Christmas tree light ring arrangement

• US 5,422,801 A
• Filed: 04/13/1994
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph F. Sangalli Jr
• Original Assignee: Joseph F. Sangalli Jr
• Inventors: Sangalli, Joseph F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US08/226,832
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 362/122, 362/123, 362/249, 362/252, 362/806, 362/807, 362/808, 362/226, 362/250
• US Class Current: 362/249.19
• 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 362/808 Figure

Abstract

A plurality of light rings are arranged for mounting about a Christmas tree trunk, wherein each of the light rings includes rigid first and second semi-cylindrical housings having cooperating latch structure to secure the semi-cylindrical housings together about the tree trunk. The first housing includes a first semi-cylindrical annular array of lights mounted to a top wall thereof, with the second housing having a second semi-cylindrical annular array of lights mounted to its top wall, with the first and second housing outer walls including first and second outer annular arrays of lights projecting therefrom. In this manner, illumination within the tree is provided.

Claims

1. A Christmas tree light ring comprising:

a first semi-cylindrical housing, with the first housing having a first housing end wall, the first housing end wall including a first semi-cylindrical bore, the first housing further having a first housing semi-cylindrical outer wall, with the first housing outer wall having a first semi-annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the first housing still further having a first housing top wall, and the first housing top wall having a semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the first housing still yet further having a first housing bottom wall;

a second semi-cylindrical housing pivotally mounted to the first housing, the second housing having a second housing end wall, the second housing end wall including a second semi-cylindrical bore, with the first semi-cylindrical bore and the second semi-cylindrical bore being aligned when the first housing and the second housing are arranged in a first position with the first housing end wall and the second housing end wall in contiguous communication relative to one another, and the first semi-cylindrical bore and the second semi-cylindrical bore being spaced relative to one another when the first housing end wall and the second housing end wall are spaced relative to one another in a second position, the second housing further having a second housing semi-cylindrical outer wall, and the second housing outer wall having a second semi-annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the second housing still further having a second housing top wall coplanar with the first housing top wall, and the second housing top wall having a second semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the second housing still yet further having a second housing bottom wall coplanar with the first housing bottom wall;

and,

an electrical supply line directed into the second housing bottom wall in electrical communication with the first annular array of light bulbs, the second annular array of light bulbs, the first semi-cylindrical array of light bulbs, and the second semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs.

2. A Christmas tree light ring as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

a hinge mounted to the first housing outer wall and the second housing outer wall at a first end of the first housing end wall and the second housing end wall;

a latch member mounted to the first housing outer wall at a second end of the first housing end wall;

and,

a latch lug mounted to the second housing outer wall cooperative with the latch member, with the latch lug mounted to a second end of the second housing end

3. A Christmas tree light ring as recited in claim 2, and further comprising an outlet means for electrically connecting another light ring thereto.

4. A Christmas tree light ring as recited in claim 3, wherein said outlet means comprises an electrical outlet connector.

5. A Christmas tree light ring as recited in claim 3, wherein said outlet means comprises an extension cord.

6. A Christmas tree light ring as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a first annular array of bottom wall light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally from the first housing bottom wall;

and a second annular array of bottom wall light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally from the second housing bottom wall, the bottom wall light bulbs being electrically connected to the electrical supply line.

7. A method of illuminating a Christmas tree having a tree trunk, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a light ring comprising a first semi-cylindrical housing, with the first housing having a first housing end wall, the first housing end wall including a first semi-cylindrical bore, the first housing further having a first housing semi-cylindrical outer wall, with the first housing outer wall having first semi-annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the first housing still further having a first housing top wall, and the first housing top wall having a semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the first housing still yet further having a first housing bottom wall;

a second semi-cylindrical housing pivotally mounted to the first housing, the second housing having a second housing end wall, the second housing end wall including a second semi-cylindrical bore, with the first semi-cylindrical bore and the second semi-cylindrical bore being aligned when the first housing and the second housing are arranged in a first position with the first housing end wall and the second housing end wall in contiguous communication relative to one another, and the first semi-cylindrical bore and the second semi-cylindrical bore being spaced relative to one another when the first housing end wall and the second housing end wall are spaced relative to one another in a second position, the second housing further having a second housing semi-cylindrical outer wall, and the second housing outer wall having a second semi-annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the second housing still further having a second housing top wall coplanar with the first housing top wall, and the second top wall having a second semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs fixedly secured to and projecting substantially orthogonally therefrom, the second housing still yet further having a second housing bottom wall coplanar with the first housing bottom wall; and

, an electrical supply line directed into the second housing bottom wall in electrical communication with the first annular array of light bulbs, the second annular array of light bulbs, the first semi-cylindrical array of light bulbs, and the second semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs;

positioning the first and second housings about said trunk of said tree such that said first semi-annular array of light bulbs projects substantially orthogonally relative to a longitudinal axis of said tree trunk, said first semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs projects substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tree trunk, said second semi-annular array of light bulbs projects substantially orthogonally relative to a longitudinal axis of said tree trunk, and said second semi-cylindrical annular array of light bulbs projects substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tree trunk.