Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
9 ~
A DEVICE FOR MOUNTING A LAMP SOCKET
This application relates generally to devices for
attaching a lamp socket to a support tube for the socket
that has a passage for passing the electrical wires from
the socket to an electrical source. In particular, the
present invention relates to devices for mounting a lamp
socket of a candelabrum type lamp to one of the support
branches of the candelabrum.
Present lamp sockets for candelabrum type lamps are
provided with a mounting bar connected to the side o~ the
socket and that has a transverse flange having internal
threads for receiving the external threads of the end
of the elongated support that mounts the lamp either to
a wall or the stem of the candelabrum. The elongated
support member is hollow and curved in various shapes for
aesthetic purposes. The paired connecting wires from the
socket extend from their contacts in the socket through the
member or branch member for electrical connection to an
electrical source. If both the wires and the socket are
being replaced, or just the wires, the procedure is first
to force the paired connecting wires through the hollow
portion of the branch support and then to rotate the socket
onto the threaded portion of the hollow branch support via
the flange of the mounting bar. When the socket is being
rotated, the paired wires are likewise being rotated. Therefore,
to avoid having broken insulation on the wires and a resulting
short, the wires extending from the opposite end of the
mounting bar must likewise be rotated in the opposite direction.
This is an uncertain and burdensome procedure. Also, in
the event old wires are kept in the branch and connected to
a new socket which is then rotated, untwisting the wires
A
is uncertain s~nce the oriyinal position o~ the wires cannot be
determined. Curved, even at times convoluted, configurations
of the branches of a candelabrum make untwisting a connecting
wire held in the often narrow confines of the passage of the
branch holder additionally difficult.
Accordingly, it is an object of an aspect of the
prasent invention to provide a device that enables a lamp
socket to be mounted to a conduit branch for a candelabrum
without rotating the lamp socket and the connecting wires.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention
to provide a clip device that can be removably positioned
around the threaded portion of a candelabrum conduit branch
that is capable of receiving a support bar connected to a lamp
socket so that the lamp socket can be mounted to the threaded
portion directly without the necessity of rotating the lamp
socket.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention
to provide a clip device that can be pressed over the threaded
end portion of a candelabrum branch by means of a mounting tool,
the device being able to mount a lamp socket without rotating
the socket.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention
to provide a device that is adapted to be pressed over the
threaded end portion o~ a candelabrum branch, or alternatively,
to be screwed on the threaded end portion and in addition to
be unscrewed from the threaded end portion and in addition to
be unscrewed from the threaded end portion by means of a
mounting tool, the device being adapted to receive a mounting
bar connected to a lamp socket thus mounting to socket to the
3Q device wi~hout having to rotate the socket and the electrical
connectors.
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- It is an object of an aspect of this invention to
provide a lamp socket ha~iny a flat mounting bar connected to
a lamp socket at one end and having an opposed mounting end
adapted to be slid into a pocket portion of a clip device that
is clipped onto the threaded end portion of a conduit branch
holder cf a candelabrum.
An aspect of the invention is as follows:
A device for moùnting a lamp socket, in combination,
comprising:
an elongated support member forming an elongated
passage, said support member having an externally threaded
portion at one end, said end having an opening to said passage,
a socket adapted to mount a light bulb,
a mounting bar member secured to said socket at one
end, said bar member having an opposed mounting end,
clip means removably secured to said threaded portion,
said clip means being for removably engaging said mounting end
of said mounting bar an~ securing said socket to said support
member, and
a pair of electrical wires connected to the electrical
contacts in said socket, said wires extending from said socket
through said opening and said passage to electrical contacts.
By way of added explanation, in an embodiment of the
invention the novel means employed to overcome the disadvantages
of the prior art that create the pro~lems to be overcome by the
present invention include a dev;ce for mounting a lamp socket
comprising an elongated support mem~er forming an elongated
passage. The support member, which is a branch support of a
candelabrum, has an externally threaded portion at one end,
which has an opening to the passage. A circumferential flange
12~3~31
closely spaced from th~ inner end of the threaded portion pro-
vides support for a glass globe that is set into a globe
receptacle that in turn is set around the threaded portion
and rests upon a support ring set upon the circumferential
flange around the threaded portion. A socket, which holds a
lamp bulk, has one end of a mounting bar secured to it. A clip
is removably secured to the threaded portion, the clip being
adapted to removably engage the free end of the mounting bar,
thus securing the socket to the support member. Paired electri~
cal connectors are connected to the electrical contacts in the
socket and extend from the socket through the opening to the
passage and through the passage and the support branch to elec-
trical contacts.
The clip includes a pocket portion and a base portion.
The base portion includes a substantially flat base wall which
~orms a central aperture adapted to recei~e the threaded portion
of the support member. The base portion has a pair o~ opposed
biased clip elements extending from the base wall over a part of
the aperture. The clip elements engage the threads of the
threaded portion.
- 3a -
The pocket portion is adapted to receive the free, or mounting,
end of the bar member. The pocket portion of the clip member
includes a vertical wall secured to the periphery of the
base portion. The vertical wall is substantially perpendicular
to the base portion and is located substantially midway between
the opposed biased clip elements. The vertical wall has opposed
vertical edge portions and opposed C-shaped channel members
forming opposed vertical slots extenaing over the base portion.
The mounting end of the mounting bar member is disposed in the
slots. The clip eléments have opposed arcuate inner edges
configured to engage the threads of the threaded portion, so
that the clip device can be alternately pressed on or screwed
on or off the threaded portion. A mounting tool is adaptéd to
receive the clip member in removable engagement~ When mounted
to the tool, the tool can be used to press the clip device
over the threads kof the threaded portion of the branch support
until the clip de~ice comes to rest against the bottom wall of
the globe receptacle, the well in turn resting against the
mounting ring, which sets immediately on the circumferential
flange just below the threaded portion.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the
following description of a specific embodiment of the invention,
together with the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference
character denote similar elements throughout the several views,
and in which:
Fig. 1 is a partial sectional elevational side view of a
prior art embodiment related to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a partial sectional elevational front view of
the invention.
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Fig. 3 is a perspective, partially explo~ed view of
the invention in isolation.
Fig. 4 us a rear view of the socket and mounting
bar.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clip member.
Fig. 6 is a top view of the clip member.
Fig. 7 is a view taken through line 1-1 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a view taken through line 2-2 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the
mounting tool and the clip member.
Fig. 10 is a frontal view of the body of the
mounting tool ta~en through line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
Reference is now made in detail to the drawings.
In the detailed description which follows below,
certain references are made to vertical and horizontal
alignments in accordance with the positions of the
elements on the drawings. It is apparent that a lamp
may at times not be upright and relative horizontal
alignments may then tilt from the level. But for the
sake of convenience, such terms as "vertical",
"horizontal", I'top'', and so on are used where such terms
would be generally understood from the alignment of the
embodiment in the several figures.
A partially sectional elevational view of a prior
art embodiment to which the present invention is related
is shown in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 1, a lamp
having an elongated support 12 either alone or one
branch of a candelabrum supports a socket member 14
holding a light bulb 16 which is screwed into its
socket. A surrounding glass globe 18 is set at its base
into the chamber 20 of a globe support receptacle 22.
In this prior art example, support receptacle 22 extends
from its upper portions where it is in contact with
glass globe 18 downwardly to a bottom internal well 22,
within which externally threaded portion 26 of elongated
member 12 extends in upright fashion to and in mating
engagement with threaded horizontal portion 48 of
mounting bar 42. Mounting base ring 28 is set upon a
circumferential ring flange 32 extending outwardly from
B 5
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support member 12 spaced below end 30 adjacent to
threaded portion 26. A pair of electrical wire
conductors 31 are connected to electrical contacts in
socket 14 in a known manner and extend to an opening 34
at end 30 which leads to elongated passage 36 ~ormed in
elongated support member 12 through to the opposite end
38 and through opposite opening 40 to electrical
connectors in the candelabrum, in the wall, or in
whatever body to which support member 12 is connected.
~ig. 1 illustrates the prior art mounting o~ socket
14 upon threaded portion 26. In particular, a mounting
bar 42, preferably of metal and substantially flat, has
a vertical portion 45 and a horizontal portion 48
extending from said vertical portion. Vertical portion
45 has an upper edge 44 secured to socket 14 and
horizontal portion 48 is screwed onto threaded portion
26 by way of vertical threaded aperture 46 formed in
horizontal portion 48.
Thus, in the prior art, when a new socket or new
wires are to be ~laced in the lamp, after removal of
globe 18, the new wires are slid through opening 34
through passage 36 and thereupon mounting bar 42 is
screwed upon threa~ed portion 26 at aperture 46 of
horizontal portion 48. At this time, it is sesn that a
problem ensues, namely, that as socket 14, to which the
pair of wire connectors 31 are connected, is rotated in
the screwing operation, the wire connectors 31 are
likewise rotated and begin to twist in passage 36. The
twisting can result in a breaking of the wires. So, as
socket 14 is rotated, wire conductors 31 must be
continuously untwisted at far opposite end 38 where the
wires extend from opposite opening ~0.
In accordance with the present invention, a clip
member 50 is shown in mounted position in frontal
elevation in Fig. 2 and in
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exploded perspective in Fig. 3. In Fig. 2, light bulbs
16, globe 18, globe receptacle 20, and ring base 24 are
shown in phantom lines so as to emphasize the inventive aspects
of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows clip member 50 set
around threaded portion 26 with light bulb 16, globe 18, globe
receptacle 20, and ring base 24 remo~ed, again for the purpose
of concentrating upon the inventive features of the present
invention.
Socket member 51 is here providqd with a mounting bar 52
that has an upper connecting end 54 secured to socket 51. The
opposed, or mounting end, 56 is slidingly received by pocket
portion 58 of clip member 50, as will be explained in detail
below. Mounting bar 52 preferably is an elongated substantially
flat rectangular prism having a length L, a width W, and a
depth D, the depth being, as mentioned of small dimension.
Ends 54 and 56 are at opposite ends of the length 60, with
end 54 being secured to socket 51 by way of through rivet 66,
which can be seen both in front view in Figs. 2 and 3 as it
extends through socket 1~ and in rear view in Fig. 4, where
the rivet is seen set against bar 52. Upper end 54 of bar 52
is inset into socket 51 in the same manner as upper end 44 of
mounting bar 42 to socket 14 as indicated in Fig. 1 so that
the outer wall 68 of socket 51 is flush with the outer face
of mounting bar 5~.
A pair of electrical connecting wires 70 and 70' are
secured to socket member 51. The leads of wires 70 and 70'
are secured to electrical contacts within socket 51 in a
known manner and exit from the socket 51 from a socket recess
72 formed at the bottom and side of the socket as best seen
in Fig. 3. Wires 70 and 70' extend alongside mounting bar
52 to opening 34 of threaded portion 26 of support member 12 and
through passage 36 and through opposite opening 40 and on to
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be secured to electrical conductor leads(not shown) of a power
source.
In order to avoid the necessity of twisting socket 51 and
along with it socket wire conductors 70 and 70' in passage 36,
and in accordance with the present invention, a clip member 50 is
adjustable set around threaded portion 26. Clip member 50,
shown in Figs~ 3,5,6,7, and 8, includes a substantially flat
base portion 74 including substantially flat base wall 75 having
a preferably circular portion 76 and linear portion 79. Base wall
75 forms a central aperture 78 adapted to receive threaded portion
26. Clip member 50 also includes a pocket portion 58 adapted to
slidingly and removably receive mounting end 56 of mounting bar
52. Base portion 74 includes a pair of opposed biased-clip elements
82 and 83 extending inwardly over a portion o~ aperture 78.
Clip elements 82 and 83 are adapted to slidingly engage with
threaded portion 26. In particular, packet portion 58 includes
an upright wall 84 extending substantially perpendicular to
-base wail 75 at the linear portion 79 of partially circular periphery
76. Wall 84 is connected to base wall 75 so as not to extend
beyond an umaginary circumference if partially circular periphery
76 were extended, specifically wall 84 is secured to linear portion
79 of base wall 75. It is to'.~be understood that base portion 74 .
is preferably partially circular and is contained within an
imaginary circular periphery in order to be firmly seated against
the wall 24 of globe support receptacle 22, which forms a recess
with a flat circular bottom. The exact diameter and configuration
of base portion 74 can vary according to requirements. Wall 84
is positioned approximately midway between opposed clip elements
82. Wall 84 has opposed vertical edge portions 95 in turn having
a pair of opposed preferably C-shaped channel members 85 and 86
that as viewed in cross-section form a pair of opposed vertical
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slots 88 and 88' adapted to recei~e the sides of the width W
of mounting bar;52. Slots 88 and 88' are formed in part by
wall 84 and the the opposing wings of C-shapea channel members
85 and 86 so that the width W of bar 52 gripped slightly by
slots 88 and 88'. It is of course not necessary that opposed
channel members 85 and 86 be C-shaped, for they could be rectangular,
for example. But the preferred C-shaped configuration is
advantageous since the ~ertical edges 87 of the C-shaped portions
are preferably curled slightly inwards towards wall 84, the vertical
edges being positioned so as to press bar 52 tightly against opposed
wall 84.
