Christmas Tree Stand Inserts for Stable, Damage-Free Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Christmas tree stands are difficult to deploy and often damage the tree due to lack of locking mechanisms for the legs, causing instability and potential injury, and require set screws to penetrate the trunk for support, leading to tree damage and instability.
Innovation Solution
A Christmas tree stand with concentric cylinders and locking mechanisms that allow legs to rotate between retracted and deployed positions, featuring removable inserts with varying inner diameters and tree retention devices to secure the tree without penetration, and a locking mechanism to stabilize the stand during deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If set screws are used to secure the tree to the stand, then the tree can be supported, but the tree trunk is damaged by penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insert as an intermediary component between the set screw and the tree trunk. The insert is inserted into the tree trunk first, providing a protective interface, and then the set screw secures the insert rather than directly penetrating the tree trunk. This mediator approach allows the tree to be supported while minimizing direct damage to the tree trunk.
2Stability of the object's composition
If set screws are extended to lock the stand in deployed position, then the stand is stable, but the tree must already be in place making deployment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the locking function into two separate mechanisms: one for securing the tree (set screw securing the insert) and one for locking the stand legs in position (latch mechanism on the collar). This segmentation allows the stand to be deployed and locked independently of tree insertion, improving ease of operation while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism on the collar allows the stand legs to be locked in the deployed position before the tree is inserted. This preliminary action of locking the stand structure eliminates the need to have the tree in place to stabilize the legs during deployment, making the operation easier and safer.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the stand legs are movable between retracted and deployed positions, then storage is improved, but the legs can move back and forth causing instability during tree insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism enables preliminary locking of the legs in the deployed position before tree insertion occurs. This preliminary action stabilizes the stand structure, preventing leg movement during tree insertion while still allowing the legs to be retracted for storage when needed.
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
The solution provides a stable and damage-free deployment of Christmas trees by locking the stand in place and using inserts to secure the tree without penetrating the trunk, reducing user effort and tree damage, and allowing for versatile support of trees of different sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of tree retention devices disposed on an inner surface of the insert and configured to frictionally engage an outer surface of a Christmas tree
Data Source
AI summary
A system for mounting decorative objects, such as Christmas trees, is disclosed. The system can include a base and a plurality of inserts. The base can comprise a plurality of feet that have a retracted position for ready storage and a deployed position for supporting a tree. The base can further comprise a locking mechanism for locking the feet in the retracted position, the deployed position, or both. The base can further comprise an adapter for receiving one or more inserts. The inserts can comprise a consistent outer diameter, for insertion into the adapter, and a variety of inner diameters for use with a variety of tree diameters. The insert can be installed on the trunk of a tree and then installed into the adapter on the base simplifying the tree erection process.