Artificial tree assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional artificial trees are heavy, difficult to store and transport, and expensive due to their size, shape, and requirement for metal parts and expensive materials, making them impractical for repeated use throughout multiple holiday seasons.
Innovation Solution
An artificial tree assembly constructed from lightweight materials like polypropylene or expanded polypropylene foam, with a conical configuration and removable connectors, allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, and storage in a compact form, maintaining decorative items in both states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional artificial trees are constructed to maintain decorative appearance and structural integrity, then the tree provides realistic appearance and stability, but the tree becomes heavy and difficult to store and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial tree is divided into multiple collapsible segments that can be individually folded and compressed. Each segment contains branches that can be collapsed inward, allowing the entire tree to be reduced to a compact form factor for storage and transport while maintaining full structural integrity when assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The tree incorporates dynamic, movable joints and hinges that allow branches and segments to transition between extended decorative positions and collapsed storage positions. This dynamic structure enables the tree to adapt its form factor without compromising structural strength when in use
2Reliability
If conventional artificial trees are constructed with realistic decorative features, then the tree provides attractive appearance, but the tree becomes expensive due to expensive materials and manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 1:
The tree utilizes foam materials with porous structures that can be molded into realistic-looking branches and foliage at lower cost. These porous foam structures provide both the decorative appearance of natural tree textures and significantly reduced material costs compared to traditional rigid materials
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the tree components by using collapsible, compressible materials that can transition between voluminous decorative states and compact storage states. This parameter change allows the same structure to provide both realistic appearance when assembled and cost-effective storage when collapsed
3Reliability
If conventional artificial trees are constructed with large size for decorative purposes, then the tree provides full decorative effect, but the tree becomes difficult to transport and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The tree segments and branches are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with smaller components fitting inside larger ones. This nesting arrangement dramatically reduces the transport size while allowing straightforward assembly by simply expanding the nested segments back to their full decorative configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The tree is segmented into modular sections that can be independently collapsed and nested. Each segment maintains the capability to expand to full size for decorative effect, and the segmentation allows the entire structure to be compressed into a compact form for easy transport and simple assembly through sequential expansion
Data Source
AI summary
An improved artificial tree of the present invention is directed to a decorative artificial tree assembly which may be dimensioned and configured to fit on any supporting surface including, but not limited to, an interior floor, outside grounds, etc. The artificial tree may be disposed in an assembled or collapsed state. As such, the artificial tree may include a plurality tree segments and a cap member, vertically interconnected or stacked upon each other via a plurality of connectors. The artificial tree may be constructed from lightweight materials with decorative items attached to its outer surface.