# Patent

## Title
Electric connector having a male connector holder tightly fitted into a female connector holder

## Abstract

The present invention provides an electric connector including a male and a female connectors used for being mounted in ends of trunk portions of an artificial tree. The male connector includes a plug tube, a first support received in the plug tube, and a first electrical connector assembly mounted on the first support. The female connector includes a receptacle tube, a second support received in the receptacle tube, and a second electrical connector assembly mounted on the second support. A first end of the plug tube includes an external flange. When the first end of the plug tube is inserted in the receptacle tube with the flange being clamped tightly between the receptacle tube and the second support, the first electrical connector assembly is electrically coupled to the second electrical connector assembly. Thus, a stability of the electrical and mechanical connections of the electric connector can be insured.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric connectors, and specifically relates to an electric connector used on an artificial tree, an artificial Christmas tree for example.
2. Description of Related Art
Artificial trees are commonly used in holiday decoration, or commercial square decoration, and roadside decoration. Typically, an artificial tree is illuminated by light strings and decorated with decorations, such as figurines of airplanes, bicycles, space rockets, etc.
To easy the interconnection of the artificial tree, an artificial tree generally includes two or three sections of hollow trunks, many branches extending out from each section of trunks, electric wires extending within the hollow trunks, and many light strings distributed about the exterior of the tree and electrically connected with the electric wires.
Electric connectors are utilized to avoid wiring troubles induced by long wires. The electric wires are inserted into the trunks from the bottom of the tree and through the trunks to the outside of the trunks. Then the electric wires are connected to the next wires by one or one more electric connectors. Each electric connector has a male connector and a female connector, the male connector is fixed within one of the sections of trunks, and the female connector is fixed within another one of the sections of trunks. When adjacent sections of trunks are connected together, the corresponding electric connector(s) is(are) electrically connected. Thus it is easy and convenient to link the electric wires from the bottom to the top of the artificial tree by the electric connectors.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,362,657 to Yang filed Feb. 13, 2015 and entitled “Quick Mount Connector Assembly of Artificial Christmas Tree” discloses a male connector and a female connector detachably connected to the male connector. The quick mount connector assembly of Yang can easily and conveniently link the electric wires from the bottom to the top of the artificial tree. However, a structure of the connector assembly is complicated and hard to manufacture and assembly, and clamping pins are needed to passing through through holes 13A, 13B secure the connector assembly to the trunks of the artificial trees.
Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved electric connector used on an artificial tree.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
The foregoing and other exemplary purposes, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood in principle from the following detailed description of one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating supporting assemblies of an electric connector in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the supporting assemblies of the electric connector with a plug tube inserted in a receptacle tube.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating a first support and a first electrical connector assembly.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating a female connector, including the receptacle tube, a second support and a second electrical connector assembly, of the electric connector in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the receptacle tube and the second support.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the female connector of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the receptacle tube and the second support.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first and the second electric assemblies.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described in detail through several embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An electric connector is used on an artificial tree which preferably includes two or three or four tree portions which are capable of being aligned along an axis and fixed to and supported by a base. For convenience of description, a vertical axis is defined, and the two or three or four tree portions are aligned along the vertical axis in practice. Each tree portion preferably includes a trunk portion and many branches extending outwardly from an outside wall of the trunk portion. The trunk portion is preferably cylindrical and hollow and having a lower end (closer to ground with reference to the vertical axis) and an upper end (further away from ground with reference to the vertical axis). The lower end of each trunk portion may be sized to fit into the upper end of an adjacent tree portion or the base, such that adjacent tree portions are mechanically connected together.
The electric connector includes a male connector mounted in (inserted into) the lower end of the trunk portion of one of the tree portions and a female connector mounted in (inserted into) the upper end of the trunk portion of another one of the tree portions or mounted in the base. When the two tree portions are aligned and connected together or when the tree portion is connected to the base, the male connector and the female connector are mechanically connected and electrically coupled.
Please referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a male connector and a female connector are illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The male connector includes a supporting assembly 10 and a first electrical connector assembly 30. The female connector includes a supporting assembly 20 and a second electrical connector assembly 40.
The supporting assembly 10 of the male connector includes a plug tube 11 and a first support 12 received in the plug tube 11. The plug tube 11 has a cylindrical structure, and defines an opening 111 at its first end and another opening 112 at its second end opposite to its first end. The second end of the plug tube 11 is fixed to or held by the inner wall of the trunk portion of the artificial tree. A flange 113 extends outwardly from the first end of the plug tube 11, and an internal flange 114 extends inwardly from a tube wall (inner wall) of the plug tube 11. The internal flange 114 divides an inner space of the plug tube 11 to a first receiving space and a second receiving space. The first support 12 includes a cylinder cup 121 with an upward opening and a mounting tube 122 extending downwardly from a bottom of the cylinder cup 121. A through hole (not shown) is defined in the bottom of the cylinder cup 121 and communicates with a through hole throughout the mounting tube 122. The cylinder cup 121 is received in the first receiving space, supported by the internal flange 114, and is sized to fit into an upper inner portion (defining the first receiving space) of the plug tube 11, thus a transverse movement of the cylinder cup 121 is prevented by the plug tube 11 and a lowest position of the cylinder cup 121 in the plug tube 11 is limited by the internal flange 114. The mounting tube 122 passes through a center opening defined by the internal flange 114 and extends downwardly into an lower inner portion (defining the second receiving space) of the plug tube 11.
Further more, a line slot 1211 extending along the vertical direction is defined in the outside wall of the cylinder cup 121. A fixing plate 123 extends upwardly from an upper edge of the cylinder cup 121, and a protrude 124 protrudes towards the inner wall of the plug tube 11 from the fixing plate 123. An opening 115 corresponds to and is configured for receiving the protrude 124 is defined in the tube wall of the plug tube 11. When the first support 12 is inserted in the plug tube 11, the protrude 124 can be locked in the opening 115, thus a vertical movement of the first support is prevented.
The first electrical connector assembly 30 is mounted on the first support 12 and includes a first electric conducting ring 31 electrically connected to a first electric wire 33 and a first electric conducting rod 32 with one end electrically connected to a second electric wire 34. At least a part of the ring 31 is sleeved on the mounting tube 122, and at least a flange 1221 (and/or flange 1222) protruding out from the mounting tube 122 for preventing the ring 31 from being released from the mounting tube 122 easily.
Furthermore, a middle part of the first electric conducting ring 31 is resilient and expanded with respect to its two ends. In the embodiment, several convex ribs 311 extending substantially in vertical direction and project outwardly in a radial direction to make the ring 31 resilient and expanded in the middle. In other embodiments, the middle part of the ring 31 may includes several salient points or rings.
A part (an end) of the first electric conducting rod 32 has external thread 321. The second electric wire 34 is electrically connected to one or two nuts 341 which are screwed with the external thread 321 of the first electric conducting rod 32. The other end of the first electric conducting rod 32 passes through the mounting tube 122 from the cylinder cup side and exposed out of the mounting tube 122 and the first electric conducting ring 31.
Understandably, the first electric conducting rod 32 may be sized to fit within the mounting tube 122 and a transverse movement is restricted. Furthermore, the mounting tube 122 may have internal thread to be screwed with the external thread 321 of the first electric conducting rod 32, thus a vertical movement of the rod 32 is also restricted.
As submitted above, the female connector includes the supporting assembly 20 and the second electrical connector assembly 40. The supporting assembly 20 includes a receptacle tube 21 defining an opening 211 at its first end, and a second support 22 received in the receptacle tube 21. The receptacle tube 21 has a cylindrical structure and is sized to fit into the corresponding trunk portion.
Please also referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the second support 22 includes a base plate 221 and a column 222. The peripheral side of the base plate 221 is connected to a tube wall (inner wall) of the receptacle tube 21, a first through hole 2211 is defined in the center of the base plate 221, and a fourth through hole 2212 is defined near the first through hole 2211. The column 222 extends upwardly from a center part of the base plate 221, defines a second through hole 2221 communicating with the first through hole 2211 and a third through hole 2222 wider than and communicating with the second through hole 2221. The first, second and third through holes 2212, 2221, 2222 are concentric and aligned an axle. That is, central axis of the second through hole 2221 are in one line and parallel with the vertical axis. A diameter of the third through hole 2222 is larger than that of the second through hole 2221, and the second through hole 2221 is between the first and the third through holes 2211, 2222.
In the embodiment, the column 222 further defines a fifth through hole 2223 communicating with the fourth through hole 2212 and parallel with the vertical axis and adjacent to the second through hole 2221. Please also referring to FIG. 7, the second support 22 further includes a second column 223 extending downwardly from the center part of the base plate 221. The second column 223 defines a sixth through hole 2231 communicating with the first through hole 2211 and being aligned in the vertical axis, and a diameter of the sixth through hole 2231 is smaller than that of the first through hole 2212.
