Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~EDGE BASE LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY
RELATED APPLICATION
In a Canadian pate~t applicatio~ Ser.
No. ~ln~717F ~iled September 2, 1982, there is
disclosed an improved socke~ member for a ~edge base
type inc~ndescent lamp which includes resilie~t
engagement means to mount the lamp and socket assembly
for subseque~t operatio~ alo~g ~ith particular
electrical termination means being provided i~ the lamp
socket member to help ~acilit~te automatic installation
of the lamp an~ socket asemblyO The pre~erred
termination means further i~clude insulation pierci~g
elements to physic~lly grip and make electrical contact
with the insulated electrical conductors associ~ted
~ith said lamp assembly during final intallation of the
lamp socket assembly. The present i~vention represents
the further improvement made in said termination means~
BACKGROUND OF THE IN~ENTION
The ~edge base type incandesce~t lamp has
been in use for some time in ~arious product
applic~tions including instrumen~ panels ~or automotive
and otke~ type vehicles. An insulated socket member
that is generally formed of a synthetic organic polymer
material and which contRins a pair of connector
~5 elemen~s, serves as the means ~or electrical
termînation of this type lamp. It is ~nown to incluc~e
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slot openings in the base o~ said insulated socket -
member for insertion of electrically conductive metal
termi~als in the form o~ metal strips which
electrically contact a pair of connector elements
located inside of the plastic socket memberO It would
be desirable to modify the structure of this socket
member for automatic high speed man~lfacture as well as
subsequent installatio~ of the lamp a~d socket
sub-assembly into the ~inal product, such as in
automotive in~trument pa~els~
Various entertainment devices such as pinball
machines include minia~ure incaodescent lamps to
provide a~ illuminated display when the device is
operated~ A plywood panel is no~ employed in pinball
machines to serve as an i~stallation panel for these
lamps ~ith the socket member terminals simply being
mechanically stapled to the plywood by hand labor which
is also used e~te~sively in other assembly tasks needed
to complete electrical termin tion of these lamps on
the ply~ood panel. Assembly of the aforementioned
prior art soGket member first press fits ~he metal
strip terminals iDto the slot openings, then solders or
welds external elec~.rical elements on the assembled
terminals, ne~t in~erts and mechanically staples the
socket member into the ply~ood panel openings, and
finally solders electrical conductors to the assembled
terminals. The hand labor used in this type assembly
is undesirably extensive, especially since e~isting
socket designs do not include features ~hich physically
hold the parts being assembled in the fi2ed location or
accommodate tolerance variation between parts. An
improved socket member construction including such
features would further lesse~ hand labor in the overall
assembly process for attendant lowe~ costs as well as
higher quality ~nd greater reliability in the final product.
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In the aforementioned copending U.S. patent
application, there is disclosed improved termination
means ~or the lamp soc~et member that lnclude piercing
elements being loc~ted at the unconnected end o~ each
conductive metal terminal strip a~d ~hich serve to make
the electrical co~tact to in~ulated ~ire co~ductors
~hen the metal strips are mechanically crimped to said
wire conductors. Since the particular termination
means previously disclosed in said copending
applisation consists o~ a simple ~end at the end o~ the
metal str1ps with the piercing elements being located
in th~ be~t sectio~, however, there is no means
provided to physically grip the insulated wire
co~ductor u~til the ~inal crimping action takes place.
Accordingly, there still e~ists a ~eed ~or modi~ication
oP said termination means so that the i~sulated wire
conductors c~n be simply held in place by the sock~
~ember during various assembly operatious associated
with con~ecting a plurality o~ these type lAmps iu a
prewire~ har~ess arrangement, In this manner all lamp
a~d soc~et assemblies can be pre~ired in th~ harness
arrangement ~or collective mounting o~ the installation
pa~el and with the ~inal assembly taking place whe~ the
mechanical crimping activn pierces the electrical
insulation and secure~ said wire conductors permanen~ly
in place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now bee~ discovered that all o~ the
foregoing objectives can be provided with an improved
socket member construction comprising a cylindrical
shaped plastic body member with a hollow cavity ope~ing
at one end i~to which the lamp is inserted ~or
~rictional engagement wi~h a pair of connector elements
located at the bottom o~ said holl~w cavity, slots
located at the other end o~ said plastic body member
which commun:icate with -the connec-tor elements and are
shaped to accommoda-~e ex-ternal electrical elements
being pressed into said slots for electrical contac-t
with -the connec-tor elements, resilient engagement
means located at the open end of the plastic body
member, and elec-trically conductive me-tal terminal
strips which are pressed into the slots for elec-trical
contact with said connec-tor elements, wherein -the
improvement comprises engagement means for an
insulated wire conductor -that is provided at the
unconnected end of each conductive metal terminal
strip by forming a con-tour which physically grips
said insula-ted wire conductor when inser-ted therein-to
and Eur-ther includes at leas-t one barb elemen-t
pro-truding inwardly from the con-tour which pierces
the wire insulation when the contour is crimped
-to permanently secure -the wire in place. As more
fully described in the aforemen-tioned Canadian
applica-tion, Serial No. 410,717, the slot openings
in the present socke-t member comprise a first and
second pair of slots located in opposing
relationship with only said first pair of slots
communicating with -the connector elemen-ts located
within the plastic body and with a second pair of
slots being electrically connected to said con-
nector elements only by ex-ternal electrical elements
pressed into the slot openings. Larger size openings
are provided at one end of each slot to accommodate
said external elec-trical elements being pressed into
-the slots for elec-trical contact with the internal
connector elements and preferred external elemen-ts
include a jumper wire or semiconduc-tor diode which
become series connec-ted with the lamp in the
elec-trical circui-t.
In a preferred embodiment o~ -the presently
improved socket mer~er, the engagemen-t means for an
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i~sulated ~ire conductor located at the unconnected e~d
of each conductive metal terminal strip is formed with
a cyli~drically shaped contour i~ said metal strip to
physically grip the i~sulator wire conductor ~hen
inserted thereinto, while further includin~ at least
one barb element protruding within the cylindr~cal
contour which pierces the ~ire insulation whe~ crimped
to provide the electrical termination and perma~ently
secure the ~ire conduc~or in place. Tab elements can
also be provided e~tending outwardly ~rom the sides oi
the metal strip and ~hich are bent around the metal
strip during ~he same crimping opera~io~ to form a more
secure mechanical joinder o~ the wire conductors to the
so¢ket member.
I~ a different preferred embodiment o~ the
presently improved socket member, the engagement me~ns
provided at the unconnected e~d o~ each coaductive
metal terminal strip has a ~-shaped contour ~ith a pair
o~ barb eleme~ts protruding i~wardly ~rom the open e~d
of said U-shaped co~tour to form a ramp providing
mecha~ical advantage for easy i~sertion o~ the
insulated wire thereinto along with penetrating the
wire insulation ~hen ~he mechanical crimping action
takes place. The contour and ramp construction of said
engagement means can all be formed simultaneousl~ in
the conductive metal strips by conventional metal
forming techniques which can still further include a
pair oi' tabs e~tending out~ardly from the sides of the
metal strip to rein~orce the final mechanical joinder
when the termination is erimped as previously
mentioned.
A~ especially preferred form of the present
engagement means further includes a hinge type dete~t
being loc~ted on the contoured end o~ the me~al stripO
S~id detent helps to grip the wire conductor when first
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inserted into the cont~ur opening as well as provide a
hinging action ~hen the contoured end is thereafter
crimped to help insure a more complete envelopment of
said wire conductor. I~ the latter cooperative
action, the dete~ serves to close the contoured end
around a greater portion of the ~ire circum~erenceO
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E D~AWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred socket member
constructio~ in the present inve~tion.
FIG. 2 illu~trates a di~ferent socket member
of the preseut invention ~ith respect to the improved
engagement mea~s ior wire termination.
FIG. 3 depicts an especially pre~erred
embodiment of the contoured engagement means according
to the present invention.
DESCRIPTIOM OF TH~ PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an
e~ploded view depicting the esse~tial structural
~eatures for the improved socket member of the present
i~vention. Specifically, said improved lamp and socket
subassembly 56 includes conventional wedge base lamp
member 12 which is inserted into the cylindrical shape
plastic body member 58 having a hollow cavity opening
6n at one end containing a pair of connector elements
62 and 64 located a~ the bottom o~ said hollo~ cavity
and which further includes a pair of resilie~t ~inger
elements 66 and 68 integrally formed in the plastic
body member at its open end. Said resilient ~inger
elements provide the engagement means which grip the
plas~ic socket member in place when pressed into the
opening of an iastallation panel (not shown) -to prevent
both disengagement in the panel as ~ell as the rotation
in the opening. ~ore particularly, a relie~ portion 70
on the contour of each resilient finger provides
positive locki~g relationship with the installation
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panel, whereas a longitudinally e~tending rib 72 on
said contour resists rotation of the socket member
after insertion into the pa~el opening while
maintaining physical contact in said openin~ despite
variations in the thickness o~ the panelO At the
opposite end of said plastic body member 53 there is
provided a first pair o~ slots 74 and 7~ communicating
~ith said conne~tor elements 62 ~nd 64 and into which
there is pressed ~it a pair of electricall~ conductive
metal terminals 78 and 80. As can be noted, said metal
termtnals physic211y contact ~he connector elements
a~ter insertion into the slots and ~ith the other e~d
o~ said terminal elements being in physical contact
with the install~tion pa~el when the socket member has
been assembled thereto. It can be further noted ~rom
the drawing that said latter ends 82 and 84 o~ the
terminal elements further include the particular
engagement means 86 and 88 of the present i~vention
that serve to provide electrical connection to
associated insulated wire conductors (partially shown)~
A second pair o~ slot openings 90 and 92 loGated in
opposing relationship to the first pair of slot
openings in said modi~ied socket member do not
physically communicate wlth the internal connec~or
elements. Electrical contact of slot openings 90 and
92 with said internal connector elements occurs o~ly by
e~ternal connection means wherein an electrical element
is pressed into o~e of said openings ~hile also bei~g
pressed into one o~ the slot openings 7~ and 76.
Accordingly, all four slot openings ~ur-ther include
l~rger size openings 96, 98, 100, and 102 to
accommodate said e~ternal elements which provide
electrical contact ~it~ the interior connector
elements. By arranging for a fle~ible spacial
orientation of the electrical termination means to the
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socket member in this simplified m~ner, there i5
avoided any necessity for welding or soldering o~
iuterconnection elements in the assembl~ of the lamp
circui t O A simple ,~umper wire or the i~leads o:~ a
semiconductor diode provide such _~terconnection when
simply pressed i~to the appropriate slot openings of
the illustrated socket member.
Socket member 58 ~ill further includes,
located at e~ch corner, planar sur~aces 104, 105, 106
and 107 formed into the other~ise g~nerall~ cyli~drical
shaped plastic body to physically lock the sock~t
member into place during the assembly process,
Specificall~, the four locking sur~aces engage one
major surface o~ the panel ~hile the remaining major
surface of said panel is b~ing gripped by relief
portion 70 i~ each o~ the resilie~t i'i~gers. As o~
illustration how such an assembly can be bene~ited from
these locking sur~aces on the modified socket member,
presen-t pinball machine devices commonly utilize a
design for multiple mounti~g of lights in line to
pro~ide sequenti~l lighting e~fects. This is
accomplished by the use of a metal panel strip to which
the lamp and socket subassemblies are ~aste~ed by
rivets. This method is labor intensive a~d ln some
instances requires additional hard wire and soldered
joints. I~ the automatic assembly o~ ~ plurality o~
the improved socket design to a metal panel strip
having openings ~hich accommodate socket inser~ion,
there would only be requlred an insertio~ of each
socket into a particular opening in the strip ~or
locking engagement there~ith. It is still ~urther
contemplated that automatic assembly of the final lamp
circuit configuration UsiDg the present socket design
can also prewire all lamp socket ~ssembli es in a
harness arrangement and thereafter mount the individual
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subassemblies on the installation panel to complet~ the
fi~al assembly.
The present wire engagement means 86 and 8
bei~g utilized in said socket member facilitates the
aforementioned automatic assembly on an ins~allation
panel. ~ore particularly wlth respect to a single
engagement means 86, there is provided a cyl~drical
contour 108 in the conductive metal terminal strip that
is sized to physically grip a~ insulated wire conductor
when inserted thereinto a~d which further includes at
least one barb element 110 protruding inwardly from
said contour ~hich pierces the wire insulatio~ ~he~ the
co~tour is th~rea~'ter cri~ped to provide the electrical
connectio~. Also included in said engagement means 86
are a pair of tab elements 112 and 114 which e~tend
out~ardly ~rom the sides of the conductive metal s~rip
and which cau be bent around said metal strip when the
cylindrical coutour is crimped. ~ccordingly, an
i~sulat~d electrical conducto~ inserted into the
cylindrical cavity will be temporarily held in place by
frictional ergagement until the mechanical crimping
action takes place ~o permit some relocatio~ o~ a
particular lamp and socket assembly if needed to
accommodate variations ~he~ assembling ~he final
inst,rument panel.
In FIGo 2 there is shown different engagement
means 116 for the improved socket member o~ the prese~t
invention. Specifically, said engagement means 116
includes a contour 118 provided at the unconnected end
of each conductive metal terminal strip that is
U~shaped i~ form and which further lncludes a pair of
barb elements 120 a~d 122 protruding inwardly from the
open end of said U-shape that form a ramp to assist
in piercing the ~ire insulationO ~hile not depicted in
said preferred embodime~t, it is contemplated to
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further include the same type tab eleme~ts e~tending
outwardly from the sides of said metal strip and ~hich
can be bent around the metal strip ~hen the U-shaped
contour is mechanically crimped for Rdditio~al
reinPorcement o~ the ~ire joint.
I~ FIGo 3 there is depicted in part ~
especially pre~erred modificatio~ of the present
engagement mea~s wherein the contoured end of the metal
terminal strip ~urther i~cludes a hi~ge type detent
element. More p~rticularly ~ith respec~ to a single
~ire eugagement mea~s previously described, said
modified e~gagement means 86' having a cyli~drically
shaped contour 108' located at the unconnected end now
further includes said hinge type detent element 124'
adjace~t th~ contour opening 12~'. Said detent element
provides a hinge motion when the co~tour opening is
closed to help envelop a wire co~duc~or inserted i~to
the opening a~ ~ell ~s coope.rates in holding the
co~ductor temporarily in place ~hile the opening
remains ope~.
It will be apparent from the foregoing
description th~t various ~odi~ications can be made in
-the present improved socXet member still within the
spirit a~d scope of the present invention~ For
e~ample, it is contemplated to add still further
electrical termi~ation me~ns in the presen~ socket
member if required i~ the particular electrical circult
being e~ployed. It is thereby intended to limit the
present i~vention, therefore, only by the scope of -the
following claims.
