Patent Publication Number: US-8110973-B2

Title: Integrally ballasted lamp assembly including a spacer disk

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to an integrally ballasted lamp assembly including a spacer disk. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The use of gas discharge lamps, such as high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, is common in a wide variety of applications. A gas discharge lamp operates in a fundamentally different way than an incandescent lamp, and therefore may not be directly connectable to existing lighting fixtures designed for incandescent lamps. To allow use of a gas discharge lamp with existing lighting fixtures, integrally ballasted gas discharge lamp assemblies have been developed. In an integrally ballasted lamp assembly, a ballast circuit is provided within the lamp housing and the lamp housing is configured to directly connect to existing lighting fixtures. In general, the ballast circuit receives an electrical input, e.g. an alternating current (A.C.) or direct current (D.C.) input, from the existing lighting fixture and provides a stable output to the gas discharge lamp. 
     One example of a known integrally ballasted lamp assembly  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly includes a screw shell  102 , a housing  104 , a heat sink/EMI shield  106 , a printed circuit board (PCB) with a ballast circuit thereon  108 , a lamp receptacle  110 , connector clips  112 , 114 , a glass reflector  116 , a gas discharge lamp  118 , a support disk  120  and a lens  122 . In general, the PCB with the ballast circuit thereon  108  is provided within the housing  104  and is electrically connected to the screw shell  102 , which is sometimes referred to as an Edison connector. The screw shell is configured to be received within an existing light fixture through threaded engagement of the threads on the screw shell with corresponding threads on the existing lighting fixture. An electrical input is thereby coupled from the lighting fixture to the ballast circuit on the PCB through the screw shell. 
     The heat sink/EMI shield  106  may be provided in first and second parts that are fastened around the PCB  108  and mechanically coupled thereto. Heat generated by the ballast circuit during operation is dissipated by the heat sink/EMI shield  106 . The heat sink/EMI shield also provides shielding of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) from the ballast circuit on the PCB. 
     The lamp receptacle  110  may include a bottom portion having connector clip openings therein. The connector clips  112 ,  114  are inserted into the connector clip openings and secured to the bottom of the lamp receptacle in a snap-fit manner so that a portion of the connector clips extends outwardly from the bottom of the lamp receptacle. The PCB  108  is positioned adjacent to the bottom of the lamp receptacle and the connector clips each make a spring contact with an associated contact on the PCB board  108 . This provides an electrical connection from contacts on the PCB board to each of the connector clips. 
     The glass reflector  116  has a bottom portion disposed in an open end of the lamp receptacle  110  and is mechanically supported by the lamp receptacle. A bottom portion of the lamp  118  extends through a through-passage in the reflector  116  and into the lamp receptacle  110 . The electrical leads of the lamp extend through the connector clip openings in the bottom of the lamp receptacle and in contact with the respective connector clips  112 , 114 . The lamp leads may then be welded to the respective connector clips to make an electrical connection between the lamp leads and contacts on the PCB board through the connector clips that are snap fit to the bottom of the lamp receptacle. 
     To complete the assembly, the open end of the reflector  116  may be closed by the lens  122 , e.g. using a bezel, and the top of the lamp  118  may be supported against the interior surface of the reflector by the support disk  120 . One example of an integrally ballasted lamp similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  is shown and described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0279310, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Other reflector lamp configurations are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,227,308, 6,162,096, 5,751,095, 5,629,581, 5,272,409 and 5,057,735 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005/0213332 and 2004/0120148. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference should be made to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a prior art lamp assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a exploded view of one embodiment of a lamp assembly consistent with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the lamp assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view the lamp receptacle and connector clips shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one of the connector clips shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the spacer disk shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the spacer disk illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective, sectional view of a portion of the lamp assembly shown in  FIG. 2  without cement disposed in the lamp receptacle; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective, sectional view of a portion of the lamp assembly shown in  FIG. 2  with cement disposed in the lamp receptacle; and 
         FIG. 10  is a block flow diagram of one exemplary method consistent with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, a lamp assembly consistent with the present disclosure includes a spacer disk disposed in a lamp receptacle cavity between a lamp and the bottom of the lamp receptacle. The disk may be configured to contact connector clips coupled to the bottom of the lamp assembly to positively align the clips for connection to a ballast circuit. The disk may also, or alternatively, at least partially occlude connector clip openings in the bottom of the lamp receptacle for hindering the flow of uncured cement through the openings, and may also, or alternatively, provide a thermal barrier between the lamp and the lamp receptacle. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an integrally ballasted lamp assembly  200  consistent with the present disclosure is shown in exploded and sectional views, respectively. As shown, the system  200  includes: includes a screw shell  202 , a housing  204 , an electro-magnetic interference (EMI) clip  205 , a heat sink/EMI shield  206 , a printed circuit board (PCB) with a ballast circuit thereon  212 , a lamp receptacle  214 , a spacer disk  220 , connector clips  216 , 218 , a reflector  232 , a lamp  226 , a lens  234  and a bezel  236 . 
     The screw shell  202 , PCB with the ballast circuit thereon  212  and the heat sink/EMI shield  206  may be fit into the housing  204  with the outputs of the PCB, e.g. at contact portions of The  209 ,  211  PCB, coupled to electrical leads  228 ,  230  of the lamp through the connector clips  216 ,  218  in a known manner, e.g. as shown in  FIG. 1  and as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0279310, which has been incorporated herein by reference. In general, the PCB with the ballast circuit thereon  212  may be provided within the housing and electrically coupled to the screw shell  202  or “threaded base.” The screw shell is configured to be received within an existing light fixture through threaded engagement of the threads on the screw shell with corresponding threads on the existing lighting fixture. An electrical input may thereby be coupled from the lighting fixture to the ballast circuit on the PCB through the screw shell. The term “coupled” as used herein refers to any connection, coupling, link or the like by which signals carried by one system element are imparted to the “coupled” element. Such “coupled” devices, or signals and devices, are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may be separated by intermediate components or devices that may manipulate or modify such signals. Likewise, the terms “connected” or “coupled” as used herein in regard to physical connections or couplings is a relative term and does not require a direct physical connection. 
     The outputs of the ballast circuit on the PCB may be provided on opposite sides of the respective contact portions  209 ,  211  of the PCB, and may be coupled to respective electrical leads  228 ,  230  of the lamp by the connector clips  216 ,  218 . The lamp  226  may take any known gas discharge lamp configuration, such as a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp. As shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , the lamp  226  in the illustrated exemplary embodiment includes a discharge tube  310  disposed within an outer sealed glass envelope or jacket  312 . The outer jacket is affixed to press member or “press”  314 , also commonly referred to as the “press seal region.” The electrical leads  228 ,  230  are sealed into and pass through the press  314 , and are coupled to electrodes  316 ,  318  at respective ends of the discharge tube  310 . The electrodes project into the interior of the discharge tube. The ballast provides an electrical signal to the electrodes through the connector clips  216 ,  218  and the electrical leads  228 ,  230  for establishing arc discharge in the arc tube whereby light is emitted from the lamp. 
     The ballast circuit on the PCB may take any known configuration for driving the lamp. In the illustrated embodiment the screw shell  202  and ballast circuit on the PCB may be configured for connection to an alternating current (AC) main power source, e.g. 120V AC at 60 Hz, for driving an AC lamp configuration. It is to be understood, however, that the ballast circuit may operate from a direct current (DC) main power source, e.g. a vehicle battery, and/or the ballast may drive a DC lamp configuration. Also, the screw shell  202  may be replaced by an alternative configuration, such as a bayonet connector, adapted to connect to the power source. 
     The heat sink/EMI shield  206  may be provided in first  208  and second  210  parts that are fastened around the PCB  212  and mechanically coupled thereto. Heat generated by the ballast circuit during operation is dissipated by the heat sink/EMI shield  206 . The heat sink/EMI shield also provides shielding of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) from the ballast circuit. In an embodiment where the reflector  232  is a metallic element, additional EMI shielding may be provided by the EMI clip  205 . The EMI clip  205  may be a metallic element, e.g. a 302 stainless steel, and may be coupled to the interior surface  207  of the housing  204  for electrically coupling the heat sink/EMI shield  206  and the reflector  232 . In such an embodiment the EMI clip  205 , shields EMI received by the metallic reflector from the ballast electronics. 
     With the heat sink/EMI shield disposed around the PCB, an opening  303  is defined in the top of the heat sink/EMI shield for receiving a bottom portion of the lamp receptacle  214 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The lamp receptacle includes a bottom  238  and a wall portion  240  extending from the bottom to define a cavity  244  having an open end  242 . With reference also to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the bottom has an interior surface  406  and an exterior surface  302  and first  402  and second  404  connector clip openings extending therethrough. The connector clips  216 ,  218  may be inserted into the connector clip openings  402 ,  404 , respectively through the cavity  244 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one of the connector clips  218 , it being understood that both connector clips may take the same configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector clip  218  is a metallic conductive element, including a base portion  502  configured to rest against the interior surface  406  of the bottom of the receptacle. The connector clip also includes a spring contact portion  504 , a lamp lead contact portion  506  and a spring detent portion  508 , each of which extends through the associated connector clip opening to extend outwardly from the bottom  238  of the lamp receptacle. 
     The spring detent portion  508  includes a detent  510 , and is configured to deflect inwardly upon insertion of the connector clip into the connector clip opening. Once the detent  510  passes through the opening, the spring detent portion  508  extends outwardly to position the top of the detent  508  adjacent the exterior surface  302  of the bottom of the lamp receptacle. The connector clip is thus snap-fit to the lamp receptacle and may be removed by deflecting the spring detent portion  508  inwardly and forcing the connector clip out of the connector clip opening  402 , 404  in the direction of the open end  242  of the lamp receptacle. 
     The lamp lead contact portion  506  of the connector clip may be configured as a generally flat surface extending downwardly at approximately a right angle from the base portion  502 , and may be positioned adjacent a lamp lead portion  414 ,  416  of the connector clip opening. When the lamp is assembled to the lamp receptacle, one of the electrical leads  228 ,  230  passes through an associated lamp lead portion  414 ,  416  and is positioned adjacent to a lamp lead contact portion  506  of a connector clip. The lamp lead may be welded or otherwise electrically coupled to the lamp lead portion. 
     The spring contact portion  504  may be generally v-shaped with a first arm  512  extending downward from the base portion  502  and a second arm  514  extending upward from an end of the first arm  512  to a free end  516 . With reference also to FIGS.  2  and  8 - 9 , electrical connection between contacts on opposed sides of the respective contact portions  209 ,  211  of the PCB and the connector clips is established by positioning contact portions  209 ,  211  of the PCB in a space  802  between the spring contact portions  504  and the associated tabs  804 ,  806  extending from the exterior surface  302  of the bottom  238  of the lamp receptacle  214 . The spring contact portions  504  are forced outwardly and against the contacts on the contact portions  209 ,  211  of the PCB to electrically couple output of the ballast circuit on the PCB to the connector clips  216 ,  218 . The connector clips thus establish an electrical connection between the contacts on the PCB and the electrical leads of the lamp whereby the output from the ballast on the PCB may be provided to the lamp for establishing arc discharge in the arc tube whereby light is emitted from the lamp. 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 2-3 , the wall portion  240  of the lamp receptacle may terminate in an outwardly extending generally annular flange  217 . The bottom surface  317  of the flange  217  may be supported in the housing by supports  201  extending inwardly from the interior surface  207  of the housing, e.g. spaced by 90 degrees from each other around the interior circumference of the housing. The lamp receptacle  214  may be a molded plastic component. A variety of plastic materials may be used to form the lamp receptacle. In one embodiment, the lamp receptacle may be molded from a liquid crystal polymer, such as a model number Vectra L130LCP liquid crystal polymer, presently available from Ticona Plastics of Florence, Ky., USA, to provide efficient dissipation of heat generated by the lamp and the electronics on the PCB. 
     The reflector  232  may include a base portion  233  and an upper portion  235 . In the upper portion  235 , an interior surface  246  of the reflector may define generally upwardly concave shape, such as a parabolic shape as provided, for example, in a known parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) lamp. The interior surface  246  of the reflector in the upper portion  235  is configured for reflecting light emitted by the lamp outwardly from the lamp and through the lens  234 . 
     The top of the upper portion  235  of the reflector may terminate in an outwardly extending generally annular flange  237 . The bottom surface  320  of the flange  237  may be supported in the housing by supports  203  extending inwardly from interior surface  207  of the housing. In an embodiment wherein the reflector is a metallic element, the bottom surface  320  of the flange may contact a top  260  of the EMI clip  205  to electrically couple the reflector to the heat sink/EMI shield for shielding EMI imparted to the reflector. As shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , the exterior surface  248  of the reflector may also be supported in the housing by contact with a support portion  262  of the receptacle wall  240 . 
     The upper portion  235  of the reflector may include a generally circular opening defining a through-passage  250 . The base portion  233  of the reflector may be generally cylindrical and may extend downwardly from the upper portion  235  in alignment with the opening so that the through-passage  250  extends through the base portion  233 . The base portion  233  may be dimensioned to extend into the cavity  244  in the lamp receptacle  214  so that the through-passage  250  in the reflector opens into the cavity  244 . 
     A bottom portion of the lamp, e.g. the press  314 , may extend at least partially through the through-passage  250  and into the cavity  244  in the lamp receptacle  214  for connecting the electrical leads  228 ,  230  of the lamp to the connector clips  216 ,  218 . A top portion of the lamp, e.g. at least a portion of the outer jacket portion  312  and the discharge tube  310 , may be positioned on the inside of the reflector. The lens  234  may be positioned over the open end of the housing  204 , e.g. with a base portion  233  of the lens in contact with the flange  237  on the reflector. The lens may be a known glass or plastic element for allowing light emitted by the lamp to pass outwardly from the assembly for providing illumination. The lens may be secured to the housing in a known manner by the bezel  236 . 
     In an assembly consistent with the present disclosure, the spacer disk  220  is disposed in the cavity  244  of the lamp receptacle  214  as a spacer between the lamp  226  and the bottom  238  of the lamp receptacle. The bottom surface  306  of the spacer disk is positioned adjacent to, or in contact with, the interior surface  406  of the bottom  238  of the lamp receptacle  214 . In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer disk  220  includes first  222  and second  224  lamp lead openings. The electrical leads  228 ,  230  of the lamp extend through the lamp lead openings  222 ,  224  of spacer disk  220  and then through lamp lead portions  414 ,  416  of the connector clip openings for connection to the respective lamp lead portions  506  of the connector clips. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the spacer disk includes a generally flat top surface  304 . It is to be understood, however, that the top surface  304  of the spacer disk may be contoured. The spacer disk may be dimensioned to conform to the dimensions of the interior surface  406  of the bottom  238  of the receptacle. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the spacer disk  220  is generally rectangular with opposed straight edges  606 ,  608 , and opposed arcuate edges  610 ,  612 . The disk  220  has a length L greater than a width W, and the opposed arcuate edges define an arc of a circle having a diameter of approximately ½ L. In one embodiment, the length L may be about 0.75″, the width W may be about 0.5″ and the disk may have a thickness T, shown in  FIG. 7 , of about 0.0625″. The disk may be a molded plastic component molded from, for example, a model number Vectra L130LCP liquid crystal polymer, presently available from Ticona Plastics of Florence, Ky., USA. Although the spacer disk  220  is illustrated and described herein as having a specific shape and dimensions, it is to be understood that the spacer disk may take a variety of shapes depending, for example, upon the shape of the bottom portion of the lamp receptacle. 
     The spacer disk may include at least one feature configured to mate with a corresponding feature of the wall portion for fixing a position of the spacer disk in the cavity  244 . In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the spacer disk includes portions defining first  602  and second slots  604  in the opposed arcuate edges  610 ,  612  thereof. The slots  602 ,  604  may be configured to receive first  410  and second  412  tabs, respectively, extending inwardly from the wall portion toward the cavity  244 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The spacer disk  220  may thus be inserted into the cavity  244  by aligning the slots  602 ,  604  with tabs  410 , 412  and sliding the spacer disk down toward the bottom  238  of the receptacle to thereby fix the position of the spacer disk within the cavity. Although the illustrated embodiment includes two slots in the spacer disk and two associated tabs in the lamp receptacle, any number of mating features may be provided in any portion of the spacer disk and the lamp receptacle. For example, one or more slots may be provided in the lamp receptacle with one or more tabs provided on the spacer disk. Other mating shapes, e.g. rectangular or circular, may be provided for establishing a mating connection between the spacer disk and the lamp receptacle. 
     The bottom surface  306  of the spacer disk may contact the interior surface  406  of the bottom  238  of the receptacle and may include at least one feature configured to mate with a corresponding feature of said interior surface of said bottom of said lamp receptacle. As shown in  FIG. 7 , for example, the spacer disk may include concavities  702 , 704  in the bottom surface thereof. At least one of the concavities may be positioned and configured to receive a corresponding convex projection  408  ( FIG. 4 ) on the interior surface  406  of the bottom of the lamp receptacle  214 . Mating of the concavity with the projection resists movement of the spacer disk relative to the receptacle. Although the illustrated embodiment includes two concavities in the spacer disk and one convex projection, any number of mating features may be provided in any portion of the spacer disk and the bottom of the lamp receptacle. For example, one or more concavities may be provided in the bottom of the lamp receptacle with one or more projections provided on the spacer disk. Other mating shapes, e.g. rectangular or circular, may be provided for establishing a mating connection between the spacer disk and the lamp receptacle. 
     In the illustrated exemplary embodiment at  FIGS. 6 to 7 , the bottom surface  306  of the spacer disk includes first  706  and second  708  rectangular notches that respectively intersect the opposed straight edges  606 ,  608  thereof. The notches may be positioned to align with portions of the connector clip openings  402 ,  404  through with the spring contact portions  504  of the connector clips extend. The notches may allow upward movement of the spring contact portions  504  through the connector clip openings when the PCB board is forced into contact with the spring contact portions  504  of the connector clips. 
     The bottom surface  306  of the spacer disk  220  may also include first  710  and second  712  generally flat portions. The flat portions  710 ,  712  may be positioned for directly contacting the base portions  502  of the first  216  and second  218  connector clips, respectively. As shown for example in  FIG. 8 , contact between the flat portion  710  of the bottom surface  306  of the spacer disk and the base portion  502  of the connector clips provides a downward force on the connector clips when the lamp leads are installed through the lamp lead openings. 
     In the efforts leading to the embodiments disclosed herein it has been discovered that the connector clips  216 ,  218  may fit only loosely in the connector clip openings  402 ,  404  and may be free to move out of alignment with the contacts portions  209 ,  211  on the PCB board, resulting in a cumbersome assembly process. The downward force imparted by contact of the bottom surface  306  of the spacer disk  220  with the base portions  502  of the connector clips resists movement of the connector clips in the connector clip openings. This tends to force the connector clips into more positive alignment with the contacts portions of the PCB, allowing for facile coupling of the contacts on the PCB to the connector clips. 
     It has also been discovered that as the overall dimensions of the lamp assembly are decreased heat generated by the lamp and the electronics on the PCB may not be adequately dissipated by the heat sink  206 . To dissipate heat, a cement  902  may be provided on the top surface  304  of the spacer disk  220  in the cavity  244 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The cement may, for example, be a cement such as model #13 or #29 cement presently available from Sauereisen, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa., USA. 
     In one embodiment, the reflector may be a metallic reflector made from, for example, a 1090 aluminum with a clear anodized coating on an interior surface thereof. The base portion  233  of the reflector  232  may be inserted into the cavity of the lamp receptacle as shown. The cement  902  may be inserted into the cavity in an uncured state, and then cured, e.g. thermally. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the cured cement  902  may thus couple the reflector, e.g. the base portion  233  thereof, to the lamp receptacle  214  for dissipating heat from the lamp and/or ballast circuit on the PCB. 
     In an assembly consistent with the present disclosure, the spacer disk may be disposed within the lamp receptacle cavity  244  for at least partially occluding the first  402  and second  404  connector clip openings to hinder the cement  902  from passing through said first and second connector clip openings when the cement is in an uncured state. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the spacer disk generally conforms to the dimensions of the interior surface  406  of the bottom  238  of the lamp receptacle  214  and covers the connector clip openings, except for the lamp lead portions  414 ,  416  thereof which are in alignment with the lamp lead openings  222 ,  224  in spacer disk  220 . The presence of the lamp leads  228 ,  230  in the lamp lead openings  222 ,  224  may at least partially occlude the lamp lead portions  414 ,  416  of the connector clip openings. Consistent with the present disclosure therefore the spacer disk  220  hinders the cement  902  from passing through the connector clip openings in an uncured state of the cement, and may, but does not necessarily, prevent all cement from passing through the openings. 
     The presence of the spacer disk between the lamp and the bottom of the lamp receptacle may also act as a thermal barrier. A portion of the heat generated by the ballast circuit may be blocked from the cavity by the spacer disk, and a portion of the heat generated by the lamp may be blocked from the PCB by the spacer disk. In an embodiment where the uncured cement is provided in the cavity and the spacer disk provides a downward force on the connector clips and at least partially occludes the connector clip openings, the spacer disk realizes one or more of the following advantages in that it more positively aligns the connector clips, hinders uncured cement from passing through the connector clip openings, and presents a thermal barrier. The spacer disk thus allows for facile assembly of a lamp assembly consistent with the present disclosure while facilitating a construction that allows for dissipation of heat. 
       FIG. 10  is a block flow diagram of one method  1000  of assembling a lamp consistent with the present disclosure. The illustrated block flow diagram may be shown and described as including a particular sequence of steps that may be implemented in the illustrated order. It is to be understood, however, that the sequence of steps merely provides an example of how the general functionality described herein can be implemented. The steps do not have to be executed in the order presented unless otherwise indicated. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , first and second connector clips are coupled  1002  in first and second connector clip openings in the bottom of the lamp receptacle, the first and second connector clips being positioned for making electrical contact with a ballast circuit adjacent an exterior surface of the bottom. A lamp is inserted  1004  partially through a through-passage in a reflector. First and second leads of the lamp are inserted  1006  through first and second lead openings of a spacer disk. The spacer disk is positioned  1008  in a cavity defined by the bottom of the lamp receptacle and a wall portion of the lamp receptacle extending upwardly from the bottom, the spacer disk being positioned over the first and second connector clip openings with the first and second leads making electrical contact with the respective first and second connector clips. 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is thus provided a lamp assembly including a lamp receptacle including a bottom and a wall portion extending from the bottom to define a cavity having an open end, the bottom having an interior surface and an exterior surface and first and second connector clip openings extending therethrough; first and second connector clips coupled to the bottom of the lamp receptacle and disposed in the first and second connector clip openings, respectively, for making electrical contact with a ballast circuit adjacent the exterior surface of the bottom; a spacer disk having a top surface and a bottom surface, the spacer disk being disposed in the cavity with the bottom surface of the spacer disk being positioned adjacent the interior surface of the bottom of the lamp receptacle, the spacer disk having first and second lamp lead openings extending therethrough; a reflector having a through-passage; and a lamp including first and second electrical leads. A portion of the lamp extends through the through-passage and into the cavity of the lamp receptacle with the first and second electrical leads extending through the first and second lamp lead openings, respectively, and being electrically connected to the first and second connector clips, respectively. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is thus provided a method of assembling a lamp including: coupling first and second connector clips in first and second connector clip openings in a bottom of a lamp receptacle, the first and second connector clips being positioned for making electrical contact with a ballast circuit adjacent an exterior surface of the bottom; inserting a lamp partially through a through-passage in a reflector; inserting first and second leads of the lamp through first and second lead openings of a spacer disk; and positioning the spacer disk in a cavity defined by the bottom of the lamp receptacle and a wall portion of the lamp receptacle extending upwardly from the bottom, the spacer disk being positioned over the first and second connector clip openings with the first and second leads making electrical contact with the first and second connector clips. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a lamp assembly including: a lamp receptacle including a bottom and a wall portion extending from the bottom to define a cavity having an open end, the bottom having an interior surface and an exterior surface and first and second connector clip openings extending therethrough; first and second connector clips coupled to the bottom of the lamp receptacle and disposed in the first and second connector clip openings, respectively, for making electrical contact with a ballast circuit adjacent the exterior surface of the bottom; a spacer disk having a top surface and a bottom surface, the spacer disk being disposed in the cavity with the bottom surface of the spacer disk being positioned adjacent the interior surface of the bottom of the lamp receptacle, the spacer disk having first and second lamp lead openings extending therethrough; a reflector having a through-passage; a lamp including first and second electrical leads, a portion of the lamp extending through the through-passage and into the cavity of the lamp receptacle, the first and second electrical leads extending through the first and second lamp lead openings, respectively, and being electrically connected to the first and second connector clips, respectively; and a cement disposed in the cavity on the top surface of the spacer disk and being coupled to the base portion of the reflector for securing the reflector to the lamp receptacle. The spacer disk is disposed in the cavity at least partially occluding the first and second connector clip openings to hinder the cement from passing through the first and second connector clip openings when the cement is in an uncured state. It is preferred that the spacer disk is also in contact with the first and second connector clips to resist movement of the first and second connector clips in the first and second connector clip openings, respectively. 
     While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Reference numerals corresponding to the embodiments described herein may be provided in the following claims as a means of convenient reference to the examples of the claimed subject matter shown in the drawings. It is to be understood however, that the reference numerals are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the recitations of the following claims. 
     Following is a non-limiting list of reference numerals used in the drawings of the present disclosure: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 100 
                 Integrally ballasted lamp assembly 
               
               
                 102 
                 Screw shell 
               
               
                 104 
                 Housing 
               
               
                 106 
                 Heat sink/EMI shield 
               
               
                 108 
                 Printed circuit board (PCB) with a 
               
               
                   
                 ballast circuit thereon 
               
               
                 110 
                 Lamp receptacle 
               
               
                 112, 114 
                 Connector clips 
               
               
                 116 
                 Glass reflector 
               
               
                 118 
                 Gas discharge lamp 
               
               
                 120 
                 Support disk 
               
               
                 122 
                 Lens 
               
               
                 200 
                 Integrally ballasted lamp assembly 
               
               
                 201 
                 Supports 
               
               
                 202 
                 Screw shell 
               
               
                 203 
                 Supports 
               
               
                 204 
                 Housing 
               
               
                 205 
                 Electro-magnetic interference 
               
               
                   
                 (EMI) clip 
               
               
                 206 
                 Heat sink/EMI shield 
               
               
                 207 
                 Interior surface 
               
               
                 208 
                 First part 
               
               
                 209, 211 
                 Contact portions of the PCB 
               
               
                 210 
                 Second part 
               
               
                 212 
                 Printed circuit board (PCB) with a 
               
               
                   
                 ballast circuit thereon 
               
               
                 214 
                 Lamp receptacle 
               
               
                 216, 218 
                 Connector clips 
               
               
                 217 
                 Annular flange 
               
               
                 220 
                 Spacer disk 
               
               
                 222 
                 First lamp lead opening 
               
               
                 224 
                 Second lamp lead openings 
               
               
                 226 
                 lamp 
               
               
                 228, 230 
                 Electrical leads 
               
               
                 232 
                 Reflector 
               
               
                 233 
                 Base portion 
               
               
                 234 
                 Lens 
               
               
                 235 
                 Upper portion 
               
               
                 236 
                 Bezel 
               
               
                 237 
                 Annular flange 
               
               
                 238 
                 Bottom of the lamp receptacle 
               
               
                 240 
                 Wall portion 
               
               
                 240 
                 Receptacle wall 
               
               
                 242 
                 Open end 
               
               
                 244 
                 Cavity 
               
               
                 246 
                 Interior surface 
               
               
                 248 
                 Exterior surface 
               
               
                 250 
                 Passage 
               
               
                 260 
                 Top of the EMI clip 
               
               
                 262 
                 Support portion 
               
               
                 302 
                 Exterior surface 
               
               
                 303 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 304 
                 Flat top surface 
               
               
                 306 
                 Bottom surface 
               
               
                 310 
                 Discharge tube 
               
               
                 312 
                 Outer sealed glass envelope or 
               
               
                   
                 jacket 
               
               
                 314 
                 Press or “press seal region” 
               
               
                 316, 318 
                 Electrodes 
               
               
                 317 
                 Bottom surface 
               
               
                 320 
                 Bottom surface 
               
               
                 402 
                 First connector clip opening 
               
               
                 404 
                 Second connector clip opening 
               
               
                 406 
                 Interior surface 
               
               
                 408 
                 Convex projection 
               
               
                 410 
                 First tab 
               
               
                 412 
                 Second tab 
               
               
                 414, 416 
                 Lamp lead portion 
               
               
                 502 
                 Base portion 
               
               
                 504 
                 Spring contact portion 
               
               
                 506 
                 Lamp lead contact portion 
               
               
                 508 
                 Spring detect portion 
               
               
                 510 
                 Detent 
               
               
                 512 
                 First arm 
               
               
                 514 
                 Second arm 
               
               
                 516 
                 Free end 
               
               
                 602 
                 First slot 
               
               
                 604 
                 Second slot 
               
               
                 606, 608 
                 Straight edges 
               
               
                 610, 612 
                 Arcuate edges 
               
               
                 702, 704 
                 Concavities 
               
               
                 706 
                 First rectangular notches 
               
               
                 708 
                 Second rectangular notches 
               
               
                 710 
                 First generally flat portion 
               
               
                 712 
                 Second generally flat portion 
               
               
                 802 
                 Space 
               
               
                 804, 806 
                 Tabs 
               
               
                 902 
                 Cement 
               
               
                 1000 
                 Method of assembling a lamp 
               
               
                 1002 
                 First and second connector clips are 
               
               
                   
                 coupled 
               
               
                 1004 
                 Lamp is inserted 
               
               
                 1006 
                 First and second leads of the lamp 
               
               
                   
                 are inserted 
               
               
                 1008 
                 Spacer disk is positioned