For serious collectors: some Hallmark Star Trek ornaments are stamped “Patented Canada 1988” — that marking refers to the light-string ornament circuitry patent. So far I’ve only seen the Canadian designation on the 1992 Galileo, 1993 Enterprise-D, and 1994 Bird of Prey. If you’ve found it on other Star Trek ornaments, please send photos — I’ll add them to the catalog!

U.S. Patent: US4682079A

Abstract

A decorative device is disclosed which includes a motor, music module or other electrical loads and electrical circuitry and a connector for connection to a selected socket of a string of conventional sockets for connection to an A.C. line. The connector includes an elongated flexible cable and is constructed to permit ready installation and positioning. Lamps may be provided in the device. The electrical circuit includes a bridge rectifier and Zener diodes connected to insure continuous energization of lamps of the string while protecting against excessive voltages and minimizing safety hazards.

Canada Patent: CA1243727A

Abstract of the Disclosure

This invention relates to ornaments for installation in a string of lights and more particularly to ornaments which have lights and electrically energizable musical and/or motion produc-ing devices which cooperate to produce attractive sensory effects.
Circuitry is provided for operating such devices in a safe and highly reliable manner, while being compact and readily and econo-mically manufacturable. In one embodiment, an enhanced visual effect is produced by a rotating element driven through a gear reduction unit from a small electric motor. In another embodi-ment, a music module is provided which includes a small speaker energized from an integrated circuit which generates musical tones. In an ornament constructed in accordance with the invention, connectors are provided to connect input terminals of a bridge rectifier in a string of lamps while a lamp of the ornament is connected in series with a load device and to output terminals of the bridge rectifier, with protection means being provided for limiting voltages across the lamp and the load device, and to thereby protect against possible highly adverse consequences of open circuit conditions. The connection of the lamp in the output circuit of the rectifier, in series with the load device, rather than in series with the input of the rectifier, is advantageous in connection with limiting voltages in the circuit and in permitting use of a lamp which does not need to match the lamps of the string. Preferably, the voltage across the lamp is limited by a single Zener diode, only one diode being required since the cur-rent is unidirectional in the output circuit of the rectifier.
The Zener diode across the lamp provides additional protection against burn-out and extends the life of the lamp, to provide further protection against open-circuit conditions.

Hallmark used the “Patented Canada 1988” marking from at least 1991–1997.