US2620375A - Panel mounted light socket - Google Patents

Description

E VALITES 2,620,375

PANEL MOUNTED LIGHT SOCKET Flled July 8 1947 [Tu/enl f" Kai ward Val Li es Patented Dec. 2, 1952 PANEL MOUNTED LIGHT SOCKET Edward Valites, Muskegon, Mich, assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of Illinois Application July 8, 1947, Serial No. 759,613

(on. na-339) 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to electrical devices and is particularly concerned with improvements in connections between light reflectors and light sockets adaptable for employment in electrical appliances, such as, for example, refrigerators, stoves, etc., particularly where quick and easy assembly is paramount and where, because of limited working space, conventional tools could not be employed.

Accordingly, an important object and accomplishment of the invention is to provide a reflector and light socket connection which may be advantageously assembled, quickly and easily, without necessitating any tools.-

The invention seeks, as a further object and accomplishment to provide a reflector and light socket connection as contemplated herein and characterized by an arrangement of parts to more advantageously and satisfactorily perform the functionrequired of it and adapted to'provide a compact unit which will successfully combine the factors of structural simplicity and durability, and yet be economical to manufacture.

Another object and accomplishment of the invention is to improve the construction of reflector and light socket connections as herein contemplated with respect to increasing the efiiciency thereof in assembly and disassembly; andto this end, an important feature of the invention is to provide a reflector and light socket connection advantageously employing principles and structure whereby the reflector is provided with an opening adaptable to receive a light socket formed of a suitable pliable material to define a substantially circular shape and having an annular groove adjacent the end thereof, said opening having a slot provided with "an edge which, when the light socket is being connected to the reflector, is adaptable to be received into the annular groove and thereafter, upon turning the socket as if the threaded top of a fruit jar were being screwed onto a. fruit jar, the socket will assume its operative position in assembled relationship with the reflector.

Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation are understood from the within description.

, It is preferred to accomplish the various objects of this invention and to practice the same in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the reflector and light socket connection embodying the features of the invention contemplated herein and having portions thereof shown in section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the reflector and light socket connection depicted in Fig. 1 and being taken substantially on the plane of the line 2--2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the reflector and light socket connection depicted in Fig. 1 and illustrating the manner of starting the assembly of the two elements.

The drawing is to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of illustrating and disclosing atypical or preferred form of the improvements contemplated herein, and in the drawing like reference characters identify the same parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawing, particularly Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated the reflector and light socket connection with which the present invention is particularly concerned and which is designated in its entirety by the numeral 20, as being adjunctively employed, for example, to a suitable conventional light reflector designated in its entirety by the letter A, and its associated suitable conventional light socket designated in its entirety by the numeral B. The reflector A may be of any suitable design or shape adaptable for the purposes intended, such as, for example, for quick and convenient installation in electrical appliances, refrigerators and stoves, etc.

Sufiice it to say, since the invention is not particularly concerned with the precise construction of the illustrated reflector or light socket and their associated parts, they will not be further described in detail except where such construction concerns the present invention, and it is deemed sufiicient for all intents and purposes herein contained to show only portions thereof adjacent to and cooperating with the reflector and light socket connection proper. It is to be understood that details of construction of such reflectors and light sockets illustrated herein may be modified to suit particular conditions, and may, in some instances, be other types of reflectors or light sockets, and I donot wish to be limited to the construction of these elements as set forth where such construction does not relate to or have a bearing on the present invention.

Having thus described by way of example, one possible adaptation of the reflector and light socket connection as contemplated herein, and having described the general environment surrounding said one adaptation, the specific construction and cooperating functions of the parts of said reflector and light socket connection with V which the present invention is particularly concerned, will now be described in detail.

In the exemplary embodiment of'the invention depicted in Figs. 1, 2, and-3,- the reflectorand light socket connection 20, in general, comprises a substantially circular aperture'. 21' dis.-

posed in a wall 22 of the reflector A, said aperture being provided witha slot 23 opening into said aperture and defining side edges 24 and 25 whose important cooperative function-in: connection with this invention will be hereinafter described, said aperture being adaptable to receivethe light socket B which is of 'a-substantially circular shape complementary to said'aperture and formed of a suitable pliable material to define an annular groove 26' adjacent the end thereof, which groove in assembly is adaptable to receive portions of the reflector A, specifically.

portions of the slot 24'as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the socket may be rotatedto cause marginal portions of said aperture to be received' into said annular groove, whereby the light socket will assume its assembled position with'respect to the reflector as shown.

Preferably, the reflector A is formed of a metal and is suitably painted in order'to eifec-- tively reflect light. It is notable that the reflector and light socket connection ofthe present invention may be advantageously assembledwithout tools, thereby preventing the paint of the reflector from being chipped off, which may happen when employing tools to force or wedge'the light socket into theaperture- 2 I.

The light socket B preferably is formed of a pliable material such as, for example, rubber,

pliable plastic, semi-flexible molded Vinylite. In-

accordance with the construction of the present invention, the light socket-B is provided'witha conventional threaded metallic insert adaptable to receive threaded portions of aconventional light bulb designated by the letter C;

The connection for reflector andlight'sockets: contemplated herein may be eifected'asfollows: When it is desired to connectthe light socket B to the reflector A, the-light socket Bis placed in the position as shown in Fig; 3.- It can: be seen that portionsof' the edge 24 o-f1the slot 23; are received into the annular groove- 26 01? the light socket B and'thereafter, upon turning the light; socket B as if the threaded-top of a fruit-jar were being screwed onto a fruit jar, thelight' socket B will assume its operative position in assembled relationship with the-reflector. This: action will cause the annularigroovecfii to; have. received into it; marginalportions-oii thee aperture 2| as shown in Figs. I and-:2: Thus; itrmay; be observed that the formation of-therslot 23: and its placement in the respective positiomas, shownv effectively cooperates with.- the-annular, groove 26 to advantageously guide the flange 2T 4 through the aperture 2! in a manner so that the light socket B may be quickly and conveniently connected to the reflector A, as hereinbefore described, without necessitating the employment of tools. The importance of this feature of the invention will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art, particularly where the reflector and light socket connection contemplated herein is employed in electrical appliances such as, for example, refrigerators, stoves, etc., and even more particularly where quick and easy assembly is paramount and where, because of limited working space, jconyentional; tools could not be employed.

It is notable that the reflector and light socket connection contemplated herein may be advantageously employed in mass production manufacture where such quick and convenient assembly: of these elements is a very important factorrin determining the cost thereof.

From the foregoing disclosure it can be observed-"that Lhave provided a reflector and light socket connection which efiiciently fulfills the objects thereof as hereinbefore set forth and provides numerous advantages which may be summarized as follows:

1'-Structurally simple, efficient and: durable:- 2-Economical to manufacture and." readily;

adaptable to mass: production manufacturing,

principles; and

3-The provision, ofra reflector and lightjsocketz connection advantageously employing. principles;

whereby such'elementsmay be quickly and-cone veniently assembled without necessitating, the. employmentrof tools...

While I have illustrated. a preferred embodi, ment of my inventiommany modifi'cationsmay.

be made without departing. from; thexspirit" off the invention, and'iIidonot'wish'to'be limited to the precise details: of: constructionzset forth, butiwish to availmyself'of'all changesjwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination :with a panelahavingianaperturetherein with a slot opening 'thereinto; a; lamp socket member comprising a' hollowrcylindrical body ofdistortable :elastic: material. having a larger" diameter. than. said aperture: and;

engaged in surface contact with the region of:

the panel surrounding said aperture, thereby providing the sole means for retaining-said body in said panel apertu-reand 'to prevent longitudi' nal" movement of the-body with respect' to the panel."

2." In a light socket connection, alight socket member comprising a hollow cylindrical may of distortable elastic material with acontinuousannular groove adjacent one end thereof to -de-- fine, a radial end rim; a panel having: means "dc"- fining a substantially circular 'aperturejand'hav ing means defining a slot; opening into saildap erture; both of said means being 'diSPOSBdjiIl' the same plane, said socket member?being-assembled" insaid panel by a connection made by-"the mar ginal "portions of said aperture being "received in said. continuous annular groove; said" aperture and an edge of" said' slot" defining a-junction which cooperates with said continuous annular groove in making said connection between said socket member and said panel to effect receipt of all the marginal portions of said aperture into said groove responsive to manual rotation of said 5 socket member, said socket member being of a larger diameter than said aperture so that said groove and said aperture provide the sole means for retaining said socket in said panel and prevent longitudinal movement of said socket with 10 respect to said panel. EDWARD VALITES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Freeman Jan. 18, 1910 Gurke May 9, 1922 Dunham Aug. 6, 1929 Parmele Feb. 10, 1931 Wiley Mar. 8, 1932 Gober Apr. 20, 1937 De Reamer Mar. 28, 1939 Watts July 8, 1941 Heyman Apr. 9, 1946

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