US20180206663A1

US20180206663A1 - Artificial christmas tree

Info

Publication number: US20180206663A1
Application number: US15/416,419
Authority: US
Inventors: George Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-01-26
Filing date: 2017-01-26
Publication date: 2018-07-26

Abstract

An artificial Christmas tree includes a foot stand, a trunk, multiple branches and multiple leaves. One end of the trunk is connected with the foot stand. The trunk has multiple branch holders. Each branch is formed by sheathing plastic around an iron wire and is flexible and bendable. One end of each branch is connected with a corresponding branch holder of the trunk and each branch has multiple leafstalk seats formed around a periphery of the branch for corresponding leaves to be mounted on the leafstalk seats. Each leaf has a resilient metal wire sheathed by plastic and has multiple leaflets formed on the sheathed metal wire. As the leaves can be short or long and can be sequentially spread out after mounted on corresponding branches, a Christmas tree structure with simple and easy assembly and three-dimensional spatial perception to viewers can be attained.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an artificial Christmas tree and, more particularly, to an artificial Christmas tree rendering increased ease and convenience in assembly and shipment of the artificial Christmas tree and quick shape restorability after the artificial Christmas tree is unpacked.

2. Description of the Related Art

In view of its simple assembly, complete and beautiful tree structure, and easy storage and relocation, undoubtedly, artificial Christmas tree is one of the most indispensable decorations during the Christmas holiday season. To give an artificial Christmas tree a natural and aesthetically appealing look, tree leaves are supposed to be correctly positioned and oriented as desired.
However, tree leaves of artificial Christmas trees available in the market must be manually adjusted by workers in the factory in terms of location and orientation of the tree leaves before shipment. Despite the availability of standard operation procedures for assembly of the artificial Christmas trees, under the circumstance that aesthetic judgment varies from person to person and product capacity is a major manufacturing concern, consistent and optimal shape of the artificial Christmas trees is hard to get. As warehousing and shipping costs are also critical to be taken into account, the artificial Christmas trees tend to be squeezed as much as possible especially when they are packed for shipping. After consumers receive and unpack the purchased artificial Christmas trees, tree leaves and branches of the artificial trees appear to be folded and distorted, giving a tree structure much less than expected by the consumers. Even though manufacturers of the artificial Christmas trees stress that the artificial Christmas trees may be made of steel wire, which is more rigid and less damage-prone, it is inevitable that the artificial Christmas trees eventually become distorted due to the weight and poor elasticity of the steel wires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an artificial Christmas tree with multiple branch holders mounted along a longitudinal direction of the trunk and the leaves spread out after mounted on corresponding branches to achieve a Christmas tree structure with simple and easy assembly and three-dimensional spatial perception to viewers.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the artificial Christmas tree includes a foot stand, a trunk, multiple branches and multiple leaves.
The trunk with one end thereof connected with the foot stand has multiple sleeves and multiple branch holders alternately connected with each other along a longitudinal direction of the trunk to form the trunk. Each branch holder has multiple mounting ears annularly mounted around a rim of a bottom of the branch holder. The multiple mounting ears of the branch holder and the mounting ears of the branch holder located next thereto are alternately arranged.
Each branch with one end thereof connected with one of the multiple mounting ears of a corresponding branch holder, and has an iron wire and multiple leafstalk seats.
The iron wire is sheathed by a plastic material and is flexible and bendable.
The multiple leafstalk seats are obliquely formed around a periphery of the branch, are spaced apart from each other, and are located between two ends of the branch.
Each leaf is made of a resilient metal wire sheathed by a plastic material, and is mounted in a corresponding leafstalk seat of one of the multiple branches.
Preferably, an included angle between each leafstalk seat and a corresponding branch ranges from 0 degree to 90 degrees.
Preferably, each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has a free end, a fixed end and a recess. The fixed end is opposite to the free end and is connected with the corresponding branch. The recess is inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end. Each leaf has an insertion end formed on a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat.
Preferably, each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has a free end, a fixed end and multiple recesses. The fixed end is opposite to the free end and is connected with the corresponding branch. The multiple recesses are inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end. Each leaf has multiple insertion ends formed on a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the multiple recesses of a corresponding leafstalk seat.
Preferably, each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has a free end, a fixed end and an insertion pin. The fixed end is opposite to the free end and is connected with the corresponding branch. The insertion pin is formed on and protrudes from a free end of the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the fixed end to the free end of the leafstalk seat. Each leaf has a recess formed in a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the insertion pin of a corresponding leaf.
Preferably, each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has a free end, a fixed end and multiple insertion pins. The fixed end is opposite to the free end and is connected with the corresponding branch. The multiple insertion pins are formed on and protrude from a free end of the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the fixed end to the free end of the leafstalk seat. Each leaf has multiple recesses formed in a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the respective insertion pins of a corresponding leaf.
Preferably, each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the insertion end of the leaf adhesively engaging the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat.
Preferably, each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the multiple insertion ends of the leaf adhesively engaging the respective recesses of a corresponding leafstalk seat.
Preferably, each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the recess of the leaf adhesively engaging the insertion pin of a corresponding leafstalk seat.
Preferably, each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the multiple recesses of the leaf adhesively engaging the respective insertion pins of a corresponding leafstalk seat
Preferably, each leafstalk seat has two lateral channels inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end of the leafstalk seat and extending along two opposite lateral directions of the leafstalk seat passing through the recess within a range inside the peripheral wall of the leafstalk seat, and being shorter than the recess in depth. The insertion end of each leaf has two raised ribs oppositely formed on a peripheral wall of the insertion end to correspond to the two respective lateral channels of a corresponding leafstalk seat. The insertion end of each leaf engages the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat with the two raised ribs engaging the two respective lateral channels of the corresponding leafstalk seat.
Preferably, each leafstalk seat has two lateral channels inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end of the leafstalk seat and formed through the peripheral wall of the leafstalk seat along two opposite lateral directions of the leafstalk seat passing through the recess, and being shorter than the recess in depth. The insertion end of each leaf has two raised ribs oppositely formed on a peripheral wall of the insertion end to correspond to the two respective lateral channels of a corresponding leafstalk seat. The insertion end of each leaf engages the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat with the two raised ribs engaging the two respective lateral channels of the corresponding leafstalk seat.
Preferably, each leaf has a round hook formed on a bottom end of the leaf and each branch has multiple leaf holders. Each leaf holder has a leaf-mounting base and a pin. The leaf-mounting base is box-shaped, is mounted on a corresponding leafstalk seat, and has two open sides. The pin is mounted through two opposite walls of the leaf-mounting base. The round hook of each leaf is fastened around the pin of a corresponding leaf holder by way of hook-connection.
Preferably, each leaf has an inverted hook formed on a bottom end of the leaf and each branch has multiple leaf holders. Each leaf holder is mounted on a corresponding leafstalk seat, and has two opposite walls and a bridge portion. The bridge portion is formed between the two opposite walls and has an urging portion upwardly formed in a bottom portion of the bridge portion. The inverted hook of each leaf is hooked around the urging portion of the bridge portion of a corresponding leaf holder by way of hook-connection.
Preferably, a peripheral surface of each branch is bark-shaped, bark-free shaped, or bark-shaped over a top portion of the branch and bark-free shaped over a bottom portion of the branch.
Preferably, each branch further has multiple connection tubes. Each connection tube has a hole formed in a top end thereof and a rod formed on and protruding from a bottom end and engaging the hole of a connection tube located right below the connection tube. At least one of the leafstalk seat and one of the connection tubes of each branch adjacent to the at least one leafstalk seat constitute a branch division. Each branch is assembled or detached by connecting or disconnecting the multiple branch divisions.
