Modular lighted tree

• US 9,484,687 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• 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): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US14/599,903
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 362/567, 362/568, 362/54, 362/249.19, 362/405, 362/123
• 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 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. An artificial tree, comprising:

a first trunk section having a first elongated body defining a first inner lumen for receiving at least one first electrical wire;

a second trunk section having a second elongated body defining a second inner lumen for receiving at least one second electrical wire;

a connector, further comprising;

a connector body defining a connector lumen and having a first end insertable into the first inner lumen and a second end insertable into the second inner lumen to operably connect the first and second trunk sections, and

a positioning portion defined radially around the connector body having a shoulder for engaging the first trunk section and a groove for engaging the second trunk section, wherein the positioning portion limits a relative depth to which the first end of the connector body is insertable into the first inner lumen and the second end of the connector body is insertable into the second inner lumen;

a socket positioned within the first inner lumen and operably linked to the at least one first electrical wire; and

a plug positionable within the connector lumen and operably linked to the at least one second electrical wire, wherein connecting the first and second trunk section inserts the plug into the socket.

2. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk section comprises a tree base.

3. The artificial tree of claim 1, further comprising:

a third trunk section having a third elongated body defining a third inner lumen for receiving at least one third electrical wire;

a top connector, further comprising;

a top connector body defining a top connector lumen and having a first end insertable into the second inner lumen opposite the connector and a receiving port for receiving a portion of the third elongated body, and

a rim positioned radially around the top connector body adapted to engage the second elongated body to limit an extent to which the first end of the top connector body is insertable into the second inner lumen;

a second socket positioned within the second inner lumen and operably linked to the at least one second electrical wire; and

a second plug positioned within the connector lumen and operably linked to the at least one third electrical wire.

4. The artificial tree of claim 3, wherein the third elongated body comprises a hexagonal cross section, wherein the receiving port of the top connector comprises a hexagonal cross section corresponding to a cross-section of the third elongated body.

5. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first inner lumen is greater than a diameter of the second elongated body, such that a portion of the second elongated body is receivable within the first inner lumen when the first and second trunk sections are connected by the connector.

6. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the socket further comprises a socket guard positioned on the end of the socket, such that the socket guard is positioned between the socket and plug when the socket and plug are connected.

7. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the plug further comprises a plug guard on the end of the plug, such that the plug guard is positioned between the socket and plug when the socket and plug are connected.

8. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the plug further comprises at least two electrical prongs, and wherein the socket comprises at least two electrical sockets corresponding to the electrical prongs of the plug.

9. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk section defines a groove within the first inner lumen.

10. The artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the connector further comprises a protrusion engagable to the groove of the first inner lumen to align the connector during insertion into the first trunk section.

11. A lighted tree, comprising:

a first trunk section having a first elongated body defining a first inner lumen for receiving at least one first electrical wire;

a second trunk section having a second elongated body defining a second inner lumen for receiving at least one second electrical wire;

a top connector, further comprising;

a top connector body defining a top connector lumen and having a first end insertable into the first inner lumen and a receiving port for receiving a portion of the second elongated body, and

a rim positioned radially around the top connector body adapted to engage the first elongated body to limit an extent to which the first end of the top connector body is insertable into the first inner lumen;

a socket positioned within the first inner lumen and operably linked to the at least one first electrical wire; and

a plug positionable within the connector lumen and operably linked to the at least one second electrical wire, wherein connecting the first and second trunk section inserts the plug into the socket.

12. The lighted tree of claim 11, further comprising:

a third trunk section having a third elongated body defining a third inner lumen for receiving at least one third electrical wire;

a connector, further comprising;

a connector body defining a connector lumen and having a first end insertable into the third inner lumen and a second end insertable into the first inner lumen opposite the top connector to operably connect the first and third trunk sections, and

a positioning portion defined radially around the connector body having a shoulder for engaging the first trunk section and a groove for engaging the second trunk section, wherein the positioning portion limits a relative depth to which the first end of the connector body is insertable into the third inner lumen and the second end of the connector body is insertable into the first inner lumen;

a second socket positioned within the second inner lumen and operably linked to the at least one second electrical wire; and

a second plug positioned within the connector lumen and operably linked to the at least one third electrical wire.

13. The lighted tree of claim 12, wherein the diameter of the third inner lumen is greater than a diameter of the first elongated body, such that a portion of the first elongated body is receivable within the first inner lumen when the first and second trunk sections are connected by the connector.

14. The lighted tree of claim 11, wherein the second elongated body comprises a hexagonal cross section, wherein the receiving port of the top connector comprises a hexagonal cross section corresponding to the cross-section of the second elongated body.

15. The lighted tree of claim 11, wherein the socket further comprises a socket guard positioned on the end of the socket, such that the socket guard is positioned between the socket and plug when the socket and plug are connected.

16. The lighted tree of claim 11, wherein the plug further comprises a plug guard on the end of the plug, such that the plug guard is positioned between the socket and plug when the socket and plug are connected.

17. The lighted tree of claim 11, wherein the plug further comprises at least two electrical prongs, and wherein the socket comprises at least two electrical sockets corresponding to the electrical prongs of the plug.

18. The lighted tree of claim 11, wherein the plug further comprises a grounding prong, wherein the socket comprises a grounding socket corresponding to the grounding prong.

19. The lighted tree of claim 11, wherein the first trunk section defines a groove within the first inner lumen.

20. The lighted tree of claim 19, wherein the connector further comprises a protrusion engagable to the groove of the first inner lumen to align the connector during insertion into the first trunk section.