Modular tree with locking trunk

• US 10,206,530 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• 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:
  US13/804,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20130301245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/005 luminous or luminescent
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees

Abstract

A tree trunk system for an artificial decorative tree includes a first trunk body defining a first central axis extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the distal end having an insertable portion defining a plurality of channels, and a second trunk body having a proximal end configured to receive the insertable portion of the first trunk body and having a protuberance extending radially inward. When the trunk bodies are coupled, thereby preventing rotation of the first trunk body relative the second trunk body, about the common central axis.

Claims

1. A tree trunk system for an artificial decorative tree, comprising:

a first trunk body including a trunk wall, distal end and a proximal end, and defining a first central axis extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end having an insertable portion formed of the trunk wall and defining one or more axially-extending channels spaced circumferentially about the insertable end; and

a second trunk body including a distal end and a hollow proximal end, and defining a second central axis extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the proximal end configured to receive the insertable portion of the first trunk body and having a protuberance extending radially inward;

wherein the protuberance of the second trunk body aligns with, and fits into one of the one or more channels of the first trunk body when the first trunk body and the second trunk body are aligned on a common central axis, and the end portion of the first trunk body is inserted into the proximal end of the second trunk body, thereby preventing or minimizing rotation of the first trunk body relative the second trunk body, about the common central axis.

2. The tree trunk system of claim 1, wherein the insertable end of the first trunk body when viewed in cross section defines a continuous circumferential edge.

3. The tree trunk system of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the first trunk body defines an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the distal end of the first trunk body.

4. The tree trunk system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more channels extend axially along at least 90% of a length of the insertable portion.

5. The tree trunk system of claim 1, wherein the second trunk body includes a plurality of protuberances, each protuberance configured to be received by one of the plurality of channels of the first trunk body.

10. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the one or more channels comprises two channels.

11. The lighted tree of claim 1, wherein the protuberance comprises a convex bump projecting radially into an interior portion of the second trunk body.

12. The lighted tree of claim 1, wherein the protuberance is not at an edge of the proximal end of the second trunk portion.

13. The lighted tree of claim 1, further comprising:

a first electrical connector positioned in the distal end of the first trunk body;

a second electrical connector positioned in the proximal end of the second trunk body; and

wherein when the first trunk body and the second trunk body are aligned on a common central axis, and the end portion of the first trunk body is inserted into the proximal end of the second trunk body, the first and second electrical connectors make electrical connection.

6. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion including;

a first trunk body having a trunk wall, distal end and a proximal end, and defining a first central axis extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end having an insertable portion formed of the trunk wall and defining one or more channels;

a first electrical connector positioned in the distal end of the first trunk body;

a first wiring harness electrically connected to the first electrical connector and having wires extending axially within the first trunk body and away from the first electrical connector; and

a first light string electrically connected to the wires of the first wiring harness; and

a second tree portion including;

a second trunk body including a distal end and a hollow proximal end, the proximal end configured to receive the insertable portion of the first trunk body along a common central axis and having a protuberance, the protuberance configured to be received by the one or more channels of the first trunk body;

a second electrical connector configured to electrically connect with the first electrical connector independently of a relative rotational alignment of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector about the common central axis, the second electrical connector positioned in the proximal end of the second trunk body and;

a second wiring harness electrically connected to the second electrical connector and having wires extending axially within the second trunk body and away from the first electrical connector;

wherein the first trunk body when coupled to the second trunk body cannot rotate relative to the second trunk body about the common central axis, and the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical connector.

7. The lighted artificial tree of claim 6, wherein the first trunk body couples to the second trunk body in any one of a plurality of predetermined rotational orientations.

14. The lighted tree of claim 6, wherein the first electrical connector comprises a pair of electrical terminals coaxial about the common central axis.

15. The lighted tree of claim 6, wherein the protuberance comprises a convex bump projecting radially into an interior portion of the second trunk body.

16. The lighted tree of claim 6, wherein the protuberance is not at an edge of the proximal end of the second trunk portion.

8. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion including;

a first trunk body having a trunk wall, a distal end and a proximal end, and defining a first central axis extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the trunk wall at the distal end having an insertable portion formed of the trunk wall and defining one or more channels;

a first electrical connector positioned in the distal end of the first trunk body;

a first wiring harness electrically connected to the first electrical connector and having wires extending axially within the first trunk body and away from the first electrical connector; and

a first light string electrically connected to the wires of the first wiring harness; and

a second tree portion including;

a second trunk body including a distal end and a hollow proximal end, the proximal end configured to receive the insertable portion of the first trunk body along a common central axis and having a protuberance, the protuberance configured to be received by one of the one or more channels of the first trunk body, such that the first trunk body is connectable to the second trunk body in any one of a plurality of rotational coupling alignment positions;

a second electrical connector configured to electrically connect with the first electrical connector in one of a plurality of rotational coupling alignment positions of the first electrical connector relative the second electrical connector about the common central axis, the second electrical connector positioned in the proximal end of the second trunk body and;

a second wiring harness electrically connected to the second electrical connector and having wires extending axially within the second trunk body and away from the first electrical connector;

wherein when the first tree portion is coupled to the second tree portion, the first trunk body cannot rotate relative to the second trunk body about the common central axis, and the first electrical connector cannot rotate relative to the second electrical connector and the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical connector.

9. The lighted artificial tree of claim 8, wherein a number of available rotational alignment positions of the first electrical connector relative the second electrical connector is the same as, or more than, the number of available rotational alignment positions of the first trunk body relative the second trunk body.

17. The lighted artificial tree of claim 8, wherein the one or more channels comprises two channels.

18. The lighted artificial tree of claim 8, wherein the second trunk body comprises a plurality of protuberances, the plurality of protuberances configured to be received by the one or more channels of the first trunk body.

19. The lighted artificial tree of claim 8, wherein each of the first and the second electrical connectors includes a pair of electrical terminals.