EP0940893B1 - Electrical lamp socket - Google Patents

Abstract

The main body (11) has a matching protrusion (34) which slots into the slot (24) in the bell shaped cap, allowing easy assembly.

Description

The present invention relates generally to bushings for receiving a light bulb, for mounting and feeding of it.

It relates more particularly to those bushings which comprise, in particular, on the one hand, a body, in the grip of which are implanted the connection terminals needed to connect a clean electrical cable to the power supply of the light bulb, and, on the other hand, by measure of security, to avoid to third parties any risk of coming to touch such terminals of connection even though they may be energized, a hood, generally bell-shaped, which, on the side of its outlet, at least partially covers the body, and which, at a distance from its outlet, has a clean orifice to the passage of the electric cable.

Most often, to date, this cap is in one piece.

As a result, it is necessary to put it on the front electrical cable connect it to the body of the socket.

But it is not uncommon for an installer, even a savvy one, to fail to follow this assembly sequence, and starts, on the contrary, by connecting the cable electrical to the body of the socket.

As it is excluded that, to the detriment of security, he leaves the bounds connection to the open air, neglecting to do what is necessary for the hood designed for this purpose is actually in place, it must proceed disconnection of the electrical cable, then restart the operations, respecting, this time, the assembly sequence necessary for the presence systematic of this cap.

Achievements have been proposed in which, for a reason or for another, the cap is in two parts, which allows to close it on the electric cable even though it is already connected to the body of the socket.

This is particularly the case in European patent applications Nos. 0 684 669 and 0 798 820.

But this two-part realization of the cap makes it more complex sleeve making and longer and delicate operations to perform during installation.

This is even more so with the sockets described in the applications European patent mentioned above that, in these cases, the partition not only affects the cap but other elements of the socket that found to be also in one piece with this cap.

The present invention generally relates to a provision to facilitate the installation of sockets of the type mentioned above, without the above disadvantages and without the need to associate with their hood any other element than one of those participating already in the constitution of such a socket.

More specifically, it relates to a socket for a bulb electrical device of the kind including, in particular, a body, in the grip of which the connection terminals required for connection of a electric cable, and a cap, generally bell-shaped, which on the side of its outlet, covers at least partially the body, and which, at a distance of its outlet, presents a clean orifice to the passage of the electric cable, this bushing being generally characterized in that, on the one hand, the cap has, laterally, an opening, which extends continuously from its orifice at its outlet, and which is peculiar to its engagement on the cable electric even though it is not yet in place on the body, and other the body is equipped with a cover, which at least partially obscures the opening of the cap when it is in place on him.

Thus, according to the invention, the cap can advantageously be in place on the electrical cable after even connecting it to the body of the socket, thanks to the opening that it presents on all its height, and, together, it takes advantage of the body of the socket to then obscure its opening.

This cap can therefore be advantageously made of a single taking advantage of the simplicity of manufacture and operations installation, and, for the closure of the opening it contains, necessary for the respect of the security conditions to be ensured, it is not need no other element than one of those already present elsewhere in the socket.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une douille suivant l'invention ;

la figure 2 en est une vue en perspective éclatée ;

la figure 3 est une autre vue en perspective éclatée ne concernant que certains des éléments constitutifs de cette douille, vus de dessus ;

la figure 4 est, avec un arrachement local, une autre vue en perspective éclatée de ces mêmes éléments, vus de dessous ;

la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de deux des éléments constitutifs de la douille suivant l'invention, pour une variante de réalisation de ceux-ci ;

la figure 6 est une vue en perspective éclatée analogue à celle de la figure 2, pour une autre variante de réalisation de la douille suivant l'invention.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, by way of example, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view;

Figure 3 is another exploded perspective view concerning only some of the constituent elements of this sleeve, seen from above;

Figure 4 is, with a local cutaway, another exploded perspective view of these same elements, seen from below;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of two of the constituent elements of the sleeve according to the invention, for an alternative embodiment thereof;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view similar to that of Figure 2, for another embodiment of the sleeve according to the invention.

As illustrated in these figures, and in a manner known per se, the bushing 10 according to the invention is of the kind comprising, in particular, on the one hand, a body 11, in the grip of which are implanted the connection terminals 12 necessary to connect an electric cable 13, which is schematized in broken lines in FIG. 2, and, on the other hand, a cap 14, shaped bell, which, on the side of its outlet 15, covers at least partially the body 11, being wedged axially with respect to this body 11, and which, at a distance from its outlet 15, has a hole 16 specific to the passage of the electric cable 13.

This bushing 10, in the usual way, is complete, for the essential, by a shirt 18, in which the light bulb, no represented, to put in place must be introduced by its pellet.

In the embodiment shown, this jacket 18 is adapted, for example, to receive a bayonet cap light bulb.

But it goes without saying that, alternatively, it could just as easily be adapted to receive a screw bulb.

In the embodiment shown, the liner 18 forms, annularly, on the side of the cap 14, a band 19, and it comprises, in withdrawal from this strip 19, a threaded section 20 through which it associated with it, for example for fixing the assembly to any one shade not shown, a skirt 21.

In the embodiment shown, the liner 18 forms, internally, at the base of its strip 19, a transverse shoulder 22, for the axial support of the body 11.

In the embodiment shown, finally, it is provided in the liner 18, below the body 11, a safety shutter 23.

The corresponding provisions not falling within the scope of this invention, they will not be described here.

Only will be described in the following the elements of the socket 10 necessary to understand the invention.

According to the invention, the cap 14 comprises, laterally, a opening 24, which extends continuously from its orifice 16 to its outlet 15, and which, as will be described in more detail later, is peculiar to its commitment on the electric cable 13 even though it is not yet in placed on the body 11, and, together, the body 11 is equipped with a cover 25, which at least partially obscures the opening 24 of the cap 14 when this one is up on him.

In the embodiments shown, the opening 24 of the cap 14 extends substantially along a radial plane of this cap 14, and the lips 26 of this opening 24 are substantially parallel to each other.

In the embodiments more particularly represented on the 1 to 5, the cap 14 is wedged axially relative to the body 1 1 by latching means 27, 28 involving a simple axial engagement of this cap 14 on this body 11.

For example, and as shown, these latching means 27, 28 intervene between the cap 14 and the liner 18 on which the body 11 takes axially support.

More specifically, in the embodiments shown, these latching means 27, 28 comprise, on the one hand, on the cap 14, two latching tabs 27, which are arranged diametrically opposed to each other, extend each locally cap 14 beyond its outlet 15, and which, each conformed internally hook, are elastically deformable, and, secondly, on the shirt 18, two notches 28, which, each arranged respectively in correspondence with the latching tabs 27, each intervene at the favor of a notch 29 provided locally for this purpose on the strip 19 of this shirt 18, and on which the latching lugs 27 are clean to come get hooked.

At the same time, the cover 25 equipping the body 11 is a rib on which the cap 14 is able to fit through its opening 24.

In the embodiments shown, the body 11 presents, at its base, a sole 30, by which it is able to bear axially on the liner 18, and, more precisely, on the transverse shoulder 22 that internally this one.

In these embodiments, the body 11 is therefore partly interlocked in the shirt 18.

In the embodiments shown, the rib forming the cache 25 fitted to the body 11 protrudes from the back of a flange 33, which extends substantially perpendicular to its sole 30, and on the other side the connection terminals 12 intervene.

Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5, the outer surface 34 of the rib forming the cover 25 fitted to the body 11 is in the image of the outer surface 35 of the cap 14.

More specifically, in these embodiments, the outer surface 34 of the rib forming the cover 25 equipping the body 11 is in continuity with the outer surface 35 of the cap 14 when the cap 14 is in place on the body 11.

In other words, the rib forming the cover 25 equipping the body 11 has side flanks 36 which are substantially parallel to each other, and the distance separating one of the other side flanks 36 is substantially equal at the distance separating one from the other the lips 26 of the opening 24 of the cap 14 while being slightly less than this distance.

Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiments represented, the cache 25 equipping the body 11 is in one piece with this one, molding only one and the same piece with this body 11.

In practice, a workshop is made of an assembly of the body 11 and of the liner 18, incorporating the safety shutter 23 between them, and, for security reasons, this assembly is made in a way that can not be dismantled.

For example, this assembly implements latching means, which intervene inside the shirt 18, in alignment with the notches 29 thereof.

These latching means, which are only partially visible on the Figure 3, not covered by the present invention, they will not be described here.

For the implementation of the sleeve 10 according to the invention, it can by example be carried out as follows.

At first, and as schematized in broken lines on 2, the electric cable 13 is connected to the connection terminals 12 that comprises the body 11, the electrical conductors constituting it being each individually brought into engagement with one of these terminals of connection 1 2.

In a second step, the cap 14 is engaged, laterally, by its opening 24, on the electric cable 13, as shown schematically by the arrow F1 in FIG. 2, until this electric cable 13 aligns with its orifice 16.

In a third step, finally, the cap 14 is engaged axially on the body 11, along the arrow F2 of Figure 2, by sliding along the electric cable 13 until, by its latching lugs 27, it comes engaged with the shirt 18.

As will be noted, at the end of his commitment to the body 11, the cap 14 carries by its outlet 15 on the edge of the strip 19 of the shirt 18.

As will be noted, also, when the cap 14 is thus in place on the body 11, the cache 25 equipping this body 11 occult then completely the opening 24 of this cap 14, by restoring moreover perfectly continuity of it.

In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the cap 14 comprises, along at least one of the lips 26 of its opening 24, on at least part of its height, a return 38, which is directed inwards, and which, when in place on the body 11, fits between the rib forming the cover 25 equipping this body 11 and a stop 40 that the body 11 presents to distance from this rib.

For example, and as shown, the cap 14 presents a return 38 along each of the lips 26 of its opening 24, and this return 38 extends over most, at least, of its height, from its market 15.

As a corollary, the body 11 has a stop 40 on each side of the rib forming the cache 25 which equips it, and this stop 40 extends parallel to this rib, like a cheek.

Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment represented, the two abutments 40 that the body 11 thus presents form, overall, a convergent 41 at their leading end, that is to say on the opposite the sole 30, to facilitate the engagement of the cap 14.

Like the rib forming the cover 25, these stops 40 project on the flange 33 of the body 11.

When the cap 14 is engaged on the body 11, its returns 38 contribute to its guidance, in cooperation with the abutments 40 of the body 11, and they also help to overcome the loss of rigidity of the cap 14 due to the presence of its opening 24, and this, in particular vis-à-vis possible efforts whose electric cable 13 could be the object.

In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the cap 14 is wedged axially with respect to the body 11 by screwing means 42, 43 involving a rotation relative thereto.

For example, and as shown, these screwing means 42, 43 comprise, on the one hand, on the cap 14, a threaded section 42 provided on the inner surface of this cap 14 in the immediate vicinity of its outlet 15, and, on the other hand, on the liner 18, a complementary threaded ring 43 of the threaded section 42 of the cap 14.

At the same time, the cover 25 equipping the body 11 then extends radially recessed relative to the cap 14, to allow the rotational movement required for it to screw.

As before, the cache 25 equipping the body 11 is a rib projecting from the flange 33 of this body 11.

Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, this cover 25 has a width greater than the width of the opening 24 of the cap 14.

In the embodiment shown, the cap 14 has, at level of its orifice 16, on the opposite side to its opening 24, an indentation 44 to block in rotation an adapter 45 when such adapter 45 must be provided to allow the attachment of the socket 10 to any threaded support rod, not shown.

For the rest, the provisions are of the same type as those previously described.

In particular, when the cap 14 is in place on the body 11, the cache 25 equipping this body 11 completely obscures its opening 24, although then be radially recessed relative thereto.

Of course, an adapter 45 can also be implemented when, as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, the cap 14 is wedged axially with respect to the body 1 1 by latching means 27, 28.

But it goes without saying that in either case, this adapter 45, and the associated threaded rod, must be threaded onto the electrical cable 13 before the connecting it to the connection terminals 12.

Of course, also, the present invention is not limited to embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant execution and / or combination of their various elements.

In particular, instead of coming in continuity with the external surface of the cap when it is wedged axially relative to the body by simple axial engagement thereon, that the corresponding setting means are snap-fastening means or that it is a wedging means of another type, for example setting means involving the implementation of one or several fastening means such as screws or others, the cover equipping this body can also come to more or less project on this external surface.

In addition, instead of being integrated into the shirt, the strip allowing the latching of the cap could just as easily be integrated into the body.

It is also the same with the threaded ring, when the cap is fixed axially relative to the body by screwing means.

Finally, the field of application of the present invention extends advantageously to any type of socket, and in particular to that of sockets in which the body and the shirt form a piece of a alone, as may be the case for example when no shutter security is not provided.

Claims (14)

1. A holder socket for an electric bulb, of the type comprising in particular a body (11), within which are disposed the connecting terminals (12) necessary for the connection of an electric cable (13), and a generally bell-shaped cap (14) which, towards its mouth opening (15), at least partially covers the body (11) and which, at a spacing from its mouth opening (15), has an orifice (16) for the passage of the electric cable (13), characterised in that on the one hand the cap (14) laterally comprises an opening (24) which extends continuously from its orifice (16) to its mouth opening (15) and which is suitable for engagement thereof on the electric cable (13) when it is not yet in place on the body (11) and on the other hand the body (11) is provided with a cover portion (25) which at least partially closes off the opening (24) of the cap (14) when the latter is in place thereon.
2. A socket according to claim 1 characterised in that the opening (24) of the cap (14) extends along substantially a radial plane of the cap (14).
3. A socket according to either one of claims 1 and 2 characterised in that, the cap (14) being fixed axially with respect to the body (11) by latching means (27, 28) involving simple axial engagement of the cap (14) on to the body (11), the cover portion (25) on the body (11) is a rib on to which the cap (14) is capable of being engaged by way of its opening (24).
4. A socket according to claim 3 characterised in that the external surface (34) of the rib forming the cover portion (25) on the body (11) is in continuous relationship with the external surface (35) of the cap (14) when said cap (14) is in place on the body (11).
5. A socket according to either one of claims 3 and 4 characterised in that, along one at least of the lips (26) of its opening (24), the cap (14) over a part at least of its height comprises a flange portion (38) which is directed inwardly and which, when it is in place on the body (11), is inserted between the rib forming the cover portion (25) on the body (11) and an abutment (40) that the body (11) has at a spacing from said rib.
6. A socket according to claim 5 characterised in that the abutment (40) that the body (11) has extends parallel to the rib forming the cover portion (25) provided thereon.
7. A socket according to any one of claims 3 to 6 characterised in that the latching means (27, 28) by which the cap (14) is fixed axially with respect to the body (11) are operative between the cap (14) and a sleeve (18) against which the body (11) axially bears.
8. A socket according to either one of claims 1 and 2 characterised in that, the cap (14) being fixed axially with respect to the body (11) by screw means (42, 43) involving a rotary movement with respect thereto, the cover portion (25) on the body (11) extends radially in set-back relationship with respect to the cap (14).
9. A socket according to claim 8 characterised in that the cover portion (25) on the body (11) is of a width greater than the width of the opening (24) of the cap (14).
10. A socket according to either one of claims 8 and 9 characterised in that the cover portion (25) on the body (11) is a rib.
11. A socket according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that the lips (26) of the opening (24) of the cap (14) are substantially parallel to each other.
12. A socket according to any one of claims 1 to 11 characterised in that the cover portion (25) on the body (11) totally covers the opening (24) of the cap (14) when same is in place on the body (11).
13. A socket according to any one of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that the external surface (34) of the cover portion (25) on the body (11) is in the image of the external surface (35) of the cap (14).
14. A socket according to any one of claims 1 to 13 characterised in that the cover portion (25) on the body (11) is in one piece therewith.

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