Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083319-B2
Application number	US-202017038661-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2020
Priority date	Jul 14, 2009
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed is an artificial tree having a plurality of electrified tree sections that couple together to provide power and/or command signals to devices connected thereto. One or more tree sections may have a trunk portion, one or more electrical connectors having a plurality of terminals, branches, a light string, and an electrical distribution system located at least partially within the trunk portion. A first tree section may be configured to couple to a second tree section such that an electrical connector of the first tree section is in electrical connection with an electrical connector of the second tree section, thereby mechanically and electrically connecting the first tree section to the second tree section such that power and/or the control data are transmitted to the second tree section. Further, each trunk segment may include an axial electrical connector that permits adjacent trunk segments to connect in a plurality of radial orientations relative to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial tree comprising:
a first trunk segment comprising:
a first electrical connector disposed at least partially within a first end of the first trunk segment, the first electrical connector comprising a first plurality of conductive terminals that includes first, second, and third conductive terminals, at least two conductive terminals of the first plurality of conductive terminals sharing a longitudinal axis, each of the first plurality of conductive terminals being disposed entirely within an outer wall of the first trunk segment, and
a first distribution system located at least partially within the first trunk segment, the first distribution system comprising (i) a first direct current (DC) connector interface and (ii) a first plurality of conductors, the first plurality of conductors configured to electrically connect to (a) the first electrical connector and (b) the first DC connector interface;
a first branch segment (i) radially extending from and (ii) pivotally attached to the first trunk segment;
a first light string comprising a first plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the first light string disposed on the first branch segment and configured to attach to the first DC connector interface; and

a second trunk segment comprising:
a second electrical connector disposed at least partially within a first end of the second trunk segment, the second electrical connector comprising a second plurality of conductive terminals that includes first, second, and third conductive terminals, at least two conductive terminals of the second plurality of conductive terminals sharing a longitudinal axis, each of the second plurality of conductive terminals being disposed entirely within an outer wall of the first trunk segment, and
a second distribution system located at least partially within the second trunk segment, the second distribution system comprising (i) a second DC connector interface and (ii) a second plurality of conductors, the second plurality of conductors configured to electrically connect to (a) the second electrical connector and (b) the second DC connector interface;
a second branch segment (i) radially extending from and (ii) pivotally attached to the second trunk segment;
a second light string comprising a second plurality of LEDs, the second light string disposed on the second branch segment and configured to attach to the second DC connector interface,

wherein operating power is transmitted from the first trunk segment to the second trunk segment when the first and second electrical connectors are connected.

2. The artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising a single power cord configured to connect to an external power source and receive an input power, the single power cord in electrical connection with the first and second distribution systems.

3. The artificial tree of claim 2 further comprising power conversion circuitry configured to convert alternating current (AC) power into DC power.

4. The artificial tree of claim 3 , wherein the first light string is electrically connected to the DC connector interface so as to receive the DC power when the single power cord is connected to the external power source.

5. The artificial tree of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first trunk segment and the second trunk segment further comprises an AC-type electrical receptacle in electrical connection with the first or second distribution system.

6. The artificial tree of claim 5 , wherein the AC-type electrical receptacle is electrically connected to the first or second distribution system so as to receive AC power when the single power cord is connected to the external power source.

7. The artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of LEDs comprises a first group of LEDs and a second group of LEDs, and the first distribution system is configured to selectively power the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs such that one of the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs is powered off and the other of the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs is powered on.

8. The artificial tree of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector further comprises a fourth conductive terminal and the second electrical connector further comprises a fourth conductive terminal.

9. The artificial tree of claim 8 , wherein the first and second conductive terminals of the first electrical connector and the first and second conductive terminals of the second electrical connector are configured to transmit AC power and the third and fourth conductive terminals of the first electrical connector and the third and fourth conductive terminals of the second electrical connector are configured to transmit DC power.

10. An artificial tree comprising:
a first trunk section including:
a first electrical connector disposed at a location that is proximate (i) a first end of the first trunk section and (ii) a central axis of the first trunk section, the first electrical connector including a direct current (DC) plug having a first plurality of conductive electrical terminals that includes first and second conductive electrical terminals sharing a longitudinal axis, each of the first plurality of conductive electrical terminals being disposed entirely within an outer wall of the first trunk section;
a first power and data distribution system located at least partially within the first trunk section, the first power and data distribution system comprising (i) a first DC connector interface and (ii) a first plurality of conductors, the first plurality of conductors configured to electrically connect to (a) the first electrical connector and (b) the first DC connector interface;
a first plurality of branches pivotally affixed along the first trunk section; and
a first light string comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the first light string disposed on at least a portion of a first branch of the first plurality of branches and configured to attach to the first DC connector interface;

a second trunk section including:
a second electrical connector disposed at a location that is proximate (i) a first end of the second trunk section and (ii) a central axis of the second trunk section, the second electrical connector including DC socket having a second plurality of conductive electrical terminals that includes first and second conductive electrical terminals sharing a longitudinal axis, each of the second plurality of conductive electrical terminals being disposed entirely within an outer wall of the section trunk section;
a third electrical connector disposed at a location that is proximate (i) a second end of the second trunk section and (ii) the central axis of the second trunk section, the third electrical connector including DC plug having a third plurality of conductive electrical terminals that includes first and second conductive electrical terminals sharing a longitudinal axis;
a second power and data distribution system located at least partially within the second trunk section, the second power and data distribution system comprising (i) a second DC connector interface and (ii) a second plurality of conductors, the second plurality of conductors configured to electrically connect to (a) the second electrical connector, (b) the third electrical connector, and (c) the second DC connector interface;
a second plurality of branches pivotally affixed along the second trunk section; and
a second light string comprising a plurality of LEDs, the second light string disposed on at least a portion of a first branch of the second plurality of branches and configured to attach to the second DC connector interface; and

a third trunk s

Assignees

• Belgravia Wood Ltd

Inventors

• Loomis Jason

Classifications

• H05B47/196

  characterised by user interface arrangements · CPC title

• H05B47/1985

  Creation of lighting zones or scenes · CPC title

• H05B47/175

  by remote control · CPC title

• F21Y2113/13

  comprising an assembly of point-like light sources · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title