socket

Abstract

The aim is to create a smaller socket while also providing a socket that makes it easy to attach and detach the lamp device. [Solution] A socket 20 into which a lamp device 30 equipped with electrode pins 300 is mounted, comprising: a socket body 201 having an insertion hole 202a into which the electrode pins 300 are inserted and a through hole 202 having a narrow hole 202b; a conductive member 204 disposed on the back side of the socket body 201 and electrically connected by contact with the electrode pins 300; and an insulating auxiliary member 210 attached to the conductive member 204, wherein the conductive member 204 is positioned on the central side of the socket body 201 relative to the through hole 202, and one end in the longitudinal direction is fixed while the other end is movably positioned.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a socket.

Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, a lighting device in which a lamp device having a base is attached to a socket is known. As a structure for attaching the lamp device to the socket, for example, electrode pins protruding from the base are inserted into through holes provided in the socket, and the lamp device is rotated so that the electrode pins move within the through holes and the electrode pins are locked to the end portions of the through holes. Thereby, the electrode pins and the conductive members are electrically connected, and the lamp device is connected to the socket (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, the demand for miniaturized lamp devices has been increasing, and in order to apply to such lamp devices, it is necessary to miniaturize the socket. In the socket described in Patent Document 1, since the conductive members (terminals) are arranged along the outside of the through holes on the flange portion, the flange portion cannot be reduced. Further, if the arrangement of the conductive members is changed in order to reduce the flange portion, the shape of the conductive members changes, and there is a risk that it becomes difficult to attach and detach the lamp device to and from the socket.

[0005] The present invention has been devised from such a viewpoint, and an object thereof is to provide a socket that achieves miniaturization of the socket and enables easy attachment and detachment of the lamp device to and from the socket.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The socket of the present invention, which solves the above problems, is a socket to which a lamp device equipped with electrode pins is attached, and comprises a socket body having an insertion hole into which the electrode pins are inserted from the surface side and a through hole having a narrow hole extending from the insertion hole and narrower than the insertion hole, a conductive member disposed on the back side of the socket body and electrically connected by contacting the electrode pins, and an insulating auxiliary member attached to the conductive member, wherein the conductive member is disposed on the central side of the socket body beyond the through hole, and one end in the longitudinal direction is fixed and the other end is movably arranged.

[0007] According to the present invention, by positioning the conductive member towards the center of the socket body relative to the through-hole, the area outside the through-hole in the socket can be narrowed. Furthermore, by positioning the other end of the conductive member to be movable, there is no need to provide a conductive member arrangement section on the other end of the conductive member, and the arrangement area of ​​each member in the socket can be narrowed. As a result, the socket can be made smaller. In addition, because the other end of the conductive member is movable, the conductive member moves more smoothly when attaching or detaching the lamp device to the socket, making it easier to attach and detach the lamp device to the socket.

[0008] Furthermore, the conductive member may have a first curved portion that protrudes toward the narrow hole, and a second curved portion that is provided continuously with the first curved portion and is convex toward the central side of the socket body.

[0009] According to the present invention, having a second curved portion in the conductive member allows the conductive member to move more smoothly when attaching or detaching the lamp device to the socket, making it easier to attach and detach the lamp device to the socket.

[0010] Furthermore, the conductive member may have a first curved portion that protrudes toward the narrow hole, a second curved portion that is continuous with the first curved portion and is convex toward the center of the socket body, and a third curved portion that is continuous with the second curved portion and is concave toward the center of the socket body.

[0011] According to the present invention, having a second curved portion and a third curved portion in the conductive member allows the conductive member to move more smoothly when attaching or detaching the lamp device to the socket, making it easier to attach or detach the lamp device to the socket.

[0012] Furthermore, the device is provided with a terminal cover that covers the through hole, the conductive member, and the auxiliary member, wherein the terminal cover has a projection on its back surface, and the projection is preferably positioned adjacent to the auxiliary member.

[0013] According to the present invention, the projection of the terminal cover is positioned adjacent to the auxiliary member, thereby preventing the auxiliary member from shifting. Furthermore, because the terminal cover has a projection, if the auxiliary member is positioned at a predetermined incorrect angle in a plan view, the projection will come into contact with the upper surface of the auxiliary member, preventing the terminal cover from being fixed to the socket body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the auxiliary member from being positioned at a predetermined incorrect angle.

[0014] Furthermore, the socket body may have an insulating member on the back side of the insertion hole to insulate the electrode pins from the electric wires connected to the socket.

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the electrode pins and wires from coming into contact and conducting electricity when attaching or detaching the lamp device to the socket.

[0016] Furthermore, the device may be provided with a terminal cover that covers the through hole and the conductive member, and the terminal cover may have the auxiliary member on its back surface.

[0017] According to the present invention, the auxiliary member is positioned by attaching the terminal cover to the socket body, making it easier to position the auxiliary member.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the terminal cover has a fixing portion for securing the electric wire connected to the socket.

[0019] According to the present invention, since the terminal cover has a fixing portion for fixing the electric wire, when the lamp device is detached from and attached to the socket, the electric wire does not get in the way, and it becomes easier to detach and attach the lamp device to the socket.

Effect of the Invention

[0020] The socket according to the present invention is miniaturized and it is easy to attach and detach the lamp device to and from the socket.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the lighting device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a plan view of the socket according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged plan view of the vicinity of the through-hole of the socket according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view of the auxiliary member of the socket according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view of the terminal cover of the socket according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6A] It is a plan view showing a state where an electrode pin is attached to the through-hole of the socket according to the first embodiment, and is a view showing an initial stage. [Figure 6B] It is a plan view showing a state where an electrode pin is attached to the through-hole of the socket according to the first embodiment, and is a view showing an intermediate stage. [Figure 6C] It is a plan view showing a state where an electrode pin is attached to the through-hole of the socket according to the first embodiment, and is a view showing a final stage. [Figure 7] It is an enlarged plan view of the vicinity of the through-hole of the socket according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] It is an enlarged plan view of the vicinity of the through-hole of the socket according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] It is an enlarged plan view of the vicinity of the through-hole of the socket according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of the terminal cover of the socket according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing the state when a lamp device is installed in the socket according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a plan view showing the state when a lamp device is attached to a socket according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view of the line XIII-XIII in Figure 12. [Figure 14] This is a magnified view of a portion of Figure 13. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the electric wire and the conductive material. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view of the socket body in the socket according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 17] This is an enlarged plan view of the area near the through-hole of the socket body in the socket according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 18] This is an enlarged plan view of the area near the through-hole of the socket according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 19] This is a perspective view of the terminal cover of the socket according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 20] This is a perspective view of the terminal cover of the socket according to the fifth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the following embodiments are illustrative examples of sockets that embody the technical concept of this embodiment and are not limited thereto. Furthermore, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified. The size and positional relationships of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated or simplified for clarity of explanation. In addition, some elements may be omitted from the illustration to avoid making the drawings excessively complex. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant explanations are omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, some or all of the components in each embodiment can be combined as appropriate. In the following description, "front surface" means the surface opposite to the "back surface".

[0023] [First Embodiment] <Lighting device 1> First, the lighting device to which the socket according to this embodiment is attached will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a fixture body 10, a socket 20, and a lamp device 30. The lighting device 1 is used, for example, in ceiling-recessed lighting such as a downlight.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the fixture body 10 is the component to which the socket 20 is attached. The fixture body 10 has a housing formed therein that accommodates the socket 20 and the lamp device 30. The fixture body 10 is made of, for example, a resin material or a metal material.

[0025] The lamp device 30 comprises a base and a pair of electrode pins 300 that protrude from the base and are positioned symmetrically. Each electrode pin 300 has a small diameter portion 300a that protrudes from the base and a large diameter portion 300b that is positioned at the tip of the small diameter portion 300a and has a larger diameter than the small diameter portion 300a.

[0026] The electrode pin 300 is a pin for supplying power from an external source to power the light-emitting part (not shown) of the lamp device 30 to emit light. The lamp device 30 is fixed to the socket 20 by inserting the larger diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300 into the through hole 202 of the socket 20 (described later) and rotating the lamp device 30 by a predetermined angle.

[0027] <Socket 20> As shown in Figure 2, the socket 20 comprises a socket body 201, a through hole 202, a conductive member 204, a conductive member mounting section 205, an auxiliary member 210, a terminal cover 220, and a cylindrical section 230. The structure of the socket 20 is point-symmetric. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, only one side will be described here.

[0028] The socket body 201 is a plate-shaped member on which each component is arranged on its back surface 201b. The socket body 201 is formed of, for example, an insulating resin material. A circular cylindrical portion 240 is formed in the center of the socket body 201.

[0029] The terminal cover 220 is formed of, for example, an insulating resin material and is designed to cover the through hole 202, the conductive member 204, and the auxiliary member 210, and to house them inside. As shown in Figure 5, the terminal cover 220 has three engaging parts 221 on the outer edge of the back surface 220b that protrude from the back surface 220b side and attach to the socket body 201. The terminal cover 220 also has a projection 222 at a predetermined location on the back surface 220b in the central direction (inward direction). The projection 222 is positioned adjacent to the auxiliary member 210 when the terminal cover 220 is fixed to the socket body 201. Specifically, it is positioned adjacent to the flat plate portion 210a of the auxiliary member 210. Note that "adjacent" includes not only cases where it is positioned in contact with the auxiliary member 210, but also cases where it is positioned facing it with a small gap between them.

[0030] The cylindrical portion 230 is formed on the back surface 201b of the socket body 201 and is a bottomed cylindrical spacer for attaching the socket 20 to the fixture body 10. By providing the cylindrical portion 230, the socket body 201 and the fixture body 10 are fixed with a predetermined distance between them.

