Lamp sockets formed to have plastic bodies are provided for automotive applications. The principal plastic bodies are molded to receive and hold plastic bulb inserts which are sized to fit standard bayonet light bulbs. Spring contacts, to make connections to the light bulbs, are inserted in the principal plastic bodies and are held in place by tangs which contact molded areas of the plastic bodies. Other tangs provide connections from the spring contacts through windows in spade terminals connecting to a wiring harness. Ground connections are provided by ground contact straps embodying tangs and other elements which secure them to the principal plastic body. The ground contact straps permit completion of a ground connection through another tang to the wiring harness or, alternatively, through a ground tab to a metal wall.

A lamp holder having a molded body of plastic material formed with an axial blind cavity having a shaped profile and arranged to be connected to the profile of the glass base of a lamp. The bottom of the holder has two electric contacts snap fixed and provided with deformable sheaths arranged to engage two insulated wires. The contacts also engage the base of the lamp holder and permit the electrical connection with the insulated wires of the same base.

A bayonet type lamp socket for use with several such sockets randomly mounted in a ceiling to provide room lighting or a starlight effect depending on varying intensity, which has a tubular body portion, supporting flange member and a spring contact element mounted in the body portion in providing an external contact for the wiring together of the several sockets.

A socket has a housing and a locked insert molded of plastic material and constructed to have insertable terminals engaging contacts in the insert with a ground of unique construction. When a socket has a single or multiple filament bulb mounted therein and supported in a metal panel or receptacle which is grounded, a terminal is in contact therewith when supported in the socket in position to contact the side of the bulb base and form a ground therefor. When the socket falls from the panel or receptacle, the ground is broken and the circuit is open to the bulb. An open grounding strip may be closed when the socket is inserted in a panel or receptacle which deflects a metal strip to produce the completion of a circuit which is broken when the socket falls from or is otherwise removed from the panel or receptacle. The insert for the socket supports the contacts engaged by the bulb and has locking fingers which secure the insert in oriented position within the socket.

A lamp holder having a molded body of plastic material formed with a dead inner cavity having a shaped profile and suitable to fit with the profile of the glass base of the lamp. The cavity is provided on the bottom thereof with two openings for the passage of two contacts which are snap engaged with the body of the lamp holder, and a side slit is arranged to permit alternatingly a different type of contact acting as a ground.