Abstract: An elongated light source (50) comprises a subassembly (51) including a base (54), a light engine (10) positioned in mounting means (56) formed with the base; a light guide (58) positioned in spaced apart supports (57), and a cover (62) fixed to the base (54). The light engine (10) comprises a thermally conductive substrate (12) having a dielectric (14) on one side thereof; upper and lower lens guards, (16, 18), respectively, positioned near one end (20) of the substrate (12); at least one LED (22) mounted on the substrate between the lens guards (16, 18); and electrical conductors (24, 26) mounted upon the substrate at another end (28) thereof for supplying power to the LED (22).

Abstract: An LED light source (10) comprises a heat sink (12) having a body (14) with a front surface (16) and a rear surface (18), the rear surface (18) being provided with heat dissipaters (20). The front surface (16) includes a pocket (22) for the receipt of components (24), the components including at least one LEDs (25) and electrical circuitry therefor. A housing (26) has a flange (28) and a tubular projection (30) fitted into the pocket (22) in a manner to fix the components (24) in the heat sink (12); and an optical light guide (32) having at least one light pipes (34) is positioned in the tubular projection (30), each of the at least one light pipes (34) having a light input end (34a) fixed in light gathering alignment with the at least one LEDs (25) in a one-to-one relationship.

Abstract: A light engine (10) has a light engine subassembly (12) comprising: a housing (14) having a longitudinal axis (16), a tubular portion (18) with a surrounding wall (20) and a closed end (22). A slot (24) is formed in the surrounding wall (20) and terminates at the closed end (22). A solid-state light source (26) is mounted adjacent the closed end (22), the solid-sate light source having energizing wires attached thereto and exiting the housing via the slot (24). A light dispenser (36) having a first end (37) is fixed in the tubular portion (18) and extends for a given distance along the longitudinal axis (16). The light engine can be used for backlighting.

Abstract: A PAR lamp (10) has a body (12) with an internal reflector surface (14) disposed about a longitudinal axis (16). A cavity (18) is provided at one end (20) of the body (12) and an arc discharge tube (22) that provides a substantially spherical light source is positioned in the cavity (18) and disposed on the longitudinal axis (16). A cover receiving opening (24) is provided at a second end (26) of the body and a cover (27) closes the cover receiving opening (24). A plurality of spiral facets (28) is formed on the internal reflector surface (14), the plurality of spiral facets (28) being sufficient in number to increase the maximum beam candle power and decrease the beam angle when compared to faceted lamps having a lesser number of facets. The number of facets is equal to or greater than 75 and preferably is 100.

Abstract: A compact PAR lamp (10) has a hollow body (12) arrayed along a longitudinal axis (14) and has an open end (16) and a substantially closed neck end (18) and containing a light source capsule (20) within the hollow body (12) and coaxial with the longitudinal axis (14). The light source capsule (20) has electrical lead-ins (22, 24) that extend therefrom and exit via the neck end (18). A first parabolic reflector (26) is formed within the body (12) and has a wide portion (28) adjacent the open end (16) and a narrow portion (30) spaced therefrom along the longitudinal axis (14). A second reflector (32) is formed within the body (12) and extends from the narrow portion (30) into the neck end (18). A lens (34) closes the open (16), and a base (36) is attached to the closed neck end (18).

Abstract: A right-angled electrical connector (30) has a one-piece electrically insulating body (32) molded over a subassembly (10) that includes a first electrically conductive member 12 with a hollow end (16) and an electrical contact (18a) mounted within the hollow end (16). In the mold the contact pin (18a) is electrically isolated from the member (12) and electrically insulating material of the body 32 flows around the contact pin (18a).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flash-free lamp base (10), wherein the lamp base (10) comprises a shell (14), an eyelet (16) and a glass, electrically insulating part (18) therebetween and joining the shell (14) and the eyelet (16), the shell and the eyelet being electrically conductive, the shell (14) having a tubular portion (14a) with an open end (14b) and a partially closed end (14c) defining a volume (14d) therebetween, the partially closed end (14c) including a tapered area (14e) terminating in a reentrant section (14f) that extends into the volume (14d) and defines an inner annulus (14g).

Abstract: A portable light (10) has a rigid base (12), a power supply (14) having first and second poles (16, 18) within the base and a light source (20) positioned in the base (12). The light source (20) has first and second lead-ins (22, 24). The first lead-in (22) is in contact with the first pole (16) of the power supply (14). Electrical isolation means (26) isolates the second lead-in (24) from the second pole (18) of the power supply (14); and a flexible cover (28) is fitted to the base (12). The cover (28) includes at least one portion (30) that is contactable with the second lead-in (24) whereby pressure on the at least one portion (30) defeats the electrical isolation means (26) and causes a connection between the second lead-in (24) and the second pole (18) of the power supply (14) to actuate the light source (20) while the pressure is being applied.

Abstract: A lamp socket (10) comprises a housing (12) having a longitudinal axis (14) and first and second planar surfaces, (16, 18), respectively, spaced apart along the longitudinal axis (14), and orthogonal thereto. Aa central, lamp receiving opening (20) is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis 14 and mounting means 21 are formed with the first planar surface for accepting, and electrically connecting a lamp, and maintenance means 21a are formed with the second planar surface for maintaining the lamp within the socket. The mounting means (21) includes a first pair of lamp contacts (22, 24) positioned in a first pair of cavities (22?, 24?) formed in the first planar surface (16). The maintenance means (21a) include first lamp base receivers (30) and second lamp base receivers (32) formed in the second planar surface (18); and first and second lamp base retainers (38, 40), respectively, associated with the second planar surface (18).

Abstract: A package (10) for a bulb (12) having a bulbous, light-emitting end (14) and a socket end (16), has a first thin-walled plastic body (18a) arrayed along a longitudinal axis (20) and having a closed end (22) and an open end (24), the open end (24) having a diameter D transverse to the longitudinal axis sufficient to admit insertion of the bulbous, light emitting end (14) of the bulb (12), the closed end (22) of the first thin-walled plastic body (18a) formed with at least one internal surface support (26) extending away from the longitudinal axis (20) in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and substantially contiguous with a curve of the bulbous light emitting end (14), the open end (24) providing a circumferential coupling area (28); and a second thin-walled plastic body (18b) formed with a socket receiving end (32) and a mating coupling area (34) formed to conform to the circumferential coupling area (28) and coupled thereto.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp (60) contains an arc tube (62) containing an arc generating and sustaining medium. The arc tube (62) has at least one press seal (64). Means (66) for coupling electrical energy to the interior of the arc tube includes an electrical current-carrying frame member (68) and in-leads (68a) and (68b) sealed into the lamp stem (90) and connected to a base (not shown). A starting source (70) comprises a sealed cavity (72) formed in the press seal (64). A second fill material is contained within the sealed cavity (72). The starting source (70) emits ultraviolet radiation when the lamp (60) is energized, which assists in initiation of the arc discharge within the interior of the arc tube (62). An electrical energy coupler (74) is provided for coupling electrical energy to the sealed cavity (72).

Abstract: A wire connector (10) has an electrically insulating housing (12) with a bottom surface (14) for attachment to a base (16) and an upper surface (18) having a wire-receiving groove (20) formed therein. An electrical contact receiving position (22) is formed with the upper surface (18) adjacent the wire receiving groove (20) and an electrical contact (24) is fixed at the electrical contact receiving position (22). The electrical contact (24) has a tail (26) extending into the wire-receiving groove (20). A cover receiving position (28) is formed with the upper surface (18) and spaced from the electrical contact receiving position (22); and an electrically insulating cover (30) is fixed at the cover receiving position (28), the cover including a wire engaging portion (32) projecting into the wire receiving groove (20).

Abstract: An outgassing shield (40) for a lamp socket (22) comprises a cup-shaped unit that fits over the end of the socket that penetrates a lamp reflector (12), reducing the temperature upon the socket body and substantially eliminating outgassing. The elimination of the outgassing prevents deleterious buildup of outgassed materials on the reflector surface and the interior of the lens, thereby enhancing light output.

Abstract: A cable retainer (10) for a cable (12) having a longitudinal axis (11) and a given diameter has a first elongated body half (14) arrayed along the longitudinal axis (11) and having a first surface (18) and a second, oppositely disposed surface (20), the second oppositely disposed surface (20) having a first cable receiving section (22) therein with a depth at least one half of the given diameter. A second elongated body half (30) is arrayed along the longitudinal axis (11) and has a first area (34) and a second, oppositely disposed area (36) with a second cable receiving section (38) therein. A guide system (37) is provided for orienting the first elongated body half and the second elongated body half A fastener (40) is formed on the second elongated body half (30) and a receptor (42) for the fastener (40) is formed on the first elongated body half (14).

Abstract: A dispenser (10) for a volatilizable material has a first member (14) that is substantially cup-shaped with a given diameter (X) and with a given depth (Z) and having a first peripheral flange (16) having a first diameter (D). A second member (18) has a second peripheral flange (20) with a second diameter (D2) greater than the given diameter (X). The first peripheral flange (16) and the second peripheral flange (20) are in intimate contact thereby defining a volatilizable material chamber (22) between the bottom (24) of the second member (18) and the bottom (26) of the first cup-shaped member (14). A volatilizable material (12) such as liquid mercury is placed in the chamber; and a hermetic seal (28) is formed between the first and second flanges. When installed in a fluorescent lamp the volatilizable material is released by heating the dispenser with RF current. The material is released when the vapor pressure within the dispenser reaches about 20 atmospheres.

Abstract: A socket (40) for a bi-pin lamp (41) has a primary housing (42) including a receptacle (44): a secondary housing (46) formed to be received in the receptacle (44), the secondary housing (46) having a body (48) with a pair of recesses (50) therein; a floor (52) in the recesses (50); a pin-receiving aperture (54) in the floor of each of the recesses (50); and an electrical contact (10) positioned in each recess (50), the electrical contact (10) comprising a substantially U-shaped body (12) having an open end (14) and a bight (16), the U-shaped body (12) comprising a substantially U-shaped contact portion (18) formed of a first material nested within a substantially U-shaped contiguous spring portion (20) formed of a second material.

Abstract: An assembly (10) comprises a base (12), a first body (14) projecting from the base (12) in a first direction (16); an opening (18) in the base adjacent (12) the first body (14); a second body (20) projecting from the base (12) in a second direction (22) and containing a slot (24); a spring-clip (30) comprising a substantially U-shaped body (32) having first and second legs (34, 36), connected by a bight (38), the first leg (34) being longer than the second leg (36); the first leg (34) including a cammed leading edge (40) and a locking aperture (42) and being fitted into the opening (18) and extending in the first direction (16); the second leg (36) being inserted into the slot (24) and including retention barbs (44) for maintaining the second leg (36) in the slot (24); and a third body (46) formed to mate with the first body (14), the third body (46) including a locking lug (48) that engages the locking aperture (42).

Abstract: A substantially annular electrical contact (12) has an inside dimension (14) and an outside dimension (16). A preferred material for the contact (12) is phosphorus-bronze. The inside dimension (14) is provided with a plurality of contact beams (18). The outside dimension (16) is provided with a plurality of retention beams (20). The contact beams and the retention beams are spaced alternately from one another. A wire-receiving trough (21) is provided between two of the retention beams and extends away from the annulus. A substantially cup-shaped electrically insulating insert (22) (see FIG. 3) is also provided and comprises an interior wall (26) and an exterior wall (28). A preferred material for the insert is polypropylene. The interior wall (26) is provided with pockets (30) for receiving the contact beams (18) and the exterior wall (28) is provided with pockets (32) for receiving the retention beams (20).

Abstract: A connecting pin (10) for an anode contact (11) (shown more completely in FIG. 2). The pin (10) has a body (12) with a longitudinal axis (14). A contact head (16) is formed at a proximal portion of the body (12) and a base (18) is formed at a distal portion of body (12). An intermediate shank (20) connects the head (16) and the base (18). The head (16), base (18) and intermediate shank (20) are all symmetrically arrayed about the longitudinal axis (14). The shank (20) has a first diameter (D) and the contact head (16) has at least one lateral dimension (D2) that is greater than the shank diameter (D). The base (18) has a diameter (D3) that is greater than the shank diameter (D) and has a surface (22) that is planar and substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (14).