US1647100A - Lamp socket - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1927. 1,647,100

H. 0. WHITE- LAMP SOCKET I Filed May 1. 1924 Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES HAROLD C. WHITE, 0]? CLEVELAND,

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GUIDE MOTOR LAMP or onro.

LAMP SOCKET.

Application filed Ma 1, 924. Serial No. 710,220.

. This invention relates generally to automobile lamps and more particularly to a novel construction of socket employed in connection with said lamp.

One object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and easily fabricated form of socket which can be used in connection with any of the standard types of lamps.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide a socket in which there will be a solid current carrier as distinguished from one in which the current is carried partially by the springs forming a part of the socket.

Another object is to provide means for taking up the vibration whereby the connection between the socket and the conductor wire is, rendered more secure. Other objects of the invention will appear as the p descri tion proceeds.

Wit these various objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the manner of combining and arranging the same, all of which will be fully descrlbed hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1- is a view of a lamp partly in section and showing the practical application of m invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectiona view partly in elevation; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan-view; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the socket; Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of one-of the contact plates; 6 is a detailed sectional view of Fig. 2; ig. 7 is a rear end view of the socket; and Fig. 8 is' a detailed view partly in section showing the manner 0 connecting the conductor wire to the contact late.

Re erring to the drawings A indicates the usual lam casing and B the reflector therein. C indicates the incandescent lamp the plug C of which is inserted in the tubular socket D which in turn is fitted in the sleeve E which is rigidly connected to the reflector B. and extends rearwardly, as most clearly shown.

The tubular socket D has an angular rod or late F connected thereto and through which the adjusting screw Gr works in order to change the focus of the lamp. This screw G is passed through the rear end of the lamp casing as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A spring G surrounds the bolt between the depending end of the rod F and the'back of the casing. The depending end of the rod is threaded and it is obvious that by turning the screw, the lamp can be moved back and forth in order to focus the same. The tubular socket D has the usual bayonet slots D and also the friction slots D By employing friction slots a firmer hold is secured upon the socket of the incandescent lamp.

In practice Iprefer to shape the tubular socket D from a plate of metal rolled into cylindrical form and having an integral tongue D which interlocks with a correspondingly shaped notch D. In addition to the tongue D the edges of the plate from which the tubular socket is formed are also rovided with outwardly extending tongues D which are passed through an opening in the forward end of the rod F and bent in opposite directions in order to establish the connection between the tubular socket D and the adjusting rod F. The rear end of the late is also formed with inwardly projecting lugs D which serve to hold the insulating diskv H adjacent the rear end of the tubular socket and within this tubular socket there is also employed another insulating disk I which disk is formed with lateral lugs or extensions I which fit into openings I produced in the sides of the tubular socket.

In this manner the insulating disk I is positioned within the tubular socket and is permitted a limited back and forth movement. The insulating platesH and l are i provided with parallel registering apertures in which the contact plates K are placed, each contact plate being offset at K and the plates Kare arranged with these oil'sets in such manner as to space the rear ends K a considerable distance apart while their forward ends are comparatively close together and held in proper position for contact with the terminals C of the lamp socket C. Each plate K is an opening K there being oppositely dis posed tongues extending into said opening for the purpose of positioning the coil sprin s L which are placed within the opening 3 with the ends thereof contactin with the tongues K These springs I6 maintain the contact plates in their forformed with wardly projecting positions so that a rugged contact between the ends of the plates in? the terminals of the socket is always To the rear end of each contact plate K there is attached a coupling device M by means of which the conductor wires N. are connected to the contact plates. These coupling members are bifurcated at their upper ends and through which the screw M passes, said screw being threaded into the threaded aperture K in the end of the contact late. This bifurcated end is upset as indicated at M in order to have an enlarged contact upon the end of the contact plate inasmuch as by means of this construction, it can contact with the side as well as the edge of the contact plate.

The lower end of the coupling member M is formed with overlapping ears or lugs M which securely embrace the insulated conductor wire and in addition to these overlapping lug portions M, the coupling member is also provided with lugs M which are folded down over the metallic portion N of the conductor and from which the insulation has been removed and in practice it is preferred to complete this connection by a soldered joint so that the electrical conductor is positively and permanently connected to the coupling member. By having the lower encircling arms or lugs M contact with the elastic covering of the conductor, the connection is cushioned to a certain extent so that the vibrations to which the lamp is subjected are not communicated to the actual connection between the coupling member and the electric conductor N. By this arrangement the contact is not so liable to crystallize and become broken as in the present method wherein no cushioning effect is obtained.

It will thus be seen that I provide an cxceedingly cheap and simple construction of socket made up preferably from a sheet of metal and shaped into a tubular socket in such a manner as to facilitate its connection to the other parts of the lamp. It will also be noted that, owing to the peculiar construction and arrangement of the contact plates, a rugged and secure contact is had at all times between the contact plates and the lamp terminals. The feature of establishing a cushioning connection between the conductor wire and the contact plates is also important as materially prolonging the life of the socket.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. The combination with a tubular member, of insulating disks arranged therein, contact plates working through said disks, each plate having an opening and lugs at ends of said openings, springs arranged in said openings and positioned upon said lugs,

and means for connecting said plates to the conductor wires.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a tubular member having openings in its sides and inwardly projecting lugs at its rear end, of an insulating disk arranged Within the tubular member at the rear end thereof, a second insulating disk arranged within the tubular member and spaced from the first disk, said second disk having laterally projecting extensions fitting into the side openings in the tubular member, both of said insulating disks having spaced openings, contact plates arranged in said openings, each contact plate having an opening, springs arranged within said openings and adapted to maintain the contact plates in their contact positions.

3. The combination with a tubular member having openings in its sides and inwardly projecting lugs at its rear end, of an insulating disk arranged within the tubular member at the rear end thereof, a second insulating disk arranged Within the tubular member and spaced from the first disk, said second disk having laterally projecting extensions fitting into the side openings in the tubular member, said insulating disks having spaced openings, contact plates arranged in said openings, each plate having a longitudinal opening with oppositely disposed projecting portions at the end of each opening, springs arranged in said openings and positioned by the oppositely disposed lugs, said springs maintaining said contact plates in their contact positions.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a tubular socket member comprising a plate bent into cylindrical form and having an integral tongue interlocking with a correspondingly shaped notch, said tubular member also having oppositely disposed outwardly extending tongues for connection to a rod, said tubular member also having oppositely disposed openings in the sides thereof and inwardly projecting lugs at the rear ends thereof, an insulating disk arranged in the tubular member at the rear end thereof and a second disk arranged within the tubular member and having oppositely disposed lateral projections fitting into the openings in the sides of the tubular member, said insulating disks having spaced openings, contact plates located in said openings, each contact plate having a longitudinal opening provided with oppositely disposed lugs at the ends thereof, springs arranged in the openings in the contact plates and positioned upon the lugs at the ends of said openings, said springs maintaining the plates in their contact ositions, the rear ends of said contact plates lieing offset.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HAROLD 0. WHITE.

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