Abstract: A device for interconnecting electrical wiring or for accessing electrical current carried by electrical wiring includes an electrical junction housing for receiving an electrical cable, an inner housing inserted into the junction housing to connect the individual wires of the incoming electrical cable to a first magnetic electrical connector carried by the inner housing. A physical interface device such as a switch or a wall socket is then wired to a second magnetic electrical connector that can be plugged into the electrical junction housing. The two magnetic electrical connectors, when joined in the correct orientation, pass electrical current.

Abstract: The present magnetic electrical connectors use magnets to press electrical terminals together, when the magnetic electrical connectors are correctly oriented with respect to each other. A magnetic electrical connector is identical other magnetic electrical connectors so there are fewer parts used for manufacturing and the assembly of the electrical connectors is simplified. The present electrical connectors improve electrical connection in applications where physical connection may be difficult to achieve because of limited physical access or because of low light conditions. When inserted into the ends of a conduit, the present magnetic electrical connectors transfer electricity through conduits that may have a different primary purpose. Conduits may be, for example, scaffolding or temporary barriers, velvet rope, or trim for modular furniture. In the case of scaffolding and a temporary barriers, magnetic electrical connectors can transfer electricity for lighting, power tools, and communications.

Abstract: A support is configured to be attached to and supported by a surface and to a channel running from the first end to the opposing second end of the support. The support carries a first magnetic electrical connector in a first end of the channel and a second magnetic electrical connector, wired to the first, in the opposing, second end of the channel. The first magnetic electrical connector is in electrical connection with the second magnetic electrical connector via at least one electrical conductor. An electrical current applied to the first magnetic electrical connector is conveyed by that electrical conductor to the second magnetic electrical connector. Wiring is directed through holed in the support to access points in the outer surface of the support where the user may access electrical current for operating appliances, charging batteries, and passing digital information. The supports may be decorative molding such as baseboards, crown molding, and chair rails.

Abstract: An artificial tree includes a base supporting a hollow trunk. The base includes plural legs connected to a central core. The base carries a housing containing an electrical controller for transforming, rectifying, and filtering electrical power received from a power receptacle. The housing includes a heat pump to dissipate heat from the electrical controller. A series of interconnected conduits comprises the tree trunk. A conduit has two identical electrical connectors that self-orient by magnetic repulsion to preserve electrical parity when connecting conduits together. Wiring harnesses run between the two electrical connectors in the conduit. The outside surface of the conduits carries hinge brackets to receive and pivotally hold artificial limbs. These limbs carry light strings and are pivotable between folded and deployed orientations. Wires from the wiring harness are pulled through holes in the sides of the conduits and connect to light strings on nearby limbs.

Abstract: An electric light including a lamp base and lamp housing with electrical connectors that are closed by magnetic attraction when polarity is correct. The lamp base is held physically in place in the lamp housing by the magnetic attraction of two pair of magnets without the need of a threaded connection. The magnet pairs hold the lamp base to the lamp housing in a fixed orientation allowing electricity to flow through the terminals in the lamp housing regardless of whether the source of electrical current is direct or alternating, and, if direct current is the source, such as electrical current from solar cells or batteries, preserves polarity, and can deliver direct current when the light source uses direct current, such as LEDs.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution system for use in providing power for personal, commercial, and industrial uses. The electrical power distribution system may be incorporated in products such as safety barriers, velvet ropes for events, office furniture and home interior trim. The basic component is a conduit section that holds identical electrical connectors at each ends and which interconnect and interlock automatically when rotated to the correct orientation, at which point they have the correct polarity.

Abstract: Electrical connectors use magnetic repulsion for orienting themselves in the right polarity and magnetic attraction for holding together. When inserted into the ends of a conduit, a pair of these electrical connectors can transfer electricity through the conduit. Each electrical connector includes a housing with top and bottom surfaces and a fixed and a movable terminal both of which are recessed below the top surface of their respective, parallel passages. A spring controls terminal movement. Each terminal carries an electrical contact. A torus-shaped magnet surrounds the contact of the contact in the movable terminal so that its magnetic field energizes that contact. The magnets in movable terminals of each electrical connector are oriented in the same way so movable terminals of electrical connectors repel each other but fixed terminals attract movable terminals from their passages and into the passages of the fixed terminals so that two electrical connectors lock together.

Abstract: A tree stand includes a housing dimensioned for holding electronic components used in providing electricity in support of decorative lighting for the tree. The tree stand removes heat from the housing without the use moving parts. Floor vents enable cool air to enter the housing; upper vents enable that air, warmed by the electrical components, to escape to the housing and into a heat riser housing as part of a growing, circular heat thermal. The heat follows a spiral ramp in the heat riser housing exiting vents at the top where additional heat is conducted into the tree itself, radiated into the air. Tree legs can be increased in number or replaced with longer legged trees without tools by insertion of the side wall into a slot formed in the legs and then slid around the circular slide wall from the notch where each leg is inserted.

Abstract: A magnetic repulsion-based coupler for an electrical connector includes a housing with two passages formed therein, a male terminal having a magnetic top on one of the passages, and a female terminal having a top made of a material attracted to a magnet in the other passage of the housing. Two such housings form an electrical connector for passing electric power from one conductor to another while preserving polarity when the couplers self-align. Self-alignment occurs when their opposing male terminals repel each other and are each attracted to the female terminals of the opposing couplers. Each passage in the housing of a coupler is formed to receive only the male or female terminal.