Modular tree with rotation-lock electrical connectors

• US 9,179,793 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Willis Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Johnny
• Primary Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/853,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20130301247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 362/123, 362/122
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/005 luminous or luminescent
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/007 Artificial trees
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/0827 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/08 Christmas tree decorations
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• 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: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• 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 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A rotation-locking lighted artificial tree that includes a first and second portion. The first portion includes a trunk, first electrical connector, and first wiring harness. The first electrical connector includes a first body portion and a first electrical contact set. The first body portion includes multiple projections electrically isolated from the first electrical contact set. The second tree portion includes a second electrical connector and a second wiring harness. The second electrical connector includes a second body portion and a second electrical contact set, the second body portion including multiple recesses. When the first tree portion couples to the second, the first and second electrical contact sets form an electrical connection and the recesses of the second body portion receive the projections of the first body portion, thereby electrically connecting and mechanically coupling the first tree portion to the second tree portion.

Claims

1. A rotation-locking lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion, including a first trunk portion and a first electrical connection and wiring assembly, the first electrical connection and wiring assembly housed at least in part within the first trunk portion, and including a first electrical connector assembly and a first wiring harness, the first electrical connector assembly including a first body portion and a first electrical contact set, the first electrical contact set in electrical connection with the first wiring harness, the first body portion including a plurality of projections, the plurality of projections electrically isolated from the first electrical contact set; and

a second tree portion, including a second trunk portion and a second electrical connection and wiring assembly, the second electrical connection and wiring assembly housed at least in part within the second trunk portion, and including a second electrical connector assembly and a second wiring harness, the second electrical connector assembly including a second body portion and a second electrical contact set, the second electrical contact set in electrical connection with the second wiring harness, the second body portion including a plurality of recesses;

wherein the first tree portion is configured to couple to the second tree portion such that the first electrical contact set and the second electrical contact set form an electrical connection and the plurality of recesses of the second body portion receive the plurality of projections of the first body portion, thereby electrically connecting the first wiring harness to the second wiring harness and mechanically coupling the first tree portion to the second tree portion.

2. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the projections comprise a non-conducting material.

3. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections define a plurality of first recesses between the projections, the plurality of projections and the plurality of first recesses forming a sawtooth pattern.

4. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of projections comprises a ridge extending axially along its length and projecting radially outward along its height.

5. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the projections are distributed circumferentially about a first end of the first body.

6. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 5, wherein the projections are equidistantly spaced about a periphery of the first body.

7. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second body includes a plurality of second projections, and the first body includes a plurality of first recesses, and wherein the first tree portion is further configured such that the plurality of first recesses of the first body portion receive the plurality of second projections of the second body portion.

8. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the projections comprise one of pyramidal, domed, or semi-spherical projections.

9. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact set comprises a first contact and a second contact.

10. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the first contact and the second contact are coaxial.

11. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the first electrical contact set comprises a third contact and a fourth contact, and the first body comprises a tiered body.

12. A rotation-lock tree-coupling system, comprising:

a first electrical connection and wiring assembly including a first electrical connector assembly and a first wiring harness, the first electrical connector assembly including a first body portion and a first electrical contact set, the first electrical contact set in electrical connection with the first wiring harness, the first body portion including a plurality of projections extending axially away from the first body, the plurality of projections electrically isolated from the first contact set; and

a second electrical connection and wiring assembly, the second electrical connection and wiring assembly including a second electrical connector assembly and a second wiring harness, the second electrical connector assembly including a second body portion and a second electrical contact set, the second electrical contact set in electrical connection with the second wiring harness, the second body portion including a plurality of recesses;

wherein the first body portion is configured to couple to the second body portion such that the first electrical contact set and the second electrical contact set form an electrical connection and the plurality of recesses of the second body portion receive the plurality of projections of the first body portion, thereby electrically connecting the first wiring harness to the second wiring harness and mechanically coupling the first body portion to the second body portion.

13. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 12, wherein the projections comprise a non conducting material.

14. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 12, wherein the plurality of projections define a plurality of first recesses between the projections, the plurality of projections and the plurality of first recesses forming a sawtooth pattern.

15. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of projections comprises a ridge extending axially along its length and projecting radially outward along its height.

16. The rotation-locking lighted artificial tree of claim 12, wherein the projections are distributed circumferentially about a first end of the first body.

17. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion, including a first trunk portion and a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector housed at least in part within a first end of the first trunk portion, and including a first body portion and a first electrical contact set, the first body portion including a plurality of non-conductive first axially-extending engagement portions; and

a second tree portion, including a second trunk portion and a second electrical connector, the second trunk portion having a trunk wall defining a second end defining an opening configured to receive the first end of the first trunk portion, the trunk wall being contiguous about a circumference of the opening of the second end, the second electrical connector including a second body portion and a second electrical contact set, the second body portion including a plurality of non-conductive second engagement portions; and

wherein the first tree portion is configured to couple to the second tree portion such that the trunk wall of the second portion receives the first end of the first trunk portion of the first tree portion, and the plurality of first engagement portions of the first body portion of the first tree portion engage the plurality of second engagement portions of the second body portion, and the first electrical contact set and the second electrical contact set form an electrical connection.

18. The lighted artificial tree of claim 17, wherein the first engagement portions comprise projections having tips that are rounded, pointed, or pyramidal.

19. The lighted artificial tree of claim 18, wherein the second engagement portions define recesses configured to receive the projections.

20. The lighted artificial tree of claim 18, wherein the first electrical contact set includes a center electrical contact.

21. A method of electrically and mechanically coupling a first tree portion of a lighted artificial tree to a second tree portion, comprising:

aligning a first tree portion having a first generally hollow trunk portion and an electrical connector, along a vertical axis;

aligning a second tree portion having a second generally hollow trunk portion and a second electrical connector along the vertical axis;

causing one of the first or the second tree portions to move axially such that the second tree portion receives an end of the first tree portion, and the first trunk wall is engaged with the second trunk wall;

causing the first electrical connector at a first sloped engagement portion to initially contact a second sloped engagement portion of the second electrical connector prior to a final engagement position, and at a first rotational alignment;

allowing a torque caused by a downward force of a weight of the second tree portion to rotate the second electrical connector relative the first electrical connector, thereby rotating the first tree portion into a final rotational alignment with the second tree portion.

22. A rotation-locking lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion, including a first trunk portion and a first electrical connection and wiring assembly, the first electrical connection and wiring assembly housed at least in part within the first trunk portion, and including a first electrical connector assembly and a first wiring harness, the first electrical connector assembly including a first body portion and a first electrical contact set, the first electrical contact set in electrical connection with the first wiring harness, the first electrical contact set comprising a first electrical contact projecting along a first vertical axis and a second electrical contact projecting along a second vertical axis, the second vertical axis being parallel to, and offset from, the first vertical axis, the first body portion including a plurality of projections, the plurality of projections electrically isolated from the first electrical contact set; and

a second tree portion, including a second trunk portion and a second electrical connection and wiring assembly, the second electrical connection and wiring assembly housed at least in part within the second trunk portion, and including a second electrical connector assembly and a second wiring harness, the second electrical connector assembly including a second body portion and a second electrical contact set, the second electrical contact set comprising a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, the third electrical contact defining a cylindrical shape with an inside surface, the fourth electrical contact defining a cylindrical shape with an inside surface, the second electrical contact set in electrical connection with the second wiring harness, and the second body portion including a plurality of recesses;

wherein the first tree portion is configured to couple to the second tree portion such that the first electrical contact contacts the inside surface of the third electrical contact to make electrical connection with the third electrical contact, the second electrical contact contacts the inside surface of the fourth electrical contact to make electrical connection with the fourth electrical contact and the plurality of recesses of the second body portion receive the plurality of projections of the first body portion such that each projection is surrounded about a complete circumference of the projection by one of the plurality of recesses, thereby electrically connecting the first wiring harness to the second wiring harness and mechanically coupling the first tree portion to the second tree portion.

23. A rotation-locking lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion, including a first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches, a first light string having wires and lighting elements on an exterior portion of the first plurality of branches, and a first electrical connection and wiring assembly, the first electrical connection and wiring assembly housed at least in part within the first trunk portion, and including a first electrical connector assembly and a first wiring harness, the first electrical connector assembly including a first body portion and a first electrical contact set, the first electrical contact set in electrical connection with the first wiring harness, the first body portion including a plurality of projections, the first body portion in direct contact with an inside surface of the first trunk portion, the plurality of projections electrically isolated from the first electrical contact set; and

a second tree portion, including a second trunk portion, a second plurality of branches, a second light string having wires and lighting elements on an exterior portion of the second plurality of branches, and a second electrical connection and wiring assembly, the second electrical connection and wiring assembly housed at least in part within the second trunk portion, and including a second electrical connector assembly and a second wiring harness, the second electrical connector assembly including a second body portion and a second electrical contact set, the second electrical contact set in electrical connection with the second wiring harness, the second body portion including a plurality of recesses;

wherein the first tree portion is configured to couple to the second tree portion such that the first electrical contact set and the second electrical contact set form an electrical connection and the plurality of recesses of the second body portion receive the plurality of projections of the first body portion, thereby electrically connecting the first wiring harness to the second wiring harness and mechanically coupling the first tree portion to the second tree portion.