US1705022A

US1705022A - Connecter for electric headlights and the like

Info

Publication number: US1705022A
Application number: US588886A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert R Lewellen
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1922-09-18
Filing date: 1922-09-18
Publication date: 1929-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1946-03-12

Description

March 12, 1929. W N' 1,705,022

CONNECTER FOR ELECTRIC HEADLIGHTS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 18, 192 2 wve/ntoz fizz 342%,

Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ALBERT R. LEWELLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS COR- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GONNECTER FOR ELECTRIC HEADLIGHTS' AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 18, 1922. Serial- No. 588,886.

This invention relates to lamps and more especially to electric lamps or lights for automobiles. t

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for holding the various parts of the lamp connecter in assembled relation. v

Another object of the invention is the provisionof a lamp connecter that is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, easily assembled, eflicient in operation, composed of but few parts, strong and durablef and that is not likely to get out of order.

Another object/of the invention is the provision of a new and improved lamp connecter in which a single spring is employed to secure both contact members in operative position. v

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for holding the parts in partially assembled relation during shipment.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device in position in a lamp with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve member;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connecter member; and

Figure 4: shows a modified form of the device.

On the drawings the reference character 10 designates a lamp shell or casing having the central opening 11 therein; a flange 12 may surround the opening 11. Nested within the casing 10 and secured thereto at its periphery in the usual manner is the concave reflector 13 having a central opening 14 therein in alignment with the opening 11 in thecasing. The reflecter may also be provided Witha flange 15 extending about the opening 14:, al-

;though it is understood that neither of said flanges is necessary.

A lamp connecter '1 member 16 is adjustablysecured in the openings 11 and 14-. The connecter member preferably comprises a sleeve o'r socket member 17 in' which is suitably mounted an insulated plunger or conductor member 18. The sleeve or socket member 17 is provided at its forward end with bayonet ,members for assisting in holding the lamp bulb 22 from movement in the sleeve and also for reta1ning the bulb in position when the spring plunger is not assembled. By this arrangement the bulb may be assembled in the sleeve and shipped or handled without danger of its becoming displaced therefrom.

The rear end of the sleeve 17 is provided with bayonet slots 25 for a purpose that will presently appear.

Suitable means are provided for holding the conductor member 18 in electrical contact with the other terminal 26 of the lamp 22, and for insulating the same from the sleeve 17. Thls means is so constructed and arranged that the conductor member 18 and the lamp 22 may be removed from the sleeve or socket member 17 independently of each other and Without disturbing the position of said sleeve.

As shown on the drawings, an insulator member 27 having its forward end shaped to engage within the outer end of the sleeve 17 is provided with an axial bore 28. A flanged cup-shaped member 29 is adapted to engage Within the forward end ofthe bore 28 and constitute an abutment for one end of a spring 30, the other end of which engages beneath the head 31- of the lunger 18 for holding the same against the contact member 26 on said lamp.

The insulator member 27 is removably The cap 34 is providedwith an eye 36 through which the extend.

Suitable means are provided for connecting the conductor wire 37 to the plunger 18. Any suitable means may be provided for this conductor wire 37 is adapted to purpose. As shown in Figure 3, the outer end of the plunger 18 is screw threaded and is adapted to engage a nut 38 having rigidly secured thereto a U-shaped connecter member 39 in which the conductor wire 37 may be clamped. The head 31 of the plunger 17 a or 18 may be provided with a kerf or screwdriver slot for the reception of a suitable tool for rotating said plunger.

As shown in Figure 4,.the plunger 17 is provided at its outer end with a transverse bore 40 for the reception of the conductor wire 37. A binding screw 41 is provided for holding the conductor wire in said bore 40 in the usual manner.

Suitable means are provided for adjusting the sleeve 17 longitudinally within the open ings 11 and 14 for adjusting the lamp 522 relative to the focus of the reflector 13 As shown, the sleeve 17 is provided with a lug 42 extending laterally therefrom and being provided with a tapped opening 43 in which is adapted to engage a threaded bolt 44 which extends through an aperture 45 in the lamp shell or casing 10. A coil spring 46 mounted on the bolt between the lug 42 and the lamp casing 10 is adapted to hold the sleeve inwardly.

It will be observed that the sleeve 17 constitutes the sole connection between the central portions of the reflector 13- and lamp casing 10. This is an important feature of this invention because it permits a ready disassembling of the parts of the lamp. Attention is also directed-to the fact that the wire 37 may be connected to the plunger 17 'or 18 before the plunger and insulator are assembled in the sleeve 17.

In assembling the device, the lamp 22 is placed in position within the sleeve 17, the resilient members 24 frictionally holding the same in position. After the plunger 17 or 18 has been assembled in the cup-shaped member 29, the conductor wire 37 may be threaded through the eye 36 of the cap 34 andthrough insulator 27 and secured to the plunger 17. or 18, after which the insulator member may be placed within the cap 34 and said cap secured in the outer end of the sleeve or socket member 17 bythe engagement of the pins 35 in the bayonet slots 25 against the tension of the spring 30. 3

It will thus be observed that the single spring 30 holds the various elements in their assembled relation; that the different parts of the device may be readily removed or disassembled; and that means are provided for focusing the lamp from the exterior of the lamp casing without interfering in any way I with the connecting mechanism.

I claim: w,

1. An electric lamp socket or connecter including a tubular insulator, a forwardly open cup removably socketed in the forward end of the bore of the insulator and having a perforation in its bottom, the cup having a radial flange engaging the forward end of the insulator, a contact member extending through the said bottom perforation into the bore of the insulator, the contact member having means normally disposed within the said bore for securing a wire to its rear end and having a contact head at its forward end, and a compression spring extending into the cup and interposed between the cup bottom and the said contact head, the contact member having a portion disposed behind the cup bottom and adapted to engage the said bottom to force the cup out of the insulator when the contact member is drawn forward, thereby permitting the cup, the contact member and the spring to be drawn forwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permit the attaching to the contact member of a wire inserted through the bore of the insulator from the rear of the latter.

2. An electric lamp socket or connecter comprising a metal shell equipped at its forward end for interlocking with a lamp or plug, a tubular insulator housed by the shell and having a portion thereof abutting rearwardly against a portion of the shell to limit the rearward movement of the insulator, a

forwardly open cup removably socketed in the forward end of the bore of the insulator and having a perforation in its bottom, the cup having a radial flange engaging the forward end of the insulator, a contact member extending through the said perforation, means threaded upon the rear end of the contact member and housed by the bore of the insulator for securing a wire thereto, the contact member having a contact head at its forward end for engaging the lamp or plug; and a compression spring interposed between the bottom of the cup and the said contact head; thtl portion of the contact member ex-. tending rearwardly of the guide cup being smaller in diameter than the bore of the insulator so as to permitthe cup arid contact member to be withdrawn forwardly from the insulator so as to dispose the rear end of the contact member in front of the shell for the attachment thereto of a wire inserted through the bore of the insulator and shell from the rear end of'the latter.

3. A connecter including a tubular insulator, a cup fitted in one end of the insulator and provided with means for limiting its inward'movement, said cup having a perforatlon in its bottom, a member extending through said perforation and provided with an enlargement at its forward end, a spring engaging said cup and said enlargement for urgmg the member outwardly of the cup,

' said member having a part disposed behind the cup bottom and adapted to engage said bottom to force the cup out of the insulator when the member is drawn forward thereby permitting the cup, the member and the spring to be drawn forwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permit attaching to the member a conductor inserted through the bore of the insulator from the rear of the latter.

4. A connecter comprising an insulator having a bore of substantially uniform diameter, a stamping fitted in one end of the bore, and provided with an annular flange engaging the end of the insulator for limiting its inward movement, such stamping being provided with a perforation substantially in line with the bore of said insulator, a member extending through said perforation and adapted for connection with a conductor carrying current thereto, said member being provided with an enlargement at its outer end, a spring engaging the enlargement and urging the member outwardly of the stamping, said member having a part disposed behind the stamping bottom and adapted to engage said bottom to force the stamping out of the insulator when the member is drawn forward thereby permitting the stamping, the member, and the spring to be drawn forwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permit the attaching to the member of a conductor inserted through the bore of the insulator from the rear of the latter.

5. A connecter comprising an insulator having a bore ofsubstantially uniform diameter, a stamping fitted in one end of the bore and provided with an outwardly extending flange engaging the end of the insulator for limiting its inward movement, said stamping being provided with a perforation substantially in line'with the bore of said insulator, amember extending through said perforation, said member being provided with an enlargement at its outer end, a spring housed within said stamping and engaging said enlargement for urging the member outwardly of the stamping, said member, spring and stamping being adapted to be drawn forwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permit the attachment of a wire extending through the bore of the insulator from the rear of the latter.

6. The combination of a sleeve arranged to receive a lamp bulb in one end, a tubular insulator in the sleeve, a current conducting means extending through the bore of the insulator and including a contact member, means reacting against said insulator for yieldingly urging said contact member into engagement with the base of the lamp bulb, said current conducting means being adapted to be drawn forwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permit attachment of a wire inserted through the bore of the insulator from the rear of the latter, said insulator being provided with a reduced end, a cap telescoped over said reduced end and having a bayonet slot connection with said sleeve, said yielding means tending to retain said cap and sleeve in looking engagement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALBERT R. LEl VELLEN.