Invertible Christmas tree
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible Christmas trees require significant labor and strength to transition from a collapsed to a deployed configuration, posing difficulties for users due to the need to reorient the entire tree and potentially leading to injury or damage.
Innovation Solution
An artificial Christmas tree design featuring a central trunk with two pivotable trunk portions, allowing for automatic deployment by inverting the tree, with limbs that pivot between collapsed and deployed orientations, facilitated by a pivot joint and a clasp for secure positioning, and optionally including a wheeled base for easy movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the Christmas tree is made collapsible with pivotable limbs, then storage space is reduced, but the labor and strength required to deploy the tree increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional deployment approach by having the user invert the entire tree rather than manually positioning each limb. The limbs are designed to automatically pivot from collapsed to deployed orientation through gravity when the tree is inverted, reversing the cause-effect relationship between user action and limb deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The limbs are designed to self-deploy automatically when the tree is inverted. The pivot joints and center of gravity are configured so that the limbs naturally transition from the collapsed to deployed position without requiring manual manipulation, making the system serve itself during deployment.
2Ease of operation
If the limbs are pivotably attached to allow automatic deployment, then ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trunk is divided into multiple segments (first trunk portion and second trunk portion) that can pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the tree to be collapsed into a compact form while enabling automatic deployment through gravitational force acting on the segmented structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The trunk portions are designed with pivot joints that allow dynamic movement between collapsed and deployed states. The structure transitions from a static rigid form to a dynamic system that can automatically reconfigure based on gravitational forces and center of gravity positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy transition from a collapsed to a deployed configuration with minimal strength or dexterity required, ensuring safe and damage-free setup and storage, while maintaining light connectivity throughout the process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one second trunk portion pivotably attached to the first trunk portion... allowing for automatic deployment by inverting the tree
Implementation Method 2
the limbs pivot between a collapsed orientation and a deployed orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the second trunk portion
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial Christmas tree includes a central trunk broken into at least two separate portions including a fixed trunk portion and at least one rotating trunk portion. The fixed trunk extends up from an underlying base. Rotating trunks rotatably attach at midpoints thereof at least indirectly to an upper end of the fixed trunk. Limbs are pivotably attached to the rotating trunks with optional lights coupled thereto. These limbs pivot between a perpendicular orientation extending from the rotating trunks and a collapsed configuration closer to a centerline of the rotating trunks. The rotating trunks can be pivoted from a first collapsed configuration with a first end above a second end to a deployed configuration with the second end above the first end. During pivoting, the limbs attached to the rotating trunk transition between a collapsed to a deployed configuration automatically. A wheeled base and cover further facilitate storage and deployment.