The artificial Christmas tree has the advantages that the multiple branch holders are sequentially mounted along a longitudinal direction of the trunk for the leaves to be spread out after mounted on corresponding branches, the mounting ears of adjacent two of the branch holders are alternately arranged for exhibiting the artificial Christmas tree with three-dimensional spatial perception to viewers, an included angle between each leafstalk seat and a corresponding branch ensures the leaves to be positioned at optimal position and orientation, and the resilient metal wire inside each leaf facilitates the leaf to be flexible and bendable, rendering a small size beneficial to lower warehousing and storage costs when subject to a compression force and a restored shape after the compression force is gone.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view showing a foot stand and a trunk of the artificial Christmas tree in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a branch with multiple tree leaves of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a branch with multiple tree leaves of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a branch and a tree leaf with a first included angle therebetween of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a branch and a tree leaf with a second included angle therebetween of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a branch and a tree leaf with a third included angle therebetween of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a trunk with a peripheral surface being fully bark-shaped in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a trunk with a peripheral surface being bark-shaped on a top side and being half bark-free shaped on a bottom side in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a trunk of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a tree leaf of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 13;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 15;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 18;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a tree leaf combined with a branch of an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tree leaf and the branch in FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an artificial Christmas tree in accordance with the present invention includes a foot stand 10, a trunk 20, multiple branches 30 and multiple leaves 40 connected with the multiple branches 30.
With reference to FIG. 2, one end of the trunk 20 is connected with the foot stand 10, and the trunk 20 has multiple branch holders 21 securely mounted around a periphery of the trunk 20 and spaced apart from each other by gaps in a longitudinal direction of the trunk 20. Each branch holder 21 has multiple mounting ears 211 and multiple lock pins 212. The multiple mounting ears 211 are annularly mounted around a rim of a bottom of the branch holder 21. The mounting ears 211 of each branch holder 21 and the mounting ear(s) 211 of the branch holder 21 located next thereto are alternately arranged. Each lock pin 212 is mounted through a portion of a corresponding mounting ear 211 distal to the trunk 20. The trunk 20 may be integrally formed or have multiple sleeves 22. The multiple sleeves 22 and the multiple branch holders 21 are alternately connected with each other along the longitudinal direction to form the trunk 20. Each branch holder 21 is connected between adjacent two of the sleeves 22 and each branch holder 21 and a sleeve 22 connected thereto constitute a trunk division. The trunk 20 is assembled or disassembled by connecting or disconnecting the trunk divisions.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, each branch 30 has an iron wire sheathed by a plastic material and is flexible and bendable. One end of each branch 30 is connected with one of the mounting ears 211 of a corresponding branch holder 21 and a corresponding lock pin 212 is mounted through the mounting ear 211 and the end of the branch 30. Each branch 30 has multiple leafstalk seats 31 obliquely formed around a periphery of the branch 30, spaced apart from each other, and located between two ends of the branch 30. Each leaf 40 is mounted in a corresponding leafstalk seat 31. With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, an included angle between each leafstalk seat 31 and a corresponding branch 30 may range from 0 degree to 90 degrees. Each branch 30 and the leafstalk seats 31 thereon may be integrally formed by plastic injection molding. Alternatively, each branch 30 may be made by first sheathing an iron wire with a plastic material and then mounting the leafstalk seats 31 generated by other plastic forming processes on the plastic sheathed iron wire. Each branch 30 further has a round hook 32 formed on a bottom portion of the branch 30 and fastened around a corresponding lock pin 212 of a corresponding branch holder 21. The round hook 32 may be made of iron and each branch 30 is sheathed by a plastic material, such as polyethylene (PE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with the round hook 32 integrally formed at one end of the branch 30. A peripheral surface of each branch 30 may be bark-shaped as shown in FIG. 8, bark-free shaped as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, or bark-shaped over a top portion of the branch 30 and bark-free shaped over a bottom portion of the branch 30 as shown in FIG. 9. With reference to FIG. 10, each branch 30 further has multiple connection tubes 33. Each connection tube 33 has a hole formed in a top end thereof and a rod formed on and protruding from a bottom end and engaging the hole of a connection tube 33 located right below the connection tube 33. One of the leafstalk seats 31 and one of the connection tubes 33 of each branch 30 adjacent to the leafstalk seat 31 constitute a branch division. Alternatively, multiple leafstalk seats 31 and one connection tube 33 constitute a branch division. Each branch 30 can be assembled or detached by connecting or disconnecting the branch divisions. With reference to FIGS. 12 and 12A, a first embodiment of a leaf 40 combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31 is shown, and each leafstalk seat 31 has a recess 311 inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat 31 in a longitudinal direction from a free end to a fixed end of the leafstalk