Conformal power adapter for lighted artificial tree

• US 9,157,587 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Johnny
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, ANH Q
• Application Number:
  US14/065,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20140049168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/007 enclosed in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A dual-output power adapter for a lighted artificial tree having a plurality of tree portions with light strings having lighting elements. The dual-output power adapter includes a power cord including a first power conductor and a second power conductor, the power cord configured to transmit an input electrical power; a housing configured to receive the first power conductor and a second power conductor; power-converting circuitry in electrical connection with the first power conductor and the second power conductor, the power-converting circuitry configured to convert the input electrical power to a first output electrical power; a first pair of conductors for transmitting the first output electrical power; and a second pair of conductors for transmitting a second output electrical power.

Claims

1. A power adapter assembly for a lighted artificial tree having a plurality of tree portions with light strings having lighting elements, the power adapter assembly comprising:

a power cord including a first power conductor and a second power conductor, the power cord configured to transmit an input electrical power;

a housing configured to receive the first power conductor and a second power conductor the housing configured to fit into a trunk cavity of the artificial lighted tree;

power-converting circuitry in electrical connection with the first power conductor and the second power conductor, the power-converting circuitry configured to convert the input electrical power to a first output electrical power;

a first pair of conductors for transmitting the first output electrical power; and

a second pair of conductors for transmitting a second output electrical power;

wherein the second pair of conductors is configured to transmit the second output electrical power when the first pair of conductors transmits the first output electrical power.

2. The dual-output power adapter of claim 1, wherein the second output electrical power comprises the same voltage as a voltage of the input power.

3. The dual-output power adapter of claim 1, wherein the first power conductor and the second power conductor are in direct electrical connection with the second pair of conductors for transmitting a second output electrical power.

4. The dual-output adapter of claim 1, wherein the first output electrical power is a direct-current (DC) power.

5. The dual-output adapter of claim 4, wherein the second output electrical power is an alternating-current (AC) power.

6. The dual-output adapter of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an elongated, cylindrical housing.

7. The dual-output adapter of claim 1, wherein the housing encloses the power-converting circuitry, and further comprising a power plug having a pair of power terminals.

8. The dual-output adapter of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry for controlling the light strings of the lighted artificial tree.

9. An artificial lighted tree, comprising:

a first tree portion including a trunk portion, a wiring system, an electrical connector, and a light string having a plurality of lighting elements, the electrical connector and wiring system positioned at least partially within a cavity of the trunk, the wiring system in electrical communication with the electrical connector and the light string;

a second tree portion including a trunk portion, a wiring system, an electrical connector, and a light string having a plurality of lighting elements, the wiring system in electrical communication with the electrical connector and the light string, the wiring system including a power receptacle;

a dual-output power adapter configured to receive a first input power conductor and a second input power conductor, the dual-output power adapter including;

power-converting circuitry in electrical connection with the first power conductor and the second power conductor, the power-converting circuitry configured to convert the input electrical power to a first output electrical power for powering the light strings of the first tree portion;

a first pair of conductors for transmitting the first output electrical power to the light strings of the first tree portion and the second tree portion; and

a second pair of conductors for transmitting a second output electrical power;

wherein the first tree portion is configured to couple to the second tree portion such that the electrical connector of the first tree portion is in electrical connection with the electrical connector of the second tree portion and the second pair of conductors for transmitting a second output electrical power is in electrical connection with the power receptacle of the second tree portion.

10. The artificial lighted tree of claim 9, wherein an input voltage at the first and second input power conductors is the same as a voltage at the second pair of conductors of the power adapter.

11. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the power receptacle is connected to a pair of wires extending outwardly and away from the trunk portion of the second tree portion.

12. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the first output power is a DC power, and the second output power is an AC power.

13. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the power adapter is located within a trunk cavity of the first tree portion.

14. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, further comprising a second power adapter, the second power adapter located within a trunk cavity of the second tree portion.

15. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the dual-output power adapter further includes a housing, and the dual-output power adapter is located, at least partially, within a trunk cavity of the first tree portion.

16. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, further comprising control electronics housed with the power-converting electronics, the control electronics for controlling one or more light strings of the artificial lighted tree.

25. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the power adapter is outside of both the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion.

17. An artificial lighted tree, comprising:

a first tree portion having a trunk portion, a wiring system, an electrical connector and a plurality of lighting elements, the electrical connector and wiring system positioned at least partially within a cavity of the trunk portion, the wiring system in electrical communication with the electrical connector and the plurality of lighting elements;

a second tree portion having a trunk portion, a wiring system, an electrical connector and a plurality of lighting elements, the electrical connector and wiring system positioned at least partially within a cavity of the trunk portion, the wiring system in electrical communication with the electrical connector of the second tree portion and the plurality of lighting elements of the second tree portion;

a power adapter configured to receive a first input power conductor and a second input power conductor, the power adapter including;

power-converting circuitry in electrical connection with the first input power conductor and the second input power conductor, the power-converting circuitry configured to convert input electrical power to a first output electrical power having a first voltage for powering the plurality of lighting elements of the first tree portion, and

a first pair of conductors for transmitting the first output electrical power to the pluralities of lighting elements of the first tree portion and the second tree portion; and

a second pair of conductors in electrical connection with the first and second input power conductors and for transmitting a second output electrical power when the first electrical power is being transmitted, the second output electrical power providing power to the second tree portion and having a second voltage;

wherein the first voltage is less than the second voltage, and the first pair of conductors is in electrical connection with the electrical connector of the first tree portion and the second pair of conductors is in electrical connection with the electrical connector of the first tree portion, and the plurality of terminals of the first tree portion electrical connector are configured to be in electrical connection with the plurality of terminals of the second tree portion electrical connector when the first tree portion is mechanically and electrically coupled to the second tree portion.

18. The artificial lighted tree of claim 17, wherein the first voltage is a DC voltage and the second voltage is an AC voltage.

19. The lighted artificial tree of claim 17, wherein the light strings of the first tree portion and the second tree portion comprise light-emitting diodes.

20. The lighted artificial tree of claim 17, wherein the first input power conductor and the second input power conductor are in direct electrical connection with the second pair of conductors for transmitting the second output electrical power.

21. The lighted artificial tree of claim 17, wherein, the second pair of conductors transmits electrical power is configured to transmit power to a power receptacle.

22. The lighted artificial tree of claim 17, wherein the power adapter is inside a cavity formed by either the first trunk portion or the second trunk portion.

23. the lighted artificial tree of claim 17, wherein the power adapter is outside of both the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion.

24. The lighted artificial tree of claim 17, wherein the plurality of electrical terminals of the electrical connector of the first tree portion comprises four electrical terminals.

27. The artificial lighted tree of claim 17, wherein the first output power is a direct-current (DC) power and the input power is an alternating-current (AC) power.

26. An artificial lighted tree, comprising:

a first tree portion having a trunk portion, a wiring system, an electrical connector and a plurality of lighting elements, the electrical connector and wiring system positioned at least partially within a cavity of the trunk portion, the wiring system in electrical communication with the electrical connector of the first tree portion and the plurality of lighting elements of the first tree portion;

a second tree portion having a trunk portion, a wiring system, an electrical connector and a plurality of lighting elements, the electrical connector and wiring system positioned at least partially within a cavity of the trunk portion of the second tree portion, the wiring system in electrical communication with the electrical connector of the second tree portion and the plurality of lighting elements of the second tree portion;

a power adapter configured to receive a first input power conductor and a second input power conductor, the power adapter including;

power-converting circuitry in electrical connection with the first input power conductor and the second input power conductor, the power-converting circuitry configured to convert the input electrical power to an output electrical power having a first voltage, and

a first pair of conductors for transmitting the first output electrical power to either or both of the first tree portion and the second tree portion; and

a second pair of conductors in electrical connection with the first and second input power conductors and for transmitting the input electrical power to either or both of the first and the second tree portion;

wherein the first voltage is less than a voltage of the input power, and the first pair of conductors is in electrical connection with the electrical connector of the first tree portion and the second pair of conductors is in electrical connection with the electrical connector of the first tree portion, and the plurality of terminals of the first tree portion electrical connector are configured to be in electrical connection with the plurality of terminals of the second tree portion electrical connector when the first tree portion is mechanically and electrically coupled to the second tree portion.

28. The lighted artificial tree of claim 26, wherein the plurality of electrical terminals of the electrical connector of the first tree portion comprise four electrical terminals configured to electrically connect to electrical terminals of the electrical connector of the second tree portion.

29. The lighted artificial tree of claim 26, wherein the plurality of electrical terminals of the electrical connector of the first tree portion comprise fewer than four electrical terminals, but at least two electrical terminals, the plurality of electrical terminals configured to electrically connect to electrical terminals of the electrical connector of the second tree portion.