Locking assembly for fluorescent lamps
AssigneeMidland-Ross Corporation
InventorsJoseph R. Flor, Richard F. Havens, Peter Panayoti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A securing assembly for an axially rotatable body or workpiece such as a fluorescent lamp provided with a pair of pins which extend axially outward from at least one end thereof and into a socket in a lampholder. The securing assembly includes a generally C-shaped resilient body having a pair of radially inward extending locking members. These locking members are configured to prevent undesired rotation and subsequent disengagement of the lamp from the socket, even under severe vibration conditions. A securing or fastening device secures the resilient body to the holder.
Claims24
A device for securing a workpiece having axially outward extending pins at one end thereof in an installed position in an associated holder, and wherein the workpiece is rotatable about its longitudinal axis for moving the pins thereof from an installation condition to an installed condition in the holder, said device comprising:
- a generally C-shaped resilient body adapted to be placed in a surrounding relationship with the outer periphery of an associated holder, said body having a pair of spaced apart end areas shiftable relative to each other between a first normal position and a second expanded condition in response to rotation of a workpiece from an installation condition to an installed condition in the associated holder;
- a pair of locking members extending generally radially inward toward each other from one side edge of said body and terminating in facing edges which are spaced apart from each other for defining a passageway therebetween, the pins of a workpiece installed in the associated holder adapted to pass through said passageway in the workpiece installation condition and act against said locking members for moving said body end areas to said expanded condition as the workpiece is rotated toward the installed position, said body automatically moving back to said normal position when the workpiece is in the installed condition to provide locking means for restricting the ease with which the workpiece may be further rotated;
- and,
- means for cooperably mounting said body relative to an associated holder.
A securing assembly for a fluorescent type lamp having a pair of electrical contact pins extending axially outward from at least one end thereof into a lampholder socket, and wherein said lamp is rotatable between a first installation condition and a second installed condition in said socket, said assembly comprising in combination:
- a resiliently deformable body disposed in an encircling relationship with at least a major portion of the periphery of said lampholder;
- a pair of non-conductive locking members extending generally radially inward of said body and terminating in spaced apart facing edges which define a passageway therebetween for receiving said lamp pins in said lamp installation condition, said passageway having a width between said facing edges in a first normal position of said body which is less than the transverse distance between said pins, said facing edges being shifted away from each other in a second position of said body in response to contact from said pins as said lamp is rotated from said installation condition toward said installed condition and said body being shifted automatically back to said first position when said lamp is in said installed position;
- and,
- means associated with locking members for resisting rotation of said lamp from said installed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.