GB2030382A

GB2030382A - A socket for an electric lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2030382A
Application number: GB7928970A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Arnould Fabrique dAppareillage Electrique SAS
Current assignee: Arnould Fabrique dAppareillage Electrique SAS
Priority date: 1978-09-07
Filing date: 1979-08-20
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: FR2435837B1; BE878384A; ES251215Y; GB2030382B; MA18577A1; IT1126195B; FR2435837A1; NL7906596A; DE2935258A1; ES251215U; IT7968757A0

Abstract

A socket for an electric lamp, comprises a base (3) and a cylindrical sleeve (1) housing a contact assembly (2) for connecting the lamp to an electric power line. The cylindrical sleeve (1) includes at one end (19) two diametrically opposed extensions (14) constituting resilient clips and having near their mid-portions two first inwardly-directed locking surfaces (15) for holding the contact assembly (2) in the sleeve, and at their free ends two outwardly-directed locking surfaces (16) for holding the base (3) on the said end. The snap together structure facilitates assembly during manufacture. An outwardly threaded sheath (4) fits on the sleeve (1) to abut the shoulder (17). A plate (6, Fig. 2, not shown) may then be gripped between the base flange (35) and the flange (51) of the collar (5) that threadedly engages the sheath (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A socket for an electric lamp The invention relates to a socket for an electric lamp such as an incandescent lamp. A socket for an electric lamp normally comprises a threaded sleeve, a base and a contact assembly disposed inside the sleeve against the base.

In some socket systems, the threaded sleeve is screwed onto the base which must itself be threaded, and the contact assembly is freely disposed inside the sleeve against the base.

Preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide a socket of simplified manufacture wherein the component parts can be assembled without the need for any screwing or threading.

The present invention provides a socket for an electric lamp, comprising a base and a cylindrical sleeve housing a contact assembly for connecting the lamp to an electric power line, wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes at one end two diametrically opposed extensions constituting resilient clips and having near their mid-portions two first inwardly-directed locking surfaces for holding the contact assembly in the sleeve, and at their free ends two outwardly-directed locking surfaces for holding the base on the said end.

Preferably the base includes two longitudinal grooves in its inner surface for guiding the said second locking surfaces while the base is being assembled on the sleeve.

The base may also include a slot at the end of each of the said longitudinal grooves co-operating with the said second locking surfaces to lock the base on the sleeve. A threaded sheath may surround the cylindrical sleeve between the base and a shoulder disposed at the other end of the sleeve, the said sheath and the said sleeve including means for positioning one relative to the other and a threaded collar may be screwed onto the said sheath.

An embodiment of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a socket in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an overall side view in partial section of the socket according to figure 1.

In the figures, a socket comprises a sleeve 1 , an electric contact assembly 2 and a base 3.

The sleeve 1 is cylindrical and it includes in its lower half an internal cylindrical shoulder 10 which is threaded and on which a collar 11 having the same thread is screwed to receive a screw capped electric lamp. There are two diametrically opposed flats 1 2 in the inner wall of the sleeve 1 extending from the upper edge of the shoulder 10.

On either side of the flats 12, there are slots 13 in the end of the wall of the sleeve 1., whereby the flats which extend beyond the upper end 1 9 of the sleeve 1 constitute extensions 1 4 of the sleeve projecting from the level of the bottoms of the slots 13. The extensions 14 thus constitute resilient clips extending beyond the end of the sleeve 1.

Near their mid-portions the extensions 1 4 have inwardly-directed first locking surfaces 1 5 substantially level with the end of the sleeve 1, and at their ends they have outwardly-directed second locking surfaces 1 6.

The lower portion of the sleeve 1 includes an outer shoulder 1 7 with an upper edge from which lugs 1 8 extend upwardly.

The electric contact assembly 2 is intended to be disposed inside the sleeve 1. It is positioned by longitudinal flats 20 co-operating with the flats 1 2 and resting against the upper edge of the shoulder 10. The upper surface of the assembly 2 includes two parallel channels 22 on either side of a central ridge extending between the two flats 20 and in which there are disposed two electrical screw terminals with screw heads referenced 23.

The base 3 includes a threaded nut 31 sunk in its upper end. It also includes two diametrically opposed internal longitudinal grooves 32 ending in flats 33. The upper ends of the grooves 32 open into side openings 34. The lower end of the base 3 has a flange 35.

The socket may also include an outwardly threaded sheath 4 having knotches 40 at its ends for co-operating with the lugs 18, together with an inwardly threaded collar5 having a flange 51 at its upper end.

This socket is used in the following manner.

The contact assembly 2 is introduced into the sleeve 1 in such a manner as to place the flats 20 against the flats 1 2 by resiliently separating the locking surfaces 1 5 to allow the lower surface of the contact assembly 2 to abut against the upper edge of the shoulder 1 0. In this position the locking surfaces 1 5 latch behind the diametrically opposed ends of the ridge 21 and at right angles to the flats 12, thereby locking the contact assembly in the sleeve with the screw heads being accessible via the slots 1 3. The sheath 4 is then threaded onto the sleeve 1 by resiliently pushing the ends of the extensions 14 inwardly until the sheath abuts against the shoulder 1 7 in a locked position with the notches 40 engaging the lugs 18.The base 3 is then threaded on until the end 19 of the sleeve 1 abuts against internal ribs 60.

At this point, the locking surfaces which had previously been engaged against the flats 33 in the longitudinal grooves 32 latch against the lower edges of the openings 34.

It is then possible to screw the collar 5 onto the sheath 4 and to grip a plate 6 between the flanges 35 and 51.

1. A socket for an electric lamp, comprising a base and a cylindrical sleeve housing a contact assembly for connecting the lamp to an electric power line, wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes at one end two diametrically opposed extensions constituting resilient clips and having near their mid-portions two first inwardly-directed locking surfaces for holding the contact assembly in the sleeve, and at their free ends two outwardlydirected locking surfaces for holding the base on

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A socket for an electric lamp The invention relates to a socket for an electric lamp such as an incandescent lamp. A socket for an electric lamp normally comprises a threaded sleeve, a base and a contact assembly disposed inside the sleeve against the base. In some socket systems, the threaded sleeve is screwed onto the base which must itself be threaded, and the contact assembly is freely disposed inside the sleeve against the base. Preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide a socket of simplified manufacture wherein the component parts can be assembled without the need for any screwing or threading. The present invention provides a socket for an electric lamp, comprising a base and a cylindrical sleeve housing a contact assembly for connecting the lamp to an electric power line, wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes at one end two diametrically opposed extensions constituting resilient clips and having near their mid-portions two first inwardly-directed locking surfaces for holding the contact assembly in the sleeve, and at their free ends two outwardly-directed locking surfaces for holding the base on the said end. Preferably the base includes two longitudinal grooves in its inner surface for guiding the said second locking surfaces while the base is being assembled on the sleeve. The base may also include a slot at the end of each of the said longitudinal grooves co-operating with the said second locking surfaces to lock the base on the sleeve. A threaded sheath may surround the cylindrical sleeve between the base and a shoulder disposed at the other end of the sleeve, the said sheath and the said sleeve including means for positioning one relative to the other and a threaded collar may be screwed onto the said sheath. An embodiment of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a socket in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an overall side view in partial section of the socket according to figure 1. In the figures, a socket comprises a sleeve 1 , an electric contact assembly 2 and a base 3. The sleeve 1 is cylindrical and it includes in its lower half an internal cylindrical shoulder 10 which is threaded and on which a collar 11 having the same thread is screwed to receive a screw capped electric lamp. There are two diametrically opposed flats 1 2 in the inner wall of the sleeve 1 extending from the upper edge of the shoulder 10. On either side of the flats 12, there are slots 13 in the end of the wall of the sleeve 1., whereby the flats which extend beyond the upper end 1 9 of the sleeve 1 constitute extensions 1 4 of the sleeve projecting from the level of the bottoms of the slots 13. The extensions 14 thus constitute resilient clips extending beyond the end of the sleeve 1. Near their mid-portions the extensions 1 4 have inwardly-directed first locking surfaces 1 5 substantially level with the end of the sleeve 1, and at their ends they have outwardly-directed second locking surfaces 1 6. The lower portion of the sleeve 1 includes an outer shoulder 1 7 with an upper edge from which lugs 1 8 extend upwardly. The electric contact assembly 2 is intended to be disposed inside the sleeve 1. It is positioned by longitudinal flats 20 co-operating with the flats 1 2 and resting against the upper edge of the shoulder 10. The upper surface of the assembly 2 includes two parallel channels 22 on either side of a central ridge extending between the two flats 20 and in which there are disposed two electrical screw terminals with screw heads referenced 23. The base 3 includes a threaded nut 31 sunk in its upper end. It also includes two diametrically opposed internal longitudinal grooves 32 ending in flats 33. The upper ends of the grooves 32 open into side openings 34. The lower end of the base 3 has a flange 35. The socket may also include an outwardly threaded sheath 4 having knotches 40 at its ends for co-operating with the lugs 18, together with an inwardly threaded collar5 having a flange 51 at its upper end. This socket is used in the following manner. The contact assembly 2 is introduced into the sleeve 1 in such a manner as to place the flats 20 against the flats 1 2 by resiliently separating the locking surfaces 1 5 to allow the lower surface of the contact assembly 2 to abut against the upper edge of the shoulder 1 0. In this position the locking surfaces 1 5 latch behind the diametrically opposed ends of the ridge 21 and at right angles to the flats 12, thereby locking the contact assembly in the sleeve with the screw heads being accessible via the slots 1 3. The sheath 4 is then threaded onto the sleeve 1 by resiliently pushing the ends of the extensions 14 inwardly until the sheath abuts against the shoulder 1 7 in a locked position with the notches 40 engaging the lugs 18.The base 3 is then threaded on until the end 19 of the sleeve 1 abuts against internal ribs 60. At this point, the locking surfaces which had previously been engaged against the flats 33 in the longitudinal grooves 32 latch against the lower edges of the openings 34. It is then possible to screw the collar 5 onto the sheath 4 and to grip a plate 6 between the flanges 35 and 51. CLAIMS

1. A socket for an electric lamp, comprising a base and a cylindrical sleeve housing a contact assembly for connecting the lamp to an electric power line, wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes at one end two diametrically opposed extensions constituting resilient clips and having near their mid-portions two first inwardly-directed locking surfaces for holding the contact assembly in the sleeve, and at their free ends two outwardlydirected locking surfaces for holding the base on the said end.

2. A socket according to claim 1, wherein the base includes two longitudinal grooves in its inner surface for guiding the said second locking surfaces while the base is being assembled on the sleeve.

3. A socket according to claim 2, wherein the base includes a slot in its side wall at the end of each of the said longitudinal grooves co-operating with the said second locking surfaces to lock the base on the sleeve.

4. A socket according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a threaded sheath surrounds the cylindrical sleeve between the base and a shoulder disposed at the other end of the sleeve, the said sheath and the said sleeve including means for positioning one relative to the other.

5. A socket according to claim 4, wherein a threaded collar is screwed onto the said sheath.

6. A socket for an electric lamp, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.