Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120242234 | Low Voltage Coupling Design - Apparatus and associated methods relate to an electrical interface design architecture to independently excite each of a network of light strings and/or light string controllers with any of a number of independent excitation signals. In an illustrative example, each of the light strings may receive a selected one of the excitation signals conducted via a wiring assembly to an interface formed as a plug or a corresponding socket. In some embodiments, the interface may galvanically connect one or more of the excitation signals to a corresponding load according to user-selection of a relative orientation between the plug and the socket. In some implementations the load may include a down-stream controller that draws operating power through a selected one of the conductors at the interface. In various implementations, the interface may supply a load such as a multi-channel cable or single channel light string, for example. | 09-27-2012 |
20140004280 | COLLAPSIBLE TREE SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140321130 | Tree Topper with Trunk Attachable Deformable Conduit - Apparatus and associated methods relate to a tree-top ornament apparatus configured to present a removeably attachable ornament above a top of a tree and supporting the presented ornament by clamping an ornament-connected deformable conduit to a secure portion of a tree trunk below the top of the tree. In an illustrative embodiment, the conduit may be deformable and yet semi-rigid so as not to deform under the weight of the presented ornament. In some embodiments, a sleeve may be configured to provide an electrical signal to a light emitting device for illuminating the ornament. The sleeve may include a light emitting device within a top hollow of the sleeve. In some embodiments, the light emitting device may be configured to illuminate a clear or semi-clear ornament received in the top hollow of the sleeve. The tree-top ornament apparatus may advantageously secure a tree-top ornament to the tree trunk at a location where the trunk is strong. | 10-30-2014 |
20140334134 | ARCHITECTURE FOR ROUTING MUTLI-CHANNEL COMMANDS VIA A TREE COLUMN - Apparatus and associated methods may relate to an artificial tree apparatus having a plurality of trunk segments that couple together to provide a plurality of information or command signals to load devices connected thereto. In an illustrative example, one or more branch segments having light emitting devices are connected to the trunk segments to independently receive the electrical power and command signals via a control system. In some implementations, each command signal generated by the control system may include data pertaining to light color and illumination pattern. In some embodiments, each branch segment and associated light emitting devices may be independently controlled via a multi-channel arrangement. In some implementations, each group of light emitting devices may be manually configured via one or more user-interfaces. In various implementations, each trunk segment may include an axial electrical connector which permits adjacent trunk segments from being connected in any radial orientation relative to each other. | 11-13-2014 |
20150078142 | ENVIRONMENT-RESOLUTION CORRELATED TIMER - Apparatus and associated methods relate to a timer having multiple time resolutions corresponding to multiple environmental climates. Climates may include, for example, temperature, humidity, pressure, or any of these taken alone or in combination. Climates may include, for example, carbon monoxide content, oxygen content, toxic gases, or any of these taken alone or in combination. The resolutions and climates may be particular to selected applications, including but not limited to, perishable foods, chemicals (e.g. alcohol, cement, pharmaceuticals), or perishable evidence (e.g. crime scene materials). In one embodiment, a breast-milk timer may have three times scales, an hourly scale corresponding to room-temperature environment, a daily scale corresponding to refrigeration, and a monthly scale corresponding to a freezer environment. As time elapses, the timer may automatically transition from the hourly scale to the daily scale and then to the monthly scale. Such a timer may quickly communicate breast milk freshness. | 03-19-2015 |
20150211727 | WATER-RESISTANT WIRED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC COMPONENT CAPTURE - Apparatus and associated methods relate to a water-resistant capture device for enclosing wired electro-magnetic components, the capture device having a base module and a connecting cap module, wherein when the base module and cap module enclose an electro-magnetic component and the base module is connected to the cap module, one or more electric wires are compressed within deformable wire apertures formed by the combined base module and cap module. In some embodiments, the base module is deformable and deforms when affixed to the cap module so as to form a compressive water-resistant seal to an interior of the capture device. In an exemplary embodiment, an LED may be captured within the capture device. The cap module may provide a compressing aperture to provide a water resistant seal around the lens of a LED projecting therethrough. | 07-30-2015 |
20150319824 | LOW VOLTAGE COUPLING DESIGN - Apparatus and associated methods relate to an electrical interface design architecture to independently excite each of a network of light strings and/or light string controllers with any of a number of independent excitation signals. In an illustrative example, each of the light strings may receive a selected one of the excitation signals conducted via a wiring assembly to an interface formed as a plug or a corresponding socket. In some embodiments, the interface may galvanically connect one or more of the excitation signals to a corresponding load according to user-selection of a relative orientation between the plug and the socket. In some implementations the load may include a down-stream controller that draws operating power through a selected one of the conductors at the interface. In various implementations, the interface may supply a load such as a multi-channel cable or single channel light string, for example. | 11-05-2015 |
20150359066 | ARCHITECTURE FOR ROUTING MULTI-CHANNEL COMMANDS VIA A TREE COLUMN - Apparatus and associated methods may relate to an artificial tree apparatus having a plurality of trunk segments that couple together to provide a plurality of information or command signals to load devices connected thereto. In an illustrative example, one or more branch segments having light emitting devices are connected to the trunk segments to independently receive the electrical power and command signals via a control system. In some implementations, each command signal generated by the control system may include data pertaining to light color and illumination pattern. In some embodiments, each branch segment and associated light emitting devices may be independently controlled via a multi-channel arrangement. In some implementations, each group of light emitting devices may be manually configured via one or more user-interfaces. In various implementations, each trunk segment may include an axial electrical connector which permits adjacent trunk segments from being connected in any radial orientation relative to each other. | 12-10-2015 |