[0031] <Through hole 202> As shown in Figure 3, the through-hole 202 is a hole formed in the socket body 201 that penetrates the back surface 201b and the front surface 201a (see Figure 1). The through-hole 202 consists of an insertion hole 202a and a narrow hole 202b. The insertion hole 202a is the part into which the electrode pin 300 is inserted from the front surface 201a side. In plan view, the shape of the insertion hole 202a is approximately circular. The size of the insertion hole 202a is slightly larger than the larger diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300. Therefore, the larger diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300 can be inserted into the insertion hole 202a. Note that "approximately circular" includes not only strictly circular shapes but also cases where the shape is circular in design but manufacturing errors are unavoidable.

[0032] The narrow hole 202b extends in an arc shape, continuous with the insertion hole 202a, and is narrower than the insertion hole 202a. Specifically, the narrow hole 202b is slightly larger in diameter than the smaller diameter portion 300a of the electrode pin 300, and smaller in diameter than the larger diameter portion 300b. When the electrode pin 300 is positioned at the end of the narrow hole 202b, the larger diameter portion 300b is locked in the height and width directions of the narrow hole 202b. In other words, by moving the electrode pin 300 (larger diameter portion 300b) inserted into the insertion hole 202a to the narrow hole 202b, the lamp device 30 (see Figure 1) can be attached to the socket 20.

[0033] <Conductive member 204> As shown in Figure 3, the conductive member 204 is positioned on the back surface 201b side of the socket body 201. The conductive member 204 is a plate-shaped member with elasticity, provided perpendicular to the back surface 201b of the socket body 201. The conductive member 204 conducts electricity by contacting the electrode pins 300 (see Figure 1). The conductive member 204 is not positioned on the outer edge 201c side of the socket body 201 (outside the through hole 202) of the through hole 202, but at least a portion of it is positioned on the central side of the socket body 201 (inside the through hole 202) of the through hole 202. In other words, the conductive member 204 is positioned to contact the electrode pins 300 inside the through hole 202. Furthermore, one end of the conductive member 204 in the longitudinal direction is fixed, and the other end is movable. That is, one end of the conductive member 204 is a fixed end, and the other end is a free end. The conductive member 204 has a first curved portion 204b1 that protrudes toward the narrow hole 202b, and a second curved portion 204b2 that is provided continuously with the first curved portion 204b1 and is convex toward the central side of the socket body 201.

[0034] The conductive member 204 is positioned near the inside of the through hole 202, along the through hole 202. The conductive member 204 consists of a horizontal member 204a and a vertical member 204b. In this case, the horizontal member 204a of the conductive member 204 is fixed, while the end 204c of the vertical member 204b opposite to the horizontal member 204a is not fixed and is movable. That is, one end of the conductive member 204 in the longitudinal direction is fixed on the narrow hole 202b side, and the other end in the longitudinal direction is movable on the insertion hole 202a side.

[0035] The horizontal member 204a is the part that is fixed to the conductive member arrangement section 205. The conductive member 204 is positioned by attaching the horizontal member 204a to the conductive member arrangement section 205. The vertical member 204b is connected perpendicularly to the horizontal member 204a. The vertical member 204b is the part that is located near the inside of the through hole 202 and along the through hole 202. The vertical member 204b is also the part that is located near the cylindrical portion 240 of the socket body 201 and along the cylindrical portion 240. When the lamp device 30 is mounted in the socket 20, the part of the vertical member 204b that contacts the electrode pins 300 is located on the central side of the socket body 201, i.e., on the cylindrical portion 240 side, rather than on the through hole 202. The vertical member 204b has a first curved portion 204b1 and a second curved portion 204b2.

[0036] The first curved portion 204b1 protrudes toward the narrow hole 202b at a position where it overlaps with the narrow hole 202b. The second curved portion 204b2 is provided continuously with the first curved portion 204b1 on the side of the lateral member 204a of the first curved portion 204b1, and is formed in a curved shape so as to be convex toward the central side of the socket body 201, i.e., the cylindrical portion 240. The length and curvature of the first curved portion 204b1 and the second curved portion 204b2 are not particularly specified and can be adjusted as appropriate. The curvature of the second curved portion 204b2 is smaller than the curvature of the first curved portion 204b1.

[0037] <Auxiliary member 210> Next, the auxiliary member 210 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The auxiliary member 210 is a member attached to the conductive member 204. The auxiliary member 210 is formed of, for example, an insulating resin material or a rubber material. As shown in Figure 4, the auxiliary member 210 comprises a flat plate portion 210a and a main body portion 210b provided perpendicular to the flat plate portion 210a.

[0038] The flat plate portion 210a is a plate-shaped part that is larger than the main body portion 210b when viewed from above. Because the auxiliary member 210 has the flat plate portion 210a, the flat plate portion 210a can be easily pressed in from above. This allows the auxiliary member 210 to be easily attached to the conductive member 204. Note that the flat plate portion 210a may be omitted.

