US Patent 7984884 Artificial christmas tree stand

An artificial Christmas tree stand comprises a receptacle, at least three equally spaced legs radially extending therefrom, an equal plurality of braces pivotally extending upwards from the legs' lengths, and outer struts and corresponding inner struts that travel a track in the braces' lengths. The legs pivot downwards 90° to collapse the stand for storage. The brace is extendable about a height of the tree trunk so that its claws can engage the trunk at a manually manipulated height. The braces essentially support the trunk upright as opposed to the conventional receptacle.