US974947A - Electric-lamp socket. - Google Patents

Description

R. B. BENJAMIN.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLIUATION FILED Amm, 1907.

UNITED v'sra'rns PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

nLncTRrc-LAMP SOCKET.

To all wlw'm, it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN,

a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Inlprovements in Electric-Lamp Sockets, of

which the following is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description, reference 'being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric lamp sockets, and particularly to that type of lamp socket in which there is provided a plug carrying one or more lampreceiving sockets and contacts associated with these sockets for engagement withthe terminals of lamps carried thereby, this plug being itself provided with contacts which-v are adapted, when the plug inserted into a'n ordinary socket, to coperate with the contacts of said socket and thereby to provide current for the lamp or lamps carried. by the device. In the use of such devices itis found to be desirable that some meansI be provided whereby the device may be .turned about the axis of the plug to any desired position. This is especially true when the socket of the device extends at an angle with the plug. It is well known that the incandescent electric Alamp does not distribute its -light uniformly in all direct-ions, but projects more light in a. direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis than in the direction of this axis.4 Hence to secure` the best illumisocket adapted originally t'o hold but one lamp. j

The object of the present invention is the production of a device of the above-outlined class lin which there is provideda plug adapted to be inserted into the ordinary lamp-receiving socketandto carry one Aor more lam s with their axes arranged at an angle witthe axis of the said plug, and in which means are provided whereby vthe lamp or lamps may be adjusted in a circle about t e plug to any desired position' Specification of Letters Patent. f

Application led April 1l, 1907. Serial No. 367,657.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

without losing the connection between the contacts of the plug and the contacts of the socket inwhich the plug is inserted. In the accomplishment of these objects l provide the plug with an outer Contact member which is adapted to be screwed into the socket without turning the device as a whole, whereby the main port-ion of the device and the lamp or lamps carried thereby may be held in the desired posit-ion while the rotating outer contact is screwed up into place.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention.as applied to a lampholding device adapted to carry two lamps with their longitudinal axes co-incidentwith each other, and disposed at a right angle with the axis of the plug'.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevational side view of the device;

Fig 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing the arrangement 'of contactmembers and other parts of they device' whenthis device is made up so that the lamps carried thereby will be arranged in parallel; Fig. 3 is a v iew similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts arranged 'so as to connect the lamps in series; and Fig. 4 is an elevational view of 'the series device shown in Fig.` 8, looking into-one.' of the sockets.

' In these drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate the saine or similar parts throughout, 5 is a base formed of porcelain orother Suit-able insulating materiahthis basecarrying the lamp-receiving sockets 6 and 7 and suitable lamp-terminaleengaging contacts associated therewith. The sockets 6 and 7 are secured to the base 5 and electrically connected with each other, by a pair of bolts 6a which extend through the base from one of these sockets to the other.` A plug 8, formed of porcelain or the like, is connected with the base 5 byl a bolt 9, which passes centrally and longitudinally through these parts and secures them firmly together. The head l() of the bolt 9 serves as a center contact for the plug'and engages, when this plug is inserted into a socket, the center contact of such socket. Upon the lower end of the base 5 isa plate l1 adapted to serve as a center contact ,for engaging the center ter-A minals of one v'or more of the lamps, this,

'plate' being held in place by ind electrically connected' with the bolt 9 by a nut 12 screwed on to the end of'this bolt. When the device is arranged for the connection ofthe lamps in parallel, as shown in Fig. 2,

' this plate 11 will be Ushaped in form and both of its ends will extend upwardly, one on each side of the base, so as to engage the center terminals of both lamps, but when the device is arranged so as to connect the lamps in series, as 1n the device illustrated in Figs.l 3 and 4, the plate 11 will be L- shaped in form, and one only of its ends will engage a la1np-terminal- Sleeved on the plug 8 is a corrugated or threaded metallic shell 13 adapted to constitute the outer contact-member of'the plug.

The plug 8 is formed with a shoulder 14: near its lower or inner end, andthe shell 13 has its inner end 15 lianged inwardly so as to lock under the shoulder la on the plug v8 and thereby be held in place on said plug. The shell 1'3 is again flanged outwardly at 16 so as to hold in place a ring 17, of hard rubber or other suitable material, which.

"vice was inserted was not as ldeep as the length of the plug.

Arranged between the base- 5 and the plug 8, and immovably secured in place, are a pair of metallic plates, one of which, designated 19, is dished and is in electrical contact with the inturned portion of the shell 13. This plate 19 is provided with a central circular opening through which extends a projection 20 on t e upper end of the base 5. The other of these plates is provided at one oit its ends with a ring-shaped portion 21 extending at a right angle withvits main body portion, this ringportion surrounding the projection 2O on the base 5, and making electrical contact with the dished plate 19. 'Ihe downwardlyextending end 22, of this plate, in the case of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the lamps are connected in parallel, is secured to the socket 7 by a screw 23 and thus makes electrical connection be tween the socket and the rotating sleeve 13. In the series ormof the device, shown in Fig. 3, this plate 22 engages directly with the center terminal of the lamp inserted into the socket 7.

In both the parallel and series forms of the device the sockets 6 and 7 are electrically connected with each other by the bolts 6l which secure the sockets in place. In 'the series form current is led in through the center .holt 9 to the plate 11, thence to the center terminal of the lamp in the socket 6 and through the filament of this lamp to the socket 6,'thence through the bolts 6 to the socket 7, and to the .outer terminal of the lamp in this socket, thence through the 'filament of this lamp and the center terminal thereof to the plate 22, thence to the dished plate 19 and the outer contact-shell-13.

In the parallel form of the device current is led in through the bolt 9 to the plate 11 and there divides, a portion of the current passing to the center terminal of the lamp in the socketl 6 and a portion thereof passing to the center terminal of the lamp in the socket 7. These .branch currents How lthrough the filaments of the lamps to the outer terminals of these lamps and the sockets 6 and 7. As the sockets '6 and 7 are electrically connected with each other through the bolts 6a, current from both of these sockets will pass through the plate 20, which is connected with one of these sockets, to the dished plate 19, thence to the contact shell 13.

An outer casing or housing for the sockets is provided, this housing consisting of two engaging shells 24 and 25, these shells preferably telescoping one within the other and being secured together by any preferable means. As shown in the drawings,.I provide a bayonet connection 26 for interlocking these shells 2l and 25, but any other suitable and convenient means'lnay be employed for etl'ecting -this result. Lining sleeve- rings 27 and 28 are provided for iusulating the shells 6 and 7 from-the outer casing.

When the plug of this device is inserted into an ordinary socket the.outer contact shell 13 is rotated on the plug 8 by means of the projecting collar 17, the device being thus screwed up into place in the socket and the center terminal 1() engaging the center contact of the socket. The lamp-base holding-portion of the device may be turned so that the lamp or lamps carried thereby will extend in any desired direction in a plane at 'right angles with the longitudinal axis of the plug and the socket-into which this plug is inserted. Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist y 1. In a lamp-holding device, the combination -of a base, a plug having a center contact adapted to cooperate with the center. contact of a suitable receptacle,I an outer contact-member rotatable on said plug and adapted to coperate with the outer contact of said rece tacle, a pair of lates clamped between said) base and' said ug, said outer contact member having a flange extending under one of said plates, a lamp-receiving socket carried by said base and having lampterminal-engaging members associated therewith, electrical connection between one of said lamp-termlnal-engaging members and the center contact of the plug and electrical connection between the other of said lampsaid plates.

2. In a lamp-holding device, the combina-A tion of a base, a plug, two plates clamped between said base and plug, a threaded shell arranged to rotate around said plug and aving a portion extending under one of plates, the base havinga groovel exten'din longitudinally thereof and Ithe other of sai plates having a tongue lying in said groove and arranged to conduct current to one of the terminals of a lamp, means for supporting the lamp, and means for conducting current to the other terminal of l said lamp.

3. In a la1np-holding device, the combination of abase and plug made separable from each other, a pair of plates arranged between said base and plug, means for securing said base and plug together and clamping sald4 --Llates therebetweenfa rotatable threaded shell on said plug having a part extending under one of said plates, a lamp-holding device carried by said base, and a tongue ou the other oflcsid plates arranged to conduct current to one of the terminals of a. lamp.

Ll. In a lamp-holding device, the combination with a base, of a. plug having a center ct'iitact, a lamp-receiving socket carried by said base and disposed with its axis at an angle with'the axis of said plug, a'rotatable outer contact-member ou said plug, said member having al1 inturned flange, afplate noli-rotatably 'arranged on said plug and engaging the flange of said rotatable outer contactenieml'ier, a contact plate clamped between said base and said tirst-named plate.

and contacts associated with said socket and one with the centery electrically connected contact of the plug, last-named plate.

5. In a lamp-holding device, the combination of a base and plug separable from each other, a bolt extcndinglongitud inally through and the other with said said base and plug, two plates clamped between said base and plug, a rotatable outer contact on said plug arranged to have sliding contact with one of said plates, lampreceivlng shells vupon o posite sides of said base, means extending t irough said base for i securing said shells inlposition and electrically connecting them together, a center contact for one of said lamp-receiving shells electrically connected with said bolt, and means for making electrical connection between the other plate and one of said lampreceiving shells.

6. The combination of a base and plug made separable from each other, a plate clamped between said'base and plug, a rotatable outer contact on said plug arranged to have sliding engagement with said plate, lamp-receiving shells on opposite sides ot said base, means extending through `said base for securing said shells in place and electrically connecting them together, means for electrically connecting said plate with one of the terminals of the lamp, and a tubular casing shell. made in two parts arranged to be passed on over the lampreceiving shells and telescoping with each other.

7. yIn a lamp-holding device, a base and plug separable from each other, a rotatable outer contact on said plug, aplate clamped between said base and plug and arranged to be lnaintained in electrical connection with said rotatable contact, a base having a tlattened side, a lamp-receiving shell secured to said flattened side with its 'axis al an angle with the axis of the plug` means tor elet-.trically connecting said plate with one ot' the terminals of the lamp, and a tubular casing shell arranged to telescope with said lampreceiving Shell.,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the ln'esencc ot two witnesses.

REUBE ll. BICNJABHN. lVitnesses M. L. FARRAR, C. L. HOPKINS.

Images