The Christmas tree trade today consists of many producers in a number of countries, which in an efficient way produce thousands of Christmas trees during the Christmas tree season. The production implies among other things that the felling of the Christmas trees is highly mechanised as machines fell the Christmas trees and adjust them so they are ready for sale. The adjustment includes among other things a standardisation of the lowest part of the trunk of the Christmas trees so that they have the same diameter at a fixed part of the trunk. Likewise, the Christmas trees are often wrapped up in a net or are tied up so they are ready to be transported to the places where the sale to the costumers will take place.

At the sales places, the Christmas trees are placed in an upright position in a large pile where the costumers can see the outer Christmas trees or they can dig their way to the Christmas trees placed behind.

The problem with this way of selling Christmas trees is that the customers only have a few Christmas trees to choose between and therefore often have to choose a Christmas tree, which the costumer is not satisfied with.

Alternatively, the costumer may use a lot of time digging a more satisfying Christmas tree out of the pile, which will result in that the costumer is probably exposed to the resin from the trees and any earth and other dirt. Likewise, the remaining trees will be damaged during the process of the costumer moving the trees. This means that the uttermost trees in particular, which are not chosen immediately, will look dingy and damaged making the chance of selling them very limited.

The Christmas tree sellers may also choose to provide every Christmas tree with a Christmas tree fixating device, which should then either be included in the price of the Christmas tree or removed when the Christmas tree is sold. This will be very time-consuming and at the same time the Christmas tree sellers will not be able to sell Christmas trees during this time.

The object of the invention is to create a Christmas tree holder, which quickly and in a simple way can be mounted on to a Christmas tree and preferably immediately after it has been felled. Another object of the invention is to create a Christmas tree holder, which is suitable in connection with transportation and sale of a Christmas tree.

The invention The invention relates to that a Christmas tree holder additionally comprises at least two hinges which allow a change in the position of the legs from a position for mounting/transportation to a position for use and vice versa. Hereby, it is possible to provide a Christmas tree with a Christmas tree holder immediately after the felling but during the same working process, e. g. by an automated working process. The possibility of using an automated working process efficiently is obtained as both the trunk of the Christmas tree and the holder have a shape which is advantageous in connection with a standardised and automated working process and, as regards the holder, is also advantageous for the following transportation.

As the Christmas tree holder is provided with at least two hinges, it is at the same time possible to change the Christmas tree holder subsequently so that it is also advantageous in connection with the placing of the Christmas tree where the requirements for a position for mounting/transportation and a position for use normally counteract.

By one aspect of the invention the support and/or legs of the holder are made of a plastic material by which it is possible to produce the Christmas tree holder in an inexpensive way. This is especially of importance to the seller of the Christmas tree as an inexpensive Christmas tree holder means that the seller may allow the buyer to take the holder with him while an expensive holder will mean that the buyer often would have to wait for the Christmas tree seller to remove the holder or alternatively pay a high price for the Christmas tree with holder.

Of course, the Christmas tree holder can be made from other materials such as iron or another metal but this would make the holder considerably more expensive.

The buyer of the tree may choose to leave the Christmas tree holder on the tree or alternatively remove it at home and then mount his own Christmas tree holder.

By another aspect of the invention, every leg is fastened flexibly to the support at at least one point with a first hinge by which it is possible to move the legs from a first position for transportation to a position for use in connection with placing. By the position for transportation/mounting it is important that the Christmas tree holder is as compact and small as possible so that it does not take up unnecessary space and does not grab hold of other things and damage them or is damaged itself. By the placing it is important that the legs of the Christmas tree holder can be folded out to an extent which allow them to hold the Christmas tree upright in a mainly vertical position in a safe way.

By a third aspect of the invention, the support and each of the legs are additionally connected to a hinge and/or that an upper and lower part of each of the legs are connected to each other with a hinge by which it is possible to secure/fold up the legs in different positions.

By a fourth aspect of the invention, each leg comprises a fixed part which is fastened to the support and a movable part which can be moved such as displaced in

proportion to the fixed part by which it is possible to adjust the legs in proportion to a foundation.

By a fifth aspect of the invention, the legs can be folded out to a position for use where the legs in this position form an angle of between 25 and 75 degrees in proportion to the support and preferably an angle between 45 and 65 degrees by which it is possible to achieve an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

By a sixth aspect of the invention the length for transportation of the legs is equal to or smaller than the length of the support and that the length for use of the legs is equal to or larger than the length of the support by which it is possible to ensure that the legs do not grab hold of other things during transportation as they are mainly protected by the support but at the same time ensure that they during use can ensure that the Christmas tree is always in an upright position.

By an additional aspect of the invention, the support is fastened around a pre-cut end area of the trunk of the Christmas tree by which it is possible to determine a standard for the Christmas tree holder with a fixed diameter. This aspect of the invention will keep the production costs low as the Christmas tree holder thereby only has to be produced in one size. However, it might be favourable to produce the Christmas tree holder in three sizes where the Christmas trees are divided into the sizes: large, medium and small.

By another aspect of the invention, the legs are provided with longitudinal reinforcements such as plastic elevations and have a curved cross section over all or parts of the length of the legs by which it is possible to ensure that the legs do not fold up during use but hold themselves in a simple way.

By another aspect of the invention, the holder in a position for use additionally comprises means for individual adjustment of the distance of one or several legs from the support. By this it is possible to individually adjust the angle of the support

in proportion to a vertical axis and thereby compensate for any skewness in a Christmas tree or in the foundation. The compensation ensures that a Christmas tree can always stand completely upright and straight which is crucial in order to ensure that a Christmas tree appears most attractive at the same time as the load on the legs is evenly divided.

By a last aspect of the invention, said means for individual adjustment include a stabilizer such as a 3-cross which is fastened to the legs and to one or several optional fastening points on the support. Hereby, a possibility of compensation for the position of the Christmas tree is ensured at the same time as the Christmas tree holder is supplied with an added rigidity.

Figures In the following the invention will be described with reference to the figures in which Figs. la and lb show a Christmas tree ready for use together with the invention and a section of said Christmas tree, Figs. 2a to 2c show a first preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder according to the invention, Figs. 4a and 4b show a placing of a Christmas tree with a Christmas tree holder according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows a third preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder according to the invention,

Figs. 6a and 6b show a Christmas tree with a Christmas tree holder according to the invention in a position for transportation and for placing respectively, Figs. 7a to 7d show an additional preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder, Figs. 7e to 7h show a stabilizer for use in connection with the additional embodiment, and Figs. 8a to 8d show details in connection with the structure of a Christmas tree holder according to the invention.

Detailed description Figure la shows a standard Christmas tree after felling where an aftertreatment of the lowest part of the trunk of the Christmas tree has been made. The aftertreatment of the Christmas tree is made immediately after the felling and results in that the lowest parts of all felled Christmas trees have standardised dimensions. The felling and the aftertreatment of the Christmas trees are mechanised to a great extent where machines for tree felling fell the Christmas trees and adjust them in a continuous process.

Figure 1b shows the lowest part 3 of the trunk 2 of the Christmas tree where a standardisation has been made so this part among other things has a desired diameter D on a certain length L of the trunk.

Figures 2a to 2c show a first preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder according to the invention where the figures show the Christmas tree holder in different positions.

On figure 2a the Christmas tree holder is shown in a position where the holder is fully folded up and which is advantageous in connection with transportation of a Christmas tree with mounted Christmas tree holder.

The Christmas tree holder is shown with a support 9 which can be fastened to the lowest part of the trunk of the Christmas tree where the trunk is mounted through a hole 10 at the top of the support. Furthermore, the holder is provided with three legs which are connected to the top of the support with hinges 8 and where the legs are placed symmetrically along the edge of the top of the support. The legs are at the same time divided into an upper 5 and a lower part 6 where these are separated by an additional hinge 7.

On figure 2b, the Christmas tree holder is shown in a middle position where the holder is folded up around the said two hinges for each leg.

On figure 2c, the Christmas tree holder is shown in a position where the holder is fully unfolded and which is suitable for use at the placing of a Christmas tree.

By the folding up, the lower part of each leg is fastened to the lower part of the support for example with a flap at the extremity of the leg, which is pushed into an opening in the support and secured here.

The support can be made with several openings for the same flap where these are placed above each other with a certain mutual distance which makes it possible for the shape of the leg to be changed by use of a given opening. By the changed shape, the position of the edge of the leg which bear against the foundation will also change by which it is possible to compensate for skewness in a Christmas tree by shifting the angle of the support of the Christmas tree holder.

In an alternative embodiment the surface of the flap can be made with several displaced transverse ribs, which make it possible for the flap to be pushed more or less into the opening.

Figure 3 shows another preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder according to the invention where the legs of the Christmas tree holder are constructed with an upper 11 and a lower part 14. The size of the lower part of the leg corresponds to or is smaller than an opening in the upper part by which the lower part in an unfolded position could be integrated in the opening of the upper part. The upper and the lower part of the leg are in one end connected to each other by a hinge 12 and the upper part is connected to the upper part of a support. The support can be fastened to the lowest part of the trunk of the Christmas tree where the trunk is mounted in a hole 10 in the support. The lower part of the leg can be fastened to the lower part of the support, e. g. with a flap which is pushed into an opening in the support and secured here.

Figure 4a shows a Christmas tree with the mounted Christmas tree holder 4 of the kind shown on figure 3 and in a position suitable in connection with transportation of a Christmas tree. The legs of the Christmas tree holder are all folded up against the support of the trunk 2 of the Christmas tree by which the circumference of the holder is reduced.

Figure 4b shows the Christmas tree with the mounted Christmas tree holder 4 from figure 4a in a position suitable in connection with placing of the Christmas tree. The legs of the Christmas tree holder are all folded out so that the holder can stand on a foundation where the outer points of support of the legs are sufficiently away from the support to ensure that the Christmas tree stands safe and stable.

Figure 5 shows a third preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder according to the invention where the legs of the Christmas tree holder are constructed with a fixed upper 22 and a lower part 20 which are encapsulated in the fixed part and can be

pulled out from here wholly or partly. Furthermore, the lower part 20 is furthermore provided with a part 21 for rest against a foundation.

The fixed part of every leg is fastened flexibly to a support 24, for the lowest part of the trunk of the Christmas tree, by a hinge 19 by which the leg can be moved from a position for transportation the leg bear against the support to a position for use (the leg is in a given angle in proportion to the support such as 45 degrees). In order to ensure and secure the leg in the position for use an additional foldable hinge 23 is placed between the fixed part of the leg and the support where the hinge in the position for use is folded out to its full length. Hereby, the hinge functions as a stiff bar which secures the leg in the position but which can be folded up if it is actuated by a force which is at right angles to the hinge. The folding in the hinge may e. g. take place in an area of the material with a fatigue line such as a narrowing of the thickness of the material where the fatigue line divide the hinge in two halves. In a folded up position the hinge is folded up, the structure/tension in the material will naturally press the two halves against each other so that the hinge is entirely folded up.

Alternatively, the hinge can e. g. be constructed with two halves, which are pivotally connected to each other around an axis.

Figure 6a shows the Christmas tree holder 4 from figure 5 in a position for transportation where the legs are folded up against the support and where the lower parts 20 of the legs are pushed as far in to the fixed part as possible.

Figure 6b shows the Christmas tree holder 4 from figure 5 in a position for use where the hinges 23 only needs to be folded wholly down before the Christmas tree holder can hold the Christmas tree upright/in a upright position. As can be seen from the figure, the lower part 20 of the legs is pushed out to a position where they meet the foundation in a suitable way. In this position, every leg is locked by securing the lower part 20 in proportion to the upper part, e. g. by the frictional resistance between

them or by a locking system where e. g. a pawl is inserted between them. Thereby it is possible to place the support of the Christmas tree holder in a desired position which ensures that the Christmas tree is held in a vertical position.

The figures 7a to 7d show an additional preferred embodiment of a Christmas tree holder where the holder is constructed with three legs which can be folded out as shown on the figures.

Figure 7a shows the Christmas tree holder placed in a position for transportation where all three legs are folded up against the support. The legs each consists of an upper and lower part where these are connected to each other with a hinge 26 which makes it possible for the upper and lower part to turn from a folded up position to a folded out position. On the figure, the legs are shown in a folded up position where the lower part of each leg is folded in between the support and the upper part of the same leg. The upper parts of the legs are all fastened to the top of the support with a hinge 30 each.

The legs are made in a way, which gives them a curved cross section across the longitudinal direction of the legs by which the legs after being folded out will be firmly fixed in a natural way as long as the curved cross section is maintained. By up folding of a leg around the hinge 26 between the upper and the lower part of the leg it will be necessary to first bend the leg to a more flat cross-sectional profile after which the leg can be folded up.

The legs are all made of a relatively flexible plate material where the thickness of the plate material allows that the material does not double up under the weight of the Christmas tree but at the same time it is not more stiff than the material can be forced by a user from having a curved cross section across the longitudinal direction of the legs to a more flat cross-sectional profile. At the same time, the plate material has to be so flexible that it returns to the curved cross section across the longitudinal direction of the legs when the user lets go of the material. In order to achieve both

flexibility and strength, the legs are provided with longitudinal reinforcements where these e. g. can be bars of a more stiff/stiffer material embedded in the plate material or moulded on top of the plate material.

During transportation the legs are secured in the folded up position, either by securing the legs naturally in position due to the construction of the hinges and the choice of material or by locking devices placed e. g. on the support that secures the legs. The locking devices may be a head which a given leg is clicked down into.

The figures 7b and 7c show the Christmas tree holder in middle positions where the legs at first are folded up around the hinge 30 and hereafter the upper and lower part of the legs are folded out around the hinge 26.

Figure 7d shows the Christmas tree holder placed in a position for use where the holder can hold a Christmas tree upright by means of the three folded out legs, which possibly together with the support rest against a foundation. Because of the curved cross section of the legs, they will not bend around the hinge 26 and the hinge 30 between the leg and the support is made in a way which only allows a certain movement of the legs, e. g. to an angle between 25 and 75 degrees in proportion to the support and preferably between 45 and 65 degrees. The weight of the Christmas tree will automatically force the legs out in the maximum angle after which the Christmas tree holder is ready to hold the Christmas tree upright.

