Lamp Assembly with Snap-In Capsule Clip

Abstract

A lamp ( 10 ) has a light source ( 12 ) comprising a press seal ( 17 ). A lamp envelope ( 18 ) receives the light source ( 12 ), the envelope ( 18 ) having a base ( 22 ). A clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ) is formed in the base ( 22 ), and a clip locator surface ( 26, 52, 54 ) is formed in the base ( 22 ) adjacent the clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ). A clip ( 28 ) is positioned in the clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ) to receive the press seal ( 17 ). The clip ( 28 ) has a first retainer ( 32 ) and a second retainer ( 33 ), the first retainer ( 32 ) engages the clip locator surface ( 26, 52, 54 ), whereby the clip ( 28 ) is located within the clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ). The second retainer ( 33 ) secures the clip ( 28 ) to the base ( 22 ), and a third retainer ( 34 ) secures the press seal ( 17 ) of the light source ( 12 ) within the clip ( 28 ).

1 . A clip ( 28 ) for assembly into a clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ) formed in a receiving body ( 18 ), said clip ( 28 ) comprising:
 wall surfaces defining a central aperture ( 29 ) and a longitudinal axis ( 20 );   at least one first retainer ( 32 ,  30 ) extending away from said longitudinal axis ( 20 );
 at least one resilient second retainer ( 33 ,  35 ) formed on an outwardly facing surface of said clip for resiliently securing said clip ( 28 ) within said clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ); and 
 at least one third retainer ( 34 ) formed adjacent said central aperture for securing a second body within said clip ( 28 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The clip ( 28 ) of  claim 1  wherein said clip further comprises two ends ( 40 ,  50 ) and two sides ( 60   70 ) defining said central aperture ( 29 ); and at least one locator tongue ( 30 ) disposed on one of said sides. 
     
     
         3 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said first retainer ( 32 ) comprises two first retainers ( 32 ,  32 ) oppositely disposed on respective said two ends ( 40 ,  50 );
 said second retainer ( 33 ) comprises two second retainers ( 33 ,  33 ) oppositely disposed on respective said two sides ( 60 ,  70 ), said first and second retainers ( 32 ,  33 ) being formed on outwardly facing surfaces of said clip ( 28 ) for securing said clip ( 28 ) within said clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ); and 
 said third retainer ( 34 ) comprises two third retainers ( 34 ,  34 ) formed on said inwardly facing surface of said clip for securing said second body within said clip ( 28 ). 
 
     
     
         4 . The clip ( 28 ) of  claim 2  wherein there are two locator tongues ( 30 ) that are oppositely disposed from said sides ( 60 ,  70 ). 
     
     
         5 . The clip ( 28 ) of  claim 1  wherein said first retainer ( 32 ) comprises a clip top surface ( 72 ) and a depending leg ( 74 ). 
     
     
         6 . The clip ( 28 ) of  claim 1  wherein said receiving body ( 18 ) is a lamp envelope arrayed about a longitudinal axis ( 20 ) and comprising a base ( 22 ) orthogonal to said longitudinal axis ( 20 ) and having said clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ) formed in said base ( 22 ) for receiving said clip ( 28 ). 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a lamp ( 10 ) comprising the steps of;
 forming an envelope ( 18 ) with an envelope base ( 22 ) and a clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ) extending from a rear side of the envelope base ( 22 ) to a front side of the envelope base ( 22 ), said envelope defining a reflector portion ( 95 ) on said front side;   forming two pair of opposing clip-locating surfaces ( 26 ,  52 ,  54 ) in said envelope base ( 22 ) directed toward said front side and disposed adjacent to walls ( 36 ,  38 ,  42 ,  44 ) bounding said clip-receiving aperture ( 24 );   forming a clip ( 28 ) to be received in said clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ) and providing a light source passage ( 29 ) within said clip and further providing at least two pair of opposing retainers ( 32 ,  30 ) extending from said clip shaped to engage said pairs of opposing clip-locating surfaces ( 26 ,  52 ,  54 );   inserting a light source ( 12 ) through the light source passage ( 29 );   latching the inserted light source ( 12 ) to said clip ( 28 );   inserting the clip ( 28 ) through the clip-receiving aperture ( 24 );   engaging said pairs of opposing clip retainers ( 32 ,  30 ) to said clip-locating surfaces to thereby limit rotational motion of said clip ( 28 ) within said clip-receiving aperture ( 24 ); and   latching the inserted clip ( 24 ) to the envelope ( 18 ) to retain the light source ( 12 ) in position with respect to the envelope ( 18 ).   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the clip ( 28 ) is latched to the envelope ( 18 ) before the light source ( 12 ) is retained to the clip ( 28 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein light source ( 12 ) is latched to the clip ( 28 ) before the clip ( 28 ) is latched to the envelope ( 18 ). 
     
     
         10 . A lamp ( 10 ), comprising:
 a light source ( 12 ) having a distal portion ( 14 ) and a proximal portion ( 16 ), said proximal portion ( 16 ) comprising a press seal ( 17 ), said light source ( 12 ) comprising a light-generating element ( 100 ) disposed between said proximal portion ( 16 ) and said distal portion ( 14 );   a lamp envelope ( 18 ) formed to receive said light source ( 12 ), said envelope ( 18 ) being arrayed about a longitudinal axis ( 20 ), said envelope defining a reflector portion ( 95 ) and having a base ( 22 ) generally orthogonal to said longitudinal axis ( 20 ), said reflector portion ( 95 ) intersecting said base ( 22 );   said base ( 22 ) defining an upwardly facing floor surface ( 93 ) and an aperture ( 24 ) defined in said floor ( 93 ) to receive said press seal ( 17 );   
       said light source ( 12 ) further comprising first and second electrodes ( 92 ,  94 ) in electrical communication with said light-generating element ( 100 ), said electrodes ( 92 ,  94 ) extending through said press seal ( 17 ); and 
       said press seal ( 17 ) being received in said aperture ( 24 ) whereby a location at which said electrodes ( 92 ,  94 ) exit said press seal ( 17 ) is disposed below said floor surface ( 93 ). 
     
     
         11 . The lamp ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein said light source ( 12 ) comprises a capsule ( 98 ) in which said light-generating element ( 100 ) is disposed, said press seal ( 17 ) forming a shoulder ( 96 ) adjoining a proximal portion of said capsule ( 98 ), said shoulder ( 96 ) being closely adjacent said floor surface ( 93 ). 
     
     
         12 . The lamp ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , further comprising a retainer clip ( 28 ), said clip ( 28 ) positioned within said aperture ( 24 ) secured to said base ( 22 ) and in engagement with said press seal ( 17 ). 
     
     
         13 . The lamp ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein said envelope ( 18 ) is devoid of a neck region defining an internal void facing said light-generating element ( 100 ) of said light source ( 12 ). 
     
     
         14 . The lamp ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein
 said light source ( 12 ) comprises a capsule ( 98 ) in which said light-generating element ( 100 ) is disposed; and   said reflector portion ( 95 ) has a region of direct transition to said floor surface ( 93 ), said region of transition being devoid of a depending wall portion extending parallel to said longitudinal axis ( 20 ) defining an internal void facing said capsule ( 98 ) of said light source ( 12 ).   
     
     
         15 . The lamp ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein a major portion of said press seal ( 17 ) extending in a direction along said longitudinal axis ( 20 ) is disposed below said floor surface ( 93 ). 
     
     
         16 . The lamp ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein said reflector portion ( 95 ) defines a parabolic reflector surface. 
     
     
         17 . The lamp ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein said press seal ( 17 ) is secured in said aperture ( 24 ) whereby said light-generating element ( 100 ) is positioned above said floor surface ( 93 ).