Modular lighted tree with internal electrical connection system

• US 10,070,675 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Johnny
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanley, Britt D
• Application Number:
  US14/512,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/005 luminous or luminescent
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/007 Artificial trees
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/00 Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by their form
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/92 Holders formed as intermediate parts for distributing energy in parallel through two or more counterparts at least one of which is attached to apparatus to be held
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.

Claims

1. An artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion including;

a first trunk portion including a first trunk wall, the first trunk wall defining a first trunk interior;

a first plurality of branches;

a first light string distributed about the first plurality of branches; and

a female connector positioned at least in part within the first trunk interior defined by the first trunk wall, the female connector including;

a base portion;

a receiver portion projecting from the base portion and defining a receiving recess;

a central projecting portion at least partially within the receiving recess defined by the receiver portion and projecting from the base portion, the central projecting portion defining a central recess;

a first electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the central recess;

a second electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the receiving recess; and

a second tree portion configured to couple to the first tree portion, the second tree portion including;

a second trunk portion including a second trunk wall, the second trunk wall defining a second trunk interior;

a second plurality of branches;

a second light string distributed about the second plurality of branches; and

a male connector positioned at least in part within the second trunk interior defined by the second trunk wall, the male connector including;

a base portion;

a projecting portion projecting from the base portion and defining a recess;

a first electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the recess of the projecting portion;

a second electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the recess of the projecting portion.

2. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the receiver portion and the wall of the first trunk portion define a slot therebetween.

3. The artificial tree of claim 2, wherein the male portion includes a projecting wall configured to be received by the slot.

4. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the projecting portion of the male connector is generally cylindrical.

5. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the projecting portion of the male connector comprises a rectangular projection.

6. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the central recess of the central projecting portion is proximate the center of the receiving recess of the receiver portion.

7. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact of the female connector is adjacent an outside surface of the central projecting portion of the female connector.

8. The artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the second electrical contact of the female connector forms a cylindrical shape.

9. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact of the male portion comprises a cylindrical projection.

10. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the female connector has an outside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of the receiver portion.

11. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the central recess of the female connector is configured to receive the first electrical contact of the male connector, and the receiving recess of the female connector is configured to receive the projecting portion of the male connector.

12. The artificial tree of claim 1, further comprising a first plurality of wires located at least in part within the first trunk interior, the first plurality of wires connecting the first and second electrical contacts of the first trunk connector to the first light string.

13. The artificial tree of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of wires extends through an opening in the first trunk portion, from the interior of the first trunk portion to an exterior of the first trunk portion.

14. The artificial tree of claim 12, wherein the first light string comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes electrically connected in parallel.

15. A connecting system for an artificial tree having a hollow trunk portion, comprising:

a female connector configured to fit at least partially within the hollow trunk portion including;

a base portion;

a receiver portion projecting from the base portion and defining a receiving recess;

a central projecting portion at least partially within the receiving recess defined by the receiver portion and projecting from the base portion, the central projecting portion defining a central recess;

a first electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the central recess;

a second electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the receiving recess; and

a male connector configured to couple with the female connector, the male connector including;

a base portion;

a projecting portion projecting from the base portion and defining a recess;

a first electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the recess of the projecting portion;

a second electrical contact configured to conduct electricity and positioned within the recess of the projecting portion,

wherein the receiver portion of the female connector is configured to receive the projecting portion of the male connector and the central recess of the female portion is configured to receive the first electrical contact of the male portion.

16. The connecting system of claim 15, wherein the first electrical contacts are configured to make electrical connection with each other, and the second electrical contacts are configured to make electrical connection with each other, when the male connector is coupled to the female connector.

17. The artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the projecting portion of the male connector is generally cylindrical.

18. The artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the second electrical contact of the female connector is adjacent an outside surface of the central projecting portion of the female connector.

19. The artificial tree of claim 18, wherein the second electrical contact of the female connector forms a cylindrical shape.

20. The artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the second electrical contact of the male portion comprises a cylindrical projection.

21. The artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the base portion of the female connector has an outside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of the receiver portion.