US3681593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap-in fluorescent lampholder with front end release
Assignee: LIBERTY LIGHTING Co Inc A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1970-11-05
•
Granted: 1972-08-01
•
Expires: 1990-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A compressible lampholder for double ended fluorescent lamps, especially those of the high-output, rapid-start type, has a onepiece mounting clip at its rear end, formed with forwardly opening spring loops that have shoulders normally preventing removal of the lampholder from the mounting hole of a support panel. The loops yield resiliently when the lampholder is inserted in the mounting panel, and cooperate with a compression coil spring to hold the lampholder in its mounted position while leaving it free to compress when the fixture is lamped. The spring loops have distal portions accessible from the front of the mounting panel to deflect the loops to a panel-disengaging position for removal of the lampholder.
Inventors
- 👤 John M Genovese
- 👤 Kenneth H Walterick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:41
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V19/00; F21V19/0075; F21V19/008; F21Y; F21Y2103/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A fluorescent lampholder of the compressible type adapted for engagement in a mounting hole of a support panel having front and back surfaces, comprising: a. a body of electrical insulation material including 1. a body portion having front and rear ends, and 2. a head portion at the front end of the body portion having a forwardly opening recess, said head portion Providing a rearwardly facing abutment at the front end of the body portion: b. lamp contact means in said recess; c. a compression coil spring receiving said body and bearing at one end against said abutment, the other end of the spring being free for compression of the spring between the front surface of the support panel and the head portion; and d. a mounting clip including a pair of generally U-shaped, forwardly opening spring loops partially recessed within the rear end and side of the body portion and formed with inner walls affixed to the body portion, said loops additionally including rearwardly converging spring legs connected to the inner walls in laterally outwardly spaced relation thereto, said legs diverging forwardly and being formed at their divergent ends with reentrant angles, defining shoulders projecting radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the body portion and additionally defining short distal members projecting forwardly from the shoulders and terminating at their forward ends adjacent the rear end of the body portion in close proximity to the open ends of the loops.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A fluorescent lampholder of the compressible type adapted for engagement in a mounting hole of a support panel having front and back surfaces, comprising: a. a body of electrical insulation material including 1. a body portion having front and rear ends, and 2. a head portion at the front end of the body portion having a forwardly opening recess, said head portion Providing a rearwardly facing abutment at the front end of the body portion: b. lamp contact means in said recess; c. a compression coil spring receiving said body and bearing at one end against said abutment, the other end of the spring being free for compression of the spring between the front surface of the support panel and the head portion; and d. a mounting clip including a pair of generally U-shaped, forwardly opening spring loops partially recessed within the rear end and side of the body portion and formed with inner walls affixed to the body portion, said loops additionally including rearwardly converging spring legs connected to the inner walls in laterally outwardly spaced relation thereto, said legs diverging forwardly and being formed at their divergent ends with reentrant angles, defining shoulders projecting radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the body portion and additionally defining short distal members projecting forwardly from the shoulders and terminating at their forward ends adjacent the rear end of the body portion in close proximity to the open ends of the loops.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
197 words
a head portion at the front end of the body portion having a forwardly opening recess, said head portion Providing a rearwardly facing abutment at the front end of the body portion: b. lamp contact means in said recess; c. a compression coil spring receiving said body and bearing at one end against said abutment, the other end of the spring being free for compression of the spring between the front surface of the support panel and the head portion; and d. a mounting clip including a pair of generally U-shaped, forwardly opening spring loops partially recessed within the rear end and side of the body portion and formed with inner walls affixed to the body portion, said loops additionally including rearwardly converging spring legs connected to the inner walls in laterally outwardly spaced relation thereto, said legs diverging forwardly and being formed at their divergent ends with reentrant angles, defining shoulders projecting radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the body portion and additionally defining short distal members projecting forwardly from the shoulders and terminating at their forward ends adjacent the rear end of the body portion in close proximity to the open ends of the loops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
197 words
a head portion at the front end of the body portion having a forwardly opening recess, said head portion Providing a rearwardly facing abutment at the front end of the body portion: b. lamp contact means in said recess; c. a compression coil spring receiving said body and bearing at one end against said abutment, the other end of the spring being free for compression of the spring between the front surface of the support panel and the head portion; and d. a mounting clip including a pair of generally U-shaped, forwardly opening spring loops partially recessed within the rear end and side of the body portion and formed with inner walls affixed to the body portion, said loops additionally including rearwardly converging spring legs connected to the inner walls in laterally outwardly spaced relation thereto, said legs diverging forwardly and being formed at their divergent ends with reentrant angles, defining shoulders projecting radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the body portion and additionally defining short distal members projecting forwardly from the shoulders and terminating at their forward ends adjacent the rear end of the body portion in close proximity to the open ends of the loops.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A lampholder as in claim 1 wherein each spring loop circumscribes a wholly open area with the spring legs being deflectable over their full lengths toward the adjacent inner walls of the loops.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A lampholder as in claim 2 wherein the body portion is spaced from the spring loops over the full lengths of said loops for deflection of the entire loops against the spring tension thereof free of interference from the body portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |