US1018480A - Electric-lamp socket. - Google Patents

Description

W. G. CLARK.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNB27, 1910.

, 1,018,480. Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

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WALTER G. CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Application filed June 27, 1910. Serial N0. 569,147.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER G. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to electric lamp sockets for incandescent lamps, and the objects of the invention are to improve upon the construction and operation of such sockets and enable the current to be readily switched on and off at the socket, even if the lamp is inconveniently located, in such position that the ordinary key or chain would be inaccessible or reached with difficulty.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and the invention consists of a lamp socket substantially as hereinafter described and claimed in this specification and shown in its preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away of a lamp socket embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, but rotated on its longitudinal axis ninety degrees counter clockwise; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation on the line 4-4 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modification of the device in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation onthe line 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the insulating block for the socket comprises the base memher A, and the cap member B provided with the cap G for the lamp bulb D. The members A and B are relatively movable, in this instance being relatively revoluble about their longitudinal axis. As shown, the pivot bolt E which is preferably hollow and provided with slotted sides F passes through the members A and B. One member, as the cap member B, is loose on said pivot bolt E, while the base member A in this instance is suitably secured to said bolt as by means of the nut G. Beneath the head H of the bolt lying inside of the cap C may be placed the washer J. The slotted end K of the bolt as shown is thrust through apertures at each side of the cross bar L at the inner end of the conducting strip 0 which carries the binding screw P in the base member A, and

the nut G is screwed down upon said strip 0 over the end K of the bolt, so that the base member A in this instance turns with the bolt. I

The insulating members A and B are normally locked from rotation and means are provided controlled by the lamp bulb for automatically unlocking said members when a lamp is secured in the cap C. As shown, the cap member B is centrally recessed at Q, into which may be set a locking plate R in the form of an annular disk provided with transverse notches or depressions S set into the cap member B. The metallic disk R is preferably provided to form a bearing plate although it could be omitted and locking recesses formed in the material of the cap member B. A locking pin T is shown within the end of the hollow bolt E and projecting slightly beyond the head H of the bolt within the cap 0. This locking pin is slidable longitudinally within the boltE and is provided with the transverse lugs U projecting through the slots F in the sides of the bolt. These lugs U are normally pressed into the recesses S in the locking disk R by the compression spring V which is shown in this instance coiled within the bolt E between the end of the pin T and the bar L of the strip 0. It is obvious that the spring V may be located in any suitable position, as for instance, around the bolt E. A washer W is preferably placed around the bolt E over the locking plate R outside of the ends of the lugs U, so that these lugs may move longitudinally within the washer W.

One of the insulating block members may be provided with an annular bearing shoulder, while the other is pro-vided with an annular recess which cooperates with the shoulder to center the said members. In this instance the cap member B is provided with the shoulder X while the base member A is provided with the recess Y into which the shoulder X projects. The base member A is also centrally recessed at Z to accommodate the movement of the lugs U of the locking pin T.

The base and cap members A and B are provided with cooperating switch contacts for opening and closing the circuit through the socket. One member, as the cap member B, is in this instance provided with a series of sloping teeth a, located around the shoulder or projection X and in a plane transverse to the longitudinal aXis of said cap member. These teeth or corrugations are formed in the cap member and the longitudinal faces I) of the teeth form backstops for the contact tongue 0 secured to the base member A, so that said contact tongue 0 may pass over the surfaces of the teeth a in one direction only. In this instance four teeth a are shown, but there may be as many as desired. Alternate teeth a are provided with conducting surfaces-in the form of metallic plates (l suitably secured upon the teeth as by means of the screws 6 which secure the cap C to the cap member B. Preferably the shoulder or projection X is longitudinally recessed at f to receive projecting portions 9 of the plates (Z and aids in centering and maintaining the plates cl in position. The contact tongue a forming one switch member is in this instance secured to the face of the base member A as by means of the screw it which also secures the contact strip or bracket to the member A. Said bracket is provided with the binding screw 73.

If desired, the teeth or corrugations may be formed upon the exterior surface of the cap member as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 instead of upon the face of said member. In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the teeth 0 are located around the shoulder X upon the cap member B and the curvilinear faces 7) of the teeth lie in longitudinal planes. Alternate teeth are provided with the curved conducting plates Q having ears 1" through which pass the screws 0. The contact tongue t is in this instance secured to the side of the base member A, as by means of the bent tab or projection 10 through which passes the bracket screw it.

' The remainder of the construction of the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is in this instance similar to that shown in the remaining figures.

It will be seen that in both the constructions shown the recesses S and the locking plate R lie transversely between the conducting plates (Z on the teeth a, while the contact tongue 0 or t is so located upon the base member A that when the base and cap members are locked together with the lugs U of the locking pin T in the recesses S, said tongue C lies upon one of the insulating teeth a, so that contact is broken through the block. Any suitable arrangement and location of the parts may be devised which will bring about this operation. When the lamp bulb D is inserted in the cap C, the inner end to of the bulb will bear against the locking pin T and push said locking pin inwardly carrying the lugs U out of the recesses S, thereby unlocking the members A and B, so that one member may be turned relatively to the other to bring the contact tongue 0 upon one of the conducting plates (Z, thus closing the circuit through the socket.

