GB2351223A - Vertical support column for shelves or a Christmas tree - Google Patents

Abstract

The support has an elongate U-section plate 4 for mounting on a wall directly or by the use of spacers. A container (6, Fig 4), which may be enclosed in a cover 2, is mounted to the lower end of the plate. Connectors 9 (11,12,18) are detachably held by the flanges of the U and extend between them. Resilient connectors are used to support a Christmas tree by passing around its trunk, or they may be in the form of support brackets (15,16,17, Figs 9-13) onto which shelves (14) are slidably mounted. As described, the flanges have an outwardly turned edge portion to which the connectors are hooked or slidably mounted.

Description

2351223 1 WALL MOUNTED SUPPORT The present invention relates to a wall

mounted support. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a support for an elongate decorative item, such as a Christmas tree. Alternatively, it may be used in conjunction with a plurality of shelves.

It is well known to provide decorative Christmas trees, either real or artificial. Usually, such trees are free-standing either on a floor or on a low table. However, this arrangement suffers from the disadvantage that, since the tree is essentially top-heavy, it is vulnerable to collision with the inevitable children, possible animals and probable adults in unbalanced condition.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support for a Christmas tree or similar elongate decorative item, which support may be attached to a wall and by which the elongate stem or trunk of the tree may be held against the wall, whereby it is difficult, if not impossible, for the tree to be overturned.

2 Obviously, Christmas trees are used only seasonally, and it is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative use for the described Christmas tree support, which further use may take the form of a plurality of shelves, one or more spotlights, plant holders, hanging basket holders, decorative light feature or the like.

The term "wall" is used herein to any upright vertical or generally vertical surface, such as a wall, a door, a door jamb, a window frame, a post or the like.

According to the present invention, there is provided a support for mounting to a wall, said support comprising an elongate generally Ushaped plate adapted, in use, to be affixed in a substantially vertical orientation to a wall, as defined herein, and having an outwardly extending flange along each of its major edges, a base container mounted to a lower, in use, end of the plate, and means locatable at least one portion of the plate to extend from one flange to the other and be detachably retained thereby.

Preferably the connecting means comprises a resiliently deformable or elastic band means connected at each of its ends to a clip adapted to cooperate with a portion of a respective flange of the plate.

A plurality of said bands may be provided, each adapted to extend around the trunk or stem of a tree or foliage carried by said support.

Alternatively the connecting means may comprise cover plate having inwardly directed flanges adapted to cooperate with the flanges of said plate, said cover plate further comprising bracket means adapted to support a shelf 3 In this case, a shelf may be provided, preferably with a lower face so configured and dimensioned as to cooperate with said bracket means.

The support may be mounted directly to the wall or may be mounted thereto by spacing Z:) means to distance the support from the wall. In this case, the spacing means may be adjustable to vary the distance between the support and the wall.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the support in use with a Christmas tree, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support-, Figure 3 is a view of the support from below-, Figure 4 is a scrap view of a base of the support-, Figure 5 shows schematically a base cover unit; Figure 6 shows schematically a clip for use with the support; Figure 7 is a plan view of the support embodying the invention; Figure 8 shows the support of Figure 7 in use with the clips of Figure 6 and restraining means; Figure 9 shows the support embodying the invention used in combination with an array of shelving units; Figure 10 illustrates schematically the connection of a shelf unit with a bracket unit attachable to the support; Figure I I shows the bracket unit as attached to the support, 4 Figure 12 shows in cross-section the support where a shelf is attached; and Figure 13 shows a shelf from the underside indicating the arrangement for attachment to the bracket unit.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown schematically in Figure 1 a Christmas tree 1 0 restina in a base 2, the combination being arranged to be flat against a wall of a room in 0 which the Christmas tree is to be displayed. The base unit 2 may include an aperture 3 in its lower portion through which electric leads may be passed to illuminate the Christmas tree lights or other objects thereon, or indeed any other decorative object.

Referring now to Figure 2, the support 4 takes the form of an elongate, generally U-shaped profile plate. A plurality of apertures 5 is provided to enable the support 4 to be affixed to a wall. The length of the support may vary according to the length of the Christmas tree which Z:- is intended to be supported thereby. For example, for a three-foot tree, the overall height of the support 4 may be 600 millimetres. For a four- foot tree, it may be 900 millimetres. For a five-foot tree it may be 1200 millimetres and for a six-foot tree it may be 1500 millimetres. Obviously, other sizes of trees may be accommodated by varying the length of the support. The above figures are given by way of example only, since it may be possible for a long tree to be supported adequately at its base by a short support, or conversely for the full length of a long support to be unused.

