US2786129A - Lamp socket mounting - Google Patents

Description

. March 19, 1957 w. T, MEARS 2,786,129

LAMP SOCKET MOUNTING Filed Sept. 8, 1953 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofice 2,786,129 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 LAMP SOCKET MOUNTING William T. Mears, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,886

1 Claim. (Cl. 240-8.3)

The present invention relates to lamps and more particularly to mounting devices for snap-in bulb sockets in automotive lamps.

Snap-in bulb sockets of the type disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 202,522, filed December 23, 1950, issued May 25, 1954, as Patent No. 2,679,576, have come into general usage in automotive lamps for the reason that the assembly permits ready access to the bulb and socket without the necessity of removing the lamp lens and door. In accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned application, the bulb socket is removably retained and supported within the lamp casing by means of a coil spring positioned around the periphery of the socket receiving aperture in the lamp casing.

It has been found, however, that the spring has a tendency to rust onto the socket, thus decreasing the benefits otherwise to be obtained by the use of a snap-in bulb socket. Further, it has been found on assembly that the overlapped spring ends show a tendency to pull apart and that the spring tends to slip 01? the supporting lugs.

In accordance with the teachings of my present invention set forth hereinafter, it is possible to overcome the above mentioned difiiculties and at the same time obtain a tighter fit between the bulb socket and the lamp casing in a simple and inexpensive manner.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a lamp adapted for mounting on a body panel of an automotive vehicle and so constructed and arranged as to provide for the ready removal and replacement of the lamp bulb and lamp socket.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved signaling lamp construction which is simple, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a lamp assembly so constructed and arranged that the bulb socket assembly is supported and retained within the lamp casing by means of an elastic non-metallic retainer element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in cross-section and partly broken away of a signaling lamp assembly embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the retainer element.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated a lamp assembly especially adapted for signaling lamps and comprising a lamp housing 2, a lamp socket assembly 4 removably secured in the housing and a lens 6 secured to the housing 2 by a lens frame 8. The lamp housing is generally cup-shaped and may be formed from sheet metal by a stamping operation or from suitable thermoplastic material by molding. The housing is illustrated in Figure 2 as having a substantially square cross-sectional configuration, but it will be obvious that any suitable cross-sectional configuration may be used. A circular aperture 10 is provided in the bottom of the housing 2 and equally spaced lugs 12 are formed integrally with the bottom of the housing at the aperture edge and extend inwardly of the housing. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lugs 12 are bent at substantially right angles to the bottom of the cup and extend axially inwardly with the ends of the lugs being curved toward the sides of the housing. The lugs 12 support a retainer element 14 made of an elastic non-metallic organic material such as nylon, Lucite, cellulose acetate, etc., which material is substantially inert to weathering and possesses the requisite toughness. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, retainer 14 is split transversely at one point andhexagonal in shape, though it is obvious that the shape of the element may be any desired shape so long as it is adapted to secure the bulb socket 4 in the housing in a manner which will be described hereinafter. The retainer element 14 may be formed in any desired manner, as for example by bending the retainer element from a rod of the desired material, by stamping the retainer element from sheets, and by extruding the material in the desired tubular form followed by cutting transverse sections of suitable thickness therefrom. The housing 2 is also formed with a radially extending flange 16 having apertures 18 therein adapted to receive threaded members 19 for securing the housing 2 in the lens frame 8. As illustrated in Figure 3 the bulb socket assembly comprises a bulb socket 20 having a metal collar 22 secured thereto.

The bulb socket 20 is a conventional bayonet type socket adapted to removably secure a lamp bulb 24 and electrical leads 25 for conducting electric current to the lamp bulb. The socket 20 is provided with an annular flange 26 which cooperates with means on the metal collar 22 to secure the bulb socket and collar as an assembly. The metal collar 22 is illustrated in Figure 3 as being formed of two substantially tubular metal members 28 and 30 secured together by providing on each of the respective members radially extending flanges 32 and 34 and spinning or bending flange 34 over the peripheral edge of flange 32, as shown. Tubular member 28 is provided with an inturned flange 36 with a peripheral edge 38 forming an aperture 40. Lugs 42 are cut from flange 36 at equilaterally spaced points about the flange and with collar 22 positioned in the bulb socket so that the flange 36 abuts one side of flange 26 the lugs 42 are bent over the edge of flange 26 of the bulb socket 20 to engage its opposite side thus securing the collar 22 on the bulb socket 20. The tubular member 30 is formed with equally spaced inwardly pressed side wall portions 43 to provide indented recesses 44 about the periphery of the member for receiving the retainer 14 when the bulb socket assembly 4 is inserted in the housing 2. In this connection, it will be clear that the inwardly pressed walls 43 form correspondingly spaced lips 46 about the periphery of the tubular member which engage the retainer element 14 and hold the bulb socket in position when the bulb socket is inserted in the housing. To provide for ease of insertion of the socket assembly in the housing against the pressure of the retainer 14, the tubular member 30 is provided with an inwardly tapered end 48.

In assembling the signaling lamp, the lens 6 is secured in place over the housing 2 by the frame 8 in the manner shown. A gasket 54 is interposed between the lens and the housing flange 16 to provide a sealed joint between the lens and housing. The split retainer 14 may be positioned on the lugs 12 before the lens is secured in place. With the element 14 in position on the lugs 12, spaced portions 15 overlap the opening 10 in the housing as i1- lustratedin; Figure 2. The socket assembly 4 with the may then be inserted in the opening 10. As the tubular member 30 presses into the opening 10, the overlapping retainer portions 15 are outwardly urged by the lips 46 the retainer -14;being sprung open. As the socket assembly 4 is pressed furtherinto its operative positio 1 1,' retainer 14assumes its original size, the overlapping retainer portions pulling back into'the indented recesses and eifecting the support and retention of the bulb socket assembly in the housing; To remove the bulb socket assembly4 ior replacementof thebulb, it will be obviousthat a reversal oft-he'above described operation will occur.

It is. to -be understood'that I apply the term nylon to thezpolyamide' resins made by the polymeriiatioii of hexamethylenedianiinesalt of adipic a'cid f likewise; by the term Lucite I have reference to the acrylic or acrylate resins.

' Whilentheembodiment of'the present invention as here- 20 in disclosed; constitutes a preferred form, it is to be inder 4 -What is claimed is follows-z A lamp comprising a cup-shaped housing having .a lens extending across and covering the open side thereof, an

opening in a wall of said housing, a" lainp socket'liaving an enlarged portion in free-sliding engagement with the edge of said opening and provided with a plurality of spaced indented side walls, the combination therewith of a solid elastic retainer ring member secured at spaced points around said opening in said housing to provide portions of said member in yielding engagement with said indented side walls, said elastic member bein g sp l it at one Point and formed of nylon and'having snap-ring action in the assembly and disassembly of the"lamps qcle t.'

Re e nce Qit d in t e .19 .9; his Rate-at- TEP ewes ATENT 1,675,639 Champion Q July 3, 1928 2,139,374 Michel et al. Dec. 6, 1938 2,248,399 Watts July 8, 1941 2,332,362 Bartow Oct."19, 1943 2,404,176, Huelster July 16, 1946 2,439,000 Hasenzahl Apr, 6 1948 2,679,516 Mears et a1. .L May 1954

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