A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.

Improved branch assemblies, artificial trees, and associated methods are disclosed. An example artificial tree includes a trunk, a plurality of electrical connectors, and a plurality of releasably connected pre-lit branch assemblies, the pre-lit branch assemblies comprising a plurality of lights, the plurality of branch assemblies operable to releasably mechanically connect to the trunk and releasably electrically connect to the plurality of electrical connectors. An example method of manufacturing an artificial tree includes installing a plurality of branch assemblies with a plurality of light strings to form a plurality of releasably connected pre-lit branch assemblies, releasably mechanically connecting the plurality of pre-lit branch assemblies to a trunk, and releasably electrically connecting the plurality of pre-lit branch assemblies to a plurality of electrical connectors.

The invention relates to reinforced electric wires, particularly reinforced electric wires as used in holiday lighting such as Christmas light strings. In some embodiments, the reinforced electric wire has a conductor, a reinforcing string or one or more reinforcing threads, and an insulator jacket. In some embodiments, the conductor has a single conductor strand. In some embodiments, the conductor has a plurality of conductor strands. In some embodiments, the wire has an insulator jacket having a plurality of channels therein, where a conductor is passed through the center channel, and reinforcing threads are passed through the other channels.

The invention provides an annular shroud configured to be positioned around a tree stand. The annular shroud has one or more display panels configured to display digital images about a perimeter of the tree stand. In some embodiments, the invention further includes a tree stand display assembly comprising a tree, a tree stand supporting the tree in an upright orientation, and the annular shroud around the tree stand.

A connection system to facilitate the mechanical coupling, and the transfer of electrical power between, trunk sections of an artificial tree is disclosed. The connection system can include a mechanical coupling system having a guiding surface and a guiding slot on a first trunk section and a guiding protrusion disposed inside a second trunk section. Insertion of the first trunk section into the second trunk section and thus contact of the guiding protrusion against the guiding surface can cause the first trunk section to rotate relative the second trunk section until a predetermined rotational alignment is reached, aligning electrical contacts of first and second electrical connectors, each of which is attached to an outer wall of a respective trunk section. The electrical contacts of the first and second electrical connectors can establish electrical communication between the first and second electrical connectors, and thus between the first and second trunk sections.

A multi-sectional artificial tree with internal and external power wiring for distributing and controlling power to a network of lights. The tree includes multiple tree sections, each tree section with a set of power wires inside a tree trunk, and a network of lighting wires outside the trunk. The network of lighting wires includes a tree-section wire network with a large gauge wire supplying power to groups of lights strings on branches on the tree trunk. Each group of branches has a branch-level lighting network with multiple connectors in series, and that connects to one connector of the tree-section wire network. Each branch-level lighting network powers multiple light strings connected in series, one light string per branch. The wires of the light strings are small gauge, and are connected by the branch-level connectors by a small-wire-to-large-wire connector.

An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a lighting component, an energy storage assembly electrically connected to the lighting component, and a housing. The energy storage assembly is a Graphene stack battery that includes a Graphene strip. The energy storage assembly is disposed on or in the housing. The lighting component is disposed on or in the housing. The Graphene strip is a folded Graphene strip with a folded serpentine shape having intervening insulation strips disposed between a plurality of folded Graphene strip portions with leads at the two ends of the Graphene strip.

An illumination device, including a fiber optic spiral wrapped around an electrical wire, a plug connected to the electrical wire on one end, and a fiber optic bundle connected to the fiber optic spiral and the electrical wire on an other end opposite the one end. The fiber optic bundle includes a bundle chamber attached to the electrical wire and the fiber optic spiral on a first end, and an illumination member at the wide end and attached to the electrical wire; and fiber optic strands extending from a second end opposite the first end.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a tree lighting system. The tree lighting system includes a source of direct current electrical power, a power connector plug connected to the source of direct current electrical power, a strand of parallel-connected lamp elements, the strand connected to a lighting connector plug, and a body. The body includes a power connector jack configured to mate with the power connector plug to receive the electrical power, a lighting connector jack configured for providing the electrical power received at the power connector jack to the lighting connector and an electricity conductor connecting the power connector jack to the lighting connector jack.

The present invention is for reinforced electric wires as used in holiday lighting such as Christmas light strings. The reinforced electric wire comprises a conductor, reinforcing threads, and an insulator jacket.