EP0920826A1 - An artificial christmas tree - Google Patents

An artificial christmas tree Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0920826A1
EP0920826A1 EP98204196A EP98204196A EP0920826A1 EP 0920826 A1 EP0920826 A1 EP 0920826A1 EP 98204196 A EP98204196 A EP 98204196A EP 98204196 A EP98204196 A EP 98204196A EP 0920826 A1 EP0920826 A1 EP 0920826A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stem
branches
christmas tree
collar
artificial christmas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98204196A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0920826B1 (en
Inventor
Joseph Lisnellow Killiney O'connell
Alistair Tidey
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CONNELL JOSEPH LISNELLOW KILLI
Original Assignee
CONNELL JOSEPH LISNELLOW KILLI
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by CONNELL JOSEPH LISNELLOW KILLI filed Critical CONNELL JOSEPH LISNELLOW KILLI
Publication of EP0920826A1 publication Critical patent/EP0920826A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0920826B1 publication Critical patent/EP0920826B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47GHOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G33/00Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
    • A47G33/04Christmas trees 
    • A47G33/06Artificial Christmas trees

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an artificial Christmas tree, in particular to a collapsible tree which is assembled from a kit of parts including identical stem sections which may be fitted together to form trees of different heights, the stem sections including means for inserting branches therein.
  • the stem is not collapsible and comprises a stiff rod or pole, to which the branches either must permanently be attached, or slotted into a series of collars, or holes drilled in the pole, with the option that the branches may be folded back or removed for storage.
  • the branches tend to break off very easily, and a long box is required to ship the product.
  • the prior art also includes constructions for an artificial Christmas tree having a collapsible stem section.
  • the collapsible stem comprises a series of identical hollow tubes which are rigidly interengageable, each having a male section at one end and a female section at the other, such that when the two are coupled together a series of longitudinal slots is defined at the junction between them.
  • the roots of the branches are inserted in the slots, with both a male and a female section bearing against the branches to wedge them tightly in place.
  • only about six slots can be accommodated. In a taller tree, this does not allow for a very dense array of branches near the base, which is a disadvantage.
  • the present invention aims to provide a very strong stem assembly, where the sections may even be pre-assembled prior to shipment or assembled by the customer. Furthermore, while providing a series of protruding collars or sleeves for slotting the branches onto the stem may give the stem a somewhat unnatural appearance, the present invention seeks to overcome this problem by providing a collar with over ten slots, preferably fifteen, about its circumference, such that branches may be quite densely packed, when attached, thereby giving an artificial Christmas tree where the stem (and the collars) are not easily visible between the mass of branches when the tree is finally assembled.
  • the present invention provides an artificial Christmas tree assembled from a kit of parts including stem sections which may be fitted together by means of male and female portions to form trees of different heights, branches comprising a root portion and a leafy portion, and collars defining a series of logitudinal slots, for receiving the root portions of the branches, and each collar defining on its outer periphery a parapet with a gap adjacent to each slot for receiving the base of the leafy portion of each respective branch, adapted to maintain the branches in firm engagement with and radially spaced with respect to the stem characterized in that the collar is integrally formed with the stem section and the slots defined therein are coincident with the outer sidewall of the stem, such that the branches may be inserted and removed after the stem sections have been assembled, in use.
  • the collar is preferably spaced from one end of the stem section.
  • Each stem section is most preferably identical, comprising a male portion at one end and a corresponding female portion at the other end.
  • the stem sections are preferably hollow, but they may be solid.
  • the male and female portions preferably may be coupled together with a tight or interference fit for maximum rigidity.
  • An artificial Christmas tree in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is assembled from identical tubular stem sections (1) as shown in Figure 1.
  • the top male portion (2) is slightly tapered so as to fit inside the bottom female portion (3) with a tight or interference fit.
  • two stem sections could be used, one defining a male portion at each end, the other defining a female portion at each end, fitting together alternately.
  • a collar (4) is integrally formed in a mould on the outside of the stem section and comprises a ledge (5) which defines fifteen longidutinal slots (6) about its circumference. Each slot receives the root portion (7) of a branch for the tree, which will not be described in detail as the branches are of a known construction.
  • a leafy portion (8) of the branch projects out from the collar (4) and is accommodated by a notch (9) formed in a parapet (10) formed on the collar.
  • This arrangement provides a firm seating for the branches which may be inserted in some or all of the slots, as desired, once the stem sections have been joined together.
  • the end surface (11) of the female portion engages with the ledge (5) when the sections are pressed tightly together, but does not interfere with the insertion or removal of the root portions (7) of the branches, since the slots (6) for receiving the branches are coincident with the outer sidewall of the stem sections (1). Therefore, once the stem sections have been assembled, the branches can be inserted and removed quickly. In most cases, the customer is content to leave the stem sections joined together for storing the parts until the next Christmas. 0nly the branches and tree decorations need to be stored in a box.
  • a skirt portion (12) is formed, with three large notches (13) formed therein, for receiving three tripod legs (14).
  • a pin (15) is formed on each tripod leg, positioned to slot into the slots numbered 6a in Figure 3.
  • a hook (16) is positioned to fit into the female portion (3) engaging with the edge (11) of the stem section.
  • each of the three tripod legs (14) abut each other when inserted in the bottom stem section of the artificial Christmas tree assembly, so that the legs are sturdy and cannot move laterally.

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  • Toys (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)

Abstract

An artificial Christmas tree may be assembled from a kit of parts including stem sections (1) which are fitted together by means of male (2) and female (3) portions to form trees of different heights. Branches are provided comprising a root portion (7) and a leafy portion (8), wherein the stem sections each include a collar (4) formed integrally with the stem section and defining a series of longitudinal slots (6), for receiving the root portions of the branches. A parapet (10) on the collar defines a gap (9) adjacent to each slot for receiving the base of the leafy portion of each respective branch, adapted to maintain the branches in firm engagement with and radially spaced with respect to the stem. The slots (6) are coincident with the outer sidewall of the stem, such that the branches may easily be inserted and removed after the stem sections have been assembled, in use. A novel tripod leg (14) arrangement is also disclosed.

Description

  • The present invention relates to an artificial Christmas tree, in particular to a collapsible tree which is assembled from a kit of parts including identical stem sections which may be fitted together to form trees of different heights, the stem sections including means for inserting branches therein.
  • Numerous constructions for an artificial Christmas tree have been described in the prior art, wherein the stem is not collapsible and comprises a stiff rod or pole, to which the branches either must permanently be attached, or slotted into a series of collars, or holes drilled in the pole, with the option that the branches may be folded back or removed for storage. The branches tend to break off very easily, and a long box is required to ship the product.
  • The prior art also includes constructions for an artificial Christmas tree having a collapsible stem section. According to our Irish Patents Nos. S59161 and 68051, the collapsible stem comprises a series of identical hollow tubes which are rigidly interengageable, each having a male section at one end and a female section at the other, such that when the two are coupled together a series of longitudinal slots is defined at the junction between them. The roots of the branches are inserted in the slots, with both a male and a female section bearing against the branches to wedge them tightly in place. However, on account of the diameter of the tubes, only about six slots can be accommodated. In a taller tree, this does not allow for a very dense array of branches near the base, which is a disadvantage. Also, for disassembly purposes, it has been found that the customer may prefer to strip off the branches leaving the assembled tubes comprising the stem intact, but in the arrangement disclosed in IE-S59161 and IE-68051, the branches can only be removed by completely disassembling the tubes comprising the stem, which is time-consuming.
  • 0ther arrangements including interengageable tubular stem sections are disclosed in GB-A-0,303,270 and GB-A-0,874,704. An arrangement with alternate tube sections and collar sections is described in EP-A-0,527,711. However, all of the artificial Christmas trees described in this prior art require to be completely disassembled, i.e. all of the stem sections must be separated, to satisfactorily remove the branches, for storing the tree. This of course weakens the parts.
  • It is therefore an object of the present invention to combine the advantages of a fully collapsible artificial Christmas tree construction, i.e. ease of shipment in a smaller box, flexibility in terms of assembling trees of different heights, reduced manufacturing costs, etc., with the advantages of the partially collapsible type of construction, i.e. where only the branches need to be removed for the purpose of storing them in a box, and saving the tree from deteriorating from one Christmas to the next, say in an attic or garage.
  • The present invention aims to provide a very strong stem assembly, where the sections may even be pre-assembled prior to shipment or assembled by the customer. Furthermore, while providing a series of protruding collars or sleeves for slotting the branches onto the stem may give the stem a somewhat unnatural appearance, the present invention seeks to overcome this problem by providing a collar with over ten slots, preferably fifteen, about its circumference, such that branches may be quite densely packed, when attached, thereby giving an artificial Christmas tree where the stem (and the collars) are not easily visible between the mass of branches when the tree is finally assembled.
  • Accordingly, the present invention provides an artificial Christmas tree assembled from a kit of parts including stem sections which may be fitted together by means of male and female portions to form trees of different heights, branches comprising a root portion and a leafy portion, and collars defining a series of logitudinal slots, for receiving the root portions of the branches, and each collar defining on its outer periphery a parapet with a gap adjacent to each slot for receiving the base of the leafy portion of each respective branch, adapted to maintain the branches in firm engagement with and radially spaced with respect to the stem characterized in that the collar is integrally formed with the stem section and the slots defined therein are coincident with the outer sidewall of the stem, such that the branches may be inserted and removed after the stem sections have been assembled, in use.
  • The collar is preferably spaced from one end of the stem section. Each stem section is most preferably identical, comprising a male portion at one end and a corresponding female portion at the other end. The stem sections are preferably hollow, but they may be solid.
  • The male and female portions preferably may be coupled together with a tight or interference fit for maximum rigidity.
  • Suitably, there are at least ten, and preferably fifteen, slots defined in the collar.
  • A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a stem section for an artificial Christmas tree;
  • Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the stem section shown in Figure 1,
  • Figure 3 is a plan view from below of the stem section shown in Figure 1,
  • Figure 4 is the same view as in Figure 3, showing part of three tripod legs attached, and,
  • Figure 5 is a side view of a preferred tripod leg for the base of the artificial Christmas tree.
  • An artificial Christmas tree in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is assembled from identical tubular stem sections (1) as shown in Figure 1. The top male portion (2) is slightly tapered so as to fit inside the bottom female portion (3) with a tight or interference fit. However, in an obvious equivalent, two stem sections could be used, one defining a male portion at each end, the other defining a female portion at each end, fitting together alternately. A collar (4) is integrally formed in a mould on the outside of the stem section and comprises a ledge (5) which defines fifteen longidutinal slots (6) about its circumference. Each slot receives the root portion (7) of a branch for the tree, which will not be described in detail as the branches are of a known construction. A leafy portion (8) of the branch projects out from the collar (4) and is accommodated by a notch (9) formed in a parapet (10) formed on the collar.
  • This arrangement provides a firm seating for the branches which may be inserted in some or all of the slots, as desired, once the stem sections have been joined together. It should be noted that the end surface (11) of the female portion engages with the ledge (5) when the sections are pressed tightly together, but does not interfere with the insertion or removal of the root portions (7) of the branches, since the slots (6) for receiving the branches are coincident with the outer sidewall of the stem sections (1). Therefore, once the stem sections have been assembled, the branches can be inserted and removed quickly. In most cases, the customer is content to leave the stem sections joined together for storing the parts until the next Christmas. 0nly the branches and tree decorations need to be stored in a box.
  • 0n the underside of the collar (4) a skirt portion (12) is formed, with three large notches (13) formed therein, for receiving three tripod legs (14). A pin (15) is formed on each tripod leg, positioned to slot into the slots numbered 6a in Figure 3. A hook (16) is positioned to fit into the female portion (3) engaging with the edge (11) of the stem section. As seen in Figure 4 each of the three tripod legs (14) abut each other when inserted in the bottom stem section of the artificial Christmas tree assembly, so that the legs are sturdy and cannot move laterally.

Claims (7)

  1. An artificial Christmas tree assembled from a kit of parts including stem sections (1) which may be fitted together by means of male (2) and female (3) portions to form trees of different heights, branches comprising a root portion (7) and a leafy portion (8), and collars (4) defining a series of logitudinal slots (6), for receiving the root portions of the branches, and each collar defining on its outer periphery a parapet (10) with a gap (9) adjacent to each slot for receiving the base of the leafy portion of each respective branch, adapted to maintain the branches in firm engagement with and radially spaced with respect to the stem characterized in that the collar (4) is integrally formed with the stem section (1) and the slots (6) defined therein are coincident with the outer sidewall of the stem, such that the branches may be inserted and removed after the stem sections have been assembled, in use.
  2. An artificial Christmas tree, according to claim 1, wherein the collar (4) is spaced from one end of the stem section (1).
  3. An artificial Christmas tree, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each stem section is identical, comprising a male portion (2) at one end and a corresponding female portion (3) at the other end.
  4. An artificial Christmas tree according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stem sections (1) are hollow.
  5. An artificial Christmas tree according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the male and female portions (2,3) may be coupled together with a tight or interference fit.
  6. An artificial Christmas tree according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there are at least ten, and preferably fifteen, slots (6) defined in the collar (4).
  7. An artificial Christmas tree according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a tripod leg arrangement, wherein each of three tripod legs (14) is adapted with a pin (15) for engaging one (6a) of the slots (6) of the collar (4) from underneath, a hook (16) for engaging with the stem, is adapted to abut each other, and wherein the collar (4) defines a skirt portion (12) with three notches (13) formed therein for receiving the three tripod legs.
EP98204196A 1997-12-09 1998-12-09 An artificial christmas tree Expired - Lifetime EP0920826B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IE970872 1997-12-09
IE970872 IES79054B2 (en) 1997-12-09 1997-12-09 An artificial christmas tree

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0920826A1 true EP0920826A1 (en) 1999-06-09
EP0920826B1 EP0920826B1 (en) 2001-04-04

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EP98204196A Expired - Lifetime EP0920826B1 (en) 1997-12-09 1998-12-09 An artificial christmas tree

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AT (1) ATE200202T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69800665D1 (en)
IE (1) IES79054B2 (en)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9441800B1 (en) 2011-12-09 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted artificial tree
US9439528B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9484687B1 (en) 2010-09-23 2016-11-01 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree
US9526286B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2016-12-27 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with electrical connector
US9572446B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-02-21 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9648919B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-05-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with rotation-lock electrical connectors
US9664362B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-05-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with multi-terminal electrical connectors for power distribution and control
US9671074B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2017-06-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with trunk connectors
US9677748B1 (en) 2013-12-03 2017-06-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Dual-voltage lighted artificial tree
US9677749B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-06-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Conformal power adapter for lighted artificial tree
US9839315B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Multi-wire quick assemble tree
US9843147B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US9883566B1 (en) 2014-05-01 2018-01-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Control of modular lighted artificial trees
US9883706B2 (en) 2011-05-20 2018-02-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Multi-positional, locking artificial tree trunk
US9894949B1 (en) 2013-11-27 2018-02-20 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with improved electrical connections
US10206530B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2019-02-19 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk
US10683974B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2020-06-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control
US10765244B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2020-09-08 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10973355B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-04-13 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10993572B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-04 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB303270A (en) 1927-12-30 1929-01-03 Paul Ellison Improvement connected with imitation trees, shrubs or the like
GB874704A (en) 1959-05-14 1961-08-10 Gertraud Hirschmann Mrs Artificial christmas tree
DE3240446A1 (en) * 1981-12-22 1983-07-07 Barthelmeß GmbH + Co Shop-, Schaufenster- und Industrie- Displays, 8510 Fürth Artificial Christmas tree
DE8705329U1 (en) * 1986-04-24 1987-07-23 Noma Inc., Scarborough, Ontario, Ca
EP0527711A2 (en) 1991-08-08 1993-02-17 Livio Nocentini Method for constructing an artificial tree, and tree thus constructed
IE68051B1 (en) 1993-07-30 1996-05-15 Connell Joseph O Improvements in artificial Christmas trees

