Light socket with auxiliary contact

Claim 1

In a light fixture of the type comprising a fixedly mounted base and an assembly releasably attached to the base both of which are aligned with a vertical axis, said assembly and base each including an insulator member having ends in juxtaposition with each other, the assembly member defining a light bulb socket, each member having means, a portion of which is at said end thereof, for providing an electrical circuit from said base to said socket, said portion of said means on one member including a central contact transverse to and intersecting said axis and an annular contact surrounding and spaced a given distance from said central contact, said portion of said means of the other member comprising a first central contact transverse to and intersecting said axis and a second single contact spaced from said first contact by said distance in a first radial direction from said axis and covering only a small portion of the area covered by said annular contact, said contacts being relatively rigid, said assembly having means releasably holding said members with their ends so juxtaposed which holding means does not necessarily hold the members rigidly in that position but may permit some rocking of one member with respect to the other whereby a poor electrical circuit may occur between the second single contact and said annular contact, the improvement comprising: said portion of said means of the other member including a third contact spaced from said first contact by said distance in a second radial direction angularly positioned from said first radial direction, said third contact convering only a small portion of the area covered by said annular contact, said portion of said means of the other member including a spring arm resiliently supporting said third contact from said other member.