Christmas tree and method of assembling a tree

Abstract

In a described example, an artificial Christmas tree includes a base and an elongated support. The support has a proximal end portion coupled to the base and an opposite distal end portion. The support is adapted to move relative to the base between a prone position and an erect position, and the distal end portion is above the base in the erect position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An artificial Christmas tree, comprising:
 a plurality of frame sections configured to be assembled to form a tree frame, the tree frame having an outer frame portion configured to support artificial tree features;   a base configured to support at least a portion of the artificial Christmas tree on a surface;   an elongated support having a proximal end coupled to the base and an opposite distal end spaced longitudinally apart from the proximal end, a length of the support being commensurate with a height of the tree frame; and   means for moving the support between respective prone and erect positions.   
     
     
         2 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the frame sections are configured to circumscribe the support and are moveable relative to the support in the longitudinal direction along the length of the support. 
     
     
         3 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 2 , wherein each frame section has proximal and distal ends spaced longitudinally apart, the proximal end of a given frame section is configured to be coupled to a distal end of another frame section, whereby axial movement of the given frame section relative to the support causes corresponding axial movement of each other frame section to which the given frame section is coupled. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein each respective frame section includes at least two annular sector portions that are coupled together to circumscribe the support. 
     
     
         5 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the means for moving the support comprises:
 a mounting post coupled to the base and moveable between respective prone and erect positions, in which the mounting post is configured to couple to the proximal end of the support so the support is moveable with the mounting post between the respective prone and erect positions.   
     
     
         6 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the means for moving the support comprises:
 a hoist coupled to the base and configured to move the support between the respective prone and erect positions.   
     
     
         7 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 6 , wherein the hoist comprises:
 a winch; and   a length of a flexible elongated member extending from the winch and coupled to the support at a location between the proximal and distal ends of the support, the winch being configured to change the length of the flexible elongated member between the winch and the support to move the support between the respective prone and erect positions.   
     
     
         8 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a retainer extending from a central portion of the base, in which the retainer has an opening along a side thereof to receive a portion of the support while in the erect position, and the retainer includes a latch configured to retain the support in an erect position. 
     
     
         9 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , further comprising a hoist coupled to at least one of the base and the support, wherein the hoist comprises at least one flexible elongated member coupled to a given frame section, and the hoist is configured to vary a length of the flexible elongated member to move at least the given frame section in the longitudinal direction relative to the support. 
     
     
         10 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the distal end of the support is above the base in the erect position,   wherein the length of the flexible elongated member extends from the distal end of the support to couple to the given frame section, and the given frame section is moveable in the longitudinal direction along the support.   
     
     
         11 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 10 , wherein the support has a passage extending longitudinally through the support with openings near each of the proximal and distal end portions of the support, another length of the flexible elongated member being capable of moving through the passage,
 wherein the hoist further comprises:
 a winch coupled to the flexible elongated member and configured to adjust the length of the flexible elongated member extending from the distal end of the support to move the given frame section in the longitudinal direction; and 
 an arrangement of one or more pulleys to route the flexible elongated member between the given frame section and the winch. 
   
     
     
         12 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , further comprising a brake apparatus coupled to at least one of the frame sections, the brake apparatus configured to actuate braking responsive to free-fall axial movement of at least one of plurality of frame sections in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 1 , further comprising a base that includes legs coupled to and extending outwardly from a central portion of the base, in which a length of at least some of the legs is adjustable. 
     
     
         14 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 13 , wherein each of the frame sections has a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the proximal end of at least one of the frame sections including notches arranged and configured to receive the legs therein to allow the respective proximal end between respective notches to rest on a surface where the base and the legs are placed. 
     
     
         15 . An artificial Christmas tree, comprising:
 a base;   a mounting post coupled to the base and moveable between a prone position and an erect position;   an elongated support having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, in which the proximal end of the support is configured to couple to the mounting post to so the support is moveable with the mounting post between respective prone and erect positions; and   a plurality of frame sections configured to be assembled to form a tree frame, the tree frame having an outer frame portion configured to support artificial tree features, and at least some of the frame sections are configured to circumscribe the support.   
     
     
         16 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 15 , further comprising a hoist coupled to at least one of the mounting post and the support, in which the hoist is configured to move the support and mounting post between respective prone and erect positions. 
     
     
         17 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 16 , wherein the hoist comprises:
 a winch; and   a length of a flexible elongated member extending from the winch and coupled to the support at a location between the proximal and distal ends thereof, the winch being configured to change the length of the flexible elongated member between the winch and the support to move the support between the respective prone and erect positions.   
     
     
         18 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 15 , further comprising a retainer extending from a central portion of the base, wherein the retainer has an opening along a side thereof to receive a portion of the support in the erect position, and the retainer further comprises:
 a latch adapted to hold the support in the erect position; and   an actuator adapted to release the support from being held by the latch.   
     
     
         19 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 15 , wherein each frame section has proximal and distal ends spaced longitudinally apart, the proximal end of a given frame section is configured to be coupled to a distal end of another frame section, whereby axial movement of the given frame section relative to the support causes corresponding axial movement of each other frame section to which the given frame section is coupled. 
     
     
         20 . The artificial Christmas tree of  claim 15 , wherein each respective frame section includes at least two annular sector portions that are coupled together to circumscribe the support.