INCANDESCENT LAMP AND BASE
United States Patent 3852631
An electric lamp has a base formed of two half sections made of insulating material. The base is aligned on and attached to the lamp by positioning the half sections on contact prongs, and by holding the two halves together through the action of a holding means such as a screw and nut or rivet with the screw or rivet extending through the interior of both half sections of the base, and the method of assembling the base to the lamp.
US Patent References:
Electric lamp base
Keiffer - February 1948 - 2436259
Electric incandescent lamp
Smith - May 1952 - 2597681
Base end structure for electric lamps or similar devices
Malm - June 1966 - 3256508
Electric incandescent lamps
Wright et al. - November 1966 - 3286218
Lamp socket
Herrick - November 1966 - 3286219
Electric lamp base
Keiffer - February 1948 - 2436259
Electric incandescent lamp
Smith - May 1952 - 2597681
Base end structure for electric lamps or similar devices
Malm - June 1966 - 3256508
Electric incandescent lamps
Wright et al. - November 1966 - 3286218
Lamp socket
Herrick - November 1966 - 3286219
Application Number:
05/389974
Publication Date:
12/03/1974
Filing Date:
08/20/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
General Electric Company (Schenectady, NY)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
313/580, 313/318.110, 439/617, 313/113
International Classes:
F21V19/00; H01J5/48; H01J9/34; H01K1/48; H01J5/00; H01K1/42; H01J5/48; H01J5/50
Field of Search:
313/222,318,113 339/144,145,146
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Lawrence, James W.
Assistant Examiner:
Chatmon Jr., Saxfield
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Sos Jr., Emil Kempton Lawrence Neuhauser Frank F. R. L.
Claims:
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is
1. An electric lamp comprising a glass envelope, an energy translation device connected to lead-in conductors which are hermetically sealed to said envelope, wherein the improvement comprises a base structure comprising contact prongs attached to the lead-in conductors and extending away from said lead-in conductors in both directions, said contact prongs comprising socket prongs at one end and a predetermined length extended away from said lead-in conductor at the other end, and two base sections made of insulating material, one of said base sections containing a hole and at least one alignment slot for receiving at least one of said predetermined lengths of said contact prong, said alignment slot formed as an indentation in the wall of said first base section, said alignment slot not extending through the wall of said first base section, said other base section containing two through openings for receiving said contact prongs and a hole in alignment with the hole of said first base section, said holes adapted to receiving a clamping means, and a clamping means inserted in and through said holes to firmly hold said base sections together.
2. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping means is a screw and a nut.
3. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping means is a rivet.
4. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of said predetermined lengths is cut and bent around and attached to a part of the lead-in conductor.
5. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said holes is located between said openings for said contact prongs.
6. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of the contact prong is bent back on itself to serve as a socket prong.
7. An electric lamp comprising a glass envelope, having a reflector portion hermetically sealed to a cover, a filament connected to lead-in conductors which are also hermetically sealed in said envelope, wherein the improvement comprises a base structure comprising contact prongs attached to the lead-in conductors and extending away from said lead-in conductors in both directions, said contact prongs comprising socket prongs at one end and a predetermined length extended away from said lead-in conductor at the other end, two base sections made of an insulating material, one of said base sections containing a hole and two alignment slots for receiving said predetermined lengths of said contact prong member, said alignment slots being formed as indentations in the wall of said first base section, said alignment slots not extending through the wall of said first base section, said other base section containing two through openings for receiving said contact prongs and a hole in alignment with the hole of said first base section, said holes adapted to receiving a clamping means, and a clamping means inserted in and through said holes to firmly hold said base sections together.
