Patent ID: 11967790
Assignee: POLYGROUP MACAU LIMITED (BVI)
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  A | IPC A  H

Claim 16:
17. A method of electrically and mechanically coupling a first trunk portion of a lighted artificial tree to a second trunk portion, the method comprising:
positioning a first trunk portion upright along a vertical axis, the first trunk portion having:
(i) a plurality of branch segments attached thereto and axially extending therefrom and
(ii) a first electrical connector having a first plurality of electrical contacts and a first alignment mechanism with a sloped engagement portion;

aligning a second trunk portion with the first trunk portion and along the vertical axis, the second trunk portion having:
(i) a second plurality of branch segments attached thereto and axially extending therefrom
(ii) a second electrical connector having a second plurality of electrical contacts and a second alignment mechanism with a sloped engagement portion; and
(iii) a third electrical connector;

causing the second trunk portion to move axially such that the first trunk portion receives an end of the second trunk portion;
causing the second alignment mechanism's sloped engagement portion to initially contact the first alignment mechanism's sloped engagement portion at a first rotational alignment; and, allowing the second electrical connector to rotate relative the first electrical connector, thereby rotating the second trunk portion into a second rotational alignment and a final engagement position such that the first trunk portion and second trunk portion are mechanically coupled and electrically connected; and
positioning a third trunk portion upright along the vertical axis, the third trunk portion having:
(i) a plurality of branch segments attached thereto and axially extending therefrom and
(ii) a fourth electrical connector having a first cavity for receiving a portion of a trunk section of the third trunk portion and a second cavity having a third plurality of electrical contacts; and

causing the third trunk portion to move axially such that the third electrical connector receives a portion of the fourth electrical connector.