CA2213014A1 - Snap-in mount for light sockets - Google Patents
Snap-in mount for light socketsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2213014A1 CA2213014A1 CA 2213014 CA2213014A CA2213014A1 CA 2213014 A1 CA2213014 A1 CA 2213014A1 CA 2213014 CA2213014 CA 2213014 CA 2213014 A CA2213014 A CA 2213014A CA 2213014 A1 CA2213014 A1 CA 2213014A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mount
- aperture
- prongs
- mounting
- diameter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
- Insertion Pins And Rivets (AREA)
Abstract
The snap-in mount for light sockets includes two downwardly extending prongs which include upper and lower jaw elements thereby forming a detent element between the jaw elements for engaging an edge of an aperture in a mounting panel. The prongs are somewhat splayed outwardly prior to mounting and are elastically urged inwardly to a substantially parallel configuration during mounting. The mount further includes stabilizing fins which include a notch for engaging an edge of a mounting aperture. The prongs are engaged at opposite ends of a first diameter of the mounting aperture while the stabilizing fins are engaged at opposite ends of a second diameter, perpendicular to the first diameter, of the mounting aperture.
Description
~ CA 02213014 1997-08-14 3029-34 , SNAP-IN MOUNT FOR LIGHT SOCKETS
~ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The invention pertains to a snap-in mount for light sockets, particularly to mounts with snap-in prongs and stabilizing ribs for mounting in punched apertures in plastic panels.
DescriPtion of the Prior Art In the prior art, it is well-known to use a mount with two columns of fins to assemble light sockets to wooden panels.
The use of thinner (for instance, 0.075 inches thick versus 0.500 inches thick) plastic panels required a change in the design of the mount, but the stability of the connection of the mount to the plastic panel has been deficient, particularly with respect to sideways forces and the cantilever effect.
Moreover, as the mounting apertures in thin plastic mounting panels have frequently been chamfered, the stability of prior art mounts has been impaired.
Additionally, it has been very important to keep the manufacturing costs of such mounts low.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets for standard size round apertures in panels, particularly thin plastic panels, while maintaining stability.
It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which securely at~aches itself to standard size round apertures.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which can accommodate a chamfered mounting aperture.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which mounts in a manner which is resistant to sideways forces and is further resistant to the cantilever effect.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which is made from light weight materials.
It is therefore a final object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which can be manufactured at a low cost.
These and other objects are attained by providing a mount for light sockets with two downwardly extending, somewhat outwardly splaying, prongs with lateral detent elements. The prongs of the mount extend into a mounting aperture in the mounting panel which is sized so that the detent elements of the prongs engage opposite sides of the mounting aperture across a diameter of the mounting aperture and the prongs are elastically urged toward each other to a near parallel configuration.
Additionally, stabilizing ribs are oriented perpendicularly to the diameter of the mounting aperture extending between the prongs. A lower portion of the stabilizing ribs extends into the mounting aperture and is immediately adjacent to opposite sides of the mounting aperture across a diameter thereof while an upper portion of the stabilizing ribs includes a portion which mounts against an upper surface of the panel outwardly adjacent from the mounting aperture in order to stabilize the socket.
The mount therefore contacts the periphery or ~he mounting aperture at four points of contact -- the two prongs and the two stabilizing ribs -- spaced at substantially ninety degree intervals resulting in a configuration which is very resistant to sideways forces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanyinq drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side plan view of the mount of the present invention, showing the prongs in an unmounted, somewhat outwardly splayed, position.
Figure 2 is a side plan view of the mount of the present invention, showing the prongs in a mounted substantially parallel position, and the mounting panel in phantom.
Figure 3 is a side plan view of the mount of the present invention showing the details of the stabilizing ribs, and showing the mounting panel in phantom.
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the mount of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the mount of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the mount of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one sees that Figure 1 is a side plan view of the mount 10 of the present invention, with two prongs 12, 14, extending downwardly, somewhat outwardly splayed, from the socket portion 16. As mount lO, including prongs 12, 14, is manufactured from thermoformed plastic, prongjs 12, 14 are elastically flexible inwardly and outwardly. Prongs 12, 14 include distal ends 18, 20, respectively, with rounded points 22, 24. Upwardly adjacent of distal ends 18, 20 are lower jaw portions 26, 28 extending outwardly from prongs 12, 14, respectively. Upwardly adjacent from lower jaw portions 26, 28 are upper jaw portions 30, 32.
Lower and upper jaw portions 26, 30 form detent element 34 therebetween on prong 12. Likewise, lower and upper jaw portions 28, 32 form detent element 36 therebetween on prong 14. Detent elements 34, 36, include rear walls, 38, 40, and lower inclined walls 42, 44, respectively, in order to accommodate a chamfered mounting ap~-.ture 100 in mounting panel 102 (see Figure 2 wherein prongs 12, L4 are fiexed inwardly so that detent elements 34, 36 engage the walls of mounting aperture 100 which are chamfered, rather than precisely vertical).
As can be seen from Figure 3, prongs 12, 14 are of reduced width below upper jaw portions 30, 32.
Terminal block 4a is formed between prongs 12, 14, and, as can be seen from Figure 4, is hollow thereby providing access to terminal contacts 50, 52, typically made of phosphor bronze, which are in electrical communication with sGcket pGrtion 16.
Terminal contacts 50, 52 are separated by wall 51.
As can be seen from Figures S and 6, socket portion 16 inc,ludes inner parallel walls 54, 56 rising from socket floor 57 and spanning the length of socket portion 16, separated by end walls 58, 60, thereby forming bulb contact areas 62, 64 therebetween. Bulb contact areas 62, 64 serve as a housing for bulb terminals 66, 68 which are in electrical communication with term;n~l con_acts 5Z, 50, respectively. In fact, terminal contact 50 ~nd bulb ~erminal 68 are typically made from a single piece of phosphor bronze. Likewise, terminal contact 52 and bulb terminal 66 are typically made from another single piece of phosphor bronze.
Laterally offset outer walls 70, 72 are outwardly parallel from inner walls 54, 56, respectively. Laterally offset outer wall 70 is separated from inner wall 54 by sidewalls 74, 75 while laterally offset outer wall 72 is separated from inner wall 56 by sidewalls 76, 77. Inner walls 54, 56 and laterally offset outer walls 70, 72 include several aligned vertical slots 78, typically serrated, for the mounting of bulbs (not shown) and reflectors (not shown).
As shown in Figures 1-4, stabilizing ribs 80, 82 extend from terminal block 48 in a direction perpendicular (as viewed from above or below) to the direction of extension of prongs 12, 14 from terminal block 48. As shown in Figure 3, stabilizing ribs 80, 82 include upper triangular portions 84, 86 with outward truncated tips 88, 90 and lower rectangular portions 92, 94, respectively. The upper faces of lower rectangular portions 92, 94 align with the lower faces or bases of upper triangular portions 84, 86, but the outer vertical faces 95, 97 of lower rectangular portions 92, 94 are inwardly offset frcm the outward truncated tips 88, 90 of upper triangular portions 84, 86 thereby forming lower rectangular notches 96, 98 which engage the edges CA 022l30l4 l997-08-l4 of ,mounting aperture 100 in mounting panel 102 (shown in phantom in Figure 3). Lower rectangular portions 92, 94 are sized so that notches 96, 98 engage the edges of mounting aperture 100 with a close tolerance. In other words, the horizontal distance between outer vertical faces 95, 97 of lower rectangular portions 92, 94 is substantially equal to ("substantially equal to"
including the preferable configuration of "very slightly less than") thje diameter of mounting aperture 100 in order to provide a close fit between notches 96, 98 and mounting aperture 100.
As shown in Figure 4, as prongs 12, 14 exert force aligned with a major or longitu~inal axis of mount 10 and stabilizing fins 80, 82 provide support along a minor axis (perpendicular to the major or longitudinal axis) of mount 10, mount 10 is therefore supported along four substantially equally spaced points around the circumference of mounting aperture 100.
To use mount 10, the user squeezes prongs 12, 14 together and inserts distal ends 18, 20 through mounting aperture 100 in mounting panel 102 so that upper jaw elements 30, 32 engage an upper face of mounting panel 102 and lower jaw elements 26, 28 engage a lower face of mounting panel 102, so~ that detent elements 34 and 36 engage mounting panel 102 across a first diameter of mounting aperture 100. In its mounted position, prongs 12, 14 are urged inwardly so as to provide an outward elastic force again the periphery of mounting aperture 100 as shown in Figure 2. Likewise, notches 96, 98 of stabilizing ribs 80, 82 engage mounting panel 102 across a second diameter of mounting aperture 100, the first and the second diameters being substantially perpendicular to each other.
Bulbs and reflectors (not shown) can be mounted via aligned vertical slots 78 either before or after the mounting of mount 10 . CA 02213014 1997-08-14 on~o mounting panel 102.
Finally, communication to an electrical power source (not shown) is provided to terminal contacts 50, 52.
Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.
~ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The invention pertains to a snap-in mount for light sockets, particularly to mounts with snap-in prongs and stabilizing ribs for mounting in punched apertures in plastic panels.
DescriPtion of the Prior Art In the prior art, it is well-known to use a mount with two columns of fins to assemble light sockets to wooden panels.
The use of thinner (for instance, 0.075 inches thick versus 0.500 inches thick) plastic panels required a change in the design of the mount, but the stability of the connection of the mount to the plastic panel has been deficient, particularly with respect to sideways forces and the cantilever effect.
Moreover, as the mounting apertures in thin plastic mounting panels have frequently been chamfered, the stability of prior art mounts has been impaired.
Additionally, it has been very important to keep the manufacturing costs of such mounts low.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets for standard size round apertures in panels, particularly thin plastic panels, while maintaining stability.
It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which securely at~aches itself to standard size round apertures.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which can accommodate a chamfered mounting aperture.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which mounts in a manner which is resistant to sideways forces and is further resistant to the cantilever effect.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which is made from light weight materials.
It is therefore a final object of this invention to provide a mount for light sockets which can be manufactured at a low cost.
These and other objects are attained by providing a mount for light sockets with two downwardly extending, somewhat outwardly splaying, prongs with lateral detent elements. The prongs of the mount extend into a mounting aperture in the mounting panel which is sized so that the detent elements of the prongs engage opposite sides of the mounting aperture across a diameter of the mounting aperture and the prongs are elastically urged toward each other to a near parallel configuration.
Additionally, stabilizing ribs are oriented perpendicularly to the diameter of the mounting aperture extending between the prongs. A lower portion of the stabilizing ribs extends into the mounting aperture and is immediately adjacent to opposite sides of the mounting aperture across a diameter thereof while an upper portion of the stabilizing ribs includes a portion which mounts against an upper surface of the panel outwardly adjacent from the mounting aperture in order to stabilize the socket.
The mount therefore contacts the periphery or ~he mounting aperture at four points of contact -- the two prongs and the two stabilizing ribs -- spaced at substantially ninety degree intervals resulting in a configuration which is very resistant to sideways forces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanyinq drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side plan view of the mount of the present invention, showing the prongs in an unmounted, somewhat outwardly splayed, position.
Figure 2 is a side plan view of the mount of the present invention, showing the prongs in a mounted substantially parallel position, and the mounting panel in phantom.
Figure 3 is a side plan view of the mount of the present invention showing the details of the stabilizing ribs, and showing the mounting panel in phantom.
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the mount of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the mount of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the mount of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one sees that Figure 1 is a side plan view of the mount 10 of the present invention, with two prongs 12, 14, extending downwardly, somewhat outwardly splayed, from the socket portion 16. As mount lO, including prongs 12, 14, is manufactured from thermoformed plastic, prongjs 12, 14 are elastically flexible inwardly and outwardly. Prongs 12, 14 include distal ends 18, 20, respectively, with rounded points 22, 24. Upwardly adjacent of distal ends 18, 20 are lower jaw portions 26, 28 extending outwardly from prongs 12, 14, respectively. Upwardly adjacent from lower jaw portions 26, 28 are upper jaw portions 30, 32.
Lower and upper jaw portions 26, 30 form detent element 34 therebetween on prong 12. Likewise, lower and upper jaw portions 28, 32 form detent element 36 therebetween on prong 14. Detent elements 34, 36, include rear walls, 38, 40, and lower inclined walls 42, 44, respectively, in order to accommodate a chamfered mounting ap~-.ture 100 in mounting panel 102 (see Figure 2 wherein prongs 12, L4 are fiexed inwardly so that detent elements 34, 36 engage the walls of mounting aperture 100 which are chamfered, rather than precisely vertical).
As can be seen from Figure 3, prongs 12, 14 are of reduced width below upper jaw portions 30, 32.
Terminal block 4a is formed between prongs 12, 14, and, as can be seen from Figure 4, is hollow thereby providing access to terminal contacts 50, 52, typically made of phosphor bronze, which are in electrical communication with sGcket pGrtion 16.
Terminal contacts 50, 52 are separated by wall 51.
As can be seen from Figures S and 6, socket portion 16 inc,ludes inner parallel walls 54, 56 rising from socket floor 57 and spanning the length of socket portion 16, separated by end walls 58, 60, thereby forming bulb contact areas 62, 64 therebetween. Bulb contact areas 62, 64 serve as a housing for bulb terminals 66, 68 which are in electrical communication with term;n~l con_acts 5Z, 50, respectively. In fact, terminal contact 50 ~nd bulb ~erminal 68 are typically made from a single piece of phosphor bronze. Likewise, terminal contact 52 and bulb terminal 66 are typically made from another single piece of phosphor bronze.
Laterally offset outer walls 70, 72 are outwardly parallel from inner walls 54, 56, respectively. Laterally offset outer wall 70 is separated from inner wall 54 by sidewalls 74, 75 while laterally offset outer wall 72 is separated from inner wall 56 by sidewalls 76, 77. Inner walls 54, 56 and laterally offset outer walls 70, 72 include several aligned vertical slots 78, typically serrated, for the mounting of bulbs (not shown) and reflectors (not shown).
As shown in Figures 1-4, stabilizing ribs 80, 82 extend from terminal block 48 in a direction perpendicular (as viewed from above or below) to the direction of extension of prongs 12, 14 from terminal block 48. As shown in Figure 3, stabilizing ribs 80, 82 include upper triangular portions 84, 86 with outward truncated tips 88, 90 and lower rectangular portions 92, 94, respectively. The upper faces of lower rectangular portions 92, 94 align with the lower faces or bases of upper triangular portions 84, 86, but the outer vertical faces 95, 97 of lower rectangular portions 92, 94 are inwardly offset frcm the outward truncated tips 88, 90 of upper triangular portions 84, 86 thereby forming lower rectangular notches 96, 98 which engage the edges CA 022l30l4 l997-08-l4 of ,mounting aperture 100 in mounting panel 102 (shown in phantom in Figure 3). Lower rectangular portions 92, 94 are sized so that notches 96, 98 engage the edges of mounting aperture 100 with a close tolerance. In other words, the horizontal distance between outer vertical faces 95, 97 of lower rectangular portions 92, 94 is substantially equal to ("substantially equal to"
including the preferable configuration of "very slightly less than") thje diameter of mounting aperture 100 in order to provide a close fit between notches 96, 98 and mounting aperture 100.
As shown in Figure 4, as prongs 12, 14 exert force aligned with a major or longitu~inal axis of mount 10 and stabilizing fins 80, 82 provide support along a minor axis (perpendicular to the major or longitudinal axis) of mount 10, mount 10 is therefore supported along four substantially equally spaced points around the circumference of mounting aperture 100.
