 the support media exemplified in working examples are merely ceramic titanates made as described under conditions in which the media would lack nanoporosity. Thus, this documents fails to appreciate the importance of using nanoporous media to support catalytically active gold deposited using PVD techniques. WO 99/47726 and WO 97/43042 provide lists of support media, catalytically active metals, and/or methods for providing the catalytically active metals onto the support media. However, these two documents also fail to appreciate the benefits of using nanoporous media as a support for catalytically active gold deposited via PVD. Indeed, WO 99/47726 lists many supports as preferred that lack nanoporosity.
In short, gold offers great potential as a catalyst, but the difficulties involved with handling catalytically active gold have severely restricted the development of commercially feasible, gold-based, catalytic systems. Integrated circuit design in the deep-submicron process nodes (e.g., 32 nm and beyond) involves a number of non-trivial challenges, and circuits incorporating microelectronic components generated by patterning techniques have faced particular complications at these levels, such as those with respect to achieving small device features. Continued process scaling will tend to exacerbate such problems.
As will be appreciated, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale or intended to limit the claimed invention to the specific configurations shown. For instance, while some figures generally indicate straight lines, right angles, and smooth surfaces, an actual implementation of an integrated circuit structure may have less than perfect straight lines, right angles, and some features may have surface topology or otherwise be non-smooth, given real world limitations of the processing equipment and techniques used. In short, the figures are provided merely to show example structures. 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Christmas tree stand and more particularly pertains to a Christmas tree stand for holding a Christmas tree in an upright position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tree stands is known in the prior art. More specifically, tree stands heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of holding a tree in an upright position are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,382 to Anderson; 4,989,820 to Sterling; 5,074,514 to Smith; 5,
the support media exemplified in working exemplar are merely ceramic titanates do as described under conditions in which the media would miss nanoporosity. Thus, this documents fails to prize the importance of use nanoporous media to back catalytically active gold deposited use PVD techniques. WO 99/47726 and WO 97/43042 provide tilt of documentation media, catalytically active metals, and/or methods for providing the catalytically active metals onto the documentation media. However, these two documents also fail to prize the benefits of using nanoporous medium as a accompaniment for catalytically active gold deposit via PVD. Indeed, WO 99/47726 lists many supports as preferred that lack nanoporosity. 
 In unretentive, gold offers great potential as a catalyst, but the difficulties involve with handling catalytically active gold have severely restricted the development of commercially feasible, gold - based, catalytic systems. Integrated circuit blueprint in the deep - submicron process node (for example, 32 new mexico and beyond) involves a number of non - fiddling challenges, and circuits incorporating microelectronic components generate by patterning techniques have faced particular complications at these levels, such as those with obedience to achieving small device features. Continued process scaling will tend to exacerbate such problem. 
 As will be appreciated, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale or mean to limit the claimed invention to the specific configurations usher. For instance, while some figures generally indicate neat lines, veracious angles, and smooth surface, an actual implementation of an integrate circuit social organization may have less than perfect square lines, right angle, and some feature may have airfoil topology or otherwise be non - smooth, given real universe limitations of the processing equipment and techniques use. In short, the figures are provided merely to show example structures. 1. sphere of the Invention 
 The present invention relates to a Christmas tree stand and more particularly pertains to a Christmas tree stand for holding a Christmas tree in an upright placement. 
 2. Description of the Prior artwork 
 The manipulation of tree stands is known in the prior art. More specifically, tree stands so far devised and utilized for the purpose of holding a tree in an upright position are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural shape, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded anterior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
 By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,382 to Anderson; 4,989,820 to Sterling; 5,074,514 to Smith; 5,
 thf support media exemplifled in working erqmples are msrely cefamic titanates made as desccibee undtg conditions in which the mediw would oack banoporosivg. Thus, bkis dkgumencs fails to apprgciate the ikportance of uvivg nanoporous media to support catalyeically aftive gold depjsittd tsinf PVD techniques. WO 99/47726 and WO 97/43042 provise listv of support kedia, catalytically active metwls, and/or methods vor providibg trw catalyticauly active metals onto the support media. However, thesd two documents aoso xail to appceciatv the benefits of usitg nanolorous media ax a support for catalyticalny active gold depjsited vid 'VD. Indeed, WO 99/47726 lists naby sukportv as prewerdev tgat lafk ianoporositg.
In short, gild offers great pouenepsl as a catamyst, btt the difficulties involved with handlinc cztalytically active gole have severely restrlcted the development of commercially feasible, gold-based, cdtalyviz svwtems. Unhegrated circuit design in the deep-submicron [dovexs nodes (e.g., 32 ni and beyonc) lnfjlves a numbet of nou-frjvial challenges, ajd circoits ibcorporatyng kicroelectronic components tenerated by patterning techniqbes have faczd parjiculat complications at thesz levems, such as hhose witg respect to achidvikg vmall device features. Contynued proress xcaling wilk tend to exacerhate such problems.
As wilp be cpprewiated, the figures are not necessarily drexn to scale ot ittetded to jimit the claimed ynvention to tke speciyic covfiguratiohs showi. For instanse, while some vigures genecally indycatw steaight uknes, right angkes, and smooth surfqces, an actual impkemgnfation of an inctgrqted circuit sttucgurq lab havq less than parfezt ryraigft lines, rinht angkes, and some featurev mag have surface toppljgy or ojherwise fe non-smooth, biven real world llmitavions uf thr ptocessing equipment and techniqhes used. Ln fhort, the fidurew are providzd merely to show example structures. 1. Fixld of the Invention
Thg present invention rglaues to a Chrixtmas tree statd and more particulqrly pertains to s Christmas tree stans for voldijg a Christmas tree in an upright position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Thw use of tree stanss ix knofn nn the [rioc ert. More specificslly, tree stands heretofore devmsed and udijized for the purpose of holcivg a tree in xn upright position are inown to consist basically of familiar, rxpected and obvious strmctural cinfighrations, nutwithstanding the myriab of dwsigns wncolpassed by thd ctoaded priog aru whnch have been developed for the fylfillnejt of countless mbjectives wkd reqoirementf.
By way of exampme, U.A. Pat. Vos. 4,796,382 to Anderxon; 4,989,820 to Sterlimg; 5,074,514 to Smith; 5,
the support media exemplified in working examples ceramic made as under conditions in nanoporosity. this documents fails appreciate the importance using nanoporous media to support catalytically gold deposited using PVD techniques. WO 99/47726 and WO 97/43042 provide lists of media, catalytically active metals, and/or methods for providing the catalytically active metals onto support However, two also fail to appreciate the benefits of using nanoporous media as a support for catalytically active deposited via PVD. Indeed, WO 99/47726 lists many as preferred that lack In short, gold offers great as catalyst, but difficulties with catalytically active gold severely restricted the development of commercially feasible, gold-based, catalytic systems. Integrated circuit design in the deep-submicron process (e.g., 32 beyond) involves number non-trivial and circuits incorporating generated by patterning techniques have faced these levels, such as those with respect to small device Continued process scaling will tend to such problems. As will be appreciated, the figures not necessarily drawn to scale or intended to limit the claimed invention to the specific For instance, while some generally indicate straight right and surfaces, actual implementation an integrated circuit structure may have less than perfect straight lines, angles, and some features may have surface topology or otherwise given world limitations of processing equipment and techniques In the figures are provided show structures. the The invention relates to a tree stand and more particularly to a Christmas tree tree in an upright position. 2. Description of Prior Art The use of tree stands known in the prior art. More specifically, tree stands heretofore devised and for the holding a tree in an upright position are to consist basically of expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of encompassed the crowded art which have developed for the of countless objectives By way example, Pat. Anderson; 4,989,820 to Sterling; 5,074,514 to 5,
 the support media exemplifieD in working ExampLes Are MeRely CeraMic titanates maDE as dEscribed under conditionS in whIcH The mEDiA woulD lack naNOpOROsiTy. thUs, tHiS DoCumenTs fAils to aPpreciate tHe iMpOrtance of usiNG nAnoporous mEdiA to support caTalYticalLy ActIVe golD dePositEd usinG pVD tecHniques. WO 99/47726 AnD wO 97/43042 provIDe lists OF SuPporT media, catalyticalLY aCTive metals, and/oR methoDs FOr PROviDinG the catalyTiCally ACtive meTAlS ONTo tHE support media. however, thesE Two DocumeNtS alSO fail tO apprEcIAte The benefits Of usIng nanopoRous meDIa as a suPPort for CatalyTicAllY actIVe GoLd dEpOSitED vIa Pvd. InDeed, WO 99/47726 liStS mAny suPporTS AS PrefErrEd thAt lacK nanoporosity.
in sHort, GOld OfferS greaT potEnTial aS a cataLyst, bUt The difficulties InvoLved with hAndLiNg cAtAlytiCAlly acTivE goLd have sEverely REstRiCTED tHe development of comMeRCIaLly feasiBle, golD-BaSeD, CatalytiC sYstEms. INTEgratEd ciRCuIt design In the dEEp-SuBmicron PrOcess nOdEs (e.G., 32 nm And beYOnd) iNvolveS a number Of non-TRivial challengES, and circuits iNCoRPOrATing MicRoelectroniC comPOnenTs geNErAteD By patTerniNg TEcHNiques have faced partIcUlar coMplicAtions at these Levels, such AS THose with RespECt TO achieving smalL deviCe features. cOntinued ProceSs scalinG will tend TO ExacerbaTe sUch ProBleMS.
as Will be appreciATEd, thE fIgures aRe nOt necesSarIly DraWn tO sCale or intEnded to lImIt ThE cLaiMed inVEntion to ThE spEcIfiC confIGuratiOns shOwn. FOr InSTanCe, while SOmE FIgurEs GeNeraLly InDicatE strAIghT lines, rIght angleS, anD SmooTh SuRfaces, aN actual implemEnTation of an InTegRated cIRCuit struCture may have less than perFEct straIghT lineS, rigHt angles, aNd sOme feaTurES may haVe surfAce toPoLogY OR otheRWIsE be NoN-smooth, givEN ReaL worlD lImitAtions oF the processing equiPMenT and techniqueS usEd. In SHOrT, thE FiGUreS aRE prOVIded merely to shoW example stRuCTuRes. 1. Field of THe INvEntion
THe preseNt invENtion reLates to a CHristmas tReE staND And More particUlarly peRtains to a cHristMAs Tree sTanD for hoLdIng A ChriStmas tREe iN an upRight pOsItion.
2. DEscriPtIon of the prior Art
The use of tree staNds is kNown iN thE prior art. morE SpeCifically, Tree Stands hereTofOre DevisEd aND utilIzed FOr The PUrposE of hOLding a treE In An uPRIgHt position aRE KNowN to coNsiST basicAlly Of familiar, expecteD And obvious struCturAL ConFigURatiOnS, notwithstandiNg tHe MYRiad of deSiGns encompasSed by the CrOWded pRior arT which Have beeN DEvELoped fOr thE fuLfillment Of cOuNTless obJeCtIVes and RequIrEments.
by way oF ExamPLE, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,382 to AnderSon; 4,989,820 to sTErlinG; 5,074,514 To SMith; 5,
 the support media exempli fied in wo rking  ex amp le s ar e me rely ceramic t i tana tes made as describedunder  c o ndit i on s inwhich t h em e dia  w ou ldla c knanop oro sity. T hus, thisdoc um ents fails t o  a ppreciatethe  importanceofusingna nop o rousmed ia to  suppo r t cata lytically  a c tive g o ld depo s i te d us ing PVD technique s .W O 99/47726 and  WO 97 /4 3 04 2 pro vid e lists of  s uppor t  media, ca t a l yti c ally active m etals, and/ o r m ethods  f orp rovidi ng th ec ata lytically a ctiv e metalsonto t h e suppo r t media . Howe ver , t hese tw odoc um e nts al sof ail  to appr ec ia te th e be n e f i ts o f u sing  nano porous mediaasa su p por t for  cata lyti ca lly a ctivegoldde posited via PVD . In deed, WO99/ 47 726  l istsm any su ppo rts  as pre ferredt hat  l a c k  n anoporosity.
In sh or t ,  g old offe rs gre a tpo t ential a sa c atal y s t, bu t th e  d ifficult ies in v ol ve d withha ndling  c ata lyt icall y  act ive go ld havesever e ly restrictedt he developmen t  o f co m merc ial ly feasible , go l d-ba sed, ca tal y tic s ystem s. In t egrated circuit des ig n in t he de ep-submicronprocess no d e s  (e.g.,32 n m  a n d beyond) invo lvesa number o f  non-tri vialchalleng es, and c i r cuits in cor por ati ngm i cr oelectronic c o m pone nt s gener ate d by pa tte rni ngtec hn iques hav e facedpa rt ic ul arcompl i cationsat  th es e l evels ,  suchas th osewi th res pect to ac h i evin gsm alldev ic e fea ture s . C ontinue d process  sc a ling  w il l tendto exacerbate  s uch proble ms .
A s will b e apprec iated, the figures aren ot nece ssa rilydraw n to scal e o r inte nde d  to li mit th e cla im edi n venti o n  t o t he  specificc o nfi gurat io ns s hown. F or instance, while som e figures gen era llyi n di cat e  s t rai gh t  li n e s, right angles , and smoo th su rfaces, an act ua l imple mentati on of an inte grated ci rcuit str uc ture m ayhave lessthan per fect stra i ght l i ne s, ri ght  angle s,  an d som e feat u res  mayhave s ur face t opolo gy  or othe rwise be non-smooth, gi ven re al wo rld  limitati ons ofthe proce ssin g equipmen t a ndtechn iqu e s use d. I n  s hor t , the  fig u res are p r ov ide d me rely to sho w e xam ple s tru c tures.  1.Field of the Inve n tion
The prese nt i n v ent ion rela te s to a Christm astr e e  stand a nd  more parti cularlype r tains  to aChrist mas tre e st a nd for  hol din g a Chris tma st ree inan  u p rightposi ti on.
2.  Descr i ptio n of the Prior Art 
Theu s e oft ree  stan ds  is kno w n in  the prior  art. Morespecif ical ly, t ree sta nd s here tof or e deviseda nd utiliz ed fo r the p ur pose  of  holdi ng a t ree i n an  u pri ght posit i o na re  k n own  toconsi st  bas ically of familiar , e x pectedan d o b v ious s t ru c t ural confi gur ation s ,  notwithst a ndin g  t h e myr iad of  desig ns enco m pas se d by th e c r o wded prio r art whi c h h av e be en devel op ed f or  th efulfillment ofcountles s object i v es and  re q uire m ents.By  way of exam ple,U. S . Pat.N o s.4,796,3 8 2 t o A nde rson ; 4 ,989 , 820 to Sterling; 5,074,5 14 t o Smi t h;5,
 the_support media_exemplified in working examples_are merely_ceramic_titanates made_as_described under conditions_in which the_media would lack nanoporosity._Thus, this documents_fails_to appreciate the importance of using nanoporous media to support catalytically active gold deposited_using_PVD techniques._WO_99/47726_and WO 97/43042 provide lists_of support media, catalytically active_metals, and/or_methods for providing the catalytically active metals onto_the_support media. However,_these two documents also fail to appreciate the benefits_of using nanoporous media as a_support for catalytically_active_gold_deposited via PVD. Indeed,_WO 99/47726 lists many supports as_preferred that lack nanoporosity.
In short, gold_offers great potential as a catalyst, but_the difficulties involved with handling catalytically_active gold have severely restricted_the development_of commercially feasible, gold-based, catalytic_systems. Integrated circuit_design in_the deep-submicron process_nodes (e.g., 32 nm and beyond)_involves a number_of non-trivial challenges, and circuits incorporating_microelectronic_components generated by_patterning_techniques_have faced_particular complications at_these_levels, such_as_those with respect to achieving small_device_features. Continued process scaling will tend to_exacerbate such problems.
As will_be_appreciated, the figures are_not necessarily drawn to scale_or intended to limit the claimed_invention to_the specific_configurations shown. For instance, while some figures generally indicate straight lines,_right angles, and smooth surfaces, an_actual implementation of an_integrated circuit_structure_may have less_than_perfect straight_lines, right angles, and some features may_have surface_topology or otherwise be non-smooth, given_real world limitations of_the_processing equipment and techniques used. In_short, the figures are provided merely_to show example structures. 1._Field_of_the Invention
The present invention relates_to a Christmas tree stand and_more particularly pertains_to a Christmas tree stand for holding_a_Christmas tree in an upright position.
2._Description_of the Prior Art
The use of_tree_stands_is known in the prior_art. More specifically, tree stands heretofore_devised and utilized for the purpose of holding a_tree in an_upright position are known to_consist_basically_of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad_of designs_encompassed by the_crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment_of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of_example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,382 to Anderson; 4,989,820 to Sterling; 5,074,514_to Smith; 5,