US4613790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tough-responsive electric light socket
Assignee: Heller Financial Inc
•
Filing: 1985-06-04
•
Granted: 1986-09-23
•
Expires: 2005-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A touch-responsive socket for receiving an electric light bulb and controlling the power delivered to the bulb in response to the touching of an electrically-conductive member includes a housing with a touch-responsive electrical circuit disposed in it between a light socket shell and a mounting base. The mounting base is assembled from electrically dissimilar base portions. An electrically-nonconductive base portion provides support for power conductors and means for connecting the circuit to the conductors. An electrically-conductive base portion, which fits to the nonconductive base portion, provides electrical conductivity between a touch-control signal input to the touch-control circuit and an electrically-conductive member that is touched to control the illumination of an electric light bulb in the socket shell. The assembled base portions are mountable to a lamp base on which the electrically-conductive member is disposed so that it can be touched by a user of the lamp to control the illumination delivered by the bulb.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Roorda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:54
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B39/00; H05B39/04; H05B39/08; H05B39/083; H05B39/085; F; F21; F21V; F21V23/00; F21V23/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A touch-responsive electric light socket assembly, comprising: an electrically-nonconductive, elongate, substantially tubular housing having two opposing open ends; a socket shell means held in said housing adjacent a first one of said open ends for receiving the threaded end of an electric light bulb; a touch-responsive circuit module disposed in said housing between said open ends and connected to said socket shell means for delivering electrical power to said socket shell in response to a power-control signal produced by a touch-control signal source; a base member for fitting to said second housing end to support said housing on a lamp base; first base means forming a first part of said base member for providing an electrically-conductive touch-control signal pathway to said touch-responsive circuit from a touch-control signal source; and second base means forming a second part of said base for supporting an electrical power cable in conducting contact with said touch-responsive circuit and for electrically isolating said power cable from said electrically-conductive touch-control signal pathway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A touch-responsive electric light socket assembly, comprising: an electrically-nonconductive, elongate, substantially tubular housing having two opposing open ends; a socket shell means held in said housing adjacent a first one of said open ends for receiving the threaded end of an electric light bulb; a touch-responsive circuit module disposed in said housing between said open ends and connected to said socket shell means for delivering electrical power to said socket shell in response to a power-control signal produced by a touch-control signal source; a base member for fitting to said second housing end to support said housing on a lamp base; first base means forming a first part of said base member for providing an electrically-conductive touch-control signal pathway to said touch-responsive circuit from a touch-control signal source; and second base means forming a second part of said base for supporting an electrical power cable in conducting contact with said touch-responsive circuit and for electrically isolating said power cable from said electrically-conductive touch-control signal pathway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 1 further including firt securing means for anchoring said touch-responsive circuit module to said base member and second securing means for anchoring said touch-responsive circuit module to said socket shell means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 1 wherein said first means is formed from an electrically-conductive material and includes a chamber portion for receiving an electrically-conductive attachment device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 1 wherein said second base means is formed from an electrically insulating material and includes a pair of oppositely-directed grooves, each for receiving a respective one of a pair of power conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 3 wherein said second base means is formed from an electrically insulating material and includes a pair of oppositely-directed grooves, each for receiving a respective one of a pair of power conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 1 wherein said first base means includes a first chamber portion, a first flange for fitting to a shaped cavity, and a first shaped cavity for receiving another flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 6 wherein said second base means includes a second chamber portion that forms, with said first chamber portion, a chamber for enclosing a nut threaded to a socket support assembly, a second flange for fitting into said first shaped cavity, and a second shaped cavity for receiving said first flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 2 wherein said second securing means includes a heat sink assembly for dissipating heat generated on said touch-responsive circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 2 wherein said second base means is formed from an electrically insulating material and includes a pair of oppositely-directed grooves, each for receiving a respective one of a pair of power conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The touch-responsive circuit of claim 9 wherein said first securing means includes a pair of pins, each attached to said touch-responsive circuit module, and, when said module is fitted to said base member, extending into a respective one of said grooves for penetrating the jacket of a respective power conductor contained in said respective groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
A touch-responsive electric light socket, comprising: a socket assembly for receiving the threaded end of an electric light bulb; an elongate touch-responsive circuit board module connected to said socket assembly for delivering power to said socket assembly in response to a touch-control input signal; a base module attached to said touch-responsive circuit board module for supporting said socket on a lamp base; first base means forming a first part of said base member for providing a touch-control input connection between said touch-responsive circuit board module and a touch-control signal source on a lamp to which said socket is mounted; second base means forming a second part of said base for supporting an electrical power cable in conducting contact with said touch-responsive circuit module and for electrically isolating said power cable and said electrically-conductive touch-control signal pathway; and a tubular housing for slidably fitting over and enclosing said socket assembly, touch-responsive circuit board module, and base member and having engagement means for releasably attaching to said base member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
A touch-responsive electric light socket, comprising: a socket assembly for receiving the threaded end of an electric light bulb; an elongate touch-responsive circuit board module connected to said socket assembly for delivering power to said socket assembly in response to a touch-control input signal; a base module attached to said touch-responsive circuit board module for supporting said socket on a lamp base; first base means forming a first part of said base member for providing a touch-control input connection between said touch-responsive circuit board module and a touch-control signal source on a lamp to which said socket is mounted; second base means forming a second part of said base for supporting an electrical power cable in conducting contact with said touch-responsive circuit module and for electrically isolating said power cable and said electrically-conductive touch-control signal pathway; and a tubular housing for slidably fitting over and enclosing said socket assembly, touch-responsive circuit board module, and base member and having engagement means for releasably attaching to said base member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 11 further including first securing means for anchoring said touch-responsive circuit board module to said base member and second securing means for anchoring said touch-responsive circuit to said socket assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 11 wherein said first base means is formed from an electrically-conductive material and includes a chamber portion for receiving an electrically-conductive attachment device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 11 wherein said second base means is formed from an electrically insulating material and includes a pair of oppositely-directed grooves, each for receiving a respective one of a pair of power conductors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 13 wherein said second base means is formed from an electrically insulating material and includes a pair of oppositely-directed grooves, each for receiving a respective one of a pair of power conductors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 11 wherein said first base means includes a first chamber portion, a first flange for fitting to a shaped cavity, and a first shaped cavity for receiving another flange.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 16 wherein said second means includes a second chamber portion that forms, with said first chamber portion, a chamber for engaging a nut threaded to a socket support assembly, a second flange for fitting into said first shaped cavity, and a second shaped cavity for receiving said first flange.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 12 wherein said second securing means includes a heat sink assembly for dissipating heat generated by circuit components mounted on said touch-responsive circuit board module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The touch-responsive socket of claim 12 wherein said second base means is formed from an electrically insulating material and includes a pair of oppositely-directed grooves, each for receiving a respective one of a pair of power conductors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The touch-responsive circuit of claim 19 wherein said first securing means includes a pair of pins, each attached to said touch-responsive circuit module, and, when said module is fitted to said base member, extending into a respective one of said grooves for penetrating the jacket of a respective power conductor contained in said respective groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3147928A
Cited
US3715623A
Cited
US4101805A
Cited
US4163923A
Cited
US4163923B1
Cited
US4211959A
Cited
US4556824A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-22 | 1990-03-24 | 1990-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-22 | 1994-03-24 | 1994-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-22 | 1998-03-24 | 1998-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |