ARTIFICIAL LED LIGHTED CHRISTMAS TREE

• US 20150070878A1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Yu, Jing Jing
• Granted Patent: US 9,593,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/123
• 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 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09027 Non-rectangular flat PCB, e.g. circular
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of an artificial tree that is lit by LEDs. Individual trunk modules are provided on trunk sections that provide individual control of LED strings disposed on branches on each of the trunk sections. Remote control devices and smart devices connected to the Internet can control the trunk modules. Spring-loaded flat connectors between the trunk sections, and also between the branches in the trunks, provide a solid electrical connection, which has a low susceptibility to failure. Plastic injection molded branches having injected molded sockets are provided for connecting LEDs that can be plugged directly into sockets on the trunk sections. The LEDs can be driven with an AC or DC electrical power supply.

Claims

1. An artificial tree comprising:

a plurality of trunk sections that are adapted to be assembled to form a tree trunk, said plurality of trunk sections having diameters that fit together to mechanically connect said trunk;

a plurality of artificial branches;

a plurality of individual LED light strings disposed on said artificial branches;

a plurality of trunk modules disposed on said plurality of trunk sections, each of said trunk modules of said plurality of trunk modules providing a single power source that is connected to a plurality of electrical light string connectors that connect said individual LED light strings to said single power source in parallel;

a plurality of trunk section flat spring connectors that connect electrical power between said trunk sections comprising;

springs that are electrically connected to power sources in said trunk modules of said trunk section;

connector plates that are electrically connected to said power sources in adjacent trunk modules of adjacent trunk sections, said connector plates disposed in said trunk modules to engage said spring in said adjacent trunk modules when said trunk modules are assembled.

2. The artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising:

centering knobs disposed on said connector plates that engage a central opening in said springs that substantially centers said connector plate with said springs.

3. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said artificial branches are plastic molded injection branches.

4. The artificial tree of claim 3 wherein said individual light strings are molded into said plastic molded injection branches.

5. The artificial tree of claim 4 wherein said artificial branches are molded with LED sockets for insertion of LEDs in said LED sockets.

6. The artificial tree of claim 5 wherein said electrical light string connectors comprise light string flat spring connectors comprising:

a spring that is connected to said power supplies in said trunk modules;

connector plates that are connected to said light strings.

7. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said trunk modules have converters that convert standard household power to a lower voltage level on a printed circuit board mounted in said trunk module.

8. The artificial tree of claim 7 wherein said converter comprises a transformer so that said single power source comprises an AC power source.

9. The artificial tree of claim 7 wherein said converters comprise solid state converters that convert said standard household power to DC power.

10. The artificial tree of claim 7 wherein said plurality of trunk sections and said plurality of artificial branches are constructed from a conductive material so that neutral AC power or zero DC power is transmitted in said artificial tree through said plurality of trunk sections and said plurality of artificial branches.

11. The artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising:

controllers disposed in said trunk modules that control operation of said single power source.

12. The artificial tree of claim 11 further comprising:

radio frequency antennas coupled to said controllers that receive radio frequency control signals for controlling said controllers.

13. The artificial tree of claim 11 further comprising:

infrared detectors coupled to said controllers that receive infrared control signals from an infrared remote controller device for controlling said controllers.

14. The artificial tree of claim 12 wherein said radio frequency control signals are WiFi control signals generated by an Internet connected smart device.

15. A method of assembling an artificial tree comprising:

providing a plurality of trunk sections, said plurality of trunk sections having diameters that fit together to form a tree trunk;

connecting a plurality of trunk modules to said trunk sections;

connecting a plurality of artificial branches to said plurality of trunk modules;

placing a plurality of individual light strings on said plurality of artificial branches;

connecting said plurality of individual light strings to a single power source in said plurality of trunk modules so that said plurality of individual light strings are connected in parallel with said single power source in said each trunk module of said plurality of trunk modules;

assembling said trunk sections so that spring connectors disposed in said trunk sections provide an electrical conduction path for conduction of electrical power to said plurality of trunk sections, said spring connectors comprising springs that are compressed by connector plates when said trunk sections are assembled, to provide a solid electrical connection to conduct said electrical power to said plurality of trunk sections.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

engaging centering knobs on said springs that are disposed on said connector plates with central openings in said springs to substantially center said springs with said connector plates.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said process of connecting said plurality of artificial branches to said plurality of trunk modules comprises:

connecting a plurality of plastic injection molded artificial branches with said individual light strings and LED sockets molded into said artificial branches to said plurality of trunk modules.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

inserting said plurality of plastic injection molded artificial branches in trunk sockets so that plate connectors on said artificial branches compress springs in said trunk sockets that are connected to said single power source.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

placing controllers on printed circuit boards in said plurality of trunk modules that control operation of said single power source.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

placing radio frequency antennas in said plurality of trunk modules that are connected to said controller, said radio frequency antennas providing radio frequency control signals that control operation of said controllers.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said radio frequency control signals are received over a WiFi connection from an Internet connected control device.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

providing infrared detectors in said plurality of trunk modules that receive infrared control signals from an infrared remote controller for controlling said controllers.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing converters in said trunk modules that convert said electrical power conducted in said trunk sections to a lower voltage.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said converters transform an alternating current power signal to a lower voltage alternating current power signal using a transformer.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said converters comprise solid state converters that connect said electrical power to direct current power.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

providing said trunk sections and said artificial branches that are conductive;

connecting a neutral circuit of said lower voltage alternating current signal to said trunk sections so that said neutral circuit is transmitted in said artificial tree through said trunk sections and said artificial branches.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

providing said trunk sections and said artificial branches that are conductive;

connecting a zero voltage circuit of said direct current power to said trunk sections so that said zero voltage circuit is transmitted un said artificial tree through said trunk sections and said artificial branches.