Patent ID: 8876321

Claim:
A modular, lighted artificial tree, comprising: a base portion for supporting the artificial tree; a first tree portion including: a trunk portion having a first end and a second end, and forming a trunk wall, the trunk wall defining a trunk cavity and a plurality of apertures, the first end of the trunk portion configured to couple with the base portion, a plurality of branches coupled to the trunk portion, and a first tree portion power-supply wiring harness at least partially within the trunk cavity and extending from the first end of the trunk portion to the second end of the trunk portion, the wiring harness having a plurality of power supply wires, including a first power supply wire and a second power supply wire; a first light string operably coupled to the power-supply wiring harness, the first light string having a plurality of light element assemblies and a plurality of wire segments, the first light string defining a first end and a second end, the first end including a first wire, the second end including a second wire; wherein the first power supply wire and the second power supply wire pass through a common one of the plurality of apertures to electrically connect to the first light string at a first connector, the first power supply wire connecting to the first wire of the first light string, the second power supply wire connecting to the second wire of the first light string, and the first connector is outside of the trunk cavity.