With Vitreous-type Envelope (e.g., Base Of Lamp Or Vacuum Tube) Patents (Class 439/611)
  • Patent number: 5294865
    Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a sealed lamp envelope enclosing a filament, a screw shell connected to the lower portion of the envelope, and electrical leads extending from the filament into the screw shell. The screw shell has a bottom opening, in which is mounted an electronic control module. The electronic module is retained in the screw shell by an insulator. A spring is compressed between the electronic module and an exhaust tube on the lower portion of the envelope. One electrical lead is electrically coupled from the module through the spring to the filament, allowing the module to control the filament. The insulator defines a cavity for retention of the electronic module in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Haraden
  • Patent number: 5289079
    Abstract: To simplify assembly of a bottom portion (4) with a cap portion (3) of a base to a compact fluorescent lamp, and permit automated assembly thereof, the cap portion is formed with inner axially extending projections (23-26), and current supply leads (27a-28b) are looped about the axially extending projections. A circuit board (8) located transversely across the bottom portion (4) has essentially U-shaped bow frames or arched or clip elements (35-38) located thereon which are positioned to engage by resilient surface contact with the end portions (31) of the current supply leads when the bottom portion and the cap portion are snapped together upon axial movement. Inwardly extending ribs (44, 45; 48, 49) projecting from the inner wall of the bottom portion support the bow frame or arched or clip elements, and ensure prestressed reliable contact engagement between the bow frame or arched or clip elements and the end portions of the current supply leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventor: Horst Wittmann
  • Patent number: 5272409
    Abstract: A capped lamp/reflector unit has a reflector body, an electric lamp whose electric element is aligned with respect to the reflector and a cap from which contact pins extend. Within the cap the pins have a widened portion having an end face transverse to the optical axis of the reflector body. The current supply conductors of the electric lamp are cut to length transverse to the axis and butt-welded to the contact pins at the widened portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Hendrikus A. M. Van Dulmen, Jaak M. J. Geboers, Herbert H. Kreus
  • Patent number: 5252888
    Abstract: A support base for a filament or a lamp capsule in a lamp includes a lamp base and a pair of leads extending from the base to the filament or lamp capsule. The base includes a layer of composite material that substantially surrounds the leads and supports them along parts of their lengths within the base. The composite material preferably includes glass beads covered by a layer of epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: A. Charles Topel, Lewis H. Palmer, III
  • Patent number: 5222803
    Abstract: A lamp holder or socket 1 is intended to receive an incandescent lamp bulb 2, especially a glass socket lamp or a plastic socket lamp. Two contact elements 8 and 9 are supported within the holder and are connected within the holder with the contact wires of the glass socket lamp and the electrical supply lead or plug holder. The two contact elements 8, 9 are formed in each case from an electroconductive plastic material. The holder also has an outer sheath 10 which encloses the contact elements 8, 9, and an inner wall which defines a separation zone 11 arranged within the holder 1 to insulate the contact elements 8, 9 from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: TRW United Carr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Willibald Kraus
  • Patent number: 5221874
    Abstract: An electric lamp having a light source disposed in a light transmissive envelope, conductive lead-throughs extending from said light source through the envelope to the exterior, and a lamp base having a pair of contact terminals connected to the lead-throughs by clamping between two clamping portions of the terminals and welding of the clamping portions at two opposing surfaces of the lead-through. The terminals have a plating with a melting point low enough such that the plating forms a brazed joint with the lead-through when a welding current from a resistance welder is passed through the clamping portions and the respective lead-through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Dayton
  • Patent number: 5154638
    Abstract: A high-voltage connector, in particular for feeding the cathode, two cathode filaments, and two gates of an X-ray tube, wherein the connector comprises five connections, one for power supplying the cathode, two for power supplying the cathode filaments, and the last two for power supplying the two gates, the connections being disposed in such a manner that the distance between the cathode connection and a gate connection and the distance between the two gate connections are greater than the distance between the cathode connection and a cathode filament connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric CGR SA
    Inventors: Jacques Sireul, Hans Jedlitschka, Jean-Michel Miquel
  • Patent number: 5139433
    Abstract: The present invention is for a small electrical light emitting device or socket to have two special electrical connector members. Each of the two special connector members is made of a generally rectangular shaped small and thin conducting plate having a narrow slit defined by two sharp inner edges of the plate. When a portion of an electrical wire having a conducting core and insulating cover is inserted into the narrow slit, the two sharp inner edges of the conducting plate will automatically strip off the insulating cover of the wire immediately adjacent to the slit and thus contact the conducting core of the wire to thereby establish an electrical connection between the wire and the light emitting device or its socket. A desirable application of the present invention is an electrical lights decorating apparatus having two elongated electrical wires and a multiplicity of small lamps or sockets having the special connector members wired together to the two elongated wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: Bruce Bohaty
  • Patent number: 5130604
    Abstract: A miniature surface mount style lamp is disclosed which can be assembled relatively quickly, easily and inexpensively. A pair of closed metal end caps are conductively adhered to the opposed ends of a bulb envelope having a pair of exposed filament leads protruding from either end. In some embodiments, the filament leads are in physical contact with the end caps. In other embodiments, the electrical connection between the end caps and the filament leads is provided only by the conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: George J. Franks, Jr.
    Inventors: George J. Franks, Jr., Joseph J. Glavan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5086249
    Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp unit comprises a double U-shaped discharge tube having a base shell secured to one end thereof. A housing containing the necessary starting and operating circuitry includes a first portion having a standardized base and a second portion surrounding the base shell of the discharge tube. The internal surface of the second housing portion includes a plurality of flexible fingers for securing the base shell to the second portion of the housing. in a preferred embodiment, each flexible finger includes a latch for engaging the base shell. Preferably, the the internal surface of second housing portion further inlcudes a plurality of support ribs for preventing or limiting lateral movement of the base shell within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald G. Blaisdell, Harold L. Hough
  • Patent number: 5039909
    Abstract: The electric lamp has a lamp vessel (1) having a pinch seal (2) having two major side faces (7, 8) and two minor side faces (9, 10), the latter being provided with grooves (11, 12). The grooves (11, 12) are widened and deepened towards a respective major side face (7, 8), into which they merge. The lamps can be arranged in a holder by a purely translatory movement and this holder is then elastically deformed. The holder has rigid holding members, which engage into a respective groove and can move therein by subjecting the lamp to a rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Manfred Kiesling, Werner Schlagheck, Josef Rothkranz
  • Patent number: 5032759
    Abstract: A glass lamp base may be formed by thinning the glass base in the area behind the point where the side lead is welded to the exterior surface of the screw. Thinning the glass behind the weld area helps assure that the remaining glass is firmly positioned to the back of the screw in the area of the weld, and has not slumped away from the screw. Assuring the glass backing is present, increases the likelihood of a successful weld, and functional lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Thiry, Richard K. Fleegal
  • Patent number: 5018980
    Abstract: A snap-together universal-jointed electrical device comprised of an essentially spherical plug and socket that can rotate and swivel with respect to each other, the plug and/or socket portions being comprised of elastic material that resiliently deforms to permit the plug to be pushed and snapped into, and pulled and snapped out of, the socket, the plug being connected to a bulb with filament and means provided for linking together multiple socket/plug units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Inventor: John R. Robb
  • Patent number: 5003217
    Abstract: A lamp base having a floating rivet pin is described. Due to mechanical stress, sealed beam reflector leads may need mechanical strengthening; however, heat stress may be transmitted through the strengthening means. A rivet pin may be coupled in the lamp base having one face abutting the base, a shaft portion closely, but slideably positioned in a passage and a second face offset from the base. During thermal expansion of the lead, the second pin face may approach abutment with the base without stressing the seal structures. The floating rivet pin, secured by being snugly fit radially in the base passage to hold the floating pin, then resists the twisting that may occur during mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Buschmann
  • Patent number: 5001615
    Abstract: A lamp base/husk assembly comprises an elongate lamp base and an elongate husk configured and dimensioned to receive coaxially and telescopically therein (and to release therefrom) a portion of the lamp base. A lug-and-locking element combination, integral in part with the lamp base and in part with the husk, is provided for effecting a positive interlock of the lamp base and husk in a coaxial and telescoped disposition (and for releasing such interlock) by a manual movement independent of the manual movement required to effect receipt of the lamp base and husk in the coaxial and telescoped disposition (or the separation of the lamp base and husk therefrom).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Minami International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony Stefanelli
  • Patent number: 4988912
    Abstract: The electric lamp has a lamp vessel (1) having an end portion (3) which is fixed in the lamp cap (5) by means of polyetherimide (8) as a thermoplastic synthetic resin, which has adhered both to the lamp vessel and to the lamp cap. The end portion (3) can have non-circular cross-sections where it is in contact with the synthetic resin (8). A current supply wire (11) can be clamped between the synthetic resin (8) and the sheath portion (6) of the lamp cap (5) in order to establish electrical contact therewith. The lamp can be assembled by arranging in the hot state of the end portion (3) a polyetherimide ring (8) around this end portion (3) and by providing the lamp cap (5) in the hot state around the polyetherimide ring (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Livio Borgis
  • Patent number: 4928032
    Abstract: For converting a lamp with a screw-type base into a lamp with a bi-pin base, there is provided a cup-shaped adapter of electrical insulating material comprising a tubular body containing a bore that has internal threads threadedly receiving the external threads on the usual metal shell of the screw-type base. The adapter further comprises an end wall extending across the bore at one end of the tubular body and carrying two conductive pins extending through the end wall in laterally-spaced relation. First conductor within the adapter connected to one pin has a free end that engages the usual coniform end of the metal shell when the base is threaded into said bore, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the metal shell and said one pin. Second conductor connected to the other pin establishes an electrical connection between the usual eyelet of the base and the other pin when the base is threaded into said bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Skoch, Frederick Hetzel
  • Patent number: 4886994
    Abstract: A snap-in light bulb having a bulb through which light may be transmitted, a base connected to the bulb, and at least one arm resiliently connected to the base. The arm has a conductor element disposed for contact with a conductive light bulb socket and a plurality of spaced lobes that engage the socket threads. A system including a pole for light bulb insertion is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventor: Albert J. Ragge, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4877992
    Abstract: An electric lamp including an insulative (e.g., plastic) base, an envelope located within the base and having a filament therein and a pair of conductors (e.g., nickel-iron alloy wires) projecting externally from the envelope, passing through the base and extending therefrom. Each conductor includes means (e.g., knurls) formed therein for removing undesirable surface material (e.g., oxide) from a respective contact located within a socket in which the lamp is positioned. Such removal, achieved during lamp insertion and eventual withdrawal, thus assures a sound electrical connection between the "cleaned" contact and a second lamp designed to replace the original. These features are particularly advantageous in the automotive field, especially that portion of the field involving taillight and similar assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Devir
  • Patent number: 4868452
    Abstract: The electric lamp has a lamp vessel (1) having a pinched seal (2) in which a metal foil (3) is accommodated as current lead-through conductor, which is connected to several external current conductors (7). The current conductors (7) are secured via a metal strip (8) to a current supply wire (14). Thus, deformations of the external current conductors (7) are avoided, which lead to mechanical stresses in the pinched seal (2) and to rupture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Leo F. M. Ooms
  • Patent number: 4864184
    Abstract: An improved lamp construction and associated method of manufacture of a lamp that includes a sealed capsule with lead-in wires and a ceramic base. A pair of sleeves each defining a lamp contact pin at one end thereof are swaged at the other end thereof to the lead-in wires to secure the sleeves thereto. The ceramic base has a bottom wall with a pair of holes therein for receiving respective sleeves with the contact pin ends thereof depending from the base bottom wall and with the swaged ends thereof defining a limiting wall for positioning of the sleeves in proper relation relative to the ceramic base. The cement is disposed in the ceramic base and cured to secure the sleeves and lead-in wires in the ceramic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond T. Fleming
  • Patent number: 4864185
    Abstract: An incandescent automotive lamp for mounting in a lamp socket comprising a light-transmitting envelope, an insulating base, and a plurality of conductive wires. The light-transmitting envelope contains an energizable light source and has a sealed-end portion. The insulating base includes a housing, a flange portion, a plurality of channels, and a divider portion. The housing has a cavity in which the sealed-end portion is secured. The flange portion is located on the housing and has a substantially bevelled frustum and a rim with diametrically opposed notches. Each channel passes through the housing and leads into the cavity. The divider portion depends from the bottom of the housing. The divider portion has a pair of substantially flat faces, a pair of sides, and a bottom. At least one of the faces is adjacent to the channels of the housing. Each side has a base notch. The conductive wires connect to the energizable light source and pass through the sealed-end portion of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Dayton, Lloyd K. Bucher, Richard M. Buck
  • Patent number: 4837479
    Abstract: An electric, incandescent lamp including an electrically insulating (e.g., plastic) base which is securedly positioned on the lamp's sealed end portion without the need for adhesives or the like. The base functions to securedly retain the lamp's lead-in wires (a total of four in a dual filament lamp) in a preestablished alignment externally of the lamp's sealed end (from which the wires project) to thereby assure positive electrical connection thereto when the lamp and base are inserted within a corresponding electrical socket. The invention is ideally suited for use in a tail light assembly for an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Products Company
    Inventors: Daniel D. Devir, Richard J. Dolan, John A. Bergin
  • Patent number: 4824393
    Abstract: A socketless light bulb holder in the form of a substantially rigid, plastic bracket including a base affixed to a supporting structure with a generally centrally disposed mounting screw and a pair of terminal screws. The holder also includes a bulb holder portion snugly embracing the base of a light bulb. The terminals on the base of the light bulb are connected to conductor members extending from the terminals on the base of the light bulb to the terminal screws on the base of the holder with the conductor members being soldered to the terminals on the base of the light bulb thereby eliminating the necessity of the light bulb being inserted into and twisted in relation to a light bulb socket in order to mount the light bulb in the socket. In one embodiment of the invention, the holder includes a locking retainer for engagement with one of the bayonet pins which conventionally project radially from the base of the light bulb to mechanically lock the bulb in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: Joseph M. Armbruster
  • Patent number: 4752710
    Abstract: An improved electric lamp including an electrically insulating (e.g., plastic) base which is securedly positioned on the lamp's sealed end portion without the need for adhesives or the like. The base functions to securedly retain the lamp's lead-in wires (a total of four in a dual filament lamp) in a preestablished alignment externally of the lamp's sealed end (from which the wires project) to thereby assure positive electrical connection thereto when the lamp and base are inserted within a corresponding electrical socket. This wire retention is possible by embedding each conductor within designated channels in the base and subsequent deformation of the base's material to substantially cover the embedded wire. In addition, a locking arrangement between the lamp envelope's press sealed end and the base is provided to assist in retaining the sealed end within an opening within the base. The invention is ideally suited for use in a tail light assembly for an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel D. Devir, James P. Szep
  • Patent number: 4724353
    Abstract: An electric, incandescent lamp including an electrically insulating (e.g., plastic) base which is securedly positioned on the lamp's sealed end portion without the need for adhesives or the like. The base functions to securedly retain the lamp's lead-in wires (a total of four in a dual filament lamp) in a preestablished alignment externally of the lamp's sealed end (from which the wires project) to thereby assure positive electrical connection thereto when the lamp and base are inserted within a corresponding electrical socket. The invention is ideally suited for use in a tail light assembly for an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Devir
  • Patent number: 4714858
    Abstract: In certain electric lamps, the lamp cap has a rectangular metal sleeve (10), which is fixed around the pinch (3) of the lamp vessel (1). The sleeve (10) also surrounds an insulator body (12), which immovably encloses a contact member (13). The contact member (13) is secured to a current supply conductor (4) of the lamp. In the lamp according to the invention, the insulator body (12) is immovably held in the sleeve (10) by depressions (16) in the corners (14) of said sleeve, which engage a respective recess in the insulator body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolf Sanders