Christmas tree lights

• US 4,870,547 A
• Filed: 10/21/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Crucefix
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Crucefix
• Inventors: Crucefix, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US07/260,589
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 362/108, 362/122, 362/123, 362/800, 362/806, 362/227, 315/185 R, 315/185 S, 315/191, 315/192
• US Class Current: 362/123
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A Christmas tree light assembly having a collar to couple strings of series and parallel connected lights together with junctures to connect the light strings together in parallel comprising three-wire lamp receptacles spaced from the collar means so that only preinsulated wires pass through the collar supporting the light strings.

Claims

1. A Christmas tree light assembly comprising:

collar means adapted to removably surround the trunk of a Christmas tree near the top of the tree,

the collar means having a first end, a second end, support passageway means defined circumferentially therewithin extending substantially from the first end to the second end, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures opening into the passageway means,

light wiring circuit means supported by the collar means,

the circuit means comprising;

a first string comprising of a plurality of lamps each in a lamp receptacle connected in series spaced apart by segments of single-strand, continuously-insulated wire;

two single-strand, insulated connector lead wires connecting a respective last lamp receptacle at each end of the first string to a plug connector for a wall plug;

a second string comprising of a plurality of lamps each in a lamp receptacle connected in series spaced apart by segments of single-strand, continuously-insulated wire; and

two single-strand, insulated junction lead wires connecting a respective last lamp receptacle at each end of the second string to the first string to couple the first string and second string together in parallel,

the lamp receptacles of each string arranged in a plurality of loops with said wire segments of each loop coupled together to provide each loop as a discrete elongate strand of a plurality of spaced lamp receptacle extending to a remotely locatable free end of the strand,

each strand extending from the passageway means out one of the apertures to its free end with;

(a) wire segments which connect one strand to another passing between apertures through the passageway means;

(b) the junction lead wires connecting the second string and the first string together passing through the passageway means via the apertures; and

(c) all lamp receptacles located externally of and spaced from the collar means,

whereby no electrical connections are made within the collar means.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein all wiring passing through the passageway means is continuously-insulated wire.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the junction lead wires connect to the first string at two different lamp receptacles on the first string.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein electrical connections are made in the circuit means only at the lamp receptacles and the plug connector.

5. An assembly as claimed n claim 3 wherein the two different lamp receptacles where the juncture lead wires connect to the first string comprise three-wire lamp receptacles and the remainder of the lamp receptacles in the circuit means comprise two-wire lamp receptacles.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 where electrical connections are made only at the lamp receptacles and the plug connector.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said connector lead wires pass from strands of the first string through the passageway and out an aperture to the plug connector.

8. An assembly as claimed n claim 4 wherein said pair of three-wire lamp receptacles are located in different strands of the first string.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a third circuit connected in parallel with the first and second circuits and comprising a pair of extension lead wires connected to a socket connector.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collar means comprises an elongate flexible strip of sheet material with longitudinally spaced apertures therethrough through which the strands extend, the strip folded about a longitudinally extending fold line to define the passageway longitudinally therethrough.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein longitudinal edges of said strip are sealed together.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein attachment means are provided to secure each longitudinal end of the flexible strip together about the trunk of the Christmas tree.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein coupling means are provided to secure the first end of the collar means to the second end of the collar means.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein said collar means comprises an elongate flexible strip of sheet material folded about a longitudinally extending fold line to define said passageway means longitudinally therethrough.