Glossary and Terminology
Updated
General
Material: Trees are typically made from PVC, but some premium styles use Polyethylene (PE).
Fire Retardant: All of the Christmas trees that are manufactured by Polygroup are made of either Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and/or Polyethylene (PE). The materials used to manufacture the Christmas trees are flame retardant and should not become a fire accelerator.
Height: The height of tree is measured from the floor to the top of the tree.
Tips: The term represents the individual number of branch tips that make up the tree.
Branches: The segment extending from the tree €˜trunk” which the individual tips are attached to. One branch will hold many tips.
Width: Dimension of the widest part of the tree, which typically is near the base of the tree. Some trees, however, have a beveled bottom and the widest part is not the very bottom.
Tree stands: These come in different types (see below for descriptions) and helpstabilize the bottom section that supports the entire tree.
EZ-Store Stand: A specialized stand with wheels that allows for ease of storage of an assembled tree.
Plastic stand: Injection molded and usually made from PVC. These stands are strong but only support trees up to a certain height.
Metal "wire" stand: This patented design, premium stand can be configured to support a tree of nearly any size or weight.
Metal "sheet metal" stand: This patented design uses sheet metal for construction, which is slightly less expensive than the “wire” stand.
Rotating stand: This stand slowly rotates the tree in a circle, allowing for all decorations to be visible. Rotating stands will have one or more electrical outlets included where the lights will connect to. Caution: The wires connecting the lights must not get tangled as the tree turns to avoid potential harm.
“Real Tree” stand: A different style stand that will accept a real tree and provides some mechanism for watering the tree.
Needle style tips: Extruded PE that creates a round “wire” that is then used to create “needle look” tips. This is the most realistic tips style.
Film style tips: The most common tip style. Uses calendared PVC, which is cut into narrow strips and attached to the individual tips.
Tinsel: This material offers areflective property. Can be used exclusively on a tree or mixed with PVC film to give a glittery look to the product.
PE Tip: An injection molded tip made from polyethylene resin (PE). PE tips are more realistic in appearance than PVC tips. PE is considerably more expensive than PVC.
Pre-lit tree: This tree is sold with lights already attached to the branches.
Un-lit tree: A tree that is sold without lights.
Cashmere tip: A tip treated to fray the ends of the individual needles giving a softer appearance.
Dew drops: A tip treatment where a clear resin is applied on tip ends to give the appearance of dew collecting on the end of the tip.
Flocking: A white (or colored) snow-like material applied to the tip of the entire tree to give the impression of snow accumulation. The flocking is non-toxic to humans and animals.
Berries: Artificial holly-like berries thatcan be applied to the tips as an accessory. The berries come in a number of sizesand colors.
Grapevine: Real grapevine can be woven into the tip to add another element of realism. Since grape vines are made from natural materials, containers that store these products must be fumigated, which adds cost.
Pine cones: Real pine cones (various sizes) can be attached to individual tips to give the appearance of realism. As the cones are natural, containers that storethese products must usually be fumigated, which adds cost.
Low lead: Refers to electrical wiring or other components that have low lead content that exempts them from labeling requirements of California Prop 65.
Hinged construction trees: This is a tree constructionwhere eachbranch is attached to the tree and can move up and down to facilitate easy packing and setup. Most pre-lit trees(except small, one-piece trees) are hinged construction. It is the most expensive construction type because of labor and additional parts.
Hooked construction trees: This less-expensive construction requires that eaach branch must be manually attached to the tree trunk via a hook. This is more time consuming for the consumer, but this construction enables individual branches to be packed carefullyto avoid damage.
Quick Set or EZ Connect trees: Specialized hinged trees that utilizes power within the trunk of the tree. May have traditional, RCA Jack, or protected jack female connects on the trunk.
Wrapped construction: The least-expensive construction features branches that are wrapped around the tree trunk tohold it in place. These trees look the least like live treesand can be easily damaged with packing and unpackingbecausethe branch must be put back into position each time. Due to the poor appearance and short life-span, Polygroup only uses this type of construction on small trees.
California Proposition 65: A law in the state of California that requires all products that contain a minimum level of €˜hazardous” substances to feature a warning label. The presence of this label does not mean the product itself is hazardous, only that it contain allegedly hazardous substances.
Miracle tree or Perfect Shape: A tree made with a rigid wire design that enables an easier set up. The rigid wire allows tips to snap back into place, so the user doesn't need to spend much time ”shaping” the tree to get it to look full.
Tree shaping: The process of setting up the tree and bending and adjusting each individual tip to give the tree a proper shape and appearance.
Mixed tips: A tree branch that contains different tip styles (for example, PE tips mixed with PVC).
Component: A part, that when used with other parts, makes a complete system (tree components include branches, lights, stand, sections, poles).
UPC: Universal Product Code. It is a series of number located below the bar code. This is important for determining model types and for warranty claims.
PE: Polyethylene is a plastic that can be molded into three-dimensional objects and can accept various dyes.
PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride is a plastic that is flat material and cannot be molded into a three-dimensional shape. PVC is commonly used in artificial trees. PVC is the plastic of choice for many applications because of itscost, durability, fire-resistant properties and natural resource-saving features.
GFCI: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. This fast-acting circuit breaker is designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40th of a second.
Surebright: The ”never out, sure-lit” incandescent bulb strand that keeps other bulbs on the strand lit after one or more bulbs goes out. These bulbs are identified by a white collar bulb at the beginning of the strand. These bulbs also lack an outside locking mechanism.
Fuse bulb: Also known as master bulbs. These bulbs, which have a quite collar, absorb energy and prevent further damage in the event of a power surge or sudden spike in electricity. Fuse bulbs are spaced between every 50 bulbs. These bulbs are glued in and the consumer is discouraged from removing them. Doing so will void the warranty of the tree.
Christmas Lighting Terminology
Bulb: The glass section that houses the filament or LED.
Collar: The plastic base that secures the bulbs. There is no universal collar shape or size. When the customer is purchasing new bulbs from a store,theyshould remove and save the collars from the oldbulbs that came with the tree.
Lamp: Bulbs and collars together are referred to as the “lamp.” Customers receive various amounts of replacement bulbs based on the size of the tree. The larger the tree, the more replacement bulbs provided.
Power rating: There are different power ratings for light bulbs. The most common rating is 2.5 volt, which has long been the standard for mini Christmas lights. The second rating is 3.5 volt. There are no visual differences between the two types of bulbs, but they are not interchangeable. The 2.5v strands come in multiples of 50 lights and 3.5v strands come in multiples of 35 lights. If you don't know the power rating of a light strand,refer to the flashy, metallic sticker at the base of the strand plug.
Types of Lights
Incandescent: Standard lighting using a filament that glows when a current is put through. Incandescent bulbs can be large (C9) or small (mini-lights).
Surebright: AKA ”Never-Out” or ”StayLit”; A Polygroup proprietary “premium” light design that allows the string to stay lit even if a bulb is burned out. (Patented) Surebright can also be referred to as dual circuit technology.
LED: Unlike traditional miniature incandescent bulbs, they are illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semi-conductor material causing an internal filament to glow. LED lights are efficient and don't produce much heat or waste electricity.
Dual Color LED: Same as standard LED lights, however the bulbs can change between clear or multi color dependent on the customer's setup.
Warmbright: A patent-pending design of an LED light that provides a warm, realistic color similar to that of incandescent lights.
C-Style lights: Refers to a type of egg-shaped cover that vary in size. C9 lights are the largest, and there are C7 and C5 lights as well. C-style lights typically are incandescent, but a C5 cover can be put over an LED to make a C5 LED light.
