IP Library Granted Patent US 7,604,386
Granted Patent B2
US 7,604,386 · App. 11/561,045 · Granted Oct 20, 2009

Lamp assembly having a socket made from high temperature plastic

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,604,386
App. No.
11/561,045
Granted
Oct 20, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lamp socket for an automotive exterior lamp assembly that can be used with a replaceable incandescent bulb. The lamp socket comprises a plastic socket made from nylon 4,6. The lamp socket exhibits reduced outgassing that would otherwise result from photo-oxidative degradation of the polymers in the plastic socket. This helps prevent fogging of the lamp assembly lens and/or reflector for improved performance and aesthetic appearance over the life of the lamp assembly. The incandescent bulb used in the assembly can include a press-sealed end having a sleeve attached over the press-sealed end, and the sleeve can be made from at least one of nylon 4,6, PEI and PPA. The incandescent bulb may also have a molded plastic base, and the base can also be made from at least one of nylon 4,6, PEI and PPA.

Claims (27)

1. A lamp socket assembly, comprising:

a socket having an opening to receive a press-sealed end of a light source;

a plurality of electrical contacts located in said opening; and

a plurality of terminals, each of which is electrically connected to one of said contacts;

said socket comprising a housing and a separate body integrally attached to said housing and adapted to receive said light source, said body comprising 100 wt. % nylon 4,6.

2. A lamp socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a polyamide.

3. A lamp socket assembly of claim 2 , wherein said housing comprises a polyamide from a group consisting of nylon 6, nylon 6,6 and nylon 4,6.

4. A lamp socket assembly of claim 2 , wherein said housing comprises a co-polymer blend of polyamide and polyphenylene oxide.

5. A lamp socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein said housing and said body are integrally attached by ultrasonic welding.

6. A lamp socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein said light source is an incandescent lamp.

7. A bulb, comprising:

a glass envelope having an interior space and a sealed end;

a light emitting element contained in said interior space;

a plurality of lead wires at least partially supporting said light emitting element in said interior space, said lead wires extending from said interior space through said glass envelope to an exposed location at said sealed end;

a sleeve attached to said glass envelope at said sealed end, with said sleeve being located on said sealed end such that said sealed end extends through said sleeve;

wherein said sleeve comprises 100 wt. % nylon 4,6.

8. An automotive lamp assembly, comprising:

a lamp socket;

an incandescent bulb removably mounted within said lamp socket;

a reflector extending at least partially around said bulb; and

a lens,

wherein said lamp socket comprises a housing and a separate body integrally attached to said housing and adapted to receive said light source, said body comprising 100wt. % nylon 4,6.

9. An automotive lamp assembly as defined in claim 8 , further comprising:

a plurality of electrical contacts located in an opening in said lamp socket; and

a plurality of terminals, each of which is electrically connected to one of said contacts;

wherein said socket includes at least one flexible retaining member located at said opening to engage the incandescent bulb and thereby retain the bulb within said opening.

10. An automotive lamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the bulb includes a press-sealed end having a plastic sleeve in contact with said retaining member(s), said plastic sleeve comprising a member from the group consisting of nylon 4,6, polyetherimide (PEI) and polyphthalamide (PPA).

Assignments (22)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2025
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC
Reel/Frame 072041/0681 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC (FORMERLY FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC.)
Reel/Frame 062389/0149 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061971/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVE TRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
Reel/Frame 061975/0218 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061975/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; TENNECO INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 056886/0455 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; TENNECO INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 058392/0274 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055626/0065 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054555/0592 →
COLLATERAL TRUSTEE RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT, JOINDER, ASSUMPTION AND DESIGNATION AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 26, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS CO-COLLATERAL TRUSTEE AND RESIGNING COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS CO-COLLATERAL TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 047630/0661 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047276/0771 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047276/0554 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVETRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 047223/0001 →
COLLATERAL TRUSTEE RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 3, 2018
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 045822/0765 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 27, 2017
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC.
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC
Reel/Frame 044034/0338 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Sep 26, 2017
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 044013/0419 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jun 23, 2017
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 042963/0662 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2014
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN, INC., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC. , A MISSORI CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 033204/0707 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2008
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A. AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 020362/0139 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2007
From: RAWLINGS, LINDSAY; MOLINARO, MARK C.
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 018964/0741 →