Filament shock mounting for lamps

Abstract

.Iadd.A lamp assembly particularly suited for vehicle mounting and adapted to be subjected to vibratory shock loads including a rigid reflector and a relatively flexible bulb suspension structure supported on the reflector having a receptacle or basket formation for receiving a bulb. The suspension structure includes a pair of elastically deformable flexible arms extending laterally oppositely from the receptacle formation along horizontal serpentine paths having portions forming U-curves about vertical axes to accommodate horizontal flexing and are pivotally mounted at their outer ends on the reflector..Iaddend.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. A lamp adapted to be subjected to .[.the .]. vibratory shock loads comprising, a relatively rigid reflector, relatively flexible suspension means having a receptacle portion, a bulb supported by said receptacle portion in a predetermined orientation relative to said reflector, .Iadd.said suspension means including a pair of elastically deformable elongated flexible arms disposed horizontally in the use position of the lamp each extending laterally from the receptacle portion as a sinuous strip curving along like horizontally reverse curve paths throughout the arm's vertical height defining substantially U-curves about vertical axes of curvature for accommodating flexing in horizontal directions, .Iaddend.and means pivotally mounting said suspension means between parallel spaced supporting axes fixed relative to the reflector for limited elastic displacement of the receptacle portion in a direction perpendicular to said supporting axes. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said .[.suspension means includes a.]. pair of flexible arms .Iadd.are .Iaddend.tangentially secured to the receptacle portion for accommodating angular and linear displacement of the receptacle portion between said supporting axes, said arms having end tab portions pivotally connected to said pivotal mounting means. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said receptacle portion includes an annular wall to which the flexible arms are connected, a bottom wall connected to the annular wall to form a chamber receiving the bulb, and positioning ribs projecting radially inwardly from the annular wall for holding the bulb in said predetermined orientation. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said bulb includes an unbased portion received within the receptacle portion and potting material securing the unbased portion to the receptacle portion. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said annular wall of the receptacle portion is provided with external grooves for receiving filament leads extending from the bulb, electrical contacts fixedly mounted by the reflector in spaced relation to the suspension means, and flexible connectors electrically connecting said contacts to the filament leads within the grooves. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacle portion includes an annular wall, a bottom wall connected to the annular wall to form a chamber receiving the bulb, and positioning ribs projecting radially inwardly from the annular wall for holding the bulb in said predetermined orientation. 
     
     
       7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said annular wall of the receptacle portion is provided with external grooves for receiving filament leads extending from the bulb, electrical contacts fixedly mounted by the reflector in spaced relation to the suspension means, and flexible connectors electrically connecting said contacts to the filament leads within the grooves. 
     
     
       8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bulb includes an unbased portion received within the receptacle portion, and potting material securing the unbased portion to the receptacle portion. 
     
     
       9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said .[.suspension means includes a.]. pair of flexible arms .Iadd.are .Iaddend.tangentially secured to the receptacle portion for accommodating angular and linear displacement of the receptacle portion between said supporting axes, said arms having end tab portions pivotally connected to said pivotal mounting means. 
     
     
       10. In a lamp having a reflector and a pair of mounting pillars projecting therefrom, a suspension device for mounting a bulb in spaced relation to the reflector comprising, a receptacle portion receiving said bulb in a predetermined orientation relative to the reflector, a pair of flexible arms tangentially connected to the receptacle portion .Iadd.each extending horizontally in the use position of the lamp as a sinuous strip curving about vertical axes of curvature along like horizontal reverse curve paths throughout the vertical height of each such arm .Iaddend.for accommodating linear displacement thereof in all directions parallel to a horizontal plane, said arms having end portions pivotally connected to the pillars about parallel spaced axes for accommodating displacement of the receptacle portion in a direction perpendicular to said horizontal plane, whereby vibration is dampened in all directions to prevent shock loading of the filament within the bulb. 
     
     
       11. The combination of claim 12 wherein said bulb includes an unbased portion received within the receptacle portion and potting material securing the unbased portion to the receptacle portion. .Iadd. 12. The combination of claim 1, wherein said flexible arms are of a strip shape of generally rectangular transverse cross-section having greater vertical than horizontal dimension of a material to be flexibly deformed vertically and thereby also accommodate vertical displacement of the receptacle portion in the portions of said arms between said receptacle portion and said pillars. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said suspension means is a one-piece member of elastically deformable flexible material, said flexible arms being horizontally thin strap like arms of substantially uniform vertical height and of greater vertical than horizontal transverse dimension extending along said reverse curve paths forming laterally facing strip surface curving cylindrically about vertical axes of curvature. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14. The combination of claim 12, wherein said suspension device is a one-piece member of elastically deformable flexible material, said flexible arms being horizontally thin strap like arms of substantially uniform vertical height and of greater vertical than horizontal transverse dimension extending along said horizontal reverse curve paths forming laterally facing strip surfaces curving cylindrically about vertical axes of curvature. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. In a lamp having a reflector and a pair of mounting pillars projecting therefrom forming parallel spaced supporting axes lying in a common horizontal plane in the use position of the lamp, a suspension device for mounting a bulb in spaced relation to the reflector comprising, a receptacle portion receiving said bulb in a predetermined orientation relative to the reflector, a pair of elongated flexible arms tangentially connected to the receptacle portion and extending to said pillars along longitudinal medial planes which include said support axes for accommodating linear displacement thereof in all directions parallel to a horizontal plane, each of said arms extending laterally from the receptacle portion as a continuous strip curving along like uniplanar reverse curve paths at all section planes through the arm paralleling the medial plane forming substantially U-curved shock absorbing bends about vertical axes of curvature and having end portions pivotally connected to the pillars about parallel spaced axes for accommodating displacement of the receptacle portion in a direction perpendicular to said horizontal plane, whereby vibration is dampened in all directions to prevent shock loading of the filament within the bulb. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The combination of claim 15, wherein said flexible arms are of a strip shape of generally rectangular transverse cross-section having greater vertical than horizontal dimension of a material to be flexibly deformed vertically and thereby also accommodate vertical displacement of the receptacle portion in the portions of said arms between said receptacle portion and said pillars. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. The combination of claim 16, wherein said suspension device is a one-piece member of elastically deformable flexible material, said flexible arms being horizontally thin strap like arms extending along said reverse curve paths forming laterally facing curving cylindrically strip surfaces about vertical axes of curvature. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. The combination of claim 15, wherein said suspension device is a one-piece member of elastically deformable flexible material, said flexible arms being horizontally thin strap like arms of substantially uniform vertical height and of greater vertical than horizontal transverse dimension extending along said reverse curve paths forming laterally facing strip surface curving cylindrically about vertical axes of curvature. .Iaddend.