US3704366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Outdoor lighted artificial christmas tree
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-03
•
Granted: 1972-11-28
•
Expires: 1991-09-03
Abstract
Abstract An outdoor, lighted, artificial Christmas tree decoration comprising a skeleton structure of tubular members having a vertical main support trunk and a plurality of horizontal tubular branch members radially extending outwardly from the main trunk, the trunk and the tubular branch members being detachably secured to an annular hub having included therein securing means for removably securing a plurality of downwardly depending support legs from the hub, whereby the artificial tree can be rigidly attached to a base by means of the support legs. Disposed at the upper end of the main trunk is an electrical junction box in which a plurality of downwardly-extending electrical wires are operably connected to an inlet line, the wires being removably attached at respective ends of the branch members which include clamping means fixed thereon, whereby the free ends of each wire extend horizontally to the adjacent branch member and are secured thereto. The electrical wires are provided with evenly spaced light sockets and lights which are lit when the inlet line is operably connected to a commonly used electric power source.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence J Korb
- 👤 Joseph Soja
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:23
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G33/00; A47G33/04; A47G33/06; F; F21; F21S; F21S4/00; F21S4/10; F21W; F21W2121/00; F21W2121/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An artificial, ornamental Christmas tree comprising, in combination: an annular hub member; a vertical trunk removably attached to said hub member; a plurality of horizontal branch members removably secured to and radially extending from said hub in a horizontal relationship to said vertical trunk; a plurality of support legs removably secured to and depending downwardly from said hub member; an electrical junction box disposed on the upper end of said trunk; a clamping means disposed in the free end of each branch member; a plurality of electrical wires radiating downwardly and outwardly from said junction box, one end of each of said wires being operably fixed therein, each opposite end thereof being clamped within said clamping means; and a plurality of electric lights evenly spaced along said wires.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An artificial, ornamental Christmas tree comprising, in combination: an annular hub member; a vertical trunk removably attached to said hub member; a plurality of horizontal branch members removably secured to and radially extending from said hub in a horizontal relationship to said vertical trunk; a plurality of support legs removably secured to and depending downwardly from said hub member; an electrical junction box disposed on the upper end of said trunk; a clamping means disposed in the free end of each branch member; a plurality of electrical wires radiating downwardly and outwardly from said junction box, one end of each of said wires being operably fixed therein, each opposite end thereof being clamped within said clamping means; and a plurality of electric lights evenly spaced along said wires.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said annular hub is provided with a central plug for receiving said vertical trunk thereon, said hub including a plurality of horizontal bores disposed therein to receive and support said branch members therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as recited in claim 2, including means for securing said branch members within said bores of said annular hub.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination as recited in claim 3, wherein said wires extend radially outwardly and downwardly from said junction box to respective branch members, said wires being clamped in a first clamping means and extending horizontally therefrom to adjacent branch members, wherein the free ends of each of said wires are clamped in the adjacent second clamping means, whereby each wire terminates in each adjacent, succeeding clamping means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination as recited in claim 4, wherein said annular hub includes a plurality of downwardly inclined bores adapted to fixedly receive said legs therein for support of said tree, said legs depending downwardly and outwardly from said hub, and wherein each leg is provided at one end thereof with a flat shoe whereby said tree can be secured in a stationary manner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein said trunk comprises a plurality of tubular sections removably connected to each other and to said annular hub, said trunk including means for securing said tubular sections together at their ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for securing said tubular sections of said trunk comprise a dowel pin inter-disposed within the ends of said tubular section and removable pins which pass through said tubular sections and said dowel pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said clamping means comprise a forked clamp having an enlarged-diameter, free end provided with a slot therein to receive said wire, a reduced-diameter portion for reception within the corresponding inner diameter of the free end of said tubular section, and means compressing said forked end in a clamped position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as recited in claim 8, including truss wires having looped ends, one of said looped ends being disposed within said slot of said forked clamp, the opposite end thereof being secured to a stationary base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said legs is formed of tubular members having a wood dowel fixedly disposed in the end which is received in said downwardly inclined bores of said hub.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said junction box comprises a housing having an upper half and a lower half, said upper half bEing provided with receiving means centrally positioned thereon, and having electrical contacts disposed therein, said lower half being provided with a base plug for reception in the upper end of said vertical trunk, and locking means disposed within said housing, whereby said wires are locked into an operable position, permitting tension to be applied to said wires without damage thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination as recited in claim 11, wherein said locking means is defined by a first lug depending from said upper half of said housing and a second lug projecting upwardly from said lower half of said housing, said lugs being offset from each other when said housing is assembled, thereby locking said wires therebetween.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |