Powered tree construction
First Claim
1. An artificial tree system comprising:
- a first trunk section having an elongate body;
a first coupling mechanism attached to an exterior surface of the first trunk section proximate an end of the first trunk section, the first coupling mechanism including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first and second electrical contacts being in electrical communication with a first power distribution subsystem at least partially disposed within the first trunk section;
a second trunk section having an elongate body;
a second coupling mechanism attached to an exterior surface of the second trunk section proximate an end of the second trunk section, the second coupling mechanism including a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, the third and fourth electrical contacts being in electrical communication with a second power distribution subsystem at least partially disposed within the second trunk section,wherein the second coupling mechanism is configured to at least partially receive the first coupling mechanism such that (i) the second coupling mechanism is mechanically connected to the first coupling mechanism independent of a rotational alignment of the first coupling mechanism with respect to the second coupling mechanism, (ii) the first electrical contact is in electrical communication with the third electrical contact, and (iii) the second electrical contact is in electrical communication with the fourth electrical contact.
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 partially 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 channels, and the prongs and channels may be positioned outside of the trunk sections. The prongs can be inserted into the channels to electrically connect the power distribution subsystems of neighboring tree trunk sections. The prongs and channels may be configured to engage one another without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An artificial tree system comprising:
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a first trunk section having an elongate body; a first coupling mechanism attached to an exterior surface of the first trunk section proximate an end of the first trunk section, the first coupling mechanism including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first and second electrical contacts being in electrical communication with a first power distribution subsystem at least partially disposed within the first trunk section; a second trunk section having an elongate body; a second coupling mechanism attached to an exterior surface of the second trunk section proximate an end of the second trunk section, the second coupling mechanism including a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, the third and fourth electrical contacts being in electrical communication with a second power distribution subsystem at least partially disposed within the second trunk section, wherein the second coupling mechanism is configured to at least partially receive the first coupling mechanism such that (i) the second coupling mechanism is mechanically connected to the first coupling mechanism independent of a rotational alignment of the first coupling mechanism with respect to the second coupling mechanism, (ii) the first electrical contact is in electrical communication with the third electrical contact, and (iii) the second electrical contact is in electrical communication with the fourth electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An artificial tree system comprising:
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a first trunk section having an elongate body; a first coupling mechanism attached to the first trunk section, the first coupling mechanism including; a first housing having an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the first trunk section and an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the first trunk section; and a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact each disposed at least partially within the first housing, the first and second electrical contacts being in electrical communication with a first power distribution subsystem that is at least partially disposed within the first trunk section; and a second trunk section having an elongate body; a second coupling mechanism attached to the second trunk section, the second coupling mechanism including; a second housing having an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the second trunk section and an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the second trunk section; and a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact each disposed at least partially within the second housing, the third and fourth electrical contacts being in electrical communication with a second power distribution subsystem that is at least partially disposed within the second trunk section, wherein the second coupling mechanism is configured to at least partially receive the first coupling mechanism such that the second coupling mechanism is mechanically connected to the first coupling mechanism, the first electrical contact is in electrical communication with the third electrical contact, and the second electrical contact is in electrical communication with the fourth electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An artificial tree system comprising:
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a first trunk section comprising a first end and a second end; a first coupling mechanism attached to the first trunk section proximate the first end such that at least a portion of the first coupling mechanism contacts an external surface of the first trunk section and the first coupling mechanism does not rotate with respect to the first trunk section, the first coupling mechanism including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact; a second trunk section comprising a first end and a second end; and a second coupling mechanism attached to the second trunk section proximate the second end such that at least a portion of the second coupling mechanism contacts an external surface of the second trunk section and the second coupling mechanism does not rotate with respect to the second trunk section, the second coupling mechanism including a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, wherein the second coupling mechanism is configured to receive at least a portion of the first coupling mechanism when the first and second coupling mechanisms are in a coupled configuration, wherein at least a portion of the first electrical contact is in physical contact with at least a portion of the third electrical contact when the first and second coupling mechanisms are in the coupled configuration, wherein at least a portion of the second electrical contact is in physical contact with at least a portion of the fourth electrical contact when the first and second coupling mechanisms are in the coupled configuration, and wherein the first and second coupling mechanisms are configured to form the coupled configuration independent of a rotational alignment of the first coupling mechanism with respect to the second coupling mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification