Light bulb socket mounting structure and method

Abstract: A bulb socket mounting structure inhibits a bulb socket (1) mounted on a panel (5) from being turned to prevent the bulb socket (1) from unintentionally coming off the panel (5). The bulb socket mounting structure includes a bulb socket (1) with a fixing flange (9) and a locking piece (12) extending from the fixing flange (9). The locking piece (12) includes a bending portion (14) extended tangentially off an outer cylindrical surface of the fixing flange (9) with a hook (15) at the end of the bending portion (14) away from the fixing flange (9). The panel (5) forms an engaging recess (17) at a predetermined position to fixedly engage the hook (15) of the locking piece (12). A relief groove (18) has an inclined guide surface (19) at the end abutting the engaging recess (17). When the bulb socket (1) is inserted into a mounting hole (6) formed in the panel (5), the hook (15) engages the relief guide (18). From this position, the bulb socket (1) rotates toward a socket locking position. The hook (15) of the locking piece (12) moves along the relief groove (18) without bending the locking piece (12). Immediately before being engaged with the engaging recess (17), the hook (15) slides up the inclined guide surface (19) while bending the locking piece (12). Finally, the bending locking piece (12) is restored when the bulb socket (1) enters the socket locking position where the hook (15) engages the engaging recess (17).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a light bulb socket used for a vehicle lamp, headlight, or the like, and the structure for mounting the light bulb socket on a lamp panel. Description of Related Art A conventional L-shaped bulb socket will be described with reference to Figs. 15 through 19. An L-shaped bulb socket 41 is substantially L-shaped. A first end portion of the L-shaped bulb socket 41 is a substantially cylindrical bulb engaging section 42. A second end portion is a connector engaging section 43 where a mating connector (not shown) can be connected. The bulb engaging section 42 has three locking protrusions 44 on the front part of its outer cylindrical surface at angular intervals and a fixing flange 45 on the rear part. On the other hand, the bulb engaging section 42 inserts into a mounting hole 47 of a lamp panel 46. As shown in Fig. 17, three relief cuts 48 in the perimeter of the mounting hole 47 (hereafter a hole defining portion) extend radially outwardly from the edge of the mounting hole 47. One of the locking protrusions 44 has a rotation preventing projection 49 on its rear surface. The rotation preventing projection 49 engages an engaging groove 50 formed in the rear surface of the lamp panel 46 at a predetermined position in the hole defining portion of the lamp panel 46. The bulb socket 41 can be fixedly mounted on the panel 46. The bulb engaging section 42 is inserted into the mounting hole 47 with the locking protrusions 44 set in the relief cuts 48. Once inserted, the bulb socket 41 is turned clockwise so that the locking protrusions 44 are hidden behind the hole defining portion. As a result, the locking protrusions 44 push the hole defining portion around the mounting hole 47 against the fixing flange 45, as shown in Fig. 19. Thus, the bulb socket 41 is fixedly mounted on the panel 46. At the same time, the rotation preventing projection 49 is engaged with the engaging groove 50 to prevent the bulb socket 41 mounted on the panel from being turned. The rotation preventing projection 49 on the rear surface of one of the locking protrusions 44 prevents the conventional bulb socket 41 mounted on the panel from being turned. The rotation preventing projection 49 slides on the rear surface of the panel 46 as the bulb socket 41 is rotated until the rotation preventing projection 49 drops into the engaging groove 50. The rotation preventing projection 49 slides while being strongly pushed against the rear surface of the panel 46. Because the bulb socket 41 is made of resin material, the top of the projection 49 can be substantially flattened during use, i.e. sliding on the rear surface of the panel 46. Over time, the engaging portion of the rotation preventing projection 49 is removed. Therefore, sometimes the rotation preventing projection 49 does not work even when the rotation preventing projection 49 engages the engaging groove 50. This problem may be eliminated by increasing the size of the rotation preventing projection 49. However, increasing the size of the rotation prevention mechanism 49 causes another problem. That is, the sliding resistance of a larger projection increases greatly. Therefore, the rotation preventing projection 49 is limited in the amount it can be made larger. Thus, as for the conventional bulb socket, the above-described problems are unavoidable. A mating connector 51 can be engaged with the bulb socket 41 fixedly mounted on the panel 46 with the projection in the engaging groove. The connector 51 may be pushed into the socket 41 obliquely with respect to the connector engaging section 43 as indicated by the chain lines in Fig. 19. In this case, the torque applied to the bulb socket 41 is in the opposite direction to the torque applied mounting the bulb socket 41 on the panel. As a result, the bulb socket 41 is turned counterclockwise, and the locking protrusions 44 align with the relief cuts 48. Therefore the bulb socket 41 may come off the mounting hole 47. This difficulty can also occur after the connector 51 is connected to the bulb socket because the connector 51 lead wires are pulled or the bulb socket vibrates during vehicle traveling. When such a bulb socket is installed in the vehicle trunk the same difficulty can occur when pieces of luggage or the like strike the bulb socket. Another bulb socket is known from US-A-5,010,455. When the light bulb assembly described there is inserted into an opening of a reflector, ears of the light bulb assembly are aligned with and located within cut-out portions, and afterwards, the body portion of the light bulb assembly is rotated counter-clockwise causing each ear to initially contact the tapered portion of the associated ramp portion causing a bridge member on which the ramp portion is formed to flex axially rearwardly, i.e. away from the opening. As the body portion continues to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, each ear will move over the apex of the associated ramp portion into a seated or locked position. Similar to the conventional bulb socket described before the ears and the ramp portion are in contact during a large part of the rotation movement of the light bulb assembly. Moreover, GB-A-2 064 747 discloses a device for securing a bulb to the reflector of a headlamp. A relative rotation of the device and the reflector is prevented by a finger on a tap which extends parallel to the rotation axis. The reflector is formed with two orifices, each adapted to receive the finger, wherein the finger is urged into the one or the other of the orifices by the resilience of the tap. In this construction friction also occurs during the whole rotation movement of the securing device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least the problems found in the above-mentioned conventional bulb socket. It is another object of the invention to provide a bulb socket fixedly mounting structure that inhibits the rotation of a bulb socket mounted on a panel to prevent the bulb socket from coming off the panel. These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing bulb socket mounting structures as defined in claims 1 and 5. A method for mounting the same is defined in claim 7. The locking piece allows the bulb socket to turn from the bulb inserting position to the bulb locking position while being bent. However, the locking piece engages the engaging section when the bulb socket reaches the bulb locking position to stop the bulb socket rotation. The locking piece can include a knob to forcibly bend the locking piece away from the engaging section to disengage the locking piece from the engaging section. Further, the locking piece can include a base portion extending radially outwardly from the radially outer cylindrical surface of the mounting section and a bending portion extending from the radially outward end of the base portion tangential to the outer cylindrical surface of the mounting section. A relief path provided in the lamp panel near the inlet of the engaging section prevents the locking piece from being bent until immediately before the locking piece engages the engaging section. The bulb socket mounting structure operates when the locking piece is bent to permit the rotation of the bulb socket from the socket inserting position to the socket locking position. When the bulb socket reaches the socket locking position, the locking piece is restored to an unbent condition to engage the engaging section and lock the bulb socket in place, that is, to prevent the bulb socket from being accidentally turned. To disengage the bulb socket from the socket locking position, the locking piece can include a knob to be grasped by the operator's fingers. In other words, the operator pulls the knob away from the engaging section to forcibly disengage the locking piece from the engaging section. Therefore, in the bulb socket mounting structure when engaged with the engaging section, the bendable locking piece positively prevents the bulb socket mounted on the panel from being accidentally turned. Therefore, even when external force is carelessly applied to the bulb socket mounted on the panel, the bulb socket is prevented from being turned and prevented from coming off the panel. Further, the locking piece is not damaged while the bulb socket is being rotated from the socket inserting position to the socket locking position because of the relief path. Because the locking piece is never damaged, the bulb socket can be repeatedly used. In other words, the bulb socket mounting structure is designed to reduce a load applied to the locking piece to improve the durability of the locking piece. The bulb socket mounting structure allows the bulb socket to be easily removed from the lamp panel. Thus, the maintenance of the vehicle lamp, for example, to replace the light bulb remains highly efficient. The bulb socket mounting structure locking piece extends from the mounting section of the bulb socket. However, preferably the locking portion minimally protrudes away from the lamp panel. Thus, the bulb socket is compact. Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, which disclose preferred embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a front view of a bulb socket mounting structure according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a side view of the bulb socket mounting structure in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a rear view of the bulb socket mounting structure in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bulb socket mounting structure in Fig. 1 mounted on a lamp panel; Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a sectional view taken along line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 8; Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a plan view of the bulb socket mounting structure in Fig. 1 set at a socket inserting position; Fig. 8 is a diagram showing plan view of the bulb socket mounting structure in Fig. 1 held at a socket locking position; Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a fragmentary sectional view of a bulb socket mounting structure according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a fragmentary sectional view of a bulb socket mounting structure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a rear view of a bulb socket mounting structure according to still yet another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a plan view of the bulb socket mounting structure in Fig. 11 set at a socket inserting position; Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a plan view of the bulb socket mounting structure in Fig. 11 held at a socket locking position; Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a side view of a conventional bulb socket; Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a front view of the conventional light socket; Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a plan view of the conventional bulb socket mounted on a lamp panel; Fig. 18 is a diagram showing a sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII in Fig. 17; and Fig. 19 is a diagram showing a plan view of the conventional bulb socket held at a bulb locking position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first preferred embodiment of a bulb socket mounting structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1-8. An L-shaped bulb socket 1 is preferably made of synthetic resin and is substantially L-shaped. As shown in Fig. 1, a first end portion of the bulb socket 1 is a substantially cylindrical bulb engaging section 2 where a light bulb (not shown) can be installed. A second end portion is a male connector section 3 where a mating female connector (not shown) can be connected. A pair of L-shaped metal terminals are fixedly set in the bulb socket 1 having opposite end portions laid in the bulb engaging section 2 and the male connector section 3, respectively. As shown in Fig. 4, the bulb socket 1 mounts on a lamp panel 5. The lamp panel 5 has a mounting hole 6 that fixedly engages the bulb engaging section 2. The bulb engaging section 2 has three locking protrusions 8 on the front part of its outer cylindrical surface at preferably regular angular intervals and a fixing flange 9 on the rear part. On the other hand, the mounting hole 6 has three relief cuts 10 in the portion of the panel defining the mounting hole 6 (hereafter a hole defining portion). The three relief cuts 10 align with the three locking protrusions 8 and allow the three locking protrusions 8 to fit behind the hole defining portion around the mounting hole 6 of the lamp panel 5. The bulb socket 1 can be fixedly mounted on the lamp panel 5. The bulb socket 1 is initially placed into the mounting hole 6 at a socket inserting position as shown in Fig. 7. In the socket inserting position, the bulb engaging section 2 fits into the mounting hole 6 of the panel 5 with the three locking protrusions 8 set in the relief cuts 10. From the socket inserting position, the bulb socket 1 is turned preferably clockwise and the locking protrusions 8 are hidden behind the hole defining portion of the lamp panel 5. When the bulb socket 1 is turned about 45°, one of the locking protrusions 8 abuts against a stopper 11 on the rear surface of the lamp panel 5 as shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, the rotation of the bulb socket 1 is stopped. In other words, the bulb socket 1 is at a socket locking position. When the bulb socket 1 is locked in the socket locking position, the locking protrusions 8 push the hole defining portion of the panel against the fixing flange 9 to fixedly mount the bulb socket 1 on the panel 5. A locking piece 12 protrudes from the outer cylindrical surface of the bulb engaging section 2 to prevent the bulb socket 1 from being turned counterclockwise when the bulb socket 1 is locked in the socket locking position as shown in Fig. 8. The locking piece 12 includes a relatively short base portion 13 extending radially outwardly from the fixing flange 9 and a bending portion 14 extending from the radially outward end of the base portion 13 tangential to the fixing flange 9. The bending portion 14 preferably extends tangentially counterclockwise in the first preferred embodiment, but could, for example, be designed to extend clockwise. The bending portion 14 is elastically flexible with respect to the surface of the lamp panel 5. The bending portion 14 has a hook 15 on at the end opposite the base portion 13 that extends toward and confronts the lamp panel 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the hook 15 has an inclined inner surface 15a. In cooperation, an engaging recess 17 in the front surface of the lamp panel 5 engages with the hook 15 of the locking piece 12 when the bulb socket 1 is in the socket locking position. To facilitate the engagement of the hook 15 with the engaging recess 17, a relief groove 18 near the engaging recess 17 extends clockwise from the hook's 15 initial position when the bulb socket 1 is in the socket inserting position to a guide surface 19 abutting the inlet of the engaging recess 17. The relief groove 18 forms an arc according to the arcuate locus that the hook 15 describes as the bulb socket 1 rotates from the socket inserting position toward the socket locking position. The relief groove 18 is sufficiently recessed to allow the hook 15 to be contained without bending the bending portion 14 of the locking piece 12 with respect to the surface of the lamp panel 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the inclined guide surface 19 abuts the engaging recess 17 between the relief groove 18 and the engaging recess 17. The operation of the first preferred embodiment of the bulb socket will be described. First, the light bulb is connected to the bulb engaging section 2 of the bulb socket 1. As shown in Fig. 7, the bulb engaging section 2 is inserted in the mounting hole 6 of the panel 5 with the three locking protrusions 8 set in the corresponding relief cuts 10. When the fixing flange 9 abuts against the front surface of the panel 5, the locking protrusions 8 pass through the relief cuts 10 and go behind the panel 5 while the hook 15 of the locking piece 12 fits into the inlet of the relief groove 18 in the lamp panel 5. Then, the bulb socket 1 is turned clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 7. As a result, the locking protrusions 8 gradually hide behind the hole defining portion of the lamp panel 5 while the hook 15 of the locking piece 12 moves along the relief groove 18 (without bending the locking piece 12). When the bulb socket 1 is turned nearly to the socket locking position, the hook 15 travels up the inclined guide surface 19 from the relief groove 18 while the bending portion 14 of the locking piece 12 is being bent. When the selected locking protrusion 8 abuts against the stopper 11, the bulb socket 1 stops at the socket locking position as shown in Fig. 8. In the socket locking position the locking protrusions 8 are fully hidden behind the hole defining portion of the lamp panel 5. In this manner, the lamp panel presses (i.e., the hole defining portion) against the fixing flange 9. Thus, the bulb socket 1 is fixedly mounted on the lamp panel 5. At the same time, the hook 15 of the locking piece 12 has travelled over the guide surface 19 to engage the engaging recess 17. When the hook 15 engages the engaging recess 17, the bending portion 14 is elastically restored. Thus, the bulb socket 1 mounted on the lamp panel 5 is prevented from being turned. Finally, the mating female connector is connected to the male connector section 3. Using the first preferred embodiment of the bulb socket mounting structure, the female connector may form an angle with the male connector section 3 when connected to the male connector section 3. In contrast to the conventional bulb socket, no problems result from connecting a female connector that applies torque to the bulb socket 1 in the opposite direction to the torque applied to rotate and mount the bulb socket 1 on the lamp panel 5. The counterclockwise rotation of the bulb socket 1 mounted on the panel 5 is prevented by the engagement of the hook 15 with the engaging recess 17. Therefore, the bulb socket 1 is positively prevented from being returned to the socket inserting position. Thus, the bulb socket 1 is prevented from coming off the panel 5. In addition, the bulb socket 1 is prevented from being unintentionally turned even when the connected female connector lead wires are pulled, the lamp panel 5 is vibrated by the vehicle body on which it is mounted or external force is applied to the bulb socket 1, for example, by pieces of luggages. In vehicle lamp maintenance, such as the replacement of the light bulb, the bulb socket 1 may be removed from the lamp panel 5 by using, for example, a jig. After the jig is inserted in the engaging recess 17, the jig can bend the bending portion 14 of the locking piece 12 to disengage the hook 15 from the engaging recess 17. Disengaging the hook 15 from the engaging recess 17 permits the rotation of the bulb socket 1. After rotating the bulb socket 1 counterclockwise to the socket inserting position, the bulb socket 1 can be removed from the lamp panel 5. In the first preferred embodiment, the bendable locking piece 12 prevents the rotation of the bulb socket 1 mounted on the panel. Further, the locking piece 12 will not be damaged while the bulb socket 1 is rotated during mounting or dismounting. Thus, even if external force is carelessly applied to the mounted bulb socket 1, the bulb socket 1 is prevented from turning, and positively prevented from coming off the lamp panel 5. Further, because the locking piece 12 is not damaged during mounting, the bulb socket can be repeatedly used. In the first preferred embodiment, the relief groove 18 receives the hook 15 of the locking piece 12 while the bulb socket 1 is being rotated. Thus, the bending force is applied to the locking piece 12 only when the hook 15 crosses the inclined guide surface 19 immediately before the hook 15 enters the engaging recess 17. Therefore, the load applied to the locking piece 12 is reduced and the service life is lengthened. Further, the locking piece 12 does not protrude far from the fixing flange 9; rather the locking piece 12 is sufficiently bendable to engage the engaging recess 17. This makes it possible to make the bulb socket 1 compact. A second preferred embodiment of the bulb socket mounting structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9. The second embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment in a locking piece 12a. A knob 21 extends away from the lamp panel 5 connected to the hook 15 end of the bending portion 14 of the locking piece 12a. The knob 21 can be held with the operator's fingers. In the first preferred embodiment, the locking piece 12 was disengaged from the engaging recess 17 when a jig or the like raised the hook 15. In the second preferred embodiment, raising the knob 21 with the fingers disengages the hook 15 from the engaging recess 17. Thus, the knob 21 is used to bend the bending portion 14 and the bulb socket 1 is easily allowed to turn. In summary, the second embodiment requires no jig to remove the bulb socket 1 from the panel. Therefore, the bulb socket 1 is easily removed from the lamp panel 5 without tools. A third preferred embodiment of the bulb socket mounting structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In the third preferred embodiment, the hook 15 of the locking piece 12b and the engaging recess 17 have locking surfaces 23 and 24, respectively, which are inclined and abutted against each other in the socket locking position. When the bulb socket is held at the socket locking position, a force applied to the bulb socket 1 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 10 to turn the bulb socket 1 can disengage the locking surface 23 of the hook 15 from the engaging recess 17. Further, sliding the hook 15 up the locking surface 24 of the engaging recess 17 releases the locking piece 12b. Thus, the third preferred embodiment has the advantage that removing the bulb socket 1 is easily performed without the knob 21 or tools. However, the bulb socket 1 should be installed inside the vehicle body where no external force can be carelessly applied to the bulb socket 1. A fourth preferred embodiment of a bulb socket mounting structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 11-14. In the fourth preferred embodiment, a bulb socket 1a includes the bulb engaging section 2, the fixing flange 9 and a tongue-shaped locking piece 25 extending radially outward from the outer cylindrical surface of the fixing flange. The locking piece 25 has an engaging hole 26 in an end portion away from the fixing flange 9. As shown in Fig. 12, an engaging protrusion 27 on the front surface of the lamp panel 5 at a predetermined position on the arcuate locus of the end portion of the locking piece 25 so that the protrusion 27 can engage the engaging hole 26 of the locking piece 25. As shown in Fig. 14, the engaging protrusion 27 has a front surface 27a formed at a steep and almost right angle with the lamp panel 5 and an lesser inclined rear surface 27b. When, as shown in Fig. 12, the bulb engaging section 2 of the bulb socket 1a is inserted into the mounting hole 6 of the lamp panel 5 with the locking protrusions 8 set in the relief cuts 10, the locking piece 25 is located counterclockwise of the engaging protrusion 27. As the bulb socket 1a is rotated clockwise, the locking piece 25 slides up the inclined surface 27b of the engaging protrusion 27 while being bent. When, as shown in Fig. 13, the bulb socket 1a is turned to the socket locking position, the engaging hole 26 of the locking piece 25 encloses the engaging protrusions 27. In the socket locking position, the bendable locking piece 25 is restored to cause the engaging hole 26 to engage with the engaging protrusion 27, and the bulb socket 1a is prevented from turning. In the fourth preferred embodiment, the locking piece 25 prevents the accidental rotation of the bulb socket 1a by the different rotational force necessary to force the locking piece 25 over the inclined surface 27b and the front surface 27a, respectively. Thus, the bulb socket 1a mounted on the panel is positively prevented from being turned. Further the locking piece 25 will not be damaged while the bulb socket 1a is being turned. Therefore, the bulb socket 1a can be reused. In the illustrated embodiments, the bulb socket has a bendable locking portion. However, the invention is not limited to a bendable bulb socket mounting structure with the bendable piece located on the bulb socket. In contrast, the panel can include a bendable locking piece and the bulb socket can include an engaging section to engage the locking piece. Further, in the illustrated embodiments, the L-shaped bulb socket is a non-waterproof type. However, the invention can be applied to a waterproof type L-shaped bulb socket, which can be designed to include a seal ring fitted on the front surface of the fixing flange of the bulb engaging section and the bulb engaging section fixedly engages the mounting hole of the panel while pushing the seal ring against the front surface of the lamp panel. Further, the invention applies not only to L-shaped bulb sockets but also to other bulb socket types that mount on a corresponding panel by being turned through a predetermined angle.

Claims: A bulb socket mounting structure comprising: a lamp panel (5) having a mounting hole (6); a bulb socket (1) having a mounting section (2) where a lamp is mounted, the mounting section (2) inserting into the mounting hole (6), the bulb socket (1) moving between a socket inserting position and a socket locking position, said socket inserting position being an initial inserted position of the mounting section (2) in the mounting hole (6), said socket locking position being a position where the bulb socket is fixedly mounted to the lamp panel (5) and inhibited from being removed from the lamp panel (5); locking means (12) for locking the bulb socket to the lamp panel (5); engaging means (17) for engaging with said locking means (12), wherein one of the mounting section (2) of the bulb socket (1) and the lamp panel (5) includes the locking means (12), the other of the mounting section of the bulb socket (1) and the lamp panel (5) includes the engaging means (17), the locking means (12) bending to permit the bulb socket (1) to rotate from the socket inserting position to the socket locking position, the locking means (12) engaging with the engaging means (17) to stop the bulb socket (1) when the bulb socket (1) reaches the socket locking position; and a relief path (18) being provided near an inlet of the engaging means (17); characterized in that the engaging means (17) includes an inclined guide surface (19); the locking means (12) includes a hook (15) extending from the locking means (12) to engage with the engaging means (17) in the locking position, the hook (15) having an inclined surface (15a) relative to the rotation plane of the bulb socket (1); and the relief path (18) forms an arc and extends from the initial position of the hook, when the bulb socket (1) is in the socket inserting position, to the inclined guide surface (19) abutting the inlet of the engaging means so that the hook (15) moves along the sufficiently recessed relief path (18) without bending the locking means (12) when the bulb socket (1) is rotated between the socket inserting position and the inclined guide surface (19) and the hook (15) travels up the inclined guide surface (19) from the relief path (18), when the bulb socket (1) is turned nearly to the socket locking position, to the inlet of the engaging means (17). The bulb socket mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising a knob (21) connected to the locking means (12), said knob (21) being connected to an end of the locking means (12) furthest from the mounting section (2) and extending away from said lamp panel (5), the knob (21) being used to forcibly bend the locking means (12) and disengage the looking means (12) from the engaging means (17). The bulb socket mounting structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking means (12) includes a base portion (13) extending radially out from an outer cylindrical surface of the mounting section (2) and a bending portion (14) connected to a radial outward end of the base portion (13) and extending tangentially to the outer cylindrical surface of the mounting section (2). The bulb socket mounting structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook (15) further includes a steep surface (24), wherein the steep surface has a greater incline than the inclined surface (15a) relative to the bottom surface of the engaging means (17). A bulb socket mounting structure comprising: a lamp panel (5) having a mounting hole (6); a bulb socket (1) having a mounting section (2) where a lamp is mounted, the mounting section (2) inserting into the mounting hole (6), the bulb socket (1) moving between a socket inserting position and a socket locking position, said socket inserting position being an initial inserted position of the mounting section (2) in the mounting hole (6), said socket locking position being a position where the bulb socket is fixedly mounted to the lamp panel (5) and inhibited from being removed from the lamp panel (5); locking means (25) for locking the bulb socket to the lamp panel (5); and engaging means (27) for engaging with said locking means (25), wherein the mounting section of the bulb socket (1) includes the locking means (25), and the lamp panel (5) includes the engaging means (27), the locking means (25) bending to permit the bulb socket (1) to rotate from the socket inserting position to the socket locking position, the locking means (25) engaging with the engaging means (27) to stop the bulb socket (1) when the bulb socket (1) reaches the socket locking position; characterized in that the engaging means includes an engaging protrusion (27) protruding from the lamp panel (5), the locking means including a locking member (25) having an engaging hole (26), the locking member (25) extending radially out from an outer cylindrical surface of the mounting section (2), the locking member (25) bending to engage with the engaging means, the engaging hole (26) engaging with the engaging protrusion (27) in the socket locking position so that the bulb socket (1) is prevented from turning, wherein the engaging protrusion (27) includes an inclined surface (27b) and a steep surface (27a), the inclined surface (27b) rising in one direction, the steep surface (27a) falling in the one direction faster than the inclined surface (27b) rises relative to a front surface of the lamp panel (5), so that the locking member (25) is prevented from being bent until immediately before engaging with the engaging means (27). The bulb socket mounting structure according to claim 5, further comprising a knob (21) connected to the locking member (25), the knob (21) being connected on an end of the locking member (25) furthest from the mounting section (2) and extending away from the lamp panel (5), the knob (21) being used to forcibly bend the locking member (25) and disengage the locking means from the engaging means (27). A method of mounting a bulb socket mounting structure according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: aligning angularly spaced cuts (10) along a perimeter of the mounting hole (6) in the lamp panel (5) with angularly spaced protrusions (8) from the mounting section (2) of the bulb socket (1); inserting the mounting section (2) into the mounting hole (6) of the lamp panel (5); placing the locking means (12, 25) connected to and extending from one of the lamp panel (5) and the bulb socket (1) into a corresponding initial position abutting the engaging means (17) on the other one of the lamp panel (5) and the bulb socket (1); and rotating the bulb socket (1) in a mounting direction with respect to the lamp panel (5) to bend the locking means (12, 25) and to engage the locking means (12, 25) with the engaging means (17, 27), wherein the locking means (12, 25) is prevented from being bent until immediately before engaging with the engaging means (17). The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of rotating the bulb socket (1) in a direction opposite to the mounting direction with respect to the lamp panel (5) to disengage the locking means (12, 25) from the engaging means (17, 27).

Inventors: OGAWA SHINJI, OGAWA, SHINJI, Ogawa, Shinji, c/oSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F21V19
IPC codes: B60Q3, H01R33, F21V19, H01R13