Self-shaping artificial christmas tree with molded polymer branches and leaf tips with memory wire stems

Abstract

An artificial Christmas tree having an improved branch assembly is provided. The branch assembly includes molded stem sockets each having at least one opening configured to receive and secure the stem of a leaf tip. The branch stem socket openings may be configured for single leaf tips or for multi-tip leaf stems having multiple tips joined to a single stem that has a molded insert base configured to fit within the opening of a complementary stem socket so the multi-tip leaf stem can be inserted in only one direction. In addition, the leaf tips are made with memory wire that allows the branches to be compressed when placed in a carton for storage while holding in memory, and then replicating, the desired angle of the leaf tips as secured within the stem sockets when the tree is removed from the carton for set up.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An artificial tree comprising:
 a center pole;   a plurality of molded polymer branches secured to the center pole, each branch having at least one branch stem socket that is molded at a desired angle; and   a plurality of tree leaf tips secured to the plurality of branches by the molded branch stem sockets, each leaf tip projecting from its respective stem socket at the desired angle.   
     
     
         2 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each tree leaf tip has a midrib with needles extending therefrom and a stem that is inserted within an opening in the respective branch stem socket, the midrib having a memory wire to shape the leaf tip and retain said shape following storage of the tree and upon set up for use. 
     
     
         3 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the leaf tip stems are secured within the openings of the branch stem sockets using adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the openings include a grip connector for securing the stem. 
     
     
         5 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the stem has a ridged surface and the grip connector is configured to clamp onto said ridged surface to secure the stem in the socket opening. 
     
     
         6 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tree leaf tips includes single-leaf tips and multi-tip leaf stems, each multi-tip leaf stem having a plurality of tree leaf tips joined to a single stem, the multi-tip leaf stem including a molded insert base having a shape that is complementary in shape with the opening in the branch stem socket so that the multi-tip leaf stem can only be inserted in one direction. 
     
     
         7 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the molded insert base is triangular with two sides being longer than the third side. 
     
     
         8 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the molded branch includes a plurality of sockets molded in a clustered group to form a node, said branch including a plurality of nodes, each having a plurality of sockets, that are spaced from one another along a length of said branch. 
     
     
         9 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of nodes includes nodes having sockets molded to receive the single-leaf tips and nodes having sockets molded to receive the multi-tip leaf stems. 
     
     
         10 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of nodes include nodes having three single leaf tip sockets per node, said three single leaf tip sockets being molded at an angle of between about 30° and about 60° relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the branch. 
     
     
         11 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of nodes include nodes having five single leaf tip sockets per node, said five single leaf tip sockets being molded at an angle of between about 10° and about 50° relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the branch. 
     
     
         12 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of nodes include nodes having four multi-tip leaf stem sockets per node, said four multi-tip leaf stem sockets being molded at an angle of between about 45° and about 75° relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the branch. 
     
     
         13 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the branch is molded of PVC or PE and the nodes are molded integral with the branch. 
     
     
         14 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising light set connectors molded on the branch to attach a string of lights to the tree. 
     
     
         15 . The artificial tree as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the branch is molded of PVC or PE and the nodes are molded as separate elements, each node having a sleeve base part through which the branch extends when the node is connected to the branch. 
     
     
         16 . A molded polymer branch for an artificial tree, the molded branch comprising at least one branch stem socket that is molded at a desired angle and a tree leaf tip having a stem secured within the molded branch stem socket, the leaf tip projecting from said stem socket at the desired angle and having a memory wire to shape the leaf tip and retain said shape following storage. 
     
     
         17 . The molded polymer branch as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the branch includes a plurality of branch stem sockets and a plurality of tree leaf tips, the plurality of branch stem sockets being formed in both spaced relationship along the branch and in clusters forming nodes, each branch stem socket being molded at a desired angle and having a tree leaf tip secured therein, each leaf tip projecting from its respective stem socket at the respective desired angle. 
     
     
         18 . The molded polymer branch as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of tree leaf tips includes single-leaf tips and multi-tip leaf stems, each multi-tip leaf stem having a plurality of tree leaf tips joined to a single stem, the multi-tip leaf stem including a molded insert base having a shape that is complementary in shape with an opening in the branch stem socket so that the multi-tip leaf stem can only be inserted in one direction. 
     
     
         19 . The molded polymer branch as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the nodes include nodes having sockets molded to receive the single-leaf tips and nodes having sockets molded to receive the multi-tip leaf stems. 
     
     
         20 . The molded polymer branch as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the branch is molded of PVC or PE and the nodes include nodes having three single leaf tip sockets per node, nodes having five single leaf tip sockets per node, and nodes having four multi-tip leaf stem sockets per node, said three single leaf tip sockets being molded at an angle of between about 30° and about 60°, said five single leaf tip sockets being molded at an angle of between about 10° and about 50°, and said four multi-tip leaf stem sockets being molded at an angle of between about 45° and about 75°, said angles being relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the branch.