Electrical light fixture, particularly for a kitchen appliance

Abstract

An electrical light has a tubular sheet-metal housing centered generally on an axis and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced, radially inwardly projecting, and radially elastically deflectable spring tongues. A socket in the housing holds a light bulb. A cup-shaped glass lens has a dome formed with a generally cylindrical collar dimensioned to fit into the housing with the dome fitting over a light bulb in the socket. The collar is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced and radially outwardly open L-shaped grooves each fittable with a respective one of the tongues. Each groove has an axially extending and open leg and an angularly extending leg. The angularly extending legs each have an outer flank and an inner flank between the respective outer flank and the dome.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the oven light according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the installed light;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the lens;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views showing the lens and housing in three succeeding assembly positions;

FIG. 7 is a large-scale side elevational view of the detail indicated at circle VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the lens;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view like FIG. 8 but illustrating the camming action according to the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view like FIG. 9.

Claims

1. An electrical light comprising: a tubular sheet-metal housing centered generally on an axis and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced, radially inwardly projecting, and radially elastically deflectable spring tongues;a socket in the housing adapted to hold a light bulb; anda cup-shaped glass lens having a dome formed with a generally cylindrical collar dimensioned to fit into the housing with the dome fitting over a light bulb in the socket, the collar being formed with a plurality of angularly spaced and radially outwardly open L-shaped grooves each fittable with a respective one of the tongues, each groove having an axially extending and open leg and an angularly extending leg, the angularly extending legs each having an outer flank and an inner flank between the respective outer flank and the dome.

2. The electrical light defined in claim 1 wherein the lens has an end face bearing axially in an installed position on an end face of the housing, the spring legs each being axially slightly offset from the respective outer flank in the installed position.

3. The electrical light defined in claim 1 wherein each angularly extending leg has between the respective flanks a radially outwardly directed floor formed with a central raised cam region sloping radially outward in both angular directions, whereby the spring tongues are deflected increasingly radially-outward as they slide up over the respective raised cam regions.

4. The electrical light defined in claim 3 wherein each angularly extending leg has remote from the respective axially extending leg a blind stop end and forms between the respective stop end and the respective raised cam region with a deep retaining region of an angular width greater than an angular width of the respective spring finger.

5. The electrical light defined in claim 3 wherein each angularly extending leg has remote from the respective axially extending leg a blind stop end, each angularly extending leg being formed at the respective stop end with an outwardly inclined bevel engageable with the spring finger to cam same axially outward when it bears on the stop end.

6. The electrical light defined in claim 5 wherein the spring legs have outer end edges each formed with a bevel complementary to and fittable with the bevel of the respective angularly extending leg.

7. The electrical light defined in claim 3 wherein each angularly extending leg has remote from the respective axially extending leg a blind stop end.

8. The electrical light defined in claim 7 wherein the blind stop end is a surface extending generally in a plane including the axis.

9. The electrical light defined in claim 1 wherein each spring tongue has a radially inwardly bent tab bearing on a floor of the respective groove.

10. The electrical light defined in claim 9 wherein each spring tongue has an axially outer end edge engageable with the outer flank of the respective angularly extending leg.

11. The electrical light defined in claim 1 wherein the inner flank of each angularly extending groove is frustoconical, whereby the spring legs are urged by the inner flanks toward the outer flanks so as to pull the lens into the housing.

12. An electrical light comprising: a tubular sheet-metal housing centered generally on an axis and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced, radially inwardly projecting, and radially elastically deflectable spring tongues each having an outer edge turned formed with a bevel extending in a plane forming a small acute angle with the axis;a socket in the housing adapted to hold a light bulb; anda cup-shaped glass lens having a dome formed with a generally cylindrical collar dimensioned to fit into the housing with the dome fitting over a light bulb in the socket, the collar being formed with a plurality of angularly spaced and radially outwardly open L-shaped grooves each fittable with a respective one of the tongues, each groove having an axially extending and open leg and an angularly extending leg, the angularly extending legs each having an outer flank and an inner flank between the respective outer flank and the dome, each outer flank being formed at an end remote from the respective axially extending leg with a bevel complementary to and fittable with the bevel of the respective spring leg.