Invertible Christmas Tree With Gravity-Deploying Pivot Limbs
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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 in terms of dexterity and safety.
Innovation Solution
An artificial Christmas tree design featuring a central trunk with two pivotably attached trunk portions, allowing for automatic deployment by inversion, with limbs that pivot between collapsed and deployed orientations using gravity or manual movement, and a clasp to secure the trunk in position, along with optional lighting and a wheeled base for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If limbs are pivotably attached to the trunk for collapsible storage, then storage space is reduced, but the process of transitioning from collapsed to deployed configuration becomes labor intensive and requires significant strength and dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by having the user invert the entire tree rather than manually positioning each limb. The trunk is designed to pivot 180 degrees from an inverted stored position to an upright deployed position, automatically causing limbs to extend outward due to gravity and mechanical design. This reverses the conventional approach where limbs are manually adjusted.
Solution Approach 2:
The tree structure is designed to self-deploy through gravity and mechanical linkage. When the trunk is inverted and then uprighted, the limbs automatically transition from collapsed to deployed positions without requiring manual manipulation of each limb. The mechanical design ensures that the act of inverting and uprighting the trunk automatically positions all limbs.
2Ease of operation
If the entire tree is picked up and reoriented for deployment, then limb positioning is achieved, but the maneuver becomes dangerous and requires strength beyond many users' capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The trunk is divided into two separate portions: a lower fixed portion that remains stationary and an upper rotatable portion that pivots 180 degrees. This segmentation allows the heavy operation to be isolated to only the upper portion, which is lighter and safer to manipulate, while the lower portion provides stable support on the ground.
Solution Approach 2:
A pivot joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed lower trunk portion and the rotatable upper trunk portion. This pivot joint facilitates the 180-degree rotation and automatically positions the limbs during the inversion process, eliminating the need for users to directly manipulate the entire tree structure.
3Volume of moving object
If limbs are removably attached to the trunk, then storage compactness is improved, but assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The limbs are pivotably attached rather than removably attached, creating a dynamic structure that can transition between collapsed and deployed states. This pivotable connection allows limbs to be positioned automatically through the inversion mechanism, eliminating the time-consuming process of manual attachment and positioning that would be required with removable limbs.
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 and safe transition between collapsed and deployed configurations without requiring high strength or dexterity, ensuring quick setup and storage while maintaining light functionality.
Implementation Method 1
automatic deployment of the limbs of the Christmas tree upon such inversion of the Christmas tree
Implementation Method 2
at least one second trunk portion pivotably attached to the first trunk portion, at least indirectly, through at least one pivot joint
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 such 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.