Modular artificial lighted tree with decorative light string

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10609974-B2
Application number	US-201815865926-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2018
Priority date	Sep 23, 2010
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An artificial tree, comprising:
a trunk portion;
a plurality of branches attached to the first trunk portion; and
a parallel-series light string on the plurality of branches, the parallel-series light string comprising:
a first group of lighting assemblies, a second group of lighting assemblies, and a third group of lighting assemblies;
a pair of longitudinally-extending side-by-side wires, including a first wire positioned adjacent a second wire,
the first wire comprising:
a first plurality of wire segments, including a first wire segment and a second wire segment, each of the first and second wire segments extending longitudinally and each including a conductor portion surrounded by an insulation portion, wherein a first gap is defined between an end of the first wire segment and an end of the second wire segment, the first gap adjacent a portion of the second wire,
the second wire comprising:
a second plurality of wire segments, including a third wire segment and a fourth wire segment, each of the third and fourth wire segments extending longitudinally and each including a conductor portion surrounded by an insulation portion, wherein a second gap is defined between an end of the third wire segment and an end of the fourth wire segment, the second gap adjacent a portion of the first wire;

wherein each lighting assembly of the first group of lighting assemblies is electrically connected to the first wire segment and the third wire segment, such that each lighting assembly of the first plurality of lighting assemblies is electrically connected to one another in parallel; and
wherein each lighting assembly of the second group of lighting assemblies is electrically connected to the second wire segment and the third wire segment, such that each lighting assembly of the second group of lighting assemblies is electrically connected to one another in parallel; and
wherein each lighting assembly of the third group of lighting assemblies is electrically connected to the second wire segment and the fourth wire segment, such that each lighting assembly of the third group of lighting assemblies is electrically connected to one another in parallel; and
wherein the first group of lighting assemblies is electrically connected to the second group of lighting assemblies in series, and the second group of lighting assemblies is electrically to the third group of lighting assemblies in series.

2. The artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the end of the first wire segment is opposite the end of the second wire segment in a longitudinal direction.

3. The artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the conductor portion of the first wire segment at the end of the first wire segment is exposed and the conductor portion of the second wire segment at the end of the first wire segment is exposed.

4. The artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the first light string further comprises a first wire-stabilizing portion enclosing the end of the first wire segment, the end of the second wire segment and a portion of the third wire segment, the portion of the third wire segment being adjacent to the first gap, and comprises a second wire-stabilizing portion enclosing the end of the third wire segment, the end of the fourth wire segment and a portion of the second wire segment, the portion of the second wire segment being adjacent to the second gap.

5. The artificial tree of claim 4 , wherein the first wire-stabilizing portion fills the first gap and the second wire-stabilizing portion fills the second gap.

6. The artificial tree of claim 4 , wherein the first wire-stabilizing portion comprises a clip.

7. The artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the light string further comprises another insulation portion joining the first wire to the second wire.

8. The artificial tree of claim 1 , further comprising a second parallel-series light string, the second parallel-series light string comprising:
a first group of lighting assemblies, the lighting assemblies of the first group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string electrically connected to one another in parallel, each light lighting assembly of the first group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string comprising a light-emitting diode (LED);
a second group of lighting assemblies, the lighting assemblies of the second group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string electrically connected to one another in parallel, each light lighting assembly of the second group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string comprising an LED; and
a third group of lighting assemblies the lighting assemblies of the third group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string electrically connected to one another in parallel, each light lighting assembly of the third group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string comprising an LED;
a first wire having a first conductor portion covered by a first insulation portion, the first wire defining a first wire gap that interrupts the first conductor portion and creates an electrical discontinuity in the first wire, the first wire gap formed by removing a first segment of the first wire;
a second wire joined to the first wire and extending parallel to the first wire, the second wire having a second conductor portion covered by a second insulation portion, the second wire defining a second wire gap that interrupts the second conductor portion and creates an electrical discontinuity in the second wire, the second wire gap formed by removing a second segment of the second wire;
a first gap-filler filling the first wire gap so as to prevent electrical arcing across the first wire gap and along the first wire;
a second gap-filler filling the second wire gap so as to prevent electrical arcing across the second wire gap and along the second wire;
wherein the first group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string is electrically connected to the second group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string in series, and the second group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string is electrically connected to the third group of lighting assemblies of the second parallel-series light string in series.

9. The second parallel-series light string of the artificial tree of claim 8 , wherein the first gap filler and the second gap filler comprise a non-conductive material.

Assignees

• Willis Electric Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Johnny

Classifications

• F21V21/002

  making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing (F21V21/35 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F21V33/00

  Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title

• F21W2121/04

  for Christmas trees · CPC title

• A41G1/007

  Artificial trees · CPC title