Abstract:
An illuminated artificial tree having a center pole with mounts thereon for receiving and supporting branches about the center pole and means for providing electricity to electrical lighting about each branch individually so that the electrical lighting about each individual branch can be replaced without affecting the electrical lighting about the other branches.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Applicant claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/744,150 filed Apr. 2, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the fields of electrical lighting and artificial trees. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is common and well known to illuminate trees, particularly artificial trees. It is especially common for individuals to seek to illuminate artificial trees during the Christmas season. 
         [0004]    Artificial trees are often illuminated by wrapping strings of electrical lights about the branches thereof. Typically, numerous strings of electrical lights are required, each string being plugged into the next to form a long, single string of electrical lights that is plugged into an electrical wall outlet. If a large number of strings of lights is used it may be necessary to form multiple long strings that are each plugged continuously end to end into each other and into a wall outlet in order to provide sufficient current to power the lights. 
         [0005]    It is extremely time consuming to illuminate artificial trees in the manner described above. To achieve the appearance of a fully illuminated artificial tree each branch must be manually wrapped with electrical lights. A string of electrical lights is wrapped about branches until the entire length of the string is utilized, and then the string is plugged into another string that is similarly wrapped manually about branches, and so on until all the branches of the tree are covered. 
         [0006]    In addition to the extended amount of time required to illuminate a tree as described above, it is common for one string of electrical lights to fail when multiple strings of lights are connected. This requires that the beginning and ending of the failed string be located, the string removed from the tree, and a new string put in its place. The replacement process is time consuming as well. Further, because the strings of electrical lights are connected one to another it is common for the failure of one string to affect other strings as well. 
         [0007]    There are also safety hazards associated with connecting multiple strings together. Often an electrical extension cord is used to plug the multiple strings into an electrical outlet. Although most extension cords are only rated for a certain electrical load many consumers are unaware of such load restrictions and the hazards associated with failing to practice such restrictions. Overloading electrical extension cords can result in fires resulting in property damage and ultimately loss of life if a fire occurs in a building where any occupants are unable to escape. 
         [0008]    It is also well known for artificial trees to be pre-lit wherein strings of lights are placed about the branches during manufacture. Heretofore the strings of lights on pre-lit artificial trees have been connected one to another such that the problem of replacing failed strings is not avoided. In addition to failed strings of lights such trees generally require a significant amount of space for storage when not in use and/or can be very cumbersome and difficult to assemble and dis-assemble. 
         [0009]    The present invention addresses the foregoing and other difficulties which have long since been associated with the prior art of illuminating artificial trees. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention the invention comprises a center pole and a plurality of branches that are attached to and supported by the center pole. The center pole encloses at least one electrical power cord that supplies power to various predetermined points along the length of the center pole. Each of the predetermined points comprises a mounting fixture that supports a number of branches located at spaced intervals about the center pole. 
         [0010]    Each mounting fixture comprises a number of cavities each for receiving a branch and suppling electrical power to the branch via electrical contacts located within each cavity. Each branch comprises a boot at the proximal end thereof for engaging the cavity and securing the branch within the cavity. Each boot comprises electrical contacts which engage the electrical contacts within the cavity thereby completing the electrical connection from the power cord within the center pole to the boot of each branch. 
         [0011]    Each branch has a string of electrical lights attached therearound. Each string of lights comprises a first fusible link plug which plugs into a matching plug located on the boot. The matching plug on the boot supplies power to the string of lights once the boot is engaged in the cavity. The string of lights on each branch is independent from any string of lights on other branches; therefore, a failure of one string of lights on one branch does not affect any other string of lights on the tree. In addition to not causing any other lights on other branches to fail, each branch can be individually removed from the tree for replacement of the string of lights without removing any other branches or lights from the tree resulting in a much easier and less time-consuming process to replace lights than the time or effort required in the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the method of applying lights to artificial trees in the prior art; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an illuminated artificial tree comprising one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a branch being attached to a mount in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the top and bottom halves of the center pole in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the connected center pole in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a mount in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the top piece of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an individual attempting to illuminate an artificial tree in the prior art. The difficulties encountered in the prior art include isolating branches, individually wrapping isolated branches with strings of electrical lights, isolating a string of electrical lights that has failed once failure becomes apparent, and the effect of failed strings of lights on other strings. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  there is shown an artificial illuminated tree  10  comprising one embodiment of the invention. The tree  10  comprises a center pole  12  having a plurality of mounts  14  supported thereon, each mount  14  comprising multiple cavities  16  for receiving branches  18  therein. Each branch  18  comprises a distal end  20  and a proximal end  22 , the proximal end  22  comprising a boot  24  for securing the branch  18  into one of the cavities  16  of the mount  14 . Electrical power is provided to each individual cavity  16  via a power cord system  30  comprising a plurality of power cords and wires located within and throughout the center pole  12 . Electrical lights  34  strung around the branch  18  plug into the boot  24  which receives power from the cavity  16 . Each cavity  16  supplies electrical power only to the branch  18  received therein and each string of lights  34  is independently plugged into the boot  24  of a branch  18 , so each branch  18  and string of lights  34  about each branch  18  is therefore independent of other branches  18  and lights on the tree  10 . 