[0039] The main body 210b comprises a first main body 210b1, a second main body 210b2, and a third main body 210b3. The first main body 210b1 is provided on the flat plate portion 210a and has a columnar shape. The first main body 210b1 comprises a protruding portion 210c, a first inclined surface 210d, a second inclined surface 210e, and a third inclined surface 210f.

[0040] The protruding portion 210c is a part of the auxiliary member 210 that protrudes in a mountain shape at a position overlapping with the narrow hole 202b. The protruding portion 210c is composed of a first inclined surface 210d and a second inclined surface 210e. The interior angle formed by the first inclined surface 210d and the second inclined surface 210e is acute. Note that the position of the protruding portion 210c overlapping with the narrow hole 202b is not limited to being located inside the narrow hole 202b as in this embodiment. The position of the protruding portion 210c overlapping with the narrow hole 202b also includes, for example, a position that is in contact with the peripheral edge of the narrow hole 202b, or a position that corresponds to the narrow hole 202b without entering the narrow hole 202b.

[0041] The first inclined surface 210d is an inclined surface that slopes from the insertion hole 202a side toward the protruding portion 210c and faces the outer edge 201c of the socket body 201. Under normal circumstances, the first inclined surface 210d is positioned so that a portion of it overlaps with the insertion hole 202a. The first inclined surface 210d is the part that the outer circumferential surface of the larger diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300 contacts when the lamp device 30 is installed. In other words, the formation of the first inclined surface 210d allows the electrode pin 300 to move smoothly to the protruding portion 210c. In this embodiment, the first inclined surface 210d is a flat surface, but it may also be a curved surface.

[0042] The second inclined surface 210e is an inclined surface that slopes from the protruding portion 210c toward the cylindrical portion 240. The second inclined surface 210e, together with the second main body portion 210b2, sandwiches a part of the conductive member 204 that forms the first curved portion 204b1 of the conductive member 204, thereby fixing the conductive member 204. In this embodiment, the second inclined surface 210e is a flat surface, but it may also be a curved surface.

[0043] The third inclined surface 210f is an inclined surface that slopes from one end of the second inclined surface 210e toward the other end of the conductive member 204. The third inclined surface 210f is formed along the conductive member 204 so as to be in contact with the conductive member 204. In this embodiment, the third inclined surface 210f is a flat surface, but it may also be a curved surface.

[0044] The second main body portion 210b2 is a positioning member for the conductive member 204, positioned to match the shape of the conductive member 204. The second main body portion 210b2 is provided on the flat plate portion 210a and has a columnar shape. The second main body portion 210b2 is positioned to engage with the first curved portion 204b1 of the conductive member 204 (i.e., on the cylindrical portion 240 side of the first curved portion 204b1).

[0045] The third main body portion 210b3 is provided on the flat plate portion 210a and has a columnar shape. The third main body portion 210b3 is positioned so that a portion of it overlaps with the narrow hole 202b. The third main body portion 210b3 is positioned at a height that does not come into contact with the upper surface of the large diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300 when the lamp device 30 is installed. Note that the third main body portion 210b3 may be omitted. The arrangement and size of the first main body 210b1, the second main body 210b2, and the third main body 210b3 can be appropriately adjusted to match the size and shape of each component of the socket 20.

[0046] The height of the auxiliary member 210 is set such that, when fitted onto the conductive member 204, the flat plate portion 210a and the back surface 220b of the terminal cover 220 are in contact or facing each other with a small gap between them. This allows the auxiliary member 210 to move due to biasing forces while preventing it from lifting up and detaching from the conductive member 204.

[0047] <Procedure for attaching electrode pins> Next, the movement of the electrode pins 300 when the lamp device is attached to the socket 20 will be explained with reference to Figures 6A to 6C.

[0048] Figure 6A is a plan view showing the electrode pin 300 inserted into the insertion hole 202a of the through hole 202. As shown in Figure 6A, the larger diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300 is inserted into the insertion hole 202a of the through hole 202. After inserting the electrode pin 300, the electrode pin 300 moves toward the narrow hole 202b by rotating the lamp device 30 (see Figure 1) in a predetermined direction. Specifically, the electrode pin 300 moves toward the protruding portion 210c while contacting the first inclined surface 210d of the auxiliary member 210.

[0049] Figure 6B is a plan view showing the electrode pin 300 riding on the first inclined surface 210d. As shown in Figure 6B, the electrode pin 300 moves while in contact with the first inclined surface 210d and overcomes the biasing force of the auxiliary member 210 to overcome the protruding portion 210c. In other words, the larger diameter portion 300b moves while pushing the auxiliary member 210 toward the cylindrical portion 240 (in the direction of the arrow in the drawing) and moves toward the narrower hole 202b of the through hole 202.

[0050] Figure 6C shows the state in which the larger diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300 is locked at the end (terminal) of the narrow hole 202b. After the electrode pin 300 moves to the end of the narrow hole 202b, the pushed-in auxiliary member 210 is pushed back towards the through hole 202 side by the elastic force of the conductive member 204 (in the direction of the arrow in the figure). In this state, the larger diameter portion 300b comes into contact with the conductive member 204, and only at this point do the electrode pin 300 and the conductive member 204 come into contact and become electrically connected. In other words, the electrode pin 300 is electrically connected to the conductive member 204 while locked in the narrow hole 202b.

