	US 11,967,790 B2
	Powered tree construction with rotation limiting
Chi Yin Alan Leung, Apleichau (HK); Ricky Tong, Shenzhen (CN); Chi Kin Samuel Kwok, Shenzhen (CN); and Chang-Jun He, Shenzhen (CN)
Assigned to Polygroup Macau Limited (BVI), Road Town (VG)
Filed by Polygroup Macau Limited (BVI), Tortola (VG)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/403,262.
Application 17/403,262 is a continuation of application No. 16/732,112, filed on Dec. 31, 2019, granted, now 11,095,078.
Application 16/732,112 is a continuation of application No. 16/556,781, filed on Aug. 30, 2019, granted, now 10,985,513, issued on Apr. 20, 2021.
Application 16/556,781 is a continuation of application No. 16/185,836, filed on Nov. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,404,019, issued on Sep. 3, 2019.
Application 16/185,836 is a continuation of application No. 15/911,676, filed on Mar. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,777,949, issued on Sep. 15, 2020.
Application 15/911,676 is a continuation of application No. 15/297,729, filed on Oct. 19, 2016, granted, now 9,912,109, issued on Mar. 6, 2018.
Application 15/297,729 is a continuation of application No. 14/621,507, filed on Feb. 13, 2015, granted, now 9,119,495, issued on Sep. 1, 2015.
Application 14/621,507 is a continuation of application No. 14/547,505, filed on Nov. 19, 2014, granted, now 8,959,810, issued on Feb. 24, 2015.
Application 14/547,505 is a continuation of application No. 14/090,470, filed on Nov. 26, 2013, granted, now 9,843,147, issued on Dec. 12, 2017.
Application 14/090,470 is a continuation of application No. 13/659,737, filed on Oct. 24, 2012, granted, now 8,863,416, issued on Oct. 21, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/552,944, filed on Oct. 28, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0376541 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01R 24/38 (2011.01); A47G 33/06 (2006.01); H01R 13/10 (2006.01); H01R 31/00 (2006.01); H01R 33/06 (2006.01); H01R 103/00 (2006.01)

CPC H01R 24/38 (2013.01) [A47G 33/06 (2013.01); H01R 13/10 (2013.01); H01R 31/00 (2013.01); H01R 33/06 (2013.01); H01R 2103/00 (2013.01)]

17 Claims

1. An artificial tree, comprising:

a first tree portion, including:

a first trunk portion;

a first plurality of wires;

a first electrical connector positioned at least partially within the first trunk portion and defining a first central axis, including:

a first connector body, including a first cylindrical lower portion, a first cylindrical upper portion, and a first plurality of ridges, the first plurality of ridges defining a plurality of gaps located between pairs of the first plurality of ridges, and

two electrical contacts, the two electrical contacts of the first electrical connector mechanically and electrically connected to the first plurality of wires inside the first trunk portion;

a first plurality of branches connected to the first trunk portion; and

a first light string distributed on the first plurality of branches and in electrical connection with the first plurality of wires; and

a second tree portion, including:

a second trunk portion;

a second plurality of wires;

a second electrical connector positioned at least partially within the second trunk portion and defining a second central axis, including:

a second connector body, including a second cylindrical portion having a first cavity and a second cavity, and a second plurality of ridges, and

two electrical contacts disposed in the first cavity, the two electrical contacts of the second electrical connector mechanically and electrically connected to the second plurality of wires inside the second trunk portion;

a second plurality of branches connected to the second trunk portion; and,

a second light string distributed on the second plurality of branches and in electrical connection with the second plurality of wires; and

a third tree portion including a trunk section, a portion of the trunk section configured to be at least partially disposed within the second cavity,

wherein the first electrical connector is configured to engage mechanically and electrically couple with the second electrical connector, such that each ridge of the second plurality of ridges is located in a gap of the plurality of gaps, thereby limiting rotation of the first electrical connector relative to the second electrical connector and also limiting rotation of the first tree portion relative to the second tree portion.