APPAREIL DE SUPPORT POUR ARBRE

TREE STAND APPARATUS

Abrégé français

L'appareil de support pour arbre fournit un support latéral et un grand réservoir créé par sa forme conique et permet de réduire le nombre de remplissages de l'appareil. Les nombreux orifices de transfert permettent d'éviter le blocage, habituel dans les supports de conifère, puisqu'une communication continue est établie entre le cylindre de l'arbre et le réservoir. La capacité de drainer et de remplir facilement l'appareil garantit un approvisionnement en eau et en nutriments contribuant à maintenir l'arbre vivant. Les problèmes habituels de vidange d'eau après l'utilisation du support d'arbre sont évités grâce à la bavette de drainage munie d'un clapet immédiatement adjacent au bas du réservoir et permettant une vidange complète. L'appareil comporte des trous de remplissage diamétralement opposés; un trou de remplissage est aligné radialement avec un flotteur qui coulisse verticalement sur une coulisse de flotteur pour permettre de voir, de l'extérieur, le niveau d'eau à l'intérieur.

Abrégé anglais

The tree stand apparatus provides lateral support and a large reservoir
created by the conical shape
enables fewer fillings of the apparatus. The numerous transfer orifices ensure
that clogging especially
typical of evergreen tree stands, does not occur, as full communication exists
between the tree cylinder
and the reservoir. The ability to easily drain and refill the apparatus
ensures fresh water supply as well
as supply of nutrients that further enhance tree liveihood. Problems of water
drainage typical of
after-use of a tree stand are negated by the valved drain bib that is disposed
immediately adjacent to the
bottom of the reservoir, there by ensuring full drainage. The apparatus
provides fill holes that are
diametrically opposed, with one fill hole radialy aligned with a float that
slides vertically on
a float slide to enable exerior viewing of internal water level.

Revendications

Page 1
CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A tree stand apparatus comprising, in combination: a conical stand having a
bottom; a collar disposed
upwardly on the conical stand; a plurality of spaced apart knurled clamp bolts
disposed radialy within
the collar, each knurled clamp bolt having an inwardly disposed flared inner
end; a cylinder disposed
downwardly from the collar; a cylinder platform downwardly defining the
cylinder, the cylinder defined
outwardly by a wall; a center orifice disposed centrally within the platform;
a lower chamber disposed
below the cylinder platform, the lower chamber disposed between the cylinder
platform and the conical
stand bottom; a reservoir disposed inwardly within the conical stand and
without the cylinder and the
lower chamber; a valved drain bib disposed on the conical stand immediately
adjacent to the bottom,
the valved drain bib in communication with the reservoir; a pair of
diametrically disposed orifices, each
orifice disposed within the conical stand below and proximal to the collar; a
float slide disposed
externally on the wall, the float slide partially upwardly and downwardly
defined by rounded abutments,
the float slide in radial alignment with one of the orifices, the float slide
affixed to the lower chamber
wall and to the cylinder wall; a float slideably on the float slide; whereby
the float is externally visible
through one of the orifices; a plurality of horizontal transfer orifices
disposed diametrically within the
cylinder wall connecting the cylinder to the reservoir; a plurality of
vertical transfer orifices connecting
the cylinder to the lower chamber.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lower chamber further shares
a wall with the
cylinder wall.
3. A tree stand apparatus comprising, in combination: a conical stand having a
bottom; a collar disposed
upwardly on the conical stand; a plurality of spaced apart knurled clamp bolts
disposed radialy within
the collar, each knurled clamp bolt having an inwardly disposed flared inner
end; a cylinder disposed
downwardly from the collar; a cylinder platform downwardly defining the
cylinder, the cylinder defined
outwardly by a wall; a center orifice disposed centrally within the platform;
a lower chamber disposed
below the cylinder platform, the lower chamber disposed between the cylinder
platform and the conical
stand bottom, the lower chamber sharing the cylinder wall; a reservoir
disposed inwardly within the
conical stand and without the cylinder and the lower chamber; a valved drain
bib disposed on the
conical stand immediately adjacent to the bottom, the valved drain bib in
communication with the
reservoir; a pair of diametrically disposed orifices, each orifice disposed
within the conical stand below
and proximal to the collar; a float slide disposed externally on the wall, the
float slide partially upwardly
and downwardly defined by rounded abutments, the float slide in radial
alignment with one of the
orifices, the float slide affixed to the lower chamber wall and to the
cylinder wall; a float slideably
disposed on the float slide; whereby the float is externally visible through
one of the orifices; a plurality
of horizontal transfer orifices disposed diametrically within the cylinder
wall connecting the cylinder to
the reservoir; a plurality of vertical transfer orifices connecting the
cylinder to the lower chamber; a
plurality of downwardly disposed bottom transfer orifices connecting the lower
chamber to the
reservoir.

Description

CA 02783387 2013-08-13
Page 2 of 7
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1 through 5 therof,
the principles and
concepts of the tree stand apparatus generally designated by the reference
number 10 will be
described.
Referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus 10 partially comprises the conical stand 20
having a bottom 21.
The collar 24 is disposed upwardly on the stand 20.
Referring to FIG. 3, the plurality of spaced apart knurled clamp bolt 26 is
disposed radialy within the
collar 24. Each knurled clamp bolt 26 has an inwardly disposed flared inner
27.
Referring to FIG. 5, the cylinder 42 is disposed downwardly from collar 24.
Referring to FIG. 3, and again to FIG.5, the cylinder platform 44 downwardly
defines the cylinder 42. The
center orifice 45 is disposed centrally within the platform 44. The cylinder
42 is defined outwardly by the
wall 43. The lower chamber 49 is disposed below the cylinder platform 44. The
lower chamber 49 is
disposed between the cylinder platform 44 and the conical stand 20 bottom 21.
Referring again to FIG. 5, the reservoir 40 is disposed inwardly within the
conical stand 20 and without
the cylinder 42 and the lower chamber 49.
Referring to FIG. 4, the pair of diametrically disposed orifices 30 is
disposed within the conical stand 20
below and proximal to the collar 24.
Referring again to FIG. 2 and 5, the float slide 52 is disposed externally on
the wall 43. The float slide 52
is partially upwardly and downwardly defined by rounded abutments 53 that
prevent float 50 sticking in
either the upward or downward position. The float slide 52 is in radial
alignment with one of the orifices
30 so that float 50 position viewing is available to a user, thereby availing
the user of water level within
the reservoir 40. The float slide 52 is affixed to the lower chamber 49 wall
43 and to the cylinder 42 wall
43. The float 50 is slideably disposed on the float slide 52.
Referring again to FIG. 5, the plurality of horizontal transfer orifices 47 is
disposed diametrically within
the cylinder 42 wall 43 and connect the cylinder 42 to the reservoir 40. The
plurality of vertical transfer
orifices 46 connect the cylinder 42 to the lower chamber 49. The plurality of
downwardly disposed
bottom transfer orifices 48 connect the lower chamber 49 to the reservoir 40.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 5, the valved drain bib 32 is disposed on the
conical stand 20 immediately
adjacent to the bottom 21, The valved drain bib 32 is in communication with
the reservoir 40.
Referring to FIG. 1, the wide bottom 21 properly supports the tree held within
the cylinder 42. The
valved drain bib 32 is connected to an existing hose. Directional terms such
as "front", "back", "in",

CA 02783387 2013-08-13
Page 3 of 7
"out", "downward", "upper", "lower", and the like may have been used in the
description. These terms
are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the
drawings. These terms
are merely used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings
and do not necessarily
apply to the position in which the tree stand apparatus may be used

CA 02783387 2013-08-13
Page 4 of 7
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view, in use.
Figure 2 is a perspective view.
Figure 3 is a top plan view.
Figure 4 is a lateral elevation view.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of figure. 3, taken along the line 5-5.

CA 02783387 2013-08-13
Page 5 of 7
SPECIFICATION
The general purpose of the tree stand apparatus, described subsequently in
greater detail, is to provide
a tree stand apparatus which has many novel features that result in an
improved tree stand apparatus
which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by
prior art, either alone or in
combination thereof.
To attain this, the tree stand apparatus provides numerous features important
to tree hydration
function as well as tree support. The wide bottom conical stand provides
lateral support. The large
reservoir created by the conical shape enables fewer fillings of the
apparatus. The numerous transfer
orifices ensure that clogging especially typical of evergreen tree stand does
not occur. As clogging is
negated, transfer of water to and from the reservoir to the cylinder and to
the lower chamber is
guaranteed. Further, the bottom transfer orifices importantly ensure water
transfer even with low
reservoir water level. With the guarantee of water transfer, a tree does not
become dehydrated and
therefore is slow to shed needles or become brittle. Further, the ability to
easily drain and refill the
apparatus ensures fresh water supply as well as supply of nutrients that
further enhance tree livelihood.
Problems of water drainage typical of after-use of a tree stand are negated by
the valved drain bib that
is disposed immediately adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir, thereby
ensuring full drainage.
Another common issue with trees is trying to determine if the reservoir is
adequately filled. The
apparatus provides fill holes that are diametrically opposed, with one fill
hole radialy aligned with a float
that slides vertically on a float slide. The float slide has upper and lower
rounded abutments that
prevent float sticking. A user can easily view float level through one of the
orifices to determine fill
needs of the reservoir.
The larger center orifice within the cylinder on the cylinder platform
provides for improved tree
support, especially if a tree is conically sharpened somewhat. The knurled
clamp bolts are easily turned.
and the flared inner ends negate cutting into a trunk, a problem common to
most retaining bolts.
Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the improved
tree stand apparatus so
that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood
and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
An object of the tree stand apparatus is to properly support a tree.
Another object of the tree stand apparatus is to clamp a tree within without
trunk damage.
A further object of the tree stand apparatus is to hydrate a tree.
An added object of the tree stand apparatus is to provide for easy water
addition.

CA 02783387 2013-08-13
Page 6 of 7
And, an object of the tree stand apparatus is to provide for easy water
drainage.
Still another object of the tree stand apparatus is to provide for external
viewing of internal water level.
These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the
improved tree stand apparatus
will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading
the following detailed
description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments
of the improved tree
stand apparatus when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.