US2531533A

US2531533A - One-piece resilient socket for fluorescent lamps

Info

Publication number: US2531533A
Application number: US771011A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shaw Gilbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-08-28
Filing date: 1947-08-28
Publication date: 1950-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-28

Description

G. SHAW ONE-PIECE RESILIENT SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Filed Aug. 28, 1947 INVENTR. 6475 erf Shaw Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ONE-PIECE RESILINT SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful im,- provements in sockets adapted to receive one or more terminal `members of an electr-ical de. vice, such as a. fluorescent. tube or the like for example, and more particularly to alsocket which is self-supporting on an electrical fixture and inherently y-ieldable relative thereto..

The invention has particular reference to a molded, one-piece, hollow socket formed of a yieldable .plastic material in which a pair of metallic contact members are disposed and yieldably retained in insulated relation.

The invention has further reference to a Self supporting socket which is adapted `to coact with the marginal edges defining a substantiallsl rectanguluar orifice provided therefor in a fluorescent lamp supporting fixture.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a unitary, non-rigid fluorescent tube socket as specified which doesl not require screw bolts or the like for attaching the same to a reflector panel of a fluorescent lamp fixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket of the character set forth which obviates the necessity of imparting rotational movement to a fluorescent lamp tube in order to bring the terminal pins thereof into secure engagement with the respective contact members disposed within each of a pair of such sockets.

A further object of fthe invention is to provide a socket of the character specified wherein a pair of metallic contact members are adapted to yield with the socket casing upon deflection thereof at an angle. to the vertical from its point of support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket as specified whereby a pair of such ly eiiicient for the purpose for which it has been designed.

The novel features of the invention are set,

forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of application, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,`

will best. be understood from the following description of one specific embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which f Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the yieldable socket casing per se;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one of two similar .contact members employed in each socket.

Fig. 3 is a plan view looking into the upper open end of the yieldable socket casing as seen in Fig'. 1;

Fig. d is a vertical sectional view of a complete socket constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the manner in which a pair of metallic contact members are disposed and yieldably retained in the socket casing in assembled insulated relation;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 illustrating in fragmentary broken lines the manner in which the socket is 1 self-supported on the reflector panel of a sockets are adapted, by reason of their inherent With the .above and other objects in View. .the invention resides in a non-rigid; Quei-.pieza self" supporting tube socket which is extrmely simple in construction. cheap t0 narcissism and bien fluorescent lamp fixture and with a terminal pin of a fluorescent tube inserted in the socket and in cooperative engagement with one of the contact members within the socket. The ligure illustrates further the manner in which the socket is disconnected from the terminal pin.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating the manner in which a fiuorescent lamp tube is inserted in and between a pair of sockets, constructed in accordance with the invention, and forming a part of .a portable lamp.

throughout, the improved tube socket, generally indicated at l0, comprises a hollow one-piece casing. lt molded of a plasticized coepclymer og avim/l chloride-acetate resin. It is to be ex.-

:pressly understood. however. that other copolymers of a vinyl chloride or, a natural or synthetic rubber compound may be employed.

In accordance with the invention, the casing I I is molded, preferably although not necessarily, to the configuration illustrated in Fig. l and, as shown, comprises a body portion I2, rectangular in cross-section, which is substantially tapered and rounded-off at one end thereof as indicated at I3 in Fig. l. The opposite end of the body portion I2 is constituted by a relativelylarge, hollow, rectangular base portion I4 forming a supporting shoulder I5 about the body portion I2. An additional shoulder, constituted by a relatively narrow lip I6, is further provided about the body portion I2 in spaced, facing relation to the supporting shoulder I5, to form a U-shape channel I'I whereby the casing II is adapted to be self-supporting upon insertion thereof in a suitable rectangular aperture, formed in a reflector panel P, with the marginal edges defining the aperture, disposed in the channel I'I as best shown in Fig. 5..

Further in accordance with the invention, the casing II is so molded as to form a deep cavity C in the body portion I2; a relatively large, shallow recess R inthe base portion I4 and forming a continuation of the cavity C; and a central partition I8 extending the full depth of the cavity C and recess R whereby they are equally divided to form a pair of separate compartments I9 of rectangular cross-section, and a pair of separate rectangular recesses 20 in the base portion I4.

Thus, each compartment I9 opens only into one of the recesses 20. In the same molding operation, one of the side walls of the base portion I4, deflning each of the recesses 20, is provided With an open-ended slot 2|, as best shown in Fig. 1,

to provide a lead-in passage into each of the revide a retaining groove partly along three inner sidesof each recess 20.

' Ir'addition to the above, one wall of the body portion I 2 is also provided, at the same time, with a pair of transversely aligned, spaced apertures 23 with each aperture opening into one of the compartments I9 at a point adjacent the bottom thereof.

Further in accordance with the invention, each of a pair of contact members 24 formed as in Fig. 2 and adapted to be disposed within the casing I I, comprise a rectangular plate 25 having a central tab 26. struck-out of the plant thereof, for the attachment thereto of a suitable electrical conductor 21 in conventional manner.

A relatively narrow contact arm 28, integral with the plate 25, is bentat right angles thereto with the free end portion thereof provided with additional bends as at 29, 30 and 3| whereby the depending contact arm 28 is adapted to conform to the contour of either of the compartments I9 in the casing II.

In the assembly of a pair of contact members 24 with the casing I, the depending arm.28 of each member 24 is inserted in one ofthe recesses 20. and its correlated compartment ,I9 in opposite. facing relation, as best shown in Fig. 4, and thev plate 25 thereof pressed vto, the bottom .of the.re.. cess 20 ,while flexing the partially ribbed.. walls. thereof to bring three,marginaledgesjthereof.un: i der the ribs 22. When so positioned, each'con" tact member 24 is yieldably retained within. me.

casing with that portion of each depending arm 28 between the bends 30 and 3|, in proper position for wiping engagement with a terminal pin 32 of a fluorescent tube as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 illustrates the socket I0 in self -supporting operative relation With the reflector panel P of a fluorescent lamp fixture not shown, With one terminal pin 32 of a fluorescent lamp tube 33 extending into one of the apertures 23, provided therefor in the depending end portion thereof, and in current transfer engagement with the contact member 24. Fig. 5 also illustrates in broken lines the manner in which the depending portion of the socket I Il is manually flexed in the direction of the arrow, to disconnect the socket from one end of the tube 33. It is to be observed that in this flexing of the depending body portion, the contact members 24 move therewith by reason of the angular clearance, between the underside of a portion of the base I4 and the panel P, afforded bythe tapered or inclined underside portion 34 of the base I4 whereby the base plate 25 of each contact member 24 is adapted, in a sense, to substantially pivot or heel on its supporting surface, relative to the panel P, when the socket I0 is flexed out of its normal depending position.

In the above described pivotal movement of each base plate 25, the end portion thereof not engaged by the ribs 22, is raised from its supporting surface. Thus, it is not desirable that the ribs 22 in each recess 2U extend entirely thereacross.

With further reference to Fig. 5, a substantialy portion of one wall surface of each recess 2|), as indicated at 35, is inclined outwardly from the bottom thereof to provide clearance for the end margin 36 of each base plate 25 during movement of one end portion thereof toward and away from its supporting surface.

The manner in which one or more terminal pins 32 at each end of the fluorescent tube 33, for example, are inserted in or withdrawn from a pair of sockets I0, shown as applied to the reflector panel P of `@small portable fixture 31 in accordance with the invention, is illustrated in Fig. 6. As shown, one end of the fluorescent tube 33 has been brought into cooperative engagement with one socket I0 with the opposite end of the tube 33 about to be brought into cooperative engagement with the opposite socket IB. With one end of the tube in this position, the adjacent socket is grasped manually and flexed in the direction of the arrow while raising the free end of the tube 33 to the position. Where ,the terminal pin ory pins 32 are in alignment to be receivedy in the apertures 23 in the socket I El and the socket IIJ restored to its normal depending position whereby the terminal pin or pins 32 engage one or both ,of the contactmembers 24 in the In .the removal of the tube33 from each socket in Figs. 7 and 8the free end portion of the depending arm 39 is bentupon itself. and the up- 'standing end portion provided with a concaveconvexsetystruck-out ofthe planethereof, to prQvideaQVsemi-circular groovev 4I]Y which together witli thefloppositve Aflat -portion of the .arm 3 9, proj# vlesgfor a 'yeldable clamping. engagement with; the terminal pin'or pins 32-.at eachend 'ofthe' anregen@ tube as.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one embodiment thereof which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after Linden standing the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except as is necessitated by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

1. A lamp holder and socket of the character described adapted to receive at least one terminal pin extending from one end of a fluorescent tube ,making electrical contact therewith and supporting the end of said tube upon an apertured plate, comprising, in combination, an elongated hollow body portion adapted to be received through an aperture in said plate, an enlarged base portion integrally connected to one end of said body portion having a recess communicating with the hollow interior of said body portion, said body and base portions being made from a pliant plastic material, an enlarged shouldered portion about said body portion adjacent said base portion channeled to receive the edges of said plate dening said aperture whereby said holder is held in said aperture, a contact member ,having a longitudinally extending portion positioned in the hollow interior of said body portion and Y enlarged plate portions seated in the recess of said base portion, said body portion having an aperture adjacent one end thereof to receive the terminal pin of the iluorescent tube, said contact member longitudinally extending portion having an end positioned adjacent said last mentioned aperture, and shoulder means integral with said base portion extending into said recess about a portion only of the perimeter of said recess leaving a substantial part of said perimeter unobstructed by said means, said shoulder means being adapted to engage over and hold said enlarged plate portion of said contact member seated in said recess.

2. A lamp holder and socket of the character described adapted to receive the terminal pins extending from one end of a fluorescent tube making electrical contacttherewith and supporting the end of said tube upon an apertured plate, comprising, in combination, an elongated hollow body portion adapted to be received through an aperture in said plate, an enlarged base portion integrally connected to one end of said body portion having a recess communicating With the hollow interior of said body portion, said body and base portions being made from a pliant plastic material, an enlarged shouldered portion about said body portion adjacent said base portion, said shouldered portion being adapted to be forced through an aperture in said plate and to receive between itself and said base portion the edges of said plate defining said aperture, a pair of Contact members having longitudinally extending portions positioned in the hollow interior of said body portion and enlarged plate portions seated in the recess of said `base portion, said body portion having apertures adjacent one end thereof to receive the terminal pins of the fluorescent tube, said contact member longitudinally extending portions having ends positioned adjacent said last mentioned apertures, and shoulder means integral with said base portion extending into said recess about a portion only of the perimeter of said recess leaving a substantial part of said perimeter unobstructed by said deans, said shoulder means being adapted to engage one and hold said enlarged plate portions of said contact member seated in said recess.

3. A lamp holder and socket as set forth in claim 2 in which said base portion is provided with an inclined wall forming the lower wall of its said recess and intersecting said body portion, whereby said lamp holder may be flexed in the aperture of said apertured plate.

4. A lamp holder and socket `as set forth in claim 2 in which an integral dividing wall is provided in the hollow interior of said body por tion and in the recess of said base portion dividing said recess into a pair of rectangular openings, and said shoulder means extend into each of said openings from three of the defining walls thereof, the fourth defining wall of each said opening being unobstructed by said shoulder means.

GILBERT SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 882,260 Mezger Mar. 17, 1908 1,952,188 Watts Mar. 27, 1934 1,970,767 Rabezzana Aug. 21, 1934 2,024,547 Strongson Dec. 17, 1935 2,099,405 Langdon Nov. 16, 1937 2,283,454 Osterloo May 19, 1942 2,296,114 Mueller et .al Sept. 15, 1942 2,329,464 Gaynor Sept. 14, 1943 2,428,214 Gorey Sept. 30, 1947 2,449,736 Bogen Sept. 21, 1948 2,468,481 Burt Apr. 26, 1949