US2339751A - Electric lamp socket - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 25, 1944 l UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE Q 'nnnc'rnrc LAMPSOOKET James F. Beal, Bridgeport, Conm, assignor to The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport,0onn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 5, 1942, Serial No. 433,482

13 Claims (Cl. 173-328) ill Heretofore, sockets of this kind have been so;

constructed that not only right and left-hand sockets were required but also right and left-hand parts were required making it necessary tostock the sockets in pairs and to have separate sets of tools for making the right and left-hand parts.

I'l'ierefore, it is one object of my invention to eliminate these disadvantages and provide a socket which shall be of simple and rugged construction and which may be more economically manufactured and used.

Another Object of my invention is to provide a socket of the character described which may be used at either end of the lamp to eliminate the J necessity for right and left-hand sockets and parts therefor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a socket so constructed that the contact pins of the lamp or-other device may be easily inserted and removed therefrom by simple movements and A which shall function to positively retain the lamp removed by a simple rotational movement of the lamp about its axis in either direction after the contact pins enter the socket.

Another object of my invention is to provide a socket wherein the slot for receiving the contact pins of the lamp is open at both faces so that the lamp may be mounted adjacent either face.

These and other objects and aims of my invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an enlarged exploded perspective.

view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing details of the various parts: A

Fig. '2 is a view in elevation of the socket in partially assembled form (one body half removed) showing the position of the contact pins on initial insertion into the socket:

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the lamppins in their final or fully inserted position: 1

Fig. 4 is'a detail plan view of the mounting bracket of the socket which is also utilized to hold the body halves together: and

Fig. 5 is a view showing how the socket of my invention is utilized.

Referring to the drawing, the socket it com prises. generally, a base or body member ill formed of duplicate body halves l2 and II secured together by a mounting bracket l4, apsir of contact members or fingers II and II. a plunger 01 follower II and a, spring II for the plunger.

.The body halves l2 and it are preferably of a duplicate or symmetrical construction being A more specific object ofmy invention is to provide asocket wherein a depressible means is utilized to force the contact pins of the lamp into enc sement with the contact members of the socket to eliminate the necessity of relying upon the spring action of contact members alone.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a socket wherein the depressible means utilized to force the contact pins into engagement with formed by molding from a suitable plastic material having the necessary insulating and-strength requirements. They are so shaped that when pieced together, as shown in Fig. 5, they'i'orm a two-piece base or body member of generally hollow construction to receive the contact members and other parts of the socket.

Y Each of the body halves I2 and it is provided on its inside face with a plurality of longitudinal recesses II, 22 and 23 of such shape as to form channels for receiving the contact members II and It and otherparts of the socket when the body halves are placed together. The

outside recesses 2| and 22 are of such shape as to receive and position the contact members It and I6, and the middle recess 21 is such as"v to receive and guide the plungerspring II. The rib portions 24 and 26, which, together with the outside rib portions '28, and 21, which form the recesses, are of less depth thanthe outside ribs so that a suitable space or guideway is provided I of the contact members at g The mounting portions are .for the plunger l'l when the body halve are 3. The slot is also of such depth, as shown in Fig. 2, as to receive both of the contact pins in vertical relationship as when they are beinginserted into the socket. I

It will be apparent that when the body halves l2 an it are placed together, a base or body member is provided which is of generally hollow.

construction, and that the slot 28 extends entirely across the top face and is open at both sides or faces.

The contact members "and 16' are preferably of identical and symmetrical constructidn, and are preferably formed of flat spring material havingsuitable current conducting qualities. As shown in Fig.'l, the contact members are provided with inurned end portions or lips 30 and 3|, relatively long and straight shank and 35, which are provided by bending the ends right angles to their shank portions. provided with threaded openings 36 and 31 to receive the terminal screws 38 and 39.

l The contact members are mounted within the base by attaching their mounting portions 34 and 35 to the foot portions H and 42 of the slot 28 in the top face thereof of portions 32 and 33, and mounting portions 3t together by means of the bracket it having a rectangular opening therein to receive the upper portions of the body halves. This bracket slips over the body halves in assembled relation until it reaches the ledges 53 formed by the foot portions of the body halves where the side members 54 and 55 thereof may be bent inwardly as shown in Fig. 4 into the intermediate slots 51 in the body halves and the back member 56 also bent inwardly to engage the outside face of the body half. It will be apparent that this aligns -'and securely clamps the body halves together,

body halves. As shown in Fig. 1, each of the footportions is provided with transverse grooves 42 and 44, L-shaped recesses 45: and 46 and ledge portions 41 and 48 so shaped and related as to receive the mounting portions .34 and 35 of the contact members.

The contact members are assembled, as shown in Fig. 2 for example, with their mounting portions attached to the foot portions of the body halves and their elongated shank portions extending, upwardly within the base, sothat the inturned end portions 30 and 3| are positioned adjacent to or immediately below the slot 28-, and in such'position' that the contact pins of the lamp may be inserted therebetween.

In order to provide for urging the contact pins of the lamp into engagement with the contact members, the plunger I1 is so mounted with respect to the contact members that it is engaged by the leading contact pin of the lamp and forced downwardly within the base as shown in Fig. 2. Thebiasing spring I8 is likewise positioned between the contact members beneath the plunger, and rests upon an abutment 5| which forms the bottom of the recess 23. r The upper end of the biasing spring I8 is retained in position by a suitable lug 52 onthe bottom of the plunger. As shown in Fig. 2, the sides of the plunger normally engage the inside faces of the contact members and slidethereon. The plunger may be of such width that it places the contact members under a slight tension in. orderto'rigidly retain them within the base.

The various parts of the socket may be asaembled by placing the contact members and the plunger and its biasing spring in position in 2, and

and also provides a means for mounting or supporting the socket in a manner shown in Fig. 5.

In usin or mounted as shown in Fig. 5 upon a suitable supporting member or surface 58 in spaced relation to receive the lamp 59., The contact pins SI and 62 of the lamp are inserted into the socket as shown in Fig. 2. The plunger H has a normal extended position somewhat higher than is shown in Fig. 3. When the leading pin 62 engages the end of the plunger, it is forced downwardly until the leading pin engagesthe bottom of the slot 28, or at least enters the slot 28 a sufllcient distance that the trailing pin BI. is slightly below the ends of the contact members as shown in Fig. 2. Whenin this position, the lamp may be rotated within the slotuntil the contact pins are'tumed to the position shown in Fig. 3. As contact pins move into this position from the position shown in Fig.- 2, the plunger I'I moves upwardly under the influence of the biasing spring l8 and finally forces the contact ,pins into direct contact engagement with the ends of the contact members as shown in Fig. 3. Under normal conditions, as when the 'contact pins of the lamp are correctly spaced, the contact members will be slightly sprung apart by the force exerted by the spring l8 and plunger I! as shown in Fig. 3.

when it is desired to remove the lamp, it is simply rotatedin either direction, forcing the plunger l'l downward'against the force of the spring until one of the contact pins becomes disengaged from its associated contact member. Since the force of the biasing spring is continually applied, the plunger is urged upwardly and functions to eject the contactpins of the lamp from the slot 28. It will be apparent that the plunger functions to urge the contact pins into engagement with the inturned end portions of the contact members. so that the grip and contact pressure is not entirely dependent upon the spring action of the contact members.

while I have shown the use of a springpressed or biased plunger for accomplishing this result, it will be apparent that the same or equivalent result may be accomplished in other ways. All that is required is'a resilient or depressible member which may be urged downwardly by the contact pins of the lamp when the lamp is being inserted into the socket, and which functions to automatically exert an upward force against the contact pins when they have been moved to a lamp mounting position. In view of the foregoing description, it will. be apparent that I have provided a socket construction, particularly adapted for use with miniature lamps, which is not only comprised of 'a minimum number of parts, but which is made up of substantially identical or symmetrical parts which may be readily assembled to provide a complete socket. Furthermore, in view of the symmetrical design of the socket, it is apthe sockets, they may be assembled parent that it has no rightor left-hand parts or positions, and maythereforebe used in any desired position without regard to right or lefthand relationships. This results from ,the fact that the slot for receiving the lamppinsis open at both sides oi the socket, so that the lamp may be inserted when positioned on either side or the socket. This not only facilitates the use or thesocket, "but also makes'it more economicalto manufacture and use, since it is not necessary to stock sockets in pairs as heretoiore. That..arrangement of contact members and sprin biased plunger, or its equivalent, increases the effectiveness and lift of the socket, since it provides a positive and balanced grip of the lamp pins without subjecting the pins to such strains,

as might damage the lamp.

While I have disclosed a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood'that various changes andmodiiications thereof may bev made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim as my invention:

l. A socket for use witha lamp having a pair of spaced contact pins comprising, a base ci insulating material formed of two substantially identical body halves with a slot in a lace extending to an edge thereof and of a width to receive either of the contact pins and of a depth to receive both of said contact pins, the opposite walls of said slot being provided with undercut recesses, substantially identical contact'members mounted in said recesses and provided with inwardly bent end portions extending toward said slot to engage said pins when the lamp is mserted into the slot and rotated irom its position of insertion within said slot, a spring-pressed plunger in said slot for urging the pins into engagement with the finger portions oi said contact members, and means for retaining the body halves together. e

2. A socket for use with devices having spaced contact pins comprising, a housing having base and body portions with anarrow transverse slot in one race thereof, communicating with a side a pair of elongated contact members mounted within the housing on opposite sides otsald slot and side opening, said contact members havinz terminal portions anchored in the baseportion and free end portions positioned below the slot, and depressible means movably disposed between said contact members and normally extending within the side opening for urging the contact pins of the lamp .into engagement with the end portions of the contact .members.

3. A socket ior use with an electric lamp having a pair of' spaced contact pins comprising, a hollow two-piece base member formed oi-substantiall identical body halves and having an opening in a lace thereof to receive the contact pins :01 the lamp one at a time, said opening terminating in an enlarged portion to allow rotathan of the contact pins therein, elongated contact members mounted within the base member and having inturned end portions below and on opposite sides of said opening, and a spring-biased plunger mounted within the base member between said contact members disposed for direct engagement with the contact pins to urge the contact pins of the lam into engagement with the end portions or the contact members.

4. A socket for use with electric lamps having spaced contact pins comprising, a base 01' insuthereof. and extending downwardlyinto the he thereof, the width oi! the slot in theface being .such as toreceive a contact pin andthe depth being such as to receive both contact pins, said slot being open at both sides and being or such width at the bottom that the contact'pin's may be rotated therein in either direction alter insertion, elongated contactmembers mounted within the base having inturned end portions extending toward the entrance of the slot to be engaged by the contact pins when rotated andterminal portions at the opposite ends secured to the bottom or the 1 base, and a depressible Spring-pressed plunger of insulating material disposed within the base between thecontact members for urging the contact pins into engagement with the ends or the contact members said plunger havinii;1s a straight upper edge to receive the contact 5.A socket for electric lamps having spaced parallel contact pins com rising, a two-piece body formed of duplicate halves disposed in side-byside relation and having a plurality ot'internal .channels, said body having'a slot in one face contactfmembers mounted in said channels to er within the body operableto directly engage opening to receive the contact-pins oithe lamp,

be engaged by the contact pins when rotated into contact making position, a'depressible plungthe contact pins and urge them into engagement with the contact members, and a mounting bracket attached to the body intermediate its ends,

said bracket also functioning to retain the body halves togetherin operating relation.

6. A socketior electric lamps having spaced parallel contact pins comprising-a housinghaving base and body portions, said body portion having a slot in the end with a narrow entrance to receive the contact pins one at a time and extending downwardly into the body portion into an enlarged portion or a depth and width to permit rotation of the contact pins therein in either direction, said base having a plurality or internal parallel longitudinal channels communicating with said slot, apair of flat contact springs each having one end anchored in the base portion and extending through two 01 said channelsto the slot in the body portion, a plunger member slidably mounted within the housing between said contact springs to be engaged by the contact pins, anda' resilient member disposed in another 01' said channelsto urge the plunger member toward the slot, whereby said plunger member directly engages the contact pins to urge them into engagement with the contact springs or the socket.

7. A socket for usewith electric lamps having spaced contact pinscomprising, a body formed of a pair of body halves each having complementary recesses in opposed sides forming parallel longitudinal channels within the bodyand a slot in the top of the body communicating with said channels, said slot having a narrow opening to receive the contact prongs of,the lamp'one after the other and being enlarged at the bottom to permit rotation of both contact pins in either direction, contact members .mounted within the body in said channels and having their ends adjacent the slots to be engaged by the contact pins when inserted into the slot and rotated,a flat plunger member slidably mounted within the body between the contact members, a spring disiating material having a transverseslot in a lace (6 posed in another of said channels in a position whereby said plunger member functions to urge the contact pins of the lamp into engagement with the. contact members of the socket, and means holding said body halves together.

8., A socket for electric lamps having a pair of spaced contact pins comprising, a two-piece housing formed of duplicate halves each having base and body portions, each of said halves being recessed on one side to provide two outer grooves and one middle groove so that substantially parallel internal channels are provided in the housing, the middle groove being formed by two spacedparallel ribs of less depth than the side ribs forming the side grooves so that a space is provided between the said two spaced parallel ribs of each half when they are placed together, a pair of duplicate contact members mounted in the two outer channels and having terminal portions anchored in the base portion of the housing and free end portions extending through the channels ,to point adjacent the end of the body portion, said body portion having a narrow transverse slot therein extending into an enlarged portion between the upper ends oi the contact members to receive the contact pins of the lamp, said enlarged portion being of such depth and width as to permit rotation ofthe contact pins in either direction afterinsertion into engagement with the upper ends of the contactmembers, a flat plunger member of insulating material slidably mounted between the contact members in the said space provided between the pairs of spaced parallel ribs forming the middle groove of each half, a coil spring positioned beneath the plunger member urging it toward the slot in the end of the housing, said spring-actuated plunger functioning to urge the contact pins of the lamp into engagement with the contact members, and a member encircling said housing halves intermediate their ends for holding them together. 9. A socket for a lamp base having a pair oi contact pins comprising a housing, a base-receivprovided'with inwardly turned fingers at their permit the disposition ofthe other of said pins below said lips whereby said base maybe rotated of spaced'contact pins, comprising a base ofinsulating material with a slot in a face extending to an edge thereof and of a width to receive either of the contact pins and of a depth to receive bothof said contactpins, the opposite walls of said slot being provided with undercut recesses,

contact members mounted in said recesses and ends extending toward said slot to engage said pins when the lamp is rotated from its position 'of insertion into said slot, and a spring-pressed plunger in said slot for urging the pins into engagement with theflnger portions of said con- I tact members;

12. A socket for use with a lamp having a pair of spaced contact pins comprising a base of insulating material with a slot in a face extending to an edge thereof and of a width to receive either of the contact pins and of a depth to receive both of said contact pins wheninserted in a line coining aperture in one wall of said housing, a pascontact pins when engaged byone of said contact pinsas said pins pass through said passage to permit a clockwise or counter-clockwise rota- I tion of the base to engage each contact pin with one of said spring contact members.

lo.- A socket for a, lamp base having a pair of contact pins comprising a housing, a base-receiving aperture at one side of said housing, a passageleading to said aperture, a slide plate normally closing said aperture, a spring contact member disposed at each side of said movable plate, means in said housing for securing one end of each of said spring members, said members having their free ends inturned'to providelips disposed adjacent to said passage, said plate being movable downwardly upon engagement by one of said contact pins a distance sufllcient to ciding with the axis of the slot, the opposite walls of said slot being provided with undercut recesses to an extent to accommodate the said pins after inserted in the slot and rotated through 90 degrees, contact members mounted in said recesses and provided with inwardly turned fingers at their endsextending toward said slot to engage said pins when the lamp is rotated from its position of insertion into said slot, and a springpressed plunger of insulating material in said slot for urging the pins into engagement with the finger portions of the said contact members and depressible by insertion of said pins into the socket. 4

13. A socket for use with a lamp having a pair of spaced contact pins comprising a base of insulating material with a slot in a face extending to an edge thereof and-of a width to receive either of the contact pins and of a depth to receive both of said contact pins when inserted in a line coinciding with the axis of the slot, the opposite walls of said slot-being provided with undercut recesses to an extent to accommodate the said pins after inserted in the slot and rotated through 90 degrees, said basejbeing formed of duplicate halves with each half provided with contact and plunger channelsextending to said slot and together forming locating guides for the contact members, contact members in said channels extending to said recess and provided with inwardly turned lingers at their ends extending toward each other, a plunger of insulating material located in one ofsaid channels and guided by i