US1925966A - Socket fastening - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 5, 1933. H N 1,925,966

SOCKET FASTENING Filed July 6. 1929 u 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARVID H.NERO

' J 72119 azi'arn 35 Wham P 1933! A. H. NERO 1,925,966

SOCKET FASTENING Filed July 6, 1929 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR ARVID H. NERO Mm Mum Patented Sept. 5, 1933 srATEs PATENT OFFICE.

sooner FASTENING Application July 6, 1929. Serial No. 376,4 1

Claims. (01.173-362) This invention has to do with the fastening together of a molded cap and shell forming a husk or casing for a lamp socket or other electrical fitting. The fastening is so designed that 5 it holds the cap and shell against relative movement endwise and rotary and consists principally of parts molded integral with the cap and the shell.- An improved lock for keeping the cap and shell in fastened relation is also a part of the invention,

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings:

Figure 1 is view, in elevation for the most part but in vertical section throughout one side and with the connecting ring wholly in section, showi1ing a cap and shell embodying this invention,

the two being separated.

Figure 2 is a plan View looking into a cap made according to this invention, the cap being shown as it appears when separated from the shell.

Figure 3 is a view looking into the same cap and showing it as it is when fastened on the shell, the view being from a plane below the fastening means at the margin of the shell or at the line 3--3 of Figure 1. The shell appears in section.

Figure sis a top plan View of the same cap with a part'of the connecting ring cut away to show the locking device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the adjacent marginal parts of the cap and shell as they are when in position to be set together for fastening, the section being on a radial plane through a cap lug and a registering between-lugs space of the shell.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cap and shell positioned as in Figure 5, the section being through a between-lugs space on the cap and through a lug on the shell, the section plane being radial and spaced one lug width from that of Figure 5.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary sectional View of the adjacent marginal parts of the cap and shell shown in Figure 5 as they are when set together and after the connecting ring has been turned, the section being on a radial plane (line '77 Figure 3) through the parts which serve to prevent relative rotation.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Fig. '7 but with the section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3, the section being through the parts that prevent endwise separation.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a shell made according to this invention.

The cap 10 and the shell 11 are molded to the desired shape and, in the molding, the parts which form the fastening means are also produced, being integral with the body of the cap or of the shell. It is known that while the common use of such cap andshell combinations is with lamp sockets, the same inventive ideas may be used with other electrical fittings for which a casing is needed, the shape of the casing being no part of the invention. It is to be understood therefore that the words cap and shell as used here include any two casing sections which are to be fastened together against endwise separation and against relative rotation.

In the upper margin of the shell 11 there is a series of equally spaced recesses 12 and between every two recesses there is a radial lug 13 having its top surface flush with the margin of the shell and its under surface flat in a plane parallel with the said margin. The upper, outer edge 14 of each lug isbeveled and the end faces 15 are sloped at an angle to the axis of the shell and merge into the side face 16. The outer surface of the-shell rirn between the radial lugs is also sloped (as at 17, see Figure 9). When the shell is used on a socket having a key, chain or push through switch actuator, a suitable opening 18 (or two openings if for a push-through lever) is provided.

The cap 10 has a series of endwise extending projections or prongs 19 offset outwardly from the periphery of the cap. These prongs extend above the cap margin forming the radial offsets 19:12 the upper surfaces of which form a ledge in a plane parallel to that of the margin of the cap. The number of these prongs is equal to that of the radial lugs on the shell but the circumferential extent or length of each prong is less than that-of the space between every two shell lugs. There is also a series of lugs 21, the inner surfaces of which are continuous with the inner surface of the cap so that these lugs are, in fact, marginal lugs. These marginal lugs 21 are shaped to fit the marginal recesses of the shell and are equal in number to said recesses. To facilitate the molding of the cap, these marginal lugs 21 are formed. integral with the cap behind the prong 19 and it is to conform to this arrangement of the cap parts that the marginal recesses 12 of the shell are made between the radial lugs 13 of the shell. It is not necessary however that the number of marginal lugs 21 and recesses 12 be equal to the number of offset prongs 19 and radial lugs 13 since their function is independent. The inner faces of the prongs 19 are beveled (as at 22) and the bevel is continued to the base of the lugs 21. To save material the end faces of the gin, the ring has a series of inturned flanges 27 equal in number to the prongs 19 and adapted.

to lie under and in close engagement with the ends of these prongs, or when turned with respect to the cap, to lie in the spaces between the prongs. In the latter position, the ring may be separated from the cap. The assembly of the ring and the cap is accomplished by bringing the flanges into that positionand then turn-' ing the ring until the flanges underlie the prongs,

When the ring and the cap are thus assembled, the cap and shell may be fastened together. They are brought together with the marginal lugs 21 resting in the recesses '12 of the shell margin and with the prongs 19 lying between the radial shell lugs 13. By reason of the beveled edges and thesloping surfaces of the shell lugs and the beveled faces 17 between the shelllugs, the'uniting of the cap and shell is facilitated since the prongs 19 of the cap and the lugs 21 are guided into position. The cap prongs 19 being of such length that their end surfaces lie in the plane of the under surfaces of the shell lugs 13, the ring may be turned until the flanges 27 underlie the shell lugs instead of the cap prongs. In this relation, the cap and shell are inseparable and'are incapable of relative rotation. The former is effected by reason of the fact that the upper and lower flanges on the ring engage the oppositely faced prongs and lugs of the cap and shell while the latter function isrelegated solely to the interlocking of the marginal lugs 21 and recesses 12.

It isdesirable to lock the parts in the relation just described. One of the radial offsets 19a: of the cap (see Figure 1) is partly cut away from its upper surface and from one end surface (as at 24) and a recess'28 is formed in it extending down into the prong 19 integral with this lug. A piece of thin spring metal 29, in the shape of the letter F, having a long offset leg 30 and a shorter offset leg 31 spaced slightly therefrom, is placed under the ring with its long leg extending below the ring and its short leg resting in the recess 28 in the radial offsets. The main part of this spring piece lies on the top of the cut-away lug and extends beyond it along the ring with its end in engagement with the ring. The curvature of the ring causesthis tail end 32 to be pressed in with the result that the down leg 30 presses outwardly against the ring, as it tends to straighten.

When the ring and the cap are assembled (Figure 2) and are ready to be joined to the shell, the down leg 30 of the spring lock is held inward by the inner edge of the flange 2'7 which then underlies the cut-awayradial offsets. When, however, the cap and shell are assembled and the ring is turned counterclockwise (as viewed in Figures 2 and 3) the flange 2'7 rides off the down leg and lets it snap outwardly into a position obstructing reverse movement of the ring.- Further movement of the ring in the same direction is prevented by the engagement of the small part '35, struck in from the annular flange of the ring, with the corner of a cap prong 19. This struck-in part is on theupper flange 26 of the ring above and slightly to the side of one end of one ofthe lower flanges 27. Hence before the cap is put on the shell (Figure 2) the struck-in part will lie against the corner of a cap prong, (for instance 19 and when the ring is turned to put the flanges 2'7 beneath the shell lugs the part 35 moves across the space between prongs 19 until it engages the next prong (e. g. 19 It thus limits the extent of turning of the ring and limits the turning to one direction.

' Although the words lugs prongs and projections have been used to describe generally the irregularities in the contour of the cap and shel1,'these different terms have been used in a general way to avoid confusion, and not with intent to limit the invention through imparting shades of meaning as might be implied from the use of difierent terms.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap and shell sections having cooperating marginal lugs and recesses for holding them from relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on one section, a series of prongs on the other section forming an annular ledge and adapted to lie between said radial lugs but out of contact therewith, and a ring having a flange at one rim resting on said radial ledge and a series of flanges at'its other rim adapted to alternately engage the ends of said prongs or said radial lugs, for the purpose described.

2. A casing for an electrical fitting comprising molded cap and shell sections, a series of recesses in the margin of one section and a corresponding series of lugs on the margin of the other portion adapted to rest in and engage the side walls of said recesses, in combination with a series of radial lugs on one of said sections, a like series of off-set prongs on the other seetion'adapted to lie between but clear of said radial lugs, and a ring member, rotatably mounted on the other section, having a series of flanges adapted to be turned to engage, the ends of said prongs or to engage said radial lugs to hold said sections from endwise separation.

3. A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap and shell sections having co-operating marginal lugs and recesses for holding them from relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on one section, a series of prongs on the other section forming an annular ledge and adapted to lie between said radial lugs but out of contact therewith, said radial lugs having sloping surfaces to facilitate the uniting of said sections by guiding said prongs, and a ring adapted to engage said radial lugs and prongs to hold said cap and shell from separation.

4.'A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap and shell sections having co-operating marginal lugs and recesses for holding them from relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on one section, a series of prongs on the other section forming an annular ledge and adapted to lie between said radial lugs but out of contact therewith, said radial lugs having beveled edges to facilitate the uniting of said sections by guiding said prongs,and a ring adapted to engage said radial lugs and prongs to hold said cap and shell from separation.

5. A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap' and shell sections having co -operating marginal lugs and recesses for holding them from relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on fat said recess, said piece having a portion extending below said ring and a portion extending along said ring and into engagement therewith whereby said portion extending below the ring is resiliently urged outwardly for the purpose described.

ARVID H. NERO.

(,IERTIFEGATE or ooRREcTioN.

Patent No. 1325,9136. September 5, i933.

ARVID H. NERO.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed speciiioanos of the above numbered patent requiring eorrection as follows: Page 1, line 160, for "prong" read "prongs"; page 2, line 195, claim 1, strike out the worrl "rarlial"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections the-rein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent (liiiee.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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