Lamp socket for a fluorescent lamp

• US 5,320,547 A
• Filed: 05/06/1993
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vossloh-Schwabe Deutschland GmbH (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vossloh-Schwabe GmbH (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Morlinghaus, Peter, Mews, Hans-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US08/058,973
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 434/226-229, 434/232, 434/233, 434/237, 434/239
• US Class Current: 439/227
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/0809 having contacts on one side only
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

To permit easy insertion and removal of a compact fluorescent lamp (2) in and from a socket, the socket is formed with a body (3) having an engagement surface wall (5) from which a shelf (4) projects bounded by side walls (22, 23) to define a base reception cavity (25). The engagement wall (5) is formed with slits (11) to permit terminal pins (13) from the lamp to pass therethrough, for engagement with electrical terminal contacts (T). The lamp is held in position by a resilient catch or latch or snap-over element (14) movably mounted on the engagement wall (5), for example by being molded on a separated strip portion (15) forming a resilient holder, and projecting from the engagement wall (5), to snap over the end portion of a base (35) of the lamp, when inserted. To release the lamp, the catch can be bent backwardly. Holding projections (30) on the shelf lock the lamp in position.

Claims

1. Lamp socket (1) for a fluorescent lamp (2) having a lamp base (35) and at least two adjacently located parallel projecting connection pins (13), projecting from said base, said base defining a side surface (41) and a base engagement surface (36),

said base being formed with locating projections (37) and a recessed engagement wall portion (39);

said socket having

a body (3);

a socket engagement wall surface (5) formed on said body, adapted to fit against the base engagement surface (36) of the lamp base (35);

reception slits (11) formed in the socket engagement wall surface (5) for passage of the connection pins (13) therethrough, said slits extending parallel to each other and passing through said engagement wall surface (5) to and including an end portion (7) thereof to define open ends into which the connection pins (13) of the lamp (2) can be inserted, and subsequently slid longitudinally in the slits;

terminal contact means (T) located on said body at a surface thereof remote from said engagement wall surface (5) and positioned for engagement with the connection pins (13) of the lamp;

a shelf (4) projecting away from the engagement wall surface (5) of the body and two side wall means (22,

     23) located at laterally opposite sides of the body and extending therefrom laterally of said engagement wall surface towards said shelf, to define a base reception cavity (25) therebetween having a clear or free dimension in a direction transverse to said slits (11) which corresponds to the width (W) of the base (35) of the lamp (2);

said body (3) including said shelf (4), said engagement wall surface (5), and said side wall means (22,

     23) comprising a unitary element of plastic material;

retention means comprising a latch or catch or locking element (14) said body for retaining the base (35) of the lamp (2) in said base reception cavity (25), and said engagement wall surface (5) of the socket body (3) in engagement with the base engagement surface (36) of the lamp base (35),

wherein the retention means (14) is unitary with said body (3), partially severed from said engagement wall surface (5), resiliently movably retained on said engagement wall surface (5) of said body for movement in a direction perpendicular to said engagement wall surface and having a quiescent position in which it projects into said reception cavity (25) from said socket engagement wall surface which corresponds to the position of said latch element when the fluorescent lamp is inserted in said cavity (25) to retain said lamp in said cavity (25) by said catch or latch or locking element,

said catch or latch or locking element (14) having a latching portion (20) engageable over said lamp base (35) and extending essentially parallel to the side surface (41) of said lamp base;

and respective projection or recess means formed on at least one of;

said side wall means (22,

     23) and said shelf (4), at least one of said projections, or recesses being positioned for respective engagement with at least one of;

said locating projections (37) of the lamp base (35) and said recessed engagement wall portion (39) of the lamp base.

2. Lamp socket (1) for a fluorescent lamp (2) having a lamp base (35) including at least two adjacently located parallel connection pins (13) and guide elements (37) projecting from said base, said base defining a base engagement surface (36);

said socket having

a body (3);

a socket engagement wall surface (5) formed on said body, adapted to fit against the base engagement surface (36) of the lamp base (35);

reception slits (11) formed in the engagement wall surface (5) for passage of the connection pins (13) therethrough, said slits extending parallel to each other and passing through said engagement wall surface (5) to and including an end portion (7) thereof to define open ends into which the connection pins (13) of the lamp can be inserted and subsequently slid longitudinally of the slits;

terminal contact means (T) located on said body at a surface thereof remote from said engagement wall surface (5) and positioned for engagement with the connection pins (13) of the lamp;

a shelf (4) projecting away from the engagement wall surface (5) of the body (3), and two side wall means (22,

     23) located at laterally opposite sides of the body and extending therefrom laterally of said engagement wall surface towards said shelf (4), to define a base reception cavity (25) open at a region opposite said shelf, having a clear or free dimension in a direction transverse to said slits (11) which corresponds to the width (W) of the base (35) of the lamp (2); and

retention means (14) comprising a latch or catch or locking element (14) on said body for retaining the base (35) of the lamp in said reception cavity (25) and, further, for holding said engagement wall surface (5) of the socket in engagement with the base engagement surface (36) of the lamp base (35),

wherein, in accordance with the invention,

the latch or catch or locking element (14) is located on said engagement wall surface (5) of said body (3) and movably coupled to said body for movement in a direction perpendicular to said engagement wall surface (5) and projects into said reception cavity (25) from said socket engagement wall surface;

wherein said side wall means (22,

     23) are parallel to each other, are essentially straight, and parallel to said slits (11); and

guide means (26) are formed on said side wall means positioned for complementary cooperation with the guide elements (37) on said lamp base (35).

3. The socket of claim 2, wherein said catch or latch element (14) has a quiescent position which corresponds to the position of said latch element when the fluorescent lamp is inserted in said cavity (25) and retained therein by said catch or latch element.

4. The socket of claim 2, wherein the catch or latch element (14) has an inclined surface region which extends from a projecting region, extending away from said engagement wall surface (5), at an inclination to approximately the level of said engagement wall surface (5) at a position of said catch or latch element which is elevated with respect to said shelf (4).

5. The socket of claim 4, wherein said inclined surface region is formed by side surfaces of inclined strips (19, 21).

6. The socket of claim 2, including a leaf spring means (15) retaining said latch or catch or locking element (14).

7. The socket of claim 6, wherein said engagement wall surface (5) and said leaf spring means (15) are unitary portions of said body (3).

8. The socket of claim 6, wherein the leaf spring means (15) extends in a direction perpendicular to the projection of said shelf (4).

9. The socket of claim 2, wherein said guide means (26) in the side wall means (22, 23) comprise guide grooves, open towards said reception cavity (25).

10. The socket of claim 9, wherein the side wall means (22, 23) of said guide grooves (26) are parallel.

11. The socket of claim 9, wherein said guide grooves are open towards an open and adjacent the terminal portion thereof, and are expanded in funnel shape to facilitate insertion of said guide elements (37) on the lamp base.

12. The socket of claim 9, wherein one side wall of each guide grooves (26) is flush with said engagement wall surface (5).

13. The socket of claim 2, further including a connecting terminal chamber (43) formed in said body (3) behind said engagement wall surface (5).

14. The socket of claim 2, wherein at least one of:

said body (3);

said shelf (4) comprises plastic material.

15. The socket of claim 2, wherein said body (3) is plate-like to define said engagement wall surface (5) and formed with surrounding rims (7, 8, 9) extending in a direction opposite and away from said engagement wall surface (5) to define a terminal mounting space or chamber (43) for the terminal contact means (T).

16. The socket of claim 2, wherein said catch or latch or locking element has a locking surface (20) engageable over a side surface (41) of the base (35) of the lamp (2).

17. Lamp socket (1) for a fluorescent lamp (2) having a lamp base (35) including at least two adjacently located parallel connection pins (13) projecting from said base, said base defining a base engagement surface (36) and an engagement wall portion (39);

said socket having

a body (3);

a socket engagement wall surface (5) formed on said body, adapted to fit against the base engagement surface (36) of the lamp base (35);

reception slits (11) formed in the engagement wall surface (5) for passage of the connection pins (13) therethrough, said slits extending parallel to each other and passing through said engagement wall surface (5) to and including an end portion (7) thereof to define open ends into which the connection pins (13) of the lamp can be inserted and subsequently slid longitudinally of the slits;

terminal contact means (T) located on said body at a surface thereof remote from said engagement wall surface (5) and positioned for engagement with the connection pins (13) of the lamp;

a shelf (4) projecting away from the engagement wall surface (5) of the body (3), and two side wall means (22,

     23) located at laterally opposite sides of the body and extending therefrom laterally of said engagement wall surface towards said shelf (4), to define a base reception cavity (25) open at a region opposite said shelf, having a clear or free dimension in a direction transverse to said slits (11) which corresponds to the width (W) of the base (35) of the lamp (2); and

retention means comprising a latch or catch or locking element (14) on said body for retaining the base (35) of the lamp in said reception cavity (25) and, further, for holding said engagement wall surface (5) of the socket in engagement with the base engagement surface (36) of the lamp base (35),

wherein, in accordance with the invention,

the latch or catch or locking element (14) is located on said engagement wall surface (5) of said body (3) and movably coupled to said body for movement in a direction perpendicular to said engagement wall surface (5) and projects into said reception cavity (25) from said socket engagement wall surface;

wherein said shelf (4) is formed with a shelf wall (24) which extends between said side wall means, and essentially at right angles with respect to said socket engagement wall surface (5); and

wherein at least one hook-like projection (3) extends from said shelf wall (24) into said reception cavity (25) for engagement with said engagement wall portion (39) of the lamp base (35).

18. The socket of claim 17, wherein the socket body (3) and the shelf (4) form a single unitary element.

19. The socket of claim 17, wherein said catch or latch or locking element has a locking surface (20) engageable over a side surface (41) of the base (35) of the lamp (2).

20. The socket of claim 17, wherein said catch or latch element (14) has a quiescent position which corresponds to the position of said latch element when the fluorescent lamp is inserted in said cavity (25) and retained therein by said catch or latch element.

21. The socket of claim 17, wherien the catch or latch element (14) has an inclined surface region which extends from a projecting region, extending away from said engagement wall surface (5), at an inclination to approximately the level of said engagement wall surface (5) at a position of said catch or latch element which is elevated with respect to said shelf (4).

22. The socket of claim 17, including a leaf spring means (15) retaining said latch or catch or locking element (14);

and

wherein said engagement wall surface (5) and said leaf spring means (15) are unitary portions of said body (3).

23. The socket of claim 22, wherein the leaf spring means (15) extends in a direction perpendicular to the projection of said shelf (4).

24. The socket of claim 17, further including a connecting terminal chamber (43) formed in said body (3) behind said engagement wall surface (5).

25. The socket of claim 17, wherein at least one of:

said body (3);

said shelf (4) comprises plastic material.