Modular tree with electrical connector

• US 9,526,286 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• 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): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US14/725,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 362/123, 362/249.03
• 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: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• 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 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• 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: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart

Abstract

A lighted artificial tree, including a first tree portion having a first electrical connector having a first electrical terminal positioned in line with a central vertical axis, and a second electrical terminal. The tree also includes a second tree portion that includes a second electrical connector having a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, the second electrical terminal defining a ring shape that encircles the first electrical terminal. When the first tree portion is coupled to the second tree portion, the first electrical connector is coupled to the second electrical connector, such that the first electrical terminal of the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the first electrical terminal of the second electrical connector, and the second electrical terminal of the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical terminal of the second electrical connector.

Claims

1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion, the first tree portion including;

a first trunk body having a first end and a second end,

a first plurality of branches coupled to the first trunk body, the first plurality of branches having a first set of branches coupled to the first trunk body at a first distance from the first end of the first trunk body and a second set of branches coupled to the first trunk body at a second distance from the first end of the first trunk body, the second distance being greater than the first distance,

a first electrical connector positioned in the second end of the first trunk body,

a first plurality of wires located at least partially within the first trunk body and electrically connected to the first electrical connector;

a second tree portion, the second tree portion including;

a second trunk body having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to couple with the second end of the first trunk body of the first tree portion,

a second plurality of branches coupled to the second trunk body, the second plurality of branches having a first set of branches coupled to the second trunk body at a first distance from the first end of the second trunk body and a second set of branches coupled to the second trunk body at a second distance from the first end of the second trunk body, the second distance being greater than the first distance,

a second electrical connector positioned in the first end of the second trunk body, the second electrical connector configured to connect to the first electrical connector of the first trunk portion, thereby electrically connecting the first tree portion and the second tree portion when the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion are coupled together,

a second plurality of wires electrically connected to the second electrical connector;

a first light string having a first set of lighting elements electrically connected to the first plurality of wires, and a first set of light string wires, a portion of the first light string lighting elements and a portion of the first set of light string wires are distributed about an external portion of the first plurality of branches, and a portion of the first light string distributed amongst the first set of branches;

a second light string having a second set of lighting elements electrically connected to the second plurality of wires and distributed about an external portion of the second plurality of branches; and

a third light string having a third set of lighting elements, the third light string connected to the second light string so as to form an extension of the second light string.

2. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, further comprising a third tree portion with a third plurality of branches, the third tree portion connected to the second trunk body, and wherein at least a portion of the third light string is distributed amongst the third plurality of branches.

3. The lighted artificial tree of claim 2, wherein the second set of lighting elements include a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in series and a second group of lighting elements electrical connected in series, the first group and the second group electrically connected in parallel such that the second light string is a series-parallel light string;

and the third set of lighting elements include a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in series and a second group of lighting elements electrical connected in series, the first group and the second group electrically connected in parallel such that the third light string is a series-parallel light string.

4. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second set of lighting elements include a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in series and a second group of lighting elements electrical connected in series, the first group and the second group electrically connected in parallel such that the second light string is a series-parallel light string;

and the third set of lighting elements includes a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in series and a second group of lighting elements electrical connected in series, the first group and the second group electrically connected in parallel such that the third light string is a series-parallel light string.

5. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein lighting elements of the first set of lighting elements are electrically connected in parallel to each other, the lighting elements of the second set of lighting elements are electrically connected in parallel to each other, and the lighting elements of the third set of lighting elements are electrically connected in parallel.

6. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first lighting elements is distributed amongst the first and the second set of branches of the first plurality of branches.

7. The lighted artificial tree of claim 6, wherein the first light string includes a string-like portion intertwined with the first set of light string wires of the first light string, the string-like portion improving a pull strength of the first light string.

8. The lighted artificial tree of claim 6, wherein the second set of lighting elements is distributed amongst the first and the second set of branches of the second plurality of branches.

9. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second set of lighting elements is distributed amongst the first set of branches of the second plurality of branches, and the third set of lighting elements is distributed amongst the second set of branches of the second plurality of branches.

10. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion, the first tree portion including;

a first trunk body having a first end and a second end,

a first plurality of branches coupled to the first trunk body, the first plurality of branches having a first set of branches coupled to the first trunk body at a first distance from the first end of the second trunk body and a second set of branches coupled to the first trunk body at a second distance from the first end of the first trunk body, the second distance being greater than the first distance,

a first electrical connector positioned in the second end of the first trunk body,

a first plurality of wires located at least partially within the first trunk body and electrically connected to the first electrical connector;

a second tree portion, the second tree portion including;

a second trunk body having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to couple with the second end of the first trunk body of the first tree portion,

a second plurality of branches coupled to the second trunk body, the second plurality of branches having a first set of branches coupled to the second trunk body at a first distance from the first end of the second trunk body and a second set of branches coupled to the second trunk body at a second distance from the first end of the second trunk body, the second distance being greater than the first distance,

a second electrical connector positioned in the first end of the second trunk body, the second electrical connector configured to connect to the first electrical connector of the first trunk portion, thereby electrically connecting the first tree portion and the second tree portion when the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion are coupled together,

a second plurality of wires electrically connected to the second electrical connector;

a first light string having a first set of lighting elements electrically connected to the first plurality of wires, a first set of light string wires, and a false-wire intertwined with the first set of light string wires, a portion of the first light string distributed about an external portion of the first set of branches of the first plurality of branches, and another portion of the first light string distributed about an external portion of the second set of the first plurality of branches, such that the first light string is distributed over both the first set of branches and the second set of branches of the first plurality of branches and the false-wire provides pull strength to the first light string;

a second light string having a second set of lighting elements electrically connected to the second plurality of wires, a second set of light string wires, and a false-wire intertwined with the second set of light string wires, a portion of the second light string distributed about an external portion of the first set of branches of the second plurality of branches, and another portion of the first light string distributed about an external portion of the second set of the second plurality of branches, such that the second string is distributed over both the first set of branches and the second set of branches of the second plurality of branches and the false wire provides pull strength to the second light string.

11. The lighted artificial tree of claim 10, wherein the false wire comprises a string-like portion.

12. The lighted artificial tree of claim 10, further comprising a third light string, the third light string connected to the second light string so as to form an extension of the second light string.

13. The lighted artificial tree of claim 12, further comprising a third tree portion with a third plurality of branches, the third tree portion connected to the second trunk body, and wherein at least a portion of the third light string is distributed amongst the third plurality of branches.

14. The lighted artificial tree of claim 12, wherein the second set of lighting elements include a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in series and a second group of lighting elements electrical connected in series, the first group and the second group electrically connected in parallel such that the second light string is a series-parallel light string;

and the second set of lighting elements include a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in series and a second group of lighting elements electrical connected in series, the first group and the second group electrically connected in parallel such that the third light string is a series-parallel light string.

15. The lighted artificial tree of claim 10, wherein the first electrical connector comprises three or more electrical terminals in electrical connection with three or more wires of the first plurality of wires, and the second electrical connector comprises three or more electrical terminals in electrical connection with three or more wires of the second plurality of wires.

16. The lighted artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the three or more electrical terminals of the first electrical connector are concentric about one another.