Non-defeatable fluorescent adapter for incandescent fixture

• US 7,125,159 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sea Gull Lighting Products LLC (Visual Comfort Group)
• Original Assignee: Sea Gull Lighting Products LLC (Visual Comfort Group)
• Inventors: Bray, Douglas R., Hirsch, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rehm, Adam C.
• Application Number:
  US10/828,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 362/216, 362/221, 362/222, 362/260, 362/649, 362/650, 439/236, 439/240, 439/314
• US Class Current: 362/651
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/0809 having contacts on one side only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/973 for bayonet type coupling devices

Abstract

A fluorescent adapter having a housing including a tip contact compatible with an electrical socket, a threaded ring contact compatible with the electrical socket, the ring contact surrounding the housing and rotatable with the housing when the housing is rotated in a first direction and not rotatable with the housing when the housing is rotated in an opposite direction, and a fluorescent ballast supported by the housing and having input electrodes in electrical contact with the tip contact and the ring contact, respectively, and output electrodes for removably receiving the contact pins of a fluorescent lamp. The adapter is easily inserted into the socket but is not removable after insertion.

Claims

1. A fluorescent adapter, comprising

a housing including a tip contact compatible with an electrical socket,

a threaded ring contact compatible with the electrical socket, the ring contact surrounding the housing, secured to the housing and rotatable with the housing when the housing is rotated in a first direction and not rotatable with the housing when the housing is rotated in an opposite direction,

a fluorescent ballast supported by the housing and having input electrodes in electrical contact with the tip contact and the ring contact, respectively, and output electrodes for removably receiving the contact pins of a fluorescent lamp, and

a drive member on the housing for engaging the ring contact when the housing is rotated in the first direction during insertion of the adapter into the electrical socket and for disengaging from the ring contact when the housing is rotated in the opposite direction, the drive member being integrally molded into the housing and including at least one tooth for engaging the ring contact when the housing is rotated in the first direction.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the ring contact includes at least one opening for receiving the tooth when the housing is rotated in the first direction.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the drive member comprises a disc having at least one tooth and the ring contact includes at least one opening for receiving the tooth when the housing is rotated in the first direction.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the at least one opening is an arcuate slot.

5. A method of non-removably inserting a fluorescent adapter into an electrical socket comprising the steps of

providing a threaded ring contact surrounding and freely rotatable on an adapter housing,

preventing relative rotation between the ring contact and the housing when the housing is rotated in a first direction to insert the adapter into the socket by engaging a slot in the ring contact with a projection on the housing and thereafter rotating the ring contact in the first direction together with the housing, and

permitting free relative rotation between the ring contact and the housing and preventing axial separation of the ring contact and the housing when the housing is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.

6. A compact fluorescent lamp assembly, comprising

a fluorescent lamp having contact pins,

an adapter including

a tip contact compatible with an electrical socket;

a threaded ring contact compatible with the electrical socket, and

keyhole slot receptacles, and

a fluorescent ballast having input electrodes in electrical contact with the tip contact and the ring contact, respectively, and output electrodes for removably receiving the contact pins of the fluorescent lamp,

wherein the keyhole slot receptacles are adapted to receive the ballast input electrodes in a bayonet style connection.

7. A fluorescent adapter, comprising:

a housing including a receptacle adapted to receive input electrodes of a fluorescent ballast and a tip contact compatible with an electrical socket and in electrical communication with the receptacle for connection with a said input electrode of the fluorescent ballast; and

a threaded ring contact compatible with the electrical socket, captive to the housing and rotatable with the housing when the housing is rotated in a first direction and not rotatable with the housing when the housing is rotated in an opposite direction, and in electrical communication with the receptacle for connection with another said input electrode of the fluorescent ballast.

8. A fluorescent adapter according to claim 7, wherein the receptacle comprises keyhole slots adapted to receive the ballast input electrodes in a bayonet style connection.

9. A fluorescent adapter according to claim 8, further comprising a ballast with input electrodes having head portions adapted to engage the keyhole slots of the receptacle of the adapter housing and a receptacle for a fluorescent lamp.

10. A fluorescent adapter according to claim 7, further comprising a ballast with input electrodes adapted to engage the receptacle of the adapter housing and a receptacle for a fluorescent lamp.

11. A fluorescent adapter according to claim 10, further comprising a fluorescent lamp adapted to engage the receptacle of the ballast.