Patent Application
20070157511
This invention is intended to alarm by flashing the tree lights or other lighted devices and sound a message recorded by the consumer of the invention when the water level in the Christmas tree reservoir drops below a determined level. Many times the water in the Christmas tree drops due to healthy propagation efforts by the plant. However, since the tree has been cut of its roots, the tree can only live a short time after it is harvested. It is important to keep the water filled in the tree reservoir so the tree branches and needles do not dry out, hence the tree becoming a fire hazard.
There is an abundance of Christmas tree water level detectors and watering devices. None of the devices mentioned in this document and known on the date of this publication has the technical electronic outputs of this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,860 issued Apr. 10, 1984 to Tsujimoto is a float-type detecting unit. The unit detects fluids, but the patent does not integrate a final output or circuit controlled by the float switch. There is prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,067 issued Sep. 12, 1995 to Wang that is a water level indicating system. This patent intends to turn on visual lights, indicating different levels of the water. The invention described in this document intends to have two specific outputs; flashing the tree lights or any lighted object plugged into the flasher outlet, and sounding a message recorded by the consumer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,017 issued Jan. 3 1989 to Merenda is a Christmas tree water level device that alarms when water is low but sounds a pulse driven signal that could mean an intermittent alarm like a car alarm or smoke detector. The invention cannot sound a recorded human voice however. Furthermore, the invention described and being applied for in this document can record any sound of reasonable decibel and play it back in infinite intervals depending on circuit design. The prior art of U.S. Pat No. 5,522,179 issued Jun. 4, 1996 to Hollis shows a water level control system for Christmas trees. The invention being applied for and described in this document is not designed to control the level of water by adding water from a second reservoir. The intent of the invention being applied for in this document is to alarm visually, by flashing the tree lights or a light, and sounding a recorded message. It is up to the consumer of this invention to add the water when these alarms are given.
This invention will detect the water level in a Christmas tree reservoir base at two stages. The stages are full and empty. The tree appears as normal when the water in the reservoir is full. When the water is empty due to the tree absorbing water, this invention will trigger a flasher outlet and flash any electrical device plugged into it. The term flash can be defined as turning a light on and off until the water is filled back up again. This invention will flash the outlet and sound a message recorded by the consumer by pressing a button and speaking into a microphone. A message could be “It is time to fill the water”. The messages are only limited to ones imagination and command of their language. The invention can record any sound within a reasonable decibel range. These messages will repeat in an interval depending on the design of the circuitry. Timing resistors control the intervals. The tree flashes the lights and sounds the message at the same time until the water is filled and a float switch turns off the current to the circuitry. The float switch activates the circuitry when the water is low. The current flowing through the float switch is direct and low. There is no risk of shock where the water and the float switch meet.
A power supply with a voltage regulator circuit 3 will provide current to the whole circuit. The regulator circuit 3 provides power to the voice recorder 9. A flashing unit 15 will begin to open and shut relay 17 when a float switch 5 closes relay 13 due to low water in the base 29. Relay 3 repetitively opens and closes a hot power lead 19 connected to an outlet 21. The float switch also triggers a timing circuit 23. The timing circuit 23 opens and closes relay 11 at a set interval provided by the timing circuit 23. Relay 11 turns the voice recorder 9 on and off at an interval. A pushbutton 7 allows a message to be recorded on the voice recorder 9 through a microphone 25. A plug and wire lead connects the circuitry to the float switch 5 in the base 29. An opening 31 in the base 29 allows water to contact the float switch 5. The base 29 has a multiple of threaded rods 31 to support the trunk of the tree. An ornament 33 houses a speaker 35. The speaker 35 relays the message recorded on the voice recorder 9. A length of wire 37 connects the speaker 35 to the voice recorder 9. A housing 39 will enclose the circuitry.
