Electrical connectors – Coupling part to receive fluorescent or neon lamp
Patent
1991-06-21
1993-03-09
Schwartz, Larry I.
Electrical connectors
Coupling part to receive fluorescent or neon lamp
439242, H01R 3302
Patent
active
051922185
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a lampholder assembly for one or more fluorescent lamps having a single lamp cap, comprising at least one lampholder module, which lampholder module comprises a part for receiving the lamp (the lamp part) and a narrower part supporting the lamp part (the support part), as well as at least one ballast.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A lampholder assembly of the type described above is known from European patent specification 0.151.598. That publication discloses in particular a lampholder assembly of which the ballast and the lampholder module proper can be assembled readily, owing to electric wiring built into the lampholder module. Optionally, the support part of the lampholder module can support two lamp parts, as is explained with reference to for instance FIGS. 4 and 5 of the European patent specification mentioned.
In practice, ballast and lampholder module will be incorporated in a larger whole, the fitting, which larger whole must be suitable to be built in or affixed. Such a construction often comprises a plurality of parts--namely, the component to be built in or affixed itself, containing the lampholder module and the ballast, and a covering member. The part that contains the electric components and connections must satisfy certain safety requirements. The quality-control institute designated by the electricity companies (KEMA in the Netherlands), is particularly concerned with the quality-control of said part and tends not to pay any attention to the covering part, which does not comprise any electric components or connections. Because in known constructions the lampholder module is often mounted on a part of the fitting and the ballast therebelow, a large part of that fitting (which term includes the entire "case" or "box") is subject to the safety requirements referred to above. Moreover, building in or affixing such constructions is laborious and time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a lampholder assembly in which only a relatively small and compact part contains the electric components and connections, while the assembly is such that it can be built in or affixed quickly and easily.
The object contemplated is accomplished according to the invention by providing a lampholder assembly which comprises a base plate for mounting thereon the lampholder module and the ballast, as well as a caplike member having a top surface which, when said caplike member has been mounted, is disposed in a plane below the lamp part of the lampholder module, which top surface has an opening provided therein formed to have a broad portion and an adjacent narrower portion, in such a way that at least the lamp part of the lampholder module can pass through said opening when the caplike member is being mounted, said opening further being provided in a location such that when the cap has been mounted, the support part of the lampholder module is disposed in the narrower portion of the opening, which narrower portion itself is narrower than the lamp part of the lampholder module, and a cover plate of suitable dimensions for covering the broader portion of said opening, which broader portion, when said cap has been mounted, is disposed before the support part of the lampholder module, there being provided means for attaching said cover plate, said caplike member and said base plate to each other. Thus, in the lampholder assembly according to the invention only the base plate and the lampholder module and ballast to be mounted thereon comprise electric components and connections so that in principle only those parts are subject to the safety requirements referred to. Any further parts of the whole to be mounted on the base plate can be constructed as desired and need not as a rule satisfy any requirements other than the user's. The base plate of the assembly according to the invention is preferably made of metal to ensure proper heat dissipation.
In one embodiment of the lampholder assembly according to the invention, which
REFERENCES:
patent: 2295788 (1942-09-01), Hoeveler
patent: 2399501 (1946-04-01), Mueller et al.
patent: 2595487 (1952-05-01), Runge et al.
patent: 2597060 (1952-05-01), Boutelle et al.
patent: 4643504 (1987-02-01), Kuiper
Schwartz Larry I.
Vu Hien D.
LandOfFree
Lampholder assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lampholder assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lampholder assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-207250