| 摘要 |
According to the present invention, an artificial tree is provided which includes a tree element having a central generally disc-shaped member and a plurality of generally annular rings concentric to the central disc-shaped member and to one another such that the central disc-shaped member and the rings, in the operative position, are positioned in a vertically spaced, tiered array, with the central disc-shaped member at an uppermost position such that the tiered array is configured to have a tree-shape. A plurality of connecting strips connect each tier of the array to a next adjacent tier of the array. The disc-shaped member, the concentric rings, and the connecting strips may be formed from a unitary sheet of material, and the disc-shaped member and the concentric rings may be formed by providing a plurality of discontinuous generally spiral slits in the sheet of material. The tree may also include a central pole adapted to be fixed at one end to the disc-shaped member for supporting the tree element in an operative position, and the pole may be configured at one end with a pointed end which may be pushed into the ground. Alternatively, a stand adapted to receive the lower end of the pole may be provided for supporting the tree-shaped device in a conventional manner. The tree may also include a centering device which is adapted to engage at least one of the rings and to cooperate with the pole to center a lower portion of the tiered array with respect to the pole to thereby maintain the balance of the tree. A blank may be provided for forming the tree element, and may be formed of a sheet of relatively rigid, resilient material provided with the plurality of generally concentric, spaced arrays of discontinuous generally spiral slits.
|
