USRE21545E - Tubtjiar - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1940. A. J. MARsHAUs TUBULAR LAMP BASE AND SOCKET Original Filed March 25, 1958 rllllIlll/l Inventor Anthony J. Mar-shams,

H s Attorneg.

Reissuecl Aug. 27, 1940 PATENT OFFICE" 21,545 TUBULAB BASE AND SOCKET Anthony J. Marshalls, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Original No. 2,137,174, dated November 15, 1938, Serial No. 198,059, March 25, 1938. Application for reissue July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,590k

Claims.

My invention relates to electric lamps and similar devices, and more particularly to a base and socket construction for such devices. Still more particularly, my invention relates to a base and socket construction for electric lamps oi the double-ended discharge type, in which a iilamentary electrode is mounted at each end of the lamp.

One object of my invention is to' provide a 1 base and socket construction for electric lamps wherein the lamp may be readily inserted in its socket and positively locked therein so as to eii'ectively prevent unwarranted or premature disengagement therebetween.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric lamp socket in which the contact terminals are entirely concealed and unexposed so that the danger of shock or of short circuits is absent.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a base and socket construction for electric lamps wherein the lamp may be freely rotated in its socket, thereby eliminating the possibility of the base contact prongs being broken oi! the $6 base, or the cement bond between the base and the glass envelope of the lamp being disrupted during insertion in or removal of the lamp from its socket.

, A further object of my invention is to provide a lamp base construction which will insure the correct assembly of the lamp in its socket, thereby eliminating the possibility of any binding or jamming of the base in the socket during insertion of the lamp in such socket.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a socket and base construction for electric lamps in which the base is provided with a plurality of pins or prongs arranged in a comlmon plane, and the socket is provided with a e0 circular slot and a diametrical slot with leaf Q5 of said prongs into interlocking engagement with the lea! springs.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of a species thereof and from the ac- -60 companying drawing.

1n the drawing, Fig. 1 is s. side view,.p'm1y m section, of a base and socket construction compricing my invention, the base being mounted on a lamp disposed in correct position preparatory toitsinstioninthesocket;Fig.2isanisometric view of the socket shown in Fig. 1 with the cover plate removed and shown separate therefrom; Fig. 8 is an end view, partly in section, of the inner or lamp-engaging end of the socket shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the cover plate for the socket shown in Fig. 1; l Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the lamp base shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line l-t of Fig. 3 with the lampshown in correct assembled position in the socket: and Fig. 'I is a 1 fragmentary isometric view of a modified form of base comprising my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the socket IU according to my invention comprises a base or body member II, a pair of spring ngers or contact members I2. I2, and a cover plate I3. The base and cover plate members II and I3 respectively are made oi. suitable insulating material, preferably that commercially known as Bakelite. The inner or lamp-engaging side Il of the base 2 member is hollowed out adiacent its front wall I5 to provide a'circular slot Il forming a cylindrical stud Il, and a diametrical slot I3 extending rearwardly from the front wall I5 back through the cylindrical stud n. The inner side 25 Il of the base member is furtherghollowed out rearwardly of the circular slot I9 to provide a channel Il in substantial alignment with the said diametrical slot I3 and extending rearwardk1y from the circular slot ls tothe back of the 3 base member. To provide clearance for flexing of the spring contact members I2, the walls 2l of the channel rI3 diverge forwardly. At its rearmost extremity the channel I9 is widened or enlarged, as indicated at 2|, to thereby provide 35 suitable abutment shoulders 22, 22 for the spring vcontact members I2, I2. 'Ihese abutment shoulders preferably extend at approximately right `angles to the longitudinal axis of the channel I9.

The basel member is provided at its rear with 40 a pair of oppositely extending projections 23, 23 having openings 24 through which socket mounting screws are adapted to extend.

Mounted within the hollowed-out portions I3 and I3 of the base members are the platespring 45 elements I2, I2 previously referred to, said spring elements constituting the terminal or contact members o! the socket. These contact members are preferably made of full-spring phosphorbronze, and are bent laterally at their rear extremities to provide mounting lugs 25 which are securely clamped against the abutment shoulders 22 by a clamping lug 26 extending from the rear of the cover plate I3. The two contact members areseparated from each other -by ai vide mme pci-uom :s extending intoeucular slot I6 on opposite sides of the diametrical slot Il. The arcuate portions 2| are so formed 16 as to be substantially concentric with the circular slot It. and are preferably curved ons radius Vequaltoor slightlylarserthanthatoftheinner wall 8l of the said circular slot. To provide a denite rotative locked position iorthe lamp,

- 80 the arcuate portions 2l of the spring ilngers Il are provided4 with outwardly extending diametrically opposite notches Il, 3| preferably located in a plane extending substantially at right angles to the diametrical slot' i8. 'I'he forward extremi- I g5 ties of the arcuate portions 2l are curled outwardly. as indicated at Il, and preferably terminate adjacent the plane of the walls of the diametrical slot Il so as not to obstruct the same.

The hallowed-out side of the base member Ii is covered bythe previously mentioned cover plate I3 which is secured to the base member by means of rivets 33. preferably of soft brass, embedded inthe molded material of the base member and extending through properly located openings ll in the cover plate. The side wall il of the base member is preferably recessed an amount equal to the thickness of the cover plate to form a recessed mounting seat Il therefor.

thus providing a ush. mounting for the cover plate. A circular opening 33, concentric with the circular slot IB in the base member, is provided in the cover plate I3, as well as a slot I1 in alignment with and of the same width as the diametrical slot IB in the base member. Ihe slot I1 extends from the front .of `the cover plate back to the circular opening 3l, thus providing a passageway thereinto,

As before described, the cover plate I 3 is formedv at its rear extremity with a clamping-lug Il which extends into the widened recess 2| at the rear of the b ase member and clamps the mounting lug on each spring contact member I! against its co-operating abutment shoulder 22 on the base member. In addition, the cover plate is further provided with the previously referred to spacing lug 21 which extends into the channel I9 in the base member and maintains the spring contact members I2, I2 in spaced relation. Circuit connections to the contact members of the socket are made by means of wire leads 3l, ll soldered to the nger portions '2l of the contact members closely adjacent the bottom wall of the channel i9, and extending out through channels or grooves I9. 39 provided for that purpose in the clamping lug 26 on the' cover plate.

The'v lamp base ll for co-operation with the above-described socket II comprises a cup-shaped body of suitable insulating material preferably of Bakelite and consisting of a bottom or end wall Il and a cylindrical wall l2. The cylindrical wall is of the proper internal diameter to fit loosely over the end or neck portion M of the glass envelope of the lamp 4I, to which neckportion the base ls united by suitable cement I6. '.I'hebase III is provided with three Vprisingmyinventionistobeused rg@ arrt t .ietf-l' The lamp lead ,llextendinto the hollowouterpinsorprongs llandaresolderedthereimpreferablybydipping the hollow open-ended pins in a bath of solder.

Wherethebsseandsocketconstructioncoma double-ended lamp charge tube, as shown is moimted on' each SEE' each end of the lamp is wireslltothetwoouterpinslloftheadj basellleavingthecenterpinineschbaseas dummypin. Apaircfsockets il, Il constructed in accordance with my invmtion are mounted. on a-suitablenxture Il soastobein with eachother. The sockets should the proper amount from each other To insertthelampinthesockets I.. Il,the lamp is nrst placed in the position shown in l'ig. l with the pins 41 in augment with the diamet-` rical pin slots Il and 31 in the sockets. The lamp istheninserted between thesocketsbyastraight inward movement, the pins I1 at each end of the lamp being guided at the same time into the cooperating diametrical pin slots in the sockets. The inward movement of the lamp is continued until the two outer pins at eachl end of the lamp are brought into augment with. andthe center` or dummy pin coincideswith the center oi the circular slot Il in the socket base member Il. Tosoallgntheouterbasepins l1 withthesaid circular slot, the circular opening II in the socket cover plate Il is made of the same diameter as. or slightly greater than the distance d (Fig. l) between the outer sides of the two outer base pins". 'Ihus.thatportionllofthewallofthe circular opening Il opposite or in line with the diametrical pin slot 31 constitutes a stop for limiting the inward movement of the lamp and simultaneously aligning the outer base rpins with the circular pin slots Il in each socket. The centerordummypinateachendofthelampinsuresthecorrectinsertion ofallthebasepinsin the diametrical pin slots in the sockets so'that Il the l front portion of the circular pin slot I when moved into alignment therewith.

When the outer base pins at each end of the lamp Jhave been moved into alignment with the circular pin slot I0 in each socket, as described above, the lamp may then be readily rotated in either direction against the spring resistance of the contact members i2 in each socket. By rotating the lamp in either direction, the two outer pins or prongs 41 in each base will engage the arcuate portions 29 of the spring contact members I2 andso ex the said members. When the lamp has been rotated approximately ninety degrees, the two outer base pins at each end of the lamp will be brought into alignment with, and will become locked in the notches 3i in the spring contact members I2,`thereby providing a positive lock against unwarranted or premature disengagement of the lamp from the sockets. 'I'hus where the lamp is to be mounted on a ceiling.

so as to occupy an inverted position. there is no danger whatever of the lamp accidentally falling out of the sockets. During the above described rotation of the lamp inA the -sockets I0, I0, the center or dummy pins at each end of the l lamp cooperate with the diametrical pin slot walls to thereby fix the axis of lamp rotation in a direction transversely of said diametrical slots.

In the modified form oi lamp base shown in Fig. 7. the body portion thereof comprises a cylindrical metallic collar M provided with an inwardly extending end flange 55 forming a part of the base end wall. The collar B4 with its flange il is preferably punched as a unit from sheet brass. and is preferably nickel plated. 'I'he ange IB is of uniform inward extent so as to thereby provide a centrally located circular opening |56 in the base end wall. This opening 56 is closed by a disc l1 of insulating material, preferably Bakelite, which is molded to the offset edge 58 of the flange so as to lie ush with the outer surface of said ange. I'he desired number of base pins 41 (i. e., either two or three) are mounted in the Bakelite disc I1 Vin the same manner as in the previous form of base. The inner surface of the Bakelite disc I1 is formed with a centrally located circular recess 5! for the purpose oi' accommodating therein the exhaust tip of the lamp bulb. The brass cylindrical collar 54 is of the proper internal diameter to t loosely over the neck portion I4 of the glass lamp e'nvelope 45, and it is secured thereto in the same manner as before, i. e.. by suitable cement 4B.

The use of a brass collar 5l to encircle the neck portion Il of the glass lamp envelope 45 obvlates any danger of breakage of said neck portion by the contraction of shrinkage of the encircling collar or band of the base upon cooling, following the base cementing operation. In addition, the use of the relatively thin brass collar Il together with the centrally located Bakelite disc 51 permits closer mounting of the base to the end of the lamp envelope l5 since the said disc 51 can extend into the recess in the end of the envelope provided by the stem tube flare 59. The result lof such a closer mounting is to reduce the longitudinal extent of the darkenedor unilluminated portions at each end of the lamp during operation, occasioned by the presence of a base thereat. This is particularly advantageous in cases where a series of lamps are to be mounted in alignment with one another so as to approximate a continuous line of light. In this connection, the socket il may be somewhat widened and the opposite faces each provided with a pair of contact members i2, Il thus forming, in eii'ect. a double socket for mounting two lamps Il end to end and in axial alignment to thereby approximate a continuous line of light.

From the above description, it is evident that I have provided an improved base and socket construction for the mounting of electric lamps and similar devices, particularly of the double-ended type, whereby the same may be positively locked in said sockets to guard against unwarranted disengagement therefrom. Furthermore, the contact members of my improved socket are-well concealed by the cover plate thereof so as to prevent short circuits therebetween as well as injurious shocks therefrom.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a member of insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereof with diametrically opposite arcuate slots and also with a slot extending diametrically of and intersecting both of said arcuate slots, said diametrical slot extending to an edge of said face,

,and spring contact members mounted in said member adjacent said arcuate slots and on opposite sides of said diametrical slot.

2. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a member of insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereof with diametrically opposite arcuate slots and also with a slot extending diametrically of and intersecting both of said arcuate slots, said diametrical slot extending to an edge of said face, and spring contact members mounted in said member adjacent said arcuate slots and on opposite sides of said diametrical slot, said contact members being provided with diametrically opposite notches.

3. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a member of insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereof with a circular slot and also with a slot extending diametrically of said circular slot and continuing to an edge of said face, and spring contact members mounted within said circular slot on opposite sides of said diametrical slot, said contact members having diametrically opposite notches disposed in a plane extending substantially transversely of said diametrical slot.

4. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a member of insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereof with a circular slot and also with a slot extending diametrically of said circular slot and continuing to an edge of said face, and spring contact members mounted within said member and having arcuate portions disposed in said circular slot on opposite sides of said diametrical slot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentric with the inner wall of said circular slot.

5. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a member oi' insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereof with a circular slot and also with a slot extending diametrically of said circular slot and continuing to an edge of said face, and spring contact members mounted within said member and having arcuate portionsdisposed in said circular slot on opposite sides of said diametrical slot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentric with the inner wall of said circular slot and having diametrically opposite notches disposed in a 'lov plane extending substantially transversely of said diametrical slot.

6. Asocketforeiectric lamps and similardevicesabasemember of insulatingma terial, saidbase memberbeingprovidedinaface thereofwithacircularslot andalsowithaslot extending diametrically of said circular slot and continuingto an edge of said face, spring contact members mounted within said base member and having arcuate portions disposedin said circular slot on opposite sides of said diametrical slot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentric with the inner wall of said circular slot, and a cover plate of insulating material securedtosaidbasemember. said cover platebeing provided with a circularropening concentric with said circular slot and of a diameter slightly larger than that of saidarcuate portions and a'lsobeing provided with a slot in alignment with said diametrical slot and extending to the edge of said 00m plte. j

7. In combination, an electric device provided with a base having a plurality of alignedpins extending outwardly therefrom, and a socket for cooperation therewith, said socket comprising a member of insulating material having diametrically opposite arcuate slots and a slot extending diametrically of and intersecting both of said arcuate slots. said diametrical slot extending to an edge of said member, and spring contact members mounted within said arcuate slots on oppositevsides of said diametrical slot and constructed and arranged to engage certain of said pins upon their rotation in said arcuate slots.

8. In combination, a double-ended electric device having a base at each end. each of said bases having a plurality of aligned pins extending outwardly therefrom, all of said pins lying in a common plane, and a pair of spaced opposed sockets constructed and arranged to receive and mount the said electric device therebetween, the opposing faces of said sockets being provided with circular pin slots and aligned straight pinslots extending diametrically of said circular slots and continuing to the front edge of said faces, said sockets also having Spring contact members mounted in said circular slots on opposite sides of said diametrlcal slots and constructed and arranged to engage certain of said pins upon their -device may be mcunted'in said sockets by insertion of the pins at each end of the device in the said straight pin slots in the adjacent socket ahousingofinsulatingmaterialhavingarecess followed by straight rearward movement of said device until the outer pins of each base are brought into alignment with the said circular slots whence the device may then be rotated in either direction to thereby bring the said outer pins into engagement with said contact members.

l0. In combination, a double-ended electric devicehavingabase ateachend,each of saidbases Il having a plurality of aligned pins extending outl anus wsrdiytnerefromailofssidpinsiyinginsoommon-plane. andapaircfspacedopposedsochets constructed and arranged to receive and mount the said electric device therebetween, saidsochste beingpmvidedwithopposingcircularpinslotsg' having diametrically opposite spring contact members therein, the spring contact members in each socket being provided with. diametrically opposite notches. said sockets also having aligned straight pin slots'extending rearwardly fromthe l.

front edge thereof and diametrically intersecting said circular 'slots whereby the said electric devicemaybemountedinsaidsockctsbyin- ,sertionof thepinsateachendofthedeviceinthe said straight Pin slots lli the adjacent socket a followed by straight rearward movement oi said f device until the outer pins of Veach base are brought into alignment with the said circular slots whence the device may then be rotated in either direction to thereby bring the said outer l said housing being' provided with mamen-wsu; u I

opposite arcuate slots and also with a slot extending diametrically of and intersecting both of said arcuate slots, said diametrical slot extending to an edge of said housing, and spring contact members mounted in said housing adjacent said ,o

arcuate slots and on opposite sides of said diametrical slot.

' 12. A socket for electric lamps and similar de vices comprising a housing of insulating matsrial. said housing being provided with a circular u slot and also with a slot' extending diametrically of said circular slot and continuing to anvedge of said housing and spring contact members mounts ed within said housing and having arcuate portionsdlsposedinsaidcircularslotonopposite sides of said diametrical slot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentrlc with the inner wall of said circular slot.

i3. In a socket for electric lamps or the like.` a housing of insulating material having a recess therein, a cylindrical stud upstanding from the bottom of said recess, said stud being provided with a diametrical slot, said housing being provided with a slot extending from said recess to an outer edge thereof in alignment with the slot insaidstudandspringcontactmembershaving portions in said recess cooperating with said stud on opposite sides of said diametricai slot for engaging the prongs of a lamp or the like.

A 14. In a socket for electric lamps or the like, a

.housing of insulating material having a recess therein, a stud located in said recess and being providedwith an intermediate slot, said housing being provided with a slot extending from said recess to an outer edge thereof in alignment with the slot in said stud, and spring contact mem- "bers having portions in said recess cooperating with said stud on opposite sides of said intermed iate slot for ensuing the prongs of a lamp or the like.

Il l5. In a socket for electric lamps or the like,

therein, a stud upstanding from the bottom of said recess, said stud being provided with an lntermediate slot, said housing being provided with 10 sides of said intermediate slot. said housing bav- 7g ing a stop portion in t with said slots for engaging one o! the spaced prongs of a lamp or the like to locate the prongs in relation to said stud and contact members whereby said prongs may be rotated about said-stud into engagement with said contact members.`

16. In a socket for use with electric lamps havv ing spaced contact pins, a support o! insulating material having at least one face with an opening therein and a slot extending from said opening to an edge thereof. spaced flexible contact members mounted in said support within said opening, a slotted member oi insulating material between said contacts. said slot and said member constituting means for guiding said contact pins into said opening through said slot by straight line motion and for allowing rotation thereof into engagement with said contact members.

17. In a socket for use with electric lamps having spaced contact pins, a housing of insulating material having a recess therein and a slot mera'- ing with said recess and extending to an edge oi said housing, spaced contact members in said recess, a member in said recess having a groove in alignment'with said slot, said slot and said grooved member constituting means for guiding said contact pins into said recess by straight line movement along said slot and said groove and for allowing rotation thereof into engagement with said contact members.

18. In a socket for use with a lamp having spaced contact pins, contact members comprising spaced parallel blades movable relatively to each other. walls forming a slot located between said contact blades, and means for guiding straight line motion of said lamp pins into said slot and rotary motion of said lamp pins into engagement and a-slot extending from said opening to the v edge of said face, spaced ilexible contact members mounted in said support within said opening and a guide member of insulating material between said contacts, and spaced throughout its perimeter from the peripheral wall of said opening.

20. In a lamp socket for use with lamps having spaced aligned contact pins to be inserted by movement transverse to the axis oi the lamp and brought into a releasable locked contacting relation by rotation, a support of insulating material having walls defining an opening in one face and a slot extending from said opening to an edge of said face to provide for transverse movement of the contact pins therethrough to a position within s aid opening and flexible contact members mounted on said support within said opening in diametricaily opposed spaced relationship and adapted to hold said contact pins inra releasable locked rotative position while permitting rotation oi said lamp in either direction whereby the lamp contact pins may be passed through said slot and freely rotated within said opening for engagement with said contact members. I

ANTHONY J. MARSHAUB.

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