US2680839A - Starter-socket combination for fluorescent lamps - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1954 E. PETERS 2,680,839

STARTER-SOCKET COMBINATION FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS 7 Filed Aug. 14, 1951 'Zezuas' Pei BY M m 7 QZ/as:

Patented June 8, 1954 STARTER-SOCKET COMBINATION FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Lewis E. Peters, Beverly Shores,

Ind., assignor to Raymond M. Price & Associates, Inc., Chesterton, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application August 14, 1951, Serial No. 241,775

4 Claims.

My invention is concerned with a new and improved socket assembly for mounting a conventional thermal starter switch of a type familiarly employed with a fluorescent lamp or the like.

Briefly my socket assembly embodies a new and improved means for providing positive contact with the connective terminals of a fluorescent lamp starter switch or the like whereby a more compact and simplified socket assembly is gained having particular application with conventional thermal starter switches utilized in applications of fluorescent illumination in confined or restricted spaces.

The primary object of my invention is to demonstrate the features of construction and operation of an improved fluorescent lamp starter socket assembly which is especially adapted for manufacture in relatively miniature sizes.

A further object of my invention is to disclose a new and improved electrical contact means in my socket assembly for use with a fluorescent starter switch, or the like, whereby positive contacting and locking connection is provided with the connective terminals of such a starter switch.

To enable one familiar with the art to recognize more readily the above and further objects and features of my invention, reference will be made from time to time, in the following description of my invention to the acompanying drawings of an illustrative embodiment employing the several improved features of my socket assembly.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view demonstrating the several elements of my socket as sembly in dis-associated relation ready for assembly to receive the connective terminals of a fluorescent lamp starter switch also illustrated in this figure;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the socket cover shown in Figure 1, looking at the inside thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view in side elevation of the socket cover shown in Figure 2 taken .along a plane designated by line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows therein;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the contact plates demonstrated in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the contact plates shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the socket base illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view in side elef vation of the socket base shown in Figure 6, taken substantially along lines I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

ll of that figure, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged, partial cross sectional, developed View taken along the arcuate line designated by numerals B8 in Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows thereon and showing the relation of the contact plate, socket cover, and socket base as they appear in assembled association with the fluorescent lamp starter switch locked therewith;

Figure 9 is a perspective View of my socket assembled with a thermal starter switch and showing one means for mounting the same on a supporting surface or the like;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternativeconstruction of my starter socket showing a mounting means therefor which is formed integrally with the socket base; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 10 illustrating still another modification of my starter socket for accommodating a third means for mounting the same.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawings, it will be observed that my socket assembly, indicated generally at IU therein, is to be used in mounting a conventional cylindrical thermal starter switch, indicated generally at I l, and consists of the assembled combination of elements comprising a socket cover member [2, a pair of contact plates l3, l3, 2, socket base member 14, a single connective screw means [5 (for maintaining the several elements of my socket in assembled combination) and a pair of electrical connective leads I6 for supplying electrical energy to the contact plates of my socket assembly.

With particular reference to the socket cover I2, as illustrated in particular in Figures 1-3 of the drawings, it will be recognized that such is formed substantially as a short, cylindrical, tubular member having an external diameter conforming to that of the starter H. The cover member 12 is characterized by a cylindrical side wall 20 formed integrally with a transversely extending upper end wall 2!. An axially disposed core post member 22 extends centrally inward,

in depending relation, from the upper wall 2!;

such being substantially cylindrical except for an outwardly projecting locating key 23 which is disposed lengthwise along one side thereof. A central axial opening 24 is formed in post member 22 for the reception of the mounting screw means [5, as will appear later herein. A pair of oppositely directed arcuate key hole openings 25, 25 are formed in the upper or top wall H of the cover 12; each opening having an enlarged circular portion 26 at one end and a reduced, elongated, curvilinear slot portion 21 communicating with and leading from the circular portion 26. The two openings 25 are positioned on opposite sides of the core post member 22 and a pair of inwardly raised pad members 28, 28 are formed on the inside face of the upper wall 21 to extend from opposite sides of core post 22 so as to communicate with the side walls 20 of the cover member 12. The pad members form a raised periphery around approximately one-half the circumference of the circular portion 2'6 of each of the key hole openings 25, as seen in Figures 2 and 3 in particular. Key hole openings 25, 25 are designed of a size suificient for the inserted reception therein of terminals 29, 29 associated with the thermal starter switch unit l l with each of the enlarged circular portions 26 of the two key hole openings receiving a circular foot portion 3% of one of the terminals 29. The two re duced curvilinear slot portions 21 of the key hole openings 25 slidingly receive reduced cylindrical shank portions 3! of the terminal members 29, for purposes of which appear later herein. The entire cover member l2, as described above, preferably is formed as an integral unit by a suitable molding or die operation to which Bakelite or a similar plastic material bearing the necessary non-conductive properties is especially adapted and preferred.

Referring now to the details of my contact plates l3, l3 as seen particularly in Figures 1, d and of the drawings, it will be recognized that each comprises a curvilinear strip of metal, preferably copper or a like electrical conductor, formed substantially as a circular quadrant and of a size suitable for inserted reception within the cover member l2 adjacent the two key hole openings 25 therein so as to lie on opposite sides of the core post 22. Each contact blade is provided with a transversely extending and upwardly raised ridge member 35, disposed across its upper face 35 and intermediate the length of the blade adjacent one semi-circular end portion 3'! so as to form a camming surface. Opposite end 3? of each blade, a downwardly extending ear member 38 is provided for soldered connection with an all electrical wire lead 16, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings. The raised ridges 35, so provided on the two contact blade members, each serve as a camming surface to lock the terminals 2d of the thermal switch l l with the socket cover i2, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

As shown in Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings, the socket base member It" of my assembly is formed as a substantially cylindrical block having an upper reduced cylindrical neck portion fill at one end thereof; such projecting concentrically outward of an enlarged lower cylindrical skirt portion at of the base member. The base member is preferably die formed from Bakelite or a similar non-conductive material as with the socket cover member l2 heretofore described. Formed axially through the center of the upper cylindrical neck portions 9.9, I have provided a central core opening 32 of a size and shape sufficient to receive the central depending core post member 22 of the cover l2 in the assembly of the base member with the cover. It will be noted that a slotted enlargement 43 extends along one side of the opening 42 for keyed engagement with the raised locating key 23 formed on the socket cover core post 22. The provision of the key member 23 and the key opening 43 therefor, in the cover and base members respectively, insure against unwanted rotational movement of the cover member relative to the base member and serve properly to locate and lock the outer cover in a desired position over the base member in assembly.

It should be noted that while the external diameter of the base lower skirt portion ll conforms with the outside cylindrical diameter of the socket cover 12 and starter H, the outside diameter of the reduced neck portion at of the base is smaller than the internal diameter of the cavity bounded by the side wall 20 of the socket cover 12. In order to insure a substantially close fit between the inside face of socket cover wall Zii and the neck portion 69 of the socket base, I have provided the base neck with a plurality of longitudinally extending contact fingers M, herein shown as four in number and spaced at convenient intervals on the external circumference of neck portion ie. Further, I have provided a pair of electrical conductor lead openings A5, 45 which extend through both the skirt and neck portions of the socket base Hi at opposite sides thereof, as seen in Figures 6 and '2' in particular. Openings 45 are circular as they pass through the skirt portion ii, but open laterally outward at one side near their upper ends at neck portion fill so as to communicate openingly with the side wall and the top of the latter with a substantially U-shaped plan contour. Formed coaxially with the central opening d2 of the base neck member 49, I also have provided a small cylindrical opening 6%; extending axially through the skirt portion all; such opening having an enlarged cylindrical portion ill at its lower end for receiving the head of the holding screw means 55.

