Simulated christmas tree

• US 6,652,927 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Collins International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Collins International Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOPPIKAR, VIVEK D
• Application Number:
  US10/051,500
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 428/15, 428/18, 428/3, 428/7, 428/9, 428/11, 362/252, 362/123, 362/249
• US Class Current: 428/7
• 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: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees

Abstract

A simulated Christmas tree is comprised of an array, or net, of interconnected light strings, tie wires and semi-rigid hoops. Spaced apart segments of light strings run downwardly from a hub which is at the top of a center pole that extends from a base. The light string segments are fastened to the horizontal hoops; and tie wires run horizontally between the segments, at elevations intermediate the hoops and intermediate the uppermost hoop and the hub which is at the top of the tree. The hoops create the conical shape. They are adapted to nest within one another, with clearance for the wires, and enable a knock down design. A detachable illuminated decoration is mounted on the hub at the pinnacle of the tree. The string light segments and bulbs in the star are electrically connected to blink, and to thus produce a twinkling tree effect.

Claims

1. A simulated conical shape tree comprised of:

a base, for supporting a pole when placed on a surface;

a pole extending upwardly from the base;

a hub mounted at the top of the pole;

a multiplicity of spaced apart segments of electric light strings, each string comprising multiplicity of miniature electric light bulbs, attached to the hub and running downwardly from the hub toward the base;

the segments running along spaced apart slant heights of an imaginary cone;

a multiplicity of hoops, each hoop connected to and supported at spaced apart locations along the hoop by said multiplicity of light string segments, each hoop lying in a different horizontal plane at an elevation lower than the elevation of the hub; and

a multiplicity of the wires, running horizontally at elevations between the elevations of the hoops, for connecting adjacent light string segments, and for controlling the lateral spacing apart thereof;

wherein, said multiplicity of miniature electric light bulbs are located so they are proximate to the points of interconnection of light string segments with hoops and the points of interconnection of light string segments with tie wires.

2. The tree of claim 1, adapted for being knocked down for shipment or storage, wherein the pole is comprised of a multiplicity of pole segments, wherein all segments have lengths which are no greater in dimension than the dimension of the outside diameter of the largest hoop comprising said multiplicity of pole segments;

and wherein the hub is detachable from the top of the pole and the pole is detachable from the base.

3. The tree of claim 2 wherein the hub further comprises a part for receiving a portion of a pinnacle decoration;

further comprising;

a lighted pinnacle decoration mounted on the hub, the decoration having a portion shaped to removably fit in said hub part;

to thereby enable the decoration to be removably attached to the hub and to extend upwardly from the hub when mounted thereon.

4. The tree of claim 1 further

wherein said electric light string segments are comprised of miniature bulbs mounted in spaced apart sockets connected by conductor wires; and

wherein said hub has a plurality of holes spaced apart around the hub periphery;

each hole shaped to receive a socket of a light sting segment;

wherein, one socket from each of said light string segments is captured within one of said holes of the hub, to thereby provide said attachment between the segment and the hub.

5. The tree of claim 1 further comprising:

means, for holding the lowermost hoop in proximity to the surface on which the base rests.

6. The tree of claim 5 wherein said means for holding comprises J-shape hooks adapted to be immersed within the material of the surface.

7. The tree of claim 1, wherein said electric light string segments comprise portions of at least two electrically separate light strings, further comprising:

means for causing the bulbs of each light segment to blink on and off, wherein at least two different segments blink on and off at different times, when all the light strings are energized by electric power.

8. The tree of claim 6 further comprising;

a pinnacle decoration illuminated by electric bulbs positioned within the decoration, wherein the bulbs are divided between at least two electrically different circuits;

wherein, said at least two different pinnacle decoration bulb circuits are electrically connected to two different slant-height light strings which blink on and off, so the decoration bulbs of the two different circuits go on and off in coordination therewith; and

so that the frequency of blinking of the star is at least twice as often as the frequency of blinking of any light string segment.