Patent ID: 7344398

Claim:
A luminaire socket of the type used in spaced-apart pair to receive a light tube therebetween in a luminaire assembly, the light tube being of the type having socket caps with contact pins at opposed ends, wherein the luminaire socket comprises: a base connected to a support surface; electrical plugs within the base, the electrical plugs connected to a power source so as to provide power to the light tube; a rotor rotatable with respect to the base, the rotor having a slot for receiving therein the contact pins of a light tube in a locking position in which the contact pins of the light tube are in electrical contact with the electrical plugs for actuation of the light tube, the rotor being rotatable at least between an entry position in which the slot is oriented for insertion of the contact pins of the light tube therein, and the locking position, in which the contact pins of the light tube are in electrical contact with the electrical plugs for actuation of the light tube; and at least one support wall on the rotor, the support wall being displaceable to a support position by engagement of the light tube in the luminaire socket so as to support the light tube when the light tube is accidentally disengaged from the rotor in the locking position.