EP0662584B1 - Lampsocket and pocket lamp provided therewith - Google Patents

Lampsocket and pocket lamp provided therewith Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0662584B1
EP0662584B1 EP19940810728 EP94810728A EP0662584B1 EP 0662584 B1 EP0662584 B1 EP 0662584B1 EP 19940810728 EP19940810728 EP 19940810728 EP 94810728 A EP94810728 A EP 94810728A EP 0662584 B1 EP0662584 B1 EP 0662584B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
socket
housing
cap
lighting
contact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19940810728
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0662584A1 (en
Inventor
Antoine Cahen
Claude Frossard
Walter Etter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Leclanche SA
Original Assignee
Leclanche SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Leclanche SA filed Critical Leclanche SA
Priority to EP19940810728 priority Critical patent/EP0662584B1/en
Publication of EP0662584A1 publication Critical patent/EP0662584A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0662584B1 publication Critical patent/EP0662584B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21L—LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
    • F21L4/00—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
    • F21L4/005—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells the device being a pocket lamp
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V14/00—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements
    • F21V14/04—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements by movement of reflectors
    • F21V14/045—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements by movement of reflectors in portable lighting devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V19/00—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders
    • F21V19/006—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base
    • F21V19/0065—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base at least one conductive element acting as a support means, e.g. spring-mounted contact plate in a bayonet base
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F21V23/0414—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a lighting socket supporting a bulb as well as a flashlight equipped with such a socket, the ignition, respectively the extinction of the bulb being obtained by an action on said socket, the latter can be removed from the flashlight housing.
  • the use of the lighting socket for means other than a flashlight are also provided.
  • a first consists of a closed plastic casing containing a few battery cells, the upper part of the casing being provided with a circular cylindrical opening, at the bottom and on the side face from which two contact blades are visible, and d a cylindrical metal socket surrounding the bulb, said socket being able to be introduced into the circular opening of the housing.
  • a second known flashlight consists of a housing quite similar to the previous one, the upper face of which comprises a socket surrounding the bulb, a collar being disposed around the socket in order to be able to rotate it and ensure ignition or switching off the bulb by a set of contacts arranged inside the housing.
  • the socket only cannot be removed; when the battery is exhausted, it is possible to remove the entire upper part of the housing provided with the socket to reinstall it on a lower portion of new housing.
  • the disadvantages of this lamp are that it is not possible to reinstall the upper part of the housing on a lower portion of another shape and that if one wishes to make the lamp waterproof, it is necessary to independently seal the connection between the two parts of the housing as well as the socket itself.
  • Application DE-A-38 17 861 describes a socket arranged on a flashlight; since the part ensuring contact with one of the poles of the battery is fixed to the socket when the bulb is inserted therein, this socket cannot therefore be removed from the lamp housing, furthermore ignition or switching off the bulb is not controlled by the socket.
  • a socket can only accept bulbs whose base is not threaded.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide a socket and a flashlight which do not meet the mentioned drawbacks of sockets and lamps known from the prior art and also have additional advantages which will appear in the detailed description which follows.
  • the invention firstly provides a lighting socket having the characteristics of claim 1, particular and variant embodiments being described in the dependent claims, as well as a flashlight according to claims 12 to 16, other modes of use of the light fitting being provided in claims 17 and 18.
  • a flashlight 1 consisting of a housing 10 containing one or more battery elements 11 surmounted by a lante insulating tongue 12 on which rest two conductive blades, a first blade 13, connected for example to the pole negative of the battery constituted by the batteries 11 and a second blade 14 connected for example to the positive pole.
  • the upper face of the housing 10 comprises a circular cylindrical opening 15 in which a sleeve 2 is pivotally disposed.
  • the opening 15 is shown here in the center of the upper face of the housing 10, but it could just as easily be offset towards one end.
  • the transmission of current to the bulb 3 disposed in the socket 2 see FIG.
  • the spring strip 16 is of generally circular section and in fact constitutes a spring wire.
  • FIG. 2 shows in detail, on an enlarged scale, the socket 2 above.
  • This consists mainly of an envelope 20, made of insulating material, comprising an upper portion which protrudes from the opening 15 of the lamp housing 10, here provided with a flange 15A, and a lower portion located at the interior of the opening 15.
  • the interior of the lower portion is configured so as to receive a base 31 of a bulb 3, in the case shown here a smooth base provided with a stop ring 32 at its the top part.
  • the bottom of the lower portion of the envelope 20 comprises an opening 21 through which the contact 30 of the bottom of the base passes.
  • the socket 2 further comprises a fixing part 22, introduced through the opening 23 arranged on the upper face of the socket, after the bulb 3 has been inserted therein.
  • the fixing piece 22 encloses the upper part of the bulb 3 in order to position it axially and radially in the socket 2 and tightens the stop ring 32 against a flange 24 arranged in the lower portion of the socket in order to fix the bulb 3 in said socket.
  • This fixing piece is fixed to the inner wall of the upper portion of the socket by means of one or more fingers or of an elastic ring 22A which holds the fixing piece 22 in place in the socket, either by its own elasticity, either by crimping, or by bonding or by any other known means.
  • the part of the fixing piece opposite the bulb 3 has a concave shape, its surface 22B being covered with a reflective material, for example silver, in order to form a reflector.
  • the opening 23 of the upper part of the sleeve can be closed by a transparent material, for example a glass 25 fixed in any known manner, and preferably in a sealed manner.
  • the bulb 3 shown here has a cylindrical base 31, but it is obvious that the interior part of the socket can be shaped to receive a bulb of another type, for example with a screw base or a bayonet base.
  • An opening in the form of a first peripheral groove 27 is arranged around the periphery of the lower portion of the sleeve, the upper face of said groove preferably being at the level of the lower surface of the upper face. of the housing 10.
  • This opening or contact and fixing groove 27 is of particular shape in this embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 3A to 3C.
  • the socket may also include another peripheral groove 26 located on a portion of its height located between groove 27 and the upper portion of the socket, that is to say facing a bearing surface of the flange 15A of the opening 15 made in the housing 10, so as to be able to accommodate an O-ring 26A ensuring the tightness of the socket 2 relative to the housing 10.
  • another peripheral groove 26 located on a portion of its height located between groove 27 and the upper portion of the socket, that is to say facing a bearing surface of the flange 15A of the opening 15 made in the housing 10, so as to be able to accommodate an O-ring 26A ensuring the tightness of the socket 2 relative to the housing 10.
  • the groove 27 is of variable depth, two opposite portions of said groove entirely passing through the thickness of the envelope, thus forming two openings 27C in said envelope, while two other portions, offset of a quarter turn compared to the previous ones, leave an insulating part 27A remaining at the bottom of the groove 27.
  • Two branches of the leaf spring 16 are arranged in the groove 27.
  • This leaf spring 16 preferably consists of a wire spring, folded towards its central part to form a loop 16A, the two free ends 16B being folded down so as to bear elastically against a conductive strip of the battery, for example the strip 14 as shown in the figure 1.
  • the sleeve 2 is therefore held in the opening 15 of the housing by these two branches of the spring blade 16 which pass tangentially to the sleeve 2, through the groove 27, the axial position of the a bushing being determined on the one hand by the support of the contact 30 at the bottom of the base against the blade 13 and on the other hand by the spring blade 16, most of which is pressed against the lower surface of the upper face of the housing 10, as can also be seen in FIG. 1.
  • the leaf spring 16 is held laterally in a known manner inside the housing by its ends.
  • FIG. 3A represents a position of rotation of the sleeve 2 where the insulating parts 27A disposed at the bottom of the groove 27 isolate the base 31 from the two branches of the leaf spring 16; this position therefore corresponds to the extinguished state of the flashlight, it is also that shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 3B the user has made the bush rotate by a quarter of a turn, so as to release the insulating parts 27A and to bring the two branches of the leaf spring 16 into contact with the base 31 by means of the 27C openings; this position corresponds to the on state of the lamp.
  • FIG. 3A represents a position of rotation of the sleeve 2 where the insulating parts 27A disposed at the bottom of the groove 27 isolate the base 31 from the two branches of the leaf spring 16; this position therefore corresponds to the extinguished state of the flashlight, it is also that shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 3B the user has made the bush rotate by a quarter of a turn, so as to release the insulating parts 27A
  • the two branches of the leaf spring 16 are spaced apart as far as possible by the sides of the insulating parts 27A, this spacing corresponding to the diameter of the lower edge 27B of the groove 27 , ie at the maximum diameter of the lower part of the sleeve 2.
  • the leaf spring 16 is released from the groove 27, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and, by an axial pull on the sleeve 2, it is possible to extract it from the housing 15 of the housing.
  • Vertical ribs 28 disposed on the outer face of the upper portion of the sleeve facilitate gripping to print the desired rotational movements.
  • the latter may comprise only a single branch capable of coming into contact with a metal part of the base 31 of the bulb. It is also possible to extend the loop end 16A of the leaf spring 16, so that it passes through an opening in the housing (see FIG. 1) and to attach a strap 17 or any other means of suspension thereto. . To to keep the housing watertight, it is easy to seal the passage opening at the end of the leaf spring by known means.
  • FIG. 4 A second embodiment of a flashlight and a socket according to the invention is shown in Figure 4.
  • the flashlight 1 also includes a housing 10 in which here two elements 11 are shown.
  • a first leaf spring contact 13 which here is connected to the positive pole of the battery and a second leaf spring 14, in contact with its negative pole ensure the supply of the bulb 3 in a manner which will be described below.
  • the sleeve 4 is not held in place in the opening 15 of the housing 10 by a contact blade or spring but by an elastic fixing part 6 included in a cavity in the upper part of the housing 10, as seen in FIG. 4.
  • This elastic fixing part 6, more particularly visible in FIG. 5, has the general shape of a segment of circular tube 60 comprising two elastic lips 61 arranged opposite one of the other inside the tube 60.
  • each of the lips 61 comprises a projecting rim 62, the two rims being directed towards each other, having two opposite planar surfaces 63; the upper edge of each edge 62 is cut to form an inclined plane 64.
  • the sleeve 4 and the elastic fixing part 6 are first of all separated.
  • these two lips can move apart given their elasticity under the effect of the axial pressure exerted to drive in the sleeve, until they can snap into a peripheral groove 41 arranged on the blank of the sleeve 4.
  • the inclined plane 64 cooperating with an inclined surface 42A of a rib 42 limiting the groove 41, facilitates the passage of said rib during the introduction of the sleeve 4 into the elastic fixing part 6.
  • FIG. 6B it can be seen that the flanges 62 are engaged in the peripheral groove 41 in order to hold the sleeve in place.
  • the bottom of the groove 41 is not cylindrical but has a certain number of flats 43, four in this case, on which the flat surfaces 63 rest. In this way, the sleeve 4 can be positioned in four angular positions stable, preferably equidistant, when the flat surfaces 63 are supported on the flats 43. One of these angular positions is shown in Figures 6B and 7B.
  • the diameter of the external cylindrical surface 42B of the rib 42 is very slightly greater than the diameter of the portions of cylindrical surfaces 44, by a few tenths of mm, so that a some tensile force is nevertheless necessary in order to be able to extract the socket 4 from the elastic fixing part 6, respectively from the housing 10 of the flashlight 1.
  • the socket 4 it is possible to insert the socket 4 into the opening 15 of the housing 10, position this socket according to a certain number of angular positions around the axis of the socket, the socket It is maintained in a stable position in each of these positions, as well as being able to remove the sleeve 4 from the housing by positioning it in an intermediate angular position then by exerting an axial tensile force on this sleeve.
  • the lower portion of the socket 4 comprises an opening 45 through which the base contact 30 can be brought into contact with an elastic contact blade, like the blade 13 in this figure .
  • an elastic contact blade like the blade 13 in this figure .
  • the rest of the peripheral surface 48 consists of the insulating material constituting the sleeve 4.
  • the elastic fixing part 6 further comprises an opening 65 arranged on one side of the cylindrical tube 60, formed in order to allow the free end 14A of the contact blade 14.
  • the lateral opening 46 is positioned so that the free end 14A can come into contact with the base 31 of the bulb 3 when the socket 4 is positioned according to one of the stable angular positions described upper.
  • the socket 4 will be provided with two opposite lateral openings 46, so that the contact between the base 31 and the end 14A of the contact blade 14 can be established in two opposite stable positions.
  • this socket in steps of 90 °, so as to successively turn on or off the bulb 3, the end 14A of the contact blade being successively in contact with the base 31 by an opening 46 or isolated from said base by an insulating portion 48.
  • the base 31 is here represented as being a screw base, but it is understood that it can also act of a pellet of any known type.
  • the elastic fixing part 6 has been described and shown comprising two elastic lips 61; it could also have only one elastic lip or more than two, the latching means provided on the sleeve being adapted accordingly.
  • the sleeve 4 can be equipped with a second peripheral groove 47, which, like the peripheral groove 26 in the first embodiment described, can be equipped with an O-ring in order to ensure the seal between the socket 4 and the housing 10.
  • the flashlight 1 has been described with a flat housing 10 comprising three battery cells and therefore delivering a voltage of 4.5 V for the first embodiment described and two battery cells for a voltage of 3 V in the second form of execution.
  • the housing 10 can be of any shape and include any number of battery cells mounted in a battery.
  • the socket according to one or other of the embodiments described and / or the opening 15 may be provided with coding means, as shown diagrammatically at 29 in FIG. 2, so that a given housing can only accept sockets provided with a bulb accepting the voltage delivered by the housing or possibly a lower voltage.
  • the socket can be closed by a transparent material or a glass 25 (FIG. 2) of a determined color, in order to be able to change the color of the lighting by changing the socket.
  • the fixing piece 22 can also be designed so as to comprise a sliding part in the envelope 20, so as to modify the focal distance of the reflector 22B and consequently the concentration of the light beam. This effect can also be obtained or increased by replacing the flat glass 25 with a glass or transparent material in the form of a lens.
  • the lighting socket can be used for all lighting means, without being directly superimposed on a battery, for example on a dashboard of a vehicle or being adapted to a flexible arm as a card reading lamp or as a headlamp or for lighting a bicycle. It does not even have to be powered by a battery, since it is sufficient for the contacting elements described above to be powered by an electric source, preferably at low voltage.
  • a plurality of sockets can also be used as a light signaling element on a panel, for example a synoptic panel or a signaling panel.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
  • Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne une douille d'éclairage supportant une ampoule ainsi qu'une lampe de poche équipée d'une telle douille, l'allumage, respectivement l'extinction de l'ampoule étant obtenu par une action sur ladite douille, celle-ci pouvant être retirée du boîtier de la lampe de poche. L'utilisation de la douille d'éclairage pour d'autres moyens qu'une lampe de poche sont aussi prévus.The present invention relates to a lighting socket supporting a bulb as well as a flashlight equipped with such a socket, the ignition, respectively the extinction of the bulb being obtained by an action on said socket, the latter can be removed from the flashlight housing. The use of the lighting socket for means other than a flashlight are also provided.

