US4072857A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Artificial tree
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-05-10
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Granted: 1978-02-07
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Expires: 1996-05-10
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to an artificial tree capable of conducting an electric current which comprises a base, an artificial trunk connected to the base and having a first electrical conductor extending therewithin and having at least one first connector electrically connected to the first electrical conductor, the first connector extending through an outside wall of the trunk and at least one artificial limb having a second electrical conductor extending therewithin and a second connector electrically connected to the second electrical conductor, wherein the first connector is a first female-type electrical connector which comprises first narrow slits, and wherein the second connector is a first male-type electrical connector comprising first narrow prongs corresponding in shape to the slits such that said limb can be detachably and electrically connected to said trunk. The male-type electrical connector including an auxiliary structural support and the female-type electrical connector includes a corresponding auxiliary opening into which the structural support can be insert.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy A. DeVicaris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:12
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G33/00; A47G33/04; A47G33/06; A41; A41G; A41G1/00; A41G1/001; A41G1/005; A41G1/007; F; F21; F21S; F21S8/00; F21S8/03; F21S8/033; F21S8/035; F21W; F21W2121/00; F21W2131/00; F21W2131/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
An artificial tree capable of conducting an electric current comprising: base means; artificial trunk means connected to said base means and having first electrical conductor means extending therewithin and further having at least one first connector means electrically connected to said first electrical conductor means, said first connector means extending through an outside wall of said trunk means; and at least one artificial limb means having second electrical conductor means extending therewithin and second connector means electrically connected to said second electrical conductor means; wherein said first connector means is a first female-type electrical connector comprising first narrow slit means, wherein said second connector means is a first male-type electrical connector comprising first narrow prong means corresponding in shape to said slit means such that said limb means can be detachably and electrically connected to said trunk means, wherein one of said first female-type electric connector and said first male-type electric connector is provided with first auxiliary structural support means, and wherein the other of said connectors is provided with first auxiliary opening means corresponding in shape with said first structural support means such that said structural support means can be inserted into said first opening means in use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
An artificial tree capable of conducting an electric current comprising: base means; artificial trunk means connected to said base means and having first electrical conductor means extending therewithin and further having at least one first connector means electrically connected to said first electrical conductor means, said first connector means extending through an outside wall of said trunk means; and at least one artificial limb means having second electrical conductor means extending therewithin and second connector means electrically connected to said second electrical conductor means; wherein said first connector means is a first female-type electrical connector comprising first narrow slit means, wherein said second connector means is a first male-type electrical connector comprising first narrow prong means corresponding in shape to said slit means such that said limb means can be detachably and electrically connected to said trunk means, wherein one of said first female-type electric connector and said first male-type electric connector is provided with first auxiliary structural support means, and wherein the other of said connectors is provided with first auxiliary opening means corresponding in shape with said first structural support means such that said structural support means can be inserted into said first opening means in use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An artificial tree according to claim 1, wherein each of said artificial limb means is provided with at least one light bulb socket means for receiving a light bulb.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An artificial tree according to claim 2, wherein said socket means is electrically connected to said second electrical conductor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An artificial tree according to claim 1, wherein said trunk means comprises a plurality of detachable sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An artificial tree according to claim 4, wherein each of said detachable sections has section electrical connector means for electrical interconnection of said sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An artificial tree according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said section electrical connector means is provided with section auxiliary structural support means, and wherein at least another of said sections is provided with a section auxiliary opening for receiving said section auxiliary structural support means in use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
An artificial tree according to claim 6, wherein said section electrical connector means each comprises a section female-type electrical connector provided at one end of said sections with narrow slit-like openings and a section male-type electrical connector at another end thereof with narrow prong means such that said sections are detachably connected by inserting the male-type connector of a first section into the female-type connector of a second section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
An artificial tree according to claim 7, wherein said first structural support means and said first opening means have an eccentric cross-sectional shape such that said first structural support means can be inserted into said first opening means only when said first narrow slit means and said first narrow prong means are properly aligned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An artificial tree according to claim 8, wherein said first support means is provided on said first male-type electric connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
An artificial tree according to claim 7, wherein said section auxiliary structural support means and said section auxiliary opening are eccentric in shape such that they can be interconnected only when said section female-type connector and said section male-type connector are properly aligned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
An artificial tree according to claim 10, wherein said first structural support means and said first opening means have an eccentric cross-sectional shape such that said first structural support means can be inserted into said first opening means only when said first narrow slit means and said first narrow prong means are properly aligned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An artificial tree according to claim 11, wherein said first support means is provided on said first male-type electric connector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An artificial tree according to claim 6, wherein said first structural support means and said first opening means have an eccentric cross-sectional shape such that said first structural support means can be inserted into said first opening means only when said first narrow slit means and said first narrow prong means are properly aligned.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An artificial tree according to claim 13, wherein said first support means is provided on said first male-type electric connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
An artificial tree according to claim 1, wherein said first structural support means and said first opening means have an eccentric cross-sectional shape such that said first structural support means can be inserted into said first opening means only when said first narrow slit means and said first narrow prong means are properly aligned.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
An artificial tree according to claim 15, wherein said first narrow prong means and said first auxiliary structural support means extend in the same general direction and wherein said first auxiliary structural support means is longer than said first narrow prong means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
An artificial tree according to claim 16, wherein said first support means is located between said first narrow prong means and wherein said first opening means is located between said first narrow slit means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An artificial tree according to claim 15, wherein said first support means is located between said first narrow prong means and wherein said first opening means is located between said first narrow slit means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An artificial tree according to claim 1, wherein said first support means is provided on said first male-type electric connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
An artificial tree according to claim 19, wherein said first support means is located between said first narrow prong means and wherein said first opening means is located between said first narrow slit means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
An artificial tree according to claim 1, wherein said first narrow prong means and said first auxiliary structural support means extend in the same general direction and wherein said first auxiliary structural support means is longer than said first narrow prong means.
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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) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |