US2288940A - Lamp holder - Google Patents

Description

/ July 7, 1942. D. CURTIS LAMP HOLDER Filed Oct. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1942. D. cURTIs LAMP HOLDER Filed Oct. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet \2 Q Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to holders more especialiy intended for tubular electric lamps employed in fluorescent fighting and involving double ended lamps of the vapor type supported or mounted at both ends in suitable holders; the improved holders being adapted for one or more lamps arranged lengthwisely of the fixture and the multiple lamps either arranged parallel or in tandem relation.

The invention contemplates lamp holders of symmetrical and streamline configuration and compact design provided with lamp locking slots and enclosed contact elements and starting switch receiving sockets which, in holders adapted for two or more lamps, are disposed at a predetermined point relative to the lamp end receiving slots and contact elements at one side or end of the holder whereby the lamp served or controlled is indicated and removal either of .a lamp or of the switch permitted without necessitating removal of the other. The invention provides a lamp and switch holding unit which may be reversed or used at either end of a lamp and therefore at either end of a supporting fixture and hence merely requiring a single mould to be employed in its manufacture which greatly reduces manufacturing cost.

The invention has for its object the provision of a self contained unit whereby wiring between the lamp receiving portion and the starting switch is eliminated: the switch member cooperating with certain of the contact springs or conducting elements.

The invention also involves a lamp and switch holding unit provided with a removable side wall or cover plate permitting accessibility for assembly and repair; a unit wherein the contact ele-v ments or springs, in conjunction with the-unit housing, are formed to effect interengaging rela-' tion whereby accidental dislo'dgment of the contact elements will be prevented; the contact springs or elements in conjunction with the improved slots in a side wall of the holder tending to lock the lamps in place and preventing the latter dropping out of the holder.

My invention also contemplates a lamp holder with an auxiliary locking means, independent of the aforementioned slots and contact elements,

' whereby the lamp entering slots will be automaticallyclosed and accidental removal of the lamp prevented; the lamp holder being adapted to connect directly to the current carrying elements in a ballast housing or fixture without th need of extraneous wiring.

The above enumerated obiectsand the advanimproved holder with the cover plate removed to show interior construction.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the holder with the cover plate in place and showing my improved auxiliary locking means.

Figure 3 is an exploded detail perspectiveview of a portion of the holder housing and a portion of one of the contact springs or blades, with the assembled position of the blade shown in dotted lines. 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one end of a ballast-containing'housing or fixture with end removed and the upper portion of my improved lamp holder, illustrating a method of direct. connection with the current conducting wires in the fixture. 1 1

Figure 5 is an edge view of a holder for receiving lamps and starting switches on each side, illustrating lamps arranged in tandem.

Figure 6 isa view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a plug-in type of fixture provided with a receptacle. 1

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fixture with the dual type of lamp holders shown in Figures 1 and 2, portions of a lamp being broken away to disclose the starting switch, and illustrating a mechanical method of securing the holders to the fixture housing.

Figure 8 illustrates a modified form of my im-- proved lamp holder.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of another modification of lamp and switch holder.

Figure 10 is a perspective view, with intermediate portions broken away, of a fixture showing a modified form of the holder shown in Figure 8 for a single lamp and illustrating a modification of plug-in arrangement.

Figure 11 is an exploded view in perspective of one end of the fixture and a modification of the holder shown in Figure 1, adapted to be sidewisely plugged into the receptacle 0! the fixture.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a symmetrical and streamlined form of holder having fiat sides, which may be employed at either end of the fixtures or lamps, thus obviating the necessity of providing right hand and lefthand holders and enabling the holders, generally of suitable plastic material, to be-made with a single mould.