[0051] To remove the lamp device 30, rotate it with a force greater than the biasing force in the opposite direction to the direction of installation, moving the electrode pin 300 along the narrow hole 202b and detaching it from the insertion hole 202a.

[0052] With the socket 20 according to the embodiment described above, the conductive member 204 is not positioned outside the through hole 202, but at least a portion of it is positioned inside the through hole 202, thereby narrowing the area outside the through hole 202 in the socket 20. Furthermore, since the other end of the conductive member 204 is movable, there is no need to provide a conductive member arrangement portion 205 on the other end of the conductive member 204, thereby narrowing the arrangement area of ​​each member in the socket 20. As a result, the socket 20 can be made smaller.

[0053] Furthermore, because the other end of the conductive member 204 is movably positioned, no reaction force acts on that end when attaching or detaching the lamp device 30 to or from the socket 20. This allows the conductive member 204 to move more smoothly, making it easier to attach and detach the lamp device 30 to or from the socket 20. In addition, because the conductive member 204 has a second curved portion 204b2, the conductive member 204 moves even more smoothly when attaching or detaching the lamp device 30 to or from the socket 20, making it even easier to attach and detach the lamp device 30 to or from the socket 20.

[0054] Furthermore, by positioning the projection 222 of the terminal cover 220 adjacent to the auxiliary member 210, it is possible to prevent the auxiliary member 210 from shifting. In addition, although the auxiliary member 210 is positioned so that its longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction of the conductive member 204 in a plan view, there are cases where the auxiliary member 210 may be positioned at an incorrect angle. In this case, depending on the angle of positioning of the auxiliary member 210, when fixing the terminal cover 220 to the socket body 201, the projection 222 of the terminal cover 220 will come into contact with the upper surface of the flat plate portion 210a of the auxiliary member 210, making it impossible to fix the terminal cover 220 to the socket body 201. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the auxiliary member 210 from being positioned at an incorrect angle (incorrect assembly).

[0055] Furthermore, since the auxiliary member 210 provided on the conductive member 204 is insulating, it is possible to prevent the electrode pin 300 from coming into contact with the conductive member 204 before reaching the narrow hole 202b. In other words, it is possible to prevent the lamp from lighting up while the lamp device 30 is being installed. As a result, when installing the lamp device 30, the user can move the electrode pin 300 to the correct position (the end of the narrow hole 202b) without having to stop the work midway.

[0056] Furthermore, by moving the electrode pin 300 inserted into the insertion hole 202a while bringing the larger diameter portion 300b of the electrode pin 300 into contact with the first inclined surface 210d, the electrode pin 300 can be moved smoothly along the first inclined surface 210d.

[0057] Furthermore, as described above, the conductive member 204 is elastic. Therefore, the conductive member 204 biases the electrode pin 300 toward the end of the narrow hole 202b. In other words, the electrode pin 300 is sandwiched between the conductive member 204 and the end of the narrow hole 202b. As a result, the electrode pin 300 is locked in the narrow hole 202b and is less likely to come loose. Note that the first main body portion 210b1 of the auxiliary member 210 and the electrode pin 300 may be in contact.

[0058] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and each component can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the protruding portion of the auxiliary member is positioned so that at least a part of it overlaps with the narrow hole, but it is not limited to this. Any shape that can prevent the electrode pin from coming into contact with the conductive member before it is locked into the narrow hole is acceptable, and it may be trapezoidal or protrude at an acute angle.

[0059] [Second Embodiment] Next, a socket according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7. The socket 20A according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the shape of the conductive member. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0060] The conductive member 204A differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the vertical member 204Ab. The vertical member 204Ab comprises a first curved portion 204Ab1, a second curved portion 204Ab2, and a third curved portion 204Ab3. The difference from the first embodiment is that in the conductive member 204A, the vertical member 204Ab is provided continuously on the horizontal member 204Aa side of the second curved portion 204Ab2, and has a third curved portion 204Ab3 that is concave toward the center side of the socket body 201. Also, compared to the second curved portion 204b2 of the first embodiment, the length of the second curved portion 204Ab2 is shorter and the curvature is greater.

[0061] In other words, the conductive member 204A has a first curved portion 204Ab1 that protrudes toward the narrow hole 202b, a second curved portion 204Ab2 that is continuous with the first curved portion 204Ab1 and is convex toward the center of the socket body 201, and a third curved portion 204Ab3 that is continuous with the second curved portion 204Ab2 and is concave toward the center of the socket body 201. The lengths and curvatures of the first curved portion 204Ab1, the second curved portion 204Ab2, and the third curved portion 204Ab3 are not particularly specified and can be adjusted as appropriate. The curvature of the second curved portion 204Ab2 is smaller than the curvature of the first curved portion 204Ab1, and the curvature of the third curved portion 204Ab3 is smaller than the curvature of the first curved portion 204Ab1 and larger than the curvature of the second curved portion 204Ab2.