At the base of the support 4 is a container 6 into which may be placed the base of the Christmas tree. It is preferred that the container takes the main part of the weight of the Christmas tree and therefore it is preferred that it is joined to the elongate support 4 either during manufacture or subsequent thereto, and prior to use.

The container 6 is preferably enclosed within a base unit 2 adapted to surround the container 6. The upper surface 7 of the base 2 may be of flexible material, such as plastics or rubber, which is provided with a slit 8 to enable the upper surface 7 to fit snugly around the trunk or stem of the tree. As stated above, the unit 2 may have an aperture 31 to accommodate a flex to allow lighting on the tree.

A plurality of clips 9 shown in more detail in Figure 6, may be provided. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the outermost edges of the support 4 are curved outwardly to enable a hook 10 of each clip 9 to be held against the edge. A resilient strap may be passed between an eye I I of each clip 9 to connect with a corresponding clip on the opposite edge of the support 4, the resilience of the connection causing each clip 9 to be detachably retained. The trunk or stem of the tree may be held within the resilient connections 12. This is shown more clearly in Figures 7 and 8.

The above described arrangement has the Christmas tree support held closely to the wall. Therefore the rear half of the Christmas tree must be either removed or spread sidewardly.

Therefore, in an alternative embodiment (not shown) the support may be spaced from the wall to allow more even spread of the tree's branches. This may be achieved by use of spacers, which, in a preferred option, are adjustable so that the support may be extended from the wall only when and by as much as is currently necessary. At other times, the spacing may be reduced.

6 The above has described an arrangement for displaying a Christmas tree safely and securely clear from interference by other occupants of the room in which it is displayed. However, Christmas comes but once a year, and the question arises as to what to do with the support, which is attached to a wall but devoid of a Christmas tree or other decoration. An obvious answer is to replace the Christmas tree with seasonal foliage or some other decorative arrangement.

However, a further alternative would be to utilise the support 4 as a base for a series of shelves 14. In a further embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, a series of shelves 14A 14B and 14C are shown, each of progressively increasing dimension. Notwithstanding the arrangement of the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the shelves may be equal in dimension one from the next, or each may extend beyond the dimensions shown in the Figure.

The arrangement for supporting each shelf 14 comprises a bracket 15 which has two outstanding connectors 16 spaced by cross-member 17. The crossmember 17 forms part of a sheath 18 extending longitudinally of the support 4 and adapted to cooperate with the support 4 in similar manner to the pair of clips 9. The sheath 18 may be slid longitudinally over the support 4 or it may be so resiliently deformable as to be clipped thereto.

Each shelf 14 is provided on its lower surface with apertures 26 to accommodate the connectors 16 and a space 27 to accommodate the crossmember 17, so that the shelf may be held to the support 4 without the need for any unsightly protruding framework. Furthermore, there is a cut- out 28 adapted to fit around the sheath 18.

7 As may be seen, the support 4 may be left permanently ln situ, beng useful as a Christmas tree support during the Christmas season and a support for shelves or the like at other timesIt would also be possible for the support 4 to be used for other foliage.

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Claims (8)

1. A support for mounting to a wall, said support comprising an elongate generally Ushaped plate adapted, in use, to be affixed in a substantially vertical orientation to a wall, as defined herein, and having an outwardly extending flange along each of its major edges, a base container mounted to a lower, in use, end of the plate, and connecting means locatable at at least one portion of the plate to extend from one flange to the other and be detachably retained thereby.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a resiliently deformable or elastic band means connected at each of its ends to a clip adapted to cooperate with a portion of a respective flange of the plate.

3. A support as claimed in either claim I or claim 2, wherein a plurality of said connecting means are provided, each adapted to extend around the trunk or stem of a tree or foliage carried by said support.

4. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a cover plate having inwardly directed flanges adapted to cooperate with the flanges of said plate, said cover plate further comprising bracket means adapted to support a shelf

5. A support as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a shelf with a lower face so configured and dimensioned as to cooperate with said bracket means.

6. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support is mounted directly to the wall.

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7. A support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein spacing means may be provided to vary adjustably the distance between the support and the wall.

8. A support for mounting to a wall substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

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