Apparatus to safely retain a lightbulb socket assembly in a ceiling fixture during shipping and rapidly converting the socket assembly for use during installation

A ceiling fixture having a base plate, the improvement comprising:

• a. a retaining clip having a horizontal section and a pair of parallel oppositely disposed arms respectively positioned at each end of the horizontal sectional and extending away from the horizontal section, each arm having a receiving means therein, the horizontal section affixed to the base plate;
• b. a socket assembly having an interior chamber which has a lightbulb receiving means and an exterior surface, a spring clip retaining means affixed to the exterior surface of the socket assembly, the spring clip having a pair of oppositely disposed flexible arms each arm having a mating means thereon;
• and
• c. in a first condition, a respective mating means on a flexible arm of the spring clip inserted into a receiving means on the arms of the retaining clip to retain the socket assembly adjacent to the base plate so that the socket is retained with its interior chamber facing toward the base plate so that the interior chamber of the socket is protected during shipment and in a second condition, a respective mating means on a flexible arm of the spring clip is inserted into a receiving means on the arms of the retaining clip so that the socket is retained so that the interior chamber faces away from the base plate when used to retain a light bulb.

A ceiling fixture having a base plate, the improvement comprising:

• a. a retaining clip affixed to the base plate and having a pair of retaining arms each having a receiving means therein;
• b. a socket assembly having an interior chamber which has a lightbulb receiving means and an exterior surface, a spring clip retaining means affixed to the socket assembly, the spring clip having a pair of oppositely disposed flexible mating means thereon;
• and
• c. in a first condition, a respective mating means of the spring clip inserted into a receiving means of the retaining clip to retain the socket assembly adjacent to the base plate, the socket is retained with its interior chamber facing toward the base plate so that the interior chamber of the socket is protected during shipment and in a second condition, a respective mating means on a flexible arm of the spring clip is inserted into a receiving means on the arms of the retaining clip so that the socket is retained so that the interior chamber faces away from the base plate when used to retain a light bulb.