seat 31. With reference to FIGS. 13 and 13A, a second embodiment of a leaf 40 combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31 is shown, and each leafstalk seat 31 has multiple recesses 311 inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat 31 in a longitudinal direction from a free end to a fixed end of the leafstalk seat 31. With reference to FIGS. 14 and 14A, a third embodiment of a leaf 40 combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31 is shown, and each leafstalk seat 31 has an insertion pin 312 formed on and protruding from a free end of the leafstalk seat 31 in a longitudinal direction from the fixed end to the free end of the leafstalk seat 31. With reference to FIGS. 15 and 15A, a fourth embodiment of a leaf 40 combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31 is shown, and each leafstalk seat 31 has multiple insertion pins 312 formed on and protruding from a free end of the leafstalk seat 31 in a longitudinal direction from the fixed end to the free end of the leafstalk seat 31. Each recess 311 or each insertion pin 312 of each leafstalk seat 31 may include but is not limited to a circular cross section, a rectangular cross section, a triangular cross section, a regular polygonal cross section, or an irregular polygonal cross section.
With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, one end of each leaf 40 is connected with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31 of a corresponding branch 30, and each leaf 40 has multiple leaflets formed on two lateral sides of the leaf 40 and located between a free end and the connected end of the leaf 40. There is no limitation concerning the shape of the leaflets. Preferably, the leaflets are needle-shaped as similar to those of Christmas trees. Each leaf 40 has an insertion end 41 and a resilient metal wire 42. The insertion end 41 is formed on a bottom portion of the leaf 40. The resilient metal wire 42 is sheathed by a plastic material to make the leaf 40 bendable. The resilient metal wire 42 is resilient, is made of flexible metal, and may be an iron wire. One end of the resilient metal wire 42 slightly protrudes beyond the plastic material and the slightly protruding end is trimmed during the assembly process of the leaf 40. Each leaf 40 is integrally formed. Alternatively, each leaf 40 is formed by adhesively attaching the leaflets to the plastic-sheathed resilient metal wire 42. Each leaf 40 is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch 30 with the insertion end 41 of the leaf 40 adhesively engaging the recess 311 of a corresponding leafstalk seat 31. With further reference to FIGS. 13, and 13A, each leaf 40 has multiple insertion ends 41 formed on a bottom portion of the leaf 40 and is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch 30 with the multiple insertion ends 41 of the leaf 40 adhesively engaging the respective recesses 311 of a corresponding leafstalk seat 31. With further reference to FIGS. 14 and 14A, each leaf 40 has a recess 42 formed in a bottom portion of the leaf 40 and is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch 30 with the insertion pin 312 of each leafstalk seat 31 adhesively engaging the recess 42 of a corresponding leaf 40. With further reference to FIGS. 15 and 15A, each leaf 40 has multiple recesses 42 formed in a bottom portion of the leaf 40 and is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch 30 with the multiple insertion pins 312 of each leafstalk seat 31 adhesively engaging the respective recess 42 of a corresponding leaf 40. Each insertion end 41 or each recess 42 of each leaf 40 include but is not limited to a circular cross section, a rectangular cross section, a triangular cross section, a regular polygonal cross section, or an irregular polygonal cross section.
There are a plenty of ways of combining each leaf 40 with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31. With reference to FIGS. 12 to 17 and 12A to 17A, each leaf 40, 40A, 40B may be combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31, 31A, 31B by way of insertion. With reference to FIGS. 18 and 18A, each leaf 40C may be combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31C by way of tight-fit. With reference to FIGS. 19, 20, 19A and 20A, each leaf 40D, 40E may be combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31D, 31E by way of hook-connection. The leaves 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E may be directed upwards, downwards, leftwards and rightwards on condition that each leaf 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E is not easy to be detached from corresponding leafstalk seat 31, 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D, 31E and each leaf 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E extends toward a different direction.
With reference to FIGS. 16 and 16A, a fifth embodiment of a leaf 40A combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31A is shown, and the present embodiment differs from the foregoing embodiments in the engagement structure of the leaves 40A and the leafstalk seats 31A. Each leafstalk seat 31A has two lateral channels 3111A inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat 31A in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end of the leafstalk seat 31A and extending along two opposite lateral directions of the leafstalk seat 31A passing through the recess 311A within a range inside the peripheral wall of the leafstalk seat 31A, and being shorter than the recess 311A in depth. The insertion end 41A of each leaf 40A has two raised ribs 411A oppositely formed on a peripheral wall of the insertion end 41A to correspond to the two respective lateral channels 3111A of a corresponding leafstalk seat 31A. The insertion end 41A of each leaf 40A engages the recess 311A of a corresponding leafstalk seat 31A with the two raised ribs 411A engaging the two respective lateral channels 3111A of the corresponding leafstalk seat 31A.
With reference to FIGS. 17 and 17A, a sixth embodiment of a leaf 40B combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31B is shown, and the present embodiment differs from the foregoing embodiments in the engagement structure of the leaves 40B and the leafstalk seats 31B. Each leafstalk seat 31B has two lateral channels 3111B inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat 31B in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end of the leafstalk seat 31B and formed through the peripheral wall of the leafstalk seat 31B along two opposite lateral directions of the leafstalk seat 31B passing through the recess 311B, and being shorter than the recess 311B in depth. The insertion end 41B of each leaf 40B has two raised ribs 411B oppositely formed on a peripheral wall of the insertion end 41B to correspond to the two respective lateral channels 3111B of a corresponding leafstalk seat 31B. The insertion end 41B of each leaf 40B engages the recess 311B of a corresponding leafstalk seat 31B with the two raised ribs 411B engaging the two respective lateral channels 3111B of the corresponding leafstalk seat 31B.
With reference to FIGS. 18 and 18A, a seventh embodiment of a leaf 40C combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31C is shown, and the present embodiment differs from the foregoing embodiments in the engagement structure of the leaves 40C and the leafstalk seats 31C. The insertion end 41C of each leaf 40C has a bulged portion 411C annularly formed around a peripheral wall of the insertion end 41C. Each leafstalk seat 31C has a groove 3111C annularly formed in an inner wall surrounding the recess 311C of the leafstalk seat 31C, and corresponding to and engaging the groove 3111C of the leafstalk seat 31C.
With reference to FIGS. 19 and 19A, an eighth embodiment of a leaf 40D combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31D is shown, and the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that each leaf 40D has a round hook 43D forming on a bottom end of the leaf 40D and each branch has multiple leafstalk seats 31D and multiple leaf holders 34D corresponding to the multiple leafstalk seats 31D. Each leafstalk seat 31D is structurally similar to the leafstalk seat 31 in FIGS. 12 and 12A. Each leaf holder 34D has a leaf-mounting base 341D and a pin 342D. The leaf-mounting base 341D is box-shaped, is mounted on a corresponding leafstalk seat 31D, and has two open sides. The pin 342D is mounted through two opposite walls of the leaf-mounting base 341D. The round hook 43D of each leaf 40D is fastened around the pin 342D of a corresponding leaf holder 34D by way of hook-connection.
With reference to FIGS. 20 and 20A, a ninth embodiment of a leaf 40E combined with a corresponding leafstalk seat 31E is shown, and the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that each leaf 40E has an inverted hook 43E formed on a bottom end of the leaf 40E and each branch has multiple leafstalk seats 31E and multiple leaf holders 34E corresponding to the multiple leafstalk seats 31E. Each leafstalk seat 31E is structurally similar to the leafstalk seat 31 in FIGS. 12 and 12A. Each leaf holder 34E is mounted on a corresponding leafstalk seat 31E, and has two opposite walls 341E and a bridge portion 342E. The bridge portion 342E is formed between the two opposite walls 341E and has an urging portion 343E upwardly formed in a bottom portion of the bridge portion 342E. The inverted hook 43E of each leaf 40E is hooked around the urging portion 343E of the bridge portion 342E of a corresponding leaf holder 34E by way of hook-connection.
With reference to FIG. 1, when the artificial Christmas tree is assembled, the branch holders 21 are mounted along the longitudinal direction of the trunk 20 and are spaced apart from each other, and each branch 30 is mounted a corresponding mounting ear 211 of one of the branch holders 21, such that each leaf 40 can be extended and spread out according to the position of the corresponding mounting ear 211. As the mounting ears of each adjacent two of the branch holders 21 are alternately arranged, the leaves are directed to various directions for the artificial Christmas tree to exhibit three-dimensional spatial perception to viewers. Furthermore, since the included angle between each leafstalk seat 31 and a corresponding branch 30 on which the leafstalk seat 31 is formed ranges from 0 degree to 90 degrees, each leaf 40 can be arranged in a most appropriate manner in terms of location and orientation. Additionally, given the resilient metal wire 42 mounted inside each leaf 40, each leaf 40 possesses desirable elasticity and flexibility for the leaf 40 and a corresponding branch 30 to be closely attached to the corresponding branch 30 and to the trunk 20 when the leaf 40 and the corresponding branch 30 are subject to a compression force, such that the size of the artificial Christmas tree can be reduced to save warehousing and shipping costs. When the compression force is gone, the leaf 40 and the corresponding branch 30 can automatically bounce back to their original positions to exhibit an undistorted and original look without any effort for adjusting the branches 30 and the leaves 40.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial Christmas tree, comprising:

a foot stand;

a trunk with one end thereof connected with the foot stand, and having multiple sleeves and multiple branch holders alternately connected with each other along a longitudinal direction of the trunk to form the trunk, wherein each branch holder has multiple mounting ears annularly mounted around a rim of a bottom of the branch holder, and the multiple mounting ears of the branch holder and the mounting ears of the branch holder located next thereto are alternately arranged;

multiple branches, each branch with one end thereof connected with one of the multiple mounting ears of a corresponding branch holder, and having:

an iron wire sheathed by a plastic material and being flexible and bendable; and

multiple leafstalk seats obliquely formed around a periphery of the branch, spaced apart from each other, and located between two ends of the branch; and

multiple leaves, each leaf made of a resilient metal wire sheathed by a plastic material, and mounted in a corresponding leafstalk seat of one of the multiple branches.

2. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein an included angle between each leafstalk seat and a corresponding branch ranges from 0 degree to 90 degrees.

3. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has:

a free end;

a fixed end being opposite to the free end and connected with the corresponding branch; and

a recess inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end; and

each leaf has an insertion end formed on a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat.

4. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has:

a free end;

multiple recesses inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end; and

each leaf has multiple insertion ends formed on a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the multiple recesses of a corresponding leafstalk seat.

5. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has:

a free end;

an insertion pin formed on and protruding from a free end of the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the fixed end to the free end of the leafstalk seat; and

each leaf has a recess formed in a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the insertion pin of a corresponding leaf.

6. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each leafstalk seat of a corresponding branch has:

a free end;

multiple insertion pins formed on and protruding from a free end of the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the fixed end to the free end of the leafstalk seat; and

each leaf has multiple recesses formed in a bottom portion of the leaf and engaging the respective insertion pins of a corresponding leaf.

7. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 3, wherein each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the insertion end of the leaf adhesively engaging the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat.

8. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 4, wherein each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the multiple insertion ends of the leaf adhesively engaging the respective recesses of a corresponding leafstalk seat.

9. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 5, wherein each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the recess of the leaf adhesively engaging the insertion pin of a corresponding leafstalk seat.

10. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 6, wherein each leaf is adhesively connected to a corresponding branch with the multiple recesses of the leaf adhesively engaging the respective insertion pins of a corresponding leafstalk seat.

11. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 3, wherein each leafstalk seat has two lateral channels inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end of the leafstalk seat and extending along two opposite lateral directions of the leafstalk seat passing through the recess within a range inside the peripheral wall of the leafstalk seat, and being shorter than the recess in depth, the insertion end of each leaf has two raised ribs oppositely formed on a peripheral wall of the insertion end to correspond to the two respective lateral channels of a corresponding leafstalk seat, and the insertion end of each leaf engages the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat with the two raised ribs engaging the two respective lateral channels of the corresponding leafstalk seat.

12. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 3, wherein each leafstalk seat has two lateral channels inwardly formed in the leafstalk seat in a longitudinal direction from the free end to the fixed end of the leafstalk seat and formed through the peripheral wall of the leafstalk seat along two opposite lateral directions of the leafstalk seat passing through the recess, and being shorter than the recess in depth, the insertion end of each leaf has two raised ribs oppositely formed on a peripheral wall of the insertion end to correspond to the two respective lateral channels of a corresponding leafstalk seat, and the insertion end of each leaf engages the recess of a corresponding leafstalk seat with the two raised ribs engaging the two respective lateral channels of the corresponding leafstalk seat.

13. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 3, wherein

each leaf has a round hook formed on a bottom end of the leaf and each branch has multiple leaf holders; and

each leaf holder has:

a leaf-mounting base being box-shaped, mounted on a corresponding leafstalk seat, and having two open sides; and

a pin mounted through two opposite walls of the leaf-mounting base;

wherein the round hook of each leaf is fastened around the pin of a corresponding leaf holder by way of hook-connection.

14. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 3, wherein

each leaf has an inverted hook formed on a bottom end of the leaf and each branch has multiple leaf holders; and

each leaf holder is mounted on a corresponding leafstalk seat, and has:

two opposite walls; and

a bridge portion formed between the two opposite walls and having an urging portion upwardly formed in a bottom portion of the bridge portion;

wherein the inverted hook of each leaf is hooked around the urging portion of the bridge portion of a corresponding leaf holder by way of hook-connection.

15. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein a peripheral surface of each branch is bark-shaped, bark-free shaped, or bark-shaped over a top portion of the branch and bark-free shaped over a bottom portion of the branch.

16. The artificial Christmas tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein each branch further has multiple connection tubes, each connection tube has a hole formed in a top end thereof and a rod formed on and protruding from a bottom end and engaging the hole of a connection tube located right below the connection tube, at least one of the leafstalk seat and one of the connection tubes of each branch adjacent to the at least one leafstalk seat constitute a branch division, and each branch is assembled or detached by connecting or disconnecting the multiple branch divisions.