US3797055A - Tool for removing lightbulb bases and cleaning lightbulb sockets - Google Patents
Tool for removing lightbulb bases and cleaning lightbulb sockets Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3797055A US3797055A US00314436A US3797055DA US3797055A US 3797055 A US3797055 A US 3797055A US 00314436 A US00314436 A US 00314436A US 3797055D A US3797055D A US 3797055DA US 3797055 A US3797055 A US 3797055A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lightbulb
- base
- socket
- tool
- engaging
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01K—ELECTRIC INCANDESCENT LAMPS
- H01K3/00—Apparatus or processes adapted to the manufacture, installing, removal, or maintenance of incandescent lamps or parts thereof
- H01K3/32—Auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25F—COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B25F1/00—Combination or multi-purpose hand tools
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J9/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture, installation, removal, maintenance of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J9/003—Auxiliary devices for installing or removing discharge tubes or lamps
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
A hand tool comprising an elongated metal member is disclosed with a central portion comprising a handle, one end of said tool being for cleaning a lightbulb socket and having radially extending brushes with abrasive means on the end of the member adjacent the brushes for cleaning the base contact of a socket while the brush means cleans the threaded side walls of the socket and the other end of the tool comprising a lightbulb base removal tool including a tapered conical member with radial flanges and end flanges insertable in a lightbulb base for gripping and removing the base from a socket.
Description
United States Patent [191 Greene Mar. 19, 1974 [76] Inventor: William H. Greene, 2114 Oakland St., Savannah, Ga. 31404 [22] Filed: Dec. 12, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 314,436
[52] US. Cl ..7/1G,51/181, 15/105,
15/111, 81/3 R, 81/72 [51] Int. Cl B251 1/00 [58] Field of Search 81/3 R, 3.05, 72, 53.2;
FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Australia 15/104.03
Primary Examinerl-larold D. Whitehead Assistant ExaminerRoscoe V. Parker Attorney, Agent, or FirmNathaniel A. Humphries 5 7 ABSTRACT A hand tool comprising an elongated metal member is disclosed with a central portion comprising a handle, one end of said tool being for cleaning a lightbulb socket and having radially extending brushes with abrasive means on the end of the member adjacent the brushes for cleaning the base contact of a socket while the brush means cleans the threaded side Walls of the socket and the other end of the tool comprising a lightbulb base removal tool including a tapered conical member with radial flanges and end flanges insertable in a lightbulb base for gripping and removing the base from a socket.
11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TOOL FOR REMOVING LIGHTBULB BASES AND CLEANING LIGHTBULB SOCKETS This invention is in the field of hand tools and is specifically directed to a maintenance tool capable of removing the base of a broken lightbulb from the lightbulb socket and further capable of cleaning and removing corrosion and the like from the socket following removal of the lightbulb base from the socket.
The removal of the metal lightbulb base of a conventional lightbulb from a lightbulb socket is frequently made extremely difficult due'to breakage of the glass envelope portion of the bulb which is normally manually grasped for rotation to effect bulb removal. Upon such breakage of the bulb envelope, jagged glass edges remain on the base which prevent manual removal of the base since there is no means which can be safely engaged by the user for enabling removal of the generally tubular threaded bulb base. Moreover, the fact that the life span of incandescent lightbulbs has been extended so that many bulbs last for many months and years frequently results in the occurrence of corrosion within the lightbulb socket which serves to provide a substantial obstacle to the removal of the lightbulb base at such time as such becomes desirable either through breakage of the bulb envelope or through failure of the bulb filament. Corrosion within the lightbulb socket can be particularly difficult problems in some industrial installations and in maritime installations such as on ships.
A number of devices have previously evolved for the purpose of enabling the removal of an incandescent light bulb base from an electric socket and other devices have previously evolved for enabling the cleaning of the side walls of conventional lightbulb sockets. The present invention represents a distinct improvement over the prior known devices in that it provides a remarkably effective means both for removing the lightbulb base and for subsequently cleaning the side walls as well as the end contacts of the lightbulb socket with all features being combined in a single hand-held tool.
Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved tool for removing lightbulb bases from their power sockets and for reconditioning lightbulb sockets.
The object of this invention is achieved through the provision of a hand-held tool in the form of a unitary metal member comprising a main handle portion having working means extending from each end. One end portion of the tool is provided with a tapering conical 'surface along which longitudinally extending radial flange members having sharp edges are provided. The end of the tapered conical portion has a plurality of lug fingers each of which includes sharp radial end edge surfaces for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base when inserted in the base to grip the base and enable rotation and removal of same from the socket in which it is located. The other end of the tool is provided with a socket cleaner means in the form of radially extending brush members dimensioned to engage the side walls of a socket with the outermost end portion including a concave abrasive surface for engagement with the base contact of an incandescent bulb socket so that rotation of the tool with the cleaning means on the interior of an incandescent bulb socket serves to simultaneously clean the side walls and the base contact.
A better understanding of the preferred embodiment of the subject invention will be enabled when the following written description is considered in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the tool means portion for removing a lightbulb base from a lightbulb socket;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the lightbulb socket cleaning portion of the tool;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view partially in section illustrating the manner in which the lightbulb base means is inserted in a lightbulb base for enabling removal thereof from a lightbulb socket in which the base is positioned; and
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating the operation of the lightbulb socket cleaning means of the preferred embodiment.
Attention is invited to FIG. 1 of the drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, which is formed of an elongated rod-like unitary metal member.
The preferred embodiment includes a cylindrical handle member 20 having an outer surface including a plurality of parallel longitudinal radial ribs 22 as best shown in FIG. 1. The handle member 20 is dimensioned to be easily held in the hand of a user and the longitudinal radial ribs 22 provide an increased friction between the hand of the user and the handle for enabling rotation of the handle about its longitudinal axis during use.
Operative components of the tool are mounted on and comprise a first end portion 24 constituting a lightbulb socket cleaning tool and a second end portion 26 constituting a lightbulb base removing tool. Socket cleaning tool 24 comprises a cylindrical rod member of lesser diameter than the handle portion 20 with three wire brush members 28 extending radially outward from the member 24. The end of the cleaning member is in the form of a concave abrasive surface 29.
Tapered body member 30 is dimensioned to be inserted in a lightbulb base 50 as shown in FIG. 4 so that the sharp edges 40 and 44 engage the interior surface of the lightbulb base to enable removal of the lightbulb base from the socket 52 in which it is positioned upon rotation of the tool in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4. It will be apparent that the conical shape of the tool and the sharp edges 40, 44 enables a forcrful engagement of the tool with the lightbulb base to enable rotation of the tool for removal of the base from the socket.
Cleaning and removal of corrosion from a socket 52 is enabled by insertion of the cleaning end of the tool into a socket in the manner shown in H6. 5. It will be seen that the brush members 28 are dimensioned to engage the side walls 56 of the socket and the concave abrasive surface 29 engages the base contact 58 as shown in FIG. 5. Subsequent rotation of the tool causes .the brush members 28 to clean the side walls of the socket while the concave abrasive surface 29 cleans and removes corrosion from the base contact in an obvious manner.
Numerous modifications of the subject invention will undoubtedly occur to those of skill in the art; however, it should be understood that the spirit and scope of the invention is to be limited solely in light of the appended claims.
I claim:
1. A tool for removing broken lightbulb bases from, and subsequent cleaning of, electric lightbulb sockets, said tool comprising an elongated rod-like handle member dimensioned to beheld in the human hand for rotation about its axis and having first and second end portions, said first end portion comprising a socket cleaner rod including brush means extending outwardly from said socket cleaner tool, said brush means being dimensioned to engage the side walls of an electric socket into which said socket cleaner rod is inserted and an abrasive end surface on said socket cleaner rod for engaging the base contact of an electrical socket when said socket cleaner rod is inserted in an electrical socket so that rotation of the tool causes the brush means to clean the side walls of the socket while the abrasive surface simultaneously cleans and removes corrosion from said base contact.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said abrasive end surface is of concave configuration.
3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal of the lightbulb base froman electric lightbulb socket.
4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said base removing tool portion comprises a conical body member tapering downwardly from its juncture with said handle member to an end termination.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said lightbulb base gripping means include longitudinal radlial flange members provided on said conical body member and having sharp edges for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base.
6. The invention of claim 5 additionally including plural end lug fingers extending in an axial direction and having sharp radial edge surfaces oriented radially to the axis of said conical portion.
7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said end lug fingers are aligned with said radial flanges and the sharp edges on said longitudinal radial flange members merge into and are aligned with said sharp radial edge surfaces on said end lug fingers. I
8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal of the lightbulb base from an electric lightbulb socket.
9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said base removirig tool portion comprises a conical body member tapering downwardly from its juncture with said handle member to an end termination.
10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said lightbulb base gripping means include longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member and having sharp edges for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base.
11. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal thereof from a lightbulb socket and said elongated rod-like handle member, said socket cleaner tool and said lightbulb base removing tool portions are unitarily formed of metal, said abrasive end surface is of concave configuration, said base removing tool portion including a downwardly tapering conical body member extending from a juncture with said handle member and tapering downwardly to an end termination, longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member extending along the length thereof in a generally radial direction and having sharp edges at their outermost extent for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base, plural lug fingers extending in an axial direction and having sharp radial edge surfaces for engaging the internal bottom portion of a lightbulb base and additionally including longitudinal radial fingers on said handle member for aiding in the manual gripping of said handle member by a user.
'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,797,055 7 Dated March 19, 1974 Inventor) William H. Greene It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:
Delete "metal" in the following places:
Abstract, line 1 Column 1, line 48 Column 2, line 22 Column 4, line 34, delete "of metal" Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1974.
(SEAL) Attest:
MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN A ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-1050 (Id-69) USCOMM-DC 60876-5 69 1 us. GOVERNMENT PRINTING arnc: 19" o-sss-saa.
Claims (11)
1. A tool for removing broken lightbulb bases from, and subsequent cleaning of, electric lightbulb sockets, said tool comprising an elongated rod-like handle member dimensioned to be held in the human hand for rotation about its axis and having first and second end portions, said first end portion comprising a socket cleaner rod including brush means extending outwardly from said socket cleaner tool, said brush means being dimensioned to engage the side walls of an electric socket into which said socket cleaner rod is inserted and an abrasive end surface on said socket cleaner rod for engaging the base contact of an electrical socket when said socket cleaner rod is inserted in an electrical socket so that rotation of the tool causes the brush means to clean the side walls of the socket while the abrasive surface simultaneously cleans and removes corrosion from said base contact.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said abrasive end surface is of concave configuration.
3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal of the lightbulb base from an electric lightbulb socket.
4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said base removing tool portion comprises a conical body member tapering downwardly from its juncture with said handle member to an end termination.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said lightbulb base gripping means include longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member and having sharp edges for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base.
6. The invention of claim 5 additionally including plural end lug fingers extending in an axial direction and having sharp radial edge surfaces oriented radially to the axis of said conical portion.
7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said end lug fingers are aligned with said radial flanges and the sharp edges on said longitudinal radial flange members merge into and are aligned with said sharp radial edge surfaces on said end lug fingers.
8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal of the lightbulb base from an electric lightbulb socket.
9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said base removing tool portion comprises a conical body member tapering downwardly from its juncture with said handle member to an end termination.
10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said lightbulb base gripping means include longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member and having sharp edges for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base.
11. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal thereof from a lightbulb socket and said elongated rod-like handle member, said socket cleaner tool and said lightbulb base removing tool portions are unitarily formed of metal, said abrasive end surface is of concave configuration, said base removing tool portion including a downwardly tapering conical body member extending from a juncture with said handle member and tapering downwardly to an end termination, longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member extending along the length thereof in a generally radial direction and having sharp edges at their outermost extent for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base, plural lug fingers extending in an axial direction and having sharp radial edge surfaces for engaging the internal bottom portion of a lightbulb base and additionally including longitudinal radial fingers on said handle member for aiding in the manual gripping of said handle member by a user.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US31443672A | 1972-12-12 | 1972-12-12 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3797055A true US3797055A (en) | 1974-03-19 |
Family
ID=23219940
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00314436A Expired - Lifetime US3797055A (en) | 1972-12-12 | 1972-12-12 | Tool for removing lightbulb bases and cleaning lightbulb sockets |
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Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3797055A (en) |
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4204294A (en) * | 1978-10-23 | 1980-05-27 | Halverson Robert J | Electrical terminal cleaning device |
WO1990014198A1 (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1990-11-29 | Cox David Wesley Jr | Manual tool for preparing tube ends for jointure |
US5458029A (en) * | 1992-10-26 | 1995-10-17 | Walsky; Robert S. | Tool for removing the base of a broken light bulb from a socket |
US5497523A (en) * | 1992-11-16 | 1996-03-12 | The Golf Zone, Inc. | Automatic golf spike replacer |
US5513411A (en) * | 1994-07-22 | 1996-05-07 | Simon; Douglas | Battery contact cleaning tool |
WO1996028281A1 (en) * | 1995-03-09 | 1996-09-19 | Langford Don C | Sports shoe spike removal tool |
USD387523S (en) * | 1995-11-21 | 1997-12-09 | Armbruster Franz O | Socket cleaner |
US5865078A (en) * | 1995-11-03 | 1999-02-02 | Langford; Don | Sports shoe spike removal tool |
US5937714A (en) * | 1996-07-03 | 1999-08-17 | Sherman; Shell Steven | Tool for removing bases of broken light bulbs |
US6009584A (en) * | 1997-11-26 | 2000-01-04 | Padden; Stephen J. | Multi-purpose tool with brush |
US6260442B1 (en) * | 1999-03-25 | 2001-07-17 | Bayco Products, Inc. | Broken light bulb base remover |
US20040072511A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-04-15 | Launius William E. | Hub conditioning and alignment tool |
US6928901B1 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2005-08-16 | Edgar A. Rainin | Device for removing a broken light bulb from a socket |
US7120979B1 (en) * | 2003-04-21 | 2006-10-17 | Glover William T | Light bulb socket burnishing tool |
DE102008005035A1 (en) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-07-23 | Link, Helmut D. | Pliers for removing filament bulb from screwed socket, has surfaces forming inner wall of screw cap and turned away from each other, where surfaces are frictionally engaged with wall by approaching of limb under widening of jaws |
US7694609B1 (en) * | 2008-04-03 | 2010-04-13 | Mark Ma | Light bulb base extractor apparatus |
USD752001S1 (en) | 2013-11-06 | 2016-03-22 | Roger Val Didonato | Cleaner for a male and female trailer electrical connector |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1319028A (en) * | 1919-10-14 | Incandescent-lamp-base remover | ||
US1461904A (en) * | 1921-09-28 | 1923-07-17 | Hoyem George Arthur | Cleaning implement |
US2117017A (en) * | 1937-12-01 | 1938-05-10 | George R Chadsey | Tool for manipulating electric lamp bulbs |
-
1972
- 1972-12-12 US US00314436A patent/US3797055A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1319028A (en) * | 1919-10-14 | Incandescent-lamp-base remover | ||
US1461904A (en) * | 1921-09-28 | 1923-07-17 | Hoyem George Arthur | Cleaning implement |
US2117017A (en) * | 1937-12-01 | 1938-05-10 | George R Chadsey | Tool for manipulating electric lamp bulbs |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4204294A (en) * | 1978-10-23 | 1980-05-27 | Halverson Robert J | Electrical terminal cleaning device |
WO1990014198A1 (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1990-11-29 | Cox David Wesley Jr | Manual tool for preparing tube ends for jointure |
US5458029A (en) * | 1992-10-26 | 1995-10-17 | Walsky; Robert S. | Tool for removing the base of a broken light bulb from a socket |
US5497523A (en) * | 1992-11-16 | 1996-03-12 | The Golf Zone, Inc. | Automatic golf spike replacer |
US5513411A (en) * | 1994-07-22 | 1996-05-07 | Simon; Douglas | Battery contact cleaning tool |
WO1996028281A1 (en) * | 1995-03-09 | 1996-09-19 | Langford Don C | Sports shoe spike removal tool |
US5865078A (en) * | 1995-11-03 | 1999-02-02 | Langford; Don | Sports shoe spike removal tool |
USD387523S (en) * | 1995-11-21 | 1997-12-09 | Armbruster Franz O | Socket cleaner |
US5937714A (en) * | 1996-07-03 | 1999-08-17 | Sherman; Shell Steven | Tool for removing bases of broken light bulbs |
US6009584A (en) * | 1997-11-26 | 2000-01-04 | Padden; Stephen J. | Multi-purpose tool with brush |
US6260442B1 (en) * | 1999-03-25 | 2001-07-17 | Bayco Products, Inc. | Broken light bulb base remover |
US20040072511A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-04-15 | Launius William E. | Hub conditioning and alignment tool |
US6969312B2 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2005-11-29 | Derby Worx, Inc. | Hub conditioning and alignment tool |
US7120979B1 (en) * | 2003-04-21 | 2006-10-17 | Glover William T | Light bulb socket burnishing tool |
US6928901B1 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2005-08-16 | Edgar A. Rainin | Device for removing a broken light bulb from a socket |
DE102008005035A1 (en) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-07-23 | Link, Helmut D. | Pliers for removing filament bulb from screwed socket, has surfaces forming inner wall of screw cap and turned away from each other, where surfaces are frictionally engaged with wall by approaching of limb under widening of jaws |
US7694609B1 (en) * | 2008-04-03 | 2010-04-13 | Mark Ma | Light bulb base extractor apparatus |
USD752001S1 (en) | 2013-11-06 | 2016-03-22 | Roger Val Didonato | Cleaner for a male and female trailer electrical connector |
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