Patent Publication Number: US-9905971-B2

Title: Lamp socket

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2014-0032990, filed Mar. 20, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a lamp socket, and more specifically to a lamp socket configured to restrict the insertion of bulbs other than the intended bulb, by arranging ribs on the socket housing corresponding to the shape of a key formed on the bulb. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Generally, lamp sockets are both insertion holes for supplying electricity to bulbs, and devices fir supporting bulbs; depending on the manner of mounting the bulb in the socket, they may be Edison-type sockets that are twisted screw fashion or Swan-type sockets that are inserted. 
     Edison-type sockets are widely used in typical home electric wiring, while Swan-type sockets are used in automobiles and various electric apparatus, etc. 
     In particular, Swan-type lamp sockets are both complex in structure and precise, their fabrication requires great care, and their fabrication costs are also greater than Edison-type lamp sockets. 
     An example of a Swan-type socket of the prior art is disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 10-08828680 (hereinafter “the prior art reference”), under the name “lamp socket.” 
     The lamp socket of the prior art reference comprises a socket housing in the top receiving space in which a bulb is inserted and fixed in place; it has the advantage of reduced manufacturing costs with the manufacturing process simplified by molding the socket housing with a single mold. 
     But despite these advantages, according to the lamp socket of the prior art reference, not just one specific bulb but also other bulbs can be inserted into the receiving space of the socket housing, and there is the problem that the bulb can be inserted. 
     (Patent Reference 0001) Republic of Korea Registered Patent Gazette No, 10-0882868 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosure, which has been devised in order to address the above-described problems of the prior art, is to provide a lamp socket wherein only a specific bulb can be inserted and mounted, and insertion is prevented if the bulb is inserted backwards. 
     The lamp socket of this disclosure is configured so that upon insertion of the base of a bulb into the receiving space of the socket housing, the key formed on the base is not interfered with by the ribs arranged in the receiving space and if the shape of the key does not match the pattern in which the ribs are arranged, the key will be caught on the ribs, preventing the insertion of the base. 
     A key groove, into which the key is inserted, is formed on the inner wall of the receiving space by the arrangement of the ribs and on either side within the receiving space, elastic lamp holders are fixed that adhere to the base and hold it in place. A key is formed on one side or both sides of the base; corresponding thereto, ribs are arranged to form key groove(s) on the inner wall of the receiving space. 
     On either side of the inner wall of the receiving space, holder fixing grooves are respectively formed into which a lamp holder is inserted; on the lamp holder, an inner wall support is furnished that supports the inner wall of the receiving space to prevent it from being pushed outward when the base of a bulb is inserted into the receiving space. The lamp holder comprises: a housing fixing part fixed to the bottom inside of the holder fixing groove; a base holder part that extends in either direction from the housing fixing part, has elasticity, and elastically supports the base; and an inner wall support part located on one or both sides of the base holder part, extending in either direction from the housing fixing part. 
     On one side of the inner wall support part, a reinforcing bead is formed protruding outward, so as to reinforce the supporting strength of the inner wall support part. The reinforcing bead is formed on the side of the inner wall support part facing the outside of the socket housing; on the inner wall of the receiving space, a bead insertion groove is formed connecting to the holder fixing groove, into which the reinforcing bead is inserted. 
     A contact terminal is disposed in the receiving space and a stop piece is formed on the outside of the contact terminal and is bent downward and outward, preventing removal of the contact terminal by latching on the catch projection that projects from the inner wall of the receiving space. A wire seal is crimped to the contact terminal and projections are formed on the outer face of the wire seal that compressibly engages the socket housing providing a moisture resistant barrier. On the outside of the socket housing, a gasket is fastened, and the gasket is covered by a lug; a mounting verification projection is formed protruding from the parts of the outer face of the lug that are mounted to and contact the socket housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This application is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique view of a bulb coupled with the lamp socket of the disclosure according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 2  is an oblique view showing the bulb separated from the lamp socket. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded oblique view of the lamp socket shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the lamp socket. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the lamp socket. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section showing the gasket surrounded by the mounting lug. 
         FIG. 7  is an oblique view of the lamp holder. 
         FIG. 8  shows the lamp holder inserted into the socket housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-section showing the lamp holder and single contact terminal fixed in place in the socket housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-section showing the lamp holder and double contact terminal fixed in place in the socket housing. 
         FIG. 11  shows diverse combinations of the key formed on the bulb base and the corresponding arrangements of ribs within the receiving space. 
         FIG. 12  shows the impossibility of properly inserting the base when the key formed in the base does not match with the arrangement of ribs in the receiving space. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-12  illustrate an embodiment of the disclosure and it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously practice the disclosure. 
     One or more embodiments of the present disclosure can be used for diverse purposes, and is not limited e.g. to automotive headlights. This lamp socket  1  holds a bulb  2  in place removably in the socket housing  100  formed as a unit with a single mold; a receiving space  110  into which the base  21  of a bulb  2  is inserted is formed in the top part of the socket housing  100 . Because the base  21  of the bulb  2  has a rectangular cross-section, it is fixed in place after insertion into the receiving space  110  not by a twisting motion but by a pushing and fastening motion, and is also removed by a pulling motion. 
     A key  22  for properly inserting the bulb  2  into the socket housing  100  is formed protruding from the base  21  of the bulb  2 ; as described below, the key  22  may be implemented in diverse ways depending on the model of the bulb  2 . A key groove, described below, corresponding to the key  22  of the bulb base  21 , is formed in the receiving space  110  of the socket housing  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded oblique view of the lamp socket shown in  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 4  is a top view of the lamp socket;  FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the lamp socket;  FIG. 6  is a cross-section showing the gasket surrounded by the mounting lug. 
     The lamp socket  1  comprises a socket housing  100 , lamp holder  200 , double contact terminal  300 , a pair of single contact terminals  400 , wire seal  500510 , gasket  600  and mounting lug  700 . 
     Inside the top part of the socket housing  100 , a receiving space  110  is formed so as to form a cylindrical socket part  120  into which the base  21  of a bulb  2  is inserted; in the center of the socket housing  100 , a disc-shaped flange part  130  is formed, and on the bottom of the flange part  130 , a seal fixing part  140150  is formed into which the wire seal  500510  is inserted and fixed in place. 
     The lamp holder  200  is mounted on opposite sides of the inner wall of the receiving space  110  of the socket housing  100 , and configured to make flexible contact with the base  21 , so that the base  21  of the bulb  2  is fixed in place when inserted into the receiving space  110 . This lamp holder  200  is elastic and engages either side of the base  21  of the bulb  2 . 
     With respect to the double contact terminal  300 , two contact terminals  310  are furnished in the top part thereof, and a seal connecting part  320  to which the wire seal  500  is connected is formed on the bottom part. The seal connecting part  320  is rounded to a semicircular shape so that after insertion the top part of the wire seal  500  is compressibly fixed in place by pressure so that the wire seal  500  is firmly connected. 
     With respect to the single contact terminal  400 , one contact terminal  410  is furnished in the top part thereof, and a seal connecting part  420  to which the wire seal  510  is connected is formed on the bottom part. The seal connecting part  420  is rounded to a semicircular shape so that after insertion the top part of the wire seal  510  is compressibly fixed in place by pressure so that the wire seal  510  is firmly connected. 
     The wire seal  500 ,  510  is intended to fix the wire connecting the double contact terminal  300  and single contact terminal  400  in place; it is connected respectively to the bottom of the double contact terminal  300  and single contact terminal  400 . Because the wire seal  500 ,  510  has a circular cross-section, it is readily coupled to the contact terminals  310 ,  410 , and productivity is increased during assembly due to the lack of directionality. 
     The gasket  600  is fastened to the exterior of the socket part  120  of the socket housing  100 , so that when the lamp socket  1  of this invention is mounted e.g. on an automobile it maintains the seal by adhering closely to the mounting site. This gasket  600  has improved durability and heat resistance due to being fabricated with silicone oil. 
     The mounting lug  700  is fastened to the socket part  120  so as to cover the gasket  600 . On the center of the top surface of the mounting lug  700 , a socket through hole  710  is formed passing through the socket part  120 . On the top surface of the mounting lug  700 , a mounting verification projection  720  is formed protruding outward in the vicinity of the socket through hole  710 , so that it can be readily confirmed when the lamp socket has been properly mounted, by a “click” sound being emitted when a bulb has been fully mounted in the lamp socket, e.g. in an automobile. 
       FIG. 7  is an oblique view of the lamp holder and  FIG. 8  shows the lamp holder inserted into the socket housing. On opposite sides of the interior of the receiving space  110  of the socket housing  100 , a holder fixing groove  111  is respectively formed, into which the lamp holder  200  is inserted from top to bottom and fixed in place. At the terminal part of the holder fixing groove  111  on each side, a bead insertion groove  112  is formed into which the reinforcing bead  231 , described below, is inserted. 
     On either side of the inner wall of the receiving space  110  of the socket housing  100 , ribs  113  are arranged in a shape corresponding to the key  22  formed on the base  21  of the bulb; on the inside wall of the receiving space  110 , a key groove is formed by the arrangement of the ribs  113 , into which the key  22  is inserted. By virtue of the arrangement of the ribs  113 , only a specific model of bulb having an identical shape of key  22  can be inserted into the receiving space  110 . If a model with a different shape of key  22  is inserted, the insertion of the base  21  is prevented because the key  22  catches on the ribs  113 . 
     Due to the lamp holder  200  being configured to flexibly contact the base  21  of the bulb  2  during insertion and fixed into place in the holder fixing groove  111 , the base  21  of the bulb  2  is fixed reliably in place within the receiving space  110 . This lamp holder  200  comprises a housing fixing part  210  that is fixed to the inside bottom of the holder fixing groove  111 , a base holder part  220  that flexibly supports the base  21  of the bulb  2 , and an inner wall support part  230  that supports the inner wall of the receiving space  110 . 
     The housing fixing part  210  is formed in a thin flat shape and inserted into the holder fixing groove  111  from above the socket housing  100  and fixed in place. The housing fixing part  210  is fixed in place in the holder fixing groove  111  after being inserted as far as the bottom of the inside of the holder fixing groove  111 . The hole  211  and bead  212  formed on either side of the housing fixing part  210  are involved in fixing it into place. 
     The base holder part  220  is formed from thin-plate structure so as to have elasticity; a pair of base holder parts  220  extends upward from the center of the top of the housing fixing part  210  and is spaced apart from one another. The base holder part  220  adheres to either side of the base  21  of the bulb  2 , thereby providing support so that the bulb  2  remains inserted and does not come loose. 
     The inner wall support part  230  supports the inner wall of the receiving space  110  located in the front of the holder fixing groove  111 , by extending upward from one or both sides of the base holder part  220  on the top of the housing fixing part  210  so as to fill the empty space of the holder fixing groove  111 . In other words, it prevents the inner wall of the receiving space  110  from being pushed back when the base  21  of a bulb  2  is inserted. In particular, it prevents the insertion of a bulb  2  that does not conform to specifications, by preventing the receiving space  110  from being pushed when the base  21  of a bulb  2  is inserted that does not match or fit the receiving space  110 . 
     As described above, on the inside wall of the receiving space  110 , a key groove into which the key  22  of a bulb base  21  is inserted is formed by the arrangement of the ribs  113 . By arranging the key groove appropriately to correspond with the position of the key  22  of the base  21 , the bulb  2  and socket housing  100  are matched together, and if the bulb  2  and socket housing  100  do not conform to one another&#39;s specifications, the insertion of the bulb  2  is prevented. 
     However, if the inner wall of the receiving space  110  into which the base  21  of the bulb  2  is inserted is pushed outward, there is a risk that a bulb  2  that does not correspond to proper specifications will be inserted into the socket housing  100  and therefore to prevent this, the inner wall support part  230  of the lamp holder  200  is provided. If a bulb  2  that does not meet specifications is in fact inserted without the inner wall of the receiving space  110  being pushed out, it cannot be readily inserted into the socket housing  100 , and if inserted by force, the inner wall of the receiving space  110  will be damaged. As a result, the improper combination of bulb  2  with socket housing  100  can be thoroughly prevented. 
     On one side of the inner wall support part  230 , i.e. on the side located toward the outside of the socket housing  100 , a reinforcing bead  231  is formed protruding outward, reinforcing the support provided by the inner wall support part  230 . The width of either side of the holder fixing part  111  is formed to be wider than the thickness of the inner wall support part  230  and housing fixing part  210 , for the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the housing fixing part  210  and inner wall support part  230 . Consequently, because there is a risk of the inner wall support part  230  shifting within the holder fixing groove  111 , the reinforcing bead  231  serves to prevent shifting of the inner wall support part  230 . A bead insertion groove  112  is formed to communicate with the holder insertion groove  111  to facilitate the insertion of the reinforcing bead  231 . The reinforcing bead  231  is formed by bending a portion of the inner wall support part  230 , or may alternatively be formed separately and then bound to the inner wall support part  230 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-section showing the lamp holder and the single contact terminal fixed in place in the socket housing and  FIG. 10  is a cross-section showing the lamp holder and the double contact terminal fixed in place in the socket housing. A protruding part  221  is formed in the base holder part  220  of the lamp holder  200 , that extends into the receiving space  110  of the socket housing  100 ; on either side of the base  21  of the bulb  2 , a protruding part insertion groove  21   a  is formed into which the protruding part  221  of the lamp holder  200  is inserted. Consequently; if the base  21  of the bulb  2  is inserted completely into the receiving space  110 , the bulb  2  is fixed firmly in place in the receiving space  110  by the protruding part  221  of the lamp holder  200  engaging the protruding part insertion groove  21   a  of the base  21 . 
     On the outside of the single contact terminal  400 , i.e. on the opposite side of the part that contacts the base  21 , a stop piece (not shown) is formed downward and outward at an angle, preventing the detachment of the single contact terminal  400  from the receiving space  110  by latching on the catch projections (not shown) protruding from either side of the receiving space  110 . 
     Each wire seal  500 ,  510  connected to the double contact terminal  300  and single contact terminal  400  has a circular cross-section; a plurality of ring-shaped sealing projections  501 ,  511  is formed spaced apart from one another on the outer surface thereof. Due to the sealing projections  501 ,  511 , the wire seals  500 ,  510  are directly compressibly engaged to the seal fixing parts  140 ,  150  of the socket housing  100 . 
       FIG. 11  shows diverse combinations of the key formed on the bulb base and the corresponding arrangements of ribs within the receiving space. 
     As described above, only a specific model of bulb can be fastened into the lamp socket, and other models of bulb are not compatible. In other words, because only a specific company&#39;s specific model of bulb can be fastened into a specific bulb socket, product exclusivity in the marketplace can be secured. 
       FIGS. 11 a  and 11 b    show a form in which the key  22  is formed projecting from only one side of the base  21 ; the ribs  113  are arranged within the receiving space  110  to form a matching key groove. Thus, the insertion into the receiving space  110  of bulbs having shapes other than those in  FIGS. 11 a  and 11 b    is prevented. 
       FIGS. 11 c  through 11 e    show a key  22  formed protruding from one location on either side of a base  21 . In  FIG. 11 c   , keys  22  are formed opposite one another on either side of the base  21 ; in  FIGS. 11 d  and 11 e   , keys  22  are formed offset from one another on either side of the base  21 . The ribs  113  are also formed correspondingly within the receiving space  110 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the impossibility of properly inserting the base when the key formed in the base does not match with the arrangement of ribs in the receiving space. 
       FIGS. 12 a  through 12 e    illustrate situations in which the shape and position of the key  22  formed on the base  21  does not match the arrangement of the ribs  113 , so that the base  21  cannot be properly inserted into the receiving space  110 .  FIGS. 12 a  through 12 e    depict the insertion of a base  21 , but this is merely depicted virtually, in order to show the overlap between the key  22  of the base  21  and the ribs  113 ; in practice, the key  22  of the base  21  will catch on the rib  113  in the overlapping site, preventing insertion. 
     Hereinabove, the lamp socket of this invention has been described based on a preferred embodiment, but this invention is not limited to any specific embodiment, and a person of ordinary skill in the art of the relevant field will be able to make diverse modifications without departing from the claimed scope of the disclosure.