L'usage antérieur connaît au moins deux lampes de poche de ce type. Une première est constituée d'un boîtier fermé en matière plastique contenant quelques éléments de pile, la partie supérieure du boîtier étant munie d'une ouverture circulaire cylindrique, au fond et sur la face latérale de laquelle deux lames de contact sont apparentes, et d'une douille métallique cylindrique entourant l'ampoule, ladite douille pouvant être introduite dans l'ouverture circulaire du boîtier. Par une introduction "à rebours" de la douille, c'est-à-dire l'ampoule dirigée vers le fond de l'ouverture, la douille est maintenue par frottement glissant dans l'ouverture, cette position correspondant à une position éteinte ou de stockage. En retirant la douille de l'ouverture et lui faisant faire un demi-tour pour la réintroduire "à l'endroit" dans l'ouverture, c'est-à-dire le culot de l'ampoule dirigé vers le fond de l'ouverture, celui-ci peut entrer en contact avec une lame de contact, permettant ainsi l'allumage de la lampe. Un léger retrait de la douille permet son extinction. Les inconvénients d'une telle lampe résident dans la manipulation relativement compliquée de la douille afin de passer de la position de stockage à celle d'allumage, nécessitant généralement l'emploi des deux mains, de la possibilité de perdre la douille vu qu'elle n'est maintenue dans l'ouverture que par frottement, ainsi que de l'impossibilité de rendre la lampe étanche.Prior use has known at least two flashlights of this type. A first consists of a closed plastic casing containing a few battery cells, the upper part of the casing being provided with a circular cylindrical opening, at the bottom and on the side face from which two contact blades are visible, and d a cylindrical metal socket surrounding the bulb, said socket being able to be introduced into the circular opening of the housing. By a "reverse" introduction of the socket, that is to say the bulb directed towards the bottom of the opening, the socket is held by sliding friction in the opening, this position corresponding to an off position or storage. By removing the socket from the opening and making it make a U-turn to reintroduce it "at the place" in the opening, that is to say the base of the bulb directed towards the bottom of the opening, it can come into contact with a contact blade, allowing the lamp to light up. A slight withdrawal of the socket allows its extinction. The disadvantages of such a lamp lie in the relatively complicated handling of the socket in order to pass from the storage position to that of lighting, generally requiring the use of both hands, of the possibility of losing the socket since it is maintained in the opening only by friction, as well as the impossibility of making the lamp waterproof.

Une deuxième lampe de poche connue est constituée d'un boîtier assez semblable au précédent dont la face supérieure comprend une douille entourant l'ampoule, une collerette étant disposée autour de la douille afin de pouvoir la faire pivoter et d'assurer l'allumage ou l'extinction de l'ampoule par un jeu de contacts disposés à l'intérieur du boîtier. Dans ce cas, la douille seule ne peut être retirée; lorsque la batterie est épuisée, il est possible de retirer toute la partie supérieure du boîtier munie de la douille pour la réinstaller sur une portion inférieure de boîtier neuf. Les inconvénients de cette lampe sont qu'il n'est pas possible de réinstaller la partie supérieure du boîtier sur une portion inférieure d'une autre forme et que si on désire rendre la lampe étanche, il est nécessaire d'étanchéifier indépendamment la liaison entre les deux parties du boîtier ainsi que la douille elle-même.A second known flashlight consists of a housing quite similar to the previous one, the upper face of which comprises a socket surrounding the bulb, a collar being disposed around the socket in order to be able to rotate it and ensure ignition or switching off the bulb by a set of contacts arranged inside the housing. In this case, the socket only cannot be removed; when the battery is exhausted, it is possible to remove the entire upper part of the housing provided with the socket to reinstall it on a lower portion of new housing. The disadvantages of this lamp are that it is not possible to reinstall the upper part of the housing on a lower portion of another shape and that if one wishes to make the lamp waterproof, it is necessary to independently seal the connection between the two parts of the housing as well as the socket itself.

La demande DE-A-38 17 861 décrit une douille disposée sur une lampe de poche; vu que la pièce assurant le contact avec l'un des pôles de la batterie est fixée à la douille lorsque l'ampoule y est introduite, cette douille ne peut par conséquent pas être retirée du boîtier de la lampe, de plus l'allumage ou l'extinction de l'ampoule n'est pas commandé par la douille. Une telle douille ne peut accepter que des ampoules dont le culot est à pas de vis.Application DE-A-38 17 861 describes a socket arranged on a flashlight; since the part ensuring contact with one of the poles of the battery is fixed to the socket when the bulb is inserted therein, this socket cannot therefore be removed from the lamp housing, furthermore ignition or switching off the bulb is not controlled by the socket. Such a socket can only accept bulbs whose base is not threaded.

La demande GB-A-2.087.062 ainsi que le brevet CH-A-137.880 décrivent aussi chacun un support d'ampoule fixé à demeure sur un boîtier.Application GB-A-2,087,062 and patent CH-A-137,880 also each describe a bulb holder permanently fixed to a housing.

Le but de l'invention est donc de proposer une douille ainsi qu'une lampe de poche qui ne rencontrent pas les inconvénients mentionnés des douilles et lampes connues de l'art antérieur et possèdent en outre des avantages supplémentaires qui apparaîtront dans la description détaillée qui suit.The object of the invention is therefore to provide a socket and a flashlight which do not meet the mentioned drawbacks of sockets and lamps known from the prior art and also have additional advantages which will appear in the detailed description which follows.

Afin d'atteindre ce but, l'invention propose tout d'abord une douille d'éclairage possédant les caractéristiques de la revendication 1, des formes d'exécution particulières et variantes étant décrites dans les revendications dépendantes, ainsi qu'une lampe de poche conforme aux revendications 12 à 16, d'autres modes d'utilisation de la douille d'éclairage étant prévus dans les revendications 17 et 18.In order to achieve this object, the invention firstly provides a lighting socket having the characteristics of claim 1, particular and variant embodiments being described in the dependent claims, as well as a flashlight according to claims 12 to 16, other modes of use of the light fitting being provided in claims 17 and 18.

L'invention est plus particulièrement compréhensible par la description détaillée de deux formes d'exécution d'une lampe, ainsi que d'une douille selon l'invention, en regard du dessin annexé comportant les figures où:

  • la figure 1 représente en coupe partielle une portion d'une lampe de poche munie d'une douille d'éclairage, selon une première forme d'exécution de l'invention,
  • la figure 2 représente à échelle agrandie une demi-coupe de la douille d'éclairage de la figure précédente,
  • les figures 3A, 3B et 3C représentent trois vues au niveau de la ligne III-III de la figure précédente,
  • la figure 4 représente en coupe partielle une portion d'une lampe de poche munie d'une douille d'éclairage, selon une deuxième forme d'exécution de l'invention,
  • la figure 5 représente en perspective une douille d'éclairage selon la deuxième forme d'exécution ainsi que sa pièce de fixation,
  • les figures 6A, 6B et 6C représentent trois coupes des éléments de la figure 5 selon trois positions différentes, et
  • les figures 7A, 7B et 7C représentent trois coupes selon les lignes AA, BB et CC des figures 6A, 6B et 6C.
The invention is more particularly understandable by the detailed description of two embodiments of a lamp, as well as of a socket according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawing comprising the figures where:
  • FIG. 1 represents in partial section a portion of a flashlight provided with a lighting socket, according to a first embodiment of the invention,
  • FIG. 2 shows on an enlarged scale a half-section of the lighting socket of the previous figure,
  • FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C represent three views at the level of line III-III of the previous figure,
  • FIG. 4 represents in partial section a portion of a flashlight provided with a lighting socket, according to a second embodiment of the invention,
  • FIG. 5 shows in perspective a lighting socket according to the second embodiment as well as its fixing part,
  • FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C represent three sections of the elements of FIG. 5 according to three different positions, and
  • Figures 7A, 7B and 7C show three sections along the lines AA, BB and CC of Figures 6A, 6B and 6C.

