Abstract:
Disclosed is a power distributor for a Christmas tree, including a case having a cylindrical inner wall defining a central bore fit over a trunk of the Christmas tree and an outer wall spaced from and surrounding the inner wall to define an interior space therebetween for receiving a circuit board. The circuit board forms a control circuit that is electrically connected an external power source to receive power therefrom and forms a plurality of electrical receptacles each electrically engaging one light string of the Christmas tree. The control circuit includes a control device for controlling power supplied to each light string in a predetermined mode, which is selectively a continuous lighting of the light string or a variety of blinking patterns of the light strings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a Christmas tree, and in particular to a power distributor for the Christmas tree that allows for easy set-up of lights around the Christmas tree and provides a variety of blinking patterns for the lights of the Christmas tree.  
         [0003]     2. The Prior Arts  
         [0004]     Setting up a Christmas tree is a tradition during Christmas. Business establishment use decorated Christmas trees to attract customers. Families decorate their Christmas trees together to celebrate Christmas. However, people are often irritated by the work of wrapping lights around their trees. Thus, the use of prelit Christmas trees becomes more and more common among consumers.  
         [0005]     Yet, to this date, the conventional prelit tree has drawbacks. The prelit trees that are available in the market do not have blinking variation. The known prelit tree is not easy to set up because a number of extension cords are needed in setting up the prelit tree. The complicated structure of the conventional prelit tree also trouble general consumers in that it is not easy to repair defective bulbs. Further, it is not possible for the general consumers to do repairing for a major defective, because there are no additional service parts available.  
         [0006]     It is thus desired to have a power distributor that allows for easy set-up of lights around a Christmas tree, while providing a variety of blinking patterns of the lights in order to overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional prelit trees.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     An objective of the present invention is to provide a power distributor for a Christmas tree that allows lights to be easily wrapped around the Christmas tree without extension cords whereby establishment of the Christmas tree can be done easily.  
         [0008]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a power distributor for a Christmas tree comprising a control box for providing a variety of blinking patterns for lights surrounding the tree.  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a power distributor for a Christmas tree for powering lights surrounding the Christmas tree, which allows for easy replacement of defective bulbs.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a power distributor for a Christmas tree of which spare parts are easily available.  
         [0011]     In accordance with the present invention, to realize the above objectives, a power distributor for a Christmas tree is provided, comprising a case having a cylindrical inner wall defining a central bore fit over a trunk of the Christmas tree and an outer wall spaced from and surrounding the inner wall to define an interior space therebetween for receiving a circuit board. The Christmas comprises a branch holder forming a plurality of slots for removably receiving and releasably retaining branches each supporting a light string, whereby the branch and the associated light string can be easily replaced. The circuit board forms a control circuit that is electrically connected an external power source to receive power therefrom and forms a plurality of electrical receptacles each electrically engaging one light string of the Christmas tree. The control circuit comprises a control device for controlling power supplied to each light string in a predetermined mode, which is selectively a continuous lighting of the light string or a variety of blinking patterns of the light strings. If desired, a control box can be additionally provided for controlling the blinking of the light strings.  
         [0012]     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purposes of illustration only, preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention. In the drawings: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a Christmas tree in which a power distributor constructed in accordance with the present invention is incorporated;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the power distributor of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the power distributor of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the connection between the power distributor and a light string entangled with a tree branch; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a branch holder that retains the branch to a trunk of the Christmas tree. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     With reference to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a Christmas tree, generally designated with reference numeral  100 , comprises a stand  11  from which a trunk  1  vertically extending. A plurality of branch holders  4  are mounted to and spaced along, preferably with equal distance, the trunk  1  to support and retain branches  2 . Each branch  2  supports a light string  2  ( FIG. 4 ) composed of electrical wires  102  entangling the branch  2  and a number of light bulbs  104  electrically and mechanically mounted to the wires  102 .  
         [0019]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a plurality of power distributors, generally designated with reference numeral  3 , is mounted to the trunk  1  for controlling power supply to the light string  5 . Preferably, the power distributors  3  are equally spaced along the trunk  1  with fixed pitch. In this case, the number of the power distributors  3  is determined by the overall length of the trunk  1  and the pitch between power distributors  3 . Alternatively, the power distributors  3  may be arranged at variable pitches.  
         [0020]     Also referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the power distributor  3  comprises a case  31 , preferably made of insulation material, comprising a cylindrical inner wall  106  that defines a central bore  108  fitting over the trunk  1  of the Christmas tree  100 , an outer wall  110  that is substantially concentric with and radially spaced from the inner wall  106 , and a ring-shaped bottom  112  connecting between the inner and outer walls  106 ,  110  to define a ring-shaped interior space (not labeled). Securing means (not shown) may be provided to fix the case  31  to the trunk  1 , or alternatively, the case  31  can be simply secured by friction between the inner wall  106  of the case  31  and the trunk  1 .  
