US3601778A

US3601778A - Lamp socket

Info

Publication number: US3601778A
Application number: US796058A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald G Hollett
Original assignee: Microdot Inc
Current assignee: Microdot Inc
Priority date: 1969-02-03
Filing date: 1969-02-03
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24
Also published as: DE2000853A1; GB1250442A; JPS498553B1; FR2032701A5

Abstract

The socket is constructed from a tube having a pair of bayonet slots and a locating slot formed outwardly of the tube wall. A cylindrical insulating element has a pair of conductors fixed thereto, the portion extending from the front face being helically formed for engaging the contacts of a two filament light bulb and the portion extending from the rear face forming terminals. A ground terminal is also supported by the insulating element having a portion in contact with the wall of the tube with the terminal end spaced a greater distance from the center of the element for locating the contacts of a plug insertable in the rear end of the tube for properly connecting the three terminals to a circuit.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ronald G. Hnllett 3,052,867 9/1962 Rogofl' 339/217 Rechedenhlkh. "3,105,730 10/1963 Smith 339/ 188 X [21] Appl. No. 796,058 3,139,316 6/1964 Meyer etal 3391188 [22] Filed Feb. 3, 1969 3,272,913 9/1966 C rimmins etal 339/188 X [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,344,388 9/1967 Parker et al. 339/188 X [73] Aaignee MlcrodotJnc. 3,460,088 8/1969 Arnao et a1. 339/188 X New York Primary Examiner-David H. Brown Attomey-Httrness, Dickey & Pierce [54] :wm ig m ABSTRACT: The socket is constructed from a tube having a pair of bayonet $108 and a locating slot formed outwardly of [52] 339/188, the tube wall. A cylindrical insulating element has a pair of 339/14 conductors fixed thereto, the portion extending'from the front [51] face being helically formed for engaging the contacts of a two [50] FleldolSearch 339/ 188, fil t light and the extending f the real 217 4 face forming terminals. A ground terminal is also supported by the insulating element having a portion in contact with the [56] new. Cu wall of the tube with the terminal end spaced a greater UNn-ED STATES PATENTS distance from the center of the element for locating the conl,5l1,267 10/1924 Croninger 339/188 tacts of a plug insertable in the rear end of the tube for 2,549,134 4/1951 Shaback 339/188 properly connecting the three terminals to a circuit.

AZ/J

I; 1 ii LAMP SOCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There isno known art which teaches the construction of the lamp socket in accordance with the present invention and the structure is believed to be new and patentable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a lamp socket which is rugged of construction, which is simple of manufacture and assembly and which positively locates the filaments of a light bulb in a desired position. The socket is of tubular construction having bayonet slots and a locating slot pressed outwardly from the tube wall for locating a light bulb relative to the socket and the contact fingers relative thereto. A cylindrically formed insulating element has three apertures therethrough, two for receiving the bodies of conducting elements which are fixed thereto having nested fingers of helical shape at the forward or bulb receiving end with the portions extending from the rear face forming terminals. The third aperture receives a ground terminal which is secured to the insulating element and which contacts the wall of the tube. The ground terminal extends rearwardly from the insulating element and is spaced a greater distance from the center thereof for locating corresponding contacts in a plug which are to engage the terminals. The outwardly extending locating slot positions the socket within an aperture of a receptacle, panel or other supporting element for locating the pair of filaments within the lamp bulb in predetermined position relative thereto. Various known means may be provided for securing the socket in sealed relation to the receptacle or other support and retaining it in fixed or releasable relation therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. '1 is a sectional view of a socket mounted in a receptacle embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken end view of the socket illustrated in FIG. 1, as viewed from the point 2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a broken end view of the socket illustrated in FIG. 1, as viewed from the point 3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken on the line 5-5 thereof with parts in elevation;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of one of the terminal elements illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, as viewed from the lamp bulb-engaging end thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6 after the stamping and before the forming operation thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The socket 1 1 has a tubular body 12 containing a pair of oppositely disposed bayonet slots 13 and a locating slot 14 pressed outwardly of the wall thereof. A cylindrical insulating element 15 is insertable within the tubular body having an outwardly extending rib engaged in the locating slot 14. The insulating element 15 is retained against further inward movement by a section 16 of the tubular wall which is deflected inwardly therefrom to form a stop against which the bottom of the insulating element abuts when urged inwardly by the lamp bulb. The front face of the insulating element has a cylindrical recess 17 extending therein from which flat

helical fingers

18 and 19 extend in a position to engage the two contacts of a double filament lamp bulb. A pair of rectangular slots 21 extend through the body of the insulating member 15 spaced equidistantly from the center thereof and in angular relation to each other.

The fingers l8 and 19 are located on the end of a stamping 22 which have a pair of rectangular sections 23 and 24 extending therefrom with a lanced-out finger 25 adjacent to the

finger

18 or 19 and afinger 26 lanced from the section 24 and extending in the same direction as; fi nger 25. The

fingers

18 and 19 are helically formed as illustrated in FIG. 6, and the section 24 is bent backward onto'the section 23. In this form the

fingers

25 and 26 are oppositely presented and located a distance apart such as to have the finger 25 engage the front face of the body portion of the insulating element 15 and the finger 26 engage the rear face thereof when both of the sections are inserted through slots 21 to form terminal blades. It will be noted that a shoulder 30 is provided at the upper end of the section 23 in position to engage the front face of the body portion of the insulating element in which case the finger 25 can be eliminated. When both of the apertures 21 support the sections 23 and 24, the helical finger l8 and 19 are in nested out of contact relation to each other with the extended

fingers

18 and 19 so located as to engage a pair of contacts on the base of the lamp bulb forming a live contact with one 'end of each of the filaments. The other end of the filaments engages the sleeve of the lamp bulb which contacts the wall of the tubular body 12.

A ground terminal 27 is secured in a third aperture 28 through the body of the insulating element 15 spaced a greater distance from the center thereof than that of the slots 21 to form a locating relation therewith. The ground terminal 27 is made from a strip of conductive material which is bent backward on itself to form a terminal blade and have a section 29 in engagement with a section 31 to form the ground terminal 27. The free end of the section 29 extends through the aperture 28 and has a lanced-out finger 33 at the upper end which engages the front face of the body portion of the insulating element 13. The section 31 is bent outwardly at 34 and formed forwardly at 35 and shaped on an arc struck from the center of the tubular body 12 to engage the wall thereof. When disposed in position as illustrated in FIG. 1, aslight recess 36 in the wall of the insulating element 15 receives the formed end 35 and maintains it in conductive relationship with the tubular body wall. The ground terminal 27 being eccentrically located relative to the terminals formed by the abutting sections 23 and 24 locates the plug of a wiring circuit when being inserted in the rear end of the tubular body 12 for properly connecting the positive and negative leads of a circuit thereto.

It is to be understood that a wall of the tubular body may be staked on the forward side of the insulating element 15 to prevent it from moving forwardly when the lamp bulb is removed. A flanged collar 37 is illustrated as being secured to the outer surface of the wall of the tubular body 12, with a flange 38 thereon to which a ring of elastomeric material 39 is secured for the purpose of sealing the body against the bottom of a receptacle or other support 41. In the structure illustrated, after the insertion of the front end of the tubular body within an aperture 42 in a receptacle 4l'with a predetermined sealing pressure applied thereto the forward end is spun over at 43 to permanently secure the body 12 to the receptacle. It is to be understood that this permanent attachment is by way of example and that there are other types of attaching means of the permanent or releasable types known in the art to be suitable which may be substituted therefor. It is to be understood that when the aperture 42 is provided through the receptacle or support 41 a notch is cut in the edge to receive the wall of the locating slot 14 to thereby orient the socket and therefore the pair of filaments relative to the support.

What is claimed is:

1. In a socket, a cylindrical body having lamp bulb securing and locating slots in the wall thereof, a unit insulating element within the body having a rib extending in said locating slot, said element having a pair of rectangular apertures therethrough extending from the front to the rear face thereof, a pair of conducting members having a rectangular body portion extending through said slots forming rigid terminal blades i I 2; In a socket at recited in'c laim- 11, wherein unit insulat- .ing' element has a cylindrical recess inthe front 'end thereof in which aaid contact: can be deflected out of engagement' with v I laid cylindrical body. 1

3. in a rocket aa recited'in claim 1, wherein the means for aecuring' said members to said in'aulating element are lancedout fingera one of which engages the front faoeand the other the rear face of aid inaulating element.

a. In a aocket as recited in claim 3, wherein the said inaulating element ha a third alot therethrough; and a ground terminal blade secured to and extending 'from'the rear face of the insulating element and having a portion-engaging theinner 1 aurt'aceofaaidcylindricalbody. v

5. In a aocket as recited in claim 4; wherein said ground terminal blade 'napaced a greater radial distance from the center ,ofaaid insulating element than said contact terminal blades for locating a plug of a" circuit when inaerted into the rear end of a'aidcylindricalbody. a-

6. In a socket as recited in claim 5, wherein a support for aaid locket haa an aperture with a slot in the edge which receivea the locating alot on the cylindrical body for locating rocket and therefore the filaments of the lamp relative to 7.. Inaaocket aa recited inclaim 6. wherein the m,- element baa its front face to encloee the lower por'-- tionof the lamp bulb engaging fingera and provide length to the peripheral wall for the element within the cylindrical body. I

8. lnaaocltetaarecitedinclaim 5,whereinaaidlamp bulb 10. In a pocket as recited in claim 9; wherein the aection extending through aaid has a lanced-out finger which en'- gages the, front face of the insulating element, the other section having an olfaet engaging the rear face of the element.

Claims

1. In a socket, a cylindrical body having lamp bulb securing and locating slots in the wall thereof, a unit insulating element within the body having a rib extending in said locating slot, said element having a pair of rectangular apertures therethrough extending from the front to the rear face thereof, a pair of conducting members having a rectangular body portion extending through said slots forming rigid terminal blades at the rear and deflectable contacts at the front for engaging the terminals of a lamp bulb, and means for securing said members against axial movement to the front and rear faces of said insulating element.

2. In a socket as recited in claim 1, wherein said unit insulating element has a cylindrical recess in the front end thereof in which said contacts can be deflected out of engagement with said cylindrical body.

3. In a socket as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for securing said members to said insulating element are lanced-out fingers one of which engages the front face and the other the rear face of said insulating element.

4. In a socket as recited in claim 3, wherein the said insulating element has a third slot therethrough, and a ground terminal blade secured to and extending from the rear face of the insulating element and having a portion engaging the inner surface of said cylindrical body.

5. In a socket as recited in claim 4, wherein said ground terminal blade is spaced a greater radial distance from the center of said insulating element than said contact terminal blades for locating a plug of a circuit when inserted into the rear end of said cylindrical body.

6. In a socket as recited in claim 5, wherein a support for said socket has an aperture with a slot in the edge which receives the locating slot on the cylindrical body for locating the socket and therefore the filaments of the lamp relative to said support.

7. In a socket as recited in claim 6, wherein the insulating element has a recess in its front face to enclose the lower portion of the lamp bulb engaging fingers and provide length to the peripheral wall for stabilizing the element within the cylindrical body.

8. In a socket as recited in claim 5, wherein said lamp bulb engaging terminals are of double wall thickness one section being bent backwardly upon another section each section containing a lanced-out finger which extends in the same direction before the bending operation.

9. In a socket as recited in claim 8, wherein the ground terminal is of double wall thickness one section extending through the insulating element, the other section engaging the cylindrical body.

10. In a socket as recited in claim 9, wherein the section extending through said body has a lanced-out finger which engages the front face of the insulating element, the other section having an offset portion engaging the rear face of the element.