# US 7,744,412 B2 · Apparatus for making electrical contact with luminous means in spotlights

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- Number: US 7,744,412 B2
- Document ID: US7744412B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/988,691
- Filed: 2006-07-05
- Published: 2009-03-12
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2005-07-13
- Assignees: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
- Inventors: Erwin Melzner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744412B2

## CPC

- H01R 27/00: Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts ({for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35}; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90)
- H01R 13/193: Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part {, e.g. zero insertion force or no friction}
- H01R 33/90: adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
- H01R 33/975: Holders with resilient means for protecting apparatus against vibrations or shocks
- F21V 19/0005: {of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp (F21V19/001 takes precedence)}
- H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling
- H01R 33/06: with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other
- H01R 33/7664: {having additional guiding, adapting, shielding, anti-vibration or mounting means}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An apparatus for making electrical contact with luminous means in spotlights, which contain a glass vessel, a luminous means base and contact pins for the power supply is provided. The apparatus comprising a luminous means holder with at least two socket pairs for accommodating the contact pins of different luminous means. The socket pairs are arranged in clamping pieces, whose mutually opposite connecting faces can be removed from one another in order to accommodate the contact pins of the luminous means and can be guided towards one another in order to make electrical contact with the contact pins of the luminous means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A luminous means holder apparatus for making electrical contact with a luminous means in spotlights, said luminous means comprising a glass vessel, a luminous means base and longitudinally extending contact pins for a power supply, each contact pin having a longitudinal axis, the luminous means holder apparatus comprising at least two socket pairs for accommodating the contact pins of different types of luminous means, wherein the socket pairs are formed from opposing socket parts having mutually opposite connecting faces, wherein said mutually opposite connecting faces are separable from each other for receiving the contact pins of the luminous means and said mutually opposite connecting faces can be guided towards one another and transversely to said contact pins' longitudinal axis to make electrical contact with the contact pins of the luminous means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each socket pair forms a socket, and wherein the sockets of the socket pairs have different distances from one another and/or diameters.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket pairs are arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis of symmetry of the luminous means holder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket pairs are arranged in such a way that they are offset with respect to one another in relation to at least one axis of symmetry of the luminous means holder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein connecting lines of the socket pairs form different angles with respect to an axis of symmetry of the luminous means holder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket pairs are arranged such that they are separated from one another.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket pairs merge at least partially with one another.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each socket pair forms a socket, and wherein for luminous means with different power consumptions and/or power outputs, the distance between and/or the diameter of the sockets increase with the increasing power consumption and/or power output of the luminous means.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the connecting faces is angled and/or bent at right angles to an adjustment direction of the socket parts.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket parts are in the form of metal jaws.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein socket inserts and/or socket parts can be rotated through 180° in a section plane with respect to the contact pins of the luminous means.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein socket inserts and/or the socket parts can be rotated through 180° at right angles to a section plane with respect to the contact pins of the luminous means.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein sockets are formed from socket parts, which are arranged in clamping pieces.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the socket parts are formed on the mutually opposite connecting faces formed on the clamping pieces.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the socket parts are designed to be asymmetrical in relation to the connecting faces of the clamping pieces.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the socket parts are designed to be semicylindrical.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the socket parts are designed to be polygonal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the socket parts are designed to be symmetrical.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the socket parts are designed to be semicylindrical.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the socket parts are designed to be polygonal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket parts for the purpose of electrically isolating sockets formed by said socket parts, have insulation, which runs substantially at right angles to the connecting faces.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the insulation is in the form of a distance between the socket parts which contain sockets of one pole and the socket parts which contain sockets of another pole.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the insulation is in the form of an insulating layer between the socket parts which contain sockets of one pole and the socket parts which contain sockets of another pole.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket parts are connected to one another in articulated fashion at their ends which are opposite sockets formed by said socket parts.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the socket parts are preferably prestressed in a sprung manner in a joining direction.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the luminous means holder has a holder frame, into which different, replaceable socket inserts can be inserted.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the socket inserts contain the socket parts and supporting elements, which are arranged at least partially between the socket parts and the holder frame.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the holder frame comprises fixed frame parts and movable frame parts, which are each associated with a socket part.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the movable frame parts are operatively connected to the socket parts.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein struts are arranged between the movable frame parts and the socket parts.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one passive intermediate clamping piece is arranged between the connecting faces.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the connecting faces or the socket parts and the least one intermediate clamping piece is angled and/or bent at right angles to an adjustment direction of the socket parts.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the socket parts or the intermediate clamping pieces are in the form of metal jaws.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the socket parts and/or the at least one intermediate clamping piece, for the purpose of electrically isolating sockets formed by said socket parts, have insulation, which runs substantially at right angles to the connecting faces.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the insulation is in the form of a distance between the socket parts or the at least one intermediate clamping piece which contain sockets of one pole and the socket parts or the at least one intermediate clamping piece which contain sockets of another pole.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the insulation is in the form of an insulating layer between the socket parts or the at least one intermediate clamping piece which contain sockets of one pole and the socket parts or the at least one intermediate clamping piece which contain the sockets of another pole.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the socket parts are connected to one another in articulated fashion at their ends which are opposite sockets formed by said socket parts.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the socket parts or the at least one intermediate clamping piece are preferably prestressed in a sprung manner in a joining direction.