US3151926A

US3151926A - Lamp socket

Info

Publication number: US3151926A
Application number: US212085A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry W Schick; John W Peterson
Original assignee: GILBERT Manufacturing CO Inc
Current assignee: GILBERT Manufacturing CO Inc
Priority date: 1962-07-24
Filing date: 1962-07-24
Publication date: 1964-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-06

Description

Oct. 6, 1964 H. w. SCHICK ETAL LAMP SOCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG. 2

Filed July 24, 1962 FIG. 1

CI'OHN W. PETERSON BY HENRY W SCHICK ATTORNEYS 1964 H. w. SCHICK ETAL 3,

LAMP SOCKET Filed July 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

INVENTORS ITOHN W. PETERSON HENRY W. SHICK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,151,926 LAM? SUCKET Henry W. Schick, Mastic Beach, and .lohn W. Peterson,

Douglaston, N.Y., assignors to Gilbert M'anniacturing Company, The, Long lsimd City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 24, 1962, Ser. No. 212,?235 Claims. (Cl. 339-99) This invention relates to lamp sockets which are adapted to be mounted along the length of an electrical conductor cord at any point thereof and more particularly to lamp socket assembly of the pin-tap type in which connection is made between the electrical contact elements of the socket and the conductor cord by piercing the wires of the conductor cord.

The present invention is directed to a relatively simple lamp socket which may be removably secured to and mounted at any point along a conductor cord which supplies the current for the lamp bulb in the socket. In accordance with the invention, the lamp socket comprises a shell or husk of plastic material having internal threads to receive and hold the base of the lamp bulb. Two grooves are formed on opposite walls of the shell for receiving and holding respective blade-type electric contact members. One end of each contact member is formed with a prong for piercing through the insulation of the conductor cord to make electrical contact with a conductor wire and each contact member is also formed with a tab or tongue to make contact with one of the electrical contact points on the lamp bulb base. In this way a current path is provided from the conductor cord to the bulb. The bottom of the socket shell is formed with a channel to hold the conductor cord and a wedge piece is provided to be placed in the channel on top of the conductor cord to hold it within the channel. In order to secure the wedge piece of the shell and to force the prongs of the contact members to pierce through the conductor Wires, an L-shaped clamp is provided. One end of the clamp hooks over the top of the shell and the other end fits over the bottom of the wedge piece and hooks onto the bottom of the shell. The clamp is made of suitable size and of a suitable material so that a tight fit is achieved and enough pressure is applied to the wedge piece to force it into the channel thereby causing the prongs to pierce the conductor wire. The clamp is also formed with a clip which allows the complete socket assembly and bulb to be mounted at a desired location, for example, on the branch of a Christmas tree.

The above described socket has several advantages. First of all, it is relatively simple in construction and assembly and needs no soldering or other type fastening arrangement to make contact between the socket contact members and the wires of the conductor cord. Further, the pin-tap assembly of the electrical contact blades makes the socket attachable at any point along the conductor cord; also, the L-shaped clamp is preferably made of tempered spring steel and its relatively simple shape uses a minimum amount of material and provides for easy manufacture and assembly. The use of spring steel for the clamp also gives the clip formed thereon better holding properties and increased life.

In a preferred form of the invention, the wedge piece is of pyramidal shape so that when it is laid in the channel against the wires the wires follow the contour of the wedge piece and strain relief is provided by virtue of the conductor wires running over the highest portion of the pyramid. This is a relatively simple way of providing strain relief without the use of any additional parts.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a lamp socket of the pin-tap type wherein the clamp which secures the conductor holding piece is L-shaped 3,151,925. Patented Get. 6, 1964 "ice and is provided with a clip to secure the socket assembly to a support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp socket having blade type contact members which pierce through the insulation of a conductor cord, the conductor cord being held in a channel in the socket and pressed into electrical contact with the contact members by a conductor holding Wedge piece.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lamp socket of the pin-tap type in which the conductor cord is held in a channel in the socket and pressed into electrical contact with the prong of blade contact members by a wedge piece which is held Within the channel by an L-shaped clamp member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lamp socket in which the wedge piece holding the wires within the socket is shaped to provide strain relief.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the lamp socket assembly, with the lamp socket shown partially broken away in order to illustrate certain features of the invention;

FTGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the lamp socket taken partially in section along lines 2-2, FIG- URE 1 and partially broken awa;

FEGURE 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the lamp socket showing a portion of the conductor cord running therethrough;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the L-shaped clamp member;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view or" the wedge piece;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of one of the blade contact members;

FIGURE 7 is a View of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 show additional arrangements for fastening the clamping member to the socket body;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a clamping member for holding the wedge piece Within the socket shell without fastening over the top brim of the socket; and

FIGURE 12A is a side elevational view, taken partly in section of a complete socket and FIGURES 12B and are perspective views of certain elements of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGURES 16, the lamp socket is formed by a substantially hollow shell or husk 19, which has an opening 11 at the top thereof, and

walls

12 and 13, and

side walls

14 and 15. The top opening 11 communicates with a cavity 16 which extends substantially the entire height of the shell. The shell 1%), as well as the other non-metallic parts of the socket, is preferably made of a plastic insulating material such as Bakelite or of an other plastic material which has the necessary strength. The top opening 11 of the shell is flared out to accommodate the base 18 and the bottom portion of the glass envelope of a bulb 17 which is screwed into threads 19 formed on the

side walls

14 and 15. The bulb 16 may be of any desired shape, type, and/or Wattage and the size or" the shell 1% and threads 19 may be varied to accept difierent bulbs.

The

end walls

12 and 13 of the shell are respectively formed with channels or grooves 21 (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 2) to hold a respective

blade contact member

23 or 24. The grooves 21 are made of a suitable size so that the

blade contact members

23 and 24 are tightly held therein when they are placed in the grooves. As shown in FIGURE 6, each blade contact member is formed with a downwardly extending sharp pointed prong 25 at the bottom end thereof which is of a size to make contact with one of the wires 26 or 27 of a two conductor cord 28. The

blade contact members

23 and 24 are formed and located within the shell so that the prong of one is adjacent the side wall 14 and the prong of the other adjacent the side wall 15. Therefore, each prong will make contact with only one of the wires 26 or 27. Any suitably shaped blade contact member may be utilized so long as it has the shar pointed prong to pierce the current carrying wire and can be held within the socket body.

Blade contact member 23 has a tongue which extends into the shell cavity 16 to make electrical contact with the bottom contact point 31 of the lamp bulb base 18 when the bulb is screwed substantially all the way down on the threads 19. The other blade contact member 24 has a bent-out tab portion 32 which makes electrical contact with the metallic threaded portion 33 on the side of the bulb base. In this manner an electric circuit is established to provide current to the lamp filament through the two wires 26 and 27 of the conductor,

blade contact members

23 and 24 and their respective tongue and

tab

36 and 32, and the two contactpoints 31 and 33 on the lamp bulb base.

'The socket shell 10 also has a bottom wall 36 which is formed with a longitudinal channel 37 therein running between the

end walls

12 and 13. The channel 37 does not take up all of the bottom wall 36 so that ledge pieces 33 are left on either side of the channel within the cavity at the bottom wall of the shell. The channel 37 extends part way up into the

end walls

12 and 13 which have cut out sections 39 (FIGURE 1) so that the conductor cord 23 may be readily placed in the channel 37 and held within the socket. The prong 25 of each

blade contact member

23 and 24 extends part way down into the channel 37 to a point opposite the openings 39 in

end walls

12 and 13 and above the bottom wall 36 of the shell. As described previously, the blade contact members are located in grooves 21 in the end walls. Ledges 38 are left on each side of the channel 37 opening in the bottom wall 36 of the shell.

A wedge piece 40 is provided to fit within the channel 37 and to hold the conductor cord within the shell. The wedge piece holds the conductor cord 28 within the channel 37 and when it is clamped, exerts pressure on the wires 26 and 27 so that the prongs 25 of the blade contact members pierce through the wires. Wedge piece 40 is generally pyramidal in shape with a high point 41 at the center thereof and sloping surfaces 42 tapering oif from the high point along the longer dimension of the piece. The center portion of the wedge piece is also cut out on both sides and hassloping surfaces 44- which run from the top of the piece. The surfaces 44 extend down to the bottom of the wedge piece but do not reach the sides 45 thereof so that openings or notches 43, which are shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, are provided on the piece. Each end of the piece 46 is also provided with two notches 46 which allow the piece 46 to fit over the abutting pieces 47 of the

end walls

12 and 13. It can be seen that the piece 49 is symmetrical so that it can be placed either way in the channel 37 with the high point 41 facing in toward the center of cavity 16.

A clamp 50 is used to hold the wedge piece 49 to the socket and to exert pressure on the piece so that the prongs 25 of the .blade contacts will pierce through the wires of the conductor cord. The clamp 50 is formed of tempered spring steel or some other suitable material and is generally L-shaped with a hook portion 52 at one end thereof and a doubled-over portion 53 at the other end of the L. The hook 52 fits over the top edge of the flared opening 11 of the socket while the doubled-over bottom fits through a notch 43 onto a ledge 38 within the socket cavity 16 at the bottom of the socket. Since the wedge piece and the shell are symmetrical, there is no problem in orienting the same during assembly. The center portion of the longer arm of the L-shaped clamp is punched out and bent to form a clip 54 which is used to mount the socket and bulb on a desired support.

In assembling the complete lamp socket, the conductor cord 28 is first laid into the channel 37 into which the prongs 25 extend near the

end walls

12 and 13. The wedge piece 46 is next placed on the shorter arm of the L-shaped clamp with the doubled-over portion 53 protruding through one of the notches 43 of the wedge piece and the bottom 55 of the doubled-over portion 53 is then hooked onto one ledge 38 at the bottom of the socket. If desired, an upstanding piece can be formed on each of the ledges 38 so that the doubled-over portion 53 of the clamp 56 may be hooked and fastened thereover. The wedge piece is next forced into position so that its bottom is substantially flush with the bottom 36 of the socket by applying pressure to the piece and forcing the hook 52 of the clamp over the top edge of the shell. Since the L- shaped clamp is made of spring steel, the wedge piece 40 is forced into the channel and suflicient pressure is exerted to force wires 26 and 27 up onto the prongs 25. The prongs pierce through the insulation surrounding the wires 26 and 27 so that the blade contacts make electrical contact with the inner conductors of the wires.

It should be noted that both of the wires in the channel are forced to follow the general contour of the wedgeshaped piece 4% in the channel so that at the center of the channel the wires run over the high point 41. The sloping surfaces 42 and the high point 41 of the wedge piece provide strain relief for the wires and prevent them from being separated from the blade contact members when a pull is exerted on the wires.

FIGURE 7 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the wedge piece 49 is again held in the channel by the L-shaped clamp 50. In this case, the

side wall

14 or 15 of the socket shell, or both, is provided with a notched opening 57 and the bottom end of the clamp has a hook 58 which fits within opening 57 and holds this end of the clamp to the side wall. As before, the clamp 50 holds the wedge piece 44 within the channel but the clamp extends completely around the bottom 36 of the shell.

FIGURE 8 shows a latching-type arrangement for fastening the clamp 55) to the socket body and holding the wedge piece 40 in place. In this embodiment one (or both) of the bottom walls 38 of the socket body running parallel to the channel 37 formed with a notch or cutout 62 along a portion thereof and bosses 63 anr 64 are molded at or near each end of the notch. If necessary, the sloping portions 44 of the wedge piece 40 are reduced in size so that the

bosses

63 and 64 clear the wedge piece and the notch 43 is wide enough to accommodate the end 65 of a spring clamp which enters the socket body through notch 43. The end of the spring clamp 65 which extends into the bottom socket opening is formed at each side thereof with a cutout portion 66 so that it is of a generally T configuration with a portion 67 at the bottom thereof which extends substantially the full width of the clamp. The bosses 66 are tapered so that the clamp end 65 is guided thereover when pushed into the notch 62. In assembling this embodiment of the socket, the wedge piece is laid in the channel 37 of the socket and the end 65 of the clamp is pushed into the notch 62. If the wide portion 67 of the piece 65 is made larger than the notch 43 of the wedge piece 40, then the narrow portion of the T-shaped piece 65 can be placed in the notch 43 before pressure is applied to the clamp.

The end 67 of the T-shaped piece passes over the two

tapered bosses

63 and 64 and snaps over the top thereof with the bosses now protruding through the cutout portions 66 of the end piece 67. The other end of the clamp 50 is fastened over the top rim of the socket, as in the other embodiments. In this way, positive fastening is achieved.

FIGURE 9 shows another embodiment of the invention which is similar to that of FIGURE 8. Here, the

socket bottom wall 38 is also formed with a cutout or notch 62 in which is formed a single tapered boss 70. The end 71 of the clamp which fits into the socket body is cut out with a hole 72. In assembling the socket, the end of the clamp 71 passes over the boss 75 and latches onto it so that the boss 70 extends through the hole 72. As before, the other end of the clamp 56 also passes over the top rim of the socket body so that a positive fastening arrangement is provided.

In FIGURE 10, the botton of one (or both) of the side walls 36 of the socket is formed with two slots 76 and the end of the clamp 50 is provided with two legs 78 which are preferably barbed. Here, the barbed legs 78 are driven into the slots 76 to fasten the end of the clamp to the socket body. Again, the other end of the clamp 59 is fastened over the top rim of the socket body.

FIGURE 11 shows a clamp for fastening the wedge piece 40 Without the need of fastening the clamp 51'] over the top rim of the socket body. The clamp is of one piece construction and is stamped out to have two

upstanding pieces

65 and 71 which correspond to the same respective pieces of FIGURES 8 and 9. The bottom of the socket body for this clamp has formed on one bottom wall 38 the notch 62 and the two

bosses

63 and 64 and the notch 62 and the single boss 70 on the opposite bottom wall 33. Therefore, the T-shaped piece 65 would fasten over the two

bosses

63 and 64 on one wall and the cutout piece 71 would fasten over the single boss 79 on the other wall with the wedge piece 40 being between the two

upstanding pieces

65 and 71. The two

pieces

65 and 71 fit within the notches 43 of the wedge piece 4h. The clamp of FIGURE 11 does not have the hook 52 of the clamps of FIGURES 1-10, to fasten over the top rim of the socket since positive clamping of the wedge piece 49 is provided by the

pieces

65 and 71 in cooperation with the bosses 6364 and 70. A similar arrang ment without the hook 52 on the clamp can be utilized with the barbed legs of FIGURE by providing the slots 76 on both side walls 36 on each side of the channel 37 and by punch'mg out barbed legs from the bottom piece of the clamping member 55 Alternatively, one barbed leg can be punched out of the bottom of the clamp and only one slot provided on the bottom wall which accommodates this slot.

FIGURES 12A, 12B and 12C show still another embodiment of the invention in which a slightly modified fastening arrangement is used for holding the L-shaped clamp to the socket body. As shown in FIGURE 12A, the socket body or shell 10 has the same general construction as those previously described. The wedge piece 89, however, as shown in FIGURE 12B, is of different configuration and has a raised central portion 82 and two lower side portions 83 and 84 which fit within the channel 37 and over which the current carrying wires pass. The raised central portion 82 acts as a strain relief for the wires in a manner similar to the opposed sloping surfaces of the wedge piece 4%. The piece 86 may also have sloping surfaces 85 between the central portion 82 and the two lower portions 83 and 84, as shown in FIG- URE 1213. The wedge piece 80 also has a recessed portion 37 on its bottom side approximately opposite the raised central portion 82, the recess 87 being wide enough to accommodate the width of the short piece 88 of the L-shaped clamp 5i). In this embodiment, the short piece of the clamp, as shown in FIGURE 12C, terminates with a fiat end 89 and has an upstanding tab 91) punched out of the piece 83. in assembling the socket of FIGURES 12A-l2C, the upper surface of the wedge piece 8% is placed in the channel 37 against the two wires. The short piece 88 of the clamp is laid in the wedge piece recess 87 and the end 89 of the piece 88 is placed on the top of one of the socket ledges 33. The other end 52 of the clamp is hooked over the top of the socket opening. When this is done, the upstanding tab 96 presses against the other socket ledge 38 and prevents the end 89 of the clamp from coming out of the socket. In this manner the short piece 88 of the clamp firmly holds the wedge piece within the socket, causing it to press the wires against the prongs of the respective blade contact members.

It should be recognized that the lamp socket of the present invention is of simplified construction which is both economical to produce and easy to assemble. Since the clamp St is L-shaped, a minimum amount of material is used for performing the clamping function and also to provide a spring clip 54 to hold the socket and lamp assembly to any desired support. Further, since the clamp member is preferably formed of spring steel material, the clip 54 is stronger than that provided by normal sheet-metal clamps and will last a lot longer.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be understood that these are illustrative only, and the invention is limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom Wall and an opening in the top thereof adapted to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell including an opening in said bottom wall adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, a wedge piece to fit in said channel and adapted to hold the wires therein and press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, a passage into the interior of the shell defined by the bottom wall and the Wedge piece, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell at the top opening thereof and at the other end to engage said wedge piece and to pass through said passage to make contact with the bottom wall of said shell.

2. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom wall and an opening in the top thereof adapted to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell and through a portion of said bottom wall adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, a wedge piece to fit in said channel and adapted to hold the wires therein and press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, said wedge piece having a recess therein, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell at the top opening thereof and at the other end to engage said Wedge piece and to extend through the wedge piece recess to fasten the said other end of the clamp to the bottom wall of the shell.

3. A lamp socket assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said clamp is formed with a clip member adapted to hold said socket assembly to a support.

4. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom wall and an opening in the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom or" said shell through a portion of said bottom wall adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, a projecting boss formed on the bottom wall of said shell, a wedge piece to fit in said channel and adapted to hold the wires therein and press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, a passage into the interior of the shell defined by said bottom wall and said wedge piece, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell at the top opening thereof and at the other end with a first portion to engage said Wedge piece and a second portion having a cutout therein to extend through said passage to fasten onto the projecting boss and hold the said other end of the clamp thereto.

5. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom wall and an opening in the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell through a portion of said bottom wall adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, a pair of pro jecting bosses formed on the bottom wall of said shell, a wedge piece to fit in said channel and adapted to hold the wires therein and press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, a passage into the interior of the shell defined by said bottom wall and said wedge piece, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell at the top opening thereof and at the other end with a first portion to engage said wedge piece and a second T-shaped portion to extend through said passage to fasten onto the pair of projecting bosses and hold the other end of the clamp thereto.

6. A lamp socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein strain relief means comprising oppositely sloping surfaces are provided on the portion of said wedge piece over which the wires run.

7. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom Wall and an opening in the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell through a portion of said bottom wall adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, a wedge piece to fit in said channel and adapted to hold the wires therein and press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, said wedge piece having a recess therein and formed with oppositely sloping surfaces thereon within the channel to provide strain relief for said wires, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell at the top opening thereof and at the other end to engage said wedge piece and to extend through said wedge piece recess to fasten the said other end of the clamp to the bottom wall of the shell.

8. A lamp socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamp is formed with a clip member adapted to hold said socket assembly to a support.

9. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom wall and an opening in the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell through a portion of said bottom wall adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, a notched portion on the bottom wall of said shell formed with a single projecting boss, a Wedge piece to fit in said channel and adapted to hold the wires therein and press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, said wedge piece having a recess therein and formed with oppositely sloping surfaces thereon Within the channel to provide strain relief for said wires, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell at the top opening thereof and at the other end with a first portion to engage said wedge piece and a second portion having a cutout therein to extend through said wedge piece recess to fasten onto the projecting boss and hold the said other end of the clamp thereto.

10. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom wall and an opening the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell through a portion of said bottom wall adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, a notched portion on the bottom wall of said shell formed with a pair of projecting bosses, a wedge piece to fit in said channel and adapted to hold the wires therein and press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, said wedge piece having a recess therein and formed with oppositely sloping surfaces thereon within the channel tov provide strain relief for said wires, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell at the top opening thereof and at the other end with a first portion to engage said wedge piece and a second T-shaped portion to extend through said wedge piece recess to fasten onto the pair of projecting bosses and hold the other end of the clamp thereto.

11. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom wall and an opening in the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, said channel being defined by ledges on opposite sides thereof formed by said shell bottom wall, a wedge piece to fit in said channel, the top of said wedge piece adapted to press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member and the bottom of the wedge piece formed with a recessed portion, and an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said clamp formed with means at one end thereof to fasten to the shell, one arm of the clamp being formed to lie in the recess in the wedge piece and engage the same with the end of said one arm passing into the shell and resting on one of the ledges defining said channel, said one arm also having an upstanding tab for engaging the other of the ledges thereby holding the wedge piece within the channel.

12. A lamp socket assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the top of said wedge piece is formed with a raised portion to provide strain relief for the current carrying wires.

13. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom Wall and an opening in the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type electrical contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having means to receive and hold the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, said channel being defined by ledges on opposite sides thereof formed by said shell bottom wall, a wedge piece to fit in said channel, the top of said wedge piece having portions thereon adapted to engage the wires and to press a wire against the prong of a respective blade member, an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, a passage formed to provide access for a portion of said clamp into the interior of said shell adjacent one of said ledges, said clamp formed with means on one arm thereof to fasten the said one arm to the shell at a point remote from said bottom wall, the other arm of said clamp being formed to engage the wedge piece with the end of said other arm passing into the shell through said passage and resting on one of the ledges defining said channel, said other arm also having an upstanding tab for engaging the other of the ledges thereby holding the wedge piece within the channel.

14. A lamp socket as set forth in claim 13 wherein the means on said one arm for fastening it to the shell engages the shell on a portion surrounding the top opening.

15. A lamp socket assembly comprising a substantially hollow shell having a bottom wall and an opening in the top thereof to receive a lamp bulb, a pair of blade type electrical contact members each having a prong portion at the bottom thereof, said shell having a respective channel to receive and hold each of the blade contact members, a channel in the bottom of said shell adapted to receive a pair of current carrying wires, said channel being defined by ledges on opposite sides thereof formed by said shell bottom Wall, a Wedge piece formed to fit in said channel, said Wedge piece having portions thereon adapted to press each wire against the prong of 0 a respective blade member, an L-shaped clamp for holding said wedge piece in said channel, said Wedge piece being formed to provide an access passage for a portion of said clamp into the interior of said shell, said clamp formed with means on one arm thereof to fasten the clamp to the shell at a point spaced from said bottom wall, the other arm of the clamp engaging the Wedge 10 piece with the end of said other arm passing through said access passage into the shell and resting on one of the ledges defining said channel, said other arm also having an upstanding tab for engaging a portion of the other of the ledges thereby holding the wedge piece within the channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 981,586 Monosmith Jan. 10, 1911 998,810 Stewart July 25, 1911 2,636,069 Gilbert Apr. 21, 1953 2,977,403 Reitz Mar. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,469 France Mar. 4, 1914 1,112,200 Germany Aug. 3, 1961

Claims

2. A LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW SHELL HAVING A BOTTOM WALL AND AN OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LAMP BULB, A PAIR OF BLADE TYPE CONTACT MEMBERS EACH HAVING A PRONG PORTION AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID SHELL HAVING MEANS TO RECEIVE AND HOLD THE BLADE CONTACT MEMBERS, A CHANNEL IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHELL AND THROUGH A PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM WALL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PAIR OF CURRENT CARRYING WIRES, A WEDGE PIECE TO FIT IN SAID CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO HOLD THE WIRES THEREIN AND PRESS A WIRE AGAINST THE PRONG OF A RESPECTIVE BLADE MMBER, SAID WEDGE PIECE HAVING A RECESS THEREIN, AND AN L-SHAPED CLAMP FOR HOLDING SAID WEDGE PIECE IN SAID CHANNEL, SAID CLAMP FORMED WITH MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF TO FASTEN TO THE SHELL AT THE TOP OPENING THEREOF AND AT THE OTHER END TO ENGAGE SAID WEDGE PIECE AND TO EXTEND THROUGH THE WEDGE PIECE RECESS TO FASTEN THE SAID OTHER END OF THE CLAMP TO THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE SHELL.