BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lamp socket assembly in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lamp socket assembly in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a lamp socket assembly in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a top view of reflective elements used in the lamp socket assembly in FIG. 2 stamped on a plate; and
FIG. 5 is a top view of reflective elements used in the lamp socket assembly in FIG. 3 stamped on a plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a lamp socket assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a casing (10), a base (30, 30′), at least one reflective element (40, 40′), at least one light bulb (50) and an optional cover (20).
With further reference to FIG. 2, the casing (10) has an outer edge, a cavity (11, 11′) and at least one electrical lamp socket (12). The cavity (11, 11′) is defined through the outer edge and has a bottom. The at least one electrical lamp socket (12) is mounted on the bottom of the cavity (11, 11′) and has at least two electrical contacts.
The base (30, 30′) is mounted in the cavity (11) and has an outer edge and at least one recess (31, 31′). The at least one recess (31, 31′) is defined through the outer edge of the base (30, 30′) and corresponds respectively to the at least one electrical lamp socket (12). Each recess (31, 31′) has an outer opening, an inner opening, an inner surface and two optional fasteners (32, 32′). The inner opening is mounted around a corresponding electrical lamp socket (12). The inner surface is a frustum of a cone or a pyramid. The two fasteners (32, 32′) are formed opposite to each other on the inner surface near the outer opening.
With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the reflective elements (40, 40′) correspond respectively to and are mounted respectively in a corresponding recess (31, 31′) in the base (30, 30′) and may be stamped from sheet metal. The sheet metal may have a shiny surface or be coated with reflective material such as mercury or tin. Each reflective element (40, 40′) is frustum of a cone or a pyramid, may be formed from two reflective sections (43) or a single reflective section (44) and has a reflective inner surface (41, 41′) and two optional mounting slots (42, 42′). Each reflective section (43, 44) has two side edges, two optional connecting slots (430) and two optional connecting tabs (431). The side edges of an adjacent reflective section (43) are connected to a side edge of an adjacent reflective section (43). The side edges of the reflective section (44) are connected to an opposite side edge of or the opposite side edge of the same reflective section (44) by welding, soldering or other appropriate technique to form the frustum. The connecting slots (430) are formed adjacent to one side edge. The connecting tabs (431) are formed on and protrude from the opposite side edge, correspond to the connecting slots (430) and are mounted respectively in the connecting slots (430) on an adjacent side edge to connect the side edges of the adjacent reflective sections (43). The reflective inner surface (41, 41′) is inside the frustum and reflects light. The mounting slots (42, 42′) are defined through the reflective inner surface (41, 41′) and correspond respectively to and engage the fasteners (32, 32′) in a corresponding recess (31, 31′) in the base (30, 30′). The mounting slots (42, 42′) can be detached easily from the fasteners (32, 32′) by slightly bending the reflective elements (40, 40′) and removing the reflective elements (40, 40′) from the base (30, 30′).
The light bulbs (50) are mounted respectively in the lamp sockets (12) inside the recesses (31, 31′) in the base (30, 30′) to generate and emit light.
The cover (20) connects detachably to the outer edge of the casing (10), covers and protects the light bulbs (50) and has a transparent face. The transparent face allows light emitted by the light bulbs (50) and reflected by the reflective inner surfaces (41, 41′) of the reflective elements (40, 40′) to radiate from the lamp socket assembly.
Since the reflective elements (40, 40′) can be detached easily from the base (30, 30′) by disengaging the mounting slots (32, 32′) from the fasteners (42, 42′), the lamp socket assembly can be recycled easily without fear of generating toxic gases.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Patent Application
20070297187
