US2058009A

US2058009A - Electric lamp socket

Info

Publication number: US2058009A
Application number: US655876A
Authority: US
Inventors: Figueira Joseph
Original assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1933-02-09
Filing date: 1933-02-09
Publication date: 1936-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1953-10-20

Description

1936- J. FlGUElRA ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET 2 ShetsPSheet 1 Filed Feb. 9,

Oct. 20, 1936. J. FIG'UEIRA 2,058,009

ELECT-RIG LAMP SOCKET z I if I M 7 4 INVENTOR- Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET,

Application February 9, 1933, Serial No. 655,876

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an arrangement of elements whereby an electric lamp socket can be securelyvmounted on a support or in a canopy in such a manner that it can be readily removed and replaced.

In carrying out this invention standard parts can be used without requiring the addition of a large number of other parts or the use of anything more than a small number of other very simple elements that are economically manufactured and conveniently installed.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a vertical section through an illustrative embodiment of the invention taken along the line I--I ofv Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a section similar to Fig. 1 but taken at right angles thereto and with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end view of a lamp socket showing some of the details; Fig. 5 is a similar view with the lamp socket removed; Figs. 6 and '7 are views similar to Fig. 2 at right angles to each other showing a modification; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of'the details and Fig. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings reference character I indicates a canopy of a well known sort that may be fastened to a wall or ceiling or other support by means of. screws, or in any other convenient way so that its rim I is held in firm contact with the support. The lamp shade 2 is indicated as being attached to the canopy I by means of the screws 3.,

Reference character 4 indicates the shell of a switch socket of the usual sort with the cap removed. The sleeve of insulating material in the shell 4 is indicated at 5 (Fig. 3) and the ordinary screw shell is indicated at 6 for the lamp bulb I.

An annular internal flange 8 is provided inside the canopy I upon which the lamp socket is supported. An opening 9 is provided in the side of the canopy I through which opening the pull chain Ill for operating the switch mechanism in the socket extends.

The parts thus far described are old and well known in this art, but the manner of. assembling the parts heretofore has been inconvenient, unsatisfactory and expensive.

By the present invention the usual cap into which the shell 4 is snapped is dispensed with and a member I2 is attached to the shell in a manner similar to the way the usual cap has heretofore been attached to the shell with the ends of the struck out out metal lugs 4' resting upon the upper side of the member I2. This member I2 is preferably in the shape of a washer having serrations I3 (Fig, 5) along the edge of the opening therethrough corresponding to the corrugations usually provided atthe upper end of electric light socket shells. Means are provided on the member I2 to hold the usual switch mechanism in the shell 4 when this shell has been snapped into this member, and this member I2 is also provided with means for securing the same to the flange 8 of the canopy I or other support. An extension I4 is provided along the inner edge of the opening through the member I2 to enter the key slot or p the slot for the pull chain horn that is usually provided in the shell 4, in order to prevent the shell 4 turning in the'member I2. The shell 4 can'be snapped into the member I2 and removed therefrom in the same way as is usually done with caps for the shell.

For the purpose of limiting the extent to which the shell 4 can be pushed through the opening in the member I2 to cause the same to snap therein in a manner similar to the way the shell snaps into the usual cap, a plurality of extensions I5 are provided along the upper side of the member I2 adjacent the opening through this member. Four extensions I5 are illustrated on the drawings, although the number may be varied, and the upper end of each member is turned inwardly, as indicated at I6. A washer I! of insulating material is interposed between the end of the shell 4 and switch mechanism therein and the bent in ends I6 so that the bent ends I6 not only limit the extent to which the shell 4 can be passed into the hole in the member I2, but also prevent the switch mechanism in the shell 4 from being pushed out of its upper end. An opening I8 is provided in the washer I! through which the 7 electric wires may be passed to be connected to the binding posts 20 in the usual manner.

Spring arms I9 are provided along opposite sides of. the member I2 and extend downwardly. The lower ends of the arms I9 are turned inwardly, as shown at 2!], and are provided with screw threaded holes. Screws 2I extend through the holes in the inturned ends 2!]. Slots 22 corresponding to the arms I9 are provided in the flange 8 to accommodate the screws 2|.

The socket may be attached to the canopy I in the following manner. The member I2 is placed upon the shell 4 into the position where the shell snaps into place and the member I2 performs the function of the usual cap in keeping the switch mechanism in the shell. The screws 2| are backed ofi a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the flange 8 and the shell 4 is passed through the opening in the flange 8 from above with the chain In passing through the opening 9. The shell 4 is passed through the opening 8 at a slight angle so that the head of one of the screws passes below the flange B with this screw in proximity to one of the slots 22. The shell 4 is then moved horizontally to cause this screw to enter its slot and the opposite spring arm I9 is then sprung in radially so that the head 2l of the other screw passes below the flange 8 and then this screw enters its slot when the spring arm I 9 is released. The two screws 20 are then tightened, thus keeping the parts securely assembled. The canopy is then attached to its support. The socket can be readily removed by reversing the operation.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8, and 9 a threaded pipe 25 is shown extending from a wall or ceiling, this being the usual pipe through which house wires are brought to a fixture. A U-shaped support 26 is held on the pipe 25 by means of the threaded collar 21. Struck-out tongues or lugs 28 are provided on the outer sides of the arms of the support 26 and these lugs preferably slope upwardly.

A washer shaped member 30 (Figs. 8 and 9) is applied to the shell 4 in a manner similar to that already described for the member l2. The member 30 is provided with a lug 3| which extends into the key slot of the shell 4 and its end bears against the horn of the pull chain IE! to keep the switch mechanism in place and to keep it from turning in the shell 4.

Extensions 32 are provided on opposite sides of the member 3!] and tongues 33 are struck downwardly with their ends adapted to catch over the lugs 28 on the holder 26.

A nut 34 with a flange 35 to bear against the flange B of the member I is screwed upon the screw threads 36 of the shell 4, thus keeping the canopy l in place against the wall or ceiling.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 9 the support 26 is attached to the pipe 25, the shell 4 is snapped into the member 30 and this member is placed upon the support 26 with the arms of this support extending through the Spaces between the tongues 33 and the sides of the shell. The tongues 33 snap over the lugs 28 during this operation until the shell is in the proper position. The canopy l is then put in place and the nut 34 screwed on the shell 4 to hold the parts securely in position without danger of the same becoming loose or rattling.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell having cut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal flange on said support, and a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, said member having spring arms attaching said socket to said flange.

2. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell having cut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal, slotted flange on said support, and a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, said member having spring arms attaching said socket to said flange at said slots.

3. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell having cut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal, slotted flange on said support, a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, said member having spring arms connecting said socket to said flange, and screws passing through said arms and slots in said flange substantially parallel to the axis of said socket.

4. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell having cut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal, slotted flange on said support, a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, said member having spring arms connecting said socket to said flange, and screws passing through said arms and slots in said flange substantially parallel to the axis of said socket, said screws having heads of greater diameters than the widths of said slots.

JOSEPH FIGUEIRA.