         [0021]     A circuit board  32 , in the form of a ring, is snugly received in the interior space of the case  31 , comprise a circuit (not shown) formed thereon. A plurality of electrical receptacles  321  is mounted to the circuit board  32  and is in electrical connection with the circuit of the circuit board  32 . An opening  114  is defined in the outer wall  110  of the case  31  to expose each receptacle  321 . Also a window or opening  116  is defined in the bottom  112  for the extension of an electrical cable  60  that electrically connects the circuit board  32  to other power distributors  3  or to an external power supply, such as a wall outlet (not shown) in which case an extension cord  61  having an end plug  62  is used to connect the power distributors  3 , as well as the electrical cables  60 , to the wall outlet. Preferably, the engagement between the electrical cable  60  (or the extension cord  61 ) and the associated circuit board  32  is realized by a releasable plug-socket pair ( 63 ,  64 ), see  FIG. 2 . This allows for easy establishment of electrical connection between the power distributors  3  and the external power source.  
         [0022]     A lid  33  is fit over a top opening of the case  31  to close the interior space of the case  31  and to shield the circuit board  32  for dust-proof and protection of undesired contact. The lid  33  can be provided with fastening means for securing to the case  31 , or tight fitting is employed to secure the lid  33  to the case  31 . A window or opening  118  is defined in the lid  33  for the extension of the power cord  60 .  
         [0023]     Also referring to  FIG. 4 , the light string  5  that entangle around the branch  2  has a plug  51  that is engageable with, preferably removably, each receptacle  321  of the circuit board  32  to receive electrical power therefrom.  
         [0024]     In an aspect of the present invention, the circuit of the circuit board  32  controls power supplied to each light string  5  in an independent manner, which means the light strings  5  are power independently and are not linked to each other, whereby a defective found in one of the light strings  5  does not affect the functionality of other light strings  5 . Also, repairing the defective light string  5  can be easily done by replacing with a new one.  
         [0025]     In another aspect of the present invention, the circuit board  32  comprises a circuit that is designed to light the light string in a predetermined blinking pattern or a variety of blinking patterns. In other words, blinking control may be realized by a control device incorporated in the circuit. If desired, programmable units may be included in the circuit board  32  to allow a user or a manufacturer to set up different lighting patterns of the light strings. Apparently and alternatively, the circuit board  32  may simply serve to pass electrical current from the cables  61  or cord  60  to the light strings  5  and in this case the circuit board  32  may be replaced by a conductor, such as copper plate.  
         [0026]     Optionally, a control box  6  is added between the external power source, such as the wall outlet, and the power distributors  3  for additional control of the blinking patterns of the light strings  5 . Alternatively, the control box  6  may simply an adaptor that performs power transformation or other necessary functions. Such a control box  6  is generally known and thus no further detail will be given herein.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 4 , and  5 , each branch  2  has a retention bar  120 , which forms an included angle with an axis of the branch  2 . The branch holder  4 , which is particularly shown in  FIG. 5 , comprises a base  40  defining a central bore (not labeled) snugly fit over the trunk  1  to retain the holder  4  on the trunk  1 . The base  40  defines a plurality of slots  41  sized to tightly receive the retention bar  120  of each branch  2  in a vertical manner whereby the branch  2  extends in an upward inclined manner from the trunk  1  for simulation of a real tree.  
         [0028]     In an aspect of the present invention, each branch holder  4  is associated with one power distributor  3  and each branch  2  and the single light string  5  entangling the branch  2  correspond to each receptacle  321  of the circuit board  32  of the power distributor  3 . Thus, the light string  5  of each branch  2  is powered by a specific receptacle  321  of the associated circuit board  32 . This allows easy identification and repairing or replacement of a defective light string  5 .  
         [0029]     Preferably, the power distributors  3  and the branch holders  4  are factory fixed on the trunk  1 , while the consumers are allowed to put the branches  2  to the branch holders  4  and plug the plug  51  into the receptacle  321  of the circuit board  32  to establish mechanical and electrical connection between the branches  32  and the light strings  5  and the trunk  1 .  
         [0030]     It can be concluded from the above-described invention that (1) since each branch only occupies a small area of the Christmas tree, it is not noticeable if the light strings of one or several branches do not work properly; (2) trouble created by the complicacy of wiring of the conventional Christmas trees can be eliminated; (3) the Christmas tree of the present invention can be easily assembled/disassembled and stored; and (4) no more hassle of sending back a defective Christmas tree for repair or replacement because the branches and the light string associated therewith, and other parts, are replaceable by the consumers. The replaceability of all parts of the Christmas tree of the present invention also benefits the Christmas tree sellers for there is no need to refund for defective trees.  
         [0031]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.