Lamp socket

Abstract

A lamp socket attachment to convert a conventional screw-type light bulb socket into a spring insert type socket comprises a hollow cylindrical member open at both ends made of electrically non-conductive material divided by a transverse partition into upper and lower cup-like compartments, a cylindrical plug made of electrically non-conductive material is fixed concentrically in the lower compartment, there is a bore centrally through the plug and the partition, a contact member made of electrically conductive material slides captive in the bore, the contact member being adjustable in length, and there is a conductor member made of electrically conductive material having a lower portion extending along the outside of the plug through the partition and an upper portion extending along the inside surface of the upper compartment, such conductor member being structured so its lower portion will engage the threads of a screw-type bulb socket when the plug is inserted into the bulb socket and its upper portion will engage the threads of a conventional screw base light bulb inserted into the upper compartment of the lamp socket attachment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention broadly concerns lamp sockets. More particularly, it relates to lamp socket attachments to convert conventional screw-type light bulb sockets into spring insert sockets.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Lamp socket attachments to convert conventional screw-type light bulb sockets into spring insert sockets in a variety styles have been known for many years. For example, a conversion lamp socket constructed to thread at one end into a screw-type bulb socket and operatively accept the screw base of a conventional light bulb in the other end without the necessity of screwing the bulb therein is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,253,582.

Several modifications of a similar style of conversion lamp socket are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,501.

Another form of snap-in electric plug and socket designed for use with light bulbs that have connection bases that are unthreaded is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,786,189.

The present invention concerns yet another type of lamp socket attachment that can be inserted into a screw-type bulb socket and convert it for use with conventional screw base light bulbs without requiring the bulb to be threaded into the socket, which new attachments offer some advantages as compared with prior known related devices.

OBJECTS

A prinicpal object of this invention is the provision of lamp socket attachments that can be inserted into a screw-type bulb socket and convert it for use with conventional screw base light bulbs without requiring the bulb to be threaded into the socket.

Further objects include the provision of:

1. Lamp socket attachments designed to assist elderly persons, people afflicted with arthritis and other persons of limited dexterity to change light bulbs.

2. Such socket attachments that are simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in use and inexpensive to make.

3. Such socket attachments that provide strong retension of light bulbs inserted in their unthreaded, bulb reception sections.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The stated objects are accomplished via the present invention by the provision of lamp socket attachments that can convert a conventional screw-type light bulb socket into a spring insert type socket which comprise a hollow cylindrical member open at both ends made of electrically non-conductive material, a transverse partition made of electrically non-conductive material located in the member dividing it into upper and lower cup-like compartments, a cylindrical plug made of electrically non-conductive material fixed concentrically in the lower compartment, the length of the plug being slightly greater than the depth of the lower compartment, a bore centrally through the plug and the partition, a contact member made of electrically conductive material positioned in the bore and a conductor member made of electrically conductive material having a lower portion extending along the outside of the plug through the partition and an upper portion extending along the inside surface of the upper compartment, the conductor member being structured so the lower portion will engage the threads of the screw-type light bulb socket when the plug is inserted into the socket and the upper portion will engage the threads of a conventional screw base light bulb inserted into the upper compartment of the lamp socket attachment.

FIG. 8 is a partial lateral, sectional view of the lamp socket of the invention on an enlarged scale. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the structure for retaining screw-type light bulbs. This structure includes a lamp socket which retains a light bulb 6 in a hollow cylinder open at one end and made of a non-conductive material. A non-conductive transverse partition seals the opposite end of the cylinder. A bore passes through the partition and captures a spiral spring which includes a threaded screw 34 engaged therewith. The head of the screw is larger than the diameter of the bore, and the screw serves to allow electrical current to reach the bottom of a light bulb. A conductor member 38 extends through the partition and along the inside of the cylinder and may be bowed to springably engage the threads of a light bulb and provide for a electrical contact with the side of bulb to complete an electrical circuit including said bulb.

Claims

1. A lamp socket attachment to convert a conventional screw-type light bulb socket into a spring insert type socket which attachment comprises:

a hollow cylindrical member open at both ends made of electrically non-conductive material,

a transverse partition made of electrically non-conductive material located approximately at the middle of said member dividing it into upper and lower cup-like compartments,

a cylindrical plug made of electrically non-conductive material fixed concentrically in said lower compartment, the length of said plug being slightly greater than the depth of said plug being slightly greater than the depth of said lower compartment,

a bore centrally through said plug and said partition,

a contact member made of electrically conductive material positioned in said bore, said contact member comprising a spiral spring, a first screw threaded into one end of said spring and a second screw threaded into its other end, the heads of said screws being larger than the diameter of said bore whereby said contact member is captive within said bore, said contact member being adjustable in length by threading said screws inwardly or outwardly of said spring.,

a first conductor member made of electrically conductive material having a lower portion extending along the outside of said plug through said partition and an upper portion extending along the inside surface of said upper compartment, said conductor member being structured so said lower portion will engage the threads of said screw-type light bulb socket when said plug is inserted into said socket and said upper portion will engage the threads of a conventional screw base light bulb inserted into said upper compartment of said lamp socket attachment.

2. The attachment of claim 1 having screw means extending through the wall of said lower compartment for use in locking said attachment onto a screw-type light bulb socket into which said attachment is inserted.

3. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower portions of said conductor member are slightly bowed to provide a spring effect thereto to assist the engagement of said lower portion with the threads of said light bulb socket and the engagement of said upper portion with the threads of said light bulb.

4. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical member, said transverse partition and said plug are molded of plastic material.

5. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said conductor member is made of copper metal.

6. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said lower compartment has a plurality of lugs that project radially inwardly from the inside wall thereof adjacent its open end that serve to assist in holding said attachment onto a screw-type light bulb socket into which said attachment is inserted.

7. The attachment of claim 1 comprising a second conductor member similar to said first conductor member diametrically positioned relative to said first conductor member.

8. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said upper compartment has a longitudinal groove in the inside wall thereof extending from the open end thereof a short distance down said inside wall, said groove serving to accommodate a lead bead present on the threaded base of conventional screw-type light bulbs.

9. A spring insert lamp socket comprising:

a hollow cylindrical member open at one end thereof and made of electrically non-conductive material,

a transverse partition made of electrically non-conductive material located at the opposite end of said cylindrical member from said open end,

a bore centrally through said partition,

a contact member made of electrically conductive material positioned in said bore, said contact member including a spiral spring and a screw threaded into one end of said spring, spiral spring and a screw threaded into one end of said spring, the head of said screw being larger than the diameter of said bore whereby said contact member is captive and adjustable within said bore, and

a first conductor member made of electrically conductive material and extending through said partition and extending along the inside surface of said cylindrical member and structured to engage the threads of a conventional screw base light bulb inserted into said cylindrical member so as to allow electrical current to pass from the said contact member through the filament in said bulb and to said first conductor member. 10. The lamp socket of claim 8 wherein said conductor is bowes slightly to provide a spring effect to engage the threads of said light bulb. 11. The lamp socket of claim 9 wherein said cylindrical member and said transverse partition are molded of plastic. 12. The lamp socket of claim 9 wherein said conductor is

made of copper. 13. The lamp socket of claim 9 further comprising a second conductor member similar to said first conductor member diametrically positioned relative to said first conductor member. 14. The lamp socket of claim 9 further comprising a longitudinal groove conformed in the inside wall of said cylindrical member and extending from the open end thereof a short distance down the inside wall, said grooves serving to accommodate a lead bead present on the threaded base of a conventional screw type light bulb.