Electrical connectors – With vitreous-type envelope – Having only two duplicate contacts arranged bilaterally...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-30
2001-04-17
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With vitreous-type envelope
Having only two duplicate contacts arranged bilaterally...
C439S699200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217387
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal fitting for a wedge-base bulb (base-free bulb) and to a bulb socket comprising such a terminal fitting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A known terminal fitting for a wedge-base bulb is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 2(HEI)-150688. This terminal fitting
1
is, as shown in
FIG. 15
, provided with a pair of holding pieces
2
formed by bending opposite sides of a metal sheet at right angles, and a tab
3
formed by bending a bottom end of one holding piece
2
R to have a steplike shape. A stepped portion
3
A of the tab
3
is formed with a tab side portion
4
extending toward the other holding piece
2
L. The tab side portion
4
is placed on the upper surface of a receiving portion
5
formed by bending a bottom end of the other holding piece
2
L toward the tab
3
. Further, the leading end of the tab side portion
4
is locked in a lock groove
6
provided at the bottom end of the other holding piece
2
L. As shown in
FIG. 16
, the tab
3
is assembled into a bulb socket
7
by being pressed into a tab mount hole
8
formed in the bulb socket
7
.
The tab
3
is subjected to a large insertion resistance while being pressed into the tab mount hole
8
. Since the tab side portion
4
is placed on the upper surface of the receiving portion S in the terminal fitting
1
, the insertion resistance is received only by the lock groove
6
in a position distanced from the tab
3
without being received by the receiving portion
5
. Thus, a large moment acts on the tab side portion
4
, with the result that it may be bent as shown in FIG.
17
.
In view of the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a high strength terminal fitting for a wedge-base bulb which is not likely to be deformed while being assembled into a bulb socket and a bulb socket comprising such a terminal fitting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a terminal fitting for a wedge-base bulb in which a pair of holding pieces for substantially holding a base section of a wedge-based bulb are formed by bending opposite sides of a metal plate at an angle different from 0° or 180°, preferably at substantially right angles. A lower end portion of one holding piece is bent to have a substantially steplike shape, thereby forming a tab adjacent the bottom of the one holding piece. A tab side portion is formed at a stepped portion of the tab by bending the lower end portion of the one holding piece toward the other holding piece. A lower end portion of the other holding piece is bent toward the tab to form a receiving portion, which is placed or is placeable on or at the upper surface of the tab side surface or portion, in particular in the folded state.
Accordingly, since the receiving portion is placed or placeable on or at the upper surface of the tab side portion, the upward displacement of the tab side portion can be restricted, even upon being subjected to an insertion resistance which acts during the insertion of the tab into the tab mount hole. Further, the receiving portion extends toward the tab to receive the insertion resistance near the tab. This prevents, unlike the prior art terminal fitting, a large moment from acting on the tab side portion, thereby preventing the tab side portion from being bendingly deformed. Since the support portion for the tab has a high strength in this terminal fitting, the tab is not deformed during the assembling, and operation efficiency is improved.
According to a further preferred embodiment, there is provided a terminal fitting for a wedge-base bulb in which a pair of holding pieces for holding a base section of a wedge-based bulb are formed by bending opposite sides of a metal plate at right angles. A lower end portion of one holding piece is bent to have a steplike shape, thereby forming a tab. The tab is insertable into a tab mount hole provided in a bulb socket at the bottom of the one holding piece. A tab side portion is formed at a stepped portion of the tab by bending the lower end portion of the one holding piece toward the other holding piece. A lower end portion of the other holding piece is bent toward the tab to form a receiving portion, which is placed on the upper surface of the tab side portion.
Preferably, the receiving portion is elongated and is bent or bendable to hold the tab side portion from substantially below and above, in particular in the folded state.
Accordingly, since the tab side portion is held surroundingly by the receiving portion, it is allowed to have more stability and strength.
A notch may be formed at an end of the receiving portion and a part of the receiving portion is placed or placeable substantially below the tab side portion, in particular in the folded state. Accordingly, since the tab side portion is also pushed from below by the part of the receiving portion, the tab side portion is allowed to have more stability.
The tab mount hole of the bulb socket preferably has a length to accommodate up to a base end of the tab when the insertion of the tab is completed, and/or the tab is formed such that the base end thereof is wider than the other portion thereof. Accordingly, since the diameter of the tab mount hole can be widened according to the width of the wide base end of the tab, a portion of the tab toward the leading end which is narrower than the base end can be inserted into the tab mount hole while leaving a margin. As a result, the terminal fitting can be inserted more easily and operational efficiency can be improved. Further, strength can be enhanced by widening the base end of the tab, thereby preventing a deformation.
The holding pieces preferably are formed by bending a metal plate along bending lines by an angle different from 0° or 180°, preferably substantially at right angles, such that the holding pieces are connected via a base plate. The tab side portion that is formed on the tab by bending the one holding piece is supported by the receiving portion that is formed on the other holding piece.
According to the invention, there is further provided a bulb socket for a wedge-base bulb comprising at least one terminal fitting as described above. The bulb socket further comprises a housing having a bulb receptacle for at least partially housing a base section of a wedge-based bulb and a connector receptacle for at least partially housing a mating connector. The terminal fitting is at least partially arranged in the bulb receptacle for its connection to the bulb and the tab is insertable into a tab mount hole provided in the housing so that a portion of the tab projects into the connector receptacle for its connection with the mating connector. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tab mount hole has a length to accommodate only up to a base end of the tab when the insertion of the tab is completed.
Preferably, a base end of the tab is widened to the degree that it is still insertable into the tab mount hole and a portion of the tab toward its leading end is narrower than the base end such that it is insertable into the tab mount hole while leaving a margin. Accordingly, the insertion of the tab is easier and the operation efficiency is improved.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5080615 (1992-01-01), Kondo
patent: 5286223 (1994-02-01), Ogawa
patent: 5876249 (1999-03-01), Kim
patent: 2-150688 (1990-12-01), None
Okamoto Masaki
Sawada Hisashi
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Hyeon Hae Moon
Porco Michael J.
Sircus Brian
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