Socket for compact fluorescent bulbs

A lighting fixture base comprising:

• a lamp base housing having an outer wall and an end wall, said outer wall and end wall defining a chamber, said chamber being opened at an end opposite of said end wall;
• said end wall having an opening, the end wall opening including at least one slot;
• and
• a ballasted socket mounted in said base housing chamber adjacent an inner surface of said end wall, said socket including:
• a socket housing having a side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall, said walls defining a chamber, the first end wall having a diameter greater than the diameter of the base hosing end wall opening;
• a post extending upwardly from said housing first end wall;
• said post having a side wall and an end wall, said post being sized to extend through the lamp base housing end wall opening;
• a spring arm extending generally parallel to said housing first end wall;
• said spring arm having a fixed end and a free end and a projection near said free end;
• said projection being sized to engage the slot of the lamp base housing end wall to rotationally fix said socket relative to the lamp housing base with a twisting action;
• a socket opening extending inwardly from said socket housing first end wall, said socket opening being sized and shaped to receive a base of a compact fluorescent bulb;
• electrical contacts positioned in said socket to electrically engage electrical contacts of the fluorescent bulb;
• and
• a ballast in said socket housing chamber, said ballast being electrically connected to said socket contact.

A lighting fixture base comprising:

• a lamp base housing having an outer wall and an end wall, said outer wall and end wall defining a chamber, said chamber being opened at an end opposite of said end wall;
• said end wall having an opening, the end wall opening including at least one slot;
• and
• a ballasted socket mounted in said base housing chamber adjacent an inner surface of said end wall, said socket including:
• a socket housing having a side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall, said walls defining a chamber, the first end wall having a diameter greater than the diameter of the base hosing end wall opening;
• a post extending from said socket housing first end wall, said post having an end wall and a side wall and being sized to extend through said opening in said base housing end wall;
• at least one ear extending outwardly from said post side wall, said ear being sized to extend through said slot in said base housing end wall;
• at least one spring arm which interacts with said at least one slot of said base housing to rotationally position said socket in said base housing;
• a socket opening in said post end wall;
• said socket opening being sized and shaped to receive a base of a compact fluorescent bulb;
• a ring on said socket housing first end wall which surrounds said post;
• said ring having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the base housing end wall opening;
• said ring having a side wall and an end wall;
• said post end wall being spaced axially from said ring end wall;
• said spring arm extending from said ring adjacent the side wall of said post, said spring arm being generally parallel to the end wall of said ring, said spring arm having a fixed end, a free end, and a head at said free end, said head being sized to be received in said slot of said base housing end wall;
• electrical contacts positioned in said socket to electrically engage electrical contacts of the fluorescent bulb;
• and
• a ballast in said socket housing chamber, said ballast being electrically connected to said socket contact.

In combination, a lamp base housing and a socket which is received on the lamp base housing;

• the lamp base housing including an end wall having an opening and at least one slot extending from said opening;
• and
• the socket including a body having an end wall, a post extending up from said end wall and sized to extend through said lamp base housing opening;
• an ear extending from said post spaced from said socket body end wall and being sized to pass through said lamp base housing slot;
• and a spring arm on said body;
• said spring arm having a free end and a fixed end and extending generally parallel to said body;
• said spring arm free end being circumferentially spaced from said ear;
• said spring arm extending generally parallel to said body end wall and having a projection extending upwardly from said spring arm sized to engage said housing base slot;
• whereby, said socket is mounted to said lamp base by passing said post ear through said lamp base slot and rotating said socket until said spring arm projection engages said lamp base slot, such that said post ear is on one side of said lamp base housing end wall and said spring arm is on an opposite side of said lamp base housing end wall.