Artificial Tree Power Connector Without Rotational Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of artificial Christmas trees is hindered by the need to rotationally align electrical prongs of trunk sections, which can be frustrating and time-consuming due to the difficulty in ensuring proper engagement of male and female ends.
Innovation Solution
A power transfer system with a male end featuring a central prong and a channel prong, and a female end with a central void and a circular channel void, allowing the prongs to engage in various rotational configurations, eliminating the need for precise alignment during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical prongs are used to connect trunk sections, then power transfer between sections is enabled, but rotational alignment difficulty increases assembly time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric geometry in the connection interface where the male end features a single prong while the female end has a corresponding single receptacle, positioned offset from the center. This asymmetric arrangement creates a self-aligning mechanism that eliminates the need for rotational alignment during assembly, resolving the contradiction between reliable electrical connection and assembly time.
2Reliability
If rotational alignment is required for prong engagement, then proper electrical connection is ensured, but ease of operation deteriorates due to alignment difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface is designed to be self-aligning, where the single prong on the male end automatically finds its corresponding receptacle on the female end without requiring user intervention for rotational alignment. The asymmetric positioning and geometric constraints enable the connection to self-correct during insertion, improving ease of operation while maintaining connection reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple attempts are made to align prongs and slots, then electrical connection is achieved, but device complexity increases due to alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex rotational alignment mechanism from the connection interface. By using a single prong-receptacle arrangement with asymmetric positioning, the design removes the need for multiple alignment features, detents, or guide mechanisms that would increase device complexity, while still ensuring reliable electrical connection through the self-aligning geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A power transfer system to facilitate the transfer of electrical power between tree trunk sections of an artificial tree is disclosed. The power transfer system can advantageously enable neighboring tree trunk sections to be electrically connected without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections. Power distribution subsystems can be disposed within the trunk sections. The power distribution subsystems can comprise a male end, a female end, or both. The male ends can have prongs and the female ends can have voids. The prongs can be inserted into the voids to electrically connect the power distribution subsystems of neighboring tree trunk sections. In some embodiments, the prongs and voids are designed so that the prongs of one power distribution subsystem can engage the voids of another power distribution subsystem without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections.