Modular lighted tree with trunk electrical connectors
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F21V-033/00
F21S-004/00
A47G-033/06
H01B-017/00
F21V-021/002
F21W-121/04
F21Y-101/02
F21V-023/06
출원번호
US-0718028
(2012-12-18)
등록번호
US-8974072
(2015-03-10)
발명자
/ 주소
Chen, Johnny
출원인 / 주소
Willis Electric Co., Ltd.
대리인 / 주소
Christensen Fonder P.A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
25인용 특허 :
133
초록▼
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 connec
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.
대표청구항▼
1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising: a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string, the first trunk portion having a first trunk wall defining a first trunk interior, the first trunk wall forming a
1. A lighted artificial tree, comprising: a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string, the first trunk portion having a first trunk wall defining a first trunk interior, the first trunk wall forming a circular edge at a first end, a first trunk connector including a non-conductive portion, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly electrically connected to the first light string and the first trunk connector, at least a portion of the first wiring assembly and a portion of the first trunk connector located within the first trunk interior, the non-conductive portion engaging the first trunk wall and including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion having an outside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the second end portion, the first end portion of the non-conductive portion positioned closer to the circular edge of the first end of the first trunk wall than the second end portion of the non-conductive portion;a second tree portion connectable to the first tree portion and including a second trunk portion, and a second light string, the second trunk portion having a second trunk wall defining a second trunk interior, the second trunk wall forming a circular edge at a second end, a second trunk connector, and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connected to the second lighting string and the second trunk connector, at least a portion of the second wiring assembly and a portion of the second trunk connector located within the second trunk interior;wherein the circular edge of the first trunk wall does not include rotational alignment structure for rotationally aligning the first trunk wall relative the second trunk wall, and the circular edge of the second trunk wall does not include rotational alignment structure for rotationally aligning the second trunk wall relative the first trunk wall; andwherein the second tree portion is mechanically and electrically connectable to the first tree portion by aligning the second trunk portion with the first portion along a common central axis such that the second trunk interior defined by the second trunk wall receives a portion of the first trunk wall causing an inside surface of the second trunk wall to be in contact with an outside surface of the first trunk wall, thereby forming a mechanical connection between the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion, and the first electrical contact of the first trunk connector makes electrical connection with a first electrical contact of the second trunk connector, and the second electrical contact of the first trunk connector makes electrical connection with a second electrical contact of the second trunk connector, thereby forming an electrical connection between the first wiring assembly and the second wiring assembly. 2. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk connector includes a male portion and the second trunk connector includes a female portion, and the second mechanical connection formed between the first trunk connector and the second trunk connector comprises the male portion of the first connector fitting into the female portion of the second connector. 3. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact of either the first trunk connector or the second trunk connector defines a central opening, the central opening aligned along the common axis. 4. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the second trunk connector includes a male portion and the first trunk connector includes a female portion, and the second mechanical connection formed between the first trunk connector and the second trunk connector comprises the male portion of the second trunk connector fitting into the female portion of the first connector; wherein the first and second contacts of the first trunk connector comprise coaxial contacts, the female portion comprising the second contact, the second contact comprising a cylindrical contact, and the non-conductive portion enveloping the second contact. 5. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first wiring assembly is a modular wiring assembly detachably connected to the first trunk connector within the first trunk interior. 6. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first light string includes a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel and a second group of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel, the first and second groups electrically connected in series, the first group of lighting elements distributed along a first portion of the first light string and the second group of lighting elements distributed along a second portion of the first light string, the first portion of the first light string being proximal to the trunk portion along a length of the first light string, and the second portion being distal to the trunk portion along the length of the first light string. 7. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein lighting elements of the first light string include incandescent bulbs. 8. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein lighting elements of the first light string include light-emitting diodes. 9. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion defines a plurality of openings at an exterior surface. 10. The lighted artificial tree of claim 9, wherein the plurality of openings comprises a plurality of axially-extending openings. 11. A lighted artificial tree, comprising: a first tree portion including a first trunk portion having a first trunk wall with a first circular edge at a first end, and a first trunk interior, a first trunk connector assembly and a first light string, at least a portion of the first trunk connector assembly housed within the first trunk interior and electrically connected to the first light string, the first trunk connector assembly of the first trunk portion including: a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;a non-conductive portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion of the non-conductive portion insertable into the first trunk interior, the first end portion defining an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the second end portion, the first end of the non-conductive portion proximal the circular edge of the first end of the first trunk wall, the second end portion of the non-conductive portion distal the circular edge of the first end of the first trunk wall; anda second tree portion including a second trunk portion having a second trunk wall with a second circular edge at a second end, and a second trunk interior, at least a portion of the trunk connector assembly housed within the second trunk interior, the trunk connector assembly of the second trunk portion including: a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;a non-conductive portion insertable into the first trunk body;wherein the circular edge of the first trunk wall does not include rotational alignment structure for rotationally aligning the first trunk wall relative the second trunk wall, and the circular edge of the second trunk wall does not include rotational alignment structure for rotationally aligning the second trunk wall relative the first trunk wall; andwherein the second tree portion is mechanically and electrically connectable to the first tree portion by coupling the first end of the first trunk portion to the second end of the second trunk portion along a common vertical axis, such that the first electrical contact of the first tree portion makes electrical connection with the first electrical contact of the second tree portion, the second electrical contact of the first tree portion makes electrical connection with the second electrical contact of the second tree portion, such that the first wiring assembly is electrically connected to the second wiring assembly and the second wiring assembly is electrically connected to the first light string. 12. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive portion is tapered from the first end to the second end. 13. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive portion of the first trunk connector defines a plurality of openings extending axially from the first end portion toward the second end portion. 14. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive portion of the first trunk connector is fully inserted into the first interior and defines a cylindrical shape. 15. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive portions of the first and second trunk connectors are in contact with one another. 16. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion comprises a plastic material. 17. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk wall defines a second end, and an outside diameter of the first end of the first trunk wall is smaller than an outside diameter of the second end of the first trunk wall, and the second trunk wall defines a second end, and an outside diameter of the first end of the second trunk wall is equal to an outside diameter of the second end of the second trunk wall. 18. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion is tapered from the first end portion to the second end portion. 19. The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion of the first trunk connector is fully inserted into the first interior and defines a cylindrical shape. 20. The lighted artificial tree of claim 6, wherein a first lighting element of the first group of lighting elements comprises the first lighting element of the light string and a last lighting element of the second group of lighting elements comprises the last lighting element of the light string. 21. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive portion comprises a plastic material. 22. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, further comprising a first branch comprising a main branch portion connected to the first tree portion at a first location and a plurality of sub-branches extending from the main branch portion, and a second branch comprising a main branch portion connected to the first tree portion at a second location and a plurality of sub-branches extending from the main branch portion, wherein the light string is distributed about both the first and the second branches, such that the light string extends from the first main branch portion to the second main branch portion. 23. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein the second tree portion is mechanically connectable to the first tree portion such that the second trunk interior defined by the second trunk wall receives a portion of the first trunk wall causing an inside surface of the second trunk wall to be in contact with an outside surface of the first trunk wall, thereby forming a mechanical connection between the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion. 24. The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein the first trunk wall defines a second end, and an outside diameter of the first end of the first trunk wall is smaller than an outside diameter of the second end of the first trunk wall, and the second trunk wall defines a second end, and an outside diameter of the first end of the second trunk wall is equal to an outside diameter of the second end of the second trunk wall. 25. A lighted artificial tree, comprising: a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string, the first trunk portion having a first trunk wall defining a first trunk interior, the first trunk wall forming a circular edge at a first end, a first trunk connector including a generally-cylindrical, tapered non-conductive portion, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly electrically connected to the first light string and the first trunk connector, at least a portion of the first wiring assembly and a portion of the first trunk connector located within the first trunk interior, the generally-cylindrical, tapered non-conductive portion engaging the first trunk wall and defining an outside diameter that decreases along an axial length of the non-conductive portion in a direction away from the circular edge and toward an end opposite the first end of the first trunk wall;a second tree portion connectable to the first tree portion and including a second trunk portion, and a second light string, the second trunk portion having a second trunk wall defining a second trunk interior, the second trunk wall forming a circular edge at a second end, a second trunk connector, and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connected to the second lighting string and the second trunk connector, at least a portion of the second wiring assembly and a portion of the second trunk connector located within the second trunk interior;wherein the circular edge of the first trunk wall does not include rotational alignment structure for rotationally aligning the first trunk wall relative the second trunk wall, and the circular edge of the second trunk wall does not include rotational alignment structure for rotationally aligning the second trunk wall relative to the first trunk wall; andwherein the second tree portion is mechanically and electrically connectable to the first tree portion by aligning the second trunk portion with the first portion along a common central axis such that the second trunk interior defined by the second trunk wall receives a portion of the first trunk wall causing an inside surface of the second trunk wall to be in contact with an outside surface of the first trunk wall, thereby forming a mechanical connection between the first trunk portion and the second trunk portion, and the first electrical contact of the first trunk connector makes electrical connection with a first electrical contact of the second trunk connector, and the second electrical contact of the first trunk connector makes electrical connection with a second electrical contact of the second trunk connector, thereby forming an electrical connection between the first wiring assembly and the second wiring assembly. 26. The lighted artificial tree of claim 25, wherein the non-conductive portion comprises a plastic material. 27. The lighted artificial tree of claim 25, wherein the first trunk wall defines a second end, and an outside diameter of the first end of the first trunk wall is smaller than an outside diameter of the second end of the first trunk wall, and the second trunk wall defines a second end, and an outside diameter of the first end of the second trunk wall is equal to an outside diameter of the second end of the second trunk wall. 28. The lighted artificial tree of claim 25, wherein the non-conductive portion of the first trunk connector is fully inserted into the first interior.
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