The second electrical connector assembly 40 is mounted on the second support 22 and mainly includes a second electric conducting ring 41 electrically connected to a third electric wire 43, a second electric conducting rod 42 with one end electrically connected to a fourth electric wire 44 and a spring 45 sleeved on the second electric conducting rod 42. The second electric conducting ring 41 is a circular ring sized to fit into the third through hole 2222. That is, an external diameter of the ring 41 is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the third through hole 222 and is larger than that of the second through hole 2221, thus the ring 41 can be maintained within the second through hole 2222 tightly. An end of the third electric wire 43 is electrically connected to an outer surface of the ring 41, and the other end of the wire 43 passes through the fifth through hole 2223 and the fourth through hole 2212 and extends downwardly.
A part (including a first end) of the second electric conducting rod 42 has external thread 421, and the other end includes a boss 422 with a larger diameter than the other part of the rod 42. The fourth electric wire 44 is electrically connected to one or two nuts 441. The one or two nuts 441 are screwed with the external thread 421 of the second electric conducting rod 42 from an outside of the second support 22. The boss 422 is received in the second through hole 2221 or the second electric conducting ring 41 without touch of the ring 41. The spring 45 sleeved on the second electric conducting rod 42 is restrict between the bass 422 and the base plate 221 or the second column 223.
The part of the rod 42, received in the second column 223, is sized to fit into the sixth through hole 2231, thus a transverse movement is restricted. A diameter of the spring 45 is sized to fit into the second through hole 2221 (and the first through hole 2211) and is larger than the sixth through hole 2231, thus a vertical movement of the rod 32 is also limited.
Furthermore, an inner size of the receptacle tube 21 and an outer size of the second support 22 are such designed that the flange 111 (the first end) of the plug tube 11 is clamped tightly between a tube wall of the receptacle tube 21 and the second support 22 when the plug tube 11 of the male connector is inserted in the receptacle tube 21 of the female connector, and the second electric conducting ring 41 is partly sleeved on and electrically coupled with the first electric conducting ring 31, and the second electric conducting rod 42 is pressed against and electrically coupled with the first electric conducting rod 32, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Therefore, depending on the flange 111, the supporting assemblies 10 and 20 are capable of mechanically coupled together tightly and hardly to be separated without external force. Thus, a stability of the electrical and mechanical connections between the male connector and the female connector (adjacent trunk portions of the artificial tree) can be insured.
As the receptacle tube 21 can be sized to fit into an end of the trunk portion, and the plug tube can also be sized to fit into an end of another trunk portion, there is no need for clamping pins to secure the male and female connectors to the trunks. As the male and the female connectors can be connected so tightly depending on the flange, there is no need to fix adjacent trunk portions tightly, the end with the male connector mounted of the trunk portion can only be sleeved on the end with the female connector mounted of another trunk portion.
The male connector only includes two electrical connecting elements (the ring 31 and the rod 32) and two supporting pieces (the tube 11 and the support 12), and the female connector only includes two electrical connecting elements (the ring 41 and the rod 42) and one or two supporting pieces (the tube 21 and the support 22 may be integrated in one piece). Therefore a structure of the electric connector is simple and easy to manufacture and assembly.
In the embodiment, the diameter of the first through hole 2211 may be equal to that of the second through hole 2221 because of the existence of the second column 223, it is understandably, the diameter of the first through hole 2211 may be smaller than that of the second through hole 2221 in other embodiments, thus the spring 45 can be restricted between the boss 422 and the base plate 221, and the second column 223 can be omitted.
In the embodiment, the column 22 defines fifth through hole 2223 to receive the third electric wire 43, it is understandably, a line slot may be defined in the outside wall of the column 22 and used to receive the third electric wire 43 in other embodiments.
In the embodiment, the flange 111 (the first end) of the plug tube 11 is clamped tightly between a tube wall of the receptacle tube 21 and the second support 22 when the plug tube 11 of the male connector is inserted in the receptacle tube 21 of the female connector. It is understandably, in other embodiments, an outer size of the flange 111 may be slightly larger than an inner diameter of the receptacle tube 21. As a result, the flange 111 (the first end) of the plug tube 11 can be hold tightly by the tube wall of the receptacle tube 21 when the plug tube 11 of the male connector is inserted in the receptacle tube 21 of the female connector. Thus, the stability of the electrical and mechanical connections between the male connector and the female connector (adjacent trunk portions of the artificial tree) can also be insured.
It is understandably, the first and the second electric wires 33, 34 may be respectively connected electrically to electric wires of another female connector mounted in the other end of the trunk portion, and may also be respectively connected electrically to a positive end and a negative end of a wall outlet which is partly exposed out of the trunk portion. The wall outlet may be used to electrically connected to the light strings those are distributed about the exterior of the tree. Similarly, the third and the fourth electric wires 43, 44 may be respectively connected electrically to electric wires of another male connector mounted in the other end of the trunk portion, and may also be respectively connected electrically to a positive end and a negative end of a power plug or a wall outlet which is partly exposed out of the trunk portion.
While the invention has been described in terms of several exemplary embodiments, those skilled on the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, it is noted that, the Applicant's intent is to encompass equivalents of all claim elements, even if amended later during prosecution.

