US2268061A - Lamp socket - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1941.-

J.B.mCHARD$ LAMP SOCKET Filed March 18, 1941 INVENTOP, JoH/v Beuc: PlCHAED-S,

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Patented Dec. 30, 1941 LAMP SOCKET John Bruce Richards, Indianapolis, Ind. Application March 18, 1941, Serial No. 383,954

7 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to electric lamp bases and base sockets, and an object of the invention is to provide a socket which is easily, quickly, and cheaply assembled to be formed of simple elements, all of which will beexposed to view and will be accessible by the easy removal of a surrounding skirt from a socket base.

An object also is to provide a socket into which a lamp base may be inserted merely by pressing the base into position. A further object is to cut off the current in the socket by a central shiftable contact member automatically interrupting the circuit simplyby removal of the lamp from the socket whereby danger of shock is eliminated should a child or the like happen to insert a finger into the empty socket.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in' the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in central longitudinal section through a base structure embodying theinvention and showing a lamp carried thereby;

Fig. 2, a view of the base in similar section Starting with a base plate In of any suitable insulating material, a spring plate II is placed thereover and then a lamp base receiving socket I2 is placed over the spring base. A bolt I3 is passed through a hole in a flange i4 laterally projecting from the lower end of the socket I2; through ahole in the plate II through a hole in the base plate Ill; and then axially through a spacing sleeve I5; and finally through a terminal plate I5 to receive a nut I'I thereon as a means for drawing compressibly together be- L tween the socket I2 and plate I6 the intervening members I I, I0 and I5 respectively. In the same, manner, a bolt I8 is passed through a flange. I 8 extending laterally from the side of the socket I2 opposite to that from which the flange I4 extends; then through a hole in the plate, II; a hole in the base plate 5 El; and axially through a spacing sleeve 20; and through a hole l in the terminal plate I6 to receive screw-threadedly thereon from the under side a nut 2|.

(o1. ua sszi By the use of the Various members through which those bolts" extend are preferably aligned one with the other and joined into one rigid' assembly The socket.

I2 may assume any desired shape such as cylindrical, conical or, as in the present showing,

rectangular, to have its mouth flared outwardly slightly to provide for guiding a lamp base there-- within.

The socket is provided with apertures through its side wall, one opposite the other. The spring plate II has extending therefrom (in the present form as integral parts thereof) a pair of,

springarms 22 and 23'from opposite sides of the plate II and are turned upwardly to have terminal ends adjacent the aperturesin the socket I2. Between each terminal end of the spring arms 22 and 23 is positioned a lamp base engaging member to be normally positioned in part at least through its respective socket aperture, In the present showing, these members are shown I in the form of balls 24 and 25 respectively, the

ordinary steel ball bearing serving very well for l the purpose. Preferably the upper terminal ends of the spring arms 22 and 23 are cupped to form. seats into which the balls 24 and 25 may rest. The diameters of the balls 24 and. 25 are made to be such in reference to the socket apertures that the ball diameters will slightly exceed. the aperture diameters whereby the spring arms 22 and 23 will seat the balls 24 and 25 in those apertures without traveling therethrough but will have portions of the balls projecting inwardly beyond the inner face of the socketIZ.

The spring base II has a major central opening therethrough. Likewise the base plate Ill, which is made out of any suitable insulating material, has a central hole therethrough but smaller in extent than the hole through the spring base II. Through this central hole in the base plate III is slidingly guided a central contact pin 26. This pin 25 is provided with a head 21 on its upper end against which a compression spring 28 may bear to have the pin 26 extend axially therethrough with the spring in abutment with the base plate ID, the hole through the spring plate II being sufficiently large as to provide a clearance between the plate and the pin 26 and its surrounding spring 2B. To limit upward travel of the pin 25 under influence of spring 28, a stop 29, in the nature of an annular flange, is positioned and fixed on the pin 26 under the base plate It), preferably two bolts I3 and I8, the

being so positioned as to leave a portion of the pin 26 extending therebelow.

Mounted on the terminal plate [6 is a conductor 30. In the present form of the invention, this conductor '30 is secured to the underside of the terminal plate l6 and extends outwardly, thence upwardly and around over the terminal plate to be spacedtherefrom, and while not necessarily so, is preferably made in the form of a spring so as to permit yielding travel of the conductor 30 towardthe terminal plate I6. The conductor 30 is positioned to extend diametrically across the top side of the terminal plate l6 to be in the path of the pin 26. The length of this pin 26 and the spacing of the conductor 30 from the terminal plate l6 are arranged in that relation whereby, the pin 26, when in its normal upper or outer position as determined by the action of the spring 28, carrying the stop 29 against the underside of the base plate Ill, there will be'a clearance between the lower or inner end of the pin,26 and this conductor 30, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The conductor 30 is mounted on the terminal plate vl6 by any suitable means, such as by the pin or bolt 3|, Fig. 1, and this bolt 3| serves as one of the terminals of the socket. Either one of the bolts l3 or I8 may serve as the other termiterminal in the present instance.

respective terminal bolts 3| and I3.

On the terminal base I 6 is fixed a key supporting bracket 34, the bracket being turned upwardly or outwardly away from the plate H in a direction toward the base plate I0. A key 35, taking the form of the usual manual control switch employed in general in lamp sockets, has a shaft 36 revolvably carried through the bracket 34 to have a cam 31 fixed thereon inside of the bracket 34. A spring 38 surrounding the shaft 36 compressibly bears by its respective ends against the outer side of the bracket 34 and a shoulder on the key 35 to maintain a shoulder on the cam 31 in sliding contact against the inner face of the bracket 34. This cam 31 is in the path of the conductor 30 and is properly shaped to push on the conductor 36 upon suitable turning of the key 35. to press the conductor 30 toward the insulating plate l6 away from the lower end of the pin 26 even when that pin 26 is in its innermost position.

The entire structure above describedis preferably enclosed within a suitable shell 39, herein shown as being made of metal although the material may be varied as the occasion may require. This shell 39 is inserted over the structure from the socket end to straddle in part the key 35 and to receive an enclosing cap 40, all in the usual and well known manner. The wires 32 and 33 are carried through the cap 46 to the terminals on the plate l6 as above described.

For use in the base socket above described, the lamp 4| is provided with a base 42 to have a shape conforming to that of the socket l2, a rec-.

tangular shape being indicated in the present showing. Since the socket I2 is, in the present instance, slightly tapered from its outwardly flared mouth to a smaller section at its inner end,

the base 42 is likewise tapered to fit therein but the grooves 43 are so positioned that when the base is inserted into the socket [2 a sufficient distance to have its under end push the pin 26 inwardly into normal contact with the conductor 30, the balls 24 and 25 will be urged into engagement within the grooves 43, on opposite sides of the base, by reason of the spring arms 22 and 23 urging the balls theretoward. The outer end of the base 42 is provided with the usual center terminal 44 insulated from the metallic Wall of the base. This center terminal 44 bears against the head 21 of the pin 26, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Now when the key 35 is in the off position, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the lamp 4| is held in the socket l2, as above indicated, the pin 26 will then be compressibly bearing against the conductor 36 so that a circuit is completed from the wire 32, through the conductor 36, pin 26, lamp terminal 44, the lamp filament (not shown) which is interconnected between the base wall 42 and the terminal 44, the lamp base wall 42, socket 12 or balls 24, 25, arms 22, 23, the spring base H, bolt l3, and wire 33. When it is desired to break that circuit without removing the lamp 4|, the key 35 maybe turned to carry the cam 3'1 around to push downwardly on the conductor to carry that conductor away from contact with the pin 26,

Should the key be turned back to that p0 sition wherein the conductor 30 bears'against the pin 26, and then the lamp 4| be removed from the socket [2, the pin 26 will have traveled to its outer position to have its lower end removed from contact with the conductor 36. Under this condition, one may insert his finger within the socket l2 against the pin 26 without closing any circuit thereby since the pin 26 is removed from the conductor 36. Thus the socket becomes shock-proof when the lamp is removed. It is to be seen that the lamp may be simply inserted in the base by pressure and may be removed therefrom by pulling it out, all without having to rotate the lamp. 7

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed, such, for example, as the particular formation or shape of the base socket, the various individual elements in that socket and the like, all without departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the followin laims.

I claim: 1

1. For an electric lampbase having an indentation in its side wall and a central base contact, the combination of a socket having a shape adapted to receive said base slidingly therein and having an aperture in its side; a spring pressed member entering said aperture for engagement in said base indentation as a means for detachably retaining the base within the socket; a pin insulated from said socket and slidingly guided axially of said socket; spring means normally positioning said pin to be contacted by said base contact when the base isretained in the socket; and an electric conductor in the path of said pin and contacted thereby upon travel of the pin in opposition to pressure of said spring means as occasioned by said base contact being pressed against the pin upon pushing the base into said socket, said pin being normally carriedby said spring means out of contact with said conductor upon removal of the lamp base from the socket; and manually operated switch means interrupt said socket, said switch means including a member in the path of said conductor to move the conductor from contact with said pin when said base is carried in said socket.

2. For an electric lamp base having an indentation in its side wall and a central base contact, the combination of a socket having a shape adapted to receive said base slidingly therein and having an aperture in its side; a spring pressed member entering said aperture for engagement in said base indentation as a means for detachably retaining the base within the socket; a pin insulated from said socket and slidingly guided axialand an electric conductor in the path of said pin and contacted thereby upon travel of the pin in opposition to pressure of said spring means as occasioned by said base contact being pressed against the pin upon pushing the base into said socket, said pin being normally carried by said spring means out of contact with said conductor upon removal of the lamp base from the socket; and manually operated switch means interrupting an electric circuit between said conductor and said pin when said lamp base is carried in said socket; said conductor consisting of a leaf spring member, and said switch means comprising a cam adjacent said member and an operating key for rocking the cam to shift the spring member. 3. For an electric lamp base having an indentation in its side wall and a central base contact, the combination of a socket having a shape adapted to receive said base slidingly therein and having an aperture in its side; a spring pressed member entering said aperture for engagement in said base indentation as a means for detachably retaining the base within the socket; a pin insulated from said socket and slidingly guided axially of said socket; spring means normally poupon removal of the lamp base from the socket; I

said spring pressed member comprising a ball of larger diameter than said aperture; and a separate spring arm normally seating the ball against the perimeter of said aperture.

4. For a lamp and a base on the lamp having a recess therearound, a socket defined by a wall having a hole therethrough, a ball of greater diameter than the hole and passing partially therethrough from the outside of the wall, resilient means holding the ball against the perimeter of the hole.

5. In an electric lamp assembly, a socket rectangular in cross section having holes in opposite walls, a ball at the outside of and of slightly greater diameter than each hole, a'resilient finger normally seating each ball against the perimeter of its socket wall hole, in combination with a lamp and a base on the lamp rectangular in cross section formed to have a sliding fit in the socket and having a ball receiving recess in all four sides normally holding said balls out of contact with said perimeter.

6. In an electric lamp base socket, a terminal plate; a spring conductor mounted on the top side of the plate; a base plate fixed to and spaced above the terminal plate; a socket mounted on the base plate opening outwardly therefrom; a spring arm mounted on the base plate and extending outwardly along the outer side of said socket; said socket having an aperture in its wall near the outer terminal end of said spring arm; a lamp base engaging member normally seated by said spring arm against the perimeter of said aperture to have a portion of the engaging member extend within the socket; a pin axially and slidingly extending through said base plate to be electrically insulated from said socket; spring means tending to urge the pin into said socket; and means limiting the travel of the pin under influence of said spring; said pin being in the path of said spring conductor to bebrought into contact therewith upon suitable travel of the pin theretoward in opposition to said pin spring means, said pin normally being removed from contact with said conductor, and said socket and said conductor constituting opposing electrical members; and manually operable switch means mounted between said terminal and base plates to selectively depress said conductor toward said terminal plate to remove it from pin contact.

- '7. In an electric lamp socket assembly, a disk of non-electric conducting material, a second disk of like material supported from the first disk, a spring lever secured to the first disk and crossing between the disks, said spring lever being in an electric circuit, a conductor-pin passing through the second disk to contact the spring by movement thereagainst, spring means to normally hold the pin out of contact with the first spring, and a lamp base socket supported from the second disk on the other side from the first disk, and means for shifting said spring lever relative to said pin.

JOHN BRUCE RICHARDS.

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