Miniature light fixture

• US 5,580,159 A
• Filed: 04/12/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NOMA Corporation (Gentek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NOMA Corporation (Gentek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Liu, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gromada, Denise
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/421,365
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 362/123, 362/226, 362/806, 362/249, 362/457, 439/356, 439/375, 439/680, 439/702, 439/707, 439/734
• US Class Current: 362/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0005 of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp F21V19/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/09 for baseless lamp bulb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A miniature light fixture includes a miniature light bulb, an elongated folding element having a recess that receives a base portion of the light, and a socket bounding an internal passage for partially receiving the holding element in an assembled condition of the fixture. At least one hook-shaped projection to be used to effect extraction of the holding element out of the passage of the socket extends axially beyond an end portion of the holding element that is situated outside the passage in the assembled condition and includes an outwardly extending engageable nose on its free end. At least one protuberance and at least one associated depression are disposed on respective zones of the holding element and of a circumferential wall of the socket that are juxtaposed with one another in the assembled condition in which the depression receives the protuberance. The circumferential wall has at least one pair of open-ended slots flanking its respective zone and circumferentially separating the same from the remainder of the circumferential wall to enable such zone to flex without impedance from circumferentially adjacent regions of the circumferential wall. The protuberance has a wedge-shaped configuration in that it is outwardly delimited by an axially sloping ramp surface.

Claims

1. A miniature light fixture comprising:

a) a miniature light bulb having a base portion;

b) an elongated holding element having a recess for receiving said base portion of said light bulb and having first and second end portions and an intervening central portion;

c) a socket bounding an internal passage for receiving said central and first end portions of said holding element in an assembled condition of the fixture, said passage having at least one dimension smaller than a corresponding dimension of said second end portion of said holding element to prevent entry thereof into said passage, said socket having a circumferential wall bounding a portion of said passage that receives said central portion of said holding element in said assembled condition;

d) means for latching said holding element and said socket in said assembled condition thereof, including at least one protuberance and at least one associated depression disposed, one on said central portion, and the other on said circumferential wall, at respective zones thereof that are juxtaposed with one another in said assembled condition for said depression to receive said protuberance, said circumferential wall of said socket including at least one pair of open-ended slots flanking said zone thereof and circumferentially separating said zone from a remainder of said circumferential wall to enable said zone to flex outwardly during movement of said holding element into and out of said assembled condition without impedance from circumferentially adjacent regions of said remainder of said circumferential wall; and

e) means for facilitating extraction of said central and first end portions of said holding element out of said passage of said socket, including at least one hook-shaped projection forming an extension of said second end portion of said holding element in a direction away from said central portion, said projection having an outwardly extending engageable nose on a free end thereof that is situated remotely from said central portion.

2. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 1, wherein said facilitating means further includes at least one additional hook-shaped projection substantially identical to said one hook-shaped projection and circumferentially spaced therefrom.

3. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 2, wherein said additional hook-shaped projection is situated substantially opposite said one hook-shaped projection.

4. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 1, wherein said latching means further includes at least one additional protuberance and at least one additional associated depression similar to said one protuberance and said one depression but disposed at respective additional juxtaposed zones that are circumferentially spaced from said zones in said assembled condition;

and wherein said circumferential wall of said socket includes at least one additional pair of open-ended slots flanking said additional zone thereof and circumferentially separating said additional zone from a remainder of said circumferential wall.

5. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 4, wherein said additional zones are situated substantially diametrically opposite said zones.

6. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 1, wherein said zone of said holding element is substantially axially aligned with said hook-shaped projection.

7. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said protuberance has a wedge-shaped configuration, being outwardly delimited by an axially sloping ramp surface.

8. A miniature light fixture comprising:

a) a miniature light bulb having a base portion;

b) an elongated holding element having a recess for receiving said base portion of said light bulb and having first and second end portions and an intervening central portion;

c) a socket including a circumferential wall bounding an internal passage for receiving said central and first end portions of said holding element in an assembled condition of the fixture, said passage having at least one dimension smaller than a corresponding dimension of said upper portion of said holding element to prevent entry thereof into said passage; and

d) means for latching said holding element and said socket in said assembled condition thereof, including at least one protuberance and at least one associated depression disposed, one on said central portion, and the other on said circumferential wall, at respective zones thereof that are juxtaposed with one another in said assembled condition for said depression to receive said protuberance; and

wherein said circumferential wall of said socket includes at least one pair of open-ended slots, each slot extending entirely through said circumferential wall of said socket, said slots flanking said zone thereof and circumferentially separating said zone from a remainder of said circumferential wall to enable said zone to flex outwardly during movement of said holding element into and out of said assembled condition without impedance from circumferentially adjacent regions of said remainder of said circumferential wall.

9. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 8, wherein said latching means further includes at least one additional protuberance and at least one additional associated depression similar to said one protuberance and said one depression but disposed at respective additional juxtaposed zones that are circumferentially spaced from said zones in said assembled condition;

and wherein said circumferential wall of said socket includes at least one additional pair of open-ended slots, each slot extending entirely through said circumferential wall of said socket, said slots flanking said additional zone thereof and circumferentially separating said additional zone from a remainder of said circumferential wall.

10. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 9, wherein said additional zones are situated substantially diametrically opposite said zones.

11. The miniature light fixture as defined in claim 9, wherein at least said protuberance has a wedge-shaped configuration, being outwardly delimited by an axially sloping ramp surface.