Abstract:
A lamp holder that can receive a discharge lamp has an insulating body that can work with an electrically conductive junction box. The junction box has a bottom, an opening opposite the bottom, and one or more sidewalls circumscribing the opening. The insulating body is sized to fit at least partially into the box, and has a flange sized to surmount and circumscribe the sidewalls that circumscribe the opening. The insulating body has (a) a cavity with a lamp entryway, and (b) a wire passageway providing access into the cavity. The wire passageway may travel partly underneath the cavity, or through a portion of the wall having a relatively greater wall thickness (or may travel otherwise.) A lamp contact is mounted in the cavity for electrically engaging the discharge lamp.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/935,109, filed Aug. 23, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,700. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to lamp holders for discharge lamps, and in particular, to lamp holders arranged to deal with high voltage. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Known discharge lamps employ a glass tube containing an inert gas. An electrical potential applied to electrodes at either end of the tube causes a discharge current to flow through the tube. This discharge will produce radiation that may or may not be in the visible range. Commonly, a fluorescent coating will line the inside of the glass tube to convert the radiation into visible light. Examples of such discharge lamps are commonly known as fluorescent lamps or neon lights (although these neon lights do not necessarily contain neon gas). A large discharge lamp of the “neon” type is often referred to as a cold cathode lamp. 
   Discharge lamps will often operate with a relatively high voltage, for example 15 kV. Consequently, special precautions are implemented to avoid inappropriate arcing or corona discharge. For this reason, traditional lamp holders have been made of ceramic to take advantage ceramic&#39;s ability to sustain high temperature and voltages without breaking down. These traditional lamp holders have a cup-shaped body containing a U-shaped metal contact that can connect to an end cap of the discharge lamp. 
   Industry standards have specified criteria for routing high voltage wiring into a lamp holder. In general, it is desirable shield high voltage conductors from the environment. If a high voltage conductor must be exposed, however, the spacing through free air to ground ought to exceed a minimum established for the particular magnitude of voltage. UL 879 Standard for Electrode Receptacles for Gas-Tube Signs (5 th  edition-first impression, Aug. 14, 1981) specifies a spacing of 1½ inches for receptacles rated at 7,500 volts, which voltage is normally supplied with secondary wiring from a 15,000 volt transformer. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 2,406,145. col. 3, line 60 through col. 4, line 4. 
   In order to establish such spacing, traditional lamp holders have employed tubular, ceramic wire guideways to maintain this minimum spacing. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,208,812; 2,326,792; 2,375,807; 2,651,024; and 5,370,546. 
   Other commercial lamp holders have installed a traditional cup-shaped ceramic holder inside a metal junction box. A high voltage wire can then be routed through a flexible conduit that is attached in a conventional manner to an opening in the side of the junction box. Therefore, the high voltage wire and other high voltage components will be shielded by the flexible conduit and by the metal junction box. Any arcing or corona will be shunted to the junction box, which is typically grounded. These known ceramic holders protrude through the top of the junction box. Because the ceramic holders are not as wide as the junction box, gaps are reduced by placing atop the junction box a cover with a custom cutout designed to closely encircle the body of the ceramic holder. These designs have employed the traditional tubular ceramic spacer, but the spacer itself consumes significant space inside the junction box. For this reason, the ceramic spacer has been positioned to extend outside the box into a fitting attached to the side of the junction box. 
   A lamp holder disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,627 also mounts a cup-shaped ceramic body inside a metal junction box, but eliminates the tubular ceramic spacer. Instead of a spacer, this arrangement seals the high voltage wires to a hole in the ceramic body with a silicon caulk. This holder, while fitting more easily into a metal junction box, sacrifices the shielding effect offered by the spacer. In any event, these known arrangements require the installer to keep a supply of custom covers. 
   See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 602,966; 1,875,179; 2,045,229; 2,620,372; 2,644,027; 3,753,027; and 5,390,094; 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a lamp holder with an insulating body that can shield high voltage components and still, if desired, fit easily and simply into a metal junction box. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a lamp holder for receiving a discharge lamp. The lamp holder includes an electrically conductive box having a bottom, an opening opposite the bottom, and one or more sidewalls circumscribing the opening. The lamp holder also includes an insulating body sized to fit at least partially into the box. This insulating body has a flange sized to surmount and circumscribe the one or more sidewalls that circumscribe the opening. The insulating body has (a) a cavity with a lamp entryway, and (b) a wire passageway providing access into the cavity. Also included is a lamp contact mounted in the cavity for electrically engaging the discharge lamp. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the foregoing lamp holder is provided as described without the above mentioned wire passageway. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a lamp holder is adapted to fit at least partially into a standard metal junction box. The junction box has a bottom, an opening opposite the bottom, and one or more sidewalls circumscribing the opening. The lamp holder includes an insulating body sized to fit at least partially into the box. This insulating body has a flange sized to surmount and circumscribe the one or more sidewalls that circumscribe the opening. The insulating body has (a) a cavity with a lamp entryway, and (b) a wire passageway providing access into the cavity. Also included is a lamp contact mounted in the cavity for electrically engaging the discharge lamp. 
   In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a lamp holder is provided for receiving a discharge lamp. The lamp holder includes an insulating body having (a) a cavity with a lamp entryway, and (b) a wire passageway formed in the insulating body and partly traveling underneath the cavity for providing access into the cavity. Also included is a lamp contact mounted in the cavity for electrically engaging the discharge lamp. 
   In accordance with still yet another aspect of the invention, a lamp holder is provided for receiving a discharge lamp. The lamp holder comprises an insulating body having a base, and one or more walls emerging from the base to circumscribe a cavity that is open through a lamp entryway. This insulating body has formed therein a wire passageway passing through a portion of the wall having a wall thickness greater than that existing across the cavity opposite the passageway. Also included is a lamp contact mounted in the cavity for electrically engaging the discharge lamp. 
   By employing equipment of the foregoing type, an improved lamp holder is achieved. In a preferred embodiment, a cup-shaped ceramic body has a flange with an outline large enough to circumscribe the sidewalls of a metal junction box. Therefore, this preferred ceramic body can be attached to the opening of the metal junction box without the need for a cover plate. In highly preferred embodiments, the flange of the ceramic body will be designed to fit directly over the opening of a standard electrical junction box. Therefore, the installer need not obtain and stock non-standard junction boxes. Thus, the same junction box can be used for the high and lower voltage wiring. Also, the flange will be sized to completely cover the opening of the junction box so that a cover plate is unnecessary. 
   A preferred ceramic body will have a wire passageway that is relatively long so that internal high voltage components will be shielded. Instead of using a space-consuming ceramic sleeve, a wire passageway will follow a relatively long path through the ceramic body. In one embodiment, a wire passageway will pass through the base of the ceramic body underneath a cavity containing the lamp contact, before emerging into the cavity. In another embodiment, the wire passageway will pass through a sidewall at a location where the wall is relatively thick. These arrangements will effectively shield high voltage components inside the ceramic body. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above brief description as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view a lamp holder in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view, partly in longitudinal section, of the lamp holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the lower left corner of the lamp holder of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the insulating body of  FIG. 2  with its internal components removed; 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed, fragmentary, top view of the insulating body of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed, fragmentary, top view of an insulating body that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a lamp contact designed to be mounted in the insulating body of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of a dual-lamp holder that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  is sectional view of the dual-lamp holder, taken along line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded, perspective view of the lamp contact of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a lamp contact that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of a lamp holder that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the holder taken along line  13 — 13  of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view of an insulating body without a wire passageway that is an alternate to that shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of an alternate lamp holder having dual cavities and designed for a larger junction box; 
       FIG. 16  is an elevational view of the lamp holder of  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of a lamp holder that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 15 , with two cavities, each designed to hold two lamps; 
       FIG. 18  is a sectional, elevational view of an alternate insulating body with a lower flange; 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional, elevational view of an insulating body for a lamp holder that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a sectional, elevational view of an alternate lamp holder; 
       FIG. 21  is a sectional, elevational view of an insulating body for a lamp holder that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 22  is an elevational end view of the insulating body of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 23  is a top view of the insulating body of  FIG. 21 ; 
       FIG. 24  is a sectional, elevational view of an insulating body for a lamp holder that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 25  is a sectional, elevational view of an insulating body for a lamp holder that is an alternate to that of FIG.  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a lamp holder is shown as an insulating body  10  having a cup-shaped receptacle  12  depending from a flange  14 . Body  10  may be molded ceramic, but other embodiments may employ phenolic, plastic, or other synthetic or natural materials. Preferably, body  10  will have good electrical insulating properties and high thermal stability. While body  10  is shown herein as an integral molded unit, other embodiments may be made of multiple components that are secured with cement, fasteners, or otherwise. In still other embodiments these various components may be made of different materials and maybe shaped by molding, machining, etc. 
   In this preferred embodiment flange  14  has a generally rectangular outline (although the corners can be somewhat rounded in some embodiments) and therefore has two pairs of opposite parallel edges. As described further hereinafter, flange  14  is designed to be secured to a metal junction box  16 . 
   Junction box  16  is an electrically conductive box having four sidewalls  18 , a bottom  20  and an opening  22  (box shown in phantom in FIG.  2 ). For embodiments employing a standard electrical junction box, box  16  will be 4 inches (10 cm) long, 2⅛ inches (5.4 cm) wide, and 2⅛ inches (5.4 cm) high. It will be appreciated, however, that junction boxes have a variety of standard sizes. In some instances the junction box will have a generally cylindrical shape, in which case the box may be deemed to have only one sidewall, and one bottom. 
   Illustrated flange  14  is 4½ inches long and 2¼ inches wide (11.4 cm by 5.7 cm) and {fraction (5/16)} inch thick (0.8 cm), although other dimensions may be employed depending upon the associated junction box, the desired degree of overlap, the desired strength, the material used in the flange, etc. It is preferable to make the length and width of flange  14  slightly greater than the length and width of junction box  16 , so that flange  14  will surmount and circumscribe sidewalls  18  of junction box  16 . The flange  14  is deemed to circumscribe the sidewalls  18  if the outline of the sidewalls  18  will fit inside (or will be partly or fully contiguous with) the outline of flange  14 , when viewed from an overhead or plan view. It is desirable to have the flange circumscribe the junction box in this fashion also when the box is cylindrical and therefore has only one sidewall to circumscribe. 
   Insulating body  10  has a cavity  24  serving as a lamp socket. Cavity  24  Cavity  24  is bounded on the side by encompassing walls and opens on the flange side to provide a lamp entryway. Cavity  24  is substantially rectangular with rounded corners, although in other embodiments the opening may be circular, D-shaped, etc. The base of cavity  24  has a rectangular recess or well  26 . Well  26  may be formed by molding, milling, or otherwise. A longitudinally disposed wire passageway  28  extends from an exit portal in well  26  to an entrance portal on the outside of receptacle  12 , traveling partly underneath cavity  24 . By taking this path, passageway  28  is relatively long (in comparison, for example, to a passageway traveling in the opposite direction through the relatively thin opposite wall of well  26 ). In this embodiment, passageway  28  is approximately 1½ inches (3.8 cm) long. 
   Also in this embodiment, the cup-shaped receptacle  12  is positioned non-symmetrically. Specifically, receptacle  12  is offcentered to the left in the views of  FIGS. 1-4 . This shifting to the left is herein referred to as a bias to a predetermined side  31 . In this regard, cavity  24  is shown to be encompassed by a non-symmetrical wall thickness, with a thinner wall thickness towards predetermined side  31  and a greater wall thickness in the opposite direction. 
   A lamp contact is shown herein as a U-shaped clip  30  with outwardly flared tips  32 . The floor of clip  30  extends outwardly into perforated tab  34 , which is welded or otherwise secured to block  36 . Block  36  has a wire channel  38  that flares into a funnel-shaped mouth  40 . Transverse to channel  38  is a threaded hole  42 , into which a wire-securing screw  44  is threaded. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the stripped end of wire  46  is fed through the funnel-shaped mouth  40  into the wire channel  38 . Screw  44  is tightened onto the end of wire  46  to hold it in place inside block  36 . Accordingly, electrical continuity exists from wire  46  to clip  30 . 
   A pair of grooves  47  are formed on opposite walls inside cavity  24 . Grooves  47  are designed to capture the flared tips  32  and hold clip  30  in place. 
   Junction box  16  has on the upper edge of an opposite pair of sidewalls  18 , an integral pair of landings  48 . Landings  48  are essentially tabs formed in the upper edge of sidewalls  18  and bent over at a right angle with the sidewall. Screw holes  50  and flange  14  align with the threaded holes in landings  48 . Accordingly, flange  14  can be secured to box  16  by means of screws  52 , which pass through holes  50  and thread into the holes of landings  48 . 
   Junction box  16  is shown with a number of conventional knockout disks  54 , which can be removed to create an opening or portal in the sidewalls  18 . Attached to one such portal is a fitting  56  which secures a flexible conduit  58  to the sidewall  18 . Accordingly, high voltage wire  46  can be routed through flexible conduit  58  and fitting  56  into the interior of junction box  16  before being fed into wire passageway  28  as shown. This wiring arrangement brings secondary voltage to one end of a lamp (or a string of lamps). A lamp holder operating in this fashion is sometimes referred to as a terminal socket. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , components similar or relating to components in  FIGS. 1 and 5  bear the same reference numeral but marked with a prime (′). In this embodiment, alternate clip  30 ′ lacks an extension (such as tab  34  of FIG.  1 ). Instead, the underside of clip  30 ′ is welded to the top of block  36 ′ with the aperture  33  aligned with threaded hole  42 ′. Formed on an end of block  36 ′ is a funnel shaped mouth  40 ′ leading to a wire channel that intersects with hole  42 ′. Therefore, screw  44  can be threaded through aperture  33  into hole  42 ′ to secure wire  46 . As before, tips  32 ; can snap into mating grooves in cavity  24 ′. 
   Cavity  24 ′ has a centrally located well  26 ′ that is aligned toward the predetermined side  31 ′. Wire passageway  28 ′ intersects and communicates with well  26 ′ and travels away from the well and side  31 ′. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , an alternate lamp holder is shown as an insulating body  60  having a cup-shaped receptacle  62  depending from a flange  64 , which has screw holes  65  and a generally rectangular outline (although the corners can be somewhat rounded in some embodiments). Insulating body  60  has a cavity  66  bounded on the side by encompassing walls and serving as a lamp socket. Cavity  66  opens on the flange side to serve as a lamp entryway. The base of cavity  66  has a rectangular recess or well  68 . A longitudinally disposed wire passageway  70  extends from an exit portal in well  68  to an entrance portal on the outside of receptacle  62 , traveling partly underneath cavity  66 . By taking this path, passageway  28  is relatively long. 
   A lamp contact is shown herein as a metal stamping  72  having a pair of U-shaped clips  74  and  76  with outwardly flared tips  78  and  80 , respectively. The floors of clips  74  and  76  are connected through integral bridge  82 . The floor of clip  76  extends outwardly into perforated tab  84 , which is welded to block  86 . Block  86  has a threaded hole  88 , which is transverse to a wire channel (not shown) with a flared mouth. A wire-securing screw  90  can be threaded through tab  84  into hole  88  to hold a wire in place inside block  86  in a fashion similar to that shown in FIG.  3 . 
   A pair of grooves  67  are formed on opposite walls inside cavity  66 . Grooves  67  are designed to capture the flared tips  78  and  80  to hold clips  74  and  76  in place. As before, high voltage wire can be routed through wire passageway  70  into well  68 . Thereafter, screw  90  can be threaded into hole  88  to hold a high voltage wire in block  86 . 
   While the stamping  72  of  FIG. 10  is shown with two distinct clips  76  and  78 , a larger continuous clip  92  may be used as shown in FIG.  11 . There a single U-shaped clip  94  is in the form of a channel with flared tips  96 . As before, the floor of the clip is extended into a perforated tab  98 . 
   In any event, cavity  66  ( FIG. 9 ) provides a lamp entryway for the insertion of the ends of two separate lamps (not shown). One lamp may be inserted into clip  74 , while the other lamp is inserted into clip  76 . These lamps will in effect be connected together because of the continuity from clip  74  to clip  76 . In some instances this connection will have the two lamps operating in series. In other cases a high voltage wire will bring a supply potential through passageway  70  to clips  74  and  76  so that the two lamps will operate in parallel. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , an alternate lamp holder is shown as an insulating body  100  having a cup-shaped receptacle  102  depending from a flange  104 , which has screw holes  105  and a generally rectangular outline. Insulating body  100  has a cavity  106  serving as a lamp socket. Cavity  106  opens on the flange side to serve as a lamp entryway. Centered in the base of cavity  106  is a rectangular recess or well  108 . A longitudinally disposed wire passageway  110  extends from well  108  to the outside of receptacle  102 , traveling partly underneath cavity  106 . 
   A lamp contact is shown herein as a metal stamping having a pair of U-shaped clips  114  and  116  with outwardly flared lips  118  and  120 , respectively. The floors of clips  114  and  116  are connected through integral bridge  122 , which is perforated and welded to block  126 . This clip is similar to that shown in  FIG. 10  (except that tab  84  is eliminated and bridge  82  is perforated). Block  126  has a threaded hole (similar to FIG.  10 ), which is transverse to a wire channel (not shown) with a flared mouth. A wire-securing screw  124  can be threaded through bridge  122  into block  126  to hold a wire in place in a fashion similar to that shown in FIG.  3 . 
   A pair of grooves  107  are formed on opposite walls inside cavity  106 . Grooves  107  are designed to capture the flared tips  118  and  120  to hold clips  114  and  116  in place. As before, high voltage wire can be routed through wire passageway  110  into well  108 . Thereafter, screw  124  can be tightened to hold a high voltage wire in block  126 . 
   As before, the capped ends of a pair of lamps can be pushed into clips  114  and  116 . Depending upon any wiring present in passageway  110  these lamps can be operated either in series or parallel. 
   While receptacle  102  has the capacity to accept two lamps, cavity  106  is shown partially covered with ceramic cap  128  so that only one lamp can be accepted in cavity  106 . Cap  128  may be glued in place, or in other embodiments, a threaded stud (not shown) may be attached to clip  114  and cap  128  can be attached to that threaded stud. An advantage of this arrangement is that an installer need only stock a single body  100 , and this body can be adapted to deal with either single or dual lamp configurations. 
   Referring to  FIG. 14 , components similar or relating to components in  FIG. 13  bear the same reference numeral but marked with a prime (′). In this embodiment, an alternate lamp holder is shown as an insulating body  100 ′ having a cup-shaped receptacle  102 ′ depending from a flange  104 ′, which has screw holes  105 ′ and a generally rectangular outline. Insulating body  100 ′ has a cavity  106 ′ serving as a lamp socket. A lamp contact identical to that shown in  FIG. 13  has clips  114  and  116  connected through integral bridge  122 . (Unlike  FIG. 13 , bridge  122  is not connected to a block.) A pair of grooves  107 ′ formed on opposite walls inside cavity  106 ′ are designed to capture the flared tips  118  and  120  to hold clips  114  and  116  in place. 
   Body  100 ′ does not have a wire passageway as shown in the other embodiments. Therefore, this lamp holder can be used to accept the ends of two separate lamps and connect them in series. 
   Another pair of grooves  130  are formed on opposing faces inside cavity  106 ′. Grooves  130  are designed to hold a dividing wall (shown hereinafter). Such a dividing wall can be inserted from above into the grooves  130  to divide cavity  106 ′ into two separate compartments, one served by clip  114 , and the other served by clip  116 . Such a dividing wall can help guide the lamp ends and position them properly onto their respective clips  114  and  116 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a lamp holder is illustrated that is essentially a dual socket lamp holder where each socket is essentially the same as the socket shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . Components identical to those shown in  FIGS. 1-5  bear the same reference numeral, while similar or related components are marked with a prime (′). Using this scheme, a receptacle  12 ′ is shown with a cavity  24 ′ whose base has a well  26 ′. Receptacle  12 ′ is one of a complementary pair, and its cohort-receptacle  12 A′, is distinguished by the suffix “A”. Using this latter scheme, receptacle  12 A′ has formed therein a cavity  24 A′ with a well  26 A′. 
   As before, passageways  28 ′ and  28 A′ proceed under cavities  24 ′ and  24 A′ to communicate with wells  26 ′ and  26 A′, respectively. Receptacles  12 ′ and  12 A′ are integral with a flange  132 . Flange  132  is designed to fit over a larger, metal junction box  134  (shown in phantom in FIG.  16 ). Flange  132  is secured to the junction box  134  with screws (not shown) fastened through screw holes  134  in the flange. 
   Two identical lamp contacts  30 , identical to those previously shown in  FIG. 1 , are shown mounted in cavities  24 ′ and  24 A′ in a similar fashion; that is, snapped into grooves on opposing walls of the cavities. Contacts  30  have flared tips  32  that snap into said grooves. 
   The floor of clip  30  extends outwardly into perforated tab  34 , which is welded to block  36 . Block  36  has a threaded hole, which is transverse to a wire channel with the previously illustrated flared mouth. Wire-securing screw  44  can be threaded through tab  34  to hold a wire in place inside block  36  as previously described in connection with  FIG. 3. A  high voltage wire will be routed through passageways  28 ′ and  28 A′ to connect to the respective clips  30  in the manner previously described. 
   Referring to  FIG. 17 , a lamp holder is illustrated with two cavities  106 ″ and  106 A″. Cavity  106 ″ is shaped the same as cavity  106 ′ of FIG.  14 . Cavity  106 ″ is shown with a dividing wall  137  fitted into grooves (see grooves  130  of FIG.  14 ). Cavity  106 A″ is the same as cavity  106 ″, except that it does not have either a dividing wall or a grooves for accepting a dividing wall. It will be a appreciated that in practical embodiments the two cavities would normally be identical, but different cavities are shown herein for demonstrative purposes. 
   Cavities  106 ″ and  106 A″ are formed in a single dependent body  140 , which has a flange  136  with screw holes  138  designed to attach the illustrated lamp holder to a standard (or non-standard) electrical junction box (not shown). As with the embodiment of  FIG. 14 , body  140  does not have any wire passageways communicating with the cavities  106 ″ and  106 A″. Therefore, the cavities  106 ″ and  106 A″ will each operate as jumper sockets to connect two lamps in series. Such an arrangement would be useful where lamps are routed in end-to-end, parallel pairs. 
   The lamp contact in cavity  106 ″ has a clip  114 ′ and  116 ′ joined together by a bridge  122 ′. This lamp contact is almost identical to that shown in  FIG. 12 , except that the bridge  122 ′ does not receive a wire-securing screw and does not attach to a block (screw  124  and block  126  of FIG.  12 ). As before, the flared tips  118 ′ and  120 ′ will snap into grooves in the sidewalls of cavity  106 ″. The lamp contact will be further secured in place in that the bridge  122 ′ will be trapped under dividing wall  137 . 
   Lamp contact  94 A′ is essentially identical to that shown in  FIG. 11  (except that tab  98  of  FIG. 11  is eliminated). As before, the flared tips  96 A′ will snap into grooves in the sidewalls of cavity  106 A″. 
   The lamp holder of  FIG. 18  is identical to that shown in  FIG. 4 , except that the previously illustrated flange (flange  14 ) was eliminated and replaced with a surface mounting flange  140  having mounting holes  142 . Corresponding components in  FIG. 18  bear the same reference numerals but are marked with a double prime (″). In this embodiment the lamp holder is not designed to be attached to a junction box. Instead, the lamp holder can be separately mounted on a surface by means of flange  140  and mounting holes  142 . It will be appreciated, however, that wire passageway  28 ″ is relatively long and therefore maintains a relatively large spacing for the high voltage components. 
   Referring to  FIG. 19 , the illustrated lamp holder is substantially the same as shown in  FIG. 18 , except that cavity  24 ′″ has been widened to make a substantially uniform wall thickness. Accordingly, components corresponding to that previously illustrated in  FIG. 18  have the same reference numerals but are marked with a triple prime (′″). Again, this lamp holder is shown with a lower flange  140 ′″ to enable surface mounting. In alternate embodiments, the lamp holder may have an upper flange  142 A′″ (shown in phantom), which will enable an installer to recess the lamp holder into a structure such as a wall. Again, wire passageway  28 ′″ is relatively long and therefore maintains a relatively large spacing for high voltage components. 
   Referring to  FIG. 20 , a lamp holder  144  is shown as a cup-shaped receptacle  146  having an integral lower flange  148  with several mounting holes  150  for facilitating surface mounting. In alternate embodiments, flange  148  may be repositioned above as an upper flange  152  (shown in phantom) for facilitating recess mounting. Receptacle  146  has an offcentered cavity  154  creating a relatively thick sidewall  156 . A wire passageway  158  passes through relatively thick sidewall  156  to communicate from the outside into cavity  154 . Unlike the foregoing embodiments, this passageway  158  does not pass underneath cavity  154 . Nevertheless, passageway  158  is relatively long because sidewall  156  is relatively thick. Therefore a large spacing is maintained from the high voltage components inside cavity  154 . 
   A lamp contact  30 ″ mounted inside cavity  154  is similar to the contact of  FIG. 1  (contact  30 ). Features of contact  30 ″ corresponding to those of  FIG. 1  have the same reference numeral, except for being marked with a double prime (″). Contact  30 ″ is essentially the same as that shown in  FIG. 1  except that tab  34 ″ is longer and is bent into a Z shape. Again, contact  30 ″ is held in place inside cavity  154  by being snapped into grooves  158  on opposite walls of cavity  154 . 
   A wire-securing screw  160  is threaded into an aperture on the plateaued end of tab  34 ″. Accordingly, a high voltage wire can be routed through passageway  158  and terminated at tab  34 ″ by being fastened thereto by the securing screw  160 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 21-23 , an alternate insulating body  260  having a cup-shaped receptacle  262  designed to receive two discharge lamps is encircled by a flange  264 , which has fastening holes  265  and a generally rectangular outline (although the corners can be somewhat rounded in some embodiments). Fastening holes  265  have an elongated opening (e.g., oval or slot-shaped) to allow laterally adjustable mounting of the insulating body  260 . Insulating body  260  has a cavity  266  bounded on the side by encompassing walls  262 A and serving as a lamp socket. The open end of cavity  266  serves as a lamp entryway. The base  262 A of cavity  266  has a rectangular recess or well  268 . A longitudinally disposed wire passageway  270  extends from an exit portal  270 A in well  268  to an entrance portal  270 B on the outside of receptacle  262 , traveling partly underneath cavity  266 . By taking this path, passageway  270  is relatively long. 
   A pair of grooves  267  are formed on opposite walls inside cavity  266 . Grooves  267  are designed to capture the flared tips of clips such as those shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . As before, high voltage wire can be routed through wire passageway  270  into well  268  and terminated on hardware similar to that described previously. 
   The underside of receptacle  262  is notched with a stepped undercut  262 D. This undercut  262 D allows the entrance portal  270 B to be set back to provide additional clearance around the entrance portal. In particular, insulating body  260  may be mounted in a standard switch box  216  and screws may be inserted through fastening holes  265  and threaded into flanges  216 A of box  216 . Accordingly, high voltage wire  246  and may be supplied through conduit  258 , which conduit may be secured with fitting  256  to the side of standard switch box  216  (box shown in phantom in FIG.  21 ). 
   In this arrangement wire  246  is routed underneath body  216  and turned in a loop before being inserted into entrance portal  270 B. The radius of curvature of the final turn of wire  246  is less than suggested by  FIG. 21  since the wire is typically shifted to one side so that it is ultimately turning not only in the plane of  FIG. 21  but also in a plane perpendicular thereto. 
   Preferably, undercut  262 D will set entrance portal  270 B back about 1.5 cm, although other set back dimensions are contemplated, depending upon the wire size, box size, etc. Also, the setback provided by undercut  262 D will be beneficial if the high voltage wire is supplied on the same side as the entrance portal  270 B (i.e., on the side opposite to that illustrated in FIG.  21 ). In that instance undercut  262 D provides clearance for the fitting  256  and also allows the high voltage wire to be looped under body  260  and returned by making a turn similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 21  (see also the routing described below in FIG.  24 ). 
   In practical embodiments the depth of cavity  266  must be sufficient to securely hold the electrode end of a discharge lamp. In one preferred embodiment the cavity depth was about 3.8 cm, although other depths are contemplated. This depth plus the spacing needed to accommodate wire passageway  270  will affect the overall height of the insulating body  260 . In one embodiment the overall height was 6.0 cm, although this height can vary depending upon the type of lamp, the desired support, etc. If body  260  was fully inserted into switch box  216  there would be little clearance to route a high voltage wire under the body  260 . For this reason, cavity  266  is upwardly extended by a collar  262 C, which may be considered an extension of the encompassing walls  262 A. Essentially, flange  264  is then at an elevation lower than that described for other embodiments, effectively lifting body  260  partially out of the box  216 . In one embodiment collar  262 C was 1.3 cm tall, although this dimension can vary depending upon the clearance desired inside box  216 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 24 , the insulating body  360  adopts the extended collar concept disclosed in FIG.  21 . Elements in  FIG. 24  that correspond to elements of  FIG. 21  have the same reference numeral but incremented by  100 . Thus,  FIG. 24  shows a lamp receptacle cavity  366  bounded by encompassing walls  362 A, which are extended by collar  362 B. As before, flange  364  with its elongated fastening holes  365  encircles receptacle  362  at a location that provides additional clearance below base  362 B. Also as before, cylindrical wire passageway  370  travels from entrance portal  370 B to exit portal  370 A, which is adjacent to terminal well  368 . Grooves  367  are employed again to hold an electrode clip in place. The insulating body  360  of this embodiment is designed to receive a single lamp and offers essentially the same functions provided by the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
   The insulating body  360  is in this instance mounted in a utility box  316  that is larger than the box shown in FIG.  21 . Here, conduit  358  is attached by fitting  356  on the side of utility box  316  facing entrance portal  370 B. High voltage wire  346  is initially routed under body  360  and is formed into a loop that eventually turns back into entrance portal  370 B of wire passageway  370 . A separate undercut is not needed in this single lamp embodiment or clearance to enable the final turn of the high voltage wire. The foregoing routing does illustrate how such routing would be performed in the embodiment of  FIG. 21  if the high voltage wire entered from the opposite side. 
   Referring to  FIG. 25 , the insulating body  460  also adopts the extended collar concept disclosed in FIG.  21 . Elements in  FIG. 25  that correspond to elements of  FIG. 21  have the same reference numeral but incremented by  200 . Thus, an alternate lamp holder is shown as an insulating body  460  having a cup-shaped receptacle  462  encircled by a flange  464 , which has elongated fastening holes  465  and a generally rectangular outline. Insulating body  460  has a cavity  466  serving as a lamp socket. Cavity  466  has an opening serving as a lamp entryway. Insulating body  460  does not have a wire entranceway since this embodiment serves as a jumper between two discharge lamps. A pair of grooves  467  are formed on opposite walls inside cavity  466  to hold electrode clips in place. 
   To facilitate an understanding of the principles associated with the foregoing apparatus, its operation will be briefly described in connection with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 . Lamp contact  30  is installed inside cavity  24  as shown in FIG.  2 . Thereafter, an electrical junction box  16  can be outfitted as shown in FIG.  1 . Specifically, flexible conduit  58  is attached to one face  18  of box  16 . High voltage wire  46  (for example, a GTO type wire) is connected at one end to a secondary of a high voltage transformer (not shown). The other end of wire  46  is routed through flexible conduit  58  into box  16 . 
   The end of wire  46  is stripped and inserted into passageway  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the stripped end of wire  46  is inserted through the funnel-shaped mouth  40  into wire channel  38 . Thereafter, screw  44  is tightened to clamp wire  46  inside channel  38 . Next, flange  14  is placed atop box  16  and secured in place by threading screws  52  into the holes in landings  48 . 
   A lamp holder similar to that just described will be installed at a nearby location at a distance depending upon the size of the lamp being serviced. 
   Alternatively, a jumper socket such as that shown in  FIG. 14  may be installed so that a first lamp may be serially connected to a second lamp. In any event, a terminal socket will be required at the end of the series so that a return high voltage wire can be connected in a circuit. 
   Preferably, the lamp holders will be installed with a metal junction box  16  to provide a grounded structure surrounding the lamp holder to reduce the risk of uncontrolled or open high voltage arcing or corona. However, some embodiments will not employ a metal junction box and the flange  14  may be secured directly to a nearby structure or may be installed on supporting standoffs. Flange  14  may also be used for a recessed mounting. In some embodiments, a lamp holder may be mounted directly on a surface with a lower flange, such those shown in  FIGS. 18-20 . 
   A metal cap (not shown) on the end of a discharge lamp can now the inserted into the lamp contact  30 . Contact  30  is a springy structure that will open to accept the discharge lamp and hold it firmly in place. Thereafter, the transformer can be powered to generate high voltage to light the discharge lamp. 
   Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.