U.S. patent application number 11/800202 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-29 for patio tropical tree.
Invention is credited to Peter Barthelmess.
Application Number | 20090029075 11/800202 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40295642 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090029075 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barthelmess; Peter |
January 29, 2009 |
Patio tropical tree
Abstract
An artificial tropical tree assembly for insertion into a table,
preferably a patio table, is provided. The artificial palm tree
assembly comprises a palm head comprising a crown element and a
plurality of tree elements attached to the crown element of the
palm head. The trunk element of the tree assembly is preferably
formed of two parts--an upper part and a lower part. The upper part
is adapted to have at least a portion thereof be raised or lowered
out of the lower part to adjust the height of the tree for patio
table heights and this accommodate the tree assembly for use with
any patio table. The lighting can be string lighting and can be LED
lights, miniature lights or spotlights (near or at the top of the
tree trunk).
Inventors: |
Barthelmess; Peter;
(Cerritos, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHARD B. KLAR
145 WILLIS AVENUE, SUITE NO. 6
MINEOLA
NY
11501
US
|
Family ID: |
40295642 |
Appl. No.: |
11/800202 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60798275 |
May 5, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/19 ;
108/50.11; 29/469; 428/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 37/04 20130101;
Y10T 29/49904 20150115; A41G 1/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/19 ; 428/20;
108/50.11; 29/469 |
International
Class: |
A41G 1/00 20060101
A41G001/00; A47B 37/00 20060101 A47B037/00 |
Claims
1. An artificial tropical tree assembly for insertion into an
article of furniture preferably for outdoor use, comprising: an
artificial tropical tree having a trunk element, said trunk element
having a portion thereof adapted for installation through an
opening in a top of said article of furniture; and a tropical
looking head of leaves.
2. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said article of
furniture is a table.
3. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said article of
furniture is a patio table.
4. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said article of
furniture is a bar.
5. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said article of
furniture is a counter.
6. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said article of
furniture is an outdoor kitchen table.
7. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said trunk
element is formed of a pole having an upper part.
8. The tree assembly according to claim 7 herein said pole of said
trunk element has a lower part.
9. The tree assembly according to claim wherein said head is
resembles a palm.
10. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said head is
resembles a natural palm.
11. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said head is
resembles that of a banana tree.
12. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said head is
resembles a windmill palm.
13. The tree assembly according to claim 8 wherein said upper part
is partially inserted within lower part and is movable therein so
that said upper part can be raised or lowered in order to adjust
the height of said trunk element for any article of furniture.
14. The tree assembly according to claim 8 wherein said upper part
is adjusted by said lower part by at least one screw located at a
side of said tree trunk so that when said screw is loosened said
upper part can be raised or lowered and the said screw can be
tightened to secure said height of said pole in place.
15. The trunk element according to claim 8 wherein at least one
said upper part and said lower part is adapted to be covered by a
sleeve having a wood like surface appearance.
16. The tree assembly according to claim 15 wherein said sleeve is
covered with natural bark.
17. The tree assembly according to claim 15 wherein said bark is
banana tree bark.
18. The tree assembly according to claim 15 wherein said sleeve
covering has a fake wood covering.
19. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said head of
leaves are formed of leaves that are removably affixed to a crown
head of said tree assembly.
20. The tree assembly according to claim 19 wherein said crown head
has a plurality of finger-like shaped hollowed receptacles adapted
to receive said leaves therein.
21. The tree assembly according to claim 1 wherein said tree
assembly includes lights thereon.
22. The tree assembly according to claim 21 wherein said lights
includes a string of miniature lights wrapped about said trunk
element and said head of leaves.
23. The tree assembly according to claim 21 wherein said lights
include spotlights located near said top third of said tree trunk
and swivably connected thereto.
24. The tree assembly according to claim 21 wherein said lights
includes a string of LED lights wrapped about said trunk element
and said head of leaves.
25. The artificial palm tree assembly and patio table set of claim
3, wherein said patio table is a steel mesh patio table and wherein
said trunk element is at least one of the following: a metal pole
or plastic pole laminated with plastic material thereon which
imitates the tree trunk of a palm tree, a metal or plastic pole
wrapped with brown wood simulation polyvinyl chloride material
thereon, or a metal or plastic pole having a wood simulation
chemical sprayed thereon.
26. The artificial palm tree assembly of claim 1, wherein said tree
assembly includes a crown element comprises an outer shell and an
inner tube, said inner tube is located within said outer casing of
the crown element.
27. The artificial palm tree assembly of claim 26, wherein the
bottom area of the crown element comprises an opening through which
a portion of the inner tube located within the outer shell of the
crown element is able to extend through such that a bottom open end
of the inner tube is able to slide onto a connection area located
within the top end of the trunk element for connecting the palm
head to the trunk element.
28. The tree assembly according to claim 17 wherein said trunk
element is formed of a pole has an upper part.
29. The tree assembly according to claim 28 wherein said trunk
element has a lower part.
30. The tree assembly according to claim 29 wherein said upper part
is partially inserted within said lower part and is movable therein
so that said upper part can be raised or lowered in order to adjust
the height of said trunk element for any patio table.
31. The tree assembly according to claim 30 wherein said upper part
is adjusted by said lower part by at least screw located at a side
of said tree trunk so that when said screw is loosened said upper
part can be raised or lowered and the said screw can be tightened
to secure said height of said pole in place.
32. The trunk element according to claim 29 wherein at least one
said upper part and said lower part is adapted to be covered by a
sleeve having a wood like surface appearance.
33. The tree assembly according to claim 29 wherein said sleeve is
covered with bark.
34. The tree assembly according to claim 29 wherein said bark
resembles banana tree bark.
35. The tree assembly according to claim 32 wherein said sleeve
covering has a fake wood covering.
37. A method of installing an artificial tropical tree assembly
within an opening of a table for providing a decorative effect to a
table, comprising: attaching a bottom area of a crown element of a
tropical looking head of leaves to a connection area within a top
open end of a trunk element for connecting the palm head and trunk
element to each other, said palm head comprising said crown element
and a plurality of tree elements attached to crown element of the
palm head, each of said tree elements comprising a branch having a
plurality of artificial tropical tree leaves thereon; and placing a
bottom end of the trunk element through said opening within said
table.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein a base portion is placed
underneath the table prior to placing the bottom end of the trunk
element through the opening in said table.
39. The method according to claim 37 wherein said trunk element is
formed of a pole having an upper part and a lower part.
40. The method according to claim 37 wherein said head is resembles
a natural palm.
41. The method according to claim 37 wherein said head is resembles
a banana tree.
42. The method according to claim 37 wherein said head is resembles
a windmill palm.
43. The method according to claim 37 wherein said upper part is
partially inserted within lower part and is movable therein so that
said upper part can be raised or lowered in order to adjust the
height of said trunk element for any patio table.
44. The method according to claim 37 wherein said upper part is
adjusted by said lower part by at least screw located at a side of
said tree trunk so that when said screw is loosened said upper part
can be raised or lowered and the said screw can be tightened to
secure said height of said pole in place.
45. The method according to claim 38 wherein at least one said
upper part and said lower part is adapted to be covered by a sleeve
having a wood like surface appearance.
46. The method according to claim 45 wherein said sleeve is covered
with natural bark.
47. The method according to claim 46 wherein said bark is banana
tree bark.
48. The method according to claim 45 wherein said sleeve covering
has a fake wood covering.
49. The method according to claim 37 wherein said head of leaves
are formed of leaves that are removably affixed to branches of said
tree assembly.
50. The method according to claim 49 wherein each branch of said
branches is removably affixed to an opening in a top of said trunk
element of said tree assembly.
51. The method according to claim 37 wherein said tree assembly
includes lights thereon.
52. The tree assembly according to claim 51 wherein said lights
includes a string of miniature lights wrapped about said trunk
element and said head of leaves.
53. The tree assembly according to claim 51 wherein said lights
include spotlights located near said top of said tree trunk.
54. The tree assembly according to claim 51 wherein said lights
includes a string of LED lights wrapped about said trunk element
and said head of leaves.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a non-provisional application of a provisional
application Ser. No. 60/798,275 by Peter Barthelmess filed May 5,
2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to artificial palm trees for
being inserted within tables, such as patio tables.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Artificial trees are known in the art. For Example, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,869,198 B1 to Garza purports to disclose a portable
artificial palm tree in a planter, with a plurality of artificial
coconut lights to illuminate the portable palm tree in the planter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,435 B1 to Lai purports to disclose an
artificial tree having a central trunk, a number of main branches
suspended from an upper portion of the trunk in a downwardly and
outwardly inclined orientation, and a pre-formed tree top section
extending upwardly from the upper portion of the trunk. Means, such
as electric lights are mentioned in Lai for illuminating the
artificial tree. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,670 to Chang purports
to disclose an artificial decorating tree with several hollow
joints, sockets, connectors, branches, embellishing lamps and a set
of electric cords. In Chang, the decorating tree is assembled with
plug-in joints and internal wiring coupled to lamps supported from
branches. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,301 to McKinney purports to
disclose decorative artificial evergreen trees for use on festive
winter occasions such as Christmas.
[0004] Despite the above advances in the artificial tree art, there
still exists a need in the art for an artificial palm tree which
inserts into an opening within a table such as patio table, thereby
providing a decorative effect to the patio table and environment in
which is the table is located, such as a patio deck, building
lobby, etc. For example, due to their realistic look, these
artificial palms within the patio table can create a pleasant
tropical mood, both outdoors or indoors and even in the middle of
winter. These artificial palms are also very easy to maintain,
since there is no need to water them. Also, these artificial palms
do not attract insects either and can exist in environments
normally not conducive to palm trees.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to an artificial tree
assembly, preferably a tropical tree assembly, for insertion into
an article of furniture in particular one intended for outdoor use
such as by way of non-limiting illustrative example a table. It is
intended to provide a tropical outdoor look where instead of an
umbrella inserted into a patio table the artificial tree is
inserted into a patio table in allocation such has the backyard of
someone's home. It is understood that the invention can us3ed with
any outdoor article of furniture such as a bar, an outdoor kitchen
table, a cabinet or any other article of furniture that has an
opening in its top surface adapted to receive the tree trunk of the
present invention therein.
[0006] Further the invention provides for adjusting the height of
the trunk element of the tree assembly to adjust for the heights of
different patio tables. This can be done by one or more screw
adjustment on a side of the lower pole part so that the upper pole
part can be moved upward or downward from or into respectively the
bottom pole part. This telescoping projection of the upper pole
part can thus adjust the height of the pole for different heights
of patio tables. The tree assembly can be sold with a table or
without one. In addition lighting can be provided to provide
illumination and also decorative illumination to the tropical tree
assembly. The lighting can be string lighting and can be LED
lights, miniature lights or spotlights (near or at the top of the
tree trunk).
[0007] The artificial palm tree assembly comprises a palm head
comprising a crown element and a plurality of leaves where each
leaf is attached to a respective finger-like receptacle of a crown
element of the palm head. In addition, the artificial palm assembly
further comprises a trunk element adapted for installation through
an opening in the top of the table.
[0008] The palm head may be connected to the tree element in a
variety of ways. The palm head may be connected to the trunk
element via an attachment formed between a bottom area of the crown
element and the top end of the trunk element.
[0009] Alternatively the leaf structure may include a plastic piece
sandwiched between colored fabric or cloth elements with wire
embedded in the plastic piece where the wire material extends out
of the leaf is removably attached and inserted into a branch which
branch is then inserted into an opening in the tree trunk element.
The branch element has a male connector and the trunk element
opening has a female connector for insertion therein. These
branches are removably attached in this manner.
[0010] Alternatively, the leaves may be affixed by adhesive
material or other commercially known permanent affixing methods to
a branch where the branch is then adhesively or otherwise
permanently affixed to the trunk element.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an artificial palm tree assembly and patio table set is provided.