Figure 7e shows the embodiment from figures 7a to 7d combined with a stabilizer where the stabilizer secures the legs of the Christmas tree holder in a desired position in proportion to the support of the Christmas tree holder. At the same time it is possible to compensate for any skewness in a Christmas tree by changing the distance between one or more of the legs of the Christmas tree holder and the support of the holder, by which the angle of the support is shifted away from a completely vertical position.

On figures 7f and 7g the stabilizer is shown in the shape of a 3-cross which is fastened to each leg of the Christmas tree holder in direct proximity of every corner.

Every leg having a strap placed at said comers where the straps can be fastened to the cross in suitable supports can e. g. make the fastening.

Likewise, the 3-cross is fastened to the underside of the support of the Christmas tree holder where the fastening can take place in any position so that the distance of all the legs to the support can be freely adjusted.

In one embodiment the fastening to the underside can take place by the support and/or the 3-cross is provided with a sticky cover, which is sufficiently strong to hold the 3-cross when the Christmas tree holder is loaded by the weight of a Christmas tree. Likewise, the support and the 3-cross can be provided with velcro which can fasten parts to each other.

In other embodiments the 3-cross can be fastened to the support with fastening means such as screws or bolts where the support and the 3-cross are provided with the necessary holes to receive the securing means. Likewise, it is possible to use nails, which are driven by a hammer into the 3-cross and the support and possibly further into the trunk of the Christmas tree.

As shown on figure 7f, the 3-cross can have a shape which implies that the width of the legs of the cross mainly corresponds to the width of the legs of the Christmas tree holder by which the straps can be shortened or alternatively be replaced by hooks which directly grip notches in the 3-cross.

On figure 7g, an example of a 3-cross with considerably narrower legs is shown where the straps clutch recesses in the 3-cross.

Figure 7h shows another embodiment of the stabilizer where said stabilizer is constructed as three separate cords. The two cord ends are each fastened to one of the

lowest corners on a given leg in the Christmas tree holder or in direct proximity of a corner. The formed cord noose can be pulled in over the fastening where the fastening can be a number of elevations divided on the underside of the support of the Christmas tree holder.

Hereafter, the placing of each leg in the Christmas tree holder can be adjusted closer to or further away from the support of the Christmas tree holder by moving the cord noose from one elevation to another.

The cord noose can advantageously be made in plastic and made during the same plastic moulding process as the leg belonging to it.

The figures 8a to 8d show examples of securing elements on the inner sides of the support which recess with the trunk of the Christmas tree and is fixed to this after placing the trunk in the support.

On figure 8a and 8b an example with a securing element is shown, which has a square shape and sticks out from the inner side of the support in a downwards direction which ensures that the trunk may fit into the support. By removal of the support from the trunk, the securing elements will penetrate further into the trunk and thereby secure the support to the trunk.

On figure 8c and 8d, an example with a securing element is shown which has a triangular shape.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned different elaborations of hinges naturally can be used in connection with all the examples of embodiments even if they are only described in connection with a few of them. Likewise, the angle specifications are applicable for all the examples of embodiments.

The number of legs on the Christmas tree holder can at the same time be changed from the above-mentioned three legs to e. g. four or more legs if necessary.

List 1. Christmas tree 2. Trunk of the Christmas tree 3. Lower part of the trunk of the Christmas tree 4. Christmas tree holder 5. Upper part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 6. Lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 7. Hinge between upper and lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 8. Hinge between upper part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder and support 9. Support for the lower part of the trunk of the Christmas tree 10. Mounting hole for the lower part of the trunk of the Christmas tree 11. Upper part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder-unfolded 12. Hinge between upper and lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 13. Part for rest against a foundation 14. Lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder-unfolded 15. Joint between lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder and support 16. Hinge between upper part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder and support 17. Upper part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder-not unfolded 18. Lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder-not unfolded 19. Hinge between one leg of the Christmas tree holder and support 20. Pull-out part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 21. Part for rest against a foundation 22. Fixed part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 23. Hinge between fixed part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder and support

24. Support for lower part of the trunk of the Christmas tree 25. Upper part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 26. Hinge between upper and lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 27. Lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 28. Reinforcements in one leg of the Christmas tree holder 29. Support for lower part of the trunk of the Christmas tree 30. Hinge between upper part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder and support 31. Curved edge for lower part of one leg of the Christmas tree holder 32a-32d. Securing elements of the trunk of the Christmas tree 33a-33d. Securing elements of the trunk of the Christmas tree 34. Support for lower part of the trunk of the Christmas tree 35. Stabilizer 36. Securing for stabilizer 37. Noose B. General term for the legs of the Christmas tree holder