An artificial tree; it has a hollow receptacle for presentation as a decorative tree container; a core support; and branches connected or connectable to the core support, wherein the core support is connectable to the hollow receptacle and the branches are connected to the core support when the tree artificial tree is assembled for displaying the branches over the hollow receptacle, and wherein a hollow interior of the hollow receptacle is dimensioned to receive and store the branches and the core support therein when the artificial tree is disassembled, for at least one of storage and transportation of the disassembled artificial tree.

A decorative artificial tree comprising: a base stand; a plurality of connectable trunk sections; a plurality of leaved branch sections connectable to the trunk sections; a decorative object; a microcontroller; and, a motorised rotary mechanism comprising a support bar connected thereto, at one end of the support bar there is a counterweight, at the opposing end of the support bar the decorative object is attached; such that, in use when the motorised rotary mechanism is activated, the decorative object travels around the decorative tree.

A decorative artificial tree comprising: a base stand; a plurality of connectable trunk sections; a plurality of leaved branch sections connectable to the trunk sections; a decorative object; a microcontroller; and, a motorised rotary mechanism comprising a support bar connected thereto, at one end of the support bar there is a counterweight, at the opposing end of the support bar the decorative object is attached; such that, in use when the motorised rotary mechanism is activated, the decorative object travels around the decorative tree.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.