The artificial palm tree assembly and patio table set comprises a
palm head comprising a crown element and a plurality of tree
elements. The crown element comprises an outer shell, a bottom area
and an inner tube located with the outer shell of the crown
element. In addition, the tree elements are wrapped around the
outer shell of the crown element. Each of the tree elements
comprise a branch comprising twisted metal wires with a plurality
of artificial palm tree leaves thereon. The artificial palm tree
assembly and patio table set further comprises a trunk element
comprising one of the following: a metal pole, a plastic pole, a
wooden pole, a hollowed out wooden tree trunk. Moreover, the trunk
element is divided into at least an upper portion and a lower
portion, with the upper portion of the trunk element having a top
open end. The palm head is adapted to connect to the trunk element
via the inner tube located within the outer shell of the crown
element, extending through an opening in a bottom end of the crown
element such that a bottom open end of the inner tube is able to
slide onto a connection area within the top end of the trunk
element. In addition the upper portion of the trunk element has a
bottom end adapted for sliding onto an insert located within the
top end of the lower portion of the trunk element for connecting
the lower and upper portions to one another. Additionally, the
artificial palm tree assembly and patio table set further comprises
a base portion attached to the bottom end of the lower portion of
the trunk element. The base portion is connected to the lower
portion of the trunk element via an open bottom end portion of the
lower portion of the trunk element being adapted for sliding onto
an insert located within the top open end of the base portion, for
connecting the lower and upper portions to one another. Moreover,
the base portion is additionally secured to the lower portion of
the trunk element by a plurality of base fasteners. The artificial
palm tree assembly and patio table set further comprises a patio
table having a table top supported by a plurality of legs, with the
patio table top having an opening therein which is adapted to
receive a portion of the trunk element there through. The patio
table further comprises a pole fastener assembly connected thereto
beneath the table top for securing the trunk element within the
opening of the patio table.
[0012] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention trunk
element may be formed of a two part pole structure and have sleeve
like elements placed over the upper and bottom parts of the pole
where the sleeve like elements have the appearance of a tree trunk.
The sleeve like elements may be formed of actual wood or may be
made formed by any simulated materials such as a mixture of resin
and gesso powder.
[0013] The tree assembly may resemble a banana tree, a windmill
palm tree or a natural palm tree. It is preferable for the banana
tree structure that the banana palm leave are removably affixed in
any known manner including as previously described affixed by
adhesive means or otherwise to the branches and that each branch is
formed as one piece and removably affixed to the trunk element. It
is preferable to have the banana trunk element covered with real or
artificial banana bark which would be placed on the sleeve like
elements that are then placed on the pole of the trunk element. The
branches are preferably made of plastic. The branches of the
natural palm tree assembly are preferably removable and the
branches preferably removably affixed to the tree trunk element.
The leaves can be constructed in any known manner. The leaves can
be made of colored fabric or cloth with a plastic frame sandwiched
between the cloth pieces of the leaf structure and wire embedded in
the plastic frame. The wire embedded can extend out of the frame
and inserted in a branch of the tree structure. The plastic frame
can be made by injection molding.
[0014] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, a method of installing an artificial palm tree assembly
within an opening of a table for providing a decorative effect to a
table is provided. The method comprises attaching a bottom area of
a crown element of a palm head to a connection area within a top
open end of a trunk element for connecting the palm head and trunk
element to each other. The palm head comprises the crown element
and a plurality of tree elements attached to crown element of the
palm head. Each of the tree elements comprises a branch having a
plurality of artificial palm tree leaves thereon. The method
further comprises placing a bottom end of the trunk element through
the opening within the table.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates the tree assembly of the present
invention in unassembled form;
[0016] FIG. 1A illustrates a natural palm leaf adapted to be
inserted into a finger-like receptacle of a crown head of a tree
trunk on accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 1B illustrates a fan or windmill palm leaf adapted to
be inserted into a finger-like receptacle of a crown head of a tree
trunk on accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 1C shows a metal pole structure with a wood or
simulated wood sleeve placed there-over and which forms part of the
tree trunk in accordance of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 1D shows the tree trunk of the present invention in
which the metal pole in FIG. 1C is covered with a plastering
material such as gesso and with spotlights attached to the tree
trunk;
[0020] FIG. 1E shows the tree trunk of an embodiment of the present
invention illustrating how the leaves are inserted into the
finger-like receptacles of the crown element of the tree trunk of
the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 1F and 1G show how leaves having insertions ends of
type a and type B are inserted into finger-like receptacles of type
A and type B, respectively;
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the tree assembly of the
present invention showing the wood like sleeve elements that are
placed on the upper part and lower part of the pole of the trunk
element and the stand;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a lighting string wrapped around the trunk
element and the power cord wire extending out of the top part of
the pole and two screw elements for adjusting the height of the
trunk element for different sized patio tables;
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention
showing the natural palm tree assembly fully assembled and inserted
into a patio table and illuminated;
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment of the present invention
showing the banana tree without illumination inserted into a patio
table;
[0026] FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the present invention showing the
banana tree assembly assembled;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a branch of the banana tree embodiment of FIG.
6;
[0028] FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the present invention showing the
natural palm tree assembly;
[0029] FIG. 9 shows a branch of the natural palm tree embodiment of
FIG. 8;
[0030] FIG. 10 is an embodiment of the present invention showing
the windmill palm tree assembly assembled;
[0031] FIG. 11 shows a branch of the windmill palm tree embodiment
of FIG. 12;
[0032] FIG. 12 shows one type of stand for the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 13 shows how the lower part of the pole of the trunk
element is connected to the stand of FIG. 12;
[0034] FIG. 14 shows the lower part of the pole attached to the
stand of FIG. 12 and the two height adjusting knobs for raising or
lowering the upper part out of or into, respectively, the lower
part of the pole;
[0035] FIG. 15 illustrates the wood like sleeve being placed over
the lower part of the pole;
[0036] FIG. 16 shows the power cord extending out of the bottom
portion of the upper part of the pole;
[0037] FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of the tree assembly of the
present invention in assembled form;
[0038] FIG. 18 shows how the bottom metal pole portion of the tree
trunk is connected to the stand in an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0039] FIG. 19 shows how a wood or a wood-like sleeve covering is
placed over the bottom metal portion of the tree trunk of FIG.
18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1. shows an artificial
tree assembly 1, preferably a tropical tree assembly, inserted into
a patio table. The trunk element of the tree assembly is preferably
formed of two part--an upper part 5 and a lower part 10. The upper
part 5 is adapted to have at least a portion thereof be raised or
lowered out of the lower part 10 to adjust the height of the tree
for patio table heights and thus accommodate the tree assembly for
use with any furniture article including but not limited to a patio
table. There is at least one screw or knob 7, preferably on the
side of the lower part of the pole for adjusting the height of the
pole by permitting the upper part of the pole to extend further
out. This adjustment helps adjust the tree trunk element for tables
of different heights. The tree assembly can be sold with a table or
without one. In addition lighting can be provided to provide
illumination and also decorative illumination to the tropical tree
assembly. The lighting can be string lighting and can be LED
lights, miniature lights or spotlights 11 (near or at the top of
the tree trunk see FIG. 1E).
[0041] The invention trunk element may be formed of a two part pole
structure and have sleeve like elements 16 (see FIG. 1) placed over
the upper and bottom parts of the pole where the sleeve like
elements 16 have the appearance of a tree trunk. The sleeve like
elements may be formed of actual wood or may be made formed by any
materials that simulate a wood like appearance such as a mixture of
resin and gesso powder or any other plaster material.
[0042] The artificial palm tree assembly comprises a tropical head
of leaves 8 comprising a crown element 17 (see FIG. 1D) and a
plurality of leaves attached to the crown element of the tropical
head 8.
[0043] The crown element 17 is preferably formed of plastic
material and has a plurality of finger-like elements 19 that are
hollow therein and adapted to each receive one of the leaves 21
within each of the fingers (se FIGS. 1D and 1E). In the embodiments
for the umbrella 21b and the natural palm trees 21a, the leaves 21
can be inserted in a predetermined arrangement where each leaf 21,
for example for the natural palm embodiment, would belong in a
specified finger-like receptacle 19, so that a leaf labeled A would
be inserted into finger-like receptacle A of the crown element and
a leaf B would be inserted into finger-like receptacle B, etc. (see
FIGS. 1E, 1F and 1G). It is possible for there to be more than one
A and B arrangement in each crown head to provide for an aesthetic
appearance of certain natural palm leaves at certain finger-like
receptacles on the crown head and other natural palm leaves at
another receptacles of the crown head. Where the leaves may vary in
thickness, shape and appearance from each other.
[0044] The tree assembly may resemble a banana tree, a windmill
palm tree or a natural palm tree or any other palm tree. It is
preferable for the tree assembly that the leaves are removably
affixed in any known manner including as previously described or
else they can be affixed by adhesive means or otherwise to the
branches and that each branch is formed as one piece and removably
affixed to the trunk element. It is preferable to have the banana
trunk element covered with real or artificial banana bark which
would be placed on the sleeve like elements that are then placed on
the pole of the trunk element. The branches are preferably made of
plastic. The branches of the natural palm tree assembly are
preferably removable and the branches preferably removably affixed
to the tree trunk element. The leaves can be constructed in any
known manner. The leaves can be made of any material including but
not limited to plastic material or of colored fabric or cloth with
a plastic frame sandwiched between the cloth pieces of the leaf
structure and wire embedded in the plastic frame. The wire embedded
can extend out of the frame and inserted in a branch of the tree
structure. The plastic frame can be made by injection molding.
[0045] The natural palm leaves 21a and windmill leaves 21b have an
insertion end that fits into the finger-like receptacles of the
crown head 17. and are removably connected thereto (see FIGS. 1A,
1B. 1E, 1F and 1G). The Banana Palm leaves are preferably
permanently affixed and/or integral with the finger-like elements
of the crown head for the Banana Palm tree embodiment of the
present invention. In addition the finger-like receptacles
preferably will extend down through the upper third of the tree
trunk of he present invention.
[0046] The tree trunk element, as previously described, is
preferably formed as a pole 23 adapted to receive upper and lower
sleeve shaped decorative elements resembling wood thereon (see FIG.
1C). A middle portion of the pole is adapted to be received within
an opening in the table top of the patio table. The bottom portion
of the pole may or may not have the bottom sleeve-like element
place thereon. The power cord 25 is fed within the upper sleeve and
along the upper portion of the pole. The cord extends out of the
upper element above the where the pole table top opening is located
and the wire can then be placed in an outlet or a power adaptor or
any other electrical power source.
[0047] The tree trunk is preferably constructed as follows: The
trunk is initially formed as a metal pole 23 having a top surface
from which preferably extends two prongs 27 (FIG. 1C). A wood or
simulated wood portion 24 surrounds preferably the upper two thirds
of the metal pole of the tree trunk A set of spotlights 11 one at
each end of the diameter of the trunk is mounted preferably two
thirds of the distance up from the bottom of the trunk by having a
metal part extend through a hole through the trunk and having each
spotlight swivably connected to each of the extending ends of the
metal part (FIG. 1D). The wires from the spotlights and for any
string lights can be extended downward along side of the wood or
simulated wood surface of the trunk (FIG. 1D). The trunk is then
plastered with a substance such as gesso after it has been mixed
with water to form a plaster substance and then applied to the
surface of the wood or simulated wood of the trunk. Layers of this
gesso can be applied for a number of coatings covering the tree
trunk. Palm greenery can then be applied to the gesso coatings and
painted to give the tropical tree trunk a more natural appearance.
The bottom of the trunk e.g. the metal pole 23 can at its bottom
surface be connected to a stand such as an X shaped stand 26 (see
FIG. 18). A wood or wood-like sleeve 28 is preferably placed over
the bottom part of the metal pole to give it a tree trunk
appearance as shown in FIG. 19.
[0048] The knobs or screws 7 or any other threadable adjusting
mechanism, as shown in FIG. 18 on the tree trunk can raise or lower
the upper portion of the tree trunk with respect to the lower
portion of the tree trunk to adjust the trunk for height depending
on the height of the patio table the tree trunk is inserted
through. Also to adjust the spotlights are swivably mounted on the
tree trunk so as to be swivably adjusted so as to either lower the
spotlights for better lighting during dining or raise the
spotlights for an aesthetic appearance.
[0049] The embodiments described above are not meant to be
exclusive. Many other variations of the present invention would be
obvious to those skilled in the art, and are contemplated to be
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *