Powered tree construction

• US 8,863,416 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polygroup Macau Limited (MDF Commerce, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polygroup Macau Limited (MDF Commerce, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leung, Chi Yin Alan, Tong, Ricky, Kwok, Chi Kin Samuel, He, Chang-Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, SHIN H
• Application Number:
  US13/659,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20130108808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 362/123, 403/373, 439/620.21, 439/675, 428 17- 20, 279/157, 279/9.1
• US Class Current: 40/442
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/10 Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/06 with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other

Abstract

A power transfer system to facilitate the transfer of electrical power between tree trunk sections of an artificial tree is disclosed. The power transfer system can advantageously enable neighboring tree trunk sections to be electrically connected without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections. Power distribution subsystems can be disposed within the trunk sections. The power distribution subsystems can comprise a male end, a female end, or both. The male ends can have prongs and the female ends can have voids. The prongs can be inserted into the voids to electrically connect the power distribution subsystems of neighboring tree trunk sections. In some embodiments, the prongs and voids are designed so that the prongs of one power distribution subsystem can engage the voids of another power distribution subsystem without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections.

Claims

1. An artificial tree, comprising:

a plurality of tree trunk sections, the trunk sections forming a trunk of the artificial tree;

a first power distribution subsystem disposed within an inner void of a first trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the first power distribution subsystem comprising a male end, the male end having a central prong and a channel prong; and

a second power distribution subsystem disposed within an inner void of a second trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the second power distribution subsystem comprising a female end, the female end having a central void and a channel void, the central void having a contact device disposed at least partially therein, the contact device comprising one or more spring activated contact sections;

wherein the central prong of the male end is configured to engage the central void of the female end and the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel void of the female end to conduct electricity between the first power distribution subsystem and the second power distribution subsystem; and

wherein, when the central prong engages the central void, the central prong pushes a spring activated contact section of the one or more spring activated contact sections causing the spring activated contact section to press against the central prong to maintain electrical contact between the central prong and the contact device.

2. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel void of the female end at a plurality of locations.

3. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel void of the female end in a plurality of configurations, each configuration providing a different rotational alignment between the first trunk section and the second trunk section.

4. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the channel void of the female end is substantially circular, and the central void of the female end is disposed proximate the center of the substantially circular channel void.

5. The artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising a safety cover to obstruct access to the channel void.

6. The artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising an outlet disposed on a trunk section, the outlet configured to provide electrical power to a strand of lights.

7. The artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising alignment mechanisms to prevent the first trunk section from rotating with respect to the second trunk section.

8. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk section comprises an inner sleeve proximate an end of the first trunk section, and the second trunk section comprises an outer sleeve proximate an end of the second trunk section, the inner sleeve configured to engage the outer sleeve.

9. The artificial tree of claim 8, wherein two or more pivot areas between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve substantially prevent the first trunk section from rocking with respect to the second trunk section.

10. The artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising a power cord, the power cord configured to engage a wall outlet and provide power to the first power distribution subsystem and the second power distribution subsystem.