US2240331A

US2240331A - Lamp string

Info

Publication number: US2240331A
Application number: US171932A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter J Geiger; Reginald J Ayres
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1937-10-30
Filing date: 1937-10-30
Publication date: 1941-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1958-04-29

Description

April'29, 1941. i w. J. GEIGER iETAL LAMP STRING Filed Oct. 30, 1937 I lhven co fsz Walter- J. Geiger,

Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP STRING Walter J. Geiger and Reginald J. Ayres, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Comp y, a corporation of New York Application October 30, 1937, Serial No. 171,932

11 Claims.

ter type of string possesses a number of desirable features but it also has a disadvantage in that the failure of one lamp necessitates discarding the entire string.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide an inexpensive string suitable for use with double-ended lamps. Another object is to provide such a string employing holders from which vindividual lamps may be removed and replaced.

Still another object is to provide a string for double-ended lamps in which the holders are tied together as an integral unit when one or more lamps are removed. Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the following description of species thereof.

, In the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 are plan views of .two lamp strings comprising our invention; Fig.

3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale and partially in section, of one of the lamps and holders in the string; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified eyelet for use in the lamp holder; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are side elevations of modificaticns of the lamp holder, Figs. 5 and '7 being partially in section; and Figs. 8 and 9 are a section and an end view of another modification of the lamp holder.-

The string of lamp holders comprising our invention may, if the lamps are to be connected in series, be arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein each string includes a series of five double-ended lamps It. The two strings differ only in the means provided for connecting their ends to the line, which consists of a single plug II in Fig. 1 and separate plugs or connectors I2 and I3 in Fig. 2. In eachinstance, the lamps ||l are supported by a holder M of the type shown in detail in Fig. 3 which has sockets l5 at its ends joined by a 'springy or resilient strap or bridge member Hiwhich permits said sockets l5 to be pulled apart for the insertion and removal of the lamp I0. Eachsocket |5 comprises a body portion. of an insulating material, such as medium soft rubber, and is attached to the strap It by laterally extending strip portions of the strap which are bent around the outside of the said body portion H.

The metal terminal members or bases l8 of the lamp III, which in this case is of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,191,346, February 20, 1940, Alfred Greiner, are sealed directly to the ends of the bulb l9 and are somewhat smaller than the opening in the end oiv the socket body portion 11.

The ends of the terminal members l8 are also somewhat rounded so that they extend into the central openings in the metal eyelets 20, thereby preventing lateral movement of the terminal members in the sockets IS. The eyelet 20 is fastened to the section of flexible insulated conductor 2| connected to this particular lamp holder M by means of a plurality of tongues 22 (only one being shown) which are pressed through the insulating cover 20' of the conductor 2| and into 'contact,with the wire 2|. The said tongues 22 conduct the current from the wire 2| to the eyelet 20 which in turn conducts it to the terminal member I8 of 'the lamp I0. Since the eyelet 20 is fastened securely to the conductor 2| by the indented sections 22 and is provided with a flange 23, it transfers all strain on the said conductor to the socket IS. The said eyelet fits so snugly in the aperture in the body portion ll of the socket l5 as to remain in position therein after the lamp ID has been removed therefrom. The insulating body portion ll of the socket I5 extends a short distance over the end of the lamp H! to shield and protect the conductive terminal members l8 from contact with extraneous articles.

Obviously, there are many other ways of, attaching the eyelet 20 to the conductor 2|, and it may be found desirable to remove the insulation 20' from a portion of the end of said conductor and connect the wire 2| to the eyelet by means of solder 24, as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, the tongues 22 of theeyelet need not be pressed into contact with the wire 2| but need be pressed only partially into the insulation 20 I so that they cannot be pulled from the conductor 2|.

The lamp holders comprising our invention may be modified as shown in Fig. 5 wherein a wire type of spring 25 joins the sockets 26 of molded insulating material. The ends of the spring 25 are molded directly into thesaid sockets 26 and the mid portion of the said spring 25 is bent into a loop 28 to facilitate attaching the holder to a limb of a Christmas tree or other object. The lamp holder may also be modified in other ways. For example, Fig. 6 shows a hook 29 and Fig. 7 shows a reflector 30 attached to the strap Ii joining the sockets IS. The hook 29 provides a convenient way of hanging the lamp holder and may, if desired, be used with a holder having the reflector 3| shown in Fig, 7. The said reflector 30 is preferably made of polished metal and has an elliptical rim to conform generally to the shape of the lamp.

Another modified lamp holder 3| is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this instance, the connecting strap or, bridge member 32 between the sockets 33 at the ends of the holder 3| is rigid and is molded together with the sockets 33 as a unit. Because of the rigidity of the strap 32, the sockets 33 are constructed differently in that springs 34 are provided behind the contacting buttons 35 attached to the ends of the conductors 2| connecting the separate lamp holders 3 l The lamp 35, which in this case is shown with conventional bases 31 ce-' mented to its ends, is withdrawn from the holder II by first forcing it toward one end of the holder so that one of the springs 34 is contracted and the base 31 at the opposite end is withdrawn from its socket 33.

While we have shown and described certain preferred species of our invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising a plurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising an individual bridge .member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted to receive the -bases of a double-ended lamp, said holders being mechanically connected only by a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between a pair oi' successive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

2. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising a plurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising an individual bridge member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted to receive the bases of a doubleended lamp, contact means in each of said sockets for engaging and supplying current to the lamp base therein and spring means for pressing said contact means against said lamp bases, said holders being mechanically connected only by a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between a pair of successive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

3. A decorative string for double-ended electric l'amps comprising a plurality of holders, each of said holders comprisinga pair of spaced sockets connected by a resilient bridge member and adapted to receive the bases of .a double-ended lamp, said resilient bridge member being ar ranged to force said sockets toward each other to grip the lamp therebetween, and a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between a pair of successive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

4. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising a plurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising an individual bridge member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted to receive the bases of a double-ended lamp, contact means in each of said sockets for engaging and supplying current to the lamp base therein and spring means disposed between said contact means and the end of its socket for pressing said contact means against a lamp base, said spring means permitting sufficient longitudinal movement of the lamp in its holder to free one of the lamp bases from its socket and allow removal of the lamp from its holder, said holders being mechanically connected only by a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between a pair of successive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

5. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising a plurality of holders, each of said holders comprising a pair of spaced sockets connected by a resilient metal strap and adapted to receive the bases of a double-ended lamp, said resilient metal strap member having lateral eX tending end portions bent around said sockets and being arranged to force said sockets toward each other to grip the lamp therebetween, and a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between a pair of successive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

6. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising a plurality of holders, each of said holders comprising a pair of spaced molded sockets for receiving the bases of a double-ended lamp and a resilient metal strap member having its ends molded into said sockets and arranged to force said sockets toward each other to grip the lamp therebetween, and a plurality oi flexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between a pair of successive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

7. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising a plurality of holders, each of said holders comprising a pair of, spaced sockets connected by a bridge member and adapted to receive the bases of a double-ended lamp, said bridge member having a loop therein by which the holder may be supported, and a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between a pair of successive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

8. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising a plurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising an individual bridge member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted to receive the bases of a double-ended lamp, a reflector mounted on said bridge member for redirecting the light from the lamp, said holders being mechanically connected only by a plurality of flexible conductors, only one 01. said conductors extending between a pair of success sive holders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series;

9. A holder for a decorative string for doubleended lamps comprising a pair 01' spaced sockets each having a body portion of insulating material with an opening theretbrough enlarged at its forward end, a flexible conductor section extending outwardly from each of said sockets, a flanged eyelet secured to an end of each of said conductor sections and disposed within one or said socket body portions with the flange thereon against the shoulder formed by the enlarged portion of the opening in said socket body portion, and a resillent bridge member connecting said pair of sockets and arranged to force them toward each other to grip a lamp therebetween.

10. A holder for supporting a single doubleended lamp in a decorative lamp string comprising two spaced sockets each having a contact therein, a flexible conductor extending outwardly from each of said sockets and electrically connected to the contact therein, and a bridge member extending in a direction along the line between said sockets and connecting and holding said sockets in opposed relation, at least a portion of one of said sockets being relatively movable away from the other socket to permit insertion of the bases of a double-ended lamp in said sockets.

11. A holder for a decorative lamp string comprising a pair of spaced and opposed sockets each having a contact therein, a. flexible conductor extending outwardly from each of said sockets and electrically connected to the contact therein, and a resilient bridge member connecting said sockets and permitting relative separation of the sockets for insertion of the bases of a double-ended lamp therein.

- WALTER J. GEIGER.

REGINALD J. AYRES.