US2596006A - Means for attaching electric lamp sockets to tubular lamp bases - Google Patents

Description

y 6, 1952 c. BRAMMING Y 2,596,006

MEANS FOR ATTACHING ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKETS TO TUBULAR LAMP BASES Filed Oct. 9, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1952 c. BRAMMING 2,596,006

MEANS FOR ATTACHING ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKETS TO TUBULAR LAMP BASES 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Oct. 9. 1948 Wammwzz'fgg,

May 6, 1952 c. BRAMMING MEANS FOR ATTACHING ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKETS TO TUBULAR LAMP BASES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9. 1948 Patented May 6, 1952 MEANS FOR ATTACHING. ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKETS TO TUBULAR LAMP BASES CarlBramming, Anderson, Ind., assignor to Aladdin Industries, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application october 9, 1948, Serial No. 53,645

7 Claims.

This invention is directed to electric lamps such as decorative table lamps andt'he like' having a lamp base and a lamp socket carried thereby.

Heretofore, such lamps have included a lamp base in the form of a vase, a bottle or a: similar object, usually one which was constricted at the neck thereof. A lamp socket was supported above the neck of the lamp base and the electric wires were brought up to the socket through the bottom and the neck of the lamp base. This was done, according to standard practice, by providing a threaded metal tube which passed through the neck of the lamp base. The socketwassupported upon the metal tube by means of a reduction fitting carried by the lower end of the lamp socket and the electric wires were conducted to the lamp socket through the inside of the tube. Usually the metal tube was supported-in the neck of the lamp base by means of two nuts, disposed on the tube, one underneath and the other above a horizontal diaphragm-like constriction in the neck of the .lampsbase, so that they could press from both. sides against that constriction and rigidly hold the tube-in place. In some instances the reduction fitting of the lamp socket fulfilled the purpose of the upper nut. However, it was always. necessary in accordance with standard practice to provide at least a tube, means for supporting the tube in the lamp base, and a reduction fitting for the lamp socket secured to the tube in order. to support the lamp socket on the lamp base. Consequently, the lamp socket with the reduction fitting has become the standard type of lamp socket used in the quantity productionof table lamps.

Owing tothis standard type of lamp: socket and the manner of mounting it the production of table lamps under present conditions requires a number of special parts and operations which make the production costly. Moreover, since the lamp sockets were not originally designed for use with table lamps, but for the old type suspension lamps, they actually detractfromthe artistic appearance of table lamps toanextent that the manufacturers normally mount the shades so low that the lamp sockets cannot be seen except by a person seated below the eye level of the lamp shade. This, of course. reduces the amount of light radiation. The necessity of passing the wires through the tube and the reduced fitting frequently results also in excessive fraying and. short circuiting... of the Wires.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an. improved electric lamp socket and also an. improved lamp base for use therewith whereby the aforementioned difficulties encountered with conventional lamp sockets and lamp bases are eliminated, wherein the usual connectingpipe of the lamp basemay be omitted, wherein .therusual reduction fitting of the lamp socket may be omitted, wherein the electric wires for the lamp socket may be freely accommodated and fraying and ishortecircuiting thereof reduced to aminimum, whereinthe lamp socket and base may be. inexpensively manufactured, assembled andswired and. wherein the appearance of the electricclamp is greatly enhanced.

Incarrying out this object of the invention the electric lamp socket includes an electrical assembly. provided with connections for electric wires for receiving and lighting. an electric light bulb,

Ran: insulating disc for the electrical assembly and a substantially cylindrical outer shell for receiving the electrical assembly. The lamp base is preferably, hollow. for freely accommodating the electric wires and is provided with a large neck having av large opening through which the electric wires may freely extend and with an annular abutment to be engaged by the insulating disc of the lamp socket. A securing device of substantially the same diameter as. the. outer shell ofathe lamp socket connects the outer shell ofaithe lamp socket to. the large neck of. the lamp base with the insulating disc of the lamp socket engaging :theannular abutment of the lamp base. Azfurther object .of this invention isto provide thelamp socket with improved means for carryapparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings in which:

Figure. 1. is"v a side elevational view partly in section of one formof the electric lamp of this invention;

Figure '2. is annenlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the lamp socket secured to the large :neck of the lamp base;

.FigurezB- is: a view similar to Fig. 2, but showingatherlamp, socket removed from the lamp base; Figure 4 is asectional view taken substantially icalong the lined-4 of Figure 2 illustrating one ,within the hollow lamp base.

manner of securing the shade supporting harp to the lamp socket;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating anotherlform of lamp socket provided Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illus trating still another manner of securing the lamp socket to the lamp base;

Figure 11 is a side elevational View or" the outer shell of the lamp socket utilized in Fig. 10; and

Figure 12 is a sectional view illustrating the supporting ring utilized in Fig. 10 for securing the lamp socket to the lamp base.

Referring first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the lamp socket is generally designated at Ill and the hollow lamp base is generally designated at H.

The lamp socket It] includes a substantially cylindrical outer shell |3 formed of sheet metal and provided with an insulating liner |4 formed of suitable insulating material. Within the lamp socket there is provided an electrical as-.

sembly including receptacle I5 adapted to receive an electric light bulb, a spacer disc I6 and a switching mechanism all suitably secured together. The switching mechanism may be conventional in form and provided with electrical connections H! for electric wires l9 and 'push buttons 2|] for operating the switch. The

outer shell l3 and liner M are provided with slots 2| for the push buttons 20. The bottom of the lamp socket is provided with an insulating disc 23 upon which the electrical assembly and outer shell of .the lamp socket are adapted to rest. The outer shell I3 is provided at its lower end 7 with an external flange 24 adapted to abut against the insulatingdisc 23.

The lamp base generally designated at H includes a hollow base 26 of any desired configuration. The lamp. base may be made of any suitable material such as ceramic, china, pottery,

glass, etc. and may be light transmitting. If desired, the lamp base may be provided with a sub-base 21 having suitable legs 28. The particular construction of the lamp base, of course, depends upon the ornamental characteristics desired therein.

The upper portion of the lamp base is provided witha large neck 29 which in turn is provided with a'large opening 30. The electric wires I9 are adapted to extend freely through the large opening 30 and be freely accommodated The electric wires may. be provided with a suitable plug adapted to be received in a wall receptacle. The large neck of the lamp base is preferably provided with a screw threaded ring 3| provided with an inturned flange forming an abutment 32. This ring may be placed upon the lamp base after the same has been fabricated or may be secured thereto during the fabrication of the lamp base. If desired, however, the ring 3| may be omitted whereupon the upper portion of the lamp base 4 would operate as the annular abutment. The ring 3| provides for free and ready assembly and disassembly of the lamp base and is preferably utilized.

A screw threaded ring 35 having an internal flange 36 overlies the external flange 24 of the outer shell I3 and the diameter of the flanges are preferably such that the flange 36 may be passed over the flange 24. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the screw threaded ring 35 is inserted over the lower end of the outer shell I3 and then a split ring 3'! is applied to the flange 24. The split ring being of larger diameter than the flange 24 prevents the internal flange 36 from passing thereby and in this way the screw threaded ring 35 is releasably secured to the lamp socket II]. To enhance the appearance of the screw threaded ring 35 and to facilitate manipulation thereof it is preferably provided with a knurled collar 38 rigidly secured thereto.

To secure the lamp socket to the lamp base all that is necessary is to screw the screw threaded ring 35 of the lamp socket I!) to the screw threaded ring 3| of the lamp base whereupon the outer shell I3 and the insulating disc 23 and the socket, parts carried thereby are clamped to the annular abutment 32 of the large neck of the hollow lamp base. The lamp socket may be readily removed from the lamp base merely by unscrewing the screw threaded ring 35 of the lamp socket.

There is thus provided an electric lamp wherein the lamp socket may be readily secured to the lamp basewithout the necessity of threading the electric wires through restricted openings and at the same time the appearance of the electric lamp is enhanced by the novel securing device.

The upper portion of the outer shell l3 may be provided with diametrically opposed pockets which may be formed by forcing the outer shell outwardly at diametrically opposed points to provide recesses 4|! between the outer shell I3 and the liner I4. These pockets or recesses are adapted to receive the ends of a shade supporting .harp4l as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The shade supporting harp may be permanently secured in the pockets or recesses by rivets 42 as illustrated in Fig; 4 or releasably secured as illustrated in Fig. 8. In this latter connection the pockets or recesses 40 and harp 4| may be provided with detent means in the form of openings 43 in the pockets or recesses40 and projections 44 on the harp 4|.

The form of theinvention illustrated in Fig. '7

is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 and like reference characters have been utilized for like parts. Fig. 7 differs from Figs. 1 to 6 in that it illustrates a different type of switching mechanism in the lamp socket and a different securing device, and is provided with a lamp fixture suspended from the lamp socket in the lamp base.

In Fig. 7 the outer shell |3 is provided with an annular shoulder and a depending skirtprovided with internal screw threads 41 for screwing the lamp socket onto the lamp base. The switching mechanism within the lamp socket may be operated by a rotary knob 50 secured to a shaft 48 of theswitching. mechanism. The slot 2| accommodates the shaft 48 so that the electrical assembly may be inserted into the outer shell before the Theinsulating disc 23 carries a bracket 5| by means of a rivet 52 which in turn carriesat its lower end an electric light bulb fixture '53 provided with a small bulb 5 4. The light bulb fixture '53: may be suitably connected by electric wires 55 to the electric assembly l -1 of the lamp socket. The large opening 30 in the large neck of the hollow lamp base is sufliciently large to accommodate freely the light bulb fixtures as Well as the electric wires. This form of the invention utilizing the light bulb fixture is preferably used in conjunction with a hollow lamp base formed of light transmitting material so that when the switch is operated to one position the light bulb fixture suspended in the lamp base may be lighted for night light purposes or ornamental purposes and when moved to another position the light bulb carried by the receptacle l-5 may be lighted for lighting purposes.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9 is similar to that of Figs. 2 and 7 and like reference characters have been utilized for like parts. Fig. 9, however, illustrates another manner of securing the lamp socket to the lamp base. In this connection the large neck of the lamp base is provided with an internal screw threaded ring 6! having an internal flange 62 forming an annular abutment for the insulating disc 23. The lower end of the outer shell 13 of the lamp socket is provided with external screw threads 63 which are adapted to screw threadedly engage the screw threads 6| of the lamp base to clamp the insulating disc 23 to the annular shoulder 62. Thus, in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9 substantially the same results are obtained as in the previous forms of the invention, namely, the ready assembly and disassembly of the lamp socket and lamp base.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 12 like reference characters have also been utilized for like parts. This form of the invention differs from the forms previously considered in the particular manner of securing the lamp socket to the lamp base. In this connection the lower end of the outer shell l3 of the lamp socket is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged detent openings 65 and the large neck of the lamp base is provided with a ring 66 having an internal flange 61 forming an abutment for the insulating disc 23. The ring 66 may be provided with external projections 68 for securing the same in the lamp base, and also, with internal detent projections 69 for engaging in the detent openings 65 of the outer shell. Thus, the outer shell may be releasably secured by the detents 65, 69 to the large neck of the hollow base with the insulating disc 23 engaging the annular abutment 61 and with the lamp socket securely clamped in place. Substantially the same results are obtained by this form of the invention as in the forms previously considered.

While the various lamp sockets have been shown with switches for turning on and off the lamp, the switches may be eliminated or may be included in the lamp base instead of in the lamp socket.

While for purposes of illustration several forms of this invention have been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure, and therefore, this invention is to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric lamp comprising in combination a molded lamp base having a large neck provided with an annular abutment, an electrical assembly adapted to receive and feed current toan electric light bulb, a substantially cylindrical outer shell for receiving the electrical assembly. a retaining disc for the electrical assembly and securing means on the outer shell adapted to secure the outer shell to the large neck of the lamp base with the retaining disc engaging the annular abutmen-tof the lamp base and thereby holding the electrical assembly in position within the shell-.-

2. An electric lamp comprising incombination a moldedlamp base having a large neck provided with an annularabutment and adjacent screw threads, an electrical assembly adapted to receive and feed current to an electric light bulb, a substantially cylindrical outer shell for receiving the electrical assembly, and a retaining disc for the electrical assembly, the outer shell being provided with threads adapted to engage the screw threads of the lamp base for securing the outer shell to the large neck of the lamp base with the retaining disc engaging the annular abutment of the lampfbase and thereby holding the electrical assembly in position within the shell.

3. An electric lamp comprising in combination a molded lamp base having a large neck provided with an annular abutment 'andadjacent external screw threads, an electrical assembly adapted to receive and feed current to an electric light bulb, a substantially cylindrical outer shell for receiving the electrical assembly and provided with an external flange, a retaining disc for the electrical assembly, a ring having an internal flange overlying the external flange of the outer shell and provided with internal screw threads adapted to engage the external screw threads of the lamp base for securing the outer shell to the large neck of the lamp base with the retaining disc engaging the annular abutment of the lamp base for positioning the electrical assembly within the shell, and a split ring located between the external flange of the outer shell and the internal flange of the ring for connecting the ring to the outer shell.

4. An electric lamp comprisin in combination a lamp base having a large neck provided with an annular abutment, an electrical assembly adapted to receive and feed current to an electric light bulb, a substantially cylindrical outer shell for receiving the electrical assembly and provided at its lower end with a plurality of circumferentially arranged detent openings, a retaining disc for the electrical assembly, and a ring adapted to be carried by the large neck of the lamp base and provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged detent fingers to flt in the detent openings of the outer shell for securing the outer shell to the large neck of the lamp base with the retaining disc resting on the annular abutment of the lamp base for supporting the electrical assembly within the shell.

5. An electric lamp comprising a lamp socket adapted to receive an electric light bulb and provided internally with an electrical assembly provided with connections for electric wires and having a retaining disc for the electrical assembly and an open-ended, substantially cylindrical outer shell, said electrical assembly being adapted to slide into said shell from one end thereof, a hollow lamp base for freely accommodating the electric wires for the lamp socket and having a large neck provided with an annular abutment to be engaged by the retaining disc, and a securing device of substantially the same diameter as the shell cooperating with th shell and the large neck for securing the lamp socket to the lamp base while holding the retaining disc in engagement with the annular abutment of the lamp base to maintain the electrical assembly in normal positionrelative to the shell. 7

6. An electric lamp comprising an electrical assembly adapted to receive and supply current to an electric light bulb, an outer shell adapted to receive the electrical assembly, a retaining disc larger in diameter than the electrical assembly, an electric light bulb fixture suspended from the disc, a hollow lamp base of light transmitting material for freely accommodating within it the light bulb fixtureand having a large neck provided with an annular abutment to be engaged by the disc, and a securingdevice adapted to secure the shell to the neck of the lamp base with the light bulb fixture suspended in the lamp base and the retaining disc resting on the annular abutment, holding the electrical assembly in proper position relative to the outer shell.

7. An-electric lamp construction including in combination a substantially straight, cylindrical shell for receiving and supporting an electrical assembly including a support for a light bulb, a base having an upper neck portion provided with an annular abutment, a retaining disc between said shell andsaid abutment, and means engaging said neck securing said shell firmly on the upper portion of said neck with said disc adja- 'cent the lower end of said electrical assembly,

said. securing means and said disc being readily REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 1,235,632 Andersen Aug. 7, 1917 1,309,857 Jones July 15, 1919 1,404,731 Benjamin Jan. 31, 1922 1,573,805 Cary Feb. 23, 1926 1,605,778 Riley Nov. 2, 1926 1,703,698 Whelan Feb. 26, 1929 2,076,782 Jedlicka Apr. 13, 1937 2,243,775 Roberts May 27, 1941 2,331,893 Dewey Oct. 19, 1943 2,352,248 Bramming June 27,1944

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 409,022 Germany Jan. 29, 1925 525,482 England Aug. 29, 1940

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