Fast-Acting Tree Stand Screw Assembly for Irregular Trunks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tree stands for live Christmas trees face challenges in securely supporting non-uniform tree trunks, requiring trial and error to adjust threaded bolts, and lack ease of assembly and operation, stability, and minimal loose parts for shipping.
Innovation Solution
A tree stand with a conical shape and fast-acting screw assemblies featuring a slide engager, button, and spring mechanism that allows for quick and secure tree trunk engagement, reducing the need for multiple bolt rotations and incorporating a broad water basin for stability and easy water replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded bolts are used to secure the tree trunk, then the tree can be held upright, but multiple trial and error rotations are required to achieve proper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning multiple threaded bolts at different locations and angles around the water basin. This allows the tree trunk to be secured quickly by simply rotating the bolts into place without requiring trial and error adjustments, as the bolts are already positioned to accommodate various trunk shapes and sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the bolt positions adjustable and reconfigurable. The bolts can be rotated to different angles and positions around the basin, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to non-uniform tree trunk geometries. This dynamic positioning capability eliminates the need for trial and error while maintaining reliable securing.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform bolt spacing is used around the tree trunk, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptation to non-uniform trunk shapes becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning threaded bolts at non-uniform intervals and angles around the water basin. This asymmetric arrangement allows the bolts to accommodate various trunk diameters, crookedness, and non-circular cross-sections. The asymmetric bolt placement provides multiple engagement points that can adapt to irregular trunk geometries while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized bolt components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a broad water basin is used for stability, then tree support is improved, but stacking height increases for shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by designing the water basin with a broad, shallow geometry rather than a narrow, deep shape. This spreads the stability-providing surface area across the horizontal plane (two dimensions) rather than extending vertically (one dimension). The result is a basin that provides excellent stability for supporting trees of various trunk sizes while maintaining a low profile that reduces stacking height for shipping.
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 tree stand provides easy and quick adjustment for securing trees upright, ensuring axial and lateral strength, minimal parts for shipping, and enhanced stability with a low stacking height, addressing the challenges of non-uniform tree trunks and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned between the button and the slide engager
Implementation Method 2
a threaded bolt positioned within the water basin and having threaded engagement with the slide engager
Data Source
AI summary
A tree stand assembly including a container defining a basin and a plurality of securement assemblies attached to the container. The securement assemblies are spaced from each other and define a space within the container for receiving the base of a tree trunk. Each securement assembly has a support member having a passageway in an upper portion thereof and a fast-acting screw assembly. Each fast-acting screw assembly includes an engager having a threaded recess portion, and a bolt having a threaded shank designed to threadedly engage the recess portion threads when the bolt extends through the passageway. The engager has a normal or biased condition allowing the bolt to slide in a first axial direction in the passageway while preventing the bolt from sliding in an opposing second axial direction.