Lighting Services, Inc.

Christopher S Fone

Jeremy Brotchner

Kenneth M Kan

A multi-purpose plug-in lamp socket for selectively mounting and electrically connecting lamps of different types, such as PAR36 and AR111 lamps. These lamps, which are extensively used in low voltage commercial and theatrical lighting, are similar in size but have entirely different configurations of contact elements. Typically, they are mounted by seating peripheral flanges of the lamps and separately electrically connecting the contact elements using slide-on contacts and/or spade lugs or the like secured by screws. The disclosure relates to a simple, unitary lamp socket which accommodates plug-in reception and removal of either of the above mentioned styles of lamp, simultaneously mounting and electrically connecting the lamps for use. Strip-like contact elements, mounted at the back of the lamp bodies, are gripped by contact clips mounted in a socket body. The clips are formed with upper and lower pairs of protuberant retention elements which engage and position the contact strips such that, upon insertion of either type of lamp, the lamp is simultaneously physically held in position and electrically connected, notwithstanding major differences in the contact configuration of the different lamps.

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Florida, NY, United States of America

Christopher S Fone