Modular lighted tree

• US 8,454,187 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Johnny
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanley, Britt D
• Application Number:
  US13/461,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20120236546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/123
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/005 luminous or luminescent
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/007 Artificial trees
• 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: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/00 Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by their form
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/92 Holders formed as intermediate parts for distributing energy in parallel through two or more counterparts at least one of which is attached to apparatus to be held
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.

Claims

1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string affixed to a portion of the first plurality of branches, the first trunk portion having a first trunk wall defining a first trunk interior, a first trunk electrical connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk electrical connector including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the first light string and the first trunk electrical connector, and wherein at least a portion of the first trunk wiring assembly is located within the first trunk interior;

a second tree portion including a second trunk portion, a second plurality of branches joined to the second trunk portion, and a second light string affixed to a portion of the second plurality of branches, the second trunk portion having a second trunk wall defining a second trunk interior, a second trunk electrical connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk electrical connector including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the second trunk electrical connector, and wherein at least a portion of the second wiring assembly is located within the second trunk interior; and

wherein the second tree portion is mechanically coupleable to the first tree portion about a central vertical axis, and the second tree portion is electrically connectable to the first tree portion such that a portion of the first trunk electrical connector of the first trunk portion contacts a portion of the second trunk electrical connector of the second trunk portion when the first tree portion and the second tree portion are mechanically coupled, and the second electrical contact of the first trunk connector makes an electrical connection with the second electrical contact of the second trunk connector at a point along the central vertical axis, and the first electrical contact of the trunk connector of the first tree portion makes an electrical connection with the first electrical contact of the trunk connector of the second tree portion, thereby creating an electrical connection between the first wiring assembly and the second wiring assembly;

wherein the lower end of the second trunk portion is configured to couple the upper end of the first trunk portion in at least four different rotational orientations of the first trunk portion relative the second trunk portion about the central vertical axis, and the electrical connection between the first electrical contacts of the first and second tree portions and the electrical connection between the second electrical contacts of the first and second tree portions are made independent of the rotational orientations of the first trunk portion relative to the second trunk portion about the central vertical axis when the lower end of the second trunk portion is coupled to the upper end of the first trunk portion.

2. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second trunk electrical connector of the second trunk portion is housed within the second trunk interior.

3. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein a male portion of the trunk connector of the first trunk portion includes a male portion insertable into a female portion of the second trunk electrical connector of the second trunk portion.

4. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk electrical connector of the first portion includes a first coaxial electrical contact set and the trunk connector of the second trunk portion includes a second coaxial electrical contact set such that the electrical connection between the first wiring assembly and the second wiring assembly comprises an electrical connection between the first coaxial electrical contact set and the second coaxial electrical contact set.

5. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk wiring assembly includes a first wire and a second wire, each of the first wire and the second wire in electrical communication with the trunk connector of the first trunk portion and extending between an upper end of the first trunk portion and a lower end of the first trunk portion, and providing power to the first light string.

6. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first trunk wiring assembly includes a light string connector attached to the first trunk wall, and the first light string at a trunk end includes a connector for detachably connecting to the light string connector such that the first light string is detachably connected to the first trunk wall and the first trunk wiring assembly.

7. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string affixed to a portion of the first plurality of branches, the first trunk portion having a first trunk body and a trunk connector assembly, at least a portion of the trunk connector assembly housed within the first trunk body and electrically connected to the first light string;

a second tree portion including a second trunk portion, a second plurality of branches joined to the second trunk portion, and a second light string affixed to a portion of the first plurality of branches, the second trunk portion having a trunk body and a trunk connector assembly, at least a portion of the trunk connector assembly housed within the second trunk portion and electrically connected to the second light string; and

wherein the second tree portion is mechanically and electrically connectable to the first tree portion by coupling a lower end of the second trunk body to an upper end of the first trunk body along a common vertical axis at a rotational orientation of the first trunk portion relative the second trunk portion about the common vertical axis, thereby causing the trunk connector of the first trunk portion to make an electrical connection with the trunk connector of the second trunk portion within a trunk interior defined by the first trunk body and the second trunk body, the electrical connection being made when the lower end of the second trunk body is coupled to the upper end of the first trunk body, the electrical connection being independent of the rotational orientation of the first trunk portion relative the second trunk portion about the common vertical axis.

8. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the trunk connector of the second trunk portion includes a male electrical contact insertable into a female electrical contact of the trunk connector of the first trunk portion.

9. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the trunk connector of the first trunk portion includes a male electrical contact insertable into a female electrical contact of the trunk connector of the second trunk portion.

10. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the trunk connector of the first portion includes a first coaxial electrical contact set and the trunk connector of the second trunk portion includes a second coaxial electrical contact set such that the electrical connection between the first wiring assembly and the second wiring assembly comprises an electrical connection between the first coaxial electrical contact set and the second coaxial electrical contact set.

11. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, further comprising a power cord in electrical connection with the trunk connectors of the first and second tree portions.

12. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the first light string and the second light string are configured to receive AC power.

13. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the trunk connectors of the first and second tree portions form coaxial trunk connectors.

14. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the trunk connector of the first trunk portion includes a first plug insertable into the upper end of the first trunk body and having a first plug surface, the trunk connector of the second trunk portion includes a second plug insertable into the lower end of the second trunk body and having a second plug surface, the first plug surface being adjacent to and in contact with the second plug surface when the first tree body is coupled to the second tree body.

15. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein the first light string includes a plurality of lighting elements in series electrical connection to one another.