Lighting system and decorative article including same

• US 9,523,486 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geek My Tree Inc.
• Original Assignee: Geek My Tree Inc.
• Inventors: Boyink, Bradley R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US14/574,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20160178172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/023 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/15 the cables forming a grid, net or web structure
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/008 the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device
• 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: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A lighting system comprises a crown including a plurality of connectors for engaging a plurality of light strands. The lighting system further comprises a plurality of light strands extending between first and second ends. The first ends of the light strands are removably engageable with the connectors of the crown. Each of the light strands includes at least one lighting element. Finally, the lighting system also comprises a controller in electrical communication with the crown for selectively controlling the lighting elements of the light strands. The present invention additionally provides a decorative article including the lighting system.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a light controller;

a crown forming a closed loop and including a plurality of first electrical connectors spaced at a common distance from one another, said crown operatively connected to the light controller; and

a plurality of light strands each having first and second ends, a second electrical connector at the first end, and a plurality of individually controllable lights spaced at a common distance from one another between the first and second ends, each of the second electrical connectors releasably connected to one of the first electrical connectors on the crown, each of said light strands hanging vertically from said crown, said light controller in communication with each of said individually controllable lights, said controller adapted to selectively and individually control each of said individually controllable lights, whereby the lights can be individually controlled by the controller when (a) the second electrical connectors on the light strands are operatively connected to the first connectors on the crown and (b) the crown is operatively connected to the light controller.

2. A lighting system comprising:

an electrical cord including a plurality of connectors, said connectors on said electrical cord spaced at a common distance from one another;

a plurality of light strands each having first and second ends, each of said first ends of said light strands removably connected to one of said connectors of said electrical cord, each of said light strands hanging vertically from said electrical cord;

each of said light strands including a plurality of individually controllable lighting elements spaced from one another; and

a controller in electrical communication with each of said individually controllable lighting elements through said electrical cord and said light strands, said controller configured to selectively and individually control each of said lighting elements.

3. The lighting system of claim 2 wherein the individually controllable lights on each of said light strands are spaced at a common distance from one another.

4. A lighting system comprising:

an electrical cord including a plurality of connectors;

a plurality of light strands each having first and second ends, each of said first ends of said light strands removably connected to one of said connectors of said electrical cord, each of said light strands hanging vertically from said electrical cord;

each of said light strands including a plurality of individually controllable lighting elements spaced from one another, said individually controllable lights on each of said light strands spaced at a common distance from one another; and

a controller in electrical communication with each of said individually controllable lighting elements through said electrical cord and said light strands, said controller configured to selectively and individually control each of said lighting elements.