Modular artificial lighted tree with decorative light string

• US 9,887,501 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• 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): BANNAN, JULIE A
• Application Number:
  US14/739,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20160033097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• 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 decorative light string including a first group of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, a second plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, and a third plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other. The first, second, and third groups of lights are electrically connected in series. A first wire stabilizer is located between the first group of lights and the second group of lights, and a second wire stabilizer is located between the second group of lights and the third group of lights. The first and second wire stabilizers secure wire ends forming first and second gaps in the wiring of the light string.

Claims

1. A lighted artificial tree comprising:

a first tree section including a first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches, supporting a first power conductor and a second power conductor, the first power conductor and the second power conductor located at least partially inside the first trunk portion; and

a first light string attached to the first plurality of branches and configured to receive power from the first power conductor of the first tree section and the second power conductor of the first tree section, the first light string including;

a first plurality of lighting elements, all of the lighting elements of the first plurality of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel to each other;

a second plurality of lighting elements, all of the lighting elements of the second plurality of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel to each other;

a third plurality of lighting elements, all of the lighting elements of the third plurality of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel to each other;

wherein the first plurality of lighting elements is electrically connected in series to the second plurality of lighting elements and the second plurality of lighting elements is electrically connected in series to the third plurality of lighting elements;

a second tree section including a second trunk portion, a second plurality of branches, a first power conductor and a second power conductor, the first power conductor and the second power conductor located at least partially inside the second trunk portion; and

a second light string attached to the second plurality of branches and configured to receive power from the first power conductor of the second tree section and the second power conductor of the second tree section, the second light string including;

a first plurality of lighting elements, all of the lighting elements of the first plurality of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel to each other;

a second plurality of lighting elements, all of the lighting elements of the second plurality of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel to each other;

a third plurality of lighting elements, all of the lighting elements of the third plurality of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel to each other;

wherein the first plurality of lighting elements is electrically connected in series to the second plurality of lighting elements and the second plurality of lighting elements is electrically connected in series to the third plurality of lighting elements;

wherein the first tree section is configured to mechanically connect to the second tree section at a joint such that an electrical connection between the first tree section and the second tree section is made at the same time as a mechanical connection between the first tree section and the second tree section.

2. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of lighting elements of each of the first and second light strings includes light-emitting diode lamps having wire-piercing portions piercing wires of the first light string of their respective light strings.

3. The lighted artificial tree of claim 2, wherein the first light string includes a wiring stabilizer between the first plurality of lighting elements and the second plurality of lighting elements.

4. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, further comprising a power converter for converting alternating-current power to direct-current power, the power converter electrically connected to the first power conductor and the second power conductor of the first tree section.

5. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second light string includes a greater number of lighting elements as compared to the first light string.

6. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first light string includes a fourth plurality of lighting elements, the fourth plurality of lighting elements electrically connected to the third plurality of lighting elements in a series configuration, such that the first, second, third and fourth plurality of lighting elements are electrically connected in a series configuration with one another.

7. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein each of the lighting elements of the first plurality of lighting elements of each of the first and second light strings includes a base portion, a first light-emitting diode, and a plastic cover surrounding the light-emitting diode and coupled to the base portion.

8. The lighted artificial tree of claim 7, wherein at least one of the lighting elements of the first plurality of lighting elements of each of the first and second light strings further includes a second light-emitting diode, the second light-emitting diode configured to emit light at a frequency different than the first light-emitting diode.