Battery-powered tree
View Patent ↗Apparatus and associated methods relate to a battery-powered lighted tree formed from an artificial tree trunk adapted to be mechanically supported and electrically connected to a support structure external to the tree, artificial tree branches extending from the trunk, a light source disposed to emit light from a branch and electrically connected to the trunk, and, a base, formed from a battery, and, a structure adapted to mechanically support the trunk and electrically connect the trunk to the battery. In an illustrative example, the light source may be an LED-illuminated optic fiber. In some embodiments, the battery may be charged from a solar cell. Some designs may provide customizable illumination patterns using a programmable controller adapted to control the light source. Various embodiments may advantageously operate from battery for a seasonal display, for example, using lights and battery selected to provide a sufficient period of illumination each display season day.
1. A battery-powered lighted tree base comprising:
a plurality of battery units;
a battery retained within each of the plurality of battery units; and
a support structure adapted to mechanically support an artificial tree and electrically connect the artificial tree to the battery of each of the plurality of battery units;
wherein the plurality of battery units are external to the artificial tree; and
wherein the plurality of battery units are removably attachable from each wherein the plurality of removably attachable battery units are removably attachable four quarter-sections that form the base that is a circular base.
2. The battery-powered lighted tree base of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of battery units includes electrical controls adapted to control lights in the artificial tree.
3. The battery-powered lighted tree base of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery units are electrically connected to each other via at least one electrical connection that bridges the support structure.
4. The battery-powered lighted tree base of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners that fasten the plurality of battery units to a plurality of members of the support structure.
5. The battery-powered lighted tree base of claim 1 , wherein the four removably attachable quarter-section batteries are removably attachable to each other via electrical connections and removably attachable to the support structure via a plurality of fasteners.
6. A lighted tree comprising:
an artificial tree trunk adapted to be mechanically supported and electrically connected to a support structure external to the artificial tree;
a plurality of artificial tree branches extending from the trunk;
at least one light source disposed to emit light from a branch, the at least one light source electrically connected to the trunk; and
a base formed from a plurality of removably attachable battery units, each of the plurality of removably attachable battery units including a battery that is electrically connected to the artificial tree trunk;
wherein the plurality of removably attachable battery units are external to the artificial tree wherein the plurality of removably attachable battery units are removably attachable four quarter-sections that form the base that is a circular base.
7. The lighted tree of claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source further comprises an LED array.
8. The lighted tree of claim 6 , wherein: the lighted tree further comprises a light emitter optically coupled with the at least one light source; and, the light emitter is an optical fiber.
9. The lighted tree of claim 6 , wherein the lighted tree further comprises a container retaining the at least one light source, and the light source is plugged into the container.
10. The lighted tree of claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source further comprises a multiplicity of glitter type LED sets, each set of glitter lights having its own control.
11. The lighted tree of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of removably attachable battery units are removably attachable from each other and from the support structure.
12. The lighted tree of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of removably attachable battery units are removably attachable four quarter-sections that form the base that is a circular base.
13. A battery-powered lighted tree comprising:
a battery-powered lighted tree base, comprising:
a plurality of battery units;
a battery retained within each of the plurality of battery units; and
a support structure adapted to mechanically support an artificial tree and electrically connect the artificial tree to the battery of each of the plurality of battery units;
wherein the plurality of battery units are external to the artificial tree;
wherein the plurality of battery units are removably attachable from each other; and
a lighted tree attached to the base, the lighted tree comprising:
an artificial tree trunk adapted to be mechanically supported and electrically connected to a base;
a plurality of artificial tree branches extending from the trunk; and
a plurality of light sources disposed to emit light from the branches and electrically connected with the wherein the plurality of removably attachable battery units are removably attachable four quarter-sections that form the base that is a circular base.
14. The battery-powered lighted tree of claim 13 , wherein the battery-powered lighted tree base further comprises a photovoltaic cell adapted to charge the battery.
15. The battery-powered lighted tree of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of battery units provide power to illuminate the lighted tree for as many as 4 weeks at 5-6 hours per day.
16. The battery-powered lighted tree of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of light sources provide illumination for as many as 4 weeks at 5-6 hours per day.
17. The battery-powered lighted tree of claim 13 , wherein the at least one light source further comprises a multiplicity of glitter type LED sets.
18. The battery-powered lighted tree of claim 13 , wherein the four removably attachable quarter-section batteries are removably attachable to each other via electrical connections and removably attachable to the support structure via a plurality of fasteners.