Adjustable base for an ornamental tree

Abstract

A base unit for an ornamental tree is provided that includes a ground support portion adapted to rest upon an underlying surface. The base unit of further includes an adjustable riser attached to and extending upwardly from the ground support to terminate in a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the riser being configured to support a trunk of the ornamental tree. The adjustable riser comprises an adjustment component to adjust the height of the ornamental tree between the ground support portion and the distal end portion of the riser between a first and a second height.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a ground support portion adapted to rest upon an underlying surface; and   an adjustable riser attached to and extending from the ground support portion along a longitudinal axis to terminate in a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the adjustable riser adapted to support a trunk of an ornamental tree, the adjustable riser comprising an adjustment component adapted to adjust a height of the distal end portion of the adjustable riser along the longitudinal axis with respect to the ground support portion between a first height and a second height.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment component comprises a motor configured to adjust the height of the adjustable riser in response to a user input activating the motor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment component comprises a pneumatic component to adjust the height of the adjustable riser in response to controlling fluid flow through at least one valve. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment component comprises a turn crank to adjust the height of the adjustable riser in response to rotation about an axis of a crank thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller to control at least one of lights disposed on the tree and the height of the adjustable riser, the controller being one of a wired or a wireless controller. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment component automatically adjusts the height of the distal end portion of the adjustable riser relative to the ground support portion in response to a user input. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a post attached to and extending upwardly from the ground support portion with a connector at a distal end thereof, the adjustable riser insertable in a hollow core of the post with the connector configured to fix the height of the adjustable riser respect to the post in response to actuating the connector. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the connector includes a spring biased pin to mate with a given hole of a plurality of holes of the post to set the height of the adjustable riser. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the connector includes a tension ring at an opening of the post to secure the adjustable riser with respect to the post. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trunk of the tree further comprises a plurality of limbs that are pivotably attached to the trunk between first and second ends of the trunk, the plurality of limbs adapted to pivot between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is closer to horizontal than the second position when the trunk is oriented substantially vertically with the second end above the first end of the trunk. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tree includes a treetop that is removable with respect to the trunk, the treetop including a top trunk and a plurality of limbs extending laterally from the top trunk, the top trunk having a proximal end adapted to removably connect with the second end of the trunk. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ground support portion further comprises at least two wheels thereon, with the ground support portion of the base including at least another part, which does not include any wheels, such that the base can roll when tilted up onto the wheels and resist rolling when resting on both the wheels and other portions of the ground support portion of the base that are without wheels. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the other part of the ground support portion, which does not include any wheels, further comprises feet that are rotatably connected to the ground support portion and adapted to maintain contact with the underlying surface when tilted up onto the feet. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 placing a ground support portion of a base unit onto an underlying surface, the base unit comprising an adjustable riser attached to and extending from the ground support portion along a longitudinal axis thereof to terminate in a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the adjustable riser being adapted to support an elongated trunk of a tree having spaced apart first and second ends;   mounting one of the first end or the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser; and   adjusting a height of the adjustable riser to adjust a height of the tree relative to the underlying surface where the base unit is placed.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein adjusting the height of the adjustable riser occurs prior to connecting one of the first end or the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein adjusting the height of the adjustable riser while one of the first end or the second end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tree comprises a plurality of limbs that are pivotably attached to the trunk, the plurality of limbs adapted to pivot between a display condition and a storage condition,
 wherein, when the first end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the branches are in the display condition as to be closer to horizontal than the storage condition, and   wherein, when the second end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the branches are in the storage condition as to be closer to vertical than the display condition.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 tilting the base from a normal support position to a reclined position such that the base is substantially transverse to the underlying surface and the adjustable riser extends substantially parallel with the underlying surface;   attaching one of the first end of the trunk or the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser; and   tilting the base from the reclined position back to the normal support position on the underlying surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ground support portion further comprises a first portion that includes at least two wheels and a second portion which does not include any wheels, each of the first portion and the second portion contacting the underlying surface in the support position, the method further comprising:
 tilting the base in a direction opposite the wheels onto the second portion and into the reclined position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second portion of the ground support portion includes feet pivotally attached to a bracket of the ground support portion, each of the feet having a contact surface that maintains contact with the underlying surface during the tilting. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ground support portion further comprises a first portion that includes at least two wheels and a second portion which does not include any wheels, each of the first portion and the second portion contacting the underlying surface in the support position, the method further comprising:
 tilting the base in a first direction onto the at least two wheels; and   rolling the base from one location to another location while tilted on the wheels.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising inserting a trunk of a tree into the adjustable riser, the adjustable riser having a connector thereon, the connector to secure at least one of the first end or the second end of the trunk within the adjustable riser when the connector is actuated. 
     
     
         23 . A collapsible ornamental tree, comprising:
 a base unit comprising:
 a ground support adapted to rest upon an underlying surface, wherein a given portion of the ground support includes at least two wheels thereon, and another portion of the ground support does not include any wheels thereon; and 
 an adjustable riser extending outwardly from the ground support along a longitudinal axis to terminate in a distal end portion, the longitudinal axis being transverse to a plane extending through the ground support; 
   a trunk of elongate form between a first end and a second end, both the first end and the second end adapted to be supported separately when attached to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser; and   a plurality of limbs pivotably attached to the trunk and moveable between a display condition and a storage condition,   wherein, when the first end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the branches are in the display condition as to be closer to horizontal than the storage condition, and
 wherein, when the second end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the branches are in the storage condition as to be closer to vertical than the display condition.