Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
  • A47G33/04—Christmas trees 
  • A47G33/12—Christmas tree stands
  • A47G33/1213—Christmas tree stands comprising a single handle or pedal for releasing, tensioning or locking of clamping members
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
  • A47G33/04—Christmas trees 
  • A47G33/12—Christmas tree stands
  • A47G2033/1286—Christmas tree stands comprising watering means, e.g. a water reservoir

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for clamping the trunk of a Christmas tree or the like, consisting of a stand with at least three, arranged in a base plate with a receiving opening for the trunk around the receiving opening and for clamping jaws movable into the receiving opening of the trunk.
• devices known as stands which consist of a housing-like or frame-like support body which has a receiving opening into which the lower region of the trunk of the Christmas tree can be inserted. Since the cross-section of the trunks of Christmas trees is different and the Christmas trees must be aligned with their trunk in a vertical position, the opening of the supporting body is always larger than the maximum cross-section of the trunk.
• a wide variety of devices have become known in order to secure or clamp the trunk in this receiving opening.
• a Christmas tree stand is known from DE-OS 36 06 778, in which roller-shaped holding elements are pressed against the trunk by a rotary movement. An individual adjustment
• DE-AS 28 14 830 discloses a stand which is also suitable for receiving Christmas trees. With this stand, the holding force is exerted exclusively by strong springs. The opening takes place via a lever at the bottom of the sleeve receiving the trunk, which excludes that this sleeve can also be used as a water container.
• DE-GM 94 18 485 a Christmas tree stand is described and shown in which several holding elements are moved against the trunk by means of a rod with teeth and a lever acting thereon with a ratchet. In the case of logs with a relatively small cross section, several lifting movements of the lever are required until the clamping position is reached.
• DE-OS 39 32 473 finally discloses a Christmas tree stand in which, by shortening a rope loop, several holding elements are brought up to the trunk.
• the holding force is only effective when all holding elements are in contact with the trunk.
• the rope is tensioned by means of a foot lever, so that several strokes are always required until all holding elements lie against the trunk.
• the rope serving as the actual tensioning element is fixed in its holding position by a latching mechanism.
• An additional Lever required.
• the rope serving as the tensioning element cannot transmit any forces when the holding elements are opened.
• Special springs are therefore provided for the return movement of the holding elements, the force of which must be such that they can pull out holding elements that have penetrated into the trunk and can also overcome the friction of the rope. This can mean that special tools are required when loosening the holding elements.
• the invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for clamping the trunk of a Christmas tree or the like, which easily adapts to the cross section of the trunk, securely clamps it and which does not require a large stroke for the actual clamping movement. In addition, it should be ensured that the clamping can be easily released or released.
• the base plate is assigned a closure which can be moved in two opposite directions and moves the clamping jaws out of the receiving opening in one direction and initially in the other direction releases the jaws for movement against the stem and then presses the jaws against the stem with the required clamping force.
• the clamping jaws are first brought into contact with the trunk for a clamping movement and only then is the actual clamping movement initiated.
• the stroke required for this is relatively small.
• the way to release the clamp is also low and a particularly firmly clamped trunk can be easily and safely released.
• the device can be easily equipped with a water-absorbing container.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention in its released position
• FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in its clamped position
• Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a stand
• Fig. 4 is a plan view of the configuration of an actuator.
• a device for clamping an only indicated trunk of a Christmas tree which initially consists of a base plate 1 with a circular outer contour.
• a receiving opening 2 is incorporated, which also has a circular cross section.
• the base plate 1 is arranged on a pot-like vessel 4 (FIG. 3), the bottom of which is provided with a centering tip 3 and can be used to absorb water.
• three bolts 6 are arranged on the base plate 1, which run perpendicular to the surface of the base plate 1 and which each pivotally accommodate a clamping jaw 5.
• One end of a spring 7 is connected to each clamping jaw 5, the other end of which is secured on the base plate 1.
• the springs 7 in the illustrated embodiment act on the clamping jaws 5 in such a way that they endeavor to rotate counterclockwise on the bolt 6. This means that the clamping jaws 5 repeatedly try to take up a position as far as possible within the receiving opening 2, as can be seen in FIG. 2.
• the clamping jaws 5 are provided with a corrugation or toothing, which can be brought into abutment on the outer surface of the trunk, which is only indicated, via the springs 7.
• the clamping jaws 5 have teeth 11 running on a circular arc.
• the base plate 1 is now assigned a locking ring 9, on which there are a total of three drivers 8 and three pawls 10 in the exemplary embodiment shown, each of which a driver 8 and a pawl 10 are assigned to a clamping jaw 5.
• the drivers 8 each serve for an opening movement of the jaws 5, while the pawls 10 are responsible for their clamping movement.
• the locking ring 9 was rotated clockwise so that now all three clamping jaws 5 a driver 8 bears, which has moved the clamping jaws 5 into their opened position.
• the locking ring 9 is rotated counterclockwise. 1 are removed from the clamping jaws 5 and the clamping jaws 5 can be pivoted by their springs 7 so that they rest against the trunk with their corrugation or toothing (FIG. 2). With a further rotary movement of the locking ring 9 counterclockwise, the pawls 10 now engage in the toothing 11 of the clamping jaws 5, which leads to a clamping or tightening of the stem used.
• An actuator 12 to 15 is assigned to the same for the movement of the locking ring 9.
• This actuator 12 to 15 initially consists of a bolt 15 which is arranged on the underside of the locking ring 9.
• This bolt 15 engages in a spiral-shaped guide slot 14 of a drum 13 which is mounted in a stationary manner and which can be rotated by a lever 12.
• the drum 13 and thus at the same time the locking ring 9 can now be rotated in the corresponding direction.
• the lever 12 is pivoted downward from the position shown in FIG. 3, the drum 13 and thus the locking ring 9 are rotated such that the clamping jaws 5 tighten or clamp the indicated trunk. However, if this lever 12 is raised, the clamping jaws 5 return to their starting position according to FIG. 1.
• the lever 12 can be loosely inserted into the drum 13 so that it can be removed to secure against unintentional release of the clamping.
• the device described is together with the vessel 4 and the actuator 12 to 15 housed in a housing 16 which has a slot 17 through which the lever 12 is guided to the outside.
• the locking ring 9 is formed from two rings which enclose the corresponding end of the clamping jaws 5 between them. If necessary, the interacting gripping surfaces of the clamping jaws 5 and the locking ring 9 can be provided with a coating to increase the friction. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the clamping jaws 5 on the base plate 1 in a radially adjustable manner. The described actuator for the movement of the jaws 5 can also be designed in a different way.

Landscapes

• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=7779322

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (18)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 1995
  • 1995-12-06 DE DE19545471A patent/DE19545471C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1996
  • 1996-12-06 EP EP96942370A patent/EP0871388B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-12-06 AT AT96942370T patent/ATE196836T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-12-06 WO PCT/EP1996/005465 patent/WO1997020487A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1996-12-06 US US09/091,060 patent/US6012698A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-12-06 DE DE59605995T patent/DE59605995D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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