GB2081028A - Lamp assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A socket arrangement for a bulb such as those used in a vehicle stop/tail and indicator lamp assembly has a bulb cap retaining sleeve formed by a block part 3 and metal U-shaped strap 4 forming a bayonet holder to receive the cap of a bulb 6, 5. A resilient tongue 7 has an upper spade part arranged to engage a female connector 8 crimped to the end of cable 9. The connector 8 contacts the bulb cap connection and the tongue 7 yields to permit insertion of the bulb. The arrangement provides simple and quick connection to the assembly using a cable provided with a standard type of connector at its end. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in lamp assemblies This invention relates to an improved lamp assembly and is mainiy concerned with a bulb holder assembly which serves to retain and make electrical contact with the cap of a filament bulb.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified assembly for retaining and making contact with filament bulbs used in vehicles and in particular so called bayonet cap .bulbs in which the live contact connection is brought out to an end face of the cap for connection through a suitable contact spring ,arranged in the holder.

With such arrangements, during assembly it is necessary to electrically connect the vehicle harness cable to the bulb mounting assembly within a lamp unit and generally this is done by means of screw connection terminals which is time consuming and also expensive in construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide an assembly wherein electrical connection of the bulb may be made directly to the cable end using a standard connector already fastened to and in electrical contact with the cable.

According to this invention there is provided a bulb socket assembly comprising a bulb cap retaining sleeve and a resilient tongue over which the female portion of a space connector terminal may be located, the tongue being disposed so that the contact on the rear face of a bulb cap electrically connects with the same, the terminal and tongue yielding to permit insertion of the cap.

In a preferred embodiment the tongue comprises an upstanding resilient post and is shaped so that a standard female connector which, for example, may be crimp connected with a cable is slidable thereover to form the bulb contact.

The tongue is preferably integral with the back plate and because of the resilience is able to yield so as to allow the terminal to laterally displace as the bulb is inserted into the sleeve which can thus be a bayonet holder;The resilience of the tongue is such that contact with the bulb is maintained when the pins locate in the bayonet holder in the secured mode normally being a slightly more forward position in the holder.

With an arrangement according to this invention the lamp holder does not include any metal contact parts as such, provision simply being made to receive and retain the end of a cable already provided with a suitable form of connector. The invention is particularly applicable to stop tail light vehicle lamp assemblies which embody at least two filament bulbs and particular savings in costs can be obtained by manufacturing same according to the invention.

In order that the arrangement and features of the invention may be more clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings showing a vehicle stop/tail lamp assembly with direction indicator bulb and wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view with the translucent cover removed, Figure 2 shows a section on the line II of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a section on the line Ill of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the lamp assembly comprises a back plate 1 formed of resilient plastics material and to which, in use, a coloured lens and cover assembly is connected by means of screws engaging apertures 2. The back plate 1 includes integral mouldings 3 which in cooperation with straps 4 form a bayonet socket to receive respective bulbs 5 and 6. The straps 4 are provided with customary detents which receive the pins of the standard bayonet cap allowing the bulb to be inserted and twisted so as to retain same in position.

The straps 4 have an internal longitudinal channel 4a which develops into a lateral channel part 4b for receiving one bulb pin and the mouldings 3 have a similar channel arrangement for the other bulb pin thus forming a bayonet socket.

The bulb 5 comprises a stop/tail lamp double filament bulb, whereas the bulb 6 is a single filament direction indicator bulb with the plastics cover (not shown) being appropriately coloured.

The base plate 1 also carries upstanding resilient tongues 7 with the upper portions thereof dimensioned and shaped so as to correspond generally to a known type of spade connector terminal. Electrical contact with the bulbs is made through female connectors 8 which engage over the upper portions of the tongue 7 and form a contact against which the centre contacts of the bulb may bear.

The connectors 8 consist of a generally flat plate member with the two opposed sides turned inwardly so as to define channels into which the tongue of the lug 7 may pass.

The resilience of the tongue 7 allows the connectors 8 to be displaced lateraiiy when a bulb is inserted, by the end cap contact of the bulb thus permitting the bayonet connection to be made between the bulk and socket sleeve. The resilience is sufficient to ensure that good contact is maintained through pressure exerted by the tongue 7 through connector 8 onto the cap contact of the bulb.

The female connectors 8 are crimped directly to cables 9 forming part of the vehicle electrical system, and with this construction it will be appreciated that no further metallic contact parts are necessary within the actual lamp assembly itself and that the operation of assembling and connecting up the lamp unit comprises no more than push-fitting the connectors 8 onto the respective tongues 7.

The lamp assembly is completed by metallic reflector units 10 together with suitable apertures in the back plate such as 11 through which the cable connections can be fed. A common "earthed" electrical connection 12 is provided with a suitable terminal 13. The peripheral rim of the back plate 1 may also include a channel 14 onto which a sealing strip may be located forming with the cover a watertight seal.

Claims (8)

1. A bulb socket assembly comprising a bulb cap retaining sleeve and a resilient tongue over which the female portion of a spade connector terminal may be located, the tongue being disposed so that the contact on the rear face of a bulb cap electrically connects with same, the terminal and tongue yielding to permit insertion of the cap.

2. A bulb socket assembly according to Claim 1 , wherein the tongue is carried by a back plate of the assembly and has an upper end formed as a spade over which the female connector slides to firmly engage therewith, the tongue being resilient to permit lateral displacement of the connector.

3. A bulb socket assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the tongue is formed integral with the back plate, the bulb cap retaining sleeve having a part thereof integral with the back plate and a U-shaped strap part, the parts together defining a sleeve bayonet socket for holding a bulb cap.

4. A bulb socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein two tongues are provided side by side each for connection with one of the contacts of a double contact bulb.

5. A bulb socket assembly according to any preceding claim, including two or more bulb cap retaining sleeves and associated tongues on a, back plate for a plurality of bulbs.

6. A bulb socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the tongue is of T-ahape section with the lateral flanges thereof engaged by opposed channels of the female connector part.

7. A bulb socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is adapted to receive a bayonet cap bulb,

8. A bulb socket assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.