POWERED TREE CONSTRUCTION
First Claim
1. An electrical coupling system comprising:
- a first coupling mechanism having a first central aperture configured to receive a first trunk section, the first coupling mechanism having a first and a second electrical contact; and
a second coupling mechanism having a second central aperture configured to receive a second trunk section, the second coupling mechanism having a third and a fourth electrical contact,wherein the first coupling mechanism is configured to mechanically connect with the second coupling mechanism such that 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, andwherein 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 independent of a rotational alignment of the first coupling mechanism with respect to the second coupling mechanism.
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
20 Claims
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1. An electrical coupling system comprising:
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a first coupling mechanism having a first central aperture configured to receive a first trunk section, the first coupling mechanism having a first and a second electrical contact; and a second coupling mechanism having a second central aperture configured to receive a second trunk section, the second coupling mechanism having a third and a fourth electrical contact, wherein the first coupling mechanism is configured to mechanically connect with the second coupling mechanism such that 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, and wherein 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 independent of a rotational alignment of the first coupling mechanism with respect to the second coupling mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An artificial tree system comprising:
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a first trunk section comprising an elongated tube; a first coupling mechanism attached proximate to an end of the first trunk section, the first coupling mechanism having a first and a second electrical contact; a second trunk section comprising an elongated tube; and a second coupling mechanism attached proximate to an end of the second trunk section, the second coupling mechanism having a third and a fourth electrical contact, wherein the second coupling mechanism is configured to at least partially receive the first coupling mechanism such that 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 when the second coupling mechanism receives the first coupling mechanism, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are configured to be in electrical communication with the third and fourth electrical contacts independent of rotational alignment of the first coupling mechanism with respect to the second coupling mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An artificial tree system comprising:
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a first trunk section having first and second ends; a first coupling mechanism attached to an exterior surface of the first trunk section proximate the first end and configured to at least partially insert into a second coupling mechanism; a second trunk section having first and second ends; a second coupling mechanism attached to an exterior surface of the second trunk section proximate the second end configured to at least partially receive the first coupling mechanism; wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises first and second electrical contacts comprising conductive pins and the second coupling mechanism comprises third and fourth electrical contacts comprising concentrically-aligned conductive rings configured to be in electrical communication with the first and second electrical contacts when the second coupling mechanism receives the first coupling mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification