# US 4,396,898 A · Lampholder having thermal protector

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- Number: US 4,396,898 A
- Document ID: US4396898A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/362,186
- Filed: 1982-03-26
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1982-03-26
- Assignees: GTE Products Corporation
- Inventors: Julius F. Tibolla
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396898A

## CPC

- H01H 37/68: sealed in evacuated or gas-filled tube
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

A lampholder includes a thermal protector for disconnecting the lamp from electrical power if the lampholder is overheated. The thermal protector is a packaged device and is held by a keeper. The keeper may be one piece with a contact to the lamp. Keepers for both glass and metal packaged thermal protectors are described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An improved thermally protected lampholder of the type including a housing, said housing defining an interior and having a shelf partitioning said interior, a threaded shell arranged within said housing for making contact with the threaded terminal of a lamp, a strip contact arranged on said shelf to make contact with the center terminal of said lamp and a thermal protector coupled to said strip contact, wherein the improvement comprises:
said thermal protector is a packaged thermal protector; and
a keeper proximate to said shelf and adapted to retain said packaged thermal protector, said keeper electrical coupled to said strip conductor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The improved thermally protected lampholder of claim 1 wherein said keeper and said strip connectors are arranged on opposite sides of said shelf.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The improved thermally protected lampholder of claim 2 wherein said packaged thermal protector is enclosed by an elongated glass envelope and said keeper is a clip sized to clasp said glass envelope.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The improved thermally protected lampholder of claim 3 wherein said clip and said strip contact are one piece of spring metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3, 4)

The improved thermally protected lampholder of claim 3 or 4 wherein said packaged thermal protector has two leads, one of which is electrically connected to said clip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The improved thermally protected lampholder of claim 2 wherein said packaged thermal protector is enclosed by a metal envelope having hooks and said keeper is a prong sized to be clasped by said hooks.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The improved thermal protected lampholder of claim 6 wherein said protector has a flat terminal in contact with said prong.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6, 7)

The improved thermally protected lampholder of claim 6 or 7 wherein said prong and said strip contact are one piece of spring metal.