         [0022]    The center pole  12  may comprise one continuous section or multiple sections in the construction thereof. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  comprises two sections, a bottom portion  40  and a top portion  42 , coupled together by a plug  44  and having a tree-top  46  coupled to the top portion  42 . As is understood by those skilled in the art, the tree  10  may be configured with additional sections according to the desired height of the tree. For the tree  10  comprising two sections, the power cord system  30  comprises at least three power cords for providing power to the sections of the center pole  12 . A first power cord  48  supplies power within the bottom portion  40 , a second power cord  50  supplies power to the plug  44  that connects the bottom portion  40  to the top portion  42 , and a third power cord  54  supplies power within the top portion  42  and the tree-top  46 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of one of the mounts  16  that is secured about the center pole  12 . Completing the electrical connection between the cavity  16  and the branch  18  are recessed electrical contacts  56  in the cavity which receive and engage electrical contacts  58  of the boot  24 . The electrical contacts  58  of the boot  24  are spring-loaded such that when the boot  24  is inserted into the cavity  16  the electrical contacts  58  of the boot  24  spring outward and engage the recessed electrical contacts  56  of the cavity  16  once the boot  24  is fully received into the cavity  16 . The spring-loaded contacts  58  and recessed receiving contacts  56  safeguard against any accidental electrical or physical injuries during assembly and disassembly of the branch  18  with the cavity  16 . For example, a child will be unable to remove the branch from the cavity without supervision. In addition, having the contacts  56  and  58  recessed in the cavity  16  prevent a child or anyone from inserting fingers or other small items between the contacts. 
         [0024]    In an alternate embodiment, a conductive metallic ring may be coupled about the center pole  12  to provide electrical contact between the power cord system and the electrical contacts of the boot. 
         [0025]    Each string of electrical lights  34  comprises a first fusible link plug  60  at one end thereof for engaging a second plug  62  extending from the boot  24 . When the electrical contacts  58  on the boot  24  engage the recessed contacts  56  within the cavity  16 , current is passed through the boot  24  and onto the string of electrical lights  34  wrapped around the branch  18 . The mount  14  shown in  FIG. 3  has eight cavities  16  but as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the mounts  14  may be configured with varying numbers of cavities  16  to receive more or fewer branches  18  according to the mount&#39;s location on the center pole  12 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of the plug  44  connecting into a female receptacle on the bottom portion  40  of the center pole  12  to the top portion  42 . A sleeve  70  provides additional stability to the connection between the bottom portion  40  and top portion  42  and a safety covering over the plug  44 . The sleeve  70  about the plug  44  prevents the plug  44  from being unplugged by a child, pet, or someone unaware of the hazards, both electrical and physical, that may be encountered if removing the plug  44  without supervision. In addition, the sleeve  70  prevents a child or anyone from inserting fingers or other small objects into the plug  44 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of center pole  12  showing the bottom portion and the top portion of the center pole connected together. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a mount  14  located about the center pole  12  and the electrical connections therein. The electrical contacts  56  of each cavity  16  are connected with the power cord system  30  via a first set of wiring  72  extending from the mount  14  into one cavity  16  in the mount  14 . The other cavities  14  within the mount are connected with additional wiring  74  that runs between and connects all of the cavities  16  of the mount. The second plug  62  extending from the boot  24  receiving the fusible link plug  60  from a string of lights  34  is connected with the electrical contacts  58  of the boot by wiring  76  extending through the boot  24 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 6  the boot  24  may be molded as an integral part of the proximal end  22  of the branch  18 . Alternatively, the boot  24  may be coupled with the branch  18  such that the proximal end of the branch may be removable from the boot  24 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the tree-top  46  that attaches atop the center pole  12 . The tree-top  46  couples to the center pole  12  by a plug  78  which is received into a female outlet  80  recessed in a sleeve  82 . The sleeve  82  provides additional stability to the connection between the center pole  12  and the tree-top  46  and a safety covering over the plug  78 . The sleeve  82  prevents the plug  78  from being unplugged by a child, pet, or someone unaware of the hazards, both electrical and physical, that may be encountered if removing the plug  78  without supervision. In addition, the sleeve  82  prevents a child from inserting fingers or other small objects into the plug  78 . Wiring within the plug  78  extends therefrom and provides power to a light string about the tree-top  46  through a receiving fusible link plug  86  which received a fusible link plug  88  on the light string  34  about the tree-top  46 . 
         [0031]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.