Lamp socket as well as assembly consisting of a lamp socket and a reflector

A lamp socket for a bulb has two latching hooks by means of which the lamp socket can be latched into place at a reflector, and that a spring, which can abut at the lighting means.

This invention relates to a lamp socket for a lighting means

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The lamp socket is usually provided for being mounted on a reflector, so that the lighting means is correctly positioned with respect to the focal position of the reflector. In particular when the lamp formed of lamp socket and reflector is used in a motor vehicle, the lamp socket must satisfy high requirements as regards the vibration resistance. Only when the lighting means is safely retained in its position even in the case of vibrations is it ensured that there is no flickering of light.

From the prior art, the so-called clip lock is known, wherein a metal clip is used for locking the bulb at the reflector. There is also known a bayonet lock, wherein the bulb is inserted in a lamp socket. The lamp socket is then inserted in the reflector and rotated through a certain angle, so that it snaps into place.

It is the object of the invention to create a simple and inexpensive lamp socket which ensures a safe positioning of the lighting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a lamp socket which has two latching hooks by means of which the lamp socket can be locked into place at a reflector, as well as a spring which can be abut at the lighting means The lamp socket is inserted into the reflector along the longitudinal direction of the lighting means and is held there by the latching hooks. The spring ensures that the lamp socket is always in its correct position, even if vibrations occur.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two latching hooks are formed opposite each other, and each latching hook is provided with a plurality of ribs which form a gripping portion. In this aspect, the two latching hooks of the lamp socket can easily be seized, slightly be pressed together and be inserted into the reflector.

Preferably, a stop is provided at the lamp socket for each latching hook This ensures that the latching hooks are not bent excessively when they are seized and pressed together, in particular not beyond their elastic region. If the latching hooks were bent to such an extent that they undergo a plastic deformation, it could no longer be ensured that the lamp socket is reliably locked into place at the reflector.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment it is provided that the spring is provided with two spring legs This allows to symmetrically support the lamp socket at the reflector in cooperation with the two opposed latching hooks.

Preferably, at least one guiding groove is provided for each spring leg. This guiding groove offers a protective function in particular during the transport of the lamp socket and prevents the spring legs from being distorted.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the spring has a connecting lug, so that it serves as a plug-in contact for connecting the lighting means, and that a second plug-in contact is provided. This embodiment is particularly useful when the lighting means is an H1bulb, in which the contacts are formed by a contact plate and a contact lug The contact lug can be plugged into the plug-in contact, and the contact plate rests against the two spring legs

However, when the lighting means is an H7bulb which is provided with two contact lugs, two plug-in contacts are provided, into which the contacts of the H7bulb can be plugged.

Advantageous aspects of the invention can be taken from the sub-claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1to7show a lamp socket in accordance with a first embodiment together with the associated bulb and a reflector.

The lamp socket10is a plastic body from which two latching hooks12extend. The two latching hooks are disposed on sides of the body facing away from each other and are integrally formed therewith. At its free end, each latching hook has a latching nose14and is centrally provided with a gripping portion which is formed by a plurality of ribs16. The ribs allow to seize the latching hooks12with two fingers and press the same together. The plastic body is provided with two stops18, which prevent the two latching hooks12from being pressed together excessively far. Two T-shaped ends19at the lamp socket similarly act as protection against excessive compression

At the plastic body, a spring20is mounted, which is provided with two spring legs22. The spring legs22serve to rest against an abutment surface of a reflector25and urge the lamp socket into a reference position The spring20is attached to the plastic body of the lamp socket10by two hot-caulked plastic pins24which extend through openings in the spring20.

Furthermore, two guiding grooves26are formed at the plastic body, which enclose the spring legs22with a small spacing The guiding grooves26offer a mechanical protection for the spring legs, so that the same cannot be distorted during the transport of the lamp socket.

In the plastic body of the lamp socket10two plug-in contacts28are provided, into which two contact lugs30of a lighting means32can be plugged. In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting means is an H7bulb, in which the two contact lugs30extend in parallel to each other at a distance and which has a base plate31. The plug-in contacts28are mounted at the plastic body such that their crimped portions used for connecting cables extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bulb The plug-in contacts28are retained in the plastic body by means of a latching connection.

For mounting the bulb, the same is inserted into the plug-in contacts28with its contact lugs30, the spring legs22resting against the base plate31A positioning nose36at the bulb ensures that the same can be mounted at the reflector only in a single position. Then, the latching hooks12are pressed together, the lamp socket10is inserted into the reflector, and the latching hooks12are released, so that the latching nose14rests against an associated holding surface34at the reflector In this condition, the spring legs22urge the lamp socket10away from the reflector via the base plate31, so that the lamp socket is reliably held in a reference position.

FIGS. 8to14show a lamp socket in accordance with a second embodiment As far as in the second embodiment components are used which are known from the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used, and in so far reference is made to the above explanations.

The most essential difference between the first and the second embodiment consists in that the lamp socket of the second embodiment is provided for an H1bulb, which is only indicated in FIG.8. The H1bulb has a single, centrally disposed contact lug30, and the second contact is realized by the base plate31, which therefore acts as contact plate.

The plug-in contact28is disposed centrally in the plastic body of the lamp socket10. In the second embodiment, instead of a second plug-in contact, the spring20is designed for contacting the bulb, in that it is provided with a connecting lug29to which a cable can be connected in the same way as in the first embodiment, the spring20rests against the bottom surface of the contact plate31of the H1bulb

In the second embodiment, too, the spring legs22of the spring20serve to urge the lamp socket10into a reference position relative to the reflector25.

FIG. 15shows a lamp socket with reflector in accordance with a third embodiment. For the components known from the first and second embodiments, the same reference numerals are used, and in so far reference is made to the above explanations.

In the third embodiment, too, an H1bulb is used as lighting means. The most essential difference with respect to the second embodiment consists in that the cables for contacting the lighting means32are connected to the reflector, rather than to the lamp socket10.

At each latching hook12, the lamp socket10is provided with an electrically conductive connecting plate50which is disposed on the surface of the latching nose14by means of which the lamp socket is locked into place at the reflector One of the connecting plates50is electrically connected to the plug-in contact28, into which the contact lug30of the lighting means32is plugged The other one of the connecting plates50is in electrically conductive connection with one of the two spring legs22, both of which engage the base plate31of the lighting means32.

Instead of the holding surfaces34, two latching contacts52are mounted at the reflector25, which are bent over at their front ends facing away from the crimped portion for a cable, so that a latching surface54is formed in each case, against which the two connecting plates50of the lamp socket may rest. The latching contacts52each have a recess56for the engagement of a suitably shaped positioning nose58on the reflector25, and a hole60through which a fastening screw62extends which is screwed into the reflector25. This ensures that each latching contact52is precisely aligned and reliably secured to the reflector25.

For mounting the lighting means32, the same is plugged into the lamp socket10. Then, the two latching arms12of the lamp socket are pressed together by applying pressure on the ribs16, so that the latching arms14can be inserted into the reflector25. As soon as the latching arms14are released, they will automatically return elastically outwards, so that the connecting plates50rest against the latching surfaces54. The required contact force is applied by the spring legs22.

The embodiment shown inFIG. 16differs from the embodiment shown inFIG. 15essentially merely by the design of the latching contacts52. Here, the latter are not screwed horizontally onto the reflector25, but are received in a holding part70which is slipped onto a sheet metal part72at the reflector. In this case, too, latching surfaces54are provided, which are engaged by the connecting plates50when the lamp socket10has been mounted at the reflector25.

The embodiment ofFIG. 18essentially corresponds to the embodiment shown inFIG. 15as regards the kind of contacting of the lighting means32; in this embodiment, however, an H7bulb is used as lighting means. This H7bulb is provided with two contact lugs30, which are plugged into respective plug-in contacts28(see FIG.19). Each of the plug-in contacts28is in electrically conductive connection with a connecting plate50, which is mounted at a latching nose14of a latching arm12of the lamp socket10. When mounting of the lamp socket10at the reflector25is completed, the connecting plates50rest against the latching surfaces54at the bottom side of the latching contacts52, so that a current path is formed from one of the latching contacts52via its associated connecting plate50, the conductor sealed in the latching arm12towards one of the plug-in contacts28, then through the lighting means32to the other plug-in contact28, the conductor sealed in the latching arm12and to the second connecting plate50and from there into the other latching contact52.

The embodiment according toFIG. 20essentially corresponds to that ofFIG. 16, an H7bulb being used here as lighting means in the same way as in the embodiment according to FIG.18. In this embodiment, too, connecting plates50engaging latching contacts52are used at the lamp socket10.