Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-02-20
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
C439S549000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190200
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lamp holder assembly, and more particularly, to a lamp holder base and attachment method for providing simple and effective attachment of the lamp holder base to a mounting plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide a lamp holder for an illuminating lamp, e.g., an incandescent or flourescent lamp, which includes a socket to establish both mechanical and electrical connections to the illuminating device, as well as a base for providing attachment of the lamp holder to a mounting plate. The mounting plate could be, for example, a plate member of a light fixture, a back panel of a refrigerator, or a portion of an automobile dash.
One known approach for providing attachment of the lamp holder to a mounting plate is to include a threaded mounting sleeve on the lamp holder base, and provide a corresponding hole in the mounting plate. The threaded mounting sleeve is positioned in and passed through the hole in the mounting plate, such that a portion of the threaded mounting sleeve extends past a back surface of the mounting plate. A nut is then treaded onto the portion of the threaded mounting sleeve which extends past the back surface of the mounting plate to secure the lamp holder to the mounting plate.
One disadvantage to such an approach is that the mounting means must be provided as two discrete parts, i.e., the treaded sleeve and the nut. When installing the lamp holder in close quarters, such as on a back panel of a refrigerator or in a dash of an automobile, it is possible to cross-thread the nut onto the treaded portion. Such cross-threading can result in the destruction of the lamp base and/or the nut, and an inferior attachment of the lamp holder base to the mounting plate. In addition, the nut may be dropped during attempted installation, thereby resulting in increased installation time and frustration, and possibly the loss of the nut.
Another approach is to provide a pair of simple mounting clips on the lamp holder base and provide a corresponding pair of slots in the mounting plate for receiving the pair of mounting clips. Generally, however, such an arrangement results in a loose fit between the lamp holder base and the mounting plate.
Thus, a need exists for a lamp holder base which can consistently provide effective attachment of the lamp holder to the mounting plate, and which is simple to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides effective attachment of a lamp holder to the mounting plate, and is simple to install.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a lamp holder base for mounting a lamp holder to a mounting plate. The lamp holder base includes a bridge member having a first end, a second end and a support surface extending along a support plane; a latch member coupled to the first end of the bridge member and which extends away from the support surface; and an elongate body coupled to the second end of the bridge member and which extends away from the support surface. The elongate body includes a first region spaced apart from a second region, wherein a first mounting channel is located in the first region and a second mounting channel is located in the second region. Each of the first and second mounting channels including a pair of non-parallel opposing surfaces.
Preferably, the pair of non-parallel opposing surfaces of each of the first and second mounting channels includes a base surface substantially coplanar with the support surface and an inclined surface which diverges from the base surface. The pair of non-parallel opposing surfaces further define a first channel opening and a second channel opening, wherein at the first channel opening the base surface is spaced a first distance from the inclined surface and at the second channel opening the base surface is spaced a second distance from the inclined surface. The inclined surface terminates at the first channel opening to define a pivot edge. Preferably, the first distance is substantially equal to a thickness of the mounting plate.
Also preferably, the latch member includes a resilient portion having a first end, and the resilient portion extends from the support surface toward the first end. A latch finger is provided which extends from the resilient portion. The latch finger includes a latch surface region spaced from the support plane by an amount substantially corresponding to the first distance. Preferably, the first distance is substantially equal to a thickness of the mounting plate.
A preferred method of the invention for providing simple and effective attachment of a lamp holder base to a mounting plate includes the steps of providing in the mounting plate an opening having a wide opening portion and a relatively narrower opening portion, which together define at least one mounting tab of the mounting plate, the mounting plate further having an outer surface and a latch edge portion; providing on the lamp holder base an elongated body and a latch member, the elongated body including at least one mounting channel having a base surface and an inclined surface which define a first channel opening and a second channel opening, the inclined surface terminating at the first channel opening to define a pivot edge, the latch member including a latch surface region; inserting the elongated body in the wide opening portion until a cross section of the mounting plate is generally aligned with one of the first channel opening and the second channel opening; moving the mounting plate in a direction such that the at least one mounting tab engages the at least one mounting channel; aligning generally the latch member with the latch edge portion of the mounting plate; and rotating the mounting plate about the pivot edge until the latch surface region engages a portion of the outer surface of the mounting plate.
One advantage of the present invention is that the lamp holder base consistently provides effective attachment of the lamp holder to the mounting plate.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the lamp holder base is simple to install, and installation can be performed without the need for tools.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1768422 (1930-06-01), Russel et al.
patent: 3384858 (1968-05-01), Johnson
patent: 4744767 (1988-05-01), Henrici et al.
patent: 5993264 (1999-11-01), Daoud
patent: 6030242 (2000-02-01), Cunningham et al.
Bradley Paula
Lyall Assemblies, Inc.
Ngandjui Antoine
Taylor & Aust P.C.
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