Abstract: The present invention comprises a bulb socket assembly. The bulb socket assembly comprises a bulb accepting body portion, a terminal accepting body portion connected to the bulb accepting body portion, at least one terminal positioned in the bulb socket with the terminal's blade end extending into the bulb accepting body portion and its lead end positioned in the terminal accepting body, at least one wire connected to the lead end of the at least one terminal, and a sealing material substantially covering the lead end and the connected wire of the at least one terminal. One embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a stabilizing feature that allows the socket assembly to firmly grasp bulbs of various sizes. Another embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a plurality of alignment features to help guide a bulb into proper alignment with a set of terminals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 3, 2002
Date of Patent:
March 21, 2006
Assignee:
Guide Corporation
Inventors:
Christopher R. Powers, Paul D. Van Duyn, Carey D. Marks, David R. McMahan, Ismael Garcia