Modular tree with electrical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028607-B2
Application number	US-201715596421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2017
Priority date	May 8, 2012
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A modular lighted artificial tree, comprising:
a first assembled tree portion, the first assembled tree portion including:
a first trunk portion including a first trunk body having a first end and a second end and including a first branch-support portion, the first branch-support portion attached to the trunk body;
a first plurality of branches, each branch of the first plurality of branches pivotally coupled to the first branch-support portion;
a first light string distributed about, and attached to, an exterior portion of the first plurality of branches, the first light string including first light-string wiring and a first plurality of lighting element assemblies;
a first electrical connector positioned in the second end of the first trunk body, the first electrical connector including a first electrical connector body and a first set of conductive electrical terminals, the first set of conductive electrical terminals including a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal, a third electrical terminal, and a fourth electrical terminal, the first electrical terminal comprising a central axially-extending electrical terminal;
a first plurality of wires located at least partially within the first trunk body and electrically connected to the first electrical connector and the first light string;

a second assembled tree portion configured to axially couple to the first assembled tree portion, the second assembled tree portion including:
a second trunk portion including a second trunk body having a first end and a second end and including a second branch-support portion, the second branch-support portion attached to the second trunk body;
a second plurality of branches, each branch of the second plurality of branches pivotally coupled to the second branch-support portion;
a second light string distributed about, and attached to, an exterior portion of the second plurality of branches, the second light string including second light-string wiring and a second plurality of lighting element assemblies;
a second electrical connector positioned in the second end of the second trunk body and configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector including a second electrical connector body having an insulating projection portion, and a second set of conductive electrical terminals, the second set of conductive electrical terminals including a first electrical terminal configured to receive at least a portion of the central electrical terminal of the first electrical connector, a second electrical terminal configured to contact the second electrical terminal of the first electric connector, a third electrical terminal having a radially inwardly-facing surface configured to contact a radially outwardly-facing surface of the third electrical terminal of the first electrical connector, and a fourth electrical terminal having a radially inwardly-facing surface configured to contact a radially outwardly-facing surface of the fourth electrical terminal of the first electrical connector, the insulating projection portion located between the first electrical terminal of the second connector and the second electrical terminal of the second connector; and
a second plurality of wires located at least partially within the second trunk body and electrically connected to the second electrical connector and the second light string.

2. The modular lighted artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal of the second electrical connector extends axially further than the third terminal of the second electrical connector.

3. The modular lighted artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the first tree portion is configured to couple to the second tree portion in any rotational alignment about a central vertical axis of the tree.

4. The modular lighted artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector body includes an insulating projection portion located between the second electrical terminal of the first electrical connector and the third electrical terminal of the first electrical connector for electrically isolating the second electrical terminal of the first electrical connector from the third electrical terminal of the first electrical connector.

5. The modular lighted artificial tree of claim 1 , further comprising a third assembled tree portion mechanically and electrically connectable to the second assembled tree portion, and the second assembled tree portion includes a third electrical connector in the first end of the second trunk body, and the third assembled tree portion includes a fourth electrical connector, the third electrical connector configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the fourth electrical connector.

6. The modular lighted artificial tree of claim 5 , wherein each of the third electrical connector and the fourth electrical connector includes two electrical terminals.

7. The modular lighted artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein a radially inwardly-facing surface of the second electrical terminal of the second electrical connector abuts a radially outwardly-facing surface of the insulating projection portion.

8. The modular lighted artificial tree of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the first electrical terminal of the second electrical connector abuts a radially inwardly-facing surface of the insulating projection portion.

9. A modular lighted artificial tree, comprising:
a power cord;
a first assembled tree portion, the first assembled tree portion including:
a first trunk portion including a first trunk body having a first end and a second end and including a first branch-support portion, the first branch-support portion attached to the first trunk body;
a first plurality of branches, each branch of the first plurality of branches pivotally coupled to the first branch-support portion;
a first light string distributed about, and attached to, an exterior portion of the first plurality of branches;
a first electrical connector positioned in the second end of the first trunk body, the first electrical connector including a first electrical connector body, a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal, a third electrical terminal, and a fourth electrical terminal, the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal in electrical connection with the first light string, the third electrical terminal and the fourth electrical terminal in electrical connection with the power cord;

a second assembled tree portion configured to axially couple to the first assembled tree portion to make a mechanical and electrical connection between the first assembled tree portion and the second assembled tree portion, the second assembled tree portion including:
a second trunk portion including a second trunk body having a first end and a second end and including a second branch-support portion, the second branch-support portion attached to the second trunk body;
a second plurality of branches, each branch of the second plurality of branches pivotally coupled to the second branch-support ring;
a second light string distributed about, and attached to, an exterior portion of the second plurality of branches;
a second electrical connector positioned in the second end of the second trunk body and configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector including a second electrical connector body, a first electrical terminal configured to contact the first electrical terminal of the first electrical connector, a second electrical terminal configured to contact the second electrical terminal of the first electrical connector, a third electrical term

Assignees

• Willis Electric Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Johnny

Classifications

• A41G1/007

  Artificial trees · CPC title

• H01R31/00

  Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart · CPC title

• A47G33/06 Primary

  Artificial Christmas trees · CPC title

• A47G33/08

  Christmas tree decorations · CPC title

• A41G1/005

  luminous or luminescent · CPC title