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Decorative lighting control

  • US 10,683,974 B1
  • Filed: 12/11/2018
  • Issued: 06/16/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A multi-sectional artificial tree with internal and external power wiring for distributing and controlling power to a network of lights, the tree comprising:

  • a first tree section configured to be oriented along a first lengthwise axis, comprising;

    a first tree trunk portion extending axially and defining a first internal cavity;

    a first plurality of branches distributed about a circumference of the first tree trunk portion such that each branch of the first plurality of branches is located at a same first axial level on the first tree trunk portion;

    a second plurality of branches distributed about the circumference of the first tree trunk portion such that each branch of the second plurality of branches is located at a same second axial level on the first tree trunk portion;

    a set of first internal trunk wires extending within the first internal cavity of the first tree trunk portion;

    a first tree trunk electrical connector located in the first internal cavity of the first tree trunk portion and in electrical connection with the set of first internal trunk wires;

    a first tree-section wiring network located external to the first tree trunk portion and in electrical connection with the set of first internal trunk wires, the first tree-section wiring network comprising a first plurality of tree-section wires, a first branch-level connector, and a second branch-level connector, each of the plurality of first tree-section wires comprising a multi-strand conductor and defining a first wire diameter size, the first branch-level connector located adjacent the first plurality of branches at the first axial level, the second branch-level connector located adjacent the second plurality of branches at the second axial level, the first branch-level connector electrically connected to the second branch-level connector in parallel;

    a first branch-level wiring network located at the first axial level and in electrical connection with the first branch-level connector, the first branch-level wiring network including a first plurality of light-string connectors connected to one another in series, the first plurality of light-string connectors comprising one light string connector per one branch of the first plurality of branches such that a quantity of branches of the first plurality of branches is the same as a quantity of the plurality of first light-sting connectors;

    a second branch-level wiring network located at the second axial level and in electrical connection with the second branch-level connector, the second branch-level wiring network including a second plurality of light-string connectors electrically connected to one another in series, the second plurality of light-string connectors comprising one light string connector per one branch of the second plurality of branches such that a quantity of branches of the second plurality of branches is the same as a quantity of the plurality of second light-sting connectors;

    a first plurality of light strings connected to the first plurality of branches and the first branch-level wiring network at the first axial level of the first tree trunk portion, each of the first plurality of light strings connected to only one of the first plurality of branches and to only one of the first plurality of light-string connectors, each of the first plurality of light strings including a pair of single-strand conductors and a plurality of light-emitting diodes electrically connected in parallel, each conductor of the pair of single-strand conductors defining a second wire diameter size that is smaller than the first wire diameter size;

    a second plurality of light strings connected to the second plurality of branches and the second branch-level wiring network at the second axial level of the first tree trunk portion, each of the second plurality of light strings connected to only one of the second plurality of branches and to only one of the second plurality of light-string connectors, each of the second plurality of light strings including a pair of single-strand conductors and a plurality of light-emitting diodes electrically connected in parallel, each conductor of the pair of single-strand conductors defining the second wire diameter size that is smaller than the first wire diameter size; and

    a second tree section, comprising;

    a second tree trunk portion defining a second internal cavity;

    a set of second internal trunk wires extending within the second internal cavity of the second tree trunk;

    a second tree trunk electrical connector located in the second internal cavity of the second tree trunk and in electrical connection with the set of second trunk wires;

    wherein the first tree section is configured to couple to the second tree section such that the first and second tree trunk portions are mechanically coupled, the first and second trunk electrical connectors are in electrical connection, and the sets of first and second internal trunk wires are in electrical connection.

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