A lamp bulb holder and a method of assembling a lamp bulb holder

Abstract: A holder (2) for a lamp bulb (B) comprises an insulating housing (3) having a terminal receiving part (92) and a socket (82) for the lamp bulb (B). The terminal receiving part (92) defines first, second and third terminal receiving cavities opening into a terminal receiving end (115) of the housing (3). One of the cavities receives an electrical terminal (6) having a spring contact beam (26) projecting into the socket (82) for engaging one contact of the lamp bulb (B), and a slot (37) receiving one lead (L2) of a diode (D). Another of the cavities receives an electrical terminal (7) having a slot for receiving the other lead of the diode (D) and a further slot for receiving a first supply lead (L3). When these two terminals (6 and 7) have been inserted into their cavities, a third terminal (10) is inserted into its cavity, after the leads of the diode (D) have been securely lodged in the diode receiving slots of the first two terminals. The third terminal (10) has a spring contact beam (70) which projects into the socket (82) for engaging the other contact of the bulb (13), and a slot (64) for receiving a second supply lead (L4). All of the slots of the terminals (6,7,10) open towards the terminal receiving end (115) of the housing (3).

Description: This invention relates to a lamp bulb holder and to a method of assembling a lamp bulb holder. The invention relates more specifically to the holders for baseless lamp bulbs. For some applications, a lamp bulb is required to be connected to an electrical component, for example, a diode or a resistor. In one such application, where the lamp bulb has a coiled filament and is connected to a sensitive switching element, for example, a semiconductor chip, a diode is connected to the lamp bulb to protect the switching element from any back electromotive force that may be generated when the bulb is switched off, as a result of the decay of the magnetic flux about the filament. Such protection is needed, especially in coiled filament lamp bulbs that are continually switched on and off, for example, when the bulbs are installed as signal or indicator lamps in a gaming machine or automobile. GB-A-2176663 discloses a lamp bulb holder comprising a housing and three electrical terminals which are inserted into respective cavities in the housing. Two of the terminals have slots for receiving respective leads of a solid state diode dropped onto a support in the housing before the insertion of the terminals. Two of the terminals also have spring contact beams which extend into a lamp bulb socket formed integrally with the housing, to engage respective contacts of the lamp bulb. Each of the three terminals has a pair of slots for receiving an external lead, the slots for receiving the external leads open towards a terminal receiving end of the housing but the slots for receiving the leads of the diode open in the opposite direction, that is to say towards the support upon which the diode is dropped. This known lamp bulb holder is clearly intended for manual assembly. GB-A-2169458 discloses a lamp bulb holder, comprising an insulating housing including a first contact terminal having a contact for engaging a contact of a bulb to be received in the housing and being connected to an electrical component; a second contact terminal being connected to the electrical component; a third contact terminal having a contact for engaging another contact of the bulb, where the second and third contacts are constructed to engage supply leads. Furthermore, the first contact terminal and the second contact terminal have open lead receiving slots for receiving leads of the electrical component therein. While all terminals of the lamp bulb holder can be stitched into the insulating housing from one end, the electrical component has to be inserted from a side in a perpendicular direction to the first and second terminals. The present invention is intended to provide a lamp bulb holder and a method of assembling a lamp bulb holder, for automated assembly, by means of conventional terminal stitching machine. According to one aspect of the invention, a holder for a lamp bulb, comprises an insulating housing having a terminal receiving part and a socket for receiving the lamp bulb, the terminal receiving part having first, second and third successive terminal receiving cavities opening into a terminal receiving end of the housing and receiving first, third and second electrical terminals, respectively, the first and third terminals each having a spring contact beam projecting into the socket for engaging a respective contact of the lamp bulb, the first and second terminals each having a component lead receiving slot securely receiving a respective lead of an electrical component, and the second and third terminals each having at least one supply lead receiving slot, characterized in that all of said component lead receiving slots and supply lead receiving slots open towards the terminal receiving end of the housing, and in that the third terminal, which is inserted into the housing after the first and second terminals and the electrical component, has a pair of side walls spanned by a transverse plate which extends across the electrical component. Thus, in automated assembly of the lamp bulb holder, an electrical component can be assembled to the first and second terminals, being firmly held in its assembled position against the action of any vibration, after which the third terminal is inserted into its cavity. More firmly to secure the lamp bulb in the socket, each of the first and third terminals may have a spring retention beam for cooperation with the contact spring beam of the terminal to grip the lamp bulb, the spring beams and the retention beam straddling the electrical component. In use in a gaming machine, where the lamp bulb holder may be subjected to particularly high vibration, the electrical component is secured in position by the engagement of the leads of the electrical component in the component lead receiving slots. In a particularly compact embodiment of the lamp bulb holder, the second and third terminals have side walls lodged in opposed slots in opposite side walls of the housing and communicating with the third and second terminal receiving cavities respectively, the spring contact beam of the first terminal lying between the side walls of the third terminal and the spring contact beam of the third terminal lying between the side walls of the second terminal. Also in the interest of compactness each of the first and second end walls may be formed with a rabbet opening into the terminal receiving end of the housing and receiving the end of a respective lead of the electrical component. In order to facilitate the insertion of the lamp bulb in the socket, the socket may comprise a pair of spaced cheeks depending from the terminal receiving part of the housing and each defining a first concave recess for guiding a respective side of the lamp bulb, a rib extending from each cheek into a space defined by a wall of the terminal receiving part of the housing, defining a second concave recess, coaxial with, but of smaller radius than, the first concave recess, for locating a contact bearing tail of the lamp bulb relative to contact surfaces of the spring contact beams. According to another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling a holder for a lamp bulb, comprises the steps of: providing an insulating housing having a terminal receiving part and a socket for receiving the lamp bulb, the terminal receiving part of the housing having first, second and third successive terminal receiving cavities opening into a terminal receiving end of the housing; inserting into the first cavity, by way of said terminal receiving end of the housing, a first electrical terminal having a first spring contact beam and a first component lead receiving slot, so that the spring contact beam projects into the socket of the housing for engaging a first contact of the lamp bulb and the component lead receiving slot opens towards the terminal receiving end of the housing; inserting into the third cavity, by way of said terminal receiving end of the housing, a second electrical terminal having a second component lead receiving slot and a first supply lead receiving slot, so that both of the slots open towards the terminal receiving end of the housing; inserting into the component lead receiving slots of the first and second terminals by way of the terminal receiving end of the housing, respective leads of an electrical component, so that the leads are gripped by the edges of the component lead receiving slots; and inserting into the second cavity, by way of the terminal receiving end of the housing, a third electrical terminal, having a second supply lead receiving slot and a second spring contact beam, so that the second supply lead receiving slot opens towards the terminal receiving end of the housing and the spring contact beam projects into the socket of the housing for engaging a second contact of the lamp bulb and the third terminal having a plate which extends across the component when the third terminal is inserted into the second cavity. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is an isometric view of a baseless electric lamp bulb; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a first electrical terminal of a lamp bulb holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, for the lamp bulb of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the first terminal; Figures 4 and 5 are views taken in the direction of the arrows 4 and 5, respectively, in Figure 3; Figure 6 is an isometric view of a second electrical terminal of the lamp holder; Figure 7 is a side view of the second terminal; Figures 8 and 9 are views taken in the direction of the arrows 8 and 9, respectively, in Figure 7; Figure 10 is an isometric view of a third electrical terminal of the lamp bulb holder; Figure 11 is a side view of the third terminal; Figures 12 and 13 are views taken in the direction of the arrows 12 and 13, respectively, in Figure 11; Figure 14 is an isometric view partly in central longitudinal section of an insulating housing of the lamp bulb holder; Figure 15 is a top plan view of the housing; Figure 16 is a view taken on the lines 16-16 of Figure 15; Figures 17 and 18 are views taken in the direction of the arrows 17 and 18, respectively, in Figure 15; Figure 19 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 19 in Figure 15; Figures 20 and 21 are views taken on the lines 20-20 and 21-21, respectively, in Figure 19; Figure 22 is an underplan view of the housing; Figures 23 to 27 are views similar to that of Figure 14 but showing respective consecutive steps in stitching the terminals into the housing and assembling the lamp bulb to the lamp bulb holder so provided; Figure 28 is an isometric view showing the terminals in the relative positions that they occupy in the housing, the housing not being shown; and Figures 29 and 30 are top plan and under plan views, respectively, of the terminals shown in Figure 28. As shown in Figure 1, a baseless electric lamp bulb B has contacts C1 and C2 for connection to supply leads by means of a lamp bulb holder 2 (Figures 26 and 27) which is described below. The bulb B comprises a cylindrical glass envelope E from which projects rearwardly, a generally flat and rectangular glass tail T supporting the contacts C1 and C2. The tail T has opposed central longitudinal, arcuate cross section ribs R. The contacts C1 and C2 are disposed on opposite faces of the tail T and are offset from each other on opposite sides of the rib R. The contacts C1 and C2 are connected by way of respective leads L to a coiled filament F within the envelope E. The lamp bulb holder 2 also connects in series with the bulb B, a circuit component in the form of a solid state diode D having a cylindrical body from opposite ends of which project bare wire leads L1 and L2 (Figure 24). The purpose of the diode D is to block any back electromotive force which may be generated in the coiled filament F when the bulb B is switched off, in order to protect any voltage sensitive element to which the bulb B may be connected by means of the bulb holder 2. Bulb holder 2 comprises an insulating housing 3 (Figures 14 to 27), a diode to-bulb first electrical terminal 6 (best seen in Figures 2 to 5), a diode-to first supply lead second electrical terminal 7 (best seen in Figures 6 to 9) and a bulb-to-second supply lead electrical terminal 10 (best seen in Figures 10 to 13). The housing 3 was moulded in one piece from a suitable synthetic resin, and each of the terminals 6, 7 and 10 was stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock. The first terminal 6 will now be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5. The terminal 6 comprises a substantially U-cross section body 11 having a base 14, and parallel side walls 16 and 19 joined to the base 14 by way of bights 20. There upstand from the upper ends of the walls 16 and 19, chamfered extensions 22 each terminating in a latching lug 24. There depends from the side wall 16 a contact spring beam 26 having an inwardly bowed contact surface 28 for engaging the bulb contact C1. The side wall 19 has depending therefrom a retention spring beam 30 having an inwardly directed joggle 34 having a flat retention surface 36 opposite to the contact surface 28 for engaging the opposite side of the bulb tail T to that on which the contact C1 is located. The base 14 has extending downwardly from its upper edge, a slot 31 for receiving the diode lead L1. The slot 31 has a mouth 35 for guiding the lead L1 between lead gripping edges 37 of the slot 31. The second terminal 7 will now be described with reference to Figures 6 to 9. The terminal 7, which is of substantially U-cross section, has a base 38 having opposed, parallel side walls 40 joined to the base 38 by way of bights 42. A slot 44 for receiving the diode lead L2 extends downwardly from the upper edge of the base 38 and has an upper portion having parallel guide edges 46 and a lower portion having parallel lead gripping edges 48, more closely spaced than the edges 46, for gripping the lead L2. There extends downwardly from the upper edge of each side wall 40 a supply lead receiving slot 50 having a lead guiding mouth 51 communicating with an insulation displacing lower portion having edges 52 which are spaced for displacing the insulation of a first insulated supply lead L3 (Figure 28) and making permanent electrical contact with the core of the lead. The slots 50 are aligned with each other. Towards its bottom end, each side wall 40 has an outwardly inclined detent 54. The third terminal 10 will now be described with reference to Figures 10 to 13. The terminal 10 has a substantially U-shaped end portion 56 having a flat base 58 and parallel side walls 60 and 61 joined to the base 58 by bights 62. Each side wall 60 and 61 has, extending from its upper end, a slot 64 for receiving a second supply lead L4 (Figure 28). The slots 64 are shaped similarly to the slots 50 for the terminal 7 and are similarly aligned with each other. There depends from the side wall 60 an extension 66 to which is connected by a bight 68, a contact beam support plate 69 from which depends a spring contact beam 70 having an inwardly directed contact surface 72 for engaging the bulb contact C2. The side wall 61 has depending therefrom, an extension 74 to which is connected by a bight 78, a beam support plate 75 from which depends a retention spring beam 76 having a joggle 78 providing a flat retention surface 80, opposite to the contact surface 72, for engaging with the side of the bulb tail T opposite to that on which the contact C2 is located. Each extension 66 and 74 is formed with an upwardly and outwardly inclined detent 54'. The housing 3 will now be described with reference to Figures 14 to 22. The housing 3 has a lower end portion providing a bulb socket generally referenced 82, having a pair of laterally spaced cheeks 84 depending from the housing 3 and each defining a first concave recess 86 for guiding a respective side of the cylindrical envelope E of the bulb B. A rib 87 above each recess 86 defines a second concave recess 88 coaxial with the first recess 86, for receiving a respective rib R of the bulb tail T, the recess 88 being accordingly of substantially smaller radius than the recess 86. The housing 3 has a terminal receiving upper part 92 having a bottom wall 90 defining a space 94 for receiving the rear end of the bulb tail T, with the contacts C1 and C2 of the tail T disposed on opposite sides of the ribs 87 as indicated in broken lines in Figure 21. There depends from the bottom wall 90, between the cheeks 82, but being spaced laterally outwardly therefrom, a pair of opposed cantilever latch arms 96 for insertion through a hole in a mounting panel P, indicated in broken lines in Figure 19, so that the edge of the hole engages in external notches 98 in the latch arms 96 so to secure the housing 3 to the panel P. The arms 96 have tapered free end portions for guiding them through the hole in the panel. The terminal receiving part 92 of the housing 3 comprises opposed side walls 100 and 102 and opposed end walls 104 and 106. The end wall 104 and opposite, rudimentary internal walls 105 of the housing part 92 define a first cavity 108 for receiving the body 11 of the terminal 6. The bottom wall 90 defines a step 110 at the bottom end of the wall 104 for supporting the bottom edge of the body 11 of the terminal 6. A rabbet 112 in the internal face of the wall 104 communicates with the cavity 108 to receive the free end of the diode lead L1. The rabbet 112 is bounded laterally, by beads 113 of the wall 104. Each wall 105 has a latching through opening 114 for latchingly receiving a respective lug 24 of the terminal 6. The cavity 108 opens at its upper end into the upper, terminal receiving end 115 of the housing 3 and at its lower end into the space 94. A truncated, L-section retaining arm 116 projects from each wall 105 for confining the edge of a respective side wall of the terminal 6. The cavity 108 communicates with a central, second terminal receiving cavity 118, which, in turn, communicates with first opposed, substantially L-cross section slots 120 for receiving the respective side walls 60 and 61 of the third terminal 10. The outer wall of each slot 120 has a through latching opening 122 (Figure 19) for receiving a respective detent 54' of the terminal 10. The central cavity 118 further communicates with a third cavity 131 having two further substantially L-shaped opposed slots 124 for receiving the side walls 40 of the second terminal 7. The outer wall of each slot 124 has a latching through opening 126 for latchingly receiving a respective detent 54 of the terminal 7. The internal face of the end wall 106 is formed with a rabbet 128 opposite to the rabbet 112, for receiving the free end of the diode lead L2. The central cavity 118, the end cavity 131, the slots 120 and 124 and the rabbets 112 and 128 all open into the terminal receiving end 115 of the housing 3. The cavity 131 also opens, at its lower end, into the space 94 for receiving the bulb B. The cavity 131 communicates with the central cavity 118 and has a floor 135 for supporting the bottom edge of the base 38 of the terminal 7. Each side wall 100 and 102 is formed with notches 130 for receiving the supply lead L3, the notches 130 being aligned with each other and with the slots 120. Each side wall 100 and 102 is also formed with a notch 132 for receiving the supply lead L4, these notches being aligned with each other and with the cavity 131. Each notch 130 and 132 opens into the terminal receiving end 115 of the housing 3 and is provided with supply lead retention barbs 134 and a lead wire seat 136. The operation of stitching the terminals and the diode into the terminal receiving part 92 of the housing 3, by means of a conventional terminal stitching machine (not shown), will now be described with reference to Figures 23 to 30. As shown in Figure 23, the first and second terminals 6 and 7 are stitched first, and simultaneously, into the terminal receiving part 92 of the housing 3 in the direction of the arrows A and B, respectively, in Figure 23. Upon full insertion of the terminal 6 into the first terminal receiving cavity 108, the latching lugs 24 of the terminal 6 latchingly engage in the openings 114 to prevent withdrawal of the terminal 6. The bottom edge of the base 14 of the terminal 6 rests upon the step 110 with the spring beams 26 and 30 projecting into the space 94 for receiving the bulb tail T, on one side of the cheeks 84. The base 14 of the body 11 abuts the beads 113 defining the rabbet 112, as shown in Figure 24. The edges of the side walls 16 and 19 of the terminal 6 are engaged with respective ones of the retaining arms 116. The terminal 6 is accordingly confined by the housing against both vertical and lateral movement. The bottom edge of the base 38 of the terminal 7 rests on the floor 135 of the end cavity 131 with the side walls 40 of the terminals 7 received in respective ones of the slots 124. The base 38 of the terminal 7 abuts the internal surface of the housing end wall 106 in which the rabbet 128 is formed. The detents 54 engage latchingly in respective ones of the latching openings 126 so that the terminal 7 is secured against withdrawal from the cavity 131. The diode lead receiving slot 44 of the terminal 7 is aligned with the diode lead receiving slot 31 of the terminal 6 and the supply lead receiving slots 50 of the terminal 7 are aligned with the supply lead receiving notches 132 of the housing 3. The diode D is now stitched through the open top of the housing 3, in the direction of the arrows C in Figure 24, to insert the lead L1 of the diode D between the lead gripping edges 37 of the slot 31 of the terminal 6, guided by the mouth 35 of the slot 31, and the lead L2 of the diode D between the lead gripping edges 48 of the slot 44 of the terminal 7. The leads L1 and L2 are thereby firmly gripped in the respective diode lead receiving slots so that the diode D is secured in the housing 6 whilst being firmly electrically connected to the terminals 6 and 7. The end of the lead L1 is accommodated in the rabbet 112, the end of the lead L2 being accommodated in the rabbet 128 (Figure 25). The cylindrical body of the diode D spans the central cavity 118 of the housing part 92. As will be apparent from Figure 26 (in which the terminals 6 and 7 are not shown) the terminal 10 is stitched into the central cavity 118 of the housing part 92, with the beams 70 and 76 leading. As the terminal 10 is inserted into the cavity 118, the contact surface 72 of the beam 70 and the retention surface 80 of the beam 76 engage the body of the diode D so that the beams 70 and 76 are cammed apart and the contact surface 72 and the retention surface 80 pass the body of the diode D and pass into the space 94. As shown in Figures 28 to 30, the contact surface 28 of the beam 26 is then laterally aligned with the flat retention surface 80 of the beam 76 and the flat retention surface 36 of the beam 30 is laterally aligned with the contact surface 72 of the beam 70. The beams 26 and 30 lie on the opposite side of the cheeks 84, to the beams 70 and 76. The flat base 58 of the terminal 10 extends across the body of the diode D, which lies between the plates 69 and 75 of the terminal 10. The side walls 60 and 61 of the terminal 10 lie in respective ones of the slots 120, with the detents 54' latchingly engaged in the latching openings 122 in the slots 120 so that the terminal 10 is secured against withdrawal from the cavity 118. The supply lead receiving slots 64 in the side walls 60 and 61 lie in alignment with the supply lead receiving notches 130 in the housing side walls 100 and 102. As best seen in Figures 29 and 30 the beams 26 and 30 lie between the side walls 60 and 61 and the beams 70 and 76 lie between the side walls 40. In order to prepare the bulb holder 2 for use, with the terminals 6, 7 and 10 stitched into the housing 6 as described above, the insulated supply leads L3 and L4 are forced into the respective supply lead receiving notches 130 and 132 and also into the respective supply lead receiving slots 50 and 64 in the direction of the arrows D and E, respectively, in Figure 28. The insulation displacing edges of the slots 50 and 64 displace the insulation of the leads L3 and L4 and make permanent electrical contact with the metal cores of these leads. The supply leads L3 and L4 may be inserted into the supply lead receiving slots by means of suitable tooling or by means of a cover (not shown) for the open top of the housing 3, and being provided with wire stuffer members. The lamp bulb tail T is then inserted into the space 94 with the ribs R of the tail T received in the recesses 88 of the cheeks 84 (Figures 21 and 27), thereby to locate the tail T so that the contact surface 28 of the beam 26 engages the contact C1 of the bulb B, the retention surface 36 of the beam 30 applying a counter force to the opposite side of the tail T and the contact surface 72 of the beam 70 engages the bulb contact C2, the retention surface 80 of the beam 76 applying a counter force to the opposite side of the tail T. The tail T is thus resiliently engaged between beams, with the diode D connected in series with the bulb B. In use, the lamp holder 2 is latched to the panel P, for example in a gaming machine, as described above with reference to Figure 19 and the leads L3 and L4 are connected to semiconductor switches in the machine for switching the lamp bulb on and off. Any back electromotive force generated by the magnetic flux about the coiled filament F, when the bulb is switched off, will be blocked by the diode D thereby protecting the semiconductor switch.

Claims: A holder (2) for a lamp bulb (B), comprising an insulating housing (3) having a terminal receiving part (92) and a socket (82) for receiving the lamp bulb (B), the terminal receiving part (92) having first, second and third successive terminal receiving cavities (108,118,131) opening into a terminal receiving end (115) of the housing (3) and receiving first, third and second electrical terminals (6,10,7), respectively, the first and third terminals (6,10) each having a spring contact beam (26,70) projecting into the socket (82) for engaging a respective contact (C1,C2) of the lamp bulb (B), the first and second terminals (6,7) each having a component lead receiving slot (31,44) securely receiving a respective lead (L1,L2) of an electrical component (D), and the second and third terminals (7,10) each having at least one supply lead receiving slot (50,64), characterized in that all of said component lead receiving slots (31,44) and supply lead receiving slots (50,64) open towards the terminal receiving end (115) of the housing (3), and in that the third terminal (10), which is inserted into the housing (3) after the first and second terminals (6,7) and the electrical component (D), has a pair of side walls (60,61) spanned by a transverse plate (58) which extends across the electrical component (D). A lamp bulb holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and third terminals (6,10) has a spring retention beam (30,76) for cooperation with the spring contact beam (26,70) of the terminal (6,10) to retain the lamp bulb (B) in the socket (82). A lamp bulb holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second terminal receiving cavity (118) is intermediate the first and third terminal receiving cavities (108,131) and communicates therewith, the first terminal (6) being latched against a first end wall of the housing (3) and the second terminal (7) being latched against a second and opposite wall of the housing (3), the second and third terminals (7,10) having side walls (40,60) lodged in opposed slots (120,124) in opposite side walls of the housing and communicating with the third and the second terminal receiving cavities. A lamp bulb holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring contact beam (26) of the first terminal (6) is disposed between the side walls (60,61) of the third terminal (10) and the spring contact beam (70) of the third terminal (10) is disposed between the side walls (40) of the second terminal (7). A lamp bulb holder as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein each of the first and second end walls is formed with a rabbet which opens into the terminal receiving end (92) of the housing (3) and which receives the end of a lead (C1,C2) of the electrical component (D). A lamp bulb holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the socket (82) comprises a pair of spaced cheeks (84) depending from the terminal receiving part (92) of the housing (3) and each defining a first concave recess (86) for guiding a respective side of the lamp bulb (B), and wherein a rib (87) extends from each cheek (84) into a space defined by a wall of the terminal receiving part of the housing and defines a second concave recess (88) coaxial with, but of smaller radius than, the first concave recess (86) for locating a contact bearing tail (T) of the lamp bulb (B) relative to contact surfaces (28,72) of the spring contact beams (26,70). A lamp bulb holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical component is a solid state diode (D) comprising a body from opposite ends of which project bare wire leads (L1,L2). A method of assembling a holder (2) for a lamp bulb (B), comprising the steps of: providing an insulating housing (3) having a terminal receiving part (92) and a socket (82) for receiving the lamp bulb, the terminal receiving part of the housing having first, second and third successive terminal receiving cavities (108,118,131) opening into a terminal receiving end (115) of the housing; inserting into the first cavity (108), by way of said terminal receiving end of the housing, a first electrical terminal (6) having a first spring contact beam (26) and a first component lead receiving slot (31), so that the spring contact beam projects into the socket (82) of the housing for engaging a first contact (C1) of the lamp bulb (B) and the component lead receiving slot opens towards the terminal receiving end of the housing; inserting into the third cavity (131), by way of said terminal receiving end of the housing, a second electrical terminal (7) having a second component lead receiving slot (44) and a first supply lead receiving slot (50), so that both of the slots open towards the terminal receiving end (115) of the housing; inserting into the component lead receiving slots (31,44) of the first and second terminals by way of the terminal receiving end (115) of the housing (3), respective leads (L1,L2) of an electrical component (D), so that the leads are gripped by the edges of the component lead receiving slots; and inserting into the second cavity (118), by way of the terminal receiving end of the housing, a third electrical terminal (10), having a second supply lead receiving slot (64) and a second spring contact beam (70), so that the second supply lead receiving slot opens towards the terminal receiving end (115) of the housing and the spring contact beam projects into the socket (82) of the housing for engaging a second contact (C2) of the lamp bulb (B) and the third terminal (10) having a plate (58) which extends across the component (D) when the third terminal is inserted into the second cavity. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second spring contact beam (70) engages the component as the third terminal (10) is being inserted into the second cavity (118), is cammed aside by the component (D) and passes the component before it projects into the socket (82) of the housing (3). A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the third terminal (10) has a spring retention beam (76) for cooperation with the second spring contact beam (70) to grip a tail (T) of the lamp bulb (B) and the second spring contact beam and the spring retention beam are cammed apart from one another by the component (D), as the third terminal is being inserted into the second cavity (118).

Inventors: KAMINSKI CHRISTOPHER, KAMINSKI, CHRISTOPHER
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H01R33
IPC codes: H01R33, H01R13, H01R43, H01R4