Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Bayonet coupling part movable about its axis
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-24
2001-02-20
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Bayonet coupling part movable about its axis
C439S862000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190193
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to the art of electrical contact elements for application in lamp sockets and, more particularly, to an electrical contact element with a contact zone to be acted upon by electrical lamp contacts, the contact zone being laterally offset from a terminal lug of the electrical contact element.
A wide range of generic electrical contact elements of the type generally under consideration are commonly used in the lighting art to enable electrical connection to an electric lamp disposed in a lamp base. Typically, the electrical contact elements are uniquely designed and formed to meet particular applications. Thus, they are highly specialized and are therefore usable only in a narrow range of applications. In addition, electrical contact elements generally experience a relatively short service life because of their special construction and design.
In contrast thereto, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical contact element of the type under consideration which is able to fulfill its function correctly and without trouble over an extended period of time and service life and which can be employed with various lamp socket sizes and arrangements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved according to the invention in that a contact zone on one end of the electrical contact element that is adapted to engage electrical contacts of an electric lamp or bulb, is arranged in a laterally offset position relative to a terminal lug on the opposite end of the electrical contact element. The object is further achieved in that an intermediate region is provided in the electrical contact element disposed between the contact zone and the terminal lug. The intermediate region is generally U-shaped and is formed to include a connection arm member for connecting the contact zone with the U-shaped intermediate region. Further, a radius zone is provided for connecting the terminal lug with the U-shaped intermediate region. A set of connection zones are provided between the contact zone member, the connection arm member, and the U-shaped intermediate zone and, in accordance with the present invention, are formed as circular curved connection zones or equivalently as radii to enable resilient flexibility in the electrical contact element.
The size, shape, and arrangement of the subject electrical contact element, in particular the radii or circular curved connection zones, benefit the subject electrical contact element by significantly extending the usable service life thereof. In particular, since the electrical contact element according to the present invention has an improved spring effect or resilient nature due to the radii of the connection zones, pressure forces, such as compressive forces, are better absorbed and the electrical contact element can be used in a wide range of electric lamp socket applications. A further result of the novel structure of the invention is a secure contact with the socket of an electric light bulb as well as improvement in the insertion force of the holding device, whereby, additionally, there is a decrease in the pull-out moment relative to the terminal lug or plug-in contact. As a result of the lateral offset arrangement of the contact zone relative to the terminal lug, the range of application of the subject electrical contact element is expanded so that the contact element can be used with a wide range of different lamp shapes, sizes, and configurations such as, for example, brake light lamps, indicator lamps, and automotive tail lamps. The electrical contact element of the subject invention can be used in suitable associated electric sockets with all of the above lamp types and others as well.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lateral offset between the contact zone and the terminal lug is formed at least in part by the U-shaped intermediate zone portion of the electrical contact element. In addition, the lateral offset between the contact zone and the terminal lug is further formed by the connection arm member disposed between the contact zone and a lower leg member of the U-shaped intermediate zone.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the U-shaped intermediate zone includes a leg provided with a contact which extends outwardly away from the U-shaped intermediate zone in a plane defined by the lower leg member.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the elongate terminal lug on one end of the electrical contact element is positioned at a right angle relative to the contact arm and the lower leg member of the U-shaped intermediate zone and, further, has a width that is less than the width of the leg.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the manufacture of the subject electrical contact element is simplified by a recess provided in the form of a radius between the contact arm extending outwardly from the U-shaped intermediate zone and a radius zone on one end of the terminal lug.
In accordance with a still further limited aspect of the invention, the terminal lug and contact arm have a material thickness that is greater than the material thickness of the intermediate region and of the contact zone.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the entire electrical contact element is formed as a single unitary construction. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical contact element is formed of at least two pieces connected together. The at least two pieces have at least two different material thicknesses including a thick portion defining the contact arm member and the elongate terminal lug and a thin portion defining the U-shaped intermediate region and the contact zone. Preferably, the two pieces of different material thicknesses are butt-welded together.
Still other advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3555497 (1971-01-01), Watanabe
patent: 3810072 (1974-05-01), Moore
patent: 5350322 (1994-09-01), Kondo
patent: 5626500 (1997-05-01), Yoshimura
patent: 5716240 (1998-02-01), Harada
patent: 297 14 062 U1 (1997-10-01), None
patent: 0 718 933 A1 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 0 788 198 A2 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 2212658 (1974-07-01), None
Copy of European Search Report dated Jun. 25, 1999.
Donovan Lincoln
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
TRW Automotove Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
Webb Brian S.
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