In assembling the parts, the pivot bolt E is first inserted through the cap member B with the locking plate R in position in said cap member around the bolt. The locking pin T is then inserted in the bolt with the lugs U in the slots F of the bolt. The washer V is placed over the bolt and the spring V is placed in the bolt. The base member A is then placed over the bolt and the slotted end K of the bolt inserted through the apertures at each side of the cross bar L in the strip 0. The nut G is screwed on to the end of the bolt F and the spring V forces the lugs U into the locking recesses S, so that the members A and B are locked together with the contact tongue 0 on one of the insulating teeth a. The cap member B and cap C are thus held from movement as the lamp bulb is inserted in the cap C. After the locking pin T is released by the insertion of the bulb, the circuit is completed by continuing to turn the cap member B. The cap member'B may be turned by grasping the lamp bulb and by this means the socket may be readily manipulated, although the socket itself may be inaccessible, since the lamp bulb may readily be grasped. The locking lugs U of the locking pin T bear upon the high por tion of the plate R until the contact tongue 0 leaves the contact plate (Z in which case the lugs U snap back into the recesses S. The back stops Z) on the teeth a prevent thecap member from being turned backward, so that the circuit is made and broken by turning the cap member always in the same direction. I

I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent the following:

1. An electric lamp socket comprising relatively movable insulating base members provided with cooperating switch contacts and normally locked with the switch contacts open, and means for automatically unlocking said base members when the lamp bulb is inserted in the socket.

. 2. An electric lamp socket comprising relatively revoluble insulating base members provided with cooperating switch contacts and normally locked from rotation with the switch contacts open, and means for automatically unlocking said base members when the lamp bulb is inserted in the socket.

3. An electric lampv socket comprising relatively movable insulating base members provided with cooperating switch contacts and normally locked with the switch contacts open, one member having a cap for the reception of a lamp, and means controlled by the lamp bulb for automatically unlocking said base members when a lamp is secured in the cap, to permit one member to be moved relatively to the other and make contact at the switch contacts.

4. An electric lamp socket comprising relatively revoluble insulating base members provided with cooperating switch contacts and normally locked from rotation, with the switch contacts open, one member having a cap for the reception of a lamp, and means controlled by the insertion of the lamp in the cap for unlocking the base members and permitting one member to be rotated relatively to the other to make contact at the switch contacts. u

5. An electric lamp socket comprising centrally pivoted relatively revoluble base members, one member having a peripheral series of sloping teeth formed with back stops, alternate teeth having contact surfaces, and the other member having a contact tongue adapted to cooperate with said teeth, means for locking said members together, and means for automatically unlocking said base members when the lamp bulb is inserted in the socket.

6. An electric lamp socket comprising centrally pivoted relatively revoluble base members, one member having a peripheral series of sloping teeth formed with back stops, alternate teeth having contact surfaces, and the other member having a contact tongue adapted to cooperate with said teeth, a cap secured to one member, and a longitudinally movable spring pressed locking pin projecting into said cap and adapted to be moved longitudinally by the insertion of the lamp bulb in the cap to unlock said base members.

7. An electric lamp socket comprising an insulating block divided transversely into a base member and a relatively revoluble cap member, one member having a circular row of teeth provided with back stops, alternate teeth having conducting surfaces, the other member having a metallic tongue adapted to engage said teeth, a cap secured to said cap member, a longitudinal pivotbolt passing loosely through one of said block members and secured to the other member, and a longitudinally movable spring pressed locking pin normally pr0jecting within the cap, and adapted to be moved longitudinally by the lamp bulb when secured in the cap.

8. An electric lamp socket comprising relatively revoluble insulating base and cap members provided with cooperating switch contacts, a cap secured to said cap member, a longitudinal pivot bolt passing loosely through one member and secured to the other member, and a longitudinally movable spring pressed locking pin normally projecting within the cap and adapted to be moved longitudinally of the lamp bulb when secured in the cap.

9. An electric lamp socket comprising relatively revoluble insulating base and cap members provided with cooperating switch contacts, a cap secured to said cap member, a hollow slotted longitudinal pivot bolt passing loosely through one member and se cured to the other member, and a spring pressed pin slidable longitudinally in said hollow bolt and normally projecting within the cap, said pin having transverse lugs projecting through the slots in the pivot bolt, and normally engaging that base member which is loose on the pivot bolt, whereby insertion of the lamp in the cap presses the locking pin inwardly and unlocks the base and cap members.

10. An electric lamp socket comprising relatively movable insulating base members, provided with cooperating switch contacts normally locked against movement and means for automatically unlocking said base members when the lamp bulb is inserted in the socket, thereby permitting the switch contacts to be operated by the rotation of the lamp bulb when the bulb is rotated in one direction, and a stop for preventing rotation in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVALTER G. CLARK.

Witnesses:

K. G. -LE Ann, HERBERT Gr. GGDEN.

'Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

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