Ornamental tree having an adjustable base

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 ornamental tree, comprising:
 a base unit comprising:
 a ground support adapted to rest upon an underlying surface; and 
 an adjustable riser extending outwardly from the ground support along a longitudinal axis to terminate in a distal end portion, 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 between a first height and a second height; 
   a trunk of elongate form extending 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 attached to the trunk and moveable between a first position and a second position.   wherein, when the first end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the limbs are in the first position so as to be closer to horizontal than the second position, and   wherein, when the second end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the limbs are in the second position so as to be closer to vertical than the first position.   
     
     
         2 . The tree of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment component comprises one of a motor, a pneumatic component, and a turn crank configured to adjust the height of the adjustable riser. 
     
     
         3 . The tree of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling at least one of the height of the adjustable riser and lights disposed on the tree. 
     
     
         4 . The tree of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is one of a wired controller and a wireless controller. 
     
     
         5 . The tree of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment component adjusts the height of the distal end portion of the adjustable riser relative to the ground support in response to a user input. 
     
     
         6 . The tree of  claim 1 , further comprising a post attached to and extending upwardly from the ground support and a connector at a distal end of the post, the post having a hollow core, the adjustable riser being insertable into the hollow core of the post, the connector configured to fix the height of the adjustable riser with respect to the post in response to actuating the connector. 
     
     
         7 . The tree of  claim 6 , wherein the post includes a plurality of holes, and wherein the connector includes a spring biased pin to mate with one of the plurality of holes to set the height of the adjustable riser. 
     
     
         8 . The tree of  claim 6 , wherein the post includes an opening, and wherein the connector includes a tension ring at the opening to secure the adjustable riser with respect to the post. 
     
     
         9 . The tree of  claim 1 , further comprising 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 be removably connected with the second end of the trunk. 
     
     
         10 . The tree of  claim 1 , wherein the ground support further comprises at least two wheels, the ground support including at least another part that does not include any wheel, such that the tree can roll when tilted up onto the wheels and resist rolling when resting on both the wheels and the part of the ground support that is without wheels. 
     
     
         11 . The tree of  claim 10 , wherein the part of the ground support that does not include any wheels further comprises feet that are rotatably connected to the ground support and adapted to maintain contact with the underlying surface when tilted up onto the feet. 
     
     
         12 . The tree of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the limbs are in the first position so as to be closer to horizontal than the second position, and
 wherein, when the second end of the trunk is connected to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, the limbs are in the second position so as to be closer to vertical than the first position.   
     
     
         13 . A method of using the tree of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 placing the ground support onto the underlying surface;   mounting one of the first end and the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser; and   adjusting the height of the distal end portion of the adjustable riser to adjust a height of the tree relative to the underlying surface where the ground support is placed.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the height of the distal end portion of the adjustable riser occurs prior to mounting one of the first end and the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the height of the distal end portion of the adjustable riser occurs after mounting one of the first end and the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 tilting the base unit from a normal support position to a reclined position such that the base unit 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 and the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser; and   tilting the base unit from the reclined position back to the normal support position on the underlying surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ground support further comprises a first portion that includes at least two wheels and a second portion that does not include any wheels, each of the first portion and the second portion contacting the underlying surface in the normal support position, the method further comprising:
 tilting the base unit in a direction opposite the wheels onto the second portion and into the reclined position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the ground support includes feet pivotally attached to a bracket of the ground support, each of the feet having a contact surface that maintains contact with the underlying surface during the tilting. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ground support further comprises a first portion that includes at least two wheels and a second portion that does not include any wheels, each of the first portion and the second portion contacting the underlying surface in a normal support position, the method further comprising:
 tilting the base unit in a first direction onto the at least two wheels; and   rolling the base unit from one location to another location while tilted on the wheels.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 connecting the first end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, such that the limbs are in the first position so as to be closer to horizontal than the second position, corresponding to a display condition of the tree;   removing the first end of the trunk from the distal end portion of the adjustable riser;   connecting the second end of the trunk to the distal end portion of the adjustable riser, such that the limbs are in the second position so as to be closer to vertical than the first position, corresponding to a storage condition for the tree; and   adjusting the height of the adjustable riser such that ends of the limbs are spaced a distance from the underlying surface to accommodate limbs while in the storage condition.