Quick release socket

• US 7,063,553 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Nate Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Nate
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/143,309
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 439/336, 439/337, 439/642, 362/202, 362/205, 362/101, 362/310, 362/238
• US Class Current: 439/336
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/46 for bayonet type base
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part

Abstract

The present invention comprises a quick release socket and a quick release base. The quick release socket consists of a generally conical shaped housing, a light bulb attachment means in the top surface of the housing, and two electrical contact posts on the bottom surface of the housing. Inside the housing, the light bulb attachment means is electrically connected to the two electrical contact posts. The quick release base consists of a generally cylindrical housing that is open on the top surface, hollowed out on the inside, and closed on the bottom surface. The inside of the bottom surface possess two electrical connection slots. The outside of the bottom surface possesses two electrical input posts. Inside the housing, the two electrical connection slots are electrically connected to the two electrical input posts. The two electrical contact posts of the quick release socket and the two electrical contact slots of the quick release base are designed to engage each other and lock together following insertion and rotation of the quick release socket in the quick release base. The quick release socket and the quick release base lock together by rotating the socket with respect to the base.

Claims

1. A quick release light socket apparatus comprising:

a quick release base comprising two electrical contact slots electrically connected to two electrical input posts, wherein the electrical input posts are connected to an electrical source;

a quick release socket comprising two electrical contact posts and lightbulb attachment means;

wherein the lightbulb attachment means is configurable to receive a lightbulb; and

wherein the two electrical contact posts are removably connected through rotational attachment to the two electrical contact slots.

2. The quick release light socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lightbulb attachment means is configured to accommodate an MR-16 lightbulb.