Patent ID: 8328582

Claim:
An adapter for a light bulb socket comprising: an adapter socket incorporating engageable female threads configured to receive a light bulb base incorporating male threads, the adapter socket having a open end and a closed end, wherein all the engageable female threads of the adapter socket could be engaged by male threads of a fully inserted industry standard light bulb base; an adapter base incorporating male threads that is configured to be inserted into a light bulb socket that has female threads; an internal center contact within said adapter socket that is configured to make electrical contact with a center contact of said light bulb base when the light bulb base is fully inserted into said adapter socket; a center contact of said adapter base that is configured to make electrical contact with a center contact of the light bulb socket when fully inserted therein; an insulating hand-ring externally surrounding said engageable female threads of said adapter socket which, at a first end, extends axially beyond the open end of said engageable female threads and which, at a second end, extends axially only partially over an external surface of said engageable female threads of said adapter socket leaving a remaining area of the external surface of said engageable female threads uncovered; and wherein said engageable female threads of the adapter socket and said male threads of the adapter base are coaxial, substantially contiguous, electrically connected, and are of the same industry standard screw type and designation number, and such that when said adapter base is fully inserted in the light bulb socket, the uncovered external surface of the female threads is configured to fit into an insulating unthreaded collar at a mouth of the light bulb socket thereby shortening a displacement of said center contact of a light bulb base when fully inserted into the adapter socket from said center contact of said light bulb socket.