US3820060A

US3820060A - Lamp housing and electrical terminal construction

Info

Publication number: US3820060A
Application number: US00339378A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-03
Filing date: 1973-03-07
Publication date: 1974-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-25

Abstract

A lamp housing comprising a base and a transparent wall. The base includes an axial opening through which an electric wire extends. A first terminal is mounted in the base and has a socket forming portion for receiving a bulb and another portion that is axially aligned with the opening and deformed into electrical contact with the end of the wire that extends through the opening. A second terminal is fixed to the base and has a portion contacting the central electrical contact of a bulb. Electrical connections are made to the second terminal by an electrically conductive screw that extends through the second terminal and an opening in the base to the exterior.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,820,060 Smith 1 June 25, 1974 [5 1 LAMP HOUSING AND ELECTRICAL 3,742,429 6/1973 Morrison 339/97 L TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION [76] Inventor: John Smith, 505 Cummer Ave.,

Willowdale, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 339,378

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No, 214,595, Jan. 3,

1972, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 339/220 L, 339/176 L, 339/276 R [51] Int. Cl H01r 9/08 [58] Field of Search 339/182 L, 99 L, 97 L, 339/176 L, 177 L, 220, 276,188 R, 219 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,143,301 8/1964 Trautner et a1. 339/176 L 3,210,532 10/1965 Woofter et a1...... 3,581,080 5/1971 Magi 339/188 3,641,481 2/1972 Farrell 339/126 R Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay

Assistant ExaminerRobert A. Hafer Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate [57] ABSTRACT A lamp housing comprising a base and a transparent wall. The base includes an axial opening through which an electric wire extends. A first terminal is mounted in the base and has a socket forming portion for receiving a bulb and another portion that is axially aligned with the opening and deformed into electrical contact with the end of the wire that extends through the opening. A second terminal is fixed to the base and has a portion contacting the central electrical contact of a bulb. Electrical connections are made to the second terminal by an electrically conductive screw that extends through the second terminal and an opening in the base to the exterior.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LAMP HOUSING AND ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 214,595, filed Jan. 3, 1972, now abandoned.

This invention relates to lamp housings and particularly lamp housings incorporating electrical connections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In lamp housings for use with vehicles and the like, it is desirable to provide a simple, trouble-free construction that can be readily assembled, is low in cost, and requires minimum parts.

Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are to provide a novel lamp housing and electrical terminal construction which is easy to assemble, utilizes a minimum number of parts, and is low in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A lamp housing comprising a base and a transparent wall. The base includes an axial opening through which an electric wire extends. A first terminal is mounted in the base and has a socket forming portion for receiving a bulb and another portion that is axially aligned with the opening and deformed into electrical contact with the end of the wire that extends through the opening. A second terminal is fixed to the base and has a portion contacting the central electrical contact of the lamp. Electrical connections are made to the second terminal by an electrically conductive screw that extends through the second terminal and an opening in the base to the exterior.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a lamp housing structure embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the lamp housing and electrical terminal construction embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same in assembled condition.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the same.

FlG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, the lamp assembly embodying the invention comprises a plastic base which has a flat bottom wall 11 and a peripheral flange l2 and a transparent hollow plastic lens and reflector portion 13 which is frictionally engaged with the flange 12 to overlie the wall 11.

The wall 11 is formed with an opening 14 through which an electrical wire 15 extends. Opening 14 is defined by an integral tube 14a molded as a part of base 10. The upper end of tube 14a, as shown in FIG. 2, projects slightly within the confines of flange 12. The lower end of tube 14a projects a substantial distance beneath the wall 11 and is adapted to extend through the wall of the vehicle or the like on which the lamp is mounted to protect the wire 15. This obviates the need for any grommet. Wall 11 includes an external groove 11a which is adapted to receive slack in wire 15. A first terminal 16 of electrically conductive sheet metal is mounted on the wall 11 within the housing and comprises a flat portion 17 and socket forming legs 18 extending outwardly therefrom at one end and having intermediate arcuate portions to frictionally engage a lamp bulb L of the bayonet type. Legs 18 have recesses 18a along one edge for engaging the radial contacts on bulb L to limit its movement axially between the legs. The other end of the terminal 16 includes an offset portion 19 provided in axial alignment with the opening 14. The portion 20 is bent into a split cylindrical shape that is adapted to be crimped onto the end of the electrical wire 15 as shown in FlG. 2. The portion 17 of first terminal 16 is formed with

openings

21, 22 into which

projections

23, 24 integral with the wall 11 extend to locate the terminal 16. The ends of the

projections

23, 24 are heated and flattened to hold the terminal in place. The wall 11 further includes lugs 25 which frictionally engage the sides of the legs 18 to hold the terminal 16 in position and control the flexing outwardly of legs 18.

A second terminal 26 of electrically conductive sheet metal is provided and includes a portion 27 that lies against the inner surface of the wall 1 1 and an upstanding portion 28 with a free end 29 that engages the end C of the bulb L. Second terminal 26 is located in position on the wall 11 by a projection 30 on the wall that extends into an opening 31 and an upstanding wall 32 that engages the edge 33 of the terminal as well as the upstanding portion 28 intermediate its ends to control the contact force of the free end 29 of the end C of the bulb L. The end of projection 30 is heated and flattened to pivotally locate the terminal. The terminal is fastened further by a screw 34 that extends through an elongated opening 35 in the portion 27 and an opening 36 in the wall 11 to the exterior. A nut 36 is threaded on the screw. This forms the electrical connection to the second terminal. By loosening the screw 34, the terminal 26 can be pivoted to vary the angular position of the terminal and, in turn, the degree of engagement of upstanding portion 28 to control the spring force on the end 29 of the upstanding portion 28.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided a lamp construction which utilizes a minimum number of parts wherein the parts can be readily assembled with the minimum use of tools and proper electrical connection is assured in a simple and efficient manner.

I claim:

1. In a lamp housing, the combination comprising a plastic housing having a base wall,

said wall having an integral tube thereto with a portion of said tube extending beyond one surface of said wall and defining an opening entirely through said base wall,

a terminal having an intermediate portion and end means fastening the first portion of said second ter-' minal to the other surface of said wall,

said second portion being bent upwardly at an angle to the first portion and having a free end for engaging the end of the lamp bulb.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including an integral projection extending outwardly from the other surface of said base wall of said housing and engaging said second portion of said second terminal for controlling the yielding force of said free end with the bulb.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said means fastening said second portion to said other surface of said wall-comprises an integral projection extending upwardly from the other surface of said wall through an opening in the first portion of said second terminal and having its end deformed.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 including an elongated opening in said first portion and a screw extending through said elongated opening into said base whereby said first portion and, in turn, said second terminal may be angularly adjusted with respect to the projection extending through said first portion.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said screw extends through said base for providing an electrical connection to said second terminal.

6. In a lamp housing, the combination comprising a plastic housing having a base wall,

said wall having an integral tube thereto defining an opening entirely through said base wall,

a terminal having an intermediate portion and end portions,

means fastening the intermediate portion of said terminal to the other surface of said base wali,

one said end portion of said terminal being split and defining an opening aligned with the opening in 7. The combination set forth in claim 6 including an integral projection extending outwardly from the other surface of said base wall of said housing and engaging said second portion of said second terminal for controlling the yielding force of said free end with the bulb.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said means fastening said second portion to said other surface of said wall comprises an integral projection extending upwardly from the other surface of said wall through an opening in the first portion of said second terminal and having its end deformed.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 including an elongated opening in said first portion and a screw extending through said elongated opening into said base whereby said first portion and, in turn, said second terminal may be angularly adjusted with respect to the projection extending through said first portion.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said screw extends through said base for providing an electrical connection to said second terminal.

Claims

1. In a lamp housing, the combination comprising a plastic housing having a base wall, said wall having an integral tube thereto with a portion of said tube extending beyond one surface of said wall and defining an opening entirely through said base wall, a terminal having an intermediate portion and end portions, means fastening the intermediate portion of said terminal to the other surface of said base wall, one said end portion of said terminal being split and defining an opening aligned with the opening in said tube for receiving a wire and being adapted to be crimped into engagement with the wire, the other end portion of said terminal having spaced ears for encircling the body of a lamp bulb, a second terminal having a first portion and a second portion, means fastening the first portion of said second terminal to the other surface of said wall, said second portion being bent upwardly at an angle to the first portion and having a free end for engaging the end of the lamp bulb.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said means fastening said second pOrtion to said other surface of said wall comprises an integral projection extending upwardly from the other surface of said wall through an opening in the first portion of said second terminal and having its end deformed.

6. In a lamp housing, the combination comprising a plastic housing having a base wall, said wall having an integral tube thereto defining an opening entirely through said base wall, a terminal having an intermediate portion and end portions, means fastening the intermediate portion of said terminal to the other surface of said base wall, one said end portion of said terminal being split and defining an opening aligned with the opening in said tube for receiving a wire and being adapted to be crimped into engagement with the wire, the other end portion of said terminal having spaced ears for encircling the body of a lamp bulb, a second terminal having a first portion and a second portion, means fastening the first portion of said second terminal to the other surface of said wall, said second portion being bent upwardly at an angle to the first portion and having a free end for engaging the end of the lamp bulb.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 including an integral projection extending outwardly from the other surface of said base wall of said housing and engaging said second portion of said second terminal for controlling the yielding force of said free end with the bulb.