Patent ID: 7748886
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: F21Y,H01R

Abstract:
1. An electrical lighting base for removably receiving a removable incandescent bulb or socket, the removable incandescent bulb or socket having first and second external electrical contacts with approximately parallel central axes, with each external electrical contact having a narrow proximal portion and a wider distal portion, the electrical lighting base comprising: a housing; a end portion, assembled with the housing, the end portion including first and second openings each disposed a first distance from a central axis of the base, each opening having a wider portion and a narrower portion, wherein the wider portions are configured to accept the wider distal portions of the external electrical contacts, and the narrow portions are configured to accept the narrow proximal portions of the external electrical contacts and to retain the wider distal portions of the external electrical contacts; first and second internal electrical contacts disposed in the housing such that each of the first and second internal electrical contacts engages a respective one of the first and second external electrical contacts when the external electrical contacts are retained in the narrow portions of the first and second openings; and a cam, disposed in the housing and configured to allow the first and second external electrical contacts to engage the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in an unconverted orientation, and the cam is further configured to prevent the first and second external electrical contacts from engaging the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in a converted orientation.