Eaton Corporation

Ronald E Zepnick

Michael J Fajner

Jack E Jones

A push-push lamp socket having a socket member (2) into which a conventional lamp bulb (28) can be mounted by a first axial push and released by a second axial push for removal. In a first version, a cylindrical socket member (2) has four entry recesses (W,N,E,S) or grooves for receiving the radial lugs (24,26) of a conventional lamp bulb in either of two ninety degree orientations (W,E or N,S) and a horizontal groove (4) having slopes (16, 38) leading to pockets (30,40) on its inward and outward sides for latching the bulb lugs (24,26) in response to a first push and disengagement. Additional slopes (42,46) and pocket (44) control the lugs on a second push and disengagement to rotate the bulb lugs into the recesses (N,S) for release from the socket. A second version of lamp socket (50) has a pair of slots (76,78) in its sides, each having a sloping edge (82) and a resilient snap finger (84) providing tactile and audible signals when the bulb (28) follows cam edges or slopes (96 and 100 or 98 and 102) as it is pushed in, and an outwardly sloping track (88) on the finger (84) for guiding the lug (24) under the force of a connector spring (72) into a latch pocket (92). On the second push, an inwardly sloping surface (94) on the finger (84) returns the lug (24) for release of the bulb from the socket. A polarized modification has bulb lugs (112,114) and socket slots (76,120) at different levels for two-filament lamp bulbs.

Growing community of inventors

Greenfield, WI, United States of America

Ronald E Zepnick