Powered tree construction
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An artificial tree comprising:
- a plurality of tree trunk sections;
a male end of a first trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the male end having a central prong and a channel prong, the central prong and the channel prong configured to conduct electricity; and
a female end of a second trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the female end having a central void and a channel void, the central void having a central contact device disposed at least partially therein, and the channel void having a channel contact device disposed at least partially therein, the channel contact device disposed around the central void, and the central contact device and the channel contact device configured to conduct electricity;
wherein the central prong of the male end is configured to engage the central contact device of the female end and the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end to conduct electricity between the male end of the first trunk section and the female end of the second trunk section; and
wherein the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end in a plurality of configurations, each configuration providing a different rotational alignment of the first trunk section with respect to the second trunk section.
1 Assignment
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An artificial tree comprising:
-
a plurality of tree trunk sections; a male end of a first trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the male end having a central prong and a channel prong, the central prong and the channel prong configured to conduct electricity; and a female end of a second trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the female end having a central void and a channel void, the central void having a central contact device disposed at least partially therein, and the channel void having a channel contact device disposed at least partially therein, the channel contact device disposed around the central void, and the central contact device and the channel contact device configured to conduct electricity; wherein the central prong of the male end is configured to engage the central contact device of the female end and the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end to conduct electricity between the male end of the first trunk section and the female end of the second trunk section; and wherein the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end in a plurality of configurations, each configuration providing a different rotational alignment of the first trunk section with respect to the second trunk section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An artificial tree comprising:
-
a plurality of tree trunk sections; a male end of a first trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the male end having a central prong and a channel prong, the central prong and the channel prong configured to conduct electricity; and a female end of a second trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the female end having a central void and a channel void, the central void having a central contact device disposed at least partially therein, and the channel void having a channel contact device disposed at least partially therein, the channel contact device disposed around the central void, and the central contact device and the channel contact device configured to conduct electricity; wherein the central prong of the male end is configured to engage the central contact device of the female end and the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end to conduct electricity between the male end of the first trunk section and the female end of the second trunk section; and wherein the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end at a plurality of locations on the channel contact device, each location providing a different rotational alignment of the first trunk section with respect to the second trunk section. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An artificial tree comprising:
-
a plurality of tree trunk sections; a male end of a first trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the male end having a central prong and a channel prong, the central prong and the channel prong configured to conduct electricity; and a female end of a second trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the female end having a central void disposed within a vertically extending section, the central void having a central contact device disposed at least partially therein, the female end also having a channel void disposed around the vertically extending section, the channel void having a channel contact device disposed at least partially therein, the channel contact device disposed around the vertically extending section, and the central contact device and the channel contact device configured to conduct electricity; wherein the central prong of the male end is configured to engage the central contact device of the female end and the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end to conduct electricity between the male end of the first trunk section and the female end of the second trunk section; and wherein the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end in a plurality of configurations, each configuration providing a different rotational alignment of the first trunk section with respect to the second trunk section. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An artificial tree comprising:
-
a plurality of tree trunk sections; a male end of a first trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the male end having a vertically extending section, a central prong, and a channel prong, the central prong and the channel prong disposed at least partially interior to the vertically extending section, and the central prong and the channel prong configured to conduct electricity; and a female end of a second trunk section of the plurality of tree trunk sections, the female end having a central void and a channel void, the central void having a central contact device disposed at least partially therein, and the channel void having a channel contact device disposed at least partially therein, the channel contact device disposed around the central void, and the central contact device and the channel contact device configured to conduct electricity; wherein the central prong of the male end is configured to engage the central contact device of the female end and the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end to conduct electricity between the male end of the first trunk section and the female end of the second trunk section; and wherein the channel prong of the male end is configured to engage the channel contact device of the female end in a plurality of configurations, each configuration providing a different rotational alignment of the first trunk section with respect to the second trunk section. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
Specification