# US 12,000,551 B1 · Modular lighted tree > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,551 B1 - Document ID: US12000551B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/873,905 - Filed: 2022-07-26 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-23 - Assignees: Willis Electric Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Willis Electric Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Johnny Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000551B1 ## CPC - F21S 4/10: with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights - A41G 1/005: {luminous or luminescent} - A41G 1/007: {Artificial trees} - A47G 33/06: Artificial Christmas trees - F21V 21/002: making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing (F21V21/35 takes precedence) - F21V 23/001: {the elements being electrical wires or cables} - F21V 23/06: the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} - F21V 33/00: Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for - F21V 33/0028: {Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies} - H01B 17/00: Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by their form - H01R 24/20: Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable - H01R 33/92: Holders formed as intermediate parts for distributing energy in parallel through two or more counterparts at least one of which is attached to apparatus to be held - H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21W 2121/00: Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 - F21W 2121/04: for Christmas trees - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - A41G: ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS; WIGS; MASKS; FEATHERS - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighted artificial tree, comprising: a first tree portion including a first trunk portion defining a first vertical axis and a first end, a sleeve attached to the first end of the first trunk portion, a first plurality of branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string affixed to a portion of the first plurality of branches, the first trunk portion having a first trunk body with a first trunk wall defining a first trunk interior, a first trunk electrical connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk electrical connector including a first non-conductive portion, a first electrical contact extending axially from a radially-extending surface of the first non-conductive portion, and a second electrical contact, the first trunk wiring assembly electrically connected to the first light string and the first trunk electrical connector, and wherein at least a portion of the first trunk wiring assembly is located within the first trunk interior, and the first trunk electrical connector is located entirely within the first trunk interior; a second tree portion including a second trunk portion, a second plurality of branches joined to the second trunk portion, and a second light string affixed to a portion of the second plurality of branches, the second trunk portion having a second trunk body with second trunk wall defining a second trunk interior, a second trunk electric connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk electrical connector including a second non-conductive portion, a first electrical contact, and a second electrical contact, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connected to the second lighting string and the second trunk electrical connector, and wherein at least a portion of the second wiring assembly is located within the second trunk interior; and wherein an end of the second trunk portion is configured to be received into the sleeve, thereby mechanically coupling the first tree portion to the second tree portion, and wherein the mechanical coupling of the first tree portion to the second tree portion causes the first electrical contacts of the first and second tree portions to make an electrical connection, and the second electrical contacts of the first and second tree portions to make an electrical connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact of the first trunk electrical connector is received into an opening of the second trunk electrical connector to make electrical contact with the first electrical contact of the second trunk electrical connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second trunk electrical connectors are coaxial connectors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first non-conductive portion defines a plurality of openings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk body defines a first opening in a side of the first trunk wall, through which a pair of wires extends. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lighted artificial tree of claim 5, wherein the pair of wires forms a portion of the first light string. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lighted artificial tree of claim 6, wherein the first plurality of branches are pivotally connected to the first trunk portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The lighted artificial tree of claim 3, wherein the first tree portion is mechanically couplable to the second tree portion in a limited number of rotational orientations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first light string extends from one branch of the first plurality of branches to another branch of the first plurality of branches, the first branch being axially offset from the second branch, and each of the first plurality of branches being pivotally connected to the first trunk portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first trunk wiring assembly is detachably connected to the first trunk electrical connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein a side of the first trunk wall of the first trunk body defines a plurality of openings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lighted artificial tree of claim 11, wherein a connector is positioned in each opening of the plurality of openings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the tree includes wires of varying wire gauges. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lighted artificial tree of claim 13, wherein wires of the first light string are of a lighter gauge as compared to wires of the first trunk wiring assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein a weight of the first tree portion is transferred in part to the second trunk electrical connector of the second tree portion when the first tree portion is mechanically coupled to the second tree portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first non-conductive portion of the first trunk electrical connector is configured to fit into the second non-conductive portion of the second trunk electrical connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The lighted artificial tree of claim 16, wherein the portion of the first non-conductive portion forms a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the first light string includes a first group of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel, a second group of lighting elements electrically connected in parallel, and wherein the first group is electrically connected to the second group in series.