APPARATUS FOR ILLUMINATION OF INSTRUMENT FACES

• US 3,761,703 A
• Filed: 12/23/1971
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Willard Mund, Wolfgang Fuhr
• Original Assignee: Willard Mund, Wolfgang Fuhr
• Inventors: Mund, Willard, Fuhr, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Fred L.
• Application Number:
  US05/211,344
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 240/1EL,2.1,8.16,2R
• US Class Current: 362/23.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices

Abstract

A lamp cartridge for insertion in the edge of a light conductive block for distributing light to an instrument or instrument panel. The cartridge includes spring clip contacts along opposite sides thereof for making resiliently biased contact with bus bars in the light block, guides for orienting the clips in relation to an opening in the light block for receiving the cartridge, and an exposed portion facilitating manual insertion or withdrawal of the cartridge with respect to the opening.

Claims

1. Means for illuminating an instrument face comprising:

a. a transparent light block adapted to be positioned directly behind said face;

b. a lamp-receiving recess formed in said block;

c. spaced bus conductors carried by said block and having portions thereof extending in exposed relation transversely across said recess; and

d. a lamp assembly removably inserted in said recess, said lamp assembly comprising;

1. a lamp holder, 2. an electric lamp carried by said holder, and 3. contact members exposed on the outside of said holder and electrically connected to light-producing means of the lamp, said contact members being resiliently mounted on said holder and including cam surfaces engaging the exposed portions of said conductors upon linear movement of said lamp assembly into said recess to electrically connect and mechanically hold said lamp assembly in said recess.

2. an electric lamp carried by said holder at the forward end thereof,

3. contact members exposed on the outside of said holder and electrically connected to light-producing means of the lamp, said contact members being resiliently mounted on said holder and including cam surfaces engaging the exposed portions of said conductors upon linear movement of said lamp assembly into said recess to electrically connect and mechanically hold said lamp assembly in said recess.

4. The illuminating means according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said lamp holder has a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end being adapted to be inserted into said recess first;

b. each of said contact members includes;

1.a first section diverging outwardly from said lamp holder as measured along said holder in a direction extending from said forward end toward said rearward end, 2.a second section converging inwardly toward said holder as measured along said direction, said second section being connected to said first section and forming a continuatIon thereof extending toward the rear end of said holder, and 3.a rounded end section located at the rearward end of the holder and forming a continuation of said second section at least one of said sections forming said cam surfaces; and

c. the exposed portion of each of said bus conductors being positioned within said recess in the path of movement of said contact members as the holder is inserted into said recess for riding along said first and second sections thereof and into seated relation at the juncture of the second section and the rounded end section.

5. wire leads extending from said lamp into the recess in the rearward end of the lamp holder and into contact with the spring contact members in said recess, and

6. a cap having a first section force fitted in the recess at the rearward end of the lamp holder against said wire leads and contact ends to hold them securely in place, and a second section projecting from the light block when the lamp holder is fully received within the lamp receiving recess formed in said block, said second section being formed so as to permit manual gripping thereof.