## Claims

1. An electric connector for an artificial tree, the electric connector comprising:
a male connector capable of being received in an end of a first trunk portion of the artificial tree, comprising:
a plug tube;
a first support received in the plug tube; and
a first electrical connector assembly mounted on the first support;
a female connector capable of being received in an end of a second trunk portion of the artificial tree, comprising:
a receptacle tube;
a second support received in the receptacle tube; and
a second electrical connector assembly mounted on the second support;
wherein a first end of the plug tube comprises a flange extending outwardly;
wherein when the first end of the plug tube is inserted in the receptacle tube with the flange being clamped tightly between the receptacle tube and the second support, the first electrical connector assembly is electrically coupled to the second electrical connector assembly.

2. The electric connector of claim 1, wherein an internal flange extends inwardly from a tube wall of the plug tube to divide an inner space of the plug tube to a first receiving space and a second receiving space; the first support comprises a cylinder cup received in the first receiving space and a mounting tube extending downwardly from a bottom of the cylinder cup; the mounting tube passes through a center opening defined by the internal flange and located in the second receiving space.

3. The electric connector of claim 2, wherein the first electrical connector assembly comprises:
a first electric conducting ring at least a part of which is sleeved on the mounting tube and electrically connected to a first electric wire; and
a first electric conducting rod with one end electrically connected to a second electric wire and the other end passing through the mounting tube from the cylinder cup and exposed out of the mounting tube and the first electric conducting ring.

4. The electric connector of claim 3, wherein a line slot is defined in the outer wall of the cylinder cup and is configured for receiving the first electric wire.

5. The electric connector of claim 3, wherein a middle part of the first electric conducting ring is resilient and expanded with respect to two ends of the first electric conducting ring.

6. The electric connector of claim 3, wherein the second support comprises:
a base plate with its peripheral side connecting to an inner wall of the receptacle tube; and
a column extending substantially perpendicularly from a center part of the base plate;
wherein the base plate defines a first through and a fourth through hole near the first through hole;
wherein the column defines a second through hole communicating with the first through hole and a third through hole wider than and communicating with the second through hole; the first, the second and the third through holes are concentric and the second through hole is between the first and the third through holes.

7. The electric connector of claim 6, wherein the second electrical connector assembly comprises:
a second electric conducting ring received in the third through hole and electrically connected to a third electric wire;
a second electric conducting rod with one end comprising a boss received in the second through hole or the second electric conducting ring without touch with the second electric conducting ring, and with the other end electrically connected to a fourth electric wire from an outside of the second support and the other end; and
a spring sleeved on the second electric conducting rod and is restrict between the bass and the base plate of the second support;
wherein the second electric conducting ring partly sleeved on and electrically coupled with the first electric conducting ring, and the second electric conducting rod is pressed against and electrically coupled with the first electric conducting rod once the plug tube is inserted in the receptacle tube with the flange of the plug tube being clamped tightly between the receptacle tube and the second support.

