Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
- a first cylindrical trunk body including a first trunk wall comprised of metal and defining a first central lengthwise axis and including a first end defining a first trunk cavity, and including a first projection extending from an outside portion of the first cylindrical trunk body radially inward toward a center of the first cylindrical trunk body and extending axially along the first cylindrical trunk body, the projection formed in the trunk wall and defining an axially-—
extending first channel;
a second cylindrical trunk body defining a second central lengthwise axis and including a second end defining a second trunk cavity, and a second projection extending radially inward and axially along the second cylindrical trunk body, the second projection configured to be received by the first channel of the first cylindrical trunk body, the second end of the second cylindrical trunk body configured to couple to the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body;
a first electrical connector positioned at least in part within the first trunk cavity of the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body and defining an axially-extending first connector channel, the first connector channel receiving the first projection of the first trunk body, such that the first electrical connector is rotationally locked relative to the first trunk body about the first central axis;
a second electrical connector positioned at least in part within the second trunk cavity of the second end of the second trunk body and defining an axially-extending second connector channel, the second connector channel receiving the second projection of the second trunk body, such that the second electrical connector is rotationally locked relative to the second trunk body about the second central axis;
wherein the first trunk body couples to the second body at a rotational alignment about the first and second central axis, such that the second projection of the second trunk body is received by the first channel of the first trunk body, and the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the second electrical connector.
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Abstract
A lighted artificial tree including a first trunk body, a second trunk body, a first electrical connector inside the first trunk body, and a second electrical connector inside the second trunk body. The first trunk body is keyed to the second trunk body such that the first trunk body is rotationally locked to the second trunk body. The first electrical connector is keyed to the second electrical connector such that the first electrical connector is rotationally locked to the second electrical connector.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first cylindrical trunk body including a first trunk wall comprised of metal and defining a first central lengthwise axis and including a first end defining a first trunk cavity, and including a first projection extending from an outside portion of the first cylindrical trunk body radially inward toward a center of the first cylindrical trunk body and extending axially along the first cylindrical trunk body, the projection formed in the trunk wall and defining an axially-—
extending first channel;a second cylindrical trunk body defining a second central lengthwise axis and including a second end defining a second trunk cavity, and a second projection extending radially inward and axially along the second cylindrical trunk body, the second projection configured to be received by the first channel of the first cylindrical trunk body, the second end of the second cylindrical trunk body configured to couple to the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body; a first electrical connector positioned at least in part within the first trunk cavity of the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body and defining an axially-extending first connector channel, the first connector channel receiving the first projection of the first trunk body, such that the first electrical connector is rotationally locked relative to the first trunk body about the first central axis; a second electrical connector positioned at least in part within the second trunk cavity of the second end of the second trunk body and defining an axially-extending second connector channel, the second connector channel receiving the second projection of the second trunk body, such that the second electrical connector is rotationally locked relative to the second trunk body about the second central axis; wherein the first trunk body couples to the second body at a rotational alignment about the first and second central axis, such that the second projection of the second trunk body is received by the first channel of the first trunk body, and the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the second electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first cylindrical trunk body defining a first lengthwise axis and including a first end defining a first trunk cavity; a second cylindrical trunk body defining a second lengthwise axis and including a second end defining a second trunk cavity, the second end of the second cylindrical trunk body configured to couple to the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body; a first electrical connector positioned at least in part within the first trunk cavity of the first end of the first trunk body, and including a first connector body, a first electrical terminal, and a second electrical terminal, the first connector body defining a key projecting from a surface of the first connector body; a second electrical connector positioned at least in part within the second trunk cavity of the second end of the second trunk body and including a second connector body, a first electrical terminal, and a second electrical terminal, the second connector body defining a keyway configured to receive the key of the first connector body of the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector connectable to the first electrical connector in only a single rotational alignment position; wherein the first trunk body couples to the second body such that the first terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the first terminal of the second electrical connector and the second terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the second terminal of the second electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first cylindrical trunk body defining a first lengthwise axis and including a first end defining a first trunk cavity; a second cylindrical trunk body defining a second lengthwise axis and including a second end defining a second trunk cavity, the second end of the second cylindrical trunk body configured to couple to the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body; a first electrical connector positioned wholly within the first trunk cavity of the first end of the first trunk body, and including a first connector body comprising a polymer material, a first electrical terminal, and a second electrical terminal, the first connector body defining a first key portion; a second electrical connector positioned at least in part within the second trunk cavity of the second end of the second trunk body and including a second connector body comprising the polymer material, a first electrical terminal, and a second electrical terminal, the second connector body defining a first keyway configured to receive the key portion of the first electrical connector; wherein the first connector body of the first electrical connector is configured to mechanically couple to the second connector body in one of a first rotational alignment or a second rotational alignment, such that the key portion of the first trunk electrical connector is received by the keyway of the second trunk connector and the first terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the first terminal of the second electrical connector and the second terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the second terminal of the second electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A multi-terminal lighted artificial tree, comprising:
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a first cylindrical trunk body including a first end defining a first trunk cavity; a second cylindrical trunk body including a second end defining a second trunk cavity, the second end of the second cylindrical trunk body configured to couple to the first end of the first cylindrical trunk body; a first electrical connector positioned at least in part within the first trunk cavity of the first end of the first trunk body, and including a first connector body, a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal, and a third electrical terminal; a second electrical connector positioned at least in part within the second trunk cavity of the second end of the second trunk body, and including a second connector body, a second electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal, and a third electrical terminal; wherein the first electrical connector is configured to couple to the second electrical connector such that the first electrical terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the first electrical terminal of the second electrical connector, the second electrical terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the second electrical terminal of the second electrical connector, and the third electrical terminal of the first electrical connector makes an electrical connection with the third electrical terminal of the second electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification