Socket for wedge base bulbs

Claim 1

A socket for releasably receiving a wedge base bulb of the type having an envelope and a pair of exposed conductors on the exterior of the base thereof and for also releasably receiving preassembled conductive wire and clip means, said socket comprising first and second socket halves molded from a rigid polymeric material; a hinge member integrally formed with said socket halves and interconnecting said halves so that they can be relatively moved between an open position and a closed position; each of said halves having means defining a recess extending between opposite ends thereof so that, when said halves are moved to said closed position, said recesses form a channel through the socket, one end of said channel being dimensioned to enclose said clip means and to receive the base of said bulb; one of said halves having means at the other end of said channel for receiving a pair of wires and for maintaining said wires in spaced relationship; said one of said halves having means in said recess intermediate the ends of said channel and extending toward the other one of said halves for maintaining said clip means in spaced relationship and in proper position when a bulb is inserted into said one end of said channel to engage said clip means; and latch means integrally formed on said halves for retaining said halves in said closed position; and wherein said preassembled wire and clip means includes a pair of wires each having an exposed end portion, the remainder thereof being covered with an insulating material; a pair of identical, generally U-shaped metal clip members each dimensioned to engage a conductor on the base of said bulb; each of said members having integrally formed thereon a connector for frictionally and securely engaging said exposed end portion.