Powered tree construction
First Claim
1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
- a first tree portion, including;
a first trunk portion,a first power distribution system,a first electrical connector positioned at least partially within the first trunk portion, the first electrical connector including;
a first connector body including a first rotation-locking structure; and
two electrical terminals secured to the first connector body, the first connector body, and the two electrical terminals of the first electrical connector mechanically and electrically connected to the first power distribution system inside the first trunk portion;
a second tree portion, including;
a second trunk portion;
a second power distribution subsystem; and
a second electrical connector positioned at least partially within the second trunk portion, the second electrical connector including;
a second connector body including a second rotation-locking structure, andtwo electrical terminals secured to the second connector body, the second connector body and the two electrical terminals of the second electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the second power distribution subsystem;
a third electrical connector positioned at least partially within the second trunk portion, the third electrical connector including;
a third connector body including a third rotation-locking structure, andtwo electrical terminals secured to the third connector body, the third connector body and the two electrical terminals of the third electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the second power distributions subsystem inside the second trunk portion;
a third tree portion, including;
a third trunk portion,a third power distribution system,a fourth electrical connector positioned at least partially within the third trunk portion, the fourth electrical connector including;
a fourth connector body including a fourth rotation-locking structure; and
two electrical terminals secured to the fourth connector body, the fourth connector body, and the two electrical terminals of the fourth electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the third power distribution system inside the third trunk portion;
wherein the first rotation-locking structure of the first connector body is configured to engage the second rotation-locking structure of the second connector body and the third rotation-locking structure of the third connector body is configured to engage the fourth rotation-locking structure of the fourth connector body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power transfer system to facilitate the transfer of electrical power between tree trunk sections of an artificial tree is disclosed. The power transfer system can advantageously enable neighboring tree trunk sections to be electrically connected without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections. Power distribution subsystems can be disposed within the trunk sections. The power distribution subsystems can comprise a male end, a female end, or both. The male ends can have prongs and the female ends can have voids. The prongs can be inserted into the voids to electrically connect the power distribution subsystems of neighboring tree trunk sections. In some embodiments, the prongs and voids are designed so that the prongs of one power distribution subsystem can engage the voids of another power distribution subsystem without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections.
257 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first tree portion, including; a first trunk portion, a first power distribution system, a first electrical connector positioned at least partially within the first trunk portion, the first electrical connector including; a first connector body including a first rotation-locking structure; and two electrical terminals secured to the first connector body, the first connector body, and the two electrical terminals of the first electrical connector mechanically and electrically connected to the first power distribution system inside the first trunk portion; a second tree portion, including; a second trunk portion; a second power distribution subsystem; and a second electrical connector positioned at least partially within the second trunk portion, the second electrical connector including; a second connector body including a second rotation-locking structure, and two electrical terminals secured to the second connector body, the second connector body and the two electrical terminals of the second electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the second power distribution subsystem; a third electrical connector positioned at least partially within the second trunk portion, the third electrical connector including; a third connector body including a third rotation-locking structure, and two electrical terminals secured to the third connector body, the third connector body and the two electrical terminals of the third electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the second power distributions subsystem inside the second trunk portion; a third tree portion, including; a third trunk portion, a third power distribution system, a fourth electrical connector positioned at least partially within the third trunk portion, the fourth electrical connector including; a fourth connector body including a fourth rotation-locking structure; and two electrical terminals secured to the fourth connector body, the fourth connector body, and the two electrical terminals of the fourth electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the third power distribution system inside the third trunk portion; wherein the first rotation-locking structure of the first connector body is configured to engage the second rotation-locking structure of the second connector body and the third rotation-locking structure of the third connector body is configured to engage the fourth rotation-locking structure of the fourth connector body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first cylindrical trunk body (i) defining a first lengthwise axis and a first trunk cavity and (ii) including a first end defining an opening of the first trunk cavity; a second cylindrical trunk body (i) defining a second lengthwise axis and a second trunk cavity and (ii) including a second end defining an opening of the second trunk cavity, the second end of the second cylindrical trunk body configured to couple to the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body; a first electrical connector positioned at least in part within the first trunk cavity of the first trunk body, the first electrical connector including (i) a first connector body, (ii) a first electrical terminal, and (iii) a second electrical terminal, the first connector body defining a key projecting from a surface of the first connector body; a second electrical connector positioned at least in part within the second trunk cavity of the second end of the second trunk body and including a second connector body, a first electrical terminal, and a second electrical terminal, the second connector body defining a keyway configured to receive the key of the first connector body of the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector connectable to the first electrical connector in only a single rotational alignment position; wherein the first trunk body couples to the second body such that the first terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the first terminal of the second electrical connector and the second terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the second terminal of the second electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first cylindrical trunk body (i) defining a first lengthwise axis and a first trunk cavity and (ii) including a first end defining an opening of the first trunk cavity; a second cylindrical trunk body (i) defining a second lengthwise axis and a second trunk cavity and (ii) including a second end defining an opening of the second trunk cavity, the second end of the second cylindrical trunk body configured to couple to the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body; a first electrical connector positioned wholly within the first trunk cavity of the first end of the first trunk body, the first electrical connector including (i) a first connector body comprising a polymer material, (ii) a first electrical terminal, and (iii) a second electrical terminal, the first connector body defining a first key portion; a second electrical connector positioned at least partially within the second trunk cavity of the second end of the second trunk body, the second electrical connector including (i) a second connector body comprising the polymer material, (ii) a first electrical terminal, and (iii) a second electrical terminal, the second connector body defining a first keyway configured to receive the key portion of the first electrical connector; wherein the first connector body is configured to mechanically couple to the second connector body in one of a first rotational alignment or a second rotational alignment, such that the key portion of the first trunk electrical connector is received by the keyway of the second trunk connector and the first terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the first terminal of the second electrical connector and the second terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the second terminal of the second electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first tree portion, including; a first trunk portion; a first plurality of wires, each of the first plurality of wires comprising an insulated conductor; a first electrical connector positioned at least partially within the first trunk portion, the first electrical connector including (i) a first connector body, (ii) two electrical terminals secured to the first connector body, and (iii) a first rotation-locking structure, the two electrical terminals of the first electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the first plurality of wires inside the first trunk portion; a second tree portion, including; a second trunk portion; a second plurality of wires, each of the second plurality of wires comprising an insulated conductor; a second electrical connector positioned at least partially within the second trunk portion, the second electrical connector including (i) a second connector body, (ii) two electrical terminals secured to the second connector body, and (iii) a second rotation-locking structure, the two electrical terminals of the second electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to the second plurality of wires; wherein the first rotation-locking structure of the first connector body is configured to engage the second rotation-locking structure of the second connector body. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification