Bipost socket for luminaires

Claim 2

In a socket structure for a bipost lamp: a. a pair of clamp members made of electrical insulation material and each having a pair of recesses; b. a housing supporting said clamp members in opposed relationship so that the recesses of one of the clamp members opposes the recesses of the other of the clamp members; c. means guiding said clamp members for limited movement toward and away from each other so that the pairs of opposed recesses close and open; d. electrically conductive socket means supported in the pairs of opposed recesses respectively, and having elements that constrict about the posts of said lamp upon movement of said clamp members towards each other to close said opposed recesses; e. a pressure plate having a cam seat; f. means guiding said pressure plate for movement parallel to the direction of relative movement of said clamp members; g. compression spring means interposed between said pressure plate and one of said clamp members; h. a cam seated in said cam seat; i. anchor means confining said cam against movement away from said cam plate whereby said compression spring means maintains said cam in said seat; and j. said cam being movable to alternate positions in one of which pressure plate is moved toward said clamp members and in the other of which said pressure plate is permitted to move away from said clamp members under the influence of said compression spring means.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said cam has a circular part engaging said seat, the axis of said circular part being parallel to the axis of said socket means; said anchor means including an anchor rod extending through said housing and with clearance through said clamp members, said anchor rod having one end located adjacent said cam seat, said anchor means further including a toggle link eccentrically connecting said cam to said one end of said anchor rod.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which the other end of said anchor rod carries a threaded member, the position of which along the anchor rod serves to determine the position of said anchor rod whereby the clamping force is adjusted.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 2 together with an operating shaft attached to said cam.

Claim 6

In a socket structure for a lamp having parallel terminal posts: a. a pair of identical clamp members made of electrical insulation material and each having a pair of recesses extending inwardly from one surface of the clamp member; b. a housing having a recess in which said clamp members together are fitted with the recesses of said clamp members opposed to each other; said housing recess having a front wall along which one of said clamp members extends, and a rear wall along which the other of said clamp members extends; c. a pair of guide rods extending across opposite ends of said housing recess and through the back and front walls thereof; said clamp members being engaged by said guide rods whereby said clamp members are confined in said housing recess, said clamp members bEing supported by the guide rods for limited movement toward and away from each other; d. four electrically conductive socket elements, one for each clamp member recess, said socket elements interfitting said clamp members so that said socket elements are separable from said clamp members only when said clamp members are separated to a degree greater than that permitted by the housing recess; pairs of said socket elements defining socket axes and being operable to grip and release a post of said lamp upon movement of said clamp members toward and away from each other respectively; e. a pressure plate extending along said front wall on the outside of said housing recess, and guided by the ends of said guide rods for movement parallel to said clamp members; said pressure plate having an opening; f. a pair of coiled compression springs between said pressure plate and said one clamp member, and passing through clearance apertures in the said front wall of said housing; g. an anchor rod extending through said front and rear housing walls and having one end terminating adjacent said pressure plate opening, the other end of said anchor rod having stop means engageable with said rear housing wall to locate said one anchor rod end; h. a cam seated in said pressure plate opening; and i. means providing a lateral degree of freedom pivotally connecting said cam to said one end of said anchor rod whereby angular movement of said cam causes movement of said pressure plate.

Claim 7

In a socket structure for a lamp having parallel terminal posts: a. a pair of identical clamp members made of electrical insulation material and each having a pair of recesses extending inwardly from one surface of the clamp member; b. a housing having a recess in which said clamp members together are fitted with the recesses of said clamp members opposed to each other; said housing recess having a front wall along which one of said clamp members extends, and a rear wall along which the other of said clamp members extends; c. a pair of guide rods extending across opposite ends of said housing recess and through the back and front walls thereof; said clamp members being engaged by said guide rods whereby said clamp members are confined in said housing recess, said clamp members bEing supported by the guide rods for limited movement toward and away from each other; d. four electrically conductive socket elements, one for each clamp member recess, said socket elements interfitting said clamp members so that said socket elements are separable from said clamp members only when said clamp members are separated to a degree greater than that permitted by the housing recess; pairs of said socket elements defining socket axes and being operable to grip and release a post of said lamp upon movement of said clamp members toward and away from each other respectively; e. a pressure plate extending along said front wall on the outside of said housing recess, and guided by the ends of said guide rods for movement parallel to said clamp members; said pressure plate having an opening; f. a pair of coiled compression springs between said pressure plate and said one clamp member, and passing through clearance apertures in the said front wall of said housing; g. an anchor rod extending through said front and rear housing walls and having one end terminating adjacent said pressure plate opening, the other end of said anchor rod having stop means engageable with said rear housing wall to locate said one anchor rod end; h. a cam seated in said pressure plate opening; and i. means providing a lateral degree of freedom pivotally connecting said cam to said one end of said anchor rod whereby angular movement of said cam causes movement of said pressure plate.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said pivotally connecting means comprises a toggle link.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 5 together with an operating rod connected to said cam.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said stop means is adjustable to determine the degree of compression of said spring means by operation of said pressure plate, over adjustment of said stop means causing said socket elements to remain closed to prevent insertion of terminal posts of said lamp.

Claim 11

The socket structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said housing has lateral access openings at the bottom of said housing recess and in which said socket means are accessible beneath said clamp members for connection of electrical conductors to said socket means.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said clamp members together provide a partition dividing said access openings into separate spaces for the socket means respectively.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 10 together with an electrical insulation liner for said housing at the region of said lateral access openings.