and fitted into the base 28, such that the inner panels 30 are adjacent one another, but their central portions 32 are angled relative to one another. Finally, a third inner panel 30 is slotted over the first inner panel 30 and the second inner panel 30, and fitted into the base 28, such that the three inner panels 30 are adjacent one another, but their central portions 32 are angled relative to one another. 10430 / 7607 / P / GB The connecting portions 35 of each inner panel 30 are provided at different positions along the central portions 32, so that the inner panels 30 can be slotted over one another in use, thus forming an inner core 40 (illustrated in Figure 2C), and providing structural rigidity between the inner panels 30 of each layer. The lower engagement portion 38 of each inner panel 30 is arranged to engage the upper engagement portions 26 of the base panels 10, 12, 14 of the base 28cover 24 in use. Each upper engagement portion 36 is arranged to engage the core of a second layer of the tree in use. This provides structural rigidity between layers of the tree. Figure 2C illustrates the inner portion of a first layer of a tree when constructed. In this example, the inner core 40 has the shape of an open-ended triangular prism, because the inner portion of the first layer of the tree consists of three inner panels 30. The inner core 40 therefore has three upper edges and three upper vertices, three lower edges and three lower vertices, three side edges that traverse between the three upper vertices and the three lower vertices, and three side surfaces (the central portions 32 of the inner panels 30) that traverse between the three upper edges and the three lower edges. Furthermore, because the first layer consists of three inner panels 30, and thus the inner core 40 consists of three central portions 32, each of the inner panels is placed at a 60-degree angle to the adjacent panel 30, thus providing an inner core having a triangular cross section. It can be seen from Figure 2C that when the inner panels 30 are fitted together, the positioning of the connecting portion 35 and the shape of the upper engagement portion 36 of each panel 30 is such that upper engagement slots 37 are formed in the inner core 40. Figure 3A illustrates an exploded view of a part of an outer portion of a first layer of a tree. The first layer comprises a plurality of outer panels 50. Each outer panel 50 comprises a central portion 52 and outer branch portions 54 extending either side 10430 / 7607 / P / GB of the central portion. The outer branch portions 54 extend from the central portion 52 via a connecting portion 55. Each central portion 52 comprises a lower engagement portion 58 and an upper engagement portion 56. Each central portion 52 is folded along a centreline to form two central portions that are angled relative to one another in use. In use, a first outer panel 50 is fitted into the inner portion of the first layer in the direction illustrated by the directional arrow shown in Figure 3A. Subsequently, a second outer panel 50 is slotted over the first outer panel, and fitted into the inner portion of the first layer, such that the outer panels 50 are adjacent one another, but their central portions 52 are angled relative to one another. Finally, a third outer panel 50 is slotted over the first inner panel 50 and the second outer panel 50, and fitted into the inner portion of the first layer, such that the three outer panels 50 are adjacent one another, but their central portions 52 are angled relative to one another. The connecting portions 55 of each outer panel 50 are provided at different positions along the central portions 52, so that the outer panels 50 can be slotted over one another in use, thus forming an outer core 60 (illustrated in Figure 3B), and providing structural rigidity between the outer panels 50 of each layer. The lower engagement portion 58 of each outer panel 50 is shaped to form a lower engagement slot 57 that is arranged to engage with the corresponding upper engagement slot 37 of the inner core 40. This provides structural rigidity between the outer portion and the inner portion of the first layer. Each upper engagement portion 56 is arranged to engage the core of a second layer of the tree in use. This provides structural rigidity between layers of the tree. Figure 3B illustrates the outer portion of a first layer of a tree when constructed. In this example, the outer core 60 has the shape of an open-ended hexagonal prism because the outer portion of the first layer of the tree consists of three outer panels 50 each having a folded central portion 52. The outer core 60 therefore has six upper edges and six upper vertices, six lower edges and six lower vertices, six 10430 / 7607 / P / GB side edges that traverse between the six upper vertices and the six lower vertices, and six side surfaces (the central portions 52 of the inner panels 50) that traverse between the six upper edges and the six lower edges. Furthermore, because the first layer consists of three outer panels 50, and thus the inner core 60 consists of six central portions 52 (i.e. three folded central portions), each of the outer panels is placed at a 120-degree angle to the adjacent panel 50, thus providing an outer core having a hexagonal cross section. From Figure 3B, it can be seen that when the outer panels 50 are fitted over the inner panels 30, the first layer of the tree comprises 12 branch portions, consisting of six inner branch portions 34 and six outer branch portions 54. The branch portions are labelled as inner branch portions and outer branch portions based solely on the core from which they originate (i.e. the inner core 40 or the outer core 60), and this is no indication as to the length, width, or extension from the core, of the branch portions. Figure 4A illustrates an exploded view of a part of an intermediate portion of a first layer of a tree. The first layer comprises a plurality of intermediate panels 64. Each intermediate panel 64 comprises first and second engagement portions 66. The first engagement portion 66 is arranged to engage with a corresponding engagement portion of an inner branch portion 34 (not illustrated in Fig.4A). The second engagement portion 66 is arranged to engage with a corresponding engagement portion 68 of an outer branch portion 54, having the form a slot corresponding in shape and dimensions to at least part of the second engagement portion 66. This provides structural rigidity between the inner branch portions 34 and the outer branch portions 54. Figure 4B illustrates the entire first layer 62 of a tree when constructed. Here it can be seen that an intermediate panel 64 is provided in each of the gaps between the inner branch portions 34 and the outer branch portions 54. Here it can also be seen that the upper engagement portions 56 of the outer core 60 protrude relative to the first layer 62, so that a second layer of the tree can be fixed there too. 10430 / 7607 / P / GB From Figures 3B and 4A it can be seen that the inner panels 30 and the outer panels 50 are positioned such that the three side edges of the inner core 40 are substantially aligned with three alternate edges of the six side edges of the outer core 50. Similarly, the inner panels 30 and the outer panels 50 are positioned such that the three upper vertices of the inner core 40 are substantially aligned with three alternate vertices of the six upper vertices of the outer core 50, and the three lower vertices of the inner core 40 are substantially aligned with three alternate vertices of the six lower vertices of the outer core 50. This provides structural rigidity to the inner and outer cores 40, 60, which together form the tree trunk. Although not illustrated, in preferable embodiments, the inner core and outer core of adjacent layers are deliberately rotationally misaligned. That is, the inner core and outer core of each layer have a central longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned, and the inner core and outer core of adjacent layers are substantially aligned. However, the corresponding edges and vertices of the inner core and the outer core of adjacent layers are deliberately rotationally offset about that central longitudinal axis. The edges and vertices may be rotationally offset by for example, less than 20 degrees, less than 10 degrees, or less than 5 degrees. This may be advantageous in that it gives a non-symmetry to the branch portions of adjacent layers, which gives the tree a more authentic look. In practice, this rotational offset may be recognised by the positioning of slots on the inner and outer core of adjacent layers. For example, it can be seen in Figure 3B that the slots of the upper engagement portions 36, 56 of the inner and outer cores 40, 60 are offset from the centre of the individual central portions 32, 52 of the panels 30, 50. By offsetting the lower engagement portions of the inner and outer cores of a second layer that is placed on top of the illustrated layer, the inner and outer cores will be rotationally offset from one another. In the embodiments illustrated herein, the various engagement portions are shown as being slots within the cardboard panels. However, this is an example only, and it is anticipated that the engagement portions can take various different forms, 10430 / 7607 / P / GB provided those engagement portions intended to fit together have corresponding forms. In the embodiments illustrated herein, the inner core 40 is shown as having the shape of a hollow-ended triangular prism, and the outer core 60 is shown as having the shape of a hollow-ended hexagonal prism. However, this is an example only, and it is anticipated that the inner core 40 and outer core 60 could take alternative forms, provided the outer core 60 has a number of upper vertices, upper edges, lower vertices, lower edges, and side edges that is a multiple of the number of upper vertices, upper edges, lower vertices, lower edges, and side edges of the inner core 40. For example, it is envisaged that the inner core 40 could have the form of an open- ended cuboidal prism, and the outer core 60 could have the form of an octagonal prism. Alternatively, it is envisaged that the inner core 40 could have the form of an open-ended triangular prism, and the outer core 60 could have the form of a nonagonal prism. It will be understood that the drawings are indicative of an example tree only, and are intended to show the construction of the tree rather than the final form of the tree itself. For example, it is envisaged that the specific form (i.e. shape, size and colour) of the branch portions or other components may be varied according to the desired end design of the tree.

Claims

10430 / 7607 / P / GB Claims 1. A constructible cardboard tree comprising at least a first branching layer, the first branching layer comprising a trunk portion, the trunk portion comprising an inner core and an outer core substantially surrounding the inner core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross-section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein each of the first vertices is substantially aligned with and in physical contact with one of the second vertices, and wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices.

2. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 1, wherein each of the first vertices is substantially aligned with and in physical contact with alternating vertices of the second vertices.

3. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the inner core is formed by a plurality of inner core portions fixed together.

4. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 3, wherein each inner core portion comprises an engagement portion arranged to engage an adjacent inner core portion and / or a receiving portion arranged to receive an adjacent inner core portion.

5. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein each of the inner core portions has at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom.

6. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 5, wherein each of the inner core portions and the corresponding at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom is formed by a single cardboard panel.10430 / 7607 / P / GB 7. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer core is formed by a plurality of outer core portions fixed together.

8. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 7, wherein each outer core portion comprises an engagement portion arranged to engage an adjacent outer core portion and / or a receiving portion arranged to receive an adjacent outer core portion.

9. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein each of the outer core portions has at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom.

10. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 9, wherein each of the outer core portions and the corresponding at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom is formed by a single cardboard panel.

11. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, wherein the first cross-section is a substantially triangular cross-section and the number of first vertices is three.

12. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, wherein the second cross-section is a substantially hexagonal cross-section and the second number of vertices is six.

13. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, wherein the first branching layer comprises at least one intermediate branch portion that extends between two branch portions.

14. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 13, herein the at least one intermediate branch portion extends between an inner branch portion and an outer branch portion.

15. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the at least one intermediate branch portion comprises a plurality of intermediate branch portions.10430 / 7607 / P / GB 16. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the inner core and a central longitudinal axis of the outer core are substantially aligned.

17. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, when dependent on Claim 3, wherein each inner core portion comprises an engagement portion arranged to engage an inner core portion of a second branching layer and / or a receiving portion arranged to receive an inner core portion of a second branching layer.

18. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, when dependent on Claim 7, wherein each outer core portion comprises an engagement portion arranged to engage an outer core portion of a second branching layer and / or a receiving portion arranged to receive an outer core portion of a second branching layer.

19. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, wherein the constructible cardboard tree comprises at least a second branching layer, and the second branching layer comprises a trunk portion, the trunk portion comprising an inner core and an outer core substantially surrounding the inner core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross-section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein each of the first vertices is substantially aligned with and in physical contact with one of the second vertices, and wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices.

20. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 19, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the inner core of the second branching layer and a central longitudinal axis of the outer core of the second branching layer are substantially aligned.10430 / 7607 / P / GB 21. A constructible cardboard tree according to Claim 20, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the inner core of the second branching layer and the central longitudinal axis of the outer core of the second branching layer are substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner core of the first branching layer and the central longitudinal axis of the outer core of the first branching layer.

22. A constructible cardboard tree according to any of Claims 19-21, wherein the first cross-section of the inner core of the second branching layer is substantially the same as the first cross-section of the inner core of the first branching layer, and the number of first vertices of the inner core of the second branching layer is the same as the number of first vertices of the inner core of the first branching layer.

23. A constructible cardboard tree according to any of Claims 19-22, wherein the second cross-section of the outer core of the second branching layer is substantially the same as the second cross-section of the outer core of the first branching layer, and the number of second vertices of the inner core of the second branching layer is the same as the number of second vertices of the outer core of the first branching layer.

24. A constructible cardboard tree according to any of Claims 19-23, wherein the inner core of the first branching layer is rotationally offset from the inner core of the second branching layer, and the outer core of the first branching layer is rotationally offset from the outer core of the second branching layer.

25. A constructible cardboard tree according to any of Claims 19-24, wherein the first vertices of the first cross-section of the inner core of the first branching layer are rotationally offset from the first vertices of the first cross-section of the inner core of the second branching layer, and / or wherein the second vertices of the second cross-section of the outer core of the first branching layer are rotationally offset from the second vertices of the second cross-section of the outer core of the second branching layer.10430 / 7607 / P / GB 26. A constructible cardboard tree according to any preceding claim, wherein the constructible cardboard tree comprises a base portion.

27. A kit of parts arranged to form a constructible cardboard tree comprising at least a first branching layer, the kit of parts comprising a plurality of inner panels and a plurality of outer panels, the inner panels being configured to be fixed together to form an inner core, the outer panels being configured to be fixed together to form an outer core, the inner and outer panels being configured to be fixed together such that the outer core substantially surrounds the inner core, the inner core having at least one inner branch portion extending therefrom, and the outer core having at least one outer branch portion extending therefrom, the inner core having a first cross-section defining first vertices and the outer core having a second cross-section defining second vertices, wherein each of the first vertices is substantially aligned with and in physical contact with one of the second vertices, and wherein the number of second vertices is a multiple of the number of first vertices.

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