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB303270A (en) 1927-12-30 1929-01-03 Paul Ellison Improvement connected with imitation trees, shrubs or the like
GB874704A (en) 1959-05-14 1961-08-10 Gertraud Hirschmann Mrs Artificial christmas tree
DE3240446A1 (en) * 1981-12-22 1983-07-07 Barthelmeß GmbH + Co Shop-, Schaufenster- und Industrie- Displays, 8510 Fürth Artificial Christmas tree
DE8705329U1 (en) * 1986-04-24 1987-07-23 Noma Inc., Scarborough, Ontario, Ca
EP0527711A2 (en) 1991-08-08 1993-02-17 Livio Nocentini Method for constructing an artificial tree, and tree thus constructed
IE68051B1 (en) 1993-07-30 1996-05-15 Connell Joseph O Improvements in artificial Christmas trees

Cited By (44)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10939777B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-03-09 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10973355B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-04-13 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10765244B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2020-09-08 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10993572B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-04 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10893768B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-01-19 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11712126B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2023-08-01 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11096512B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-08-24 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US10765245B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2020-09-08 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11096511B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-08-24 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11083319B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-08-10 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US11013356B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2021-05-25 Belgravia Wood Limited Power pole for artificial tree apparatus with axial electrical connectors
US9484687B1 (en) 2010-09-23 2016-11-01 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree
US10070675B2 (en) 2010-09-23 2018-09-11 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree with internal electrical connection system
US9861147B1 (en) 2010-09-23 2018-01-09 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted tree
US9887501B2 (en) 2010-09-23 2018-02-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular artificial lighted tree with decorative light string
US9883706B2 (en) 2011-05-20 2018-02-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Multi-positional, locking artificial tree trunk
US10404019B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2019-09-03 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US10985513B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2021-04-20 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction with rotation limiting
US9843147B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US11799251B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2023-10-24 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction with rotation limiting
US10777949B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2020-09-15 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US10522954B1 (en) 2011-10-28 2019-12-31 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US9912109B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2018-03-06 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction
US11967790B2 (en) 2011-10-28 2024-04-23 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Powered tree construction with rotation limiting
US9664362B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-05-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with multi-terminal electrical connectors for power distribution and control
US9677749B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2017-06-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Conformal power adapter for lighted artificial tree
US9441800B1 (en) 2011-12-09 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted artificial tree
US9441823B1 (en) 2011-12-09 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular lighted artificial tree
US10206530B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2019-02-19 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk
US9648919B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-05-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with rotation-lock electrical connectors
US9526286B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2016-12-27 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with electrical connector
US9572446B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2017-02-21 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US10010208B2 (en) 2012-05-08 2018-07-03 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with electrical connector
US9671074B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2017-06-06 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with trunk connectors
US10098491B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2018-10-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9439528B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2016-09-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Modular tree with locking trunk and locking electrical connectors
US9894949B1 (en) 2013-11-27 2018-02-20 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Lighted artificial tree with improved electrical connections
US9677748B1 (en) 2013-12-03 2017-06-13 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Dual-voltage lighted artificial tree
US9883566B1 (en) 2014-05-01 2018-01-30 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Control of modular lighted artificial trees
US9839315B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-12-12 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Multi-wire quick assemble tree
US10842306B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2020-11-24 Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) Multi-wire quick assemble tree
US10989374B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2021-04-27 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control
US11353176B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2022-06-07 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control
US10683974B1 (en) 2017-12-11 2020-06-16 Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Decorative lighting control

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE200202T1 (en) 2001-04-15
IES970872A2 (en) 1998-04-08
IES79054B2 (en) 1998-04-08
EP0920826B1 (en) 2001-04-04
DE69800665D1 (en) 2001-05-10

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