In combining the heretofore described elements of my socket combination, conductor leads 16 are soldered at one end to the ear members 38 of the two contact blade members I3 for electrical connection therewith. The free ends of the conductors is are then inserted through openings 45 in the socket base member is and the two contact blade members it are inserted in the socket cover i2 so that the raised ridge 35 of each of the blades extends transversely and immediately below one of the curvilinear slot portions 2'i of an associated key hole opening 25. In this position the upper face 36 of each blade member 13, at a point adjacent the ear member 38 thereof, will lie against the exposed face of the adjacent and overlying pad member 28 formed internally of the socket covers upper wall 2i. The socket base It is then assembled with the socket cover by inserting the neck portion at thereof within the hollow interior of the cover member 12 so that the key 23 on the depending core post 22 of the latter member registers tightly with the locating opening 43 in the neck portion at of the base. The cover and base of the socket are then tightly joined together by a single connective screw is which is inserted through opening ll? of the socket base for threading reception within the central axial opening 24 in the cover core post 22.

To mount a thermal starter unit 5 i in my socket assembly ill, it is merely necessary to insert the prong terminals 29 thereof into the key hole openings 25 in the top of the socket cover and lock the starter with the socket assembly by a twisting action. In accomplishing this mounting engagement of the socket assembly and starter unit, the enlarged foot portions 39 of the starter terminals 19 are each received in one of the circular portions 26 of the key hole openings 25 formed in the cover member, so that an associated shank portion 3| of each of the terminals 29 may move along one of the slotted portions 21 of the openings 25 when the starter is axially rtated or twisted relative to the socket assembly It. As will be recognized from the enlarged developed sectional view of Figure 8, the twisting movement of the starter causes the terminal foot members 30 to ride up onto the raised ridge members 35 of the contact blades, whereby each foot member is securely wedged in between one of the ridges 35 and the undersurface of the socket cover top wall 2|. This wedging action not only insures against unwanted rotational movement of the starter unit relative to the socket, but also provides a positive contact between the starter terminals 29 and the contact blades I3 of my socket assembly.

In using my socket assembly with a starter unit I I it is often necessary to mount the same securely to insure against their indiscriminate and undesired movement when in use with a fluorescent tube or the like, for this purpose, I have found particularly useful a mounting means such as I have illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. As shown in this figure, I have utilized a resilient mounted clip member which comprises essentially a rectangular strip of metal adapted for flexing arcuate movement about one end which is secured to a mounting surface 5| by means of a screw member 52 or the like. The opposite end 53 of the clip 5c is conveniently formed with a downward curvilinear shape to conform to the exterior cylindrical surface of the thermal switch unit I I. The curved end 53 is disposed in an elevated angular relation with respect to the end thereof which is fastened to the supporting surface 5i to hold the starter and socket firmly therebeneath. To insure against longitudinal axial movement of the assembled socket I0 and starter unit II, I further have provided a pair of concaved spaced apart pad members 54 and 55 suitably configured to receive and conform with the cylindrical exterior of the socket assembly and starter units III and l I respectively. It will be recognized that pad 55 embraces one end of the starter unit or socket assembly depending on which way the two units are positioned over the pad members 54 and 55, to insure against longitudinal axial movement of the two assembled units. It will then be recognized that by inserting the interconnected socket assembly and starter unit in an overlying relation on the pad members 54 and 55 so that the curved end 53 of the clip member 5!! embraces the outer cylindrical side wall of starter unit II, a successful medium is provided for maintaining the starter and socket firmly in place as desired.

Still another means of securing the starter and socket in a desired location is illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. As seen in this figure, a longitudinally extending ear 6B is formed integrally with the lower end of the socket base member I4 adjacent one side thereof. A hole 6| is formed through the ear member 60 and a holding screw or the like is then inserted through hole 6| to hold the socket assembly and starter unit mounted therein at a designated place on a supporting surface, such as M, in a readily recognizable manner.

In Figure 11 a still further expedient is utilized to fasten the starter socket in place on supporting surface 5!. In the arrangement illustrated in this figure, a cylindrical lug B5 is formed integrally with the socket base I4 to project outwardly from the lower face thereof intermediate its peripheral extremities. A right angular clip 66 having two rectangular and transversely related arms 61 and E8 is then mounted to the lower face of the base I4 by inserting holding screw I5 through a suitable aperture formed in arm 6'! and tightening such against the adjacent face of the socket base I4 as illustrated. Lug 65 is also received through a registering aperture formed in clip arm 61 to properly locate the clip 66 on the socket base. A holding screw or the like is then inserted through aperture 69 in leg 8350f the clip for fastening the clip and attached socket I II to a supporting surface or the like.

Having thus described the feature of my starter socket and three means by which such may be secured against undesired movement, it will be appreciated that the compactness of its combination permits a starter socket of the character capable of coaxial registration with a standard fluorescent starter switch unit when mounting the latter in my socket. Such a feature emphasizes the advantage that the socket forms a cylindrical continuation of the starter unit in assembling the two together so that such conveniently may be employed in lighting installations where the space limitations are of paramount importance.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which the features of my invention may appear, it readily will be appreciated that various changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be restricted to the particularly embodiment of my invention illustrated and described except as may appear in the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A socket assembly for mounting a thermal starter switch used with a fluorescent lamp, comprising in combination, a cylindrical base member of insulating material having a cylindrical neck portion and a pair of apertures extending longitudinally therethrough for the passage of a pair of electrical conductor leads, a pair of substantially planar contact plate members supported on said base member at opposite sides thereof and within the peripheral confines of said neck portion, each of said contact plates being connected at one end to one of said electrical conductors; a cylindrical cover member, having a hollowed out interior and an open bottom communicating therewith, said cover being mounted over the neck portion of said base and contact plates so as to encase said plates within its interior whereby the latter lie adjacently beneath one wall of said cover, said cover member having a pair of spaced apart, arcuate key hole openings in its said one wall directly over said plate members for the inserted reception therethrough of connective terminals associated with said starter switch, each of said arcuate openings having an elongated reduced portion at one end thereof for the sliding reception therealong of a reduced shank portion of one of said terminals, and a camming surface formed on each of said contact plates and located transversely beneath and adjacent the closed ends of the reduced neck portion of said key hole openings to securely wedge and lock said switch terminals against the inside surface of said covers one wall.

2. In a socket assembly of the class described for mounting a fluorescent lamp starter switch or the like, a socket base member of insulating material characterized by a cylindrical neck portion at one end and an outwardly extending cylindrical skirt portion at its opposite end, said base having a pair of spaced connective lead apertures formed longitudinally and a central axial opening distinguished by a key way formed along one side thereof; a tubular cylindrical cover member open at one end for the reception of said neck portion therein and having a transverse wall at its opposite end in which are formed a pair of oppositely directed arcuate key hole openings, a central core post member formed integrally with said covers transverse wall and dependingly associated centrally therefrom, a raised key formed along one side of said post for mating reception in said key way, a single screw means axially insertable through said base for threaded connection with said core post to hold said cover in rigid association with said base, and a pair of substantially planar metal contact plate members supported by said neck portion, on opposite sides of said central axial opening therein, each of said plates being connected at one end to one of said connective leads an upwardly inclined transversely extending cam ridge formed on one face of each of said plate members, each of said plates being positioned directly adjacent one of said covers key hole openings and so related thereto as to have the raised ridge thereon extending transversely across a reduced slotted portion of said one key hole opening and adjacent the closed end thereof, whereby when connective post terminals of said starter switch are 8 inserted in said key hole openings and said switch is rotated axially relative to said socket to bring the terminals against the closed ends of the slotted portions of said key hole openings, whereby said ridges wedge said terminals tightly against the transverse wall of said cover member.

3. A starter socket assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein an ear member is formed integrally with said base to project outwardly therefrom and within the peripheral confines of said skirt portion, said ear having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving a mounting screw means for securing said socket to a supporting surface.

4. A starter socket assemblw as set forth in claim 2 wherein a small cylindrical locating lug is formed integrally with said base to project out wardly from said opposite end thereof, said lug being located intermediate the peripheral confines of said skirt portion for engaging an opening in a right angular mounting bracket at said opposite end of said base whereby said mounting bracket may be located by said lug and fastened to said base to provide means for connecting the same to a supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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