The biased clip elements 82 as shown in Figs. 3 and 7 have
opposed first portions 90 that extend upwardly from base 74 at a
slight angle over aperture 78 and second portions 92 that extend
close to the horizontal(but preferably not exactly at the horizontal
as will be explained) over a part of aperture 78. The second
portions 92 of clip elements 82 have opposed arcuate inner edges
94 that are configured to engage the threads of threaded portion
26; edges 94 form a partial circle having a diameter. The thickness
of second portions 92 at arcuate inner edges 94 are of the
thickness to fit into the thread recesses of threaded portion
26. Clip elements 82 are slightly biased so that they can
be snapped over the top of threaded portion 26 and flexibility
retreat from the outer rim of the threads of threaded portion 26
and then are self-biased back into engagement into the inter-rib
spaces. Thus biased clip elements 82 resist removal or movement
upward relative to threaded portion 26.
Second portion 92 of clip elements 82 preferably tilt at a
slight angle A from the plane of base 74 downwards from wall 84
so that arcuate inner edges 94 conform to the angle of the ribs
of the threads of threaded portion 26.
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Angle A would vary according to the diameter of threaded
portion 26 and the resultant angle of the ribs of the threads.
Thus, arcuate inner edges 94 makes it possible that clip
device 50 can be screwed onto threaded portion 26 and likewise
screwed off of threaded portion 26. Alternatively, clip device
50 can be pressed onto threaded portion 26 and can be screwed
from threaded portion 26. In addition, as can be seen in Fig.
7, clip elements 82 and 83 are specially contoured and arranged
so that the arcuate inner edges 94 of each are in alignment
with the spiraled recesses of the threads of threaded portion
26. As illustrated, second portion 92 of clip element 82 is
configured~ or directed, slightly downwards towards base wall
75, while second portion 92 of clip element 83 is directed
slightly upwards away from base wall 75. This is a preferred
construction and arrangement, and of course either clip 82 or
83 could be molded somewhat differently for the same result.
- Wall 84 includes a bias element 87 integral with, that is,
cut from, the center portion of the wall. Bias element 87 includes
an upper portion 89 and a lower portion 91, lower portion 91
being spaced from base 74 and top portion 89 being spaced from -
top edge 93 of wall 84. Upper portion 89 is connected to wall
84 and lower portion 91 extends inwardly from wall 84 towards
aperture 78. Bottom portion 91 biasedly presses against mounting
end 56 of bar 52 so that bar 52 is pressed against vertical edges
95 of C-shaped wall portions 85 and 86 that turn inward toward
vertical wall 84. In addition, the projecting bottom edge of -
bottom portion 91 inhibate bar 52 from sliding from the pocket
during manipulation of the lamp.
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In accordance with the present inyention, clip 50 can
be pressed oYer threaded portion 26 of support member 12, or
alternatlvely, be screwed onto thr'eaded portion 26 ~y means
of mounting tool 96, which is shown.in pers:pect;Ve'in ~ig. 9.
As illustrated, a rod 98 has a handle'lO0 at one end and a
mounting body 102, preferably made of cast metal, is connected
to the other end. Body 102 is configured to recei~e clip deyise
50 in removable engagement so that clip device 50 can be slid
onto body 102 and then, by maneuvering clip 50 over threaded
portion 26, biased clip elements 82 will resiliéntly pass oyer
the rib~ of threaded portion 26 as the tool 96 is pressed towards
base 24 of globe support .receptacle 22. When cl;p device 50 is
positioned to its maximum distance onto threaded portion 26 and is
set against base 24, the tool can be withdrawn, and, because the
biased clip elements 82 engage the ribs of threaded portion 26,
clip member 50 remains in position around threaded portion 26
and tool 96 can be withdrawn so that clip member 50 slides out
of body 102 of the ~ool. Alternatively, tool 96 can be used
to position the arcuate inne-r edges 94 of biased clip elements
82 and 83 into threadable engagement with'the threads of threaded
portion 26 and thereupon rotated so as to screw clip member 50 onto
threade'd portion 50 until the clip member 50 is seated against
base 24. In a reversal of this process, body 102 can be slid
onto -clip member 50 when it is in a seated position against base
24, tool 96 can then be rotated, thus rotating clip member 50 via
arcuate inner edges 94, which are in threadable connection with
the threads of threaded portion, from base 24 and complete removal
of clip member 50 from threaded portion 26.
In accordance with the present invention body 102, which is
preferably basically cylindrical in configuration so as to be
generally coextensive with pàrtially circular periphery portion
76 of clip member.50, forms two opposed pocket recesses 104 and 105,
each of which are adapted to receive pocket portion 58 of clip
device S0. In fact, only one pocket recess is needed, but the two
pocket recesses illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 are
preferred as adding convenience to the user. Each pocket recess,
104. and 105, has a rear wall 106 oppos.ed side walls 108 and 109,
and 108' and 109', and an open side 110 and 110' opposite rear wall
106 and an open top~ Rear wall.106 is substantially perpendicular
to side walls 108 and 109 and all three walls, 106, 108 and 109
are substantially parallel to rod 98. Recess bottom 113 is shown
as curved in Fig. 9, but can be of any configuration since the bottom
extends deeper into ~ody 102 than top edge 93 of wall 84 extends into
body 102 than top edge 93 of wall 84 extends into body 102 when clip
member 50 is set into either pocket recess. A pair of support elements,
or pieces.,.116 and 117 extend outwardly from end face 119 of body
102, which is opposite rod 98 and substantially perpendicular to
the rod. Pieces 116 and 117 are positioned at the corners of rear
wall 106 and side wall 108 and create short extensions of those .
walls beyond face 119. Fig. 10 looks directly at face 119, which .
in fact is constituted by four corner plateaus 119 that adjoin support
pieces 117 and 118 and, in addition, adjoin two other similar support
pieces, 116' and 117', which liXewise extend outwardly from face
119 and form a part of pocket recess 105 in the same manner as
pieces 116 and 117 form a part of pocket recess 104. Rear wall 106
receives the outer surfaces of C-shaped wall portions 85 and 86 in
sliding engagement and 86 and side walls 108 and 109 receive the
side surfaces of C-shaped wall portions 85 and 86 in sliding engagement.
Support pieces 116 and 117 each have inner walls 124 and 125 closely
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spaced from rear wall 106. Inner walls 124 and 125 are adapted to
receive the inner edges (or the outer edges according into which
pocket recess pocket portion 58 is inserted) o biased clip
elements 82 and 83. Likewise, support pieces 116' and 117' each
ha~e inner walls 124' and 125' closely spaced from rear wall 106
of pocket recess 105 adapted to receive either the inner edges(or
the outer edges) of biased clip elements 82 and 83. A pair of clip
element recesses 127 and.l28 are formed between outward~y extending
support pieces 116 and 116' and 117 and 117' respectively. When
clip device 50 is pressed into body 102, and pocket portion slides
into either pocket recess 104 or 105, movement ceases when the top
ends of support piece 116,117,116' and 117' come into contact with
the inner surface of base portion 74, since the top ends lie
substantially in the same plane which is substantially perpendicular
to rod 98.
In order that the mounting of clip device 50 onto body 102 be
more secure, a pair of flanges 130 and 131 extend outwardly from
vertical edge portion 95 of vertical wall 84 of pocket portion 58.
Flanges 130 and 131 are spaced from clip elements 82 and 83 and is
integral with base wall 75 specifically at linear portion 79. Flanges
130 and 131 are aaapted to engage each of the pair of support elements
116 and 117(or 116' and 117', as the case may be) when clip
device 50 is mounted onto body 102 Thus, each of the pair of
projecting elements 116 and 117 is wedged between one of the flanges
130 or 131 and one of the clip elements 82 and 83. Specifically,
flange 130 is wedged between clip element 82 and projecting element
116; and flange 131 is wedged between clip element 83 and projecting
element 117. Al~ernatively, flange 130 is wedged between clip
element 83 and projecting element 116'; and flange 131 is wedged
between clip element 82 and projecting element 117'.
-13-
The embodiment of the invention particularly disclosedand described herein is presented merely as an example o
the invention. Other embodiments, forms, and modifications
of the invention comprising within the proper scope and
spirit of the appended claims will, of course, readily
sugge~t themselves to those skilled i~ the art.