In the exemplification shown in Figures 1 and -posts of the lamps;

- substantially in line disposed bifurcation 2, the holder consists of a single piece main or body portion I! having a flat side wall l8 with'a straight lower edge and curved upper edge on opposite sides of the intermediate upstanding substantially rectangular boss portion I'I; one side of the side wall l6 being provided with the periprovided with a pair of pins or terminal posts metrical flange I8 which connects with the overhanging portion of the boss I1, thus providing one side of the side wall or body with a contact spring receiving. cavity. For purposes of strengthening and also to provide cover plate attaching portions, I prefer to'provide the cavity side of the holder with a rigidifying member or vertically disposed rib l9 formed integral with the lower perimetrical flange i8 and the boss ll; the rib is on opposite sides being shown with the laterally extending lobes 20, 20. The perimetrical flange l8 at preselected points also is preferably provided with screw receiving lobes as at 2i. The inner face of the side wall it at predetermined points is provided with contact holding and spacing studs 22.

and in order to insert the lamps the latter are held so as to align the posts. with the lower end of the slot 28 and hence with the slot 21 in the housing portion of the holder. The uppermost pin or post of the lamp passes to the upper end of the arcuate portion of the slot 28, into engagement with the straight blade 23-0rv 23 as the case may be-causing the upper end of the slot to act as a fulcrum point so that a slight twist or turn of the lamp will cause the other or lower pin to press the distal end of blade 23* laterally and to enter the upper end of the slot bifurcation 28" beyond the off-set or shoulder in the blade 23, thereby firmly locking the lamp in springs pass through suitably spaced slots 25 formed in the boss I! (see Figure 3) and in order to prevent displacement or inward movement of movement after the cover plate 24 has been put into place.

The lower ends of the contact springs or blades 23' are each off-set or shouldered toward.

its complementary spring or blade and disposed above the slots 21 in the holder housing as shown in Figure l for engagement with the terminal whilethe long or left hand end-of blade 22'' and the inner end of blade 23 are oppositely off-set or shouldered to receive the terminal posts of the starting switch.

The lower edge of the body portion of the holder l5, adjacent each end, with a slot 21 for insertion of the terminal posts located at each end of the tubular lamps of the type shown in Figure "I; the slots terminating short of the wall it of the holder.

The cover plate 24 (which is removably secured to the housing of the holder) adjacent its ends and at its lower longitudinal edge is provided with Y-shape or bifurcated slots 28 whose lower ends-register with the slots 21 in the bottom of the holder. body. The major portion of the slots 28 aremade arcuate, curving toward the center of the holder slightly beyond the plane ofthe straight portion of blades while intermediate the ends, namely at a point with th lower ends of the slots, they are each provided with the upwardly portion of each contact end of each blade 28 off-set or'shouldered blade 23, with the distal substantially in alignment with. the intermediate the protruding ends of the contact springs (as may result during plug-in operation) I provide place against accidental removal.

The removable wall or cover plate 24 adjacent one end is provided with an annular hole 29 which is covered on the inner side of the plate by a blank 30 (shown in dotted lines in Figure 2) which is provided with a pair of properly spaced key-hole slots 3| whose reduced ends register with the shouldered or off-set portions of blades 23 and 23. The opening 29 receives the end of a cylindrical starter switch element 32 (see Figure '7) while the slots 3| receive the pair of studs or terminals of the switch which are held in place by the blades. In my improved holder, the starter switch or element 32 controls the lamp 33 disposed at'the sameend of the holder and therefore indicates the lamp served or controlled by the switch; the holder when reversed or placed at the opposite end of the fixture giving the same indication. Furthermore, withthe starter switch receiving socket arranged as shown and described, easy insertion and removal of the v lamps and not be obstructed by the switch.

My improved combination lamp and switch holder provides a self contained unit which eliminates the use of wiring between the lamp holder and the starter switch, thus permitting is shown provided 28 which aligns with the easy installation. of the fixture and minimizes labor in assembly.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a holder unit which readily lends itself to fixtures of varying designz'a comparatively shallow, flat sided unit requiring a single noncomplicated mould in its manufacture. My design minimizes the amount of Bakelite or other plastic material and is materially less than is found in two individual lamp holders plus one starter switch holder.

For example in Figure 5 I illustrate the type of holder shown in Figures *1 and 2 adapted to the arrangement of lamps ll (merely end portions being shown) arranged in tandem, namely on opposite sides of the holder unit 24 (shown edgewise) which is similar in construction to the holder unit ll,-'except of substantially double thickness with an intermediate division with shown in dotted lines at II and each side provided with a removable wall or cover plate 2i having the slots and socket arrangement shown in Figure 2. The contact springs or blades (not shown except'for the protruding ends) are arranged as shown in Figure 1, with interlocking engagement with the uppen central boss portion I! of the holder as more clearly shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 8 I illustrate a modified form of lamp and switch holder unit whereby a pair of lamps will be held in parallel relation one above the other instead of in horizontally spaced relation as provided by the holder shown in Figure 1.

The holder 36, Figure 8 (also preferably made of molded plastic material), consists of a vertically disposed fiat-sided shallow housing provided with a removable side wall or cover plate 31 and with a base or boss portion 33 which preferably is slotted in the manner previously described and shown in Figure 3 to cooperate with notches 26 formed in the various contact springs or blades and lock the latter in place.

One side edge of theremovable side wall or cover plate 31, in proximity to the base 33 and the upper end, are each shown provided with the bifurcated or Y-shape slot 29,and the switch receiving socket 29 and slots 3|, as heretofore described.

In Figure 10 I show a modification of the type of holder shown in Figure 8 as'well as a modified arrangement or fixture assembly. The holder units 39 in Figure 10 contemplate the use of a single lamp 33 on each side of the .ballast containing housing 40 and hence the removable walls or covers of the holder units 39 (shown plugged into the sides of the housing) are each provided with a single lamp terminal receiving Y-shape slot 28 and with a starter switch receiv'ing Socket 29. a r

The holders shown in Figure 10 are identical in construction and hence are interchangeable, but in view of the fact that a single lamp is used on each side'of the fixture, merely one of the correlated pair of holders need be provided with a starting switch 32'. To permit the use of a pair of lamps on each side of the housing 40 instead of a single lamp as in'Figure, 10, I provide the modified form of holder 4! shown in Figure 9. The lamp holder 4| also consists of a fiat sided housing with a removable side wall or cover,'as heretofore described, provided with a bifurcated or Y-shape slot extending inwardly from the opposite side edges as shown at 28, 28 and a starter switch receiving socket 29 arranged adjacent one of the lamp holding slots 23, thus indicating the lamp served or controlled thereby; the holder also being of the interchangeable type as heretofore described.

My improved lamp holder units may be em- .ployed in various arrangements of lighting fixtures, namely by either plugging into'suitable receptacles in the ends of the "ballast holding or fixture housing as shown at 4i with openings in the bottom of the housing as disclosed in Figure 8 and also shown in Figure 7; or by plugging into the sides of the fixture housing as shown in Figure 10.

The outer or plug-in ends of the contact springs or blades 01' the type of holder shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be formed to protrude through the side of the boss portion I! as illus trated in Figure 11, thus enabling the dual type of lamp holder of Figure 1 to be plugged into a receptacle arranged in the end of a ballast or fixture housing with openings through the end wall, so that the lamps may extend parallel with the fixture or ballast housing 40.

The protruding ends of the contact springs or blades are preferably notched as shown in Figures and 11 which permits the lamp holder to be directly wired to the ballast elements in the fixture or ballast housing 40 as illustrated in Figure 4 where no receptacle isemployed.

With the bifurcated lamp-terminal receiving slots and formation of the contact springs or blades as heretofore described, the lamps will be firmly held in place against accidental movement, but as a further precaution I prefer to provide the lower or slotted edge of the holder with means adapted to automatically move across the ends of the lamp-pin or terminal receiving slots. One adaptation of this means is shown in Figure 2, consisting of a pair of slidably mounted strips 42 whose inner ends are bent downwardly or outwardly into finger grasping portions 43. The holder body is provided with the small lugs or lips 44, grooved or slotted for slidably receiving the strips 42. and may be edgewisely held in place by corresponding lips or an overhanging edge of the cover plate 24. The holder, intermediate its ends, is provided with a small lug or pin for attachment of the inner ends of the coil springs 46, while the outer ends of the springs are operatively connected with the finger grasping portions 43 of the strips 42 and normally force the strips across the open ends of the slots 28; the distance between the portions 43 and the spring attaching post 45 being sufllcient to permit the outer ends of the strips 42,to move into slot uncovering position.

In order to permit my improved lamp and 5 switch holder unit, in addition to its contact springs or blades, to be mechanically secured to the "ballast" housing, I provide the holder adiacent its vertical median line with small holes As is evident from the construction shown in Figure l, the lobes 2| at the perimeter of the holder and the studs 22 cooperate to maintain the inner long ends of the contact springs or blades in proper position relative to the respective slots and sockets; while the outer protruding ends of the blades are held against inward movement during plug-in operation by the interlocking slot engagement shown in detail in Figure 3.

My improved combination lamp-and switch holding units, as previously stated, are reversible eliminating the necessity of "rights-' and lefts"; and when reversed or placed at the opposite end of the fixture the starter switch automatically feeds or controls the adjacent lamp. This necescitates the use of a single mould instead of a mul-tiple and hence less electrical connections in assembly and wiring are required. Then too, the starter switches are easily accessible, regardless of whether the fixture or equipment is recessed or not, as the off-center switches can be removed without the necessity of removing a lamp, as. however, is necessary with holders as heretofore constructed; the improved holder with the switch receiving socket arrangement, relative to the lamp pin receiving slots and contacts, identifies or indicates the particular lamp controlled or served by the switch. Furthermore, my improved lamp holders have been designed with arcuate outer ends which, in-addition to providing a streamline effect, are. less likely to become broken as there are fewer angles or corners to be chipped or broken oif.

The exempliflcations and amusements oi the lamp holder are believed to be the simplest embodiments oi the invention, but certain modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A lamp and switch holding unit comprising an elongated body portion provided with a removable sidewall and with current conducting a contact blades arranged in pairs and protruding movement of the lamp-pins is prevented, said wall also having a starter switch receiving socket; and an auxiliary contact blade intermediate said. socket and a bifurcation of one of said slots.

2. A lamp holder comprising an elongated fiatadapted to receive a lamp-pin whereby outward sided body portion provided adjacent opposite.

ends with lamp-pin receiving slots extending upwardly from the loweredge oi the holder and bifurcated at their upper ends, said wall inter- 'mediate the slots being provided with a starter switch receiving socket, arranged adjacent one of said slots; current conducting contact blades arranged in thebody portion with the inner ends arranged coincident with the bifurcations of said slots while the outer ends of said blades protrude through the upperedge oi the holder to provide a plug-in type lampholder; and an auxiliary contact blade intermediate said socket and a bifurcation of the adjacent slot. Y

3, A lamp holder for tubular fluorescent lamps sided body portion provided with an upstanding slotted boss portion intermediate the ends and on one edge of the holder, one wall of the housin having a plurality of spacedapart lamp-pin receiving slots and a starter switch receiving socket arranged between the slots, current conducting contact blades arranged in the holder adjacent said slots and said socket with one of the ends having pin-type bases comprising a shallow flat- I of said blades protruding through the slots in said boss portion to provide a plug-in type lampholder, said ends of the blades and said boss portion having cut-out matching portions i'or edgewisely effecting interengaging relation; and an auxiliary contact blade intermediate one of said lamppin receiving slots and said starter switch receiving socket.

4. A lamp holder of the character described comprising a body portion provided with a removable wall provided with lamp-pin receiving slots,'adjacent opposite sides, extending from one edge ,0! said wall and bifurcated at their inner ends, the bifurcations of each slot being adapted to separately receive the pins of parallelly arranged lamps, a starter switch receiving socket in said wall intermediate said slots, current conducting contact blades mounted in the body portion and arranged in pairs with one end of each blade protruding through one edge wall of the holder to provide a plug-in type lampholder, the inner ends of said contact blades being disposed adjacent the bifurcations of the slot at one end oi said wall while the inner-ends of the other pair of contact blades are disposed adjacent a bifurcation of the other slot and adjacent said socket, respectively; and an auxiliary contact blade in the body portion intermediate said socket and the other bifurcation of said last mentioned slot.

5. In combination with a lamp having a twopin type base, a lampholder provided with contact blades and an auxiliary contact blade, all; arranged in predetermined spaced relation; a side wall ofthe lampholder being provided with a starter switch receiving socket and with arcuate slots extending from the lower edge of thelampholder, with the upper end of one of the slots arranged coincident with a contact blade while the upperend of the other slot is arranged coincident with said auxiliary blade, each slot at a distance removed from its inner end, corresponding to the distance between the two pins of the lampebase, having a diverging bifurcation arranged coincident with a contact blade, said auxiliary contact blade being arranged intermediate the starter switch receiving socket and the inner end oi the adjacent lamp-pin receivin slot, and a contact blade extending from the starter switch receiving socket, all of said contact blades except the auxiliary blade, extending to the lampholder exterior.

' DARWIN CURTIS.

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