Artificial christmas tree illuminated by optic fiber sprays

Claim 1

An artificial Christmas tree illuminated by optic fiber sprays, comprising, a hollow base for the tree; a plastic artificial Christmas tree mounted on the base, said tree having a central trunk extending upwardly from the base and a plurality of branches extending laterally from the trunk, said branches having imitiation foliage thereon; an assemblage of flexible optic fiber conduits, each said conduit comprising a multiplicity of generally axially aligned flexible optic fibers and means retaining the multiplicity of fibers together as a separate and discrete bundle, said conduits being in part disposed axially relative the trunk of the tree and being fixed in positions about the tree trunk at several locations, such that the assemblage substantially encloses the tree trunk adjacent the base and said assemblage of conduits extends into the base; said conduits extending laterally from said assemblage above the base at locations generally corresponding to the location of branches on the tree, each end of each such conduit having the fibers therein extending in an restrained manner beyond said retaining means, and said flexible fibers projecting in random configurations under their own weight and tensile strength to define sprays of separate optic fibers interspersed among the branches and foliage of the tree; a support engaging said assemblage of conduits extending into the base and closely gathering the conduits in a fixed position therewithin to define a generally planar fiber optic termination surface, said tree trunk being enclosed within the group of conduits also being held in position by said same support such that said tree and said conduits are held together as a unit; a light source positioned in the base adjacent the termination and directed to project light onto the termination surface; a color wheel within the base positioned between the light source and the termination surface; and means for rotating the color wheel such that the sprays of fibers produce the effect of a multicolored and changing multiplicity of pinpoint-like lights which emerge from within the foliage of the tree.