# US 5,702,170 A · Fiber optics Christmas tree

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- Number: US 5,702,170 A
- Document ID: US5702170A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/654,086
- Filed: 1996-05-28
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1996-05-28
- Inventors: James H. Broderick
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702170A

## CPC

- A47G 33/06: Artificial Christmas trees
- F21S 10/005: {using light guides (light guides specially adapted for lighting devices G02B6/0001)}
- G02B 6/0006: {Coupling light into the fibre (in general G02B6/4298)}
- G02B 6/0008: {the light being emitted at the end of the fibre}
- F21W 2121/04: for Christmas trees
- Y10S 362/806: Ornamental or decorative
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A fiber optics Christmas tree comprising a hollowed out artificial Christmas tree frame. A structure is for transmitting light through the hollowed out artificial Christmas tree frame. A facility is for supplying light to the light transmitting structure within the hollowed out artificial Christmas tree frame, so that points of light can be seen at distal ends of the light transmitting structure in the hollowed out artificial Christmas tree frame.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fiber optics Christmas tree comprising:
a) a hollowed out artificial Christmas tree frame comprising a one piece hollow trunk, a plurality of hollow limbs extending from said hollow trunk, a plurality of hollow branches extending from each said hollow limb, a plurality of hollow twigs extending from each said hollow branch, a plurality of stems extending from said hollow limbs, branches, add twigs, and a plurality of fake evergreen needles extending about each said stem;
b) means for supporting said trunk in an upright position comprising a stand connected to a lower end of said hollow trunk;
c) means for transmitting light through said hollowed out artificial Christmas tree frame comprising a fiber optics bundle extending within said trunk with light carrying fibers from said bundle extending into and through said limbs, branches, twigs, and stems terminating outside of said limbs, branches, twigs and stems throughout said tree so that points of light can be seen at the distal ends of said fibers throughout said tree, said bundle terminating within said tree trunk above said stand forming a space below said bundle and above said stand;
d) means for supplying light to said light transmitting means comprising an illumination assembly within said tree trunk below said fiber optics bundle including a light socket, a high intensity light bulb carried in said light socket, means for supplying electricity to said light bulb, and first switch means mounted on the outside of said hollow tree trunk for turning on and off and dimming the light emitted by said light bulb; and
e) means for causing a color lighting effect comprising a rotatively mounted wheel located between said light bulb and said fiber optics bundle within said hollow tree trunk, said wheel having transparent color windows radially arranged, and means for rotating said wheel including a plurality of spaced apart legs extending downwards from the perimeter of said wheel, a ring affixed to lower ends of said legs with said ring centrally positioned about said light socket, and electric motor means having a drive shaft rotatively mounted to said ring to rotate said ring and wheel, including second switch means located on the outside of said hollow tree trunk for controlling the operation and speed of rotation of said wheel for changing the colors being delivered by said fiber optics bundle to and viewed at the distal ends of said fibers.