A la figure 1 on voit une lampe de poche 1 constituée d'un boîtier 10 contenant un ou plusieurs éléments de pile 11 surmontés d'une languette isolante lante 12 sur laquelle reposent deux lames conductrices, une première lame 13, reliée par exemple au pôle négatif de la batterie constituée par les piles 11 et une deuxième lame 14 reliée par exemple au pôle positif. La face supérieure du boîtier 10 comprend une ouverture 15 circulaire cylindrique dans laquelle une douille 2 est disposée de manière pivotante. L'ouverture 15 est représentée ici au centre de la face supérieure du boîtier 10, mais elle pourrait tout aussi bien être décalée vers une extrémité. La transmission du courant à l'ampoule 3 disposée dans la douille 2 (voir figure 2) se fait d'une part par le contact 30 de fond de culot de l'ampoule 3 qui est appuyé sur une des lames conductrices, ici la lame 13, et d'autre part par une lame ressort 16 qui est en contact avec l'autre lame conductrice, ici la lame 14. De préférence, la lame ressort 16 est de section généralement circulaire et constitue en fait un fil ressort. Les éléments décrits ci-dessus de manière générale correspondent à ce qui est connu de l'art antérieur.In Figure 1 we see a flashlight 1 consisting of a housing 10 containing one or more battery elements 11 surmounted by a lante insulating tongue 12 on which rest two conductive blades, a first blade 13, connected for example to the pole negative of the battery constituted by the batteries 11 and a second blade 14 connected for example to the positive pole. The upper face of the housing 10 comprises a circular cylindrical opening 15 in which a sleeve 2 is pivotally disposed. The opening 15 is shown here in the center of the upper face of the housing 10, but it could just as easily be offset towards one end. The transmission of current to the bulb 3 disposed in the socket 2 (see FIG. 2) takes place on the one hand by the contact 30 at the bottom of the base of the bulb 3 which is pressed on one of the conductive blades, here the blade 13, and on the other hand by a leaf spring 16 which is in contact with the other conductive strip, here the strip 14. Preferably, the spring strip 16 is of generally circular section and in fact constitutes a spring wire. The elements described above generally correspond to what is known in the prior art.

La figure 2 montre en détail, à échelle agrandie, la douille 2 ci-dessus. Celle-ci est constituée principalement d'une enveloppe 20, en matière isolante, comportant une portion supérieure qui dépasse de l'ouverture 15 du boîtier 10 de la lampe, munie ici d'un rehaut 15A, et d'une portion inférieure située à l'intérieur de l'ouverture 15. L'intérieur de la portion inférieure est configuré de manière à recevoir un culot 31 d'une ampoule 3, dans le cas représenté ici un culot lisse muni d'une bague d'arrêt 32 à sa partie supérieure. Le fond de la portion inférieure de l'enveloppe 20 comprend une ouverture 21 à travers laquelle passe le contact 30 de fond de culot. La douille 2 comprend en outre une pièce de fixation 22, introduite par l'ouverture 23 aménagée sur la face supérieure de la douille, après que l'ampoule 3 y ait été introduite. La pièce de fixation 22 enserre la partie supérieure de l'ampoule 3 afin de la positionner axialement et radialement dans la douille 2 et vient serrer la bague d'arrét 32 contre un rebord 24 aménagé dans la portion inférieure de la douille afin de fixer l'ampoule 3 dans ladite douille. Cette pièce de fixation est fixée à la paroi intérieure de la portion supérieure de la douille par l'intermédiaire d'un ou plusieurs doigts ou d'une couronne élastique 22A qui tient en place la pièce de fixation 22 dans la douille, soit par sa propre élasticité, soit par sertissage, soit par collage ou par tout autre moyen connu. De préférence, la partie de la pièce de fixation en regard de l'ampoule 3 a une forme concave, sa surface 22B étant recouverte d'un matériau réfléchissant, par exemple argenté, afin de former un réflecteur. L'ouverture 23 de la partie supérieure de la douille peut être fermée par un matériau transparent, par exemple d'un verre 25 fixé de n'importe quelle manière connue, et de préférence de manière étanche. L'ampoule 3 représentée ici comporte un culot 31 cylindrique, mais il est évident que la partie intérieure de la douille peut être conformée pour recevoir une ampoule d'un autre type, par exemple avec un culot à vis ou un culot à baïonnette. Une ouverture ayant la forme d'une première rainure périphérique 27 est aménagée sur le pourtour de la portion inférieure de la douille, la face supérieure de ladite rainure étant de préférence au niveau de la surface inférieure de la face supérieure du boîtier 10. Cette ouverture ou rainure de contact et de fixation 27 est de forme particulière dans cette forme d'exécution, comme on le voit aux figures 3A à 3C. La douille peut aussi comporter une autre rainure périphérique 26 située sur une portion de sa hauteur située entre la rainure 27 et la portion supérieure de la douille, c'est-à-dire faisant face à une surface d'appui du rehaut 15A de l'ouverture 15 faite dans le boîtier 10, de manière à pouvoir y loger un joint torique 26A assurant l'étanchéité de la douille 2 par rapport au boîtier 10. Pour une douille 2 plus simple, il est possible de s'affranchir de la pièce de fixation 22, l'ampoule 3 étant maintenue dans l'enveloppe 20 par d'autres moyens, par exemple des doigts élastiques ou des nervures disposés sur le pourtour de la surface intérieure de la partie creuse de l'enveloppe 20.Figure 2 shows in detail, on an enlarged scale, the socket 2 above. This consists mainly of an envelope 20, made of insulating material, comprising an upper portion which protrudes from the opening 15 of the lamp housing 10, here provided with a flange 15A, and a lower portion located at the interior of the opening 15. The interior of the lower portion is configured so as to receive a base 31 of a bulb 3, in the case shown here a smooth base provided with a stop ring 32 at its the top part. The bottom of the lower portion of the envelope 20 comprises an opening 21 through which the contact 30 of the bottom of the base passes. The socket 2 further comprises a fixing part 22, introduced through the opening 23 arranged on the upper face of the socket, after the bulb 3 has been inserted therein. The fixing piece 22 encloses the upper part of the bulb 3 in order to position it axially and radially in the socket 2 and tightens the stop ring 32 against a flange 24 arranged in the lower portion of the socket in order to fix the bulb 3 in said socket. This fixing piece is fixed to the inner wall of the upper portion of the socket by means of one or more fingers or of an elastic ring 22A which holds the fixing piece 22 in place in the socket, either by its own elasticity, either by crimping, or by bonding or by any other known means. Preferably, the part of the fixing piece opposite the bulb 3 has a concave shape, its surface 22B being covered with a reflective material, for example silver, in order to form a reflector. The opening 23 of the upper part of the sleeve can be closed by a transparent material, for example a glass 25 fixed in any known manner, and preferably in a sealed manner. The bulb 3 shown here has a cylindrical base 31, but it is obvious that the interior part of the socket can be shaped to receive a bulb of another type, for example with a screw base or a bayonet base. An opening in the form of a first peripheral groove 27 is arranged around the periphery of the lower portion of the sleeve, the upper face of said groove preferably being at the level of the lower surface of the upper face. of the housing 10. This opening or contact and fixing groove 27 is of particular shape in this embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 3A to 3C. The socket may also include another peripheral groove 26 located on a portion of its height located between groove 27 and the upper portion of the socket, that is to say facing a bearing surface of the flange 15A of the opening 15 made in the housing 10, so as to be able to accommodate an O-ring 26A ensuring the tightness of the socket 2 relative to the housing 10. For a simpler socket 2, it is possible to dispense with the part fastening 22, the bulb 3 being held in the envelope 20 by other means, for example elastic fingers or ribs arranged around the periphery of the inner surface of the hollow part of the envelope 20.

Sur les figures 3A à 3C, on voit que la rainure 27 est de profondeur variable, deux portions opposées de ladite rainure traversant entièrement l'épaisseur de l'enveloppe, formant ainsi deux ouvertures 27C dans ladite enveloppe, alors que deux autres portions, décalées d'un quart de tour par rapport aux précédentes, laissent subsister une partie isolante 27A au fond de la rainure 27. Deux branches de la lame ressort 16 sont disposées dans la rainure 27. Cette lame ressort 16 est constituée de préférence d'un fil ressort, plié vers sa partie centrale afin de former une boucle 16A, les deux extrémités libres 16B étant repliées vers le bas afin de s'appuyer de manière élastique contre une lame conductrice de la batterie, par exemple la lame 14 comme représenté à la figure 1. La douille 2 est donc maintenue dans l'ouverture 15 du boîtier par ces deux branches de la lame ressort 16 qui passent tangentiellement à la douille 2, par la rainure 27, la position axiale de la douille étant déterminée d'une part par l'appui du contact 30 de fond de culot contre la lame 13 et d'autre part par la lame ressort 16 dont la plus grande partie est appuyée contre la surface inférieure de la face supérieure du boîtier 10, comme on le voit aussi sur la figure 1. La lame ressort 16 est maintenue latéralement d'une manière connue à l'intérieur du boîtier par ses extrémités.In FIGS. 3A to 3C, it can be seen that the groove 27 is of variable depth, two opposite portions of said groove entirely passing through the thickness of the envelope, thus forming two openings 27C in said envelope, while two other portions, offset of a quarter turn compared to the previous ones, leave an insulating part 27A remaining at the bottom of the groove 27. Two branches of the leaf spring 16 are arranged in the groove 27. This leaf spring 16 preferably consists of a wire spring, folded towards its central part to form a loop 16A, the two free ends 16B being folded down so as to bear elastically against a conductive strip of the battery, for example the strip 14 as shown in the figure 1. The sleeve 2 is therefore held in the opening 15 of the housing by these two branches of the spring blade 16 which pass tangentially to the sleeve 2, through the groove 27, the axial position of the a bushing being determined on the one hand by the support of the contact 30 at the bottom of the base against the blade 13 and on the other hand by the spring blade 16, most of which is pressed against the lower surface of the upper face of the housing 10, as can also be seen in FIG. 1. The leaf spring 16 is held laterally in a known manner inside the housing by its ends.

La figure 3A représente une position de rotation de la douille 2 où les parties isolantes 27A disposées au fond de la rainure 27 isolent le culot 31 des deux branches de la lame ressort 16; cette position correspond donc à l'état éteint de la lampe de poche, c'est aussi celle représentée sur la figure 2. A la figure 3B, l'utilisateur a fait pivoter la douille d'un quart de tour, de manière à dégager les parties isolantes 27A et à amener les deux branches de la lame ressort 16 en contact avec le culot 31 par l'intermédiaire des ouvertures 27C; cette position correspond à l'état allumé de la lampe. Pour une position de rotation intermédiaire de la douille, comme représenté à la figure 3C, les deux branches de la lame ressort 16 sont écartées au maximum par les côtés des parties isolantes 27A, cet écartement correspondant au diamètre du rebord inférieur 27B de la rainure 27, soit au diamètre maximum de la partie inférieure de la douille 2. Lorsque la douille se trouve dans cette position de rotation, la lame ressort 16 est dégagée de la rainure 27, comme représenté en pointillé sur la figure 2 et, par une traction axiale sur la douille 2, il est possible de l'extraire du logement 15 du boîtier. Des nervures verticales 28 disposées sur la face extérieure de la portion supérieure de la douille en facilitent la saisie pour imprimer les mouvements de rotation désirés.FIG. 3A represents a position of rotation of the sleeve 2 where the insulating parts 27A disposed at the bottom of the groove 27 isolate the base 31 from the two branches of the leaf spring 16; this position therefore corresponds to the extinguished state of the flashlight, it is also that shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3B, the user has made the bush rotate by a quarter of a turn, so as to release the insulating parts 27A and to bring the two branches of the leaf spring 16 into contact with the base 31 by means of the 27C openings; this position corresponds to the on state of the lamp. For an intermediate position of rotation of the sleeve, as shown in FIG. 3C, the two branches of the leaf spring 16 are spaced apart as far as possible by the sides of the insulating parts 27A, this spacing corresponding to the diameter of the lower edge 27B of the groove 27 , ie at the maximum diameter of the lower part of the sleeve 2. When the sleeve is in this rotational position, the leaf spring 16 is released from the groove 27, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and, by an axial pull on the sleeve 2, it is possible to extract it from the housing 15 of the housing. Vertical ribs 28 disposed on the outer face of the upper portion of the sleeve facilitate gripping to print the desired rotational movements.

Ainsi, par une conception judicieuse de la rainure 27 ainsi que de la lame ressort 16, il est possible, par un mouvement de rotation exercé sur la douille 2, d'allumer et d'éteindre la lampe de poche, ainsi que d'extraire si désiré la douille du boîtier de lampe, la rainure 27 et la lame ressort 16 coopérant tant pour établir ou couper l'alimentation de l'ampoule 3 qu'au maintien de la douille 2 à l'intérieur de l'ouverture 15 du boîtier 10. Vu la forme approximativement hémisphérique du fond de la portion inférieure de la douille, il est possible d'introduire une douille dans un nouveau boîtier, simplement en appuyant sur son extrémité supérieure, les deux branches de la lame ressort 16 étant écartées par ce fond hémisphérique jusqu'à ce qu'elles s'encliquettent dans la rainure 27. Cette portion inférieure de douille peut aussi avoir une forme en tronc de cône pour obtenir le même effet.Thus, by a judicious design of the groove 27 as well as of the spring blade 16, it is possible, by a rotational movement exerted on the socket 2, to switch the flashlight on and off, as well as to extract if desired, the lamp housing socket, the groove 27 and the leaf spring 16 cooperating both to establish or cut the power supply to the bulb 3 and to maintain the socket 2 inside the opening 15 of the housing 10. Given the approximately hemispherical shape of the bottom of the lower portion of the socket, it is possible to introduce a socket into a new housing, simply by pressing on its upper end, the two branches of the leaf spring 16 being separated by this hemispherical bottom until they snap into groove 27. This lower socket portion can also have a frusto-conical shape to obtain the same effect.

Selon une variante d'exécution du boîtier 10 et plus particulièrement de la lame ressort 16, celle-ci peut ne comporter qu'une seule branche apte à entrer en contact avec une partie métallique du culot 31 de l'ampoule. Il est aussi possible de prolonger l'extrémité formant boucle 16A de la lame ressort 16, de manière à ce qu'elle passe à travers une ouverture du boîtier (voir figure 1) et de lui attacher une dragonne 17 ou tout autre moyen de suspension. Afin de conserver l'étanchéité du boîtier, il est aisé de sceller l'ouverture de passage de l'extrémité de la lame ressort par des moyens connus.According to an alternative embodiment of the housing 10 and more particularly of the leaf spring 16, the latter may comprise only a single branch capable of coming into contact with a metal part of the base 31 of the bulb. It is also possible to extend the loop end 16A of the leaf spring 16, so that it passes through an opening in the housing (see FIG. 1) and to attach a strap 17 or any other means of suspension thereto. . To to keep the housing watertight, it is easy to seal the passage opening at the end of the leaf spring by known means.

Une deuxième forme d'exécution d'une lampe de poche et d'une douille selon l'invention est représentée à la figure 4. Pour cette forme d'exécution, la lampe de poche 1 comprend aussi un boîtier 10 dans lequel ici deux éléments de pile 11 sont représentés. Une première lame contact à ressort 13 qui ici est reliée au pôle positif de la batterie et une deuxième lame à ressort 14, en contact avec son pôle négatif assurent l'alimentation de l'ampoule 3 selon une manière qui sera décrite plus bas. Dans cette forme d'exécution, la douille 4 n'est pas maintenue en place dans l'ouverture 15 du boîtier 10 par une lame ou ressort de contact mais par une pièce de fixation élastique 6 incluse dans une cavité de la partie supérieure du boîtier 10, comme on le voit à la figure 4. Cette pièce de fixation élastique 6, plus particulièrement visible sur la figure 5, a la forme générale d'un segment de tube circulaire 60 comportant deux lèvres élastiques 61 disposées en regard l'une de l'autre à l'intérieur du tube 60. L'extrémité libre de chacune des lèvres 61 comprend un rebord en saillie 62, les deux rebords étant dirigés l'un vers l'autre, présentant deux surfaces planes opposées 63; l'arête supérieure de chaque rebord 62 est taillée afin de former un plan incliné 64. Comme on le voit aux figures 5 et 6A, la douille 4 et la pièce de fixation élastique 6 sont tout d'abord séparées. En présentant l'extrémité inférieure 40 de forme hémisphérique ou en tronc de cône de la douille 4 entre les deux lèvres élastiques 61, ces deux lèvres peuvent s'écarter vu leur élasticité sous l'effet de la pression axiale exercée pour enfoncer la douille, jusqu'à ce qu'elles puissent venir s'encliqueter dans une rainure périphérique 41 aménagée sur le flan de la douille 4. Le plan incliné 64, coopérant avec une surface inclinée 42A d'une nervure 42 limitant la rainure 41, facilite le passage de ladite nervure lors de l'introduction de la douille 4 dans la pièce de fixation élastique 6. Sur la figure 6B on voit que les rebords 62 sont engagées dans la rainure périphérique 41 afin de maintenir la douille en place. Le fond de la rainure 41 n'est pas cylindrique mais présente un certain nombre de méplats 43, quatre dans le cas présent, sur lesquels s'appuient les surfaces planes 63. De cette manière, la douille 4 peut être positionnée selon quatre positions angulaires stables, de préférence équidistantes, lorsque les surfaces planes 63 sont en appui sur les méplats 43. L'une de ces positions angulaires est représentée aux figures 6B et 7B. Lorsque la douille 4 est tournée selon une position angulaire intermédiaire entre deux des positions stables mentionnées précédemment, comme on le voit aux figures 6C et 7C, les lèvres élastiques 61 sont écartées vu que les surfaces planes 63 sont repoussées par les portions cylindriques 44 séparant les méplats 43; ces portions de surfaces cylindriques peuvent être directement alignées sur la surface extérieure cylindrique 42B de la nervure 42, faisant que la douille 4 peut directement être extraite axialement de la pièce de fixation élastique 6, les rebords 62 n'étant plus engagés dans la rainure 41. De préférence, et comme on le voit aux figures 6C et 7C, le diamètre de la surface cylindrique extérieure 42B de la nervure 42 est très légèrement supérieure au diamètre des portions de surfaces cylindriques 44, de quelques dixièmes de mm, afin qu'un certain effort de traction soit néanmoins nécessaire afin de pouvoir extraire la douille 4 de la pièce de fixation élastique 6, respectivement du boîtier 10 de la lampe de poche 1. Ainsi, comme pour la première forme d'exécution décrite, il est possible d'introduire la douille 4 dans l'ouverture 15 du boîtier 10, de positionner cette douille selon un certain nombre de positions angulaires autour de l'axe de la douille, la douille étant maintenue en position stable dans chacune de ces positions, ainsi que de pouvoir retirer la douille 4 du boîtier en la positionnant selon une position angulaire intermédiaire puis en exerçant un effort de traction axial sur cette douille.A second embodiment of a flashlight and a socket according to the invention is shown in Figure 4. For this embodiment, the flashlight 1 also includes a housing 10 in which here two elements 11 are shown. A first leaf spring contact 13 which here is connected to the positive pole of the battery and a second leaf spring 14, in contact with its negative pole ensure the supply of the bulb 3 in a manner which will be described below. In this embodiment, the sleeve 4 is not held in place in the opening 15 of the housing 10 by a contact blade or spring but by an elastic fixing part 6 included in a cavity in the upper part of the housing 10, as seen in FIG. 4. This elastic fixing part 6, more particularly visible in FIG. 5, has the general shape of a segment of circular tube 60 comprising two elastic lips 61 arranged opposite one of the other inside the tube 60. The free end of each of the lips 61 comprises a projecting rim 62, the two rims being directed towards each other, having two opposite planar surfaces 63; the upper edge of each edge 62 is cut to form an inclined plane 64. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6A, the sleeve 4 and the elastic fixing part 6 are first of all separated. By presenting the lower end 40 of hemispherical shape or in a truncated cone of the sleeve 4 between the two elastic lips 61, these two lips can move apart given their elasticity under the effect of the axial pressure exerted to drive in the sleeve, until they can snap into a peripheral groove 41 arranged on the blank of the sleeve 4. The inclined plane 64, cooperating with an inclined surface 42A of a rib 42 limiting the groove 41, facilitates the passage of said rib during the introduction of the sleeve 4 into the elastic fixing part 6. In FIG. 6B it can be seen that the flanges 62 are engaged in the peripheral groove 41 in order to hold the sleeve in place. The bottom of the groove 41 is not cylindrical but has a certain number of flats 43, four in this case, on which the flat surfaces 63 rest. In this way, the sleeve 4 can be positioned in four angular positions stable, preferably equidistant, when the flat surfaces 63 are supported on the flats 43. One of these angular positions is shown in Figures 6B and 7B. When the sleeve 4 is turned to an angular position intermediate between two of the stable positions mentioned above, as can be seen in FIGS. 6C and 7C, the elastic lips 61 are separated since the flat surfaces 63 are pushed back by the cylindrical portions 44 separating the flats 43; these portions of cylindrical surfaces can be directly aligned with the cylindrical outer surface 42B of the rib 42, so that the sleeve 4 can be directly extracted axially from the elastic fixing part 6, the flanges 62 no longer being engaged in the groove 41 Preferably, and as can be seen in FIGS. 6C and 7C, the diameter of the external cylindrical surface 42B of the rib 42 is very slightly greater than the diameter of the portions of cylindrical surfaces 44, by a few tenths of mm, so that a some tensile force is nevertheless necessary in order to be able to extract the socket 4 from the elastic fixing part 6, respectively from the housing 10 of the flashlight 1. Thus, as for the first embodiment described, it is possible to insert the socket 4 into the opening 15 of the housing 10, position this socket according to a certain number of angular positions around the axis of the socket, the socket It is maintained in a stable position in each of these positions, as well as being able to remove the sleeve 4 from the housing by positioning it in an intermediate angular position then by exerting an axial tensile force on this sleeve.

Comme on le voit en particulier sur la figure 4, la portion inférieure de la douille 4 comprend une ouverture 45 par laquelle le contact de fond de culot 30 peut être mis en contact avec une lame de contact élastique, comme la lame 13 sur cette figure. Sur la portion inférieure de la douille 4 située entre la portion hémisphérique 40 et la nervure 42, on distingue sur les figures 5 et 6A une ouverture latérale 46 sur une portion de tour de la surface périphérique de la portion inférieure de la douille 4, à travers laquelle le culot 31 de l'ampoule 3, est accessible. Le reste de la surface périphérique 48 est constitué du matériau isolant constituant la douille 4. La pièce de fixation élastique 6 comporte en outre une ouverture 65 disposée sur un côté du tube cylindrique 60, formée afin de laisser passer l'extrémité libre 14A de la lame de contact 14. L'ouverture latérale 46 est positionnée de manière à ce que l'extrémité libre 14A puisse venir en contact avec le culot 31 de l'ampoule 3 lorsque la douille 4 est positionnée selon l'une des positions angulaires stables décrites plus haut. De préférence, la douille 4 sera munie de deux ouvertures latérale 46, opposées, de manière à ce que le contact entre le culot 31 et l'extrémité 14A de la lame de contact 14 puisse être établi selon deux positions stables opposées. Ainsi, après avoir introduit la douille 4 dans le boîtier 10 de la manière décrite précédemment, il est possible de faire pivoter cette douille par pas de 90°, de manière à successivement allumer ou éteindre l'ampoule 3, l'extrémité 14A de la lame de contact étant successivement en contact avec le culot 31 par une ouverture 46 ou isolé dudit culot par une portion isolante 48. Le culot 31 est ici représenté comme étant un culot à vis, mais il est bien entendu qu'il peut aussi s'agir d'un culot de n'importe quel type connu.As seen in particular in Figure 4, the lower portion of the socket 4 comprises an opening 45 through which the base contact 30 can be brought into contact with an elastic contact blade, like the blade 13 in this figure . On the lower portion of the socket 4 located between the hemispherical portion 40 and the rib 42, in FIGS. 5 and 6A there is a lateral opening 46 on a portion of a tower of the peripheral surface of the lower portion of the socket 4, with through which the base 31 of the bulb 3 is accessible. The rest of the peripheral surface 48 consists of the insulating material constituting the sleeve 4. The elastic fixing part 6 further comprises an opening 65 arranged on one side of the cylindrical tube 60, formed in order to allow the free end 14A of the contact blade 14. The lateral opening 46 is positioned so that the free end 14A can come into contact with the base 31 of the bulb 3 when the socket 4 is positioned according to one of the stable angular positions described upper. Preferably, the socket 4 will be provided with two opposite lateral openings 46, so that the contact between the base 31 and the end 14A of the contact blade 14 can be established in two opposite stable positions. Thus, after inserting the socket 4 into the housing 10 in the manner described above, it is possible to rotate this socket in steps of 90 °, so as to successively turn on or off the bulb 3, the end 14A of the contact blade being successively in contact with the base 31 by an opening 46 or isolated from said base by an insulating portion 48. The base 31 is here represented as being a screw base, but it is understood that it can also act of a pellet of any known type.

La pièce de fixation élastique 6 a été décrite et représentée comportant deux lèvres élastiques 61; elle pourrait aussi ne comporter qu'une seule lèvre élastique ou plus de deux, les moyens d'encliquetage prévus sur la douille étant adaptés en conséquence.The elastic fixing part 6 has been described and shown comprising two elastic lips 61; it could also have only one elastic lip or more than two, the latching means provided on the sleeve being adapted accordingly.

Comme pour la forme d'exécution précédente, la douille 4 peut être équipée d'une deuxième rainure périphérique 47, pouvant, comme la rainure périphérique 26 de la première forme d'exécution décrite, être équipée d'un joint torique afin d'assurer l'étanchéité entre la douille 4 et le boîtier 10.As for the previous embodiment, the sleeve 4 can be equipped with a second peripheral groove 47, which, like the peripheral groove 26 in the first embodiment described, can be equipped with an O-ring in order to ensure the seal between the socket 4 and the housing 10.

La lampe de poche 1 a été décrite avec un boîtier 10 plat comportant trois éléments de pile et délivrant donc une tension de 4,5 V pour la première forme d'exécution décrite et deux éléments de pile pour une tension de 3 V dans la deuxième forme d'exécution. Plus généralement le boîtier 10 peut être de n'importe quelle forme et comprendre un nombre quelconque d'éléments de piles montés en batterie. Dans ce cas, et afin de ne pas installer une douille 2 ou 4 équipée d'une ampoule supportant une tension inférieure à celle délivrée par la batterie contenue dans le boîtier, la douille selon l'une ou l'autre des formes d'exécution décrites et/ou l'ouverture 15 peut être munie de moyens de détrompage, comme schématisé en 29 sur la figure 2, de manière à ce qu'un boîtier donné ne puisse accepter que des douilles munies d'une ampoule acceptant la tension délivrée par le boîtier ou éventuellement une tension inférieure.The flashlight 1 has been described with a flat housing 10 comprising three battery cells and therefore delivering a voltage of 4.5 V for the first embodiment described and two battery cells for a voltage of 3 V in the second form of execution. More generally, the housing 10 can be of any shape and include any number of battery cells mounted in a battery. In this case, and in order not to install a socket 2 or 4 equipped with a bulb supporting a voltage lower than that delivered by the battery contained in the housing, the socket according to one or other of the embodiments described and / or the opening 15 may be provided with coding means, as shown diagrammatically at 29 in FIG. 2, so that a given housing can only accept sockets provided with a bulb accepting the voltage delivered by the housing or possibly a lower voltage.

Pour l'une ou l'autre des formes d'exécution décrites d'une douille d'éclairage, différentes variantes du système optique décrit à propos de la première forme d'exécution peuvent être envisagées, en particulier la douille peut être fermée par un matériau transparent ou un verre 25 (figure 2) d'une couleur déterminée, afin de pouvoir changer la couleur de l'éclairage en changeant de douille. La pièce de fixation 22 peut aussi être conçue de manière à comporter une partie coulissante dans l'enveloppe 20, de manière à modifier la distance focale du réflecteur 22B et en conséquence la concentration du faisceau lumineux. Cet effet peut aussi être obtenu ou augmenté en remplaçant le verre plat 25 par un verre ou matériau transparent en forme de lentille.For one or other of the described embodiments of a lighting socket, different variants of the optical system described in connection with the first embodiment can be envisaged, in particular the socket can be closed by a transparent material or a glass 25 (FIG. 2) of a determined color, in order to be able to change the color of the lighting by changing the socket. The fixing piece 22 can also be designed so as to comprise a sliding part in the envelope 20, so as to modify the focal distance of the reflector 22B and consequently the concentration of the light beam. This effect can also be obtained or increased by replacing the flat glass 25 with a glass or transparent material in the form of a lens.

D'autres utilisations d'une douille selon l'une ou l'autre des formes d'exécution décrites de l'invention sont aussi possibles; plus généralement la douille d'éclairage peut être utilisée pour tous moyens d'éclairage, sans être directement superposée à une batterie, par exemple sur un tableau de bord d'un véhicule ou être adaptée à un bras flexible comme lampe de lecture de carte ou comme lampe frontale ou pour l'éclairage d'une bicyclette. Il n'est même pas nécessaire qu'elle soit alimentée par une batterie, vu qu'il suffit que les éléments faisant contact décrits précédemment soient alimentés par une source électrique, de préférence en basse tension. Une pluralité de douilles peut aussi être utilisée comme élément de signalisation lumineux sur un tableau, par exemple un tableau synoptique ou un tableau de signalisation.Other uses of a socket according to one or other of the embodiments described of the invention are also possible; more generally, the lighting socket can be used for all lighting means, without being directly superimposed on a battery, for example on a dashboard of a vehicle or being adapted to a flexible arm as a card reading lamp or as a headlamp or for lighting a bicycle. It does not even have to be powered by a battery, since it is sufficient for the contacting elements described above to be powered by an electric source, preferably at low voltage. A plurality of sockets can also be used as a light signaling element on a panel, for example a synoptic panel or a signaling panel.

Claims (18)

  1. Lighting cap (2; 4) composed of an essentially tubular and cylindrical casing (20) of an insulating material, in which a bulb (3) is disposed and held in position, having a first aperture (23) on its upper end for passage of the luminous beam and a second aperture (21; 45) on its lower end for passage of the bottom contact of the socket (30) of the bulb (3), characterised in that at least one lateral opening (27C; 46) is provided on a portion of the circumference of the lateral surface close to said lower end of said cap in order to allow an electrical contact to be established between one contact blade (16; 14A) and the socket (31) of the bulb (3), at least one other portion of the circumference (27A; 48), abutting on said lateral surface being made of the insulating material comprising the casing in order to interrupt said electrical contact upon pivoting of said cap about its longitudinal axis.
  2. Lighting cap (2; 4) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises two lateral openings (27C; 46) on two opposite circumferential portions of said lateral surface, two other opposite portions of the socket (31) being closed off by two insulating parts (27A; 48) on two other portions of said lateral surface, the lateral openings (27C; 46) and the insulating parts (27A; 48) being shifted by a quarter turn.
  3. Lighting cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one part of the portion of the casing (20) situated between the periphery of the aperture (21; 45) of its lower end and the lateral opening or openings (27C; 46) is hemispherical or in the shape of a truncated cone.
  4. Lighting cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises a piece for fixing (22) the bulb (3) introduced through said first aperture (23) disposed on the upper end of the casing (20).
  5. Lighting cap according to claim 4, characterised in that the portion of surface (22B) of the fixing piece (20) facing the bulb (3) is of concave shape and is covered with a material reflecting the light.
  6. Lighting cap according to claim 5, characterised in that at least one portion of the fixing piece (22) is axially mobile in order to vary the concentration of the luminous beam.
  7. Lighting cap according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterised in that said first aperture (23) disposed on the upper end of the casing (20) is closed off by a transparent material (25).
  8. Lighting cap according to claim 7, characterised in that said transparent material (25) is tinted.
  9. Lighting cap according to one of the claims 7 or 8, characterised in that said transparent material (25) is cut in the shape of a lens.
  10. Lighting cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cylindrical portion of the upper part of the casing (20) is provided with ribs (28).
  11. Lighting cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a peripheral groove (26; 47) equipped with a sealing ring (26A) is provided on one part of the lower cylindrical portion of the casing (20) situated above the lateral opening or openings (27C; 46).
  12. Pocket torch (1) comprising a housing (10) containing at least one battery element (11), a circular aperture (15) being provided on one face of said housing including a lighting cap (2) according to one of the preceding claims, the bottom contact of the socket (30) pressing against a first blade of contact (13) of the battery, characterised in that one spring blade (16) is disposed inside said housing, and comprising at least one branch passing tangentially through a peripheral groove (27) in which the lateral opening or openings (27C) are disposed, one end (16B) of said spring blade being pushed against a second contact blade (14) of said battery, another portion of said spring blade pressing against the inside surface of said housing face (10).
  13. Pocket torch according to claim 12, characterised in that said spring blade (16) co-operating with the groove (27) disposed on the cap (2), serves as a means of contact as well as a means of holding said cap inside the housing (10).
  14. Pocket torch according to one of the claims 12 or 13, characterised in that one end (16A) of said spring blade (16) is shaped as a buckle and projects on the exterior of the housing (10) in order to form a suspension buckle.
  15. Pocket torch (1) comprising a housing (10) containing at least one battery element (11), a circular aperture (15) being provided on one face of said housing having a lighting cap (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 11, the bottom contact of the socket (30) pressing against a first blade of contact (13) of the battery, characterised in that it comprises an elastic fixing piece (6) disposed inside the housing (10) facing the circular aperture (15), said elastic fixing piece (6) including at least one elastic lip (61) provided with a rim (62) including a flat face (63) generally directed toward the axis of the circular aperture (15) and an aperture (65) for passage of a portion of the end of a contact blade (14A), said lighting cap (4) including a retaining means com-osed of at least one portion of essentially cylindrical surface (44) including at least one portion of flat surface (43) limited by a portion of rib (42), the rim (62) co-operating with the portion of rib (42) when the flat face or faces (63) are brought to bear upon the portion or portions of flat surface (43) to maintain the cap (4) in the housing (10), the lateral opening or openings (46) of the cap permitting a contact between the end of the contact blade (14A) and the socket (31) of the bulb (3).
  16. Pocket torch according to one of the claims 12 to 15, characterised in that its illumination, respectively its extinction, are obtained by rotations of a quarter of a turn of said cap (2), this cap being able to be extracted from said circular aperture (15) by a rotation at an intermediate position between a posiion of illumination and a position of extinction followed by a pulling off of said cap.
  17. Use of a lighting cap according to one of the claims 1 to 11, in a lighting means.
  18. Use of a lighting cap according to one of the claims 1 to 11, in a means of illuminated signalling.
EP19940810728 1994-01-07 1994-12-14 Lampsocket and pocket lamp provided therewith Expired - Lifetime EP0662584B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19940810728 EP0662584B1 (en) 1994-01-07 1994-12-14 Lampsocket and pocket lamp provided therewith

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94810007 1994-01-07
EP94810007 1994-01-07
EP19940810728 EP0662584B1 (en) 1994-01-07 1994-12-14 Lampsocket and pocket lamp provided therewith

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0662584A1 EP0662584A1 (en) 1995-07-12
EP0662584B1 true EP0662584B1 (en) 1997-11-05

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19940810728 Expired - Lifetime EP0662584B1 (en) 1994-01-07 1994-12-14 Lampsocket and pocket lamp provided therewith

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Country Link
EP (1) EP0662584B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6402348B1 (en) * 2000-06-21 2002-06-11 Osram Sylvania Inc. Lamp assembly and coupler
GB0703613D0 (en) * 2007-02-23 2007-04-04 Sensitivity Ltd Lighting unit housing

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3817861A1 (en) * 1987-05-27 1989-03-30 Sassmannshausen Knut Socket (holder) for a battery lamp
DE8915934U1 (en) * 1989-02-18 1992-05-21 ITT Reiss International GmbH, 7992 Tettnang Lamp holder for low-voltage miniature lamps

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0662584A1 (en) 1995-07-12

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