Christmas-tree stand with water-level-detecting circuitry providing flasher outlet and recordable sound playback

• US 7,886,483 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David M. Solak
• Original Assignee: David M. Solak
• Inventors: Solak, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Son T.
• Application Number:
  US10/894,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,400 Days
• Field of Search: 47/405, 47/485, 116/227
• US Class Current: 47/40.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/008 Component parts, e.g. dispensing fittings, level indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/122 involving electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/1293 including water feeding or water level monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/0881 comprising means related to watering of the tree
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/12 Christmas tree stands sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/2238

Abstract

An electronic device to warn of low water level, particularly in a Christmas tree water reservoir base. A flashing unit provides an affect to an outlet where the strand of lights on the tree or another lighted device will turn on and off until the water is filled into the base again. A message will be played at intervals. The message is recorded by pressing a button then speaking into a microphone. Messages are limited only to the human imagination. The lights will stop flashing and the message will stop playing when the water is filled into the reservoir base. The circuitry is housed separately away from the base to prevent shock.

Claims

1. An electronic device for warning of low water in a tree base comprising:

a voltage regulator circuit which receives electrical power from a power supply;

a flasher unit;

a timing circuit;

a voice recorder;

a microphone to record sound into the voice recorder;

a float switch which triggers a first relay to activate the flasher unit and the timing circuit, wherein the flasher unit triggers a second relay which opens and closes a hot power lead connected to a flasher outlet within the electronic device;

a lighting device in electrical connection with the flasher outlet within the electronic device;

a voice recorder circuit activated by a third relay controlled by the timing circuit; and

,

a housing to enclose the circuitry and protect it from damage;

wherein the float switch triggers the first relay which turns the flasher unit on when the water level in the tree base is low and off when the water level in the tree base is sufficient;

wherein the flasher unit, powered by the closure of the first relay, triggers a second relay to periodically open and close causing a circuit containing the hot power lead to the flasher outlet to periodically open and close;

wherein the float switch triggers the timing circuit which triggers the third relay to periodically open and close at a set interval, which triggers the voice recorder to periodically turn on and off to play back a recorded message when the water level in the tree base is low.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flasher outlet controlled by the flasher unit, through the second relay, switches 110 to 120 VAC.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, comprising a record button which may be pressed to allow for the recording of a personalized message through the microphone into the voice recorder.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the float switch is located within the tree base and is electrically connected to the circuitry within the housing.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the base is for a Christmas-tree.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the lighting device is a strand of Christmas-tree lights.