US 6,183,286 B2Granted

Convertible lamp socket

AssigneeTRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG

InventorJürgen Hofmann

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A lamp socket system 1 is provided for mounting an associated lamp 20, 20′ by holding a base 15 of the lamp through engagement between a set of connection pins 8, 8′ extending outwardly from the lamp base and a set of bayonet catch contacts 17, 18. The lamp socket includes a main housing body 2 and a substantially cylindrical coding ring 3, 3′ selectively connectable with the housing. The cylindrical coding ring 3 includes a set of recesses 10, 10′ arranged on an inner circumference of the coding ring at positions corresponding with positions of the set of connection pins 8, 8′ extending from the associated lamp socket base 15. The set of recesses 10, 10′ are adapted to receive the set of bayonet catch contacts 17, 18 associated with the lamp socket. A plurality of cylindrical coding rings are provided for selective connection with the main housing body to provide a convertible lamp socket system.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A convertible lamp socket for mounting a plurality of differently shaped associated lamps by holding a base of a selected lamp through engagement between a set of connection pins extending outwardly from the lamp base and a set of bayonet catch contacts associated with the selected lamp socket, the lamp socket comprising:

a main housing body including a cylindrical wall member defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart locating recesses;
and,
a substantially cylindrical coding ring defining a first longitudinal axis and being selectively connectable with the housing body, the coding ring carrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart locating tabs arranged to engage the locating recesses defined on the wall member when the coding ring and the main body housing are selectively connected together, the coding ring further having a set of recesses arranged on an inner circumference of the coding ring at positions corresponding with positions of the set of connection pins extending from the associated selected lamp socket base, the set of recesses being adapted to receive said set of bayonet catch contacts associated with the selected lamp socket, each set of recesses including i) a longitudinal first groove opened on one end at an edge of the coding ring to enable the associated selected lamp base and the coding ring to be interengaged, the first groove extending substantially in parallel with the first longitudinal axis to permit relative motion between the coding ring and the associated selected lamp along said first longitudinal axis, and ii) a transverse second groove defining a bayonet catch recess contiguous with the first groove and extending tangentially relative to the coding ring, the transverse second groove permitting relative interengaged rotation between the coding ring and the associated selected lamp about said first longitudinal axis.

A convertible lamp socket system for use with at least two associated electric lamps, each of the at least two associated lamps having a different mechanical connection area configuration, the lamp socket system comprising:

a housing member adapted to carry electric current to the at least two associated electric lamps when the at least two associated electric lamps are selectively singularly received in the lamp socket system, the housing member defining a first mechanical receiving area;
a first adapter ring member having a first mechanical engagement area adapted to selectively intermatably couple with a first mechanical connection pin configuration of a first associated electric lamp and having a second mechanical engagement area adapted to selectively intermatably couple with said first mechanical receiving area of said housing member to carry said electric current to the first associated electric lamp;
and,
a second adapter ring member having a second mechanical engagement area shaped differently from said first mechanical connection area of said first adapter ring member, the second adapter ring member being adapted to selectively intermatably couple with a second mechanical connection pin configuration of a second associated electric lamp and having a second mechanical engagement area adapted to selectively intermatably couple with said first mechanical receiving area of said housing member to carry said electric current to the second associated electric lamp, the first and second adapter ring members being selectively interchangeable in said housing member to selectively adapt the housing member to receive a one of the first and second associated electric lamps.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.