To use mount 10, the user squeezes prongs 12, 14 together and inserts distal ends 18, 20 through mounting aperture 100 in mounting panel 102 so that upper jaw elements 30, 32 engage an upper face of mounting panel 102 and lower jaw elements 26, 28 engage a lower face of mounting panel 102, so~ that detent elements 34 and 36 engage mounting panel 102 across a first diameter of mounting aperture 100. In its mounted position, prongs 12, 14 are urged inwardly so as to provide an outward elastic force again the periphery of mounting aperture 100 as shown in Figure 2. Likewise, notches 96, 98 of stabilizing ribs 80, 82 engage mounting panel 102 across a second diameter of mounting aperture 100, the first and the second diameters being substantially perpendicular to each other.
Bulbs and reflectors (not shown) can be mounted via aligned vertical slots 78 either before or after the mounting of mount 10 . CA 02213014 1997-08-14 on~o mounting panel 102.
Finally, communication to an electrical power source (not shown) is provided to terminal contacts 50, 52.
Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.
Claims (14)
1. A mount for mounting a light socket in an aperture in a mounting surface including:
a socket portion;
at least one prong downwardly extending from said socket portion, said at least one prong including detent means for engaging an edge of the aperture: and at least one means for stabilizing the mount including means for engaging the mounting surface outwardly adjacent from the aperture.
a socket portion;
at least one prong downwardly extending from said socket portion, said at least one prong including detent means for engaging an edge of the aperture: and at least one means for stabilizing the mount including means for engaging the mounting surface outwardly adjacent from the aperture.
2. The mount of Claim 1 wherein said at least one prong includes two prongs which are elastically flexible.
3. The mount of Claim 2 wherein said two prongs each include upper and lower jaw elements thereby forming said detent means for engaging an edge of the aperture.
4. The mount of claim 3 wherein said prongs, in a mounted position, are urged inwardly so as to provide an outward force against an edge of the aperture.
5. The mount of Claim 4 wherein said detent means includes at least two inclined walls between said upper and lower jaw elements for engaging a chamfered mounting hole.
6. The mount of Claim 4 wherein said prongs are splayed in an unmounted position and substantially parallel in a mounted position.
7. The mount of Claim 4 wherein said two prongs engage the aperture along a first diameter of the aperture.
8. The mount of Claim 7 wherein said at least one means for stabilizing includes two stabilizing fins which each include a notch at an outer tip thereof for engaging the aperture and the mounting surface outwardly adjacent from the aperture.
9. The mount of Claim 8 wherein said two stabilizing fins engage the aperture along a second diameter of the aperture.
10. The mount of Claim 9 wherein said first diameter and said second diameter are substantially perpendicular to each other.
11. The mount of Claim 10 wherein said stabilizing fins are comprised of an upper triangular portion and a lower rectangular portion, wherein said notch is formed from a lower outer portion of the base of said upper triangular portion and an outer face of said lower rectangular portion.
12. The mount of Claim 11 wherein a distance between said outer faces of said lower rectangular portions is substantially equal to a diameter of the mounting aperture.
13. The mount of Claim 12 further including a terminal block from which said stabilizing fins extend, said terminal block including terminal contacts in electrical communication with said socket portion.
14. The mount of Claim 13 wherein said socket portion includes a socket floor with walls rising therefrom, said walls including slots for mounting of bulbs.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US71242796A | 1996-09-11 | 1996-09-11 | |
| US08/712,427 | 1996-09-11 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2213014A1 true CA2213014A1 (en) | 1998-03-11 |
Family
ID=24862065
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2213014 Abandoned CA2213014A1 (en) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-08-14 | Snap-in mount for light sockets |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2213014A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8564182B2 (en) | 2007-09-21 | 2013-10-22 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Lamp having contact members at its surrounding edge, and a lamp holder |
-
1997
- 1997-08-14 CA CA 2213014 patent/CA2213014A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8564182B2 (en) | 2007-09-21 | 2013-10-22 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Lamp having contact members at its surrounding edge, and a lamp holder |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| MX9706881A (en) | 1998-03-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |