U.S. patent number 3,617,732 [Application Number 04/878,138] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-02 for artificial tree with an electrical illuminating system.
Invention is credited to Royal P. Fisher.
United States Patent |
3,617,732 |
Fisher |
November 2, 1971 |
ARTIFICIAL TREE WITH AN ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING SYSTEM
Abstract
An artificial tree having a support base, a trunk member
removably connected to the base with connection means for
supporting the trunk outwardly away from the base's support
surface, a limb member connected to the trunk member, an electric
light secured to the limb member and electrically connected to
power supply means regulated with voltage reduction means connected
to the tree's base. The electric light can be directly connected to
the trunk member and the tree's base can include means for rotating
the trunk member.
Inventors: |
Fisher; Royal P. (Salt Lake
City, UT) |
Family
ID: |
25371459 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/878,138 |
Filed: |
November 19, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/432; 362/123;
428/19; 428/23; 428/18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S
4/10 (20160101); A47G 33/06 (20130101); A47G
33/126 (20130101); A47G 2033/122 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
33/06 (20060101); A47G 33/12 (20060101); A47G
33/00 (20060101); A47g 033/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;161/22,23,27
;240/1R,1T,10.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dier; Philip
Claims
I claim:
1. An artificial tree which comprises base means for supporting
said tree on a support surface; an elongated trunk member connected
to said base means to extend outwardly away from said support
surface; at least one limb member attached to said trunk member; at
least one electric light attached to said limb member; first
electrical conductor means electrically connected to said electric
light and extending along said limb member to second electrical
conductor means extending along said trunk member to said base
means for transmitting electrical energy to said light; voltage
reduction means attached to said base means and electrically
connected to said second electrical conductor means for maintaining
the electrical potential applied to said light at 1 to 12 volts;
and connector means electrically connected to said voltage
reduction means for connecting said reduction means to an
electrical power supply.
2. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said electrical power
supply is a household power source.
3. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said voltage reduction
means is attached to the side of said base means opposite the side
to which said elongated trunk member is connected.
4. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said trunk member is
rotatably mounted to said support base and to drive means for
rotating said trunk with respect to said base.
5. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said voltage reduction
means is a transformer.
6. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said first electrical
conductor means passes along the interior of said limb member and
said second electrical conductor means passes along the interior of
said trunk member.
7. The artificial tree of claim 6 wherein said limb member plugs
into a connector attached to said trunk member for electrically
connecting said light attached to said limb to said second
conductor means.
8. The artificial tree of claim 1 wherein said connector is a
plug-in connector sized and adapted to receive and activate an
electric light.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years the use of artificial trees, and especially
Christmas trees, has become very popular since, in addition to
being durable they can be made in a great variety of styles. Also,
such trees can be constructed from fire retardant materials which
means they can be safely used and also stored for long periods of
time without causing a fire hazard. One problem that, however, has
been encountered in connection with artificial trees is in lighting
the limbs of the trees with electrical lights because the limb
structure of such trees is generally not sufficiently profuse to
hide the required electrical wiring. In addition, when such trees
are used as Christmas trees they are often only used for one
holiday season and then discarded because they cannot be
disassembled for storage. For these reasons a great need has arisen
for an artificial tree that can be easily and completely
dissassembled for storage purposes and that can also be
electrically lighted without requiring electrical lines to be
strung around the tree.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In its broadest form the invention comprises an artificial tree
having a support base, an elongated trunk member connected to the
support base with connection means for supporting the trunk
outwardly away from the base's supporting surface, at least one
limb member, and connector means secured to the trunk for removably
connecting one end of the limb to the trunk.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention an electric light is
attached to the limb member and the light is electrically connected
to a first electrical connector secured to the limb member which
coacts with a second electrical connector affixed to the trunk and
electrically connected to a power source.
In another embodiment of the invention, voltage reduction means are
electrically interposed between the second electrical connector and
the power source for controlling the current used to activate the
light.
In still another embodiment of the invention the voltage reduction
means is secured to the tree base, power supply conductors are
connected to the voltage reduction means for electrically
connecting it to an electrical supply outlet, and the second
connector is electrically connected to the voltage reduction means
passed through the interior of the tree's trunk.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the trunk member is
mounted to the base with rotating means for rotating the trunk with
respect to the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the invention may be more readily understood and carried
into effect, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which
are offered by way of example only and are not to be taken as
limiting the invention, the scope of which is defined by the
appended claims which are intended to embrace equivalent
structures.
FIG. 1 is a vertical section of an artificial tree constructed
according to this invention wherein the section is taken in a plane
passed through the proximate center of the tree's trunk.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the artificial tree of this invention
taken in a plane proximate the plane of line 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking
in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of one type of structure for
connecting the tree's trunk to its base and also showing one type
of electrical trunk connector suited for attaching limbs to the
trunk.
FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram for activating the tree lights
of this invention and one type of voltage reduction means for
controlling the electrical current used to activate lights.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of one type of trunk base suitable for
rotating the trunk of the tree of this invention with respect to
the tree's base while maintaining the tree's lights activated.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 6--6 of FIG.
5 looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the base's rotating plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is
shown a cross-sectional view of the Christmas tree of this
invention which includes a support base 10 having a bottom
supporting edge 12 preferably shaped to securely rest on a
substantially flat support surface 14. An elongated trunk member 16
such as a tapered tube is connected to base 10 so that it is held
outwardly away from the support surface 14. Preferably, the trunk
is removably connected to base 10 for storage purposes. This can be
accomplished with conventional attaching means such as threaded
flange 18 which is secured to the top surface of the base 10 to
coact with threads 20 formed in trunk 16 proximate its bottom end.
A plurality of outwardly extending limb members 22 are connected to
the trunk 16 according to the fashion hereinafter described to
complete the tree structure. When the artificial tree is to be used
as a Christmas tree the limb members 22 proximate the bottom end of
trunk 16 are naturally longer than those proximate the tree's top
end so that the completed tree takes a conical configuration.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention an electrical light 24
is connected to at least one of the limb members 22 and/or the
trunk 16. The light is electrically connected with power supply and
return lines which extend along the limb member to trunk 16 and
from thence along the trunk to its proximate bottom end to a power
source. Preferably the power lines pass through the interior of
trunk 16 to base 10 where they are electrically connected to
voltage reduction means 26 such as a power transformer for
maintaining the current used to activate lights 24 at a safe level,
preferably about 1 to 12 volts. The power transformer is in turn
preferably connected to a power supply line 28 fitted with an
electrical plug for electrically connecting it to a conventional
female electrical outlet of the type found in most homes. FIG. 4
illustrates a preferred wiring diagram for the tree lighting
circuit wherein the potential of a 110 volt power supply is reduced
to 3 volts for tree lighting purposes.
Limb members 22 can also be removably connected to the tree's trunk
member for storage purposes. FIG. 3 illustrates one type of
quick-connect structure that can be used for this purpose and for
also electrically connecting the limb members to power supply lines
30 and 32 positioned in the interior of trunk 16. As shown, the
trunk connector comprises a female fitting 34 pressed into a port
36 in trunk 16. The female connector is electrically connected in a
conventional fashion with lines 38 and 40 to power supply lines 30
and 32 respectively. A male electrical connector 42 sized to be
snugly received within female connector 34 is attached to limb
member 22 proximate one end. Electrical supply and return lines 44
and 46 extend along limb member 22 from male connector 42 to light
24 wherein the light is electrically connected with lines 38 and 40
when coacting connectors 34 and 42 are urged together. It is to be
noted that it is also within the scope of this invention to plug a
light 24 directly into female connector 34 as illustrated in FIG. 3
to light the trunk member 16 only and to provide female connectors
34 in base 10 for lighting the base.
Power supply and return lines 30 and 32 can extend outwardly
through the bottom end 48 of trunk 16 where they are preferably
connected to an electrical plug 50 adapted to be received in
electrical outlet receptacle 52 connected to the voltage reduction
means 26 so that the electrical supply lines can be readily
connected and disconnected from the voltage reduction means. When a
plurality of electric lights 24 are used, they are preferably
electrically connected in parallel with lines 30 and 32 so that the
operation of any one light will not be affected by the operation of
another.
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate one type of rotating base 10 that can
be used to rotate trunk 16. As shown, the rotating base includes a
bottom stand member 54 with a support plate 56 rotatably mounted to
its top face with bolt 58. Threaded flange 18 is secured to the top
face of plate 56 to receive trunk 16 as heretofore described.
Bearings 60 can be positioned in bearing races between plate 56 and
stand 54 so that the plate freely rotates on the stand even when
supporting a substantial load. The plate 56 can be rotated at a
predetermined rate with a pinion gear 62 driven in a conventional
fashion with motor 64. Gear 62 in turn coacts with circular rack
means 66 such as spaced teeth formed about plate 56.
Spaced electrical conductors 68 and 70 are secured to the bottom
face of plate 56 to coact with pickup contacts 72 and 74
respectively which are in turn affixed to stand 54, when the plate
rotates on said stand. For safety purposes conductors 68 and 70
are, of course, electrically insulated with respect to plate 56.
Contacts 72 and 74 are in turn connected with electrical conductors
76 and 78 respectively to voltage reduction means 26. Also, for
safety reasons, motor 64 is preferably powered with electric
current regulated by the voltage reduction means and then passed
along said electrical conductors 76 and 78 and lines 80 and 82 to
said motor. Conductors 68 and 70 can be electrically connected with
lines 84 and 86 to female plug 88 which in turn coacts with male
plug 50 connected to electrical lines 30 and 32. By using a
construction of this type the tree's trunk can be easily removed
from the rotating base for storage purposes as herein
described.
It is to be noted that while the artificial tree of this invention
is particularly suited for use as a lighted Christmas tree it can
be used as a decorator tree by attaching a predetermined foliage,
flower, or fruit to the tree's trunk and limb members.
* * * * *