US3011280A - Artificial foliage display structure - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1961 E. KElDD ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE DISPLAY STRUCTURE Filed Jan. '7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec.'5, 1961 E. L. KEIDD 3,011,280

ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE DISPLAY STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,01 1,280 Patented" Dec. 5, 1961 ice 3,011,280 ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE DISPLAY STRUCTURE Eldon L. Keidd, Chicago, Ill., assignor of fifty percent to AdlerJones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 1,054 4 Claims. (Cl. 41-12) This invention relates generally to'foliage display struc-' gate tubular member at desired angles and locations so that a supporting framework for the foliage, fruit or fiowers was achieved which generally simulated the corn figuration of the completed display structure. The boss or short length of tubing was open atits free end to provide a socket into which the foilagemember could be telescopically engaged. It was commonto provide one such 1 length of tubing for each artificial foliage member.

Such previous structures contributed to disadvantages which substantially impaired the desirability of the product. The assembled main tubular member and the many bosses or shorter tubular members secured thereto at different angles contributed to a bulky package for shipment and storage as well as a heavy article for handling during set-up of the display structure. The cost of attaching the shorter lengths of tubing, as by soldering, also was substantial. Further, in order to retain the artificial foliage member in place, it was necessary to provide a sufiiciently long stem on the foliage member so that the weight of the exposed end of the foliage would not pull the foliage member out of its telescopic connection. a

The foregoing and other disadvantages are substantially eliminated by the improved artificial foliage display structure embodying the invention. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide such an improved foliage display structure.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a display structure of the character described which is comprised of an elongate tubular member intermittently curved or bent along the length thereof, said tubular member having novel chuck means for removably securing artificial foliage members thereto in the vicinity of said bends. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a display structure of the character described in which said chuck means comprises a socket or opening in the tubular member formed by removing or slicing a segment from the circumferential wall of the tubular member, said opening having its center substantially coinciding with the longi-' tudinal axis of the tubular member.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a display structure of the character described which is economical to manufacture and assemble; which is collapsible for convenient and economical storage and shipment; and which is capable of highly versatile use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display structure of the character described having a novel pedestal or base for supporting the same upright, said pedestal or base capable of being modified for support of a plurality of such elongate tubular members, as desired.

\ The foregoing and other objects of the invention will i become apparent from the ensuing description thereof. A'preferred embodiment has beendescribed in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Minor variations in the size, arrangement, construction and proportion of the several parts may occur toi'the skilled artisan without departing from the scope orsacrificing any'of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein the same characters of reference have been employed to designate the same or equivalent parts throughout the several figures thereof:

FIG; 1 is a perspective view of the artificial foliage display structure embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the novel pedestal for the display structure embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the said pedestal with the elongate tubular members in place thereon.

' FIG. 4 is afragmentary elevational view'o'fthe main elongate tubular member of said structure withiportions broken away to illustrate the manner in which an artificial foliage member is removably secured in the chuck means. FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of the elongate tubular member showing said chuck means.-

FiG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the elongate tubular member embodying the invention'albeit, of a difierent configuration. i i

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, elevational view of an elongate tubular member for use in said display structure in which. the member has still another configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of pedestal.

Referring now to the drawings, the display structure embodying the invention is des-ignated'generally by the reference character 20. As seen in FIG. 1, same is adapted to besupported inupright position on a pedestal 22 in simulation of a bush or tree. Two separated vertical foliage formations are illustrated in FIG. 1, however, the principles of the invention encompass a display structure having one or more than two vertical foliage formations using either the pedestal 22 as illustrated, or some other form of support or base means. 1

Each of the vertical foliage formations 20 in FIG. 1 is merely representative of an embodiment of the invention capable of being achieved. Variations in configuration, length, type of foliage secured thereon and the like within a wide range are'contemplated. A formation 20 is. comprised of an elongate hollow, tubular member 24 of any desired length depending upon the height of the display structure sought to be realized. Wrought iron, aluminum or other hollow metallic tubing can be employed which is suitable for bending and retaining the bent-shape worked thereinto.

The tubular member 24 is provided along its length with a plurality of bends 26a through 26f at spaced apart intervals. The distance between bends need not beuniform and the directions of the bends need-not be the same. However, the angle of each bend must be sufficient to enable the novel chuck means 30 to be provided in the vicinity of each such bend.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the chuck means 30 may be seen to comprise an opening or .socket 32 formed in the representative bend 26a. The opening 32 is provided in the circumferential surface 34 of the tubular member 24 exterior of and diametrically opposite the 'crook of the bend. As seen in FIG. 5, the opening 32 has a generally oval configuration and is located so that the geometric center thereof substantially coincides with,

the longitudinal axes of the tubular segments 35a and 3. 35b forming the bend 26a. The chuck means may be provided by slicing a suitable segment from the circumferential wall of the tubing 24 as a result of which the perimetrical edge or lip. 36 of the opening 32 is relatively sharp.

The, artificial. foliage member 38 (FIG. 4) has been illustrated as a branch member having an elongate base portion 40 of the stern thereof. Member 38 may be formed in various ways however, excepitonally beautiful and realistic effects are achieved for the structure 20 by using genuine wood branches which have been coated with a suitable wax or plastic so that artificial .buds and/or leaves can be secured thereto. To mountthe member '38, the base portion 40 is inserted downwardly through the opening 32 into the segment 35a. The lower free end 42 of base portion 49 will engage against the interior surface 44 of the segment 35a opposite that. portion of the surface thereof in which the chuck means is provided. In addition, portions of the branch 38bear against the sharp lip 36 at diametrically opposite ends of theoval-shaped opening 32 so that the branch 38 is tightly secured in the chuck means with an accompanying wedging action to prevent inadvertent removal of the branch.

Thusmountedin the chuck means 38, the upper portion. 46- of the branch 38 extends outwardly and upwardly at a. realistic. angle relative to the segment 35bv and substantially corresponding to the angle of the bend. As seen in FIG. 1, a branch member 38 .has been engaged in each of the chuck means provided at the bends 26a through 26 to achieve a realistic, relatively dense and uniform foliage effect for the structure 20. The upper end .46 of the member 24 may be open to receive a branch member therein also. The angular disposition of the branches 33 is automatically achieved upon their engagement in the chuck means.

' Referring to FIG. 2, the pedestal 22 comprises a ring 50 formed of tubular metal and a pair of straight cross-members 52 connected at their ends, as by soldering 54, on the interior of the ring. The members 52 may also be secured together at their-point of intersection by soldering 54; The pedestal. 22' has. a pair of upstanding; pins or lugs 56 secured, as by soldering 57, on one of the cross-members on opposite sides of the intersection of the members 52. As seen in FIG. 3., the pins or lugs 56 are angled relative to the member 52 and upwardly divergent one with respect to the other. The open lower end 58 of a tubular member 24. enables each to be telescopically engaged over a pin 56 to support the structure 20 in upright position on the pedestal.

Referring to FIG. 8, amodified form of. pedestal is illustrated. The pedestal 22A is substantially identical to the pedestal 22 with the exception of the greater number of upstanding pins 56A provided. Thus each of the cross-members 52A have been provided with upstanding pins with each of which can be engaged a display structure shown partially in phantom outline in the' figure. It may be noted that a variety of different angles for the structures relative the pedestal can be achieved. It should be understood that a different arrangement and number of the upstanding pins 52A may be utilized within a wide range.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there are illustrated different configurations for the bends which may be formed in an elongate tube used in the structure 2%. In FIG. 6, the section of tubing 24 illustrated has segments thereof in different planes relative to the plane of the drawing; The same applies for the tortuous configuration of the tube 24 shown in FIG. 7L In each instance, the chuck face of the tube opposite the crook of the bend.

means 30 is in the vicinity of the bend formed in a sur- It will be understood that a variety of different and unique configurations for the tube 24 can be achieved with equal advantage.

Although the display structure 20 has been illustrated and described as mounted on a pedestal, it will be appreciated that other mountings therefor are feasible within the principles of the invention. Accordingly, shorter lengths of tubing 24, suitably bent and provided with chuck means 30 at said bends, can be used for Wall installations as well, for instance. Also, other foliage members, such as sprigs of flowers or fruits may be used so that the. term foliage member as used herein is intended as a generic expression including these other products as well.

It is believed thatv the. inventionhas been described in sufiicient detail to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same. The invention has been pointed out in the claims hereto appended in language intended to be broadly construed commensurate with the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A foliage display structure comprising, an elongate,

hollow metal tube having at least one bend intermediate the ends thereof, chuck means integral with the apex and in the upper side of the bend for holding av foliage display member angularly disposed relative to one portion of the tube on one side of the bend, said display member hav-' ing a stem portion telescopically engaged in the portion of the tube on the opposite side of the bend, one. end of the tube being open, a pedestal having an upstanding pin matingly engaged with said open end to support the tube in a vertical position on the pedestal.

2. A foliage display structure comprising, an elongate, rigid, hollow tube having a plurality of bends spaced apart along the tube, chuck means integral with the apex and in the upperside of each bend, a foliage display member angularly disposed relative to one portion of the tube on one side of the bend and having a stem portion telescopically engaged in the portion of. the tube on the opposite side of the bend,-and means for supporting said tube in a vertically disposed position.

3. A foliage display structure comprising,'an elongate, rigid, hollow tube having a plurality of bends spaced apart along the length thereof, chuck means integral with the apex and in the upperside of each bend, a foliage display member angularly disposed relative to one portion of the tube on one side of the bend and having a stem portion removably engaged in the portion of the tube on the opposite side of the bend, and a pedestal removably connected to said tube for holding same in an elevated position, said chuck means comprising an opening into the tube each of substantially oval configuration and offset one. relative to the other along the length of the tube.-

4. A structure as claimed in claim 3 in which each opening extends on opposite sides of the apex of the bend with the center of each opening substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the tube;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 607,983 Cooper July 26, 1898 728,508 Shields May 19, 1903 1,555,475 Maunz .Sept. 29, 1925 1,895,609 Davis Jan. 31, 1933 1,933,495 Howard Oct. 31, 1933

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