US2121310A

US2121310A - Mounting means for lamps in headlights of automobiles

Info

Publication number: US2121310A
Application number: US167523A
Authority: US
Inventors: Felix J Watts
Original assignee: UNION GUARDIAN TRUST CO; UTILITY PATENT TRUST NO 17938
Current assignee: UNION GUARDIAN TRUST CO; UTILITY PATENT TRUST NO 17938
Priority date: 1937-10-06
Filing date: 1937-10-06
Publication date: 1938-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1955-06-21

Description

June 21, 1938; F. J. WATTS 2,121,310

MOUNTING MEANS FOR LAMPS IN HEADLIGHTS OF AUTOMOBILES Fiied Oct. 6, 1957 INVENTO/PI FEL /X a. WA7'7'6' Patent ed June 21, 1938 MOUNTING MEANS FOR LAlWPS IN HEAD- LIGHTS OF AUTOMOBILES Felix J. Watts, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Utility Patent Trust No. 17,938, Union Guardian Trust 00., Detroit, .Mich a corporation of Michigan Application October 6, 1937, Serial No. 167,523

Claims. (01. 24041) This invention relates to improvements in the lighting systemsof automotive vehicles and more particularly to mounting means for lamps in headlights of automobiles.

that the lamps used in headlights of automobiles are properly anduniversally so supported in relation to the reflector of the headlight that the relation of the lamp filament to the focus of the reflector be constant or fixed so as to obtain .the proper lighting effect. Many devices have been employed for mounting the socket of the lamp upon the rear of the reflector to accomplish this object and in most instances the sockets have been provided with means to connect the socket to the body of the reflector including resilient means between the socket and the back of the reflector so that when the lamp is inserted therein, for replacement or otherwise, in each instance the filament of. the lamp will bear the same relation to the focus of the reflector.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fixed or prefocused socket rigidly held against the rear of the reflector and to provide means upon the base of the lamp to rigidly engage the front of the reflector with the filament in proper relation to the focus and maintain the parts so assembled by resilient means in front of the reflector.

As will hereinafter be seen, it is a further object of this invention to assemble the usual annular flange upon the open end of the socket in contact with the rear of the reflector whereby when the socket is rigidly held in this manner, a seal against the entry, of dirt and moisture into the socket is provided.

With these and other objects in view, reference is made to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention with the understanding that minor changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

In the drawing: V

Figure 1 is a view partly in central, vertical, longitudinal section through the center of the reflector and socket showing a lamp mounted therein in side elevation with the socket partly broken away showing parts in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a View in section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view in section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in section taken on the line It is not only highly desirable but necessary 5-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an expanded view in perspective illustrating the lamp socket, the headlight reflector and the lamp in spaced apart relation.

In the embodiment of this invention as illustrated, the reflector l of the commercial headlight for an automobile is provided with a flattened section 2 about the circular opening 3 for the insertion of the base t of the lamp 5.

The socket to receive the lamp base 4 includes a cylindrical member 6 having an outstanding annular flange I at one end and supports a plug 8 of Bakelite at the other end provided with two spaced apart cylindrical passageways parallel to the axis of the member 6 to slidingly mount the terminals 9 of the wires ill of the lighting system. As customary in such constructions, the terminals 9 are provided with enlarged heads upon the interior of the socket with a coil spring interposed between each head and the block i to maintain the terminals of the wires in contact with the terminals of the lamp when inserted in the socket.

The flange 1 supports three spaced apart locking pins H which are rigidly attached thereto, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each pin axially mounts a locking sleeve l2, the walls of which are spaced apart from the sides of the pin and are conically tapered at the end adjacent the flange l to slidably engage the pin. The free end of each pin it is provided with an enlarged head I3 reciprocable within the sleeve l2 and a coil spring Ma. is mounted about each pin ll having one end bearing upon the under side of the head it, and the other against the conical end of the sleeve to cause the sleeve I2 to firmly engage the adjacent surface of the flange 1.

As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the flat portion 2 of the reflector I about the opening 3 is provided with three cylindrical openings l4 positioned to allow the locking sleeves l2 upon the flange 1 of the socket 6 to pass therethrough. Each of the openings M is provided with a restricted extension l5 adapted to allow of a rotative movement of the socket ii with the extensions it: receiving the bodies of the pins H and at the same time forcing the locking sleeves upward against the tension of the springs Ma so that when the pins I l are at the ends of the extension IS, the sleeves l2 firmly engage the front of the reflector and hold the flange l rigidly against the rear or back of the reflector. In order to removably secure the socket in its locked position upon the back of the reflector the flange I is provided with struck up tongues l6 adjacent each pin II and so positioned that when the socket has been rotated to the positions shown in Figure 4 the tongues I6 will engage the opposite sides of the openings M.

The lamp base 4 is provided with a sleeve ll having an outstanding annular flange l8, as shown most clearly in Figure 6. The flange I8 is provided with three slots l9 elongated in the path of a circle concentric to the flange having one end 20 of circular formation of suflicient size to allow the lamp base flange It) to be inserted over the locking sleeves l2 and to allow a rotation of the lamp base when the flange is in contact with the flat front portion of the reflector to force the locking sleeves I2 upwardly against the tension of their springs Ma during the rotation. The other end 2| is of circular formation of sufficient size that when the lamp has been rotated the conical end of the locking sleeve l2 will engage the circular sides of the end 2| and firmly hold the lamp in fixed relation to the socket and in contact with the front side of the reflector I.

The cylindrical surface of the member 6 of the socket is preferably knurled to assist in the rotation of the socket after the locking sleeves l2 have been inserted from the rear through the reflector I until the tongues 16 snap into the openings Id. In this position, the socket pins ll rigidly carried upon the socket flange I are in engagement with one end of the openings I4 in the reflector body with the abutment end of the socket flange tongues I6 in engagement with the opposite end of said openings and the flat surface of the socket flange l is ,held in rigid engagement with the flattened surface 2 about the opening 3 in the reflector by the tension of the locking sleeves l2 engaging the outer surface of the reflector so that it requires the exertion of suflicient force to overcome simultaneously the combined resistance of the three springs Ma to withdraw the socket flange 1 away from the reflector to clear all of the abutting ends of the tongues l6 before the socket can be detached from the reflector. Lamps may be assembled and disassembled with the socket in place with much less effort, and the rigid connection between the socket flange and rear of the reflector will not be disturbed as the conical ends of the locking sleeves l2 exercise a simultaneous wedging action to compress the springs Ma when the lamp is rotated to cause the conical ends of the locking sleeves l2 to enter or be removed from the restricted circular ends 2| of the openings 20 in the lamp flange l8.

As shown in the embodiment of this invention, the lamp 5 is of the customary two filament type and to assure that the two terminals in the lamp base from the respective filaments register in contact with the two terminals 9 of the wires ll! of the lighting system, it is necessary to so locate the locking pins H that when the lamp base 4 has been inserted in the socket and rotated to the locked position the terminals of the lamp are in contact with the terminals of the wires. In order that the lamp 5 may be replaced and assume the proper position, it is preferable to arrange two of the locking pins H at a lesser distance from each other on the flange 1 than the distance between the third pin H to either of the said pins. As the slots 19 in the flange 18 of the lamp base 4 register with the locking sleeves I2 on the pins H, if the two most adjacent pins I i are arranged at the top of the opening 3 in the reflector and the space between the most adjacent slots I9 in the lamp flange I8 is marked Top the proper position of the lamp for the insertion is readily indicated.

From the above, it is readily seen that this improved mounting means allows an assembly of the socket upon the rear of the reflector to form a seal for the socket and the mounting of the spring pressed locking sleeves on pins rigidly carried on the socket flange. The mounting of the locking sleeves on the front of the reflector allows the ready assembly or removal of a lamp without breaking said seal, eliminates strain tending to bend the socket pins as the lamp flange engages the part of the pins adjacent their rigid attachment to the socket flange, and also eliminates binding of the lamp flange in passing into and out of its properly assembled position, and eliminates the tendency to break the lamp in the operators hand which occurs where excessive pressure must be applied in assembling or disassembling a lamp. It also insures a consistent positioning of the lamp in the correct position upon assembly.

What I claim is:

1. A lamp assembly for a headlight comprising a lamp, a curved reflector with an opening for receiving the lamp base and a flattened surface thereabout, a cup shaped socket for the reception and electrical connection to the lamp, an integral flange upon one end of the socket adapted to closely engage the rear of the fiat surface of the reflector, a flange about the lamp base adapted to closely engage the front of the flat surface of the reflector when the base is inserted in the socket, a plurality of locking pins rigidly secured at one end upon the socket flange, openings provided in the reflector and lamp base flange to receive the locking pins, and spring pressed means mounted upon the free ends of said pins to engage the outer side of the lamp base flange for detachably holding the said flanges in close contact with opposite sides of the reflector when the lamp has established the electrical connection within the socket.

2. A lamp assembly for a headlight comprising a lamp, a curved reflector with an opening for receiving the lamp base and a flat surface thereabout, a cup shaped socket for the reception and electrical connection to the lamp, an integral annular flange upon one end of the socket adapted to closely engage the rear of the flat surface of the reflector, an annular flange about the lamp base adapted to closely engage the front of the flat surface of the reflector when the base is inserted in the socket, and means for detachably holding the said flanges in contact with opposite sides of the flat surface of the reflector when the lamp base has been inserted to establish the electrical connection within the socket including a plurality of spaced apart locking pins rigidly mounted on the socket flange, spring pressed retractable locking sleeves mounted on each of said pins, and apertures provided in the reflector and lamp base flange for the passage of the locking pins and locking sleeves therethrough.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the said locking sleeves are provided with conical ends adjacent the socket flange, and wherein the free ends of the said locking pins are provided with enlarged heads to guide the locking sleeves.

4. A lamp assembly for a headlight comprising a lamp, a curved reflector with an opening for receiving the lamp base and a flattened surface thereabout, and a cup shaped lamp socket having an integral annular flange about the open end adapted to be held in engagement with the flat surface upon the rear of the reflector, an annular flange upon the base of the lamp adapted to be held in engagement with the flat surface upon the front of the reflector with the electric terminals of the lamp in electrical contact with the terminals within the socket, spaced apart locking pins rigidly secured at one end upon the socket flange, cylindrical spring pressed locking sleeves mounted on said pins having conical ends adjacent the socket flange, openings provided in the reflector to allow the passage of the locking sleeves therethrough, said openings having restricted extensions allowing the socket to be rotated to cause the conical ends of the locking sleeves to engage the reflector body about the restricted portions of the openings, tongues struck up on the socket flange adapted to engage the edges of the larger openings to prevent counter-rotation of the socket, openings provided in the lamp base flange to allow the passage of the locking sleeves therethrough, said openings having restricted extensions terminating in circular ends. allowing the lamp to be rotated to cause the conical ends of the locking sleeves to engage the edges about the circular ends of the restricted portions of the lamp base flange openings to hold the lamp detachably mounted upon the reflector with the socket flange and lamp flange in contact with opposite sides of the reflector.

5. A lamp socket for a headlight assembly including a cylindrical shell, an integral annular flange at one end thereof, an air-tight closure at the other end, spring pressed terminals mounted upon said closure and connected to the wires of the lighting system, spaced apart locking pins rigidly secured at one end upon the socket flange in prolongation of the open end of the socket, locking sleeves having conical ends mounted upon said pins with the conical ends adjacent the said flange, enlarged heads on the free ends of said pins, coil springs mounted on said pins interposed between the enlarged heads and the conical ends of the locking sleeves, whereby the socket may be assembled upon the headlight reflector With the conical ends of the. locking sleeves engaging the front of the reflector to hold the socket flange in contact with the rear of the reflector to provide a seal between the reflector and interior of the socket.

FELIX J. WATTS.