Collapsible artificial tree

Claim 2

In an artificial tree, an elongated trunk, said trunk including at least one pair of opposed apertures defining a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said trunk; at least one artificial branch unit having diametrically opposed, coaxial terminal trunnion shafts pivotally received in said pair of opposed apertures in said trunk; and said artificial branch unit comprising a plurality of simulated branches.

Claim 3

The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said branches of said branch unit comprise elongated wire elements twisted longitudinally about each other to define a series of turns.

Claim 4

The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said twisted wire elements include a series of closed loops alternating with said turns and simulated foliage elements extending transversely through said loops and grippingly retained therein.

Claim 5

The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said trunnion shafts comprise a pair of legs having spring arms extending outwardly from one end and embracing a portion of said trunk between said pair of apertures, said arms terminating inwardly to form said coaxial trunnion shafts, which are removably received in said pair of apertures, and said legs having an integral bulb portioN extending from the other end thereof.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 1 in which said apertures are offset in a plane spaced from the longitudinal axis of said trunk.

Claim 7

The structure as claimed in claim 5 in which said trunnion shafts comprise a pair of legs having outwardly extending spring-arms at one end which embrace a portion of said trunk between said pair of apertures, said arms terminating in inwardly directed, coaxial stub portions forming said trunnions, which are removably received in said pair of apertures, and said legs having an integral bulb portion extending from the other end.

Claim 8

The structure as claimed in claim 6 in which said spring-arms of said branch unit are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to said legs, whereby the tree limb can be substantially folded onto the outer surface of the tree trunk.

Claim 9

The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said plurality of simulated branches are limited to a pair of branches in said branch unit, said elongated wire elements forming part of said branches include a bent portion in the form of the letter V, and wherein portions adjacent the vertex of the V are close together and form a shank portion.

Claim 10

The structure as claimed in claim 8 in which said trunnion shafts comprise a pair of legs having spring-arms extending outwardly from one end and embracing a portion of said trunk between said pair of apertures, said arms terminating inwardly to form said coaxial trunnion shafts, which are removably received in said pair of apertures, said legs having an integral bulb portion extending from the other end thereof, and in which said apertures are offset in a plane spaced from the longitudinal axis of said trunk.

Claim 11

The structure as claimed in claim 9 in which the shank portion of said branches extend over and are secured to said pair of legs and said integral bulb portion extending from said trunnion shafts by clip means.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 10 in which said clip means is generally rectangular, with a slotted opening at one end, and a finger portion bent from the other end into the slotted opening.

Claim 13

The structure as claimed in claim 7 in which additional branch units having trunnion shafts pivotally received in pairs of opposed apertures on said trunk, characterized in that the trunnion shafts of said additional branch units include pairs of legs having outwardly extending spring-arms disposed at an angle relative to said legs, with said angle being different for branch units at different levels of the tree to provide for branch units at higher levels of the tree to point more skyward or vertically than branch units at lower levels of the tree.

Claim 14

An artificial tree trunk having a pattern of pairs of opposed apertures adapted to receive pairs of trunnion shafts of hinge adapters for holding artificial branch units thereon, characterized in that said pattern of pairs of apertures includes a plurality of pairs of apertures on a first horizontal level with the circumferential spacing between the apertures of each pair being equal, additional levels of plurality of pairs of apertures with the circumferential spacing between the apertures of each pair being equal as in the pairs of apertures on said first horizontal level, some of said additional levels having more pairs of apertures than other levels, said apertures in each level being vertically out of alignment with apertures of adjacent levels so that branch units will be circumferentially staggered between adjacent levels of said trunk, and said pattern repeating itself over the length of the trunk.

Claim 15

An artificial tree trunk having a pattern of pairs of opposed apertures adapted to receive pairs of trunnion shafts of hinge adapters for holding artificial branch units thereon, characterized in that said pattern of pairs of apertures includes a plurality of pairs of apertures on a first horizontal level with the circumferential spacing between the apertures of each pair being equal, additional levels of plurality of pairs of apertures with the circumferential spacing between the apertures of each pair being equal as in the pairs of apertures on said first horizontal level, some of said additional levels having more pairs of apertures than other levels, said apertures in each level being vertically out of alignment with apertures of adjacent levels so that branch units will be circumferentially staggered between adjacent levels of said trunk, and said pattern repeating itself over the length of the trunk.

Claim 16

An artificial tree comprising the trunk of claim 13 and wherein each of said pairs of opposed apertures define a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said trunk; at least one artificial branch unit having diametrically opposed, coaxial terminal trunnion shafts pivotally received in one of said pairs of opposed apertures in said trunk; and said artificial branch unit comprising a plurality of simulated branches.