Patent ID: 7278871
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A light bulb socket for receiving a light bulb having a bayonet style bulb base including a cylindrical surface, an electrical end contact on a contact end of said bulb base, and a latch pin extending radially from said cylindrical surface, said socket comprising: (a) a bulb support member including a socket opening sized and shaped to receive said bayonet style bulb base therein; (b) a resilient socket end contact positioned in spaced relation to said bulb support member, engageable by said end contact of said bulb base, and resiliently urging said bulb base in a direction out of said bulb support member; (c) said bulb support member including a resilient bayonet pin retainer tab including a pin notch opening toward said socket end contact, said pin notch formed at an edge of said tab closest to the socket end contact and a pin guiding groove formed on a radially inner side of said pin retainer tab in alignment with said pin notch, said pin guiding groove facilitating orientation of said latch pin with said pin notch upon insertion of said bulb base into said socket opening, said pin retainer cooperating with said bulb base to enable axial insertion of said bulb base into said socket opening with said latch pin aligned with said pin notch until said latch pin snaps past said pin retainer and into said pin notch; and d) said pin retainer enabling removal of said bulb base by rotation of said bulb base to disengage said latch pin from said pin notch and then axial withdrawal of said bulb base from said socket opening.