LAMP LOCK MEANS

• US 3,599,169 A
• Filed: 03/10/1969
• Issued: 08/10/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Detch Lewis
• Original Assignee: Detch Lewis
• Inventors: DETCH LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US04/805,589
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• US Class Current: 439/383
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/9753 for screw type coupling devices

Abstract

Locking means for incandescent lamps, particularly those having screw-threaded bases for assembly insertion in complementally screw-threaded lamp sockets, and serving to tightly seat the lamps in such sockets to the end that vibration, shock, heating and other possible service conditions will not cause the lamps to become loose, or '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'freeze,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' in the sockets, thus ensuring long life to the lamps, establishment of continuous good electrical contact between the lamp bases and sockets, guarding against escape of the lamps from the sockets with possible injury to persons in their vicinity, particularly when the lamps are installed in overhead locations, and generally serving to provide for improved lamp operation. The locking means comprise a substantially circular, yieldable or resilient insert device for installation in that portion of the socket adjacent to the inner termination of the screw threads thereof with a snap action so that it will normally be retained therein, and provided with an axially substantially centrally located, radially inwardly extending circumferential flange the free edges of which are preferably chamfered for cooperation with the usual frustoconical end of the lamp base, and with axially offstanding, preferably outwardly tapered, circumferential outer lip portions for seating engagement with the inner surface of the lamp socket; the said circumferential flange being provided with radially inwardly extending, outwardly opening groove means serving to enhance the normal yieldability or resiliency of the device, such groove means serving, by choice, to contain a normally compressible plastic substance, or a resilient member, which will function to maintain the original characteristics of the device for continuous and repeated use. The formation of the device is such that it may effectively function no matter which of its axial faces is disposed outwardly of the socket, thus guarding against improper installation by relatively unskilled operatives. The device is preferably formed from a moldable plastic substance, such as nylon, which is capable of withstanding the operating temperatures of incandescent lamps, and when the aforesaid groove is filled with a normally compressible substance such substance may be a silicone adhesive, for example that known as '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'RTV.

Claims

1. Lamp lock means, comprising a one-piece yieldable member for optional free insertion in and removal from the socket for an incandescent lamp and between the inner extremity of said socket and the inner extremity of the base of said lamp, said lock means being of generally cylindrical ring form and by virtue of its yieldable nature being capable of radial expansion upon exertion of axial pressure upon it by the lamp base to furnish frictional engagement between its outer peripheral wall and the interior of the wall of said socket, and having an axially medial radially inwardly extending circumferential flange for frictional engagement with the inner extremity of the lamp base, to thus frictionally insure retention of the lamp in operative engagement with the socket in the presence of shock, vibration and other extraneous forces tending to unseat the lamp.

2. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 1, in which said yieldable member is provided with a radial slot extending through its peripheral wall and through said flange, whereby said member is capable of distortion to accommodate it to circumferential expansion and contraction.

3. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 1, in which the inner circumferential edges of said flange are chamfered for proper engagement with a frustoconical lamp base terminal.

4. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 1, in which substantially cylindrical outer surfaces of the yieldable member are provided with a plurality of relatively circumferentially spaced scarifications extending throughout the axial extent of such surfaces and serving to void gases generated within the lamp socket in the zone of location of the yieldable member.

5. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 1, in which the said flange is provided with an outwardly opening circumferential groove serving to enhance the axial yieldability of the yieldable member.

6. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 5, in which the said groove is filled with means tending to conteract undue distortion of the yieldable member in the presence of axially applied pressure.

7. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 6, in which the distortion counteracting means is a resilient ring member of a dimension axially of the groove serving to substantially fill said groove.

8. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 6, in which the distortion counteracting means is a resilient yieldable material.

9. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 8, in which the resilient yieldable material is a plastic substance.

10. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 1, in which the outer peripheral wall includes circumferential lip means axially offstanding from the two axial faces of said flange, the yieldable member being thus provided with two similar axial termini and thereby being made reversible end for end so that either of said lip means may be engaged with the inner extremity of the socket shell.

11. Lamp lock means as defined in claim 10, in which said lip means are axially outwardly tapered so that when the yieldable member is positioned in a lamp socket they will avoid contact with the rivets and the like which serve to affix the socket shell to its carrying base means.