1. An electric lamp comprising a glass envelope, an energy translation device connected to lead-in conductors which are hermetically sealed to said envelope, wherein the improvement comprises a base structure comprising contact prongs attached to the lead-in conductors and extending away from said lead-in conductors in both directions, said contact prongs comprising socket prongs at one end and a predetermined length extended away from said lead-in conductor at the other end, and two base sections made of insulating material, one of said base sections containing a hole and at least one alignment slot for receiving at least one of said predetermined lengths of said contact prong, said alignment slot formed as an indentation in the wall of said first base section, said alignment slot not extending through the wall of said first base section, said other base section containing two through openings for receiving said contact prongs and a hole in alignment with the hole of said first base section, said holes adapted to receiving a clamping means, and a clamping means inserted in and through said holes to firmly hold said base sections together.
2. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping means is a screw and a nut.
3. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping means is a rivet.
4. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of said predetermined lengths is cut and bent around and attached to a part of the lead-in conductor.
5. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said holes is located between said openings for said contact prongs.
6. An electric lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of the contact prong is bent back on itself to serve as a socket prong.
7. An electric lamp comprising a glass envelope, having a reflector portion hermetically sealed to a cover, a filament connected to lead-in conductors which are also hermetically sealed in said envelope, wherein the improvement comprises a base structure comprising contact prongs attached to the lead-in conductors and extending away from said lead-in conductors in both directions, said contact prongs comprising socket prongs at one end and a predetermined length extended away from said lead-in conductor at the other end, two base sections made of an insulating material, one of said base sections containing a hole and two alignment slots for receiving said predetermined lengths of said contact prong member, said alignment slots being formed as indentations in the wall of said first base section, said alignment slots not extending through the wall of said first base section, said other base section containing two through openings for receiving said contact prongs and a hole in alignment with the hole of said first base section, said holes adapted to receiving a clamping means, and a clamping means inserted in and through said holes to firmly hold said base sections together.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electric lamps. More particularly, the invention relates to a base structure and a method of assembling the base to an electric lamp of the type that can be plugged directly into a receptacle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Certain lamp applications such as theater and studio lighting are limited as to the amount of space available for lighting and consequently cannot always utilize the base and socket construction illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,262,629. The illustrated construction is usually used for spot and flood lighting. In order to remedy this situation, lamps were developed which could be plugged directly into a receptacle or electrical outlet. One such lamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,259, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Although this design solved the space problem, the construction contains numerous parts including an insulator in which are placed the socket prongs and a metal base cap which in turn is attached to the reflector portion of the lamp. This lamp construction with its numerous parts and numerous assembly operations has a high direct labor content and is, therefore, expensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lamp which can be plugged directly into a receptacle thereby saving space. Still another object of the invention is to provide a lamp base construction with a minimum number of parts. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lamp base structure which can be economically assembled.
The objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a two-piece base made of insulating material and aligned with and attached to the lamp through the action of contact prongs and a holding means such as a screw and a nut or a rivet. The lamp of the invention contains contact posts, or lead-in conductors, which are hermetically sealed to a reflector section. Contact prongs are attached to the posts by soldering, for example, and a portion of the contact prongs extends in either direction beyond the post. One of the insulating base sections contains an alignment slot or slots on its interior surface which is positioned against a portion of the contact prongs to align the base section in a predetermined position. This insulating base portion also contains a hole which extends through the base wall.
The other half of the insulating base section contains two openings which extend through the base section wall for receiving the socket prongs of the contact member. This portion also contains a hole which extends through the base wall and is aligned with the hole in the first base section.
After the two half base portions are positioned on the contact prongs, a screw is inserted into the hole which extends through both base section walls, and a nut is attached at an end opposite the screw head to firmly draw the both half sections close together to form the base. An alternative method of attaching the two base sections is to insert a rivet instead of the screw and nut and peen over one end of the rivet to provide the force which draws the two half sections together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the various components of the base-lamp of the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled base-lamp of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, an electric lamp 10 has a glass envelope 31 comprised of reflector section 11 and cover portion 12. Ferrules or lead-in conductors 13 are hermetically sealed in the reflector section to an energy translation device, not shown, such as a filament or electrodes. A typical lamp which can utilize the invention is a PAR 46, Medium Flood, 200 watt, 120 volt. Contact prongs 14 and 15 are attached to the ferrules by soldering, for example. A portion of each contact prong may be cut and bent around the ferrules as shown at 16 and 17 in order to give a reliable connection between the contact prong and the ferrule.
As shown in FIG. 1, the contact prongs 14 and 15 extend in both directions away from the ferrules. A portion of the prongs 14 and 15 may be bent back upon themselves as shown at 18 and 19 in order to form socket prongs for insertion into a receptacle. At the other end of the contact prongs are extensions 20 and 21 which will aid in the alignment of the insulating base portion. In prior art lamps, extensions 20 and 21 would be clipped off inasmuch as they were not utilized after the bent portion had been attached to the ferrules.
Assembled base 22 shown in FIG. 2 is comprised of insulating base sections 23 and 24 and an attaching means such as screw 25 and nut 26. Insulating base sections can be made of a ceramic material or any other insulating material which can give the required strength, temperature resistance and insulating property.
Base section 23 contains alignment slots 27 and hole 28. The alignment slots do not extend through the thickness or wall of the base section, whereas hole 28 goes directly through the wall. Base section 24 contains contact prong openings 29 and hole 30. Holes 28 and 30 are positioned in the base sections such that they are in direct alignment when placed over the contact prongs.
In assembling the contacts and base to the lamp 10, first contacts 14 and 15 are slit and bent so that the bent portion may be attached to the ferrules 13 by soldering, for example, as shown at 16 and 17. After the bent-back portions are attached, this leaves extensions 20 and 21 which go beyond the end of the ferrules 13. Insulating base section 23 is brought into alignment with extensions 20 and 21 by inserting the extensions in alignment slots 27. As indicated previously, alignment slots 27 do not extend through the base wall and therefore act as a stop once the extensions have penetrated a predetermined distance.
The next assembly operation is to place base section 24 in alignment with contact prongs 14 and 15 by moving the contact prongs through slots 29 until the inner edge of base section 24 touches the inner edge of base section 23. This allows bent-back portions 18 and 19 to extend beyond the slot 29 so that they may make electrical contact with the female portion of a receptacle. With the base sections in position, screw 25 is inserted into and through holes 28 and 30. Nut 26 is then placed on the screw and tightened until such time as the two sections are firmly forced together. The base itself is now attached to the lamp and held in place by the socket prongs. An alternative to this type of assembly and tensioning of the base sections is to place a rivet through holes 28 and 30 and peen over one of its ends.
Since the base sections are held in position through the tensioning of the screw and nut or rivet and the support of the contact prongs, it is not necessary to proceed with the costly operation of attaching a base member to the reflector section by cementing, for example.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electric lamps. More particularly, the invention relates to a base structure and a method of assembling the base to an electric lamp of the type that can be plugged directly into a receptacle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Certain lamp applications such as theater and studio lighting are limited as to the amount of space available for lighting and consequently cannot always utilize the base and socket construction illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,262,629. The illustrated construction is usually used for spot and flood lighting. In order to remedy this situation, lamps were developed which could be plugged directly into a receptacle or electrical outlet. One such lamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,259, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Although this design solved the space problem, the construction contains numerous parts including an insulator in which are placed the socket prongs and a metal base cap which in turn is attached to the reflector portion of the lamp. This lamp construction with its numerous parts and numerous assembly operations has a high direct labor content and is, therefore, expensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lamp which can be plugged directly into a receptacle thereby saving space. Still another object of the invention is to provide a lamp base construction with a minimum number of parts. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lamp base structure which can be economically assembled.
The objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a two-piece base made of insulating material and aligned with and attached to the lamp through the action of contact prongs and a holding means such as a screw and a nut or a rivet. The lamp of the invention contains contact posts, or lead-in conductors, which are hermetically sealed to a reflector section. Contact prongs are attached to the posts by soldering, for example, and a portion of the contact prongs extends in either direction beyond the post. One of the insulating base sections contains an alignment slot or slots on its interior surface which is positioned against a portion of the contact prongs to align the base section in a predetermined position. This insulating base portion also contains a hole which extends through the base wall.
The other half of the insulating base section contains two openings which extend through the base section wall for receiving the socket prongs of the contact member. This portion also contains a hole which extends through the base wall and is aligned with the hole in the first base section.
After the two half base portions are positioned on the contact prongs, a screw is inserted into the hole which extends through both base section walls, and a nut is attached at an end opposite the screw head to firmly draw the both half sections close together to form the base. An alternative method of attaching the two base sections is to insert a rivet instead of the screw and nut and peen over one end of the rivet to provide the force which draws the two half sections together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the various components of the base-lamp of the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled base-lamp of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, an electric lamp 10 has a glass envelope 31 comprised of reflector section 11 and cover portion 12. Ferrules or lead-in conductors 13 are hermetically sealed in the reflector section to an energy translation device, not shown, such as a filament or electrodes. A typical lamp which can utilize the invention is a PAR 46, Medium Flood, 200 watt, 120 volt. Contact prongs 14 and 15 are attached to the ferrules by soldering, for example. A portion of each contact prong may be cut and bent around the ferrules as shown at 16 and 17 in order to give a reliable connection between the contact prong and the ferrule.
As shown in FIG. 1, the contact prongs 14 and 15 extend in both directions away from the ferrules. A portion of the prongs 14 and 15 may be bent back upon themselves as shown at 18 and 19 in order to form socket prongs for insertion into a receptacle. At the other end of the contact prongs are extensions 20 and 21 which will aid in the alignment of the insulating base portion. In prior art lamps, extensions 20 and 21 would be clipped off inasmuch as they were not utilized after the bent portion had been attached to the ferrules.
Assembled base 22 shown in FIG. 2 is comprised of insulating base sections 23 and 24 and an attaching means such as screw 25 and nut 26. Insulating base sections can be made of a ceramic material or any other insulating material which can give the required strength, temperature resistance and insulating property.
Base section 23 contains alignment slots 27 and hole 28. The alignment slots do not extend through the thickness or wall of the base section, whereas hole 28 goes directly through the wall. Base section 24 contains contact prong openings 29 and hole 30. Holes 28 and 30 are positioned in the base sections such that they are in direct alignment when placed over the contact prongs.
In assembling the contacts and base to the lamp 10, first contacts 14 and 15 are slit and bent so that the bent portion may be attached to the ferrules 13 by soldering, for example, as shown at 16 and 17. After the bent-back portions are attached, this leaves extensions 20 and 21 which go beyond the end of the ferrules 13. Insulating base section 23 is brought into alignment with extensions 20 and 21 by inserting the extensions in alignment slots 27. As indicated previously, alignment slots 27 do not extend through the base wall and therefore act as a stop once the extensions have penetrated a predetermined distance.
The next assembly operation is to place base section 24 in alignment with contact prongs 14 and 15 by moving the contact prongs through slots 29 until the inner edge of base section 24 touches the inner edge of base section 23. This allows bent-back portions 18 and 19 to extend beyond the slot 29 so that they may make electrical contact with the female portion of a receptacle. With the base sections in position, screw 25 is inserted into and through holes 28 and 30. Nut 26 is then placed on the screw and tightened until such time as the two sections are firmly forced together. The base itself is now attached to the lamp and held in place by the socket prongs. An alternative to this type of assembly and tensioning of the base sections is to place a rivet through holes 28 and 30 and peen over one of its ends.
Since the base sections are held in position through the tensioning of the screw and nut or rivet and the support of the contact prongs, it is not necessary to proceed with the costly operation of attaching a base member to the reflector section by cementing, for example.