Light bulb receptacles and light bulb sockets
First Claim
1. A light bulb receptacle comprising:
- a housing which defines a housing chamber;
a light bulb socket within the housing chamber and which comprises a first end and a second end about a light bulb chamber which is configured to receive a base of a light bulb;
wherein the light bulb socket further comprises a plurality of fingers which extend outwardly from the first end toward the second end and define an opening to the light bulb chamber at the second end;
wherein the fingers are individually configured to move outwardly from the light bulb chamber during insertion and removal of the base of the light bulb with respect to the light bulb chamber via the opening; and
wherein the fingers individually comprise an engagement member configured to engage the base of the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber and to retain the base of the light bulb within the light bulb chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Light bulb receptacles and light bulb sockets are described. According to one aspect, a light bulb receptacle includes a housing which defines a housing chamber, a light bulb socket within the housing chamber and which comprises a first end and a second end about a light bulb chamber which is configured to receive a base of a light bulb, wherein the light bulb socket further comprises a plurality of fingers which extend outwardly from the first end toward the second end and define an opening to the light bulb chamber at the second end, wherein the fingers are individually configured to move outwardly from the light bulb chamber during insertion and removal of the light bulb via the opening to the light bulb chamber, and wherein the fingers individually comprise an engagement member configured to engage a base of the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber and to retain the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber.
287 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A light bulb receptacle comprising:
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a housing which defines a housing chamber; a light bulb socket within the housing chamber and which comprises a first end and a second end about a light bulb chamber which is configured to receive a base of a light bulb; wherein the light bulb socket further comprises a plurality of fingers which extend outwardly from the first end toward the second end and define an opening to the light bulb chamber at the second end; wherein the fingers are individually configured to move outwardly from the light bulb chamber during insertion and removal of the base of the light bulb with respect to the light bulb chamber via the opening; and wherein the fingers individually comprise an engagement member configured to engage the base of the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber and to retain the base of the light bulb within the light bulb chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A light bulb receptacle comprising:
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an electrically insulative housing which defines a housing chamber; a light bulb socket within the housing chamber and which comprises a first end and a second end about a light bulb chamber which is configured to receive a base of a light bulb; wherein the light bulb socket further comprises a plurality of fingers which extend outwardly from the first end toward the second end and define an opening to the light bulb chamber at the second end, and wherein distal ends of the fingers individually include a lip; wherein the fingers are individually configured to move outwardly from the light bulb chamber during insertion and removal of the base of the light bulb with respect to the light bulb chamber via the opening; wherein the fingers individually comprise an engagement member configured to engage the base of the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber; wherein the light bulb socket, the fingers and the engagement members are each electrically conductive and configured to conduct electricity with respect to a terminal of the base of the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber; and a spring retaining member adjacent to the lips of the fingers of the light bulb socket proximate to the second end of the light bulb socket and configured to urge the distal ends of the fingers inwardly to provide engagement of the engagement members with threads of the base of the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber and to retain the base of the light bulb within the light bulb chamber.
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19. A light bulb socket comprising:
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a first end and a second end about a light bulb chamber which is configured to receive a base of a light bulb; a circular ring portion proximate the first end; a plurality of fingers which extend outwardly from the first end toward the second end and define an opening to the light bulb chamber at the second end; wherein the fingers are individually configured to move outwardly from the light bulb chamber during insertion and removal of the base of the light bulb with respect to the light bulb chamber via the opening; and wherein the fingers individually comprise an engagement member configured to engage the base of the light bulb received within the light bulb chamber and to retain the base of the light bulb within the light bulb chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification