Fiber optic Christmas tree

• US 5,820,248 A
• Filed: 08/04/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond K. Ferguson
• Original Assignee: Raymond K. Ferguson
• Inventors: Ferguson, Raymond K.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spark, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US08/905,702
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/32, 362/122, 362/123
• US Class Current: 362/123
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/005 using light guides light guides specially adapted for lighting devices G02B6/0001
• 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: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

A fiber optic Christmas tree is provided including an artificial tree trunk with a plurality of hollow tubular sections. Each section is coupled in axial alignment. Also included is a plurality of fiber optic cables situated within the hollow sections of the tree trunk which are adapted to transfer light to fiber optic cables of an adjacent section upon the releasable coupling thereof. The fiber optic cables extend outwardly from an associated bore in a corresponding section of the tree trunk for emitting light therefrom upon the application of light to the associated fiber optic cables. Further provided is a base having a bulb assembly including a bulb situated within the base for applying light to the fiber optic cables upon the receipt of power.

Claims

1. A new and improved fiber optic Christmas tree comprising, in combination:

an artificial tree trunk including a plurality of hollow tubular sections, each tubular section of the tree trunk having a different diameter and coupled in axial alignment with an adjacent one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk, a plurality of primary branches hingably coupled to a periphery of one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk for pivoting between a vertical orientation in abutment with one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk and a horizontal orientation positioned perpendicular with respect to one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk, a plurality of secondary branches coupled to each primary branch and depending downwardly therefrom at a predetermined acute angle, and a plurality of bores formed in the tubular sections of the tree trunk below each primary branch, the artificial tree trunk further including a plurality of radially extending bristles coupled to each primary and secondary branch;

a plurality of fiber optic cables situated within the hollow tubular sections of the tree trunk and adapted to transfer light to fiber optic cables of an adjacent one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk, the fiber optic cables having various diameters wherein fiber optic cables located adjacent a center axis of the tree trunk have a smaller diameter than those located distant the center axis, the fiber optic cables extending outwardly from an associated bore in a corresponding one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk and further extending along the primary branch located above the bore from which the fiber optic cable exits wherein each fiber optic cable is spliced to further extend along each secondary branch, each splice of each cable terminating in bundle of 30 smaller fiber optic cables for emitting light therefrom upon the application of light to the associated fiber optic cables, wherein a difference in diameter of each tubular section of the tree trunk is about equal to the diameter of the outer fiber optic cables of a bottom adjacent one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk;

a plurality of soft opaque elastomeric rubber strips situated between each of the fiber optic cables, wherein a diameter of the rubber strips is approximately equal to that of the fiber optic cables;

a top fiber optic bundle having a base screwably coupled to a uppermost tubular section of the tree trunk, the top fiber optic bundle having a plurality of fiber optic cables adapted to emit light upon the application of the light to the fiber optic cables situated within the tubular sections of the tree trunk;

a base having a generally disk-shaped configuration with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween, the base having a threaded bore formed in a central extent of the top face thereof for releasably receiving a bottommost one of the tubular sections of the tree trunk, a bulb assembly including a bulb situated within an interior space of the base below the threaded bore for applying light to the fiber optic cables situated within the tubular sections of the tree trunk upon the receipt of power, the bulb assembly further having a semi-spherical reflector positioned about the bulb for focusing the light emitted therefrom toward the threaded bore, the base further having a plurality of air vents formed in both the top face and bottom face thereof for allowing the escape of heat generated by the bulb and a plurality of feet formed on the bottom face of the base for elevating the bottom face thus allowing the escape of heat from the air vents thereof;

a mechanized color wheel assembly including a translucent disk having a plurality of differently colored portions, the translucent disk having a vertical axle pivotally coupled to the bottom face of the base with a first gear coaxially coupled thereto, the translucent disk situated between the bulb and the threaded bore of the base, the color wheel assembly further including a motor with a second gear engaged with the first gear for effecting rotation of the translucent disk upon the receipt of power.