US 2008/0259592 A1 · Lamp Socket

Abstract

A lamp socket has a casing, a switching contact assembly, a stem assembly, an electric tab, a photo switch, a first electric connector and a second electric connector. The switching contact assembly is mounted in the casing and around the stem assembly. The stem assembly has a pawl. The pawl has multiple surfaces. The electric tab is mounted on two of the surfaces of the pawl and selectively contacts the switching contact assembly. The first electric connector and the second electric connector are connected electrically to the photo switch. The contact between the electric tab and the switching contact assembly switches via turning the stem assembly to turn on or off two lights. Furthermore, the lamp socket turns on one of the lights based on ambient light.

A lamp socket comprising

a main light outlet adapted to hold a main light and having
a bulb socket being hollow, cylindrical and conductive and having
a sidewall threaded and adapted to hold the main light;
a bottom;
and
a slot formed through the bottom and the sidewall near the bottom;
an insulated base mounted on the bottom of the bulb socket and having
a top surface;
a center;
an outer edge;
and
a bulb socket recess formed in the top surface of the insulated base between the center and the outer edge and aligning with the bottom of the bulb socket outside the slot;
and
a filament contact mounted securely through the center of insulated base, protruding through the slot in the bulb socket and adapted to make electrical contact with the main light screwed into the bulb socket;
a casing being cylindrical and having
a top;
a bottom;
a front casing half being hollow and semicylindrical and having a through hole defined through the front casing half and adapted to allow a third external wire passing through the through hole to provide power;
and
a rear casing half attaching the front casing half, being a hollow and semicylindrical and having a through hole defined through the rear casing half and adapted to allow a first external wire and a second external wire passing through the through hole so the first external wire is connected electrically to the sidewall of the bulb socket to provide power;
a circuit board mounted on the top of the casing against the insulated base of the main light outlet, being connected electrically to the filament contact and having
a top surface;
a bottom surface;
an outer edge;
multiple holes formed through the circuit board;
a photo switch contact formed on the top surface of the circuit board adjacent to the outer edge and communicating with one of the holes;
a second light contact formed on the top surface of the circuit board adjacent to the photo switch contact between the center and the outer edge and communicating with another holes;
a main light contact formed on the top surface of the circuit board at the center, communicating with another holes and connected electrically to the filament contact;
and
a dual light contact formed on the top surface of the circuit board adjacent to the outer edge diametrically opposite to the photo switch contact, communicating with another holes and adapted to be connected electrically to the second external wire;
and
a crossover contact being U-shaped, formed on the bottom surface of the circuit board and communicating with the multiples holes communicating with the second light contact and the dual light contact;
a switching contact assembly mounted in the front casing half and the rear casing half, passing through the circuit board and having
a photo switch flexible tab having
a width;
and
a free end;
a second light flexible tab having
a width;
and
a free end;
a dual light flexible tab having
a width;
and
a free end;
and
a main light flexible tab having
a width being wider than the width of the photo switch flexible tab, the second light flexible tab and the dual light flexible tab;
and
a free end;
a stem assembly mounted through the front casing half and having
a cylinder mounted securely on and through the front casing half and having
an outer end;
an inner end;
and
a circumference;
a holder mounted securely on the outer end of the cylinder;
and
a pawl formed around the circumference adjacent to the inner end of the cylinder, having multiple surfaces and selectively contacting the free ends of the photo switch flexible tab, the second light flexible tab, the main light flexible tab and the dual light flexible tab;
an electric tab assembly mounted around adjacent to two surfaces of the pawl, selectively contacting the switching contact assembly and adapted to be connected electrically to the third external wire;
a photo switch;
a first electric connector connecting the first conductive tab with the photo switch;
and
a second electric connector connecting the fourth conductive tab with the photo switch.

61 more elements

Lamp Socket

Life of this patent

Lamp Socket

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims2