Not Applicable
A lamp is commonly mounted in a base designed for a specific socket. For each socket there then a unique base. This means separate parts must be designed, manufactured and stored. There is then a need to simplify the parts supply chain. A dual use base would lower the supply chain cost in the production of lamps.
The invention relates to electric lamps. More particularly the invention is concerned with an electric lamp with a reversible base.
Lamp capsules with relatively hot supporting regions are commonly held in ceramic bases. The ceramic bases are often uniquely designed to mechanically couple between a particular lamp capsule and a particular socket, to properly connect and protect the electrical connections. As a result each lamp type is an individually designed base, and constructed with a unique base. This is expensive. At times it would be convenient to be able to mount a lamp in a socket from either the front side of the socket or from the rear side of the socket. An example would be to position a lamp in a reflector from either the open front or from the closed rear.
A reversible base for a lamp capsule can be made from an insulating body having a first receptacle for a lamp capsule, and a second receptacle for a lamp capsule, the second receptacle being axially aligned to face in opposition to the first receptacle. The insulating body includes a support extending radially from a mid-region between the first receptacle and the second receptacle. Electrical contacts are held on the support and electrically coupled to lamp contacts exposed for electrical contact in the first receptacle and exposed for electrical contact in the second receptacle.
The first receptacle 14 is sized and shaped to received and support a lamp capsule 18. It is common for a lamp receptacle to be a cavity 22 formed, for example by molding, with substantially axially parallel sidewalls 20 and sized to receive the press sealed end of the lamp capsule 18 to be supported. An appropriate cement 24 may be used to fill the receptacle cavity 22 around the press sealed end of the lamp capsule 18 to hold the lamp capsule 18 in place in the first receptacle 14.
A second receptacle 16 for a lamp capsule 18 is similarly formed in the insulating body 12. The second receptacle 16 is axially (axis 40) aligned to face in opposition to the first receptacle 14. The cavity 22 of the first receptacle 14 may extend axially to join or form a second cavity 26 forming the second receptacle 16. In the preferred embodiment, the first receptacle 14 is similar in size and shape to the second receptacle 16 so the same lamp capsule 18 can be optionally installed in either the first receptacle 14 or in the second receptacle 16. The first receptacle 14 has an outer wall 17 configured for axial insertion in a corresponding socket. Similarly the second receptacle 16 has an outer wall 19 configured for axial insertion in a corresponding socket. In one embodiment the outer wall 17 was similar in size and shape to the outer wall 19.
The preferred body 12 includes a support 28 between an axial end 32 of the first receptacle 14 and an axial end 34 of the second receptacle 16. The support 28 extends radially away from the mid-region between the first receptacle 14 and the second receptacle 16. The preferred support 28 includes a radially extending flange 36 having a face 38 and a radial sidewall 42. In the preferred embodiment the flange face 38 is flat and transverse to the axis 40 thereby providing an alignment surface for an assembled lamp. The radial sidewall 42 may be shaped to fit a socket 46 with or without keying. The radial sidewall 42 may then be circular, oval, square or similarly radially shaped according to design choice. The radial flange 36 may be used in a coupling with a snap or clip coupling to mate the lamp base 10 to a socket 46.
In one embodiment, the flange 36 was formed with an included first through hole 50, and a narrow trench 52 extending from the through hole 50 along the surface of the flange 36. The trench 52 extended to a passage 54 formed through the receptacle wall 17 to the interior of the base 10. The flange 36 was similarly formed on an opposite side with a second through hole, a second trench and a second passage.
A lamp is constructed by molding the insulating body 12, and installing in the electrical contacts 48, wire 62, and cement 64. The lamp base 10 is then axially oriented in the desired direction with electrical contacts 48 pointing either towards the lamp capsule 18 or pointing away from the lamp capsule 18 as is desired. The lamp capsule 18 is then axially inserted in the insulating body 12 cemented in place. The lamp leads 60 are connected to the wires 62. In the preferred embodiment, the flange face 38 is used as the lamp positioning surface, so in assembly the lamp capsule 18 is axially positioned relative to the flange face 38 to establish proper optical positioning of the lamp capsule 18 in an optical system. Once the capsule 18 is aligned relative to the body 12, the lamp leads 60 are then welded, soldered or crimped to the wires 62. The receptacle cavity (22, 26) is then filled with a cement 24 filling the region between the inside receptacle sidewalls and the nearby capsule 18. The second (remaining) receptacle cavity may also be filled, for example with potting. The single body 12 can then be attached to the lamp capsule 18 either pins up or pins down. In this way one insulating body 12 can be used to construct the two differing lamp assemblies, either internally or externally electrically coupled lamps.
While there have been shown and described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.