Multi-lamp assembly for miniature lighting strips

• US 6,183,107 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Donato, Anthony C.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/158,717
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/219, 362/225, 362/223, 362/240, 362/226, 362/238, 362/221, 362/217, 362/222, 362/227, 439/111, 439/239, 439/235
• US Class Current: 362/238
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0085 at least one conductive element acting as a support means, e.g. resilient contact blades, piston-like contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/02 Single-pole devices, e.g. holder for supporting one end of a tubular incandescent or neon lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/09 for baseless lamp bulb

Abstract

A multi-lamp assembly for a lighting strip includes an elongated housing from which a plurality of spaced lamp contact housings extend. Each lamp contact housing includes at least one opening that receives the free upper end of an electrical contact mounted at its lower end to a printed circuit board that is received within the interior of the elongated housing. The contacts of series-connected lamps are inserted into the openings of adjacent lamp contact housings, thereby to engage a pair of the electrical contacts therein.

Claims

1. An assembly for use in a lighting strip comprising an elongated housing having an upper surface and an interior, a plurality of lamp contact housings longitudinally spaced on said upper surface, a circuit board inserted into said elongated housing interior, a plurality of spaced electrical contacts secured at their lower ends to said circuit board, said electrical contacts having upper free ends extending into said lamp contact housings and being accessible therein for making electrical contact with a lamp contact, said lamp contact housings including single-ended housings located at the opposite ends of said upper surface of said elongated housing and at least one double-ended housing on said upper surface of said elongated housing intermediate said single-ended housings, said sockets including an opening at at least one side thereof, said upper free ends of said electrical contact being respectively received within said sockets and accessible to lamp contact via said openings, a pair of lamp contacts being inserted respectively into openings in adjacent ones of said lamp sockets, thereby to make an electrical connection with said electrical contacts within said sockets through said openings.