US1287542A - Lamp-mounting. - Google Patents

Description

F. M. WHITNEY.

LAMP MOUNTING. 'APPLICATION rum 1AN.20.1915.

Patented Dec. 10, i918.

Inventor? Francis m. Whitn Witnesses:

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FRANCIS M. WHITNEY, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

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memesnnncrnrc Application filed January 20, 1915. Serial No. 3,222.

To all, whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. Wnrrnnv, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego, State of California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Lamp-Mountings, of which the followingis aspecifica- 3 tion.

My invention relates to lamp mounting and the like, and it is more especially concerned with the support of the mounting devices and their electrical connection to current supply conductors. It is my aim to make the devices simple and rugged In construction; easy and. cheap to manufacture; and convenient and reliable in use. The invention is of especial advantage where a number of mounting devices are to be supported by their current supply conductors, as in strings or festoons of employed for decorative purpose,-for it enables the devices to be attached and onnected to the conductors with the utmost facility and (lcspatch. I have hereinafter illustrated and described in detail the best embodiment of the invention for this particular purpose at present known to me; but it will be understood that although the invention extends even to the specific features and details and combinations and arrangements shown, it is not confined thereto, but can be otherwise carried out and embodied.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 a perspective view of a mounting device embodying my invention attached and connected to insulated current supply conductors, and carrying an incandescent electric lamp.

Fig. 2 is a mid-section of the device, illustrating its attachment and connection.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the current supply conductors omitted, certain parts being in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification of certain parts for use with bare conductors.

Fig5 is a mid-sectional view (similar to Fig. 2) of a modified form of mounting device.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing certain parts in section at a plane corresponding to the line 6-6 in Fig. 5. 1

From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the suspended lamps pieces 16 and 17 and is device shown comprises means for holding a lamp'base and making contact with itsterminals, and means associated therewith for engaging and holding the current supply conductors. As the base 1. of the lamp 2 shown is of the ordinary Edi-son screw type, the holdin and contact making means has the form of a downwardly open socket with sorewshe'll and center contact elements 3 and 4. The conductor engaging means shown comprises members 5 and 6 that extend upward from the sockctand then inward toward one another, so that they will receive the conductors 7 and 8 between them when said conductors are momentarily brought close togethenand will engage said conductors on their upper sides when they are subsequently allowed to 1 spread apart. 1 As shown, the engaging members 5 and 6. are the sideportions of a trough-likepart'10,.and

' the shell contact element 3 fits a flange 11 whose smaller portion extends down into the shell contact element 3, and about the center contact element 4. The center contact element (see Figs. 2 and 3) comprises a rivetlike center contact proper, a flat connecting Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

piece 18 that lies between the insulating I I ated or embedded in the former, andmeanc for directly engagin and making connection to the conductor 7 Ehown as in" the form of a sharp-pointed pin 19 preferably upset, expanded, riveted,

or soldered inzone end of the piece 18. The

connecting piece18' has an opening with an upstanding rim or 'flange 21 that is itself preferably expanded in a hole in the part 16, and the center contact proper extends through both the parts 16 and 17 and the flange 21 and has its upper end expanded and headed or beaded 'over'so as to-secure all i the other-parts togetherifi The pin; 19, it will be seen, is in electriealconnection withi-the center contact proper, whose lower end is exposed in the screw shell 3. In the inturned end or edge of the conductor-engaging member (i is riveted a sharp pointed pin 22 which serves as a means for directly engaging and making electrical connection with the conductor 8,

It willbe understood that the supply conductor contact means 19 and 22 are of pin form in order to adapt them for piercing the insulation shown on the conductors 7 and 8 of Figs. 1 and 2. If the conductors are bare, the pin 19 may be replaced by the bent over end of the piece 18 as shown in Fig. 4 and the pin 22 dispensed with, insulating enamel orthe like being applied to the inner side of the member 6 if necessary.

It will also be understood that the pieces 16 and 17 will preferably be of fiber, porcelain, bisque, or other insulating material, and that the other-parts may be of copper, brass, or other metal. So constructed, the device as a whole may be 'insulatively protected by an external layer or coating of insulating paint, enamel, or the like.

When the device is placed on the wires 7 and 8 as shown in Fig. 2 and the lamp2 placed in thesocket and screwed home, the screw shell member3 will coact with the base 1 to force the part 15 upward and by means of it force the conductors 7 and 8 against the engaging members 5 and 6. At the same time that the conductors 7 and 8 are thus gripped by the cooperating parts 10 and 15, the pins 19 and 22 will pierce the. insulation and come in contact with the conductors 7 and 8, which may preferably be stranded so as to be penetrated and spread bv said pins. In this way the conductors 7 and 8 will be put in electrical connection with the'c'ontact elements 3 and 4 by the mere act of screwing the lamp into the socket.

In the modifieddevice shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the trough-like part 30 that corresponds to the part 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 is inverted, and the-center contact member 31 is riveted directlyin its bottom. The screw shell contact member 32 is secured to an insulating piece 33 that has a hole for the center contact member 31; in general form it resembles the insulating piece 16 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As shown in Fig. 6, the shell member 32 has four tongues 34 that extend through slots in the piece 33 and are bent over, and the .conductor contact pin 35 is riveted through one of these tongues and a Washer seated in a recess at the lower side of the piece '33. This construction, it will be seen, affords the electrical parts better protection from the weather and minimizes the risk of short circuit when the device is wet. It will be understood that in putting the device together in the factory the center contact member 31 is inserted and riveted in place as the final step, just as is the case with the center contact proper in assembling the device of Figs. 1, 2 and TVhat I claim-as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A lamp mounting comprising relatively movable cooperating parts for grippin and holding current supply conductors, and am base holding means associated with saig parts and coacting with the lamp base, upon insertion of a lamp in the mounting, to

cause the base to move said parts toward one another to grip said conductors.

2'. A lamp mounting comprising means for holding a lamp base and making contact with its terminals, relatively movable cooperating parts associated therewith and embodying means for putting the contact makin; elements of said first mentioned means in electrical connection with current supply conductors, said parts being moved to bring about such connection-by coaotion of the lamp base with said means first mentioned when a lamp is inserted in the mountin '3. A lamp mounting comprising relative y movable cooperating parts for gripping and making electrical connection with current supply conductors, and means for holding a lamp base and making contact with its ter- -minals associated with said parts and vcoacting with said base upon insertion of a lamp in the mounting, to force the parts. together upon the conductors and put the conductors in electrical connection with its own contact making elements.

4. A lamp mounting comprising means for holding a lamp base and making contact with its terminals, wire-engaging members extending upward from said means and separated so as to receive current supply wires between them and engage said wires on the upper sides thereof when the wires are subscquently spread apart, and means morable upward between said members to force and hold said wires against said members and put the wires in electrical connection with the co'ntact making elements of said first mentioned means.

5. A lamp mounting comprising wire-en gaging members extending toward one another but separated so as to receive insulated current supply wires between them and engage said wires when the wires are subsequently spread apart; a movable part coacting with said members in gripping said wires and piercing their insulation; and means for holding a lamp base and making contact with its terminals associated with said members and said movable part and coacting with said base in forcing said movable part toward said wire-engaging members to grip the wires, pierce their insula tion, and put them in electrical connection with its own contact making elements.

6. A lamp mounting comprising relativcly movable parts embodying means for making electrical connection with current supply conductors, a contact element for engaging a terminal of the lamp base hen a. lamp is inserted 1n the mounting associated with. one of said parts and in electrical connection with its conductor connection means, and a screw threa ed contact element for engaging a correspondingly threaded terminal of the lamp base associated with the other of said parts and in electrical con- I 'nection with its conductor connection means,

said parts being moved by coaction of the lamp base with the aforesaid screw threaded contact element when a lamp is inserted in the mounting.

7. A lamp mounting comprising an up-- wardly open trough-like part with inwardly -.extending wire-engaging side portions separatedso as to receive current supply wlres between them and engage said wires when the wires are subsequently spread apart, a downwardly open socket at the lower side of said trough-like part comprising a screwshell contact element, and a part movable upward between the sides of the trough to grip the current supply wires against the wire-engaging side portions of the trough, said part embodying a center'contact element. g

8. A lamp mounting comprising a metal trough with inturned edges; a contact element secured to the bottom of said trough and in electrical connection with it; a pin projecting from the inner side of one inturned edgeof said trough; andv a part movable between the sides of said trough comprising a body of insulating material, a pin projecting therefrom toward the othe-r inturned edge of said trough, and a contact element in electrical connection with said latter pin, one of the contact elements aforesaid being a screw shell and the other a center contact exposedin said shell.

9. An incandescent lamp socket compris- 'ing means for connection therewith of wires, means for the connection therewith of an incandescent-lamp, contacts, insulated from each other, means for electrically connecting said contacts with the terminals of said lamp when said lamp isconnected-with said socket," and means for moving said contacts into electrical connection with saidwires by and on the connection of said lamp with said body.

10: An incandescent lainp socket comprisof the base thereof into said socket mem-' her, for pushing said contacts through the insulation of the wire.

12. A lamp socket having means for'the connection therewith of conducting means, contact means, and means actuated by the lamp on the connection-thereof With said socket for moving said contact means into electrical connection'with said conducting means. r

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of J anuary, 1915.

FRANCIS M. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

C. C. MAY, B. E. NOWLAND.

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