8. The electric connector of claim 7, wherein the column defines a fifth through hole communicating with the fourth through hole and configured for receiving the third electric wire.

9. The electric connector of claim 7, wherein a line slot is defined in an outer wall of the column and is configured for receiving the third electric wire.

10. The electric connector of claim 7, wherein the second support further comprises a second column extending from the center part of the base plate towards a second end of the receptacle tube, the second column defines a sixth through hole communicating with the first through hole and configured for receiving a part of the second electric conducting rod.

11. An electric connector for an artificial tree, the electric connector comprising:
a male connector capable of being received in an end of a first trunk portion of the artificial tree, comprising:
a plug tube;
a first support received in the plug tube; and
a first electrical connector assembly mounted on the first support;
a female connector capable of being received in an end of a second trunk portion of the artificial tree, comprising:
a receptacle tube;
a second support received in the receptacle tube; and
a second electrical connector assembly mounted on the second support;
wherein a first end of the plug tube comprises a flange extending outwardly;
wherein when the first end of the plug tube is inserted in the receptacle tube with the flange and an inner wall of the receptacle tube interference fitted, the first electrical connector assembly is electrically coupled with the second electrical connector assembly.

12. The electric connector of claim 11, wherein an internal flange extends inwardly from a tube wall of the plug tube to divide an inner space of the plug tube to a first receiving space and a second receiving space; the first support comprises a cylinder cup received in the first receiving space and a mounting tube extending downwardly from a bottom of the cylinder cup; the mounting tube passes through a center opening defined by the internal flange and located in the second receiving space.

13. The electric connector of claim 12, wherein the first electrical connector assembly comprises:
a first electric conducting ring at least a part of which is sleeved on the mounting tube and electrically connected to a first electric wire; and
a first electric conducting rod with one end electrically connected to a second electric wire and the other end passing through the mounting tube from the cylinder cup and exposed out of the mounting tube and the first electric conducting ring.

14. The electric connector of claim 13, wherein a line slot is defined in the outer wall of the cylinder cup and is configured for receiving the first electric wire.

15. The electric connector of claim 13, wherein a middle part of the first electric conducting ring is resilient and expanded with respect to two ends of the first electric conducting ring.

16. The electric connector of claim 13, wherein the second support comprises:
a base plate with its peripheral side connecting to an inner wall of the receptacle tube; and
a column extending substantially perpendicularly from a center part of the base plate;
wherein the base plate defines a first through and a fourth through hole near the first through hole;
wherein the column defines a second through hole communicating with the first through hole and a third through hole wider than and communicating with the second through hole; the first, the second and the third through holes are concentric and the second through hole is between the first and the third through holes.

17. The electric connector of claim 16, wherein the second electrical connector assembly comprises:
a second electric conducting ring received in the third through hole and electrically connected to a third electric wire;
a second electric conducting rod with one end comprising a boss received in the second through hole or the second electric conducting ring without touch with the second electric conducting ring, and with the other end electrically connected to a fourth electric wire from an outside of the second support and the other end; and
a spring sleeved on the second electric conducting rod and is restrict between the bass and the base plate of the second support;
wherein the second electric conducting ring partly sleeved on and electrically coupled with the first electric conducting ring, and the second electric conducting rod is pressed against and electrically coupled with the first electric conducting rod once the plug tube is inserted in the receptacle tube with the flange of the plug tube and the receptacle tube interference fitted.

18. The electric connector of claim 17, wherein the column defines a fifth through hole communicating with the fourth through hole and configured for receiving the third electric wire.

19. The electric connector of claim 17, wherein a line slot is defined in an outer wall of the column and is configured for receiving the third electric wire.

20. The electric connector of claim 17, wherein the second support further comprises a second column extending from the center part of the base plate towards a second end of the receptacle tube, the second column defines a sixth through hole communicating with the first through hole and configured for receiving a part of the second electric conducting rod.