[0062] The socket according to the second embodiment can also achieve substantially the same effects as the first embodiment. Even if the conductive member 204A has a third curved portion 204Ab3 that is concave toward the center of the socket body 201, the conductive member 204A can move more smoothly when attaching or detaching the lamp device 30 to the socket 20A, making it easier to attach or detach the lamp device 30 to the socket 20A.

[0063] [Third Embodiment] Next, a socket according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 8. The socket 20B according to the third embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the shape of the conductive member. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0064] The conductive member 204B differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the vertical member 204Bb. The vertical member 204Bb comprises a first curved portion 204Bb1 and a straight portion 204Bb4. The difference from the first embodiment is that the conductive member 204Bb comprises a first curved portion 204Bb1 that protrudes toward the narrow hole 202b and a straight portion 204Bb4 that is provided continuously with the first curved portion 204Bb1 on the side of the horizontal member 204Ba. In addition, the conductive member 204B has a bent portion 204Bb5 formed by the tip of the other end of the vertical member 204Bb bending toward the outer edge 201c of the socket body 201.

[0065] The socket according to the third embodiment can achieve substantially the same effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, by having a bent portion 204Bb5 in the conductive member 204B, the vertical member 204Bb on the opposite side of the horizontal member 204Ba in the first curved portion 204Bb1 can be made longer, allowing for adjustment of the movement of the conductive member 204B. As a result, when attaching or detaching the lamp device 30 to and from the socket 20B, the conductive member 204B moves more smoothly, making it easier to attach and detach the lamp device 30 to and from the socket 20B. In addition, by having a bent portion 204Bb5 in the conductive member 204B, the tip on the other end does not come into contact with the socket body 201, thereby suppressing wear of the conductive member 204B.

[0066] [Fourth Embodiment] Next, a socket according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. The socket 20C according to the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in its auxiliary member and terminal cover. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0067] In the first embodiment, an auxiliary member 210 is used as an insulating auxiliary member to prevent the electrode pin 300 from coming into contact with the conductive member 204 before reaching the narrow hole 202b. In contrast, in the fourth embodiment, instead of the auxiliary member 210, an auxiliary member 210A is used as an insulating auxiliary member, which is provided at a predetermined location on the central (inward) side of the back surface 220Ab of the terminal cover 220A. The auxiliary member 210A protrudes from the back surface 220Ab of the terminal cover 220A. The terminal cover 220A covers the through hole 202 and the conductive member 204, and has the auxiliary member 210A on its back surface 220Ab. The auxiliary member 210A is formed of, for example, an insulating resin material or a rubber material. When the terminal cover 220A is fixed to the socket body 201, the auxiliary member 210A is positioned on the through hole 202 side of the conductive member 204 and attached to the conductive member 204. Furthermore, the auxiliary member 210A is positioned to prevent the electrode pin 300 from coming into contact with the conductive member 204 before reaching the narrow hole 202b. For example, the auxiliary member 210A is positioned and shaped to correspond to the first main body portion 210b1 (see Figure 3) of the auxiliary member 210. In this way, by providing the auxiliary member 210A on the back surface 220Ab of the terminal cover 220A, it is possible to prevent the lamp from lighting up while the lamp device 30 is being installed. Also, since the auxiliary member 210A is positioned by attaching the terminal cover 220A to the socket body 201, there is no need to provide a separate auxiliary member 210, and the placement of the auxiliary member 210A becomes easier.

[0068] [Fifth Embodiment] Next, a socket according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 20. The socket 20D according to the fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in the socket body, conductive member, auxiliary member, and terminal cover. In this embodiment, the parts that mainly differ from the first embodiment will be described. In addition, in the fifth embodiment, it will be described as a state in which the power supply wires to the socket are connected to the socket as appropriate. Figures 11 to 14 show the electrode pin 300 inserted into the insertion hole 202a of the through hole 202. Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the area labeled P in Figure 13.

[0069] As shown in Figures 11 to 14, a wire 40 is connected to the socket 20D. The wire 40 is for supplying power from the fixture body 10 (see Figure 1) to the socket 20D. The wire 40 has, for example, a negative first wire 41 and a positive second wire 42. One end of the first wire 41 is located on the back side of one terminal cover 220B, in a position opposite the insertion hole 202a of the through hole 202. The other end of the first wire 41 is connected to the fixture body 10 (not shown). The first wire 41 is fixed by a protrusion 250 of the socket body 201A and by a fixing part 223 of the other terminal cover 220B. One end of the second wire 42 is located on the back side of the other terminal cover 220B, in a position opposite the insertion hole 202a of the through hole 202. The other end of the second wire 42 is connected to the fixture body 10 (not shown). The electric wire 40 has a narrow-diameter section 40a at one end.

