Magnetek, Inc.

Mark R Opperthauser

Stuart E Sanders

Raymond H Van Wagener

Fred P Bauer

John L Cox

David S Stratton

Theodore Miller, Jr

Methods of manufacturing ballasts and starter assemblies used in gas discharge lamps are disclosed. One embodiment of a starter assembly includes a one-piece plastic enclosure for a glow bulb which is used as a starter for a fluorescent lamp. The enclosure has a latching hinged lid, a partition wall to isolate the glow bulb leads, and integral strain relief. The glow bulb enclosure is preferably mounted inside a ballast assembly and the glow bulb leads are preferably ultrasonically welded to the ballast power supply wires. Methods of reducing manufacturing expenses by physically separating the glow bulb from other ballast components are also disclosed.

Methods of manufacturing ballasts and starter assemblies used in gas

An one-piece plastic protective enclosure is provided for a glow bulb used as a starter for a fluorescent lamp. The enclosure has a latching hinged lid, a partition wall to isolate the glow bulb leads, and integral strain relief. The glow bulb enclosure is mounted inside a ballast assembly and the glow bulb leads are ultrasonically welded to the ballast power supply wires.

Enclosure for glow bulb starter used with gas discharge lamps

One half-connector terminates leads in the ballast, carrying electricity to and from the ballast coils. Another half-connector terminates leads outside the ballast, connected e. g. to carry power to lamp sockets. A hook extended from a first of the half-connectors engages a catch formed in a second. A retaining surface, preferably associated with the second half-connector, keeps the hook engaged with the catch. Preferably the space between the retaining surface and the catch is smaller than the unstressed dimension of the hook barb--but during the act of engagement the barb deforms to pass between the catch and surface; then the barb springs back into shape and is held behind the catch. In this process also preferably the retaining surface cooperates with the first half-connector to support the shaft or beam of the hook at both ends--as in a classical double-ended beam spring structure, contrasted with a cantilevered spring in a conventional hook and catch. A ramp guides the hook between the catch and surface even if the hook has been warped before assembly, at least in commonly occurring modes of warping.

Electrical connector with improved safety latching for a

One half-connector terminates a set of leads in the ballast, for carrying electrical power to and from the ballast coils. Another half-connector terminates another set of leads outside the ballast, connected e.g. to carry power to lamp sockets. Male contacts, preferably formed very inexpensively as bared ends of one set of leads, are held in a first of the half-connectors; female contacts, connected to the other set of leads, are held in a second of the two half-connectors. Through-holes in the second half-connector each hold one female contact; each hole has a necked-down section, forward from the contact, and some device (preferably an ultrasonically displaced slug) to retain the contact. In one aspect of the invention, each hole also has a bore whose transverse preformed dimension is biggest immediately rearward from the necked-down forward section. In a second aspect of the invention, each necked-down section has a large-mouthed funnel to guide even a badly bent male contact into the female contact, accommodating weak tips of the bared wire ends. The first aspect of the invention enables low-cost use of the second.

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Brandon, MS, United States of America

Mark R Opperthauser