US1774517A - Lamp receptacle - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 2, 1930 DANIEL LE FEVER, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO'PASS & SEYMOUR, INQ, 0F SYBAGUSE, NEW YORK, ii. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK rater RECEP'EACLE Application filed October 11, 1927. Serial No. 225,5?2.

This invention relates to lamp receptacles and more particularly to receptacles for large size lamps,

lit is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved lamp receptacle.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a novel form of center contact for lamp receptacles adapted to make better electrical contact with the lamp'ba'se and to prevent the lamp from being loosened in the base by vibrations or jars.

@ne of the features of the invention comprises a center contact of cup-like form housing acoil'spring.

Another feature of the invention comprises a novel means of connecting the center contact'and the current conductor for the same together and interposing a spring between the two parts.

Other and further objects and features of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification wherein is disclosed a single ex-' emplary embodiment of the invention with the understanding-that various changes may; be made the rein such as fall within the scope of the appended claims .without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front or face view of areceptacle constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on broken line 2.2' of Fig l;

ig. 3 is a rear view of the center contact and its current conductor;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44; of Fig. 3," and, j Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shown in Figs; 3 and 4,

Various forms of center contacts have been proposedfor lamp receptaclesand springs of various types have been used with more or less success.

The present invention provides a novel form of spring contact which is particularly adapted to and has been showntfor use in connection with receptacles for lamps havparts at 33 to pgovide the attaching en vnot used to prevent such action.

The present invention is shown as applied to a receptacle having a body 10 formed of a single piece ofinsulating material such as c;

porcelain or the like, in which is provided a central recess 11 adapted to receive the screw shell contact 12 secured in position by means of the screws 13 and elongated washers 14 overlying the chordal base portions 15 .of this contact/ 'Ihe screws 13 pass through the insulating body portion and are received into the Y-shaped terminal member 16 recessed in the back. of the insulating block and; carry ing the terminal screw 17. The center contact assembly is received in a recess 19in the bottom of the recess 11 and is centrally arranged in the rib 20,-at the bottom of the recess 11, whichpositions the screw shell contact.

The center contact proper comprises a cuplike member 22 ofbrass or other suitable conducting material having the circular contact face 23 somewhat concave as shown in Fig. 4. This cup-like member may be made by i pressing, stamping, drawing, or the like and may be provided with the slits 24:to aid in itsrshaping. Extending from the open'end 25 of this cup are a pair of diametrically opposed arms 26 forming extensions of the side walls of the cup. A coilspring 27 is received in the cup and has one end abutting against the inner surface of the concave end 23. The cup is adapted to be attached to a center conact conductor 30, which comprises a strap 93 of conducting material provided at one end i with the substantially circular disk-like portion 31. Extending from this portion is the narrow portion which is bent substantially atright angles at 32 and again at right angles 34 parallel to but oifset from the disk-like portion 31, this end being provided with a hole 35. The disk-like portion'3lis of substantially the same diameter as the external diameter 109 of the cup 22 and is notched at two places as at 36 to receive the arms 26.

The spring 27 is of such length that it must be compressed when the disk is applied and pressed between the arms 26. Theends of the arms are bent over as at 37 after assembling the parts, to fasten the cup and disc together as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The edges of the notches 36 prevent rotation of the center contact member and also prevent the same from being removed by sliding parallel to the surface of the disk 31. The ends 37 of the arms :26 prevent removal of the cup in the direction of the axis of the spring. Pressure on the face 23 of the center contact results in a compression of the spring and a sliding of the arms 26 through the notches 36. This movement is terminated when the open edge of the cup comes into engagement with the surface of disk 31.

The recess 19 has shoulders 40 spaced for the disk 31 to rest against and thus take the thrust of the action of screwing a lamp into the socket. A depression 4-2 allows the arms 26 to move inward when the spring 27 is compressed. The conductor strap is secured in position as shown in Fig. 2 by means of a screw 44; passing through the hole 45 in the porcelain and being received in the terminal member 46 recessed in the back of the porcelain block on the opposite side of the rib 47 from the terminal 17.

It will be seen that when a lamp has its base scij ewed into sucha receptacle the center contacton the base wilt-press against the surface 23 of the cup and compress the spring and maintain it in compression so that an excellent electrical contact is always obtained between these two parts. At the same time the friction between these two parts effectively prevents a loosening of the lamp in the socket as a result of vibrations and jars. The whole structure is exceedingly simple and cheap to manufacture.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new and desired-to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a center contact assembly fora lamp receptacle, in combination, a conductor strap having a disc-like end, a contact cup, arms extending from the open end of said cup, said disc having notches to receive said arms, inturn'ed ends on said arms to interlock said cup and disc and a spring in said cup and bearing on said disc.

2'. In a center contact assembly for a lamp receptacle, in combination, a conductor strap,

contact cup, arms extending from one end of said cup, said strap having notches to receive said arms, angled ends on said armsembracing saidstrap to interlock the cup and strap and a spring in said cup bearing on said strap.

3. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, a body of insulating material having a recess therein, a screw shell contact in said recess, a center contact assembly in a depression in the bottom of said recess, said assembly including a stationary part resting on the bottom of said recess and a movable part spring pressed away from said stationary part, said movable part having guides slidable to a position below said stationary part, there being aportion of said insulating material removed from the bottom of said depression to give room for movement of said guides.

4:. A center contact assembly for lamp receptacles including, in combination, a conductor strap adapted to receive a terminal at one end, a contact cup spaced from one face of the opposite end of said strap, a spring extending from .within said cup to said face, and a pair of arms extending from one of said members and slidably engaging the other. i

5. A center contact assembly for lamp receptacles including, in combination, a conductor strap adapted to receive a terminal at one end, a contact cup'spaccd from one face of the opposite end of said strap, a spring extending from within said cup to said face, and a pair of arms extending from one of said members and slidably engaging the other, said arms having means thereon to engage the other member to limit the expansion of said spring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

DANIEL M. LE FEVER.

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