Collapsible Christmas tree stand

Abstract

A collapsible Christmas tree stand is disclosed for supporting a Christmas tree or the like from a longitudinal tube supported by two pair of opposing legs. The second pair of legs being rotatable about the tube in relation to a first pair of legs between a storage position and a plurality of support positions. The position of the two pair of legs with respect to one another is maintained with a locking wing nut.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stand for vertically supporting an object comprising; a cylindrical tube, one end of said tube adapted for receiving an object;   a first pair of support legs connected to the exterior surface of said tube, said first pair of support legs extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of said tube;   upper and lower annular collars rotatably coupled about said tube;   a second pair of support legs connected to said upper and lower collars, said second pair of support legs extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of said tube;   means for retaining an object within said tube, said retaining means projecting radially through the tube toward said longitudinal axis;   a locking means adjustably positioned through the upper collar, said locking means projecting radially toward the longitudinal axis of the tube and selectively positioned in contact with the tube;   wherein said second pair of legs is rotatable with respect to said first pair of legs between a first position to a plurality of second positions.   
     
     
       2. The support stand of claim 1 wherein each of said legs of said first and second pair of legs includes a support member connected at the distal end of said legs. 
     
     
       3. The support stand of claim 1 wherein the legs of said first and second pair of legs further comprise: an upper bar;   a lower bar; and   a brace member.   
     
     
       4. The support stand of claim 1 wherein said upper annular collar is interposed between said first pair of support legs and said receiving end of said tube. 
     
     
       5. The support stand of claim 1 wherein said first pair of support legs is interposed between said lower annular collar and said receiving end of said tube. 
     
     
       6. The support stand of claim 3 wherein said upper bar of said first pair of legs is interposed between said receiving end of said tube and said upper annular collar. 
     
     
       7. The support stand of claim 3 wherein said lower annular collar is interposed between said receiving end of said tube and said lower bar of said first pair of legs. 
     
     
       8. The support stand of claim 1 wherein said retaining means is disposed proximate to said receiving end of said tube. 
     
     
       9. The support stand of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprise wing .[.nuts.]. .Iadd.bolts.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       10. The support stand of claim 3 wherein said upper bar further comprises three segments; said third segment being said support member. 
     
     
       11. A support stand comprising; a cylindrical tube;   a first pair of support legs connected to the exterior surface of said tube, said first pair of support legs extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of said tube;   upper and lower annular collars rotatably coupled about said tube;   a second pair of support legs connected to said upper and lower collars, said second pair of support legs extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of said tube;   said legs of said first and second pair of legs including an upper bar, a lower bar, and a brace member.   means for retaining an object within said tube, said retaining means projecting radially through the tube toward said longitudinal axis;   a locking means adjustably positioned through the upper collar, said locking means projecting radially toward the longitudinal axis of the tube and selectively positioned in contact with the tube;   wherein said second pair of legs are rotatable with respect to said first pair of legs between a first position and a plurality of second positions to support said tube;   said legs of each of the first and second pair of legs having a radially distal support member.   
     
     
       12. The support stand of claim 1 wherein the legs of said first and second pair of legs further comprise: an upper bar;   a lower bar; and   a brace member.   
     
     
       13. The support stand of claim 11 wherein said upper annular collar is interposed between said first pair of support legs and said receiving end of said tube. 
     
     
       14. The support stand of claim 11 wherein said first pair of support legs is interposed between said receiving end of said tube and said lower annular collar. 
     
     
       15. The support stand of claim 12 wherein said upper bar of said first pair of legs is interposed between said receiving end of said tube and said upper annular collar. 
     
     
       16. The support stand of claim 12 wherein said lower annular collar is interposed between said receiving end of said tube and said lower bar of said first pair of legs. 
     
     
       17. The support stand of claim 11 wherein said retaining means is disposed proximate to said receiving end of said tube. 
     
     
       18. The support stand of claim 11 wherein said retaining means comprise wing .[.nuts.]. .Iadd.bolts.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       19. The support stand of claim 11 wherein said upper bar further comprises three segments with said third segment being said support member. .Iadd.20. A stand for vertically supporting an object comprising: a cylindrical tube for vertically supporting the object, one end of said tube adapted for receiving the object;   a first pair of support legs connected to the exterior surface of said tube, said first pair of support legs extending outward from said tube;   at least one annular collar rotatably mounted around said tube;   a second pair of support legs connected to said annular collar, said second pair of support legs extending outward from said tube;   a lock for locking the annular collar with respect to the tube;   said first pair of legs being rotatable with respect to the other pair of legs between a first position and a plurality of second positions; and   upon locking, said lock preventing said annular collar from axial and rotational movement about said tube in said first and second positions..Iaddend..Iadd.21. The stand of claim 20 wherein said first and second pairs of support legs extend radially outward from the longitudinal axis of said tube..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The stand of claim 20 further including a retainer for retaining the object within said tube, said retainer projecting through said tube toward the longitudinal axis of said   
     
     
        tube..Iaddend..Iadd.23.  The stand of claim 20 wherein said lock is adjustably positioned on said annular collar for locking said annular collar to said tube while the tube is supporting the 
     
     
        object..Iaddend..Iadd.4.  A support stand comprising: a cylindrical tube;   a first pair of support legs connected at an upper and a lower location on the exterior surface of said tube, said first pair of support legs extending outward from the longitudinal axis of said tube;   at least one cylindrical member having a length and being rotatably mounted around said tube between said upper and lower locations on said tube;   a second pair of support legs connected to said cylindrical member, said second pair of support legs extending outward from the longitudinal axis of said tube;   said legs of said second pair of support legs having a width which is less than the length of said cylindrical member;   a retainer member for retaining an object within said tube;   a locking member adjustably positioned on said cylindrical member for positioning said cylindrical member with respect to said tube; and   one pair of legs being rotatable with respect to the other pair of legs between a first position and a plurality of second positions to support said tube..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The stand of claim 24 wherein each of said legs of said first and second pair of legs includes first and second supports having a radially distal support member extending between said supports..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The stand of claim 24 wherein said locking member projects toward said tube and is selectively positioned in contact   
     
     
        with said tube..Iaddend..Iadd.27.  A stand for vertically supporting an object, comprising: a first member adapted for coaxially supporting the object;   first legs attached to said first member and extending outward from said first member;   a second member rotatably disposed around said first member;   second legs attached to said second member and extending outward from said second member;   said first and second legs being rotatable with respect to each other; and   a lock member for adjustably locking said second legs with respect to said first legs at at least three different positions while the first member is supporting the object..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The stand of claim 27 wherein said first member has a longitudinal axis and said first and second legs extend radially outward from the longitudinal axis of said first member..Iaddend..Iadd.29. The stand of claim 27 further including a retainer member on said first member for retaining the object on said first member..Iaddend..Iadd.30. A stand for vertically supporting an object, comprising:   a first cylinder for vertically supporting the object and having one end for receiving the object;   the first cylinder having a first pair of support legs extending outwardly from said first cylinder;   a second cylinder rotatably received over said first cylinder;   the second cylinder having a second pair of support legs;   one of said pair of support legs being rotatable with respect to the other of said pair of support legs between a first position with said pairs of legs together and a second position with said pairs of legs apart; and   a lock member on said second cylinder for preventing axial movement and rotation of said second cylinder with respect to said first cylinder in said first and second positions..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The stand of claim 30 wherein said first and second pairs of support legs extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said first cylinder..Iaddend..Iadd.32. The stand of claim 30 further including a retainer member disposed on said first cylinder for retaining the object within said first cylinder..Iaddend..Iadd.33. The stand of claim 30 wherein said first pair of legs extends from said first cylinder at an upper and a lower location and said second cylinder is disposed on said   
     
     
        first cylinder between said locations..Iaddend..Iadd.34.  A stand for vertically supporting an object, comprising: a first cylinder for vertically supporting the object and having one end for receiving the object;   the first cylinder having a first pair of support legs extending outwardly from said first cylinder;   a second cylinder rotatably received over said first cylinder;   the second cylinder having a second pair of support legs;   a lock member on said second cylinder for preventing rotation of said second cylinder with respect to said first cylinder; and   one of said pair of support legs being rotatable with respect to the other of said pair of support legs;   said lock member locking said first cylinder and said second cylinder at at least three different positions while said first cylinder is supporting the object..Iaddend.