[0070] As shown in Figures 14, 15, and 18, the conductive member 204C is composed of a horizontal member 204Ca, a vertical member 204Cb, and a planar member 204Cd. The horizontal member 204Ca has a movable part 204Ca1 that is pushed by the tip of the electric wire 40 when the electric wire 40 passes through, causing its upper portion to move and tilt toward the through hole 202. The planar member 204Cd is provided horizontally to the back surface 201Ab of the socket body 201A and is connected perpendicularly to the horizontal member 204Ca. The planar member 204Cd is positioned where the small diameter portion 40a of the electric wire 40 makes contact. The electric wire 40 is fixed to the conductive member 204C by passing through a hole 204Ca2 in the transverse member 204Ca, which is formed by the movement of the movable part 204Ca1. Specifically, the narrow diameter portion 40a of the electric wire 40 is held down by the movable part 204Cb1 and the planar member 204Cd of the transverse member 204Ca, thereby fixing it to the conductive member 204C.

[0071] The conductive member 204C, as in the third embodiment, has a vertical member 204Cb comprising a first curved portion 204Cb1 and a straight portion (first straight portion 204Cb4). The conductive member 204C comprises a vertical member 204Cb comprising a first curved portion 204Cb1 that protrudes toward the narrow hole 202b, a first straight portion 204Cb4 that is continuously provided on the side of the horizontal member 204Ca of the first curved portion 204Cb1, and a second straight portion 204Cb6 that is continuously provided on the side of the first curved portion 204Cb1 opposite to the horizontal member 204Ca.

[0072] In this configuration, the conductive member 204C has a fixed horizontal member 204Ca, while the tip 204Cc of the vertical member 204Cb opposite to the horizontal member 204Ca is not fixed and is movable. That is, one end of the conductive member 204C in the longitudinal direction is fixed on the insertion hole 202a side, and the other end in the longitudinal direction is movable on the narrow hole 202b side. With this configuration, when the lamp device 30 is attached to the socket 20D, the electrode pins 300 move more easily towards the narrow hole 202b. Furthermore, after the lamp device 30 is attached to the socket 20D, the electrode pins 300 become less likely to move towards the insertion hole 202a, making it easier to fix the lamp device 30 to the socket 20D. In other words, it is possible to create a configuration that makes it easy to attach the lamp device 30 to the socket 20D and difficult for the lamp device 30 to come off the socket 20D. However, the direction of the fixed end and free end in the conductive member can be set as appropriate according to the desired purpose. For example, if the lamp device 30 is to be easily removed from the socket, the narrow hole 202b side may be set as the fixed end and the insertion hole 202a side as the free end, as in the first embodiment.

[0073] Furthermore, the conductive member 204C has a cavity 204Ce in the second linear portion 204Cb6. Having a cavity 204Ce in the conductive member 204C reduces the mass of the conductive member 204C, allowing the conductive member 204C to move more smoothly when attaching or detaching the lamp device 30 to and from the socket 20D, thus facilitating the attachment and detachment of the lamp device 30 to and from the socket 20D.

[0074] As shown in Figures 11, 12, and 16, the socket 20D has a projection 250 on the back surface 201Ab of the socket body 201A. The projection 250 is made of the same material as the socket body 201A. Here, the projection 250 consists of three parts: a first projection 251, a second projection 252, and a third projection 253, and two sets of these projections are formed at opposing positions in a plan view. In a plan view, the first projection 251 and the second projection 252 of one set of projections 250 are arranged in parallel on the outside of the socket body 201A, and the third projection 253 is arranged on the inside of the socket body 201A, forming a triangular shape when the three projections 250 are connected. Furthermore, in a pair of protrusions 250, the electric wire 40 (in this case, the first electric wire 41) is passed between the first protrusion 251, the second protrusion 252, and the third protrusion 253, thereby fixing the electric wire 40. By fixing the electric wire 40 with the protrusions 250 of the socket body 201A in this way, the electric wire 40 is prevented from moving. As a result, the electric wire 40 does not get in the way when attaching or detaching the lamp device 30 to the socket 20D, making it easier to attach and detach the lamp device 30 to the socket 20D.

[0075] As shown in Figures 14 to 18, the socket 20D has an insulating member 260 on the back surface 201Ab side of the socket body 201A in the insertion hole 202a, which insulates the electrode pins 300 from the electric wires 40 connected to the socket 20D. In a plan view, the insulating member 260 is positioned to overlap with a part of the insertion hole 202a. Furthermore, the insulating member 260 is positioned so as not to come into contact with the small diameter portion 40a of the electric wires 40, and also so as not to come into contact with the electrode pins 300 when the electrode pins 300 are inserted into the insertion hole 202a. Because the socket 20D has an insulating member 260, the electrode pins 300 and the electric wires 40 do not come into contact when the lamp device 30 is attached to or detached from the socket 20D. This prevents the electrode pins 300 from coming into contact with the electric wires 40 and causing electrical conductivity.

[0076] The terminal cover 220B is formed of, for example, an insulating resin material and is designed to cover the through hole 202 and the conductive member 204C, and to house them inside. As shown in Figures 11, 12, and 19, the terminal cover 220B has a fixing portion 223 for fixing the electric wire 40 connected to the socket 20D. The terminal cover 220B has a first fixing portion 2231 consisting of two protrusions that project from the surface 220Ba side and face each other, located at the outer edge of the surface 220Ba and at a predetermined location in the central direction (inward direction) of the surface 220Ba. The terminal cover 220B also has a second fixing portion 2232 on one end in the longitudinal direction, in this case the narrow hole 202b side, which projects from the surface side 220Ba and is formed in an overhang shape.

[0077] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the electric wire 40 can be fixed by sandwiching it between the two protrusions of the first fixing part 2231. The electric wire 40 can also be fixed by pressing it down with the second fixing part 2232. In this way, by fixing the electric wire 40 with the fixing part 223 of the terminal cover 220B, the electric wire 40 is prevented from moving. As a result, the electric wire 40 does not get in the way when attaching or detaching the lamp device 30 to the socket 20D, making it easier to attach and detach the lamp device 30 to the socket 20D.

[0078] As shown in Figure 20, the terminal cover 220B has three engaging portions 221B on the outer edge of its back surface 220Bb, protruding from the back surface 220Bb side and for attachment to the socket body 201A. The terminal cover 220B also has an auxiliary member 210B on the outer edge of its back surface 220Bb, protruding from the back surface 220Bb of the terminal cover 220B. Similar to the auxiliary member 210A described in the fourth embodiment, the auxiliary member 210B is positioned on the through-hole 202 side of the conductive member 204C and attached to the conductive member 204C when the terminal cover 220B is fixed to the socket body 201A. The auxiliary member 210B is also positioned to prevent the electrode pin 300 from coming into contact with the conductive member 204C before reaching the narrow hole 202b. For example, the auxiliary member 210B is positioned and shaped to correspond to the first main body portion 210b1 (see Figure 3) of the auxiliary member 210. In this way, by providing the auxiliary member 210B on the back surface 220Bb of the terminal cover 220B, it is possible to prevent the lamp from lighting up while the lamp device 30 is being installed.

[0079] In this description, the terminal cover 220B is assumed to have an auxiliary member 210B, but the terminal cover 220B may not have an auxiliary member 210B, and the socket 20D may have an auxiliary member 210 (see Figure 3). That is, the terminal cover 220B may not have an auxiliary member 210B, and may cover the through hole 202, the conductive member 204C, and the auxiliary member 210. For example, the terminal cover 220 described in the first embodiment may have a fixing portion 223 for fixing the electric wire 40. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1. Lighting device 10. Main body of the device 20 sockets 201 Socket body 202 Through hole 202a Insertion hole 202b narrow hole 204 Conductive material 204a Horizontal member 204b Vertical member 204b1 First song part 204b2 Second song part 210 Auxiliary member 210a Flat plate part 210b Main body 210b1 First body part 210b2 Second body part 210b3 Third body part 210c protrusion 210d First slope 210e Second slope 210f Third slope 220 Terminal Cover 221 Engaging part 222 Protrusion 30 Lamp device 300 electrode pins 40 Electric wire 41 Daiichi Electric Cable 42 Second electric wire 223 Fixed part 2231 First fixed part 2232 Second fixed part 250 Protrusion 251 First protrusion 252 Second protrusion 253 Third protrusion 260 Insulating material

Claims

1. A socket into which a lamp device equipped with electrode pins is fitted, A socket body having an insertion hole into which the electrode pin is inserted from the surface side and a through hole extending from the insertion hole and having a narrow hole that is narrower than the insertion hole, A conductive member is positioned on the back side of the socket body and is electrically connected by contacting the electrode pins, The conductive member is attached to an insulating auxiliary member, and the auxiliary member is attached to the conductive member. The conductive member is positioned on the central side of the socket body relative to the through hole, and one end in the longitudinal direction is fixed while the other end is movably positioned.

2. The socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive member has a first curved portion that protrudes toward the narrow hole, and a second curved portion that is provided continuously with the first curved portion and is convex toward the central side of the socket body.

3. The socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive member has a first curved portion that protrudes toward the narrow hole, a second curved portion that is continuous with the first curved portion and is convex toward the center of the socket body, and a third curved portion that is continuous with the second curved portion and is concave toward the center of the socket body.

4. The terminal cover comprises the through hole, the conductive member, and the auxiliary member, The terminal cover has a protrusion on its back surface, The socket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projection is arranged adjacent to the auxiliary member.

5. The socket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an insulating member is provided on the back side of the socket body in the insertion hole for insulating the electrode pins and the electric wires connected to the socket.

6. The terminal cover covers the through hole and the conductive member, The socket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the terminal cover has the auxiliary member on its back surface.

7. The socket according to claim 6, characterized in that the terminal cover has a fixing portion for fixing the electric wire connected to the socket.

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