US20130327732A1

US20130327732A1 - Tree Shaped Display Stand and Table Structure Assembled from Components of Same

Info

Publication number: US20130327732A1
Application number: US13/796,514
Authority: US
Inventors: George Sideen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-12
Filing date: 2013-03-12
Publication date: 2013-12-12
Also published as: CA2810341A1

Abstract

A tree shaped display stand features elongated post pieces each having an externally threaded male feature at a first end, an internally threaded female feature at an opposing second end, and first and second annular faces respectively surrounding the male and female features. Shelves of different diameter each have a central hole therein through which the externally threaded male feature at the first end of one of the post pieces is engagable with the internally threaded female feature at the second end of a next one of the post pieces to clamp the shelf unit between the first and second annular faces of the post pieces. Hook members each have a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof. The same pieces forming the tree-shaped display stand may be assembled in another manner to form a table.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/658,561, filed Jun. 12, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tree-shaped display stands in which a series of different diameter shelves are supported at vertically spaced positions on an upright post and decrease in diameter moving up the post to follow a generally conical outline simulating the appearance of a coniferous tree.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is previously known to provide shelving units in the form of a central upright post having vertically spaced shelves that decrease in diameter or width in an upward direction to approximate the conical three-dimensional shape, or triangular two-dimensional shape, of coniferous trees of the types commonly employed as ‘Christmas trees’, for example to provide an alternative to a conventional natural or artificial tree where the gifts, conventionally placed beneath such a tree, can instead by stored off the ground on the shelves of the unit.
Examples of such tree-shaped stands can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,577,207, 2,615,583, 3,674,612, 6,688,239, 7,144,610, D325,358, D414,056, and D447,889 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0106472.
However, there remains room for improvement, and Applicant has developed a unique tree-shaped display stand solution offering advantages and improvements over the aforementioned prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces each having an externally threaded male feature at a first end, an internally threaded female feature at an opposing second end, and first and second annular faces respectively surrounding the male and female features; and
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, each having a central hole therein through which the externally threaded male feature at the first end of one of the post pieces is engagable with the internally threaded female feature at the second end of a next one of the post pieces to clamp the shelf unit between the first and second annular faces of the post pieces;
whereby assembly of the post pieces end to end to form an upright post with the shelf units clamped between the post pieces in an order decreasing in diameter moving upwardly along the upright post defines a tree-shaped shelving unit.
Preferably each post piece comprises a length of tubing having flanged ends that define the annular faces of the post piece.
Preferably the tubing of the plurality of elongated post pieces are of different diameter, whereby assembly of the post pieces in a sequence of decreasing tube diameter gives the upright post a tapered appearance moving upwardly therealong.
Preferably there is provided a tip piece having a threaded feature at an end thereof for engagement with one of the threaded features of an uppermost one of the post pieces in the upright post to define a tip thereof.
Preferably the tip piece is of smaller diameter than the post pieces.
Preferably there is provided at least one wiring opening in each shelf at a location radially outward from the central hole to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.
There may be provided pin members selectively pierceable into an outer periphery of any of the shelves to anchor one or more decorative elements thereto.
There may be provided hook members selectively engagable to an underside of any of the shelves in the tree shaped shelving unit to enable hanging of one or more ornamental elements therefrom.
Each of the shelves may comprise pre-defined attachment points at which the hook members are selectively engagable to the shelf.
Each shelf may be pre-drilled at each attachment point for selective engagement with a threaded connection feature on each hook member.
There may be provided multi-hook members each configured for selectively releasable engagement with any of the shelves and each having multiple hook elements by which multiple items can be hung from the shelf on said multi-hook member.
Each multi-hook member may comprise a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof.
Each multi-hook member may comprise a first hook element disposed at an outer side of the clip portion that faces away from where the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf, and at least one additional hook element depending from an underside of the clip portion to reside under the shelf when the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf.
At least some of the multiple hook elements may be positioned so as to be vertically spaced from one another when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.
At least some of the multiple hook elements may be positioned so as to be radially spaced from one another relative to the upright post when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces; and
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit;
wherein each shelf comprises at least one wiring opening passing therethrough to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces;
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit; and
a plurality of multi-hook members each configured for selectively releasable engagement with any of the shelves and each having multiple hook elements by which multiple items can be hung from the shelf on said multi-hook member.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a tree shaped display stand comprising:
plurality of elongated post pieces;
a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit; and
a plurality of hook members each comprising a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof and at least one hook element by which one or more decorative elements can be hung from the shelf on said hook member.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a table comprising:
(a) obtaining a kit of parts which may be assembled into a tree-shaped display stand, the kit of parts comprising a base, plurality of post pieces connectable together end-to-end to define an upright post, and a plurality of shelves of different diameter for support on the upright post; and
(b) assembling the base with two or more of the post pieces and a first one of the shelves so that the two or more post pieces project upward from the base in an end-to-end manner to support the one of the shelves on an uppermost one of the two or more post pieces, whereby the first one of the shelves forms a table-top of a resulting table structure.
Preferably the first one of the shelves is a largest of the shelves.
Step (b) may comprise, during assembly of the base with the two or more post pieces and the first one of the shelves, assembling a second one of the shelves with the two or more post pieces so as to position the second one of the shelves beneath the tabletop in the resulting table structure.
Preferably the second one of the shelves is smaller than the first one of the shelves.
Step (b) may comprise assembling an additional one of the post pieces and an additional one of the shelves to the two or more post pieces and the first one of the shelves so that the additional post piece projects upward from the tabletop to support the additional shelf in a position over the tabletop in the resulting table.
Preferably the selected additional one of the shelves is smaller than the selected first one of the shelves.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of converting a tree-shaped display stand to a table, the method comprising:
(a) from a tree shaped shelving unit comprising a series of different diameter shelves mounted in an order of upwardly decreasing shelf diameter on an upright post formed of endwise-coupled post sections, partially disassembling the shelving unit from top down until a largest diameter one of the shelves has been removed;
(b) to a one of the post sections located above another of the post sections that previously supported a lowermost one of the shelves in the tree shaped shelving unit, securing a selected one of the shelves in order to define a tabletop of a resulting table structure.
Preferably the selected shelf was the lowermost one of the shelves in the tree-shaped shelving unit.
Preferably the selected shelf is the largest of the shelves.
Step (a) may comprise partially disassembling the shelving unit from top down until the selected one of the shelves has been removed from the tree shaped shelving unit, and step (b) may comprise re-installing a previously removed one of the post sections atop a remaining post section from which the selected shelf was removed, and installing the selected shelf on the re-installed post section.
Step (b) may comprise first installing a smaller one of the shelves in place of the lowermost one of the shelves from the tree shaped shelving unit.
The method may comprise step (c) of reinstalling a previously removed shelf of smaller size than the tabletop in a position over the tabletop at a height spaced thereabove.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method of converting a table to tree-shaped display stand, the method comprising:
(a) from a table structure comprising a plurality of post sections coupled end to end atop a base to carry a removable tabletop on an uppermost one of said post sections, removing said tabletop;
(b) installing a largest one of a plurality of shelves on a lower post section found below where the tabletop was previously supported on the uppermost one of said post sections; and
(c) installing additional post sections and additional shelves over the largest shelf to build an upright post of greater height than the former table structure with vertically spaced shelves that decrease in diameter moving upward along said height.
Preferably the largest one of the plurality of shelves installed step (b) is the tabletop that was removed in step (a).
Step (a) may comprise first removing an upper shelf of smaller size than the tabletop from a position thereover.
Step (a) may further comprise removing a lower shelf of small size than the tabletop from a position thereunder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a tree-shaped display stand according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the tree-shaped display stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded elevational view illustrating engagement of a pin and separate hook to a shelf of the tree-shaped display stand of FIG. 1 for use in supporting decorative items thereon.

FIG. 4 is an in-use elevational view of the pin, hook and shelf of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a multi-hook clip member for use in supporting decorative items on shelves of the display stand as an alternative to the pin and hook of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the multi-hook clip member of FIG. 5 on a shelf of the display stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a table structure assembled from select components of the tree-shaped display stand of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the tree-shaped display stand of FIGS. 1 and 2 with dimensional values and material notes for a particular implementation reflective of prototypes of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of an assembled tree-shaped display stand 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The stand 10 features a horizontal base 12 at a bottom end thereof for seating flat atop a floor or other generally horizontal support surface, a series of elongated post or trunk pieces 14 assembled end-to-end with one another to form a central upright post or trunk of the stand, and a series of horizontal circular shelves 16 supported on the upright post at vertically spaced positions therealong. In a known manner, moving up the post or trunk, each shelf is of smaller diameter than that below it so that the outer circumferential edges of the shelves lie at the imaginary periphery of a conical volume so that the overall display stand outlines a conical shape giving a general appearance reflective of a coniferous ‘Christmas tree’.
With reference to FIG. 2, the base 12 of the illustrated embodiment is formed by a flat circular plate 18 mounted flush atop a flat annular plate 20, which is seated atop the floor or ground. The illustrated base plates are wooden, for example being circular pieces cut from ¾-inch plywood, and are bonded together by both adhesive and wood screws 22. The screws 22 are driven upward through the bottom annular plate 20 with their heads recessed into plate 20 to lie flush with, or above, the bottom face of the plate 20, thus concealing the fasteners from sight when the stand is in use and maintaining a flat underside of the base for stable, flush seating atop the floor or ground.
A trunk or post base adapter 24 is fixed to the base 12 to enable connection of the trunk or post pieces 14 thereto in a vertical orientation standing upright from the topside of the base 12. The adapter 24 features a round metal plate 26 that has a central hole therein, and is fastened against the underside of the circular top plate 18 of the base by wood screws 26. A bolt 28 has its head fixed to the underside of the metal plate 26 by welding 30, with the threaded shaft of the bolt 28 passing vertically upward through the center opening in the metal plate 26, and onward through an aligned central hole passing vertically through the circular top plate 18 of the base. The threaded shaft of the bolt 28 thus projects perpendicularly upward from the top base plate 18 at the center thereof to form a site for threaded connection of a lowermost one 14 a of the post or trunk pieces.
Each of the post pieces 14 shares a common structure, which is described with reference to the lowermost post section 14 a of FIG. 2. The post piece structure consists of a length of round metal tubing 32, round end plates 34, 36 mounted over the opposing ends of the tubing 32, a nut 38 fixed to the end plate 34 at the lower end of the tubing 32, and a bolt 40 fixed to the end plate 36 at the upper end of the tubing 32. The end plates may be fixed to the tubing by welding 30, and the nut and bolt likewise welded to the end plates. The nut 38 is fixed to the lower end plate 34 at the side thereof facing into the tubing 32 in a position lying over a central opening in the end plate 34, through which the internal threading of the nut 38 is accessible. The head of the bolt 40 is fixed to the upper end plate 36 at the side thereof facing into the tubing 32, with the threaded shaft of the bolt 40 projecting upward through a central opening in the upper end plate 36. The nut and bolt are of a mating thread pattern. The resulting post piece or section 14 thus has an externally threaded male feature provided at its upper end by the bolt 40, and an internally threaded female feature provided at its lower end by the nut 38, whereby the lower end of any post section 14 can be fastened to the upper end of a post section beneath it through threaded engagement of the bolt of one section with the nut of the other.
Still referring to FIG. 2, each circular shelf 16 has a central hole passing perpendicularly through it to provide a vertical passage through the shelf to accommodate the threaded shaft of the bolt 40 of a respective post section disposed beneath the shelf. The upper end plate 36 of the post section defines an annular horizontal face extending around the bolt shaft to form a support on which the flat underside of the shelf 16 can be seated in order to support the shelf atop the tubing 32 of the post section. In the illustrated embodiment, each end plate 34, 36 of each post section 14 has an outer diameter exceeding that of the tubing 32 of the section, so that the end plate forms a flange at the respective end of the tubing. This increases the surface area of the end plate to provide a larger shelf-seat for stable support of the respective shelf. The shaft length of the bolt 40 of each post section exceeds the combined thickness of the shelf and two post section end plates so that the bolt 40 of the post section beneath a respective shelf reaches vertically upwardly through the shelf and can be threaded into engagement with the nut 38 of a next post section above the shelf in order to couple the two post sections together in a manner clamping the shelf in place between the outer faces of the end plates of the two post sections.
Although the post sections of the illustrated embodiment share the same general structure, the diameter of the tubing 32 used for the post sections decreases moving from one post section to the next moving up the trunk or post that is defined by the end-to-end coupling of the post sections one over the other. Likewise, the diameter of the end plates of the post sections may also decrease moving up the resulting post/trunk structure. The illustrated embodiment features five post sections 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 14 e and five shelves 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, 16 d, 16 e. To simulate the pointed upper tip of a generally conical coniferous tree, a tip piece 42 is coupled to the uppermost post section 14 e through the central opening in the uppermost shelf 16 e to present a spike or tip projecting upward from the uppermost shelf 16 e. The illustrated tip piece 42 has a round base plate 44 with a central opening therein to accommodate receipt of the bolt shaft of the uppermost post piece 14 e therethrough, and a coupling nut 46 fixed atop the base plate 44 by welding 30. The internal threading at the bottom end of the coupling nut 46 is accessible and engagable by the bolt through the central opening in the base plate to couple the tip piece 42 to the uppermost post section 14 e and clamp the uppermost shelf 16 e in place between the base plate 44 of the tip piece and the upper end plate of the uppermost post section 14 e. The threaded internal passage running axially through the coupling nut 46 also accommodates the lower end of a dowel, rod or spike 48 that has been fed into the open upper end of the passage and fixed therein, so that the dowel, rod or spike 48 projects upward from the coupling nut to define the upper tip of the display stand 10.
Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tree-shaped display stand 10 may be employed as a gift stand during the Christmas season, either in place of or in addition to a conventional Christmas tree, and so it may be desirable to adorn the stand with Christmas decorations or ornaments. Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, thumb tacks or pins 50 may be driven into the outer circumferential edge of each shelf 16, for example pierced into the shelf 14 through a string of garland 100 so as to secure the garland in place in a position circumscribing the shelf 16. Baubles 200 or other decorative items may be hung from the pins 50 by suitable hooks, or string or wire loops. Additionally, or alternatively, hooks 52 may be engaged into the underside of the shelf 16 for similar hanging support of decorations or ornaments below the shelf, whether at positions adjacent the circumferential edge of the shelf, at other locations more radially inward of the shelf edge, or both. The hooks 52 may be used for support of string-like decorative elements, such as garland 100, lights strings 300, popcorn or candy strings, etc. The hooks 52 may be wood-screw hooks suitable for driving into a wooden shelf, or the underside of the shelf may be pre-threaded or equipped with threaded inserts by the manufacturer at multiple points over the shelf area for selective receipt of threaded hook members. Alternatively, other methods of fastening hooks to the shelf at the underside or circumferential edge thereof may instead be employed.
Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, a clip-on multi-hook hanger 54 features multiple hook elements to allow securing of multiple decorative items by a single unit. The hanger unit 54 may be a plastic molded piece integrally defining a U-shaped clip 56 portion, and multiple hook elements 58, 60, 62. The U-shaped clip portion 56 has a resiliency acting to bias the two legs 56 a, 56 b into a default state having a slight angle of convergence between these two legs 56 a, 56 b, which project to a same side of a central span 56 c therebetween. Temporarily prying the two legs 56 a, 56 b away from one another expands the open end or mouth of the clip's U-shape to a size that is sufficient to accommodate receipt of the circumferential edge 64 of the shelf 16 through the mouth of the clip into the space adjacent the central span of the clip between the legs thereof. Under release of the legs from this pried apart condition, the resiliency of the clip forces the legs back toward one another, thus gripping the edge-adjacent portion of the shelf between them, thereby securing the hanger 54 to the shelf.
The multi-hook hanger 54 features a first J-shaped hook element 58 that juts horizontally outward from the central span 56 c of the clip portion to a side thereof opposite the clip legs 56 a, 56 b, and then curves upward. Second and third J-shaped hook elements 60, 62 are defined by a somewhat anchor-shaped appendage 66 integrally joined to the clip portion 56 at the end of the lower clip leg 56 b opposite the central clip span 56 c. The appendage 66 depends downward from the lower leg clip 56 b, with the J-shaped hook elements situated back-to-back to defined the overall anchor-like shape. The hook elements thus define hook mouths that open in opposing directions, one facing radially outward relative to the post of the display stand, like the first hook element 58, and the other facing the opposite radially inward direction. These hook elements 60, 62 are situated beneath the shelf 16 just inward of the circumferential outer edge 64 thereof. The three hook elements may be used to hang a number of different ornament combinations, for example supporting the garland 100, bauble 200 and light string 300 of FIG. 4 all from the same unit. Having each hook element lie face radially inward or outward makes each hook element suitable for supporting a part of a string-like decoration that spans circumferentially around the shelf at a distance outward form the central post of the display stand.
Referring again to FIG. 2, each shelf 16 includes at least one wiring opening 54 passing vertically through the shelf to allow passage of a light string 300 from a location above the shelf to a location therebelow. This way, a long enough light string can be employed to decorative multiple shelves or tiers of the display stand 10. Each wiring opening 54 is located sufficiently far outward from the center of the shelf so as not to be obstructed by the end plate flanges of the post pieces 14, but at a location preferably nearer to the post pieces than to the circumferential edge of the shelf. Each shelf may have as few as one wiring opening 14, preferably a minimum of three, at least for the larger shelves, and possibly more. The larger shelves may have a greater number of wiring openings than the smaller shelves. The wiring openings allow lighting strings or electrical wiring to be routed up and down along the height of the display stand 10 nearer the central post or trunk, rather than running from one shelf to the next at the outer edges of the shelves, so as to minimize interference with the available shelf space or visibility of the shelf contents.
FIG. 7 illustrates a table structure 400 assembled from select components of the tree-shaped display stand of FIGS. 1 and 2, particularly the base 12, the lowermost/largest post section 14 a, the second-lowermost/second-largest post section 14 b, the third-lowermost/third-largest post section 14 c, the lowermost/largest shelf 16 a, the uppermost/smallest shelf 16 e, and the second-uppermost/second-smallest shelf 16 d. The lowermost post section 14 a resides in the same place as in the display stand assembly, coupled to the base to stand upright therefrom, with the second lowermost post section 14 b also in its same position, standing upright from the lowermost post section 14 a. However, the position of the largest shelf 16 a between the two lowermost post sections 14, 14 b in the display stand is now instead occupied by the second smallest shelf 16 d. The largest shelf 16 a has been moved one spot up the post, to reside atop the second-lowermost post section 14 b. The third lowermost post section 14 c resides in the same spot as in the display stand, projecting upright from the second lowermost post section 14 b, and carries the smallest shelf 16 e atop it. The largest shelf 16 a forms a tabletop of the structure, for example for placement of tableware (dining and serving dishes and cutlery, etc.), food and beverage. The smallest shelf, elevated above the tabletop by one post section, forms a central tabletop shelf or above-table shelf, for example for supporting a smaller second tier of food, condiments, candles, a centerpiece, napkins, etc. The second smallest shelf forms an under-table shelf at short distance below the tabletop, for example for outdoor supplies when the table is used outdoors (e.g. bug repellent), or other purposes. It will be appreciated that the particular shelves used at the different heights or tiers in a multi-level table structure may be varied, and one or both of the tabletop shelf and the under-table shelf may be omitted in the assembly.
The tree-shaped display stand of FIG. 1 thus may be easily converted into a table by top-down removal of the tip piece 42, uppermost shelf 16 e, uppermost post piece 14 e, second uppermost shelf 16 d, second uppermost post piece 14 d, middle shelf 16 c, middle post piece 14 c, second largest shelf 16 b, second lowermost post piece 14 b and largest shelf 16 a, followed by reinstallation of the second lowermost post piece 14 b atop the lowermost post piece 14 a (with or without a smaller one of the shelves between them), and installation of the largest shelf 16 a atop the second post piece 14 b to define the tabletop (with or without further addition of another post piece and shelf to define a tabletop or over-table shelf). The user may use their discretion to select the particular shelf used for the tabletop, and the particular shelf used for any over or under table shelf, along with the particular number and sizes of post sections used, which determines the finished height of the table.
Conversion of a table to a tree-shaped display stand is basically the reverse of the above process, first involving removal of any above-table shelf and associate post section(s) above the tabletop, then removal of the tabletop-defining shelf 16 a, and the post section therebelow, together with any under-table shelf 16 d that may be in place. The largest shelf 16 a is then installed on the bottom post section 14 a, over which the second post section 14 b is then installed, with the remaining post sections and shelves then added, in an alternating manner, in order of decreasing diameter before the tip piece is finally installed over the smallest shelf to complete the conversion.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are copies of FIGS. 1 and 2, but with the removal of reference characters and the addition of dimensions and material notes on a particular configuration employed for prototypes of the invention. It will be appreciated however that these details are presented as an exemplary embodiment only, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. Of particular note is that although wooden shelves and steel or other metal post sections provide stability and strength to the assembled stand or table, other materials may be employed while still gaining benefit of one or more unique features of the present invention, including male-female threaded engagement of the post members, the stable seating of the shelves in clamped conditions between faces of adjacent post sections, use of pass-through holes in the shelves to run wiring or light strings, use of multiple hook elements to suspend various decorative elements on the stand, and connectivity of the components in various configurations to achieve different functional structures.
Although the tree-shaped structure is referenced above for particular usefulness as a Christmas decoration or display accessory, other uses are course contemplated, especially in view of the systems ability to a partial selection of its components to assemble a table of generic shape useful for any occasion.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A tree shaped display stand comprising:

plurality of elongated post pieces each having an externally threaded male feature at a first end, an internally threaded female feature at an opposing second end, and first and second annular faces respectively surrounding the male and female features; and

a plurality of shelves of different diameter, each having a central hole therein through which the externally threaded male feature at the first end of one of the post pieces is engagable with the internally threaded female feature at the second end of a next one of the post pieces to clamp the shelf unit between the first and second annular faces of the post pieces;

whereby assembly of the post pieces end to end to form an upright post with the shelf units clamped between the post pieces in an order decreasing in diameter moving upwardly along the upright post defines a tree-shaped shelving unit.

2. The display stand of claim 1 wherein each post piece comprises a length of tubing having flanged ends that define the annular faces of the post piece.

3. The display stand of claim 2 wherein the tubing of the plurality of elongated post pieces are of different diameter, whereby assembly of the post pieces in a sequence of decreasing tube diameter gives the upright post a tapered appearance moving upwardly therealong.

3. The display stand of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated post pieces comprise post pieces of different diameter, whereby assembly of the post pieces in a sequence of decreasing diameter gives the upright post a tapered appearance moving upwardly therealong.

4. The display stand of claim 1 comprising a tip piece having a threaded feature at an end thereof for engagement with one of the threaded features of an uppermost one of the post pieces in the upright post to define a tip thereof.

5. The display stand of claim 4 wherein the tip piece is of smaller diameter than the post pieces.

6. The display stand of claim 1 comprising at least one wiring opening in each shelf at a location radially outward from the central hole to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.

7. The display stand of claim 1 comprising pin members selectively pierceable into an outer periphery of any of the shelves to anchor one or more decorative elements thereto.

8. The display stand of claim 1 comprising hook members selectively engagable to an underside of any of the shelves in the tree shaped shelving unit to enable hanging of one or more ornamental elements therefrom.

9. The display stand of claim 8 wherein each of the shelves comprises pre-defined attachment points at which the hook members are selectively engagable to the shelf.

10. The display stand of claim 9 wherein each shelf is pre-drilled at each attachment point for selective engagement with a threaded connection feature on each hook member.

11. The display stand of claim 1 comprising multi-hook members each configured for selectively releasable engagement with any of the shelves and each having multiple hook elements by which multiple items can be hung from the shelf on said multi-hook member.

12. The display stand of claim 11 wherein each multi-hook member comprises a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof.

13. The display stand of claim 12 wherein each multi-hook member comprises a first hook element disposed at an outer side of the clip portion that faces away from where the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf, and at least one additional hook element depending from an underside of the clip portion to reside under the shelf when the clip portion embraces the circumferential edge of the shelf.

14. The display stand of claim 11 wherein at least some of the multiple hook elements are positioned so as to be vertically spaced from one another when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.

15. The display stand of claim 11 wherein at least some of the multiple hook elements are positioned so as to be radially spaced from one another relative to the upright post when the multi-hook member is engaged to the shelf of the tree shaped shelving unit.

16. A tree shaped display stand comprising:

plurality of elongated post pieces; and

a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit;

wherein each shelf comprises at least one wiring opening passing therethrough to accommodate passage of a lighting string through the wiring opening to reach from one shelf to another along the tree-shaped shelving unit.

17. A tree shaped display stand comprising:

plurality of elongated post pieces;

a plurality of shelves of different diameter, the post pieces and the shelves being arranged for assembly to form a tree-shaped shelving unit in which the shelves are carried on the post pieces at vertically spaced locations in an order of decreasing shelf diameter moving upwardly along the shelving unit; and

a plurality of hook members each comprising a clip portion arranged to clip onto any of the shelves over a circumferential edge thereof and at least one hook element by which one or more decorative elements can be hung from the shelf on said hook member.