Patent US3898495A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3898495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Circular fluorescent lamp with two-piece snap-lock base
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
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Filing: 1974-04-05
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1994-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A plastic base assembly for a ''''circline'''' fluorescent lamp is molded in two segments that are secured in enclosing relationship with the sealed ends of the envelope solely by means of a snapinterlock effected between a pair of depending lugs on one of the segments and a pair of mating recesses in the other segment. The base segment having the locking lugs is molded in such a way that the side walls of the lugs define a locking angle that is smaller than the mold release angle and thus permits the base segment to be readily stripped from the molding die without damaging or otherwise impairing the ability of the lugs to effect a strong mechanical interlock with the other base segment. Rotation of the base relative to the lamp envelope is prevented by a nodal projection on the enclosed end of the envelope that is located between stop means molded into the inner surface of one of the base segments. Alternatively, the ends of the lamp envelope can be provided with metal end caps one of which has a tang that is disposed between the stop means defined by the base structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip A Livera
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J5/00; H01J5/50; H01J5/54; H01J5/56; H01J5/565
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A low-pressure gaseous discharge lamp comprising, in combination; a tubular vitreous envelope of annular configuration having sealed ends that are disposed in spaced opposing relationship, a hollow base of resilient electrically non-conductive material consisting of two segments that are disposed in enclosing relationship with the sealed ends of said envelope and span the opening therebetween, each of said base segments having planar faces that constitute the side edges of the base segments and are held in abutting relationship along a plane that extends across the opening between and intersects the sealed ends of the envelope, terminal means secured to one of said base segments, flexible lead wires extending from the sealed ends of said envelope into said base and connected to said terminal means, and means holding the base segments in the aforesaid enclosing and spanning relationship with the sealed ends of said envelope and in abutting relationship with each other solely by means of a frictional interfitting of said base segments, said holding means comprising a pair of slot-like recesses in a central portion of one of said base segments and located inwardly from the planar faces thereof, and a pair of elongated integral locking lugs on the central portion of the other of said base segments that are located inwardly from and extend beyond the respective planar faces thereof and are seated in mating and snap-interlocking relationship with the slot-like recesses in said one base segment, the inwardly-disposed and outwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said pair of lugs being substantially flat along the region that is contiguous with the planar faces of the associated base segment and lying in planes that are tilted relative to one another in a manner such that the angle defined by the planes which are coincident with the inwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said lugs is greater than the angle which is defined by the planes that are coincident with the outwardlydisposed side wall surfaces of said lugs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A low-pressure gaseous discharge lamp comprising, in combination; a tubular vitreous envelope of annular configuration having sealed ends that are disposed in spaced opposing relationship, a hollow base of resilient electrically non-conductive material consisting of two segments that are disposed in enclosing relationship with the sealed ends of said envelope and span the opening therebetween, each of said base segments having planar faces that constitute the side edges of the base segments and are held in abutting relationship along a plane that extends across the opening between and intersects the sealed ends of the envelope, terminal means secured to one of said base segments, flexible lead wires extending from the sealed ends of said envelope into said base and connected to said terminal means, and means holding the base segments in the aforesaid enclosing and spanning relationship with the sealed ends of said envelope and in abutting relationship with each other solely by means of a frictional interfitting of said base segments, said holding means comprising a pair of slot-like recesses in a central portion of one of said base segments and located inwardly from the planar faces thereof, and a pair of elongated integral locking lugs on the central portion of the other of said base segments that are located inwardly from and extend beyond the respective planar faces thereof and are seated in mating and snap-interlocking relationship with the slot-like recesses in said one base segment, the inwardly-disposed and outwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said pair of lugs being substantially flat along the region that is contiguous with the planar faces of the associated base segment and lying in planes that are tilted relative to one another in a manner such that the angle defined by the planes which are coincident with the inwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said lugs is greater than the angle which is defined by the planes that are coincident with the outwardlydisposed side wall surfaces of said lugs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein; said base segments are of generally semi-cylindrical configuration, and one of the sealed ends of the envelope has a protruding component that extends into a region inside the base that is delineated by stop means which constitutes part of the base structure and cooperates with said protruding component to limit the rotational movement of said base relative to the envelope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The discharge lamp of claim 2 wherein; said envelope is of substantially circular configuration, contains mercury and has a layer of phosphor on its inner surface and said lamp thus comprises a fluorescent lamp, and said base segments are composed of plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 3 wherein; said protruding component comprises a nodular protrusion that extends laterally from the surface of one of the sealed ends of said vitreous envelope, and said stop means comprises a pair of spaced stud-like projections on the inner surface of one of said base segments that are located on opposite sides of the nodular protrusion on said one end of the envelope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein; the portion of the sealed end of said envelope havIng said nodular protrusion is circumferentially indented, and said stud-like projections are disposed on the arcuate end section of said one base segment that overlies the indented portion of said envelope end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 3 wherein; said protruding component comprises a depending tang on a metal cap that is fastened to the sealed end of the envelope, and said stop means comprises a pair of spaced shoulders in the central portion of one of said base segments that are located on opposite sides of said tang.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 3 wherein; said terminal means comprises hollow metal pins that are anchored in holes that extend through the central part of one of said base segment, and said lead wires extend into selected ones of said metal pins and are connected thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 7 wherein; the central part of said one base segment in which the metal pins are anchored comprises an inwardly-protruding boss, and the exterior surface of said one base segment opposite said boss is substantially flat and defines a cavity that extends transversely across the arcuate contour of said base and acccommodates the outer ends of said metal pins and thereby at least partly recesses the pins wihtin the confines of the base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 3 wherein; each of the locking lugs on said base segment has a ridge that extends longitudinally along the outer side wall of the respective lugs, and each of the recessed portions of the other base segment has an undercut groove that accommodates one of said ridges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 3 wherein the angle defined by the planes that are coincident with the inwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said locking lugs is at least 10* greater than the angle defined by the planes which are coincident with the outwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said lugs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 10 wherein; the angle defined by the planes that are coincident with the inwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said locking lugs is approximately 36*, and the angle defined by the planes which are coincident with the outwardly-disposed side wall surfaces of said lugs is approximately 20*.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
244 words
In the manufacture of a two-piece snap-interlocking base assembly for a fluorescent lamp or similar device wherein the base segments are molded from a resilient plastic and one of the base segments has a pair of locking lugs the protrude from the sides of said segment and are conformed to effect a resilient snap-interfitting juncture with mating recesses in the other base segment, the method of manufacturing the base segment having said locking lugs comprising; providing a mold assembly that defines a mold cavity of the same configuration as said base segment and thus includes a die that has a pair of spaced recesses of the same configuration as the locking lugs, shaping the die so that the side walls thereof which correspond to the outwardly-disposed side walls of the locking lugs lie in planes that define a locking angle which is smaller than the mold release angle that is defined by the planes that are coincident with side walls of the die recesses which correspond to the inwardly-disposed side walls of the locking lugs, filling the cavity of the mold assembly with uncured plastic resin to form the base segment, and after the plastic resin has hardened, stripping the formed base segment from the molding die by applying a force to the base segment that is sufficient to temporarily flex the locking lugs inwardly until they clear the recessed portions of the die and the base segment is thus separated from said die.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
244 words
In the manufacture of a two-piece snap-interlocking base assembly for a fluorescent lamp or similar device wherein the base segments are molded from a resilient plastic and one of the base segments has a pair of locking lugs the protrude from the sides of said segment and are conformed to effect a resilient snap-interfitting juncture with mating recesses in the other base segment, the method of manufacturing the base segment having said locking lugs comprising; providing a mold assembly that defines a mold cavity of the same configuration as said base segment and thus includes a die that has a pair of spaced recesses of the same configuration as the locking lugs, shaping the die so that the side walls thereof which correspond to the outwardly-disposed side walls of the locking lugs lie in planes that define a locking angle which is smaller than the mold release angle that is defined by the planes that are coincident with side walls of the die recesses which correspond to the inwardly-disposed side walls of the locking lugs, filling the cavity of the mold assembly with uncured plastic resin to form the base segment, and after the plastic resin has hardened, stripping the formed base segment from the molding die by applying a force to the base segment that is sufficient to temporarily flex the locking lugs inwardly until they clear the recessed portions of the die and the base segment is thus separated from said die.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said mold release angle is in the range of from about 32* to 40* and said locking angle is in the range of from about 16* to 24*.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the formed plastic base Segment is removed from the molding die by a stripping pin that extends through the part of the die which forms the interior portion of the base segment and is movable along a path that intersects the plane which joins the locking lug portions of the formed base segment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |