Lamp socket and contact for said socket

Abstract

A socket (10) for receiving and retaining a lamp (12) and providing electrical connection to electrical lead-ins (14a) and (14b) of the lamp (12), the electrical lead-ins (14a) and (14b) projecting from the lamp in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis (18). The socket (10) comprises a first socket body half (16) arrayed about the longitudinal axis (18) and including a receptacle (20) aligned with the longitudinal axis (18) for receiving a portion (22) of the lamp (12). Lead-in receptacles (24) are formed in the socket body (16), the receptacles being laterally disposed relative to the longitudinal axis. Electrical lead-in contact receivers (26) are formed adjacent the lead-in receptacles. Radially spaced contact retainers (28, 29) are associated with the contact receivers (26). An electrical contact (30) is positioned in each contact receiver (26), each of the electrical contacts (30) comprising first and second spaced-apart lead-in engagers (32, 34) joined by a bight (36). A tab (38) extends from a distal end (40) of the first lead-in engager (32) and is confined in the contact retainer (29) and a tab (42) extends from a proximal end (44) of the second lead-in engager (34). A wire receptor (46) is affixed to the contact (30). A second socket body half (48) is affixed to the first socket body half (16) and a contact retention spring (50) is positioned between an inside surface (52) of the second socket body half and first lead-in engager (32).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.