US3286215A

US3286215A - Socket for plug-in lamps

Info

Publication number: US3286215A
Application number: US324471A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hagner Willi
Original assignee: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH
Current assignee: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH
Priority date: 1962-11-20
Filing date: 1963-11-18
Publication date: 1966-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-15
Also published as: DE1233940B

Description

Nov. 15, 1966 w, HAGNER 3,286,215

SOCKET FOR PLUG'IN LAMPS Filed Nov. 18, 1963 F/ Fig. 2

a5 36 a4 5 M 4 /5 /6 MT 5 'Tm 5- s 4 a3 28 a7 /7 29 27:? /9 L INVENTOR B W/LL/ HAG/VER A/fomeys United States Patent 11 Claims. (Cl. 339-32 This invention relates to a socket for a light bulb having a tubular base thereon, and particularly to sockets of this nature for bulbs in which the bases are provided with bayonet locking means.

Lamp sockets of this general nature are, of course, known and operate by urging the bulb outwardly of the socket to retain it in place after the bayonet locking means are in place. customarily, the spring means for urging the bulb outwardly is embodied in the contact element or elements which the bulb engages when introduced into the socket and which contact elements conduct current to the bulb filament.

In connection with certain bulbs of this nature, the positioning of the bulb in the socket is of the utmost importance. For example, with projectors and light actuated devices involving photocells and the like, it can become extremely important for the bulb to be accurrately supported with its filament in a predetermined precise location relative to some other element with which it is to cooperate. Bulbs that might be used in such circumstances are of two types. One type can be referred to as a precentered bulb which has a mounting flange or ring thereon adapted for cooperation with a socket in such a manner that merely placing the bulb in the socket effects the required precise positioning thereof. This comes about, of course, because the mounting flange or ring is precisely located relative to the bulb filament and the socket is provided with surfaces for engagement with the flange or ring to hold the bulb in a precise position.

With other bulbs of this nature, pins are provided on the base for cooperation with the bayonet locking means of the socket and there is no precise exact orientation between the pins and the bulb filament. In the case of bulbs of this nature it is important to have some way of adjusting the bulb position after it is mounted in the socket thereby to provide for precise positioning after the bulb is in the socket.

The sockets for this purpose, however, must be relatively compact and be capable of mounting in a stationary structure. The socket should therefore have a minimum outside diameter and should be able to receive the base of the bulb with relatively little play. Heretofore, sockets have been made for one type of bulb or the other, but no socket has been provided in which either type of bulb namely, a precentered bulb or a non-precentered bulb can be mounted with means being provided for effecting accurate precise positioning in the socket of either type of bulb.

The present invention proposes the provision of a single unitary socket element capable of receiving either of the aforementioned types of bulbs.

In general, the present invention provides within the socket independent sets of abutment means with one of the sets of abutment means pertaining to a precentered bulb and the other set of abutment means pertaining to bulbs that are non-precentered. In the first case, the abutment means in the socket is a fixed abutment ring, whereas for bulbs that are not precentered the abutment means is in the form of a movable abutment ring.

The two abutment rings are at different levels and a single set of contacts within the socket is provided to 3,285,215 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 supply electric-a1 energy to any bulb mounted therein.

In both cases, the connection of the bulb with the socket is by way of a bayonet joint so that either type of bulb can be mounted in the socket in the same manner, namely, by inserting the bulb base into the socket and then turning the bulb a predetermined amount.

The exact nature of the present invention and the several advantages offered thereby will be perceived upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through a socket arrangement according to the present invention mounted in a stationary supporting element and mounted in the socket as a precentered bulb;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a non-precentered bulb in the socket;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view indicated by line III III on FIGURE 1 and showing the locking and locating means in the socket for a precentered bulb;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view showing at enlarged scale locating surfaces provided in the circuit for a precentered bulb;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a precentered bulb, and

FIGURE 6 is a view looking up at the bulb of FIG- URE 5 showing the mounting and locating ring on the precentered bulb of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, a stationary supporting structure 1 is provided which has a hole therethrough for receiving the socket structure according to the present invention. The socket structure comprises an outer tubular shell part 2 having at its upper open end an inwardly extending flange 4 forming an abutment ring. The inside diameter of the flange is large enough freely to receive the base 8 :of the light bulb 3. Mounted on base 8 near the bulb end thereof is an adjustment ring or flange 9 for cooperation with the albutlment ring of shell 2.

As will .be seen in FIGURES 3 and 6, flange means 4 and also ring 9 is interrupted about the periphery so that the ring 9 can pass through the flange. The interruption of the periphery of flange 4 serves to provide it with the portions 5 extending inwardly toward the axis of the socket. With respect to the ring on the base of the bulb, the portions indicated at 7 are cut therefrom and the ring can now pass into the mount of the socket, whereupon rotation of the bulb will bring the portions '5 into engagement with the uninterrupted peripheral portions of ring 9.

The shell 2 is also preferably provided with a pin 15 which can be received in one portion 7 of ring 9 so that the bulb can easily be inserted in the socket in the proper oriented position. The mark 6 on the bulb can at that time be availed of to facilitate inserting the bulb in the socket in the properly rotated position. After the bulb is inserted in the socket, rotation of the bulb can be availed of to bring pin 15 into the region of the notch 14 of ring 9, and this will locate the ring and bulb accurately angularly.

The extreme end of base 8 carries contact elements and these are en-gageable with

contact elements

28 and 29 carried by body 27 within shell 2. Spring means 30

biases contact elements

28 and 29 in a direction to urge these contacts routwardly while maintaining good electrical contact between

contact elements

28 and 29 and the contact elements on the base of the bulb.

Reference to FIGURES 1 through 5 will show that inside the upper end of sleeve 2 there is provided a cylindrical surface 11 adapted for close fitting engagement with the peripheral surface 12 \of ring 9 while the underside 10 of the portions 5 are adapted for engagement with the upper surface of ring 9 ion the bulb. These two positioning means, acting on ring 9, together with the bias of springs 30 operate to hold the ring and, therefore, the bulb in the socket accurately positioned therein laterally and longitudinally, while other means are provided to engage the ring to locate the ring accurately in an angular direction. Inasmuch as the bulb filament is exactly located relative to ring 9 of the bulb, it Will be evident that the bulb filament is precisely and accurately supported.

Mounted Within tubular shell 2 is a sleeve-like element 17 having at its upper end adjacent the upper end of shell 2, an external rib end 16 fitting relatively closely inside shell 2. This ri'b has a rounded outer edge 18 that is freely movable along the cylindrical inner wall of shell 2.

The sleeve 17 at its end opposite rib 16 is provided with a bottom end 20 having a spherical lower surface 20 which engages a correspondingly shaped holder 21 fixed to the inner wall of shell 2. The center of curvature of the spherical bearing thus formed is in about the plane of rib 16. This bearing provides means for tilting cylinder 17 in shell 2 while rib 16 prevents any substantial amount of lateral movement of the upper arm of the sleeve in the shell.

The bottom of cylinder 17 has a threaded projection 23 extending through the aperture 22 in holder 21 which is substantially larger in diameter than projection 23. Projection 23 threadedly receives clamp nut 24 which can be loosened to permit adjustment of sleeve 17 in shell 2 and drawn up tight to clamp the sleeve in its adjusted position in the shell. The nut when tightened up clampingly engages the lower surface 25 of holder 21.

Threaded portion 23 is preferably hollow and receives lead-in cable 26 that has conductors connected to

contact elements

28 and 29.

Located within sleeve 17, and having a certain freedom of lateral and axial movement therein, is an intermediate ring 33 that Will receive the base 8 of a bulb placed in the socket. This ring is provided with slot means for receiving

31, 32 that are provided on the base 34 of the non-precentered Ibulb 35 of FIGURE 2. The

pins

31 and 32 are adapted for being received in intermediate ring 33 by Way of bayonet slots in the intermediate ring and which terminate in abutments 36 so that when the bulb is in the intermediate ring it is accurately located angularly therein. The intermediate ring can be held in the sleeve against rotation to facilitate inserting the bulb therein. A certin freedom of movement of axial ring 33 in sleeve 17 is provided by the abutment 37 in the sleeve.

The upper end of sleeve 17 is rovided with the inwardly extending annular flange 38 that is adapted for engaging the upper end of ring 33. Flange 38 thus provides an abutment surface or ring within the socket which cooperates with the upper end of intermediate ring 33, and when the bulb is under the influence of spring means 30, will accurately locate the bulb on the axis of sleeve 17. After the bulb is mounted in the socket as shown in FIGURE 2, the sleeve 17 can be tilted in shell 2 as previously described thereby to obtain precise locating of the bulb. Sleeve 17 can be clamped in rotated positions in shell 2 to turn the bulb.

The arrangement of the present invention thus provides a socket adapted for receiving either precentered or non-precentered bulbs and characterized in that individual abutment means are provided within the socket for the respective types of bulbs, and with at least one of the abutment means being adjustable Within the socket structure to provide for precise positioning of the bulb pertaining thereto in the socket. One and the same set of contact means in the socket supply electrical energy for either type of bulb mounted therein, and spring means are provided in the socket common to both types of bulbs for urging the bulbs toward their respective abutment means.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A socket for a lamp bulb having a tubular base comprising; an outer shell element having an opening at one end into which the base of a bulb can be inserted, an intermediate ring independent from and movable With respect to the shell to receive the base of the bulb inserted into said opening in the end of said shell, and cooperating elements of a bayonet locking and locating means formed on said base of the bulb and on said intermediate ring and the said one end of said shell for selectively locating the bulb relative to the shell and including abutment means for retaining the bulb in the shell, the elements of said means on said intermediate ring being different from the elements of said means on said shell.

2. A socket for a lamp bulb having a tubular base comprising; an outer shell element having an opening at one end into which the base of a bulb can be inserted, an intermediate ring independent from and movable with respect to the shell to receive the base of the bulb inserted into said opening in the end of said shell, and cooperating elements of a bayonet locking and locating means formed on said base of the bulb and on said intermediate ring and the said one end of said shell for selectively locating the bulb relative to the shell and including abutment means for retaining the bulb in the shell, the elements of said means on said intermediate ring being different from the elements of said mean-s on said shell, contact means on the end of the base of the bulb and contact element means in the shell engageable therewith for supplying energy to the bulb, and springs acting on said contact element means to press the contact element means against said contact means and to retain at least the abutment means of said bayonet locking and locating means in operative engagement.

3. A socket for a lamp bulb having a tubular base comprising; an outer shell element having an opening at one end into which the base of a bulb can be inserted, an intermediate ring independent from and movable with respect to the shell to receive the base of the bulb inserted into said opening in the end of said shell, and cooperating elements of a bayonet locking and locating means formed on said base of the bulb and on said intermediate ring and the said one end of said shell for selectively locating the bulb relative to the shell and including abutment means for retaining the bulb in the shell, the elements of said means on said intermediate ring being different from the elements of said means on said shell, contact means on the end of the base of the bulb and contact element means in the shell engageable therewith for supplying energy to the bulb, and springs acting on said contact element means to press the contact element means against said contact means and to retain at least the abutment means of said bayonet locking and locating means in operative engagement, said bayonet locking and locating means comprising an inwardly extending flange on said one end of the shell and a ring on the base of the bulb larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the flange on the shell, both said flange and ring having peripheral cut-outs to permit them to pass by one another in one rotated position of the bulb, and a cylindrical surface in the shell to engage the peripheral edge of the ring to hold the bulb centered in the shell, said ring having a precise predetermined position with respect to the bulb filament.

4. A socket for a lamp bulb having a tubular base comprising; an outer shell element having an opening at one end into which the base of a bulb can be inserted, an intermediate ring independent from and movable with respect to the shell to receive the base of the bulb inserted into said opening in the end of said shell, and cooperating elements of a bayonet locking and locating means formed on said base of the bulb and on said intermediate ring and the said one end of said shell for selectively locating the bulb relative to the shell and including abutment means for retaining the bulb in the shell, the elements of said means on said intermediate ring being different from the elements of said means on said shell, contact means on the end of the base of the bulb and contact element means in the shell engageable therewith for supplying energy to the bulb, and springs acting on said contact element means to press the contact element means against said contact means and to retain at least the abutment means of said bayonet locking and locating means in operative engagement, said bayonet locking and locating mean-s comprising an inwardly extending flange on said one end of the shell and a ring on the base of the bulb larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the flange on the shell, both said flange and ring having peripheral cut-outs to permit them to pass by one another in one rotated position of the bulb, and a cylindrical surface in the shell to engage the peripheral edge of the ring to hold the bulb centered in the shell, said ring having a precise predetermined position with respect to the bulb filament, said cylindrical surface being located immediately inside the flange on the shell and said flange and ring having cooperating lateral surfaces forming the said abutment means and engageable when the ring is passed by the flange and the bulb is rotated from said one position and is released to the influence of said spring means.

5. The socket according to claim 4 wherein the said ring on the base of the bulb and said shell are provided with interengageable means to predetermine the rotated position of said bulb in the socket.

6. A socket for a lamp bulb having a tubular base comprising; an outer shell element having an opening at one end into which the base of a bulb can be inserted, an intermediate ring in the shell to receive the base of the bulb inserted into said opening in the end of said shell, and cooperating elements of a bayonet locking and locating means formed on said base of the bulb and on said intermediate ring and the said one end of said shell for selectively locating the bulb relative to the shell and including abutment means for retaining the bulb in the shell, contact means on the end of the base of the bulb and contact element means in the shell engageable therewith for supplying energy to the bulb, and springs acting on said contact element means to press the contact element means against said contact means and to retain at least the abutment means of said bayonet locking and locating means in operative engagement, said bayonet locking and locating means comprising pins on the bulb base and slots in the intermediate ring to receive said pins and the said abutment means including sleeve means in the shell surrounding said intermediate ring and having a flange on the end toward open end of the shell for abutting engagement with said intermediate ring.

7. The socket according to claim 6 in which said sleeve means is tiltably supported in said shell to provide for adjustment of the axis of the bulb relative to the axis of the shell.

8. The socket according to claim 6 in which spherical bearing means is provided between the shell and the end of the sleeve means opposite the flanged end thereof to permit tilting of the sleeve means in the shell, and means for clamping the sleeve means to the shell in adjusted position therein.

9. The socket according to claim 8 wherein said sleeve means at the flanged end has an annular external rib fitting closely within said shell while the center of curvature of said spherical bearing is on the axis of said sleeve means in about the plane of said rib.

10. The socket according to claim 9 wherein said intermediate ring has limited lateral and axial movement in said sleeve means.

11. A socket for bulbs having tubular bases comprising; a tubular shell having first and second annular abutment surfaces facing inwardly thereof in the region of one end, means for operatively engaging a bulb base with one of said surfaces, said first surface being fixed in said shell and said second surface being tiltable in said shell, said second surface including sleeve means in said shell surrounding an intermediate ring and having a flange on the end toward the open end of said shell for abutting engagement with the intermediate ring, contact means in the shell for engagement with a bulb in the socket, and spring means pertaining to the contact means to urge the bulb engaged thereby toward the respective abutment surface engaged by the bulb.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,265 10/1933 Douglas.

FOREIGN PATENTS 560,858 10/1923 France.

596,258 10/1925 France.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Examiner.

J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SOCKET FOR A LAMP BULB HAVING A TUBULAR BASE COMPRISING; AN OUTER SHELL ELEMENT HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END INTO WHICH THE BASE OF A BULB CAN BE INSERTED, AN INTERMEDIATE RING INDEPENDENT FROM THE MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE SHELL TO RECEIVE THE BASE OF THE BULB INSERTED INTO SAID OPENING IN THE END OF SAID SHELL, AND COOPERATING ELEMENTS OF A BAYONET LOCKING AND LOCATING MEANS FORMED ON SAID BASE OF THE BULB AND ON SAID INTERMEDIATE RING AND THE SAID ONE END OF SAID SHELL FOR SELECTIVELY LOCATING THE BULB RELATIVE TO THE SHELL AND INCLUDING ABUTMENT MEANS FOR RETAINING THE BULB IN THE SHELL, THE ELEMENTS OF SAID MEANS ON SAID INTERMEDIATE RING BEING DIFFERENT FROM THE ELEMENTS OF SAID MEANS ON SAID SHELL.