AU2008200564A1 - Light Bulb Changer - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: LIGHT BULB CHANGER Applicant: Raymond James Dennis Pennell The invention is described in the following statement.

-2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a light bulb changer. More particularly, the invention relates to an extended light bulb changer that can safely and efficiently change light bulbs at a distance from the operator. 5 BACKGROUND ART Changing light bulbs can be a difficult, and sometimes dangerous task. Often, light bulbs are placed out of reach from the person who changes them, and it is necessary for someone to climb onto a ladder, chair, or similar item, to reach the bulb to be changed. Furthermore, if the bulb to be changed is incandescent and has recently been used, it is 10 more than likely the bulb will be very hot, and may burn the person trying to change it. There is also a danger that the person changing the light bulb may receive an electric shock as the socket may still be live when the light bulb is removed. All of these conditions can lead to fatal consequences, particularly if the person is at a height from ground level. /5 With increasingly stringent Occupational Health and Safety Workplace codes, there is a need for an easy to use, safe, light bulb changer that does not require the operator to either go to heights to change a bulb, come into contact with a potentially hot bulb, or be near a potentially live light bulb socket. 20 It is an object of the present invention to provide a light bulb changer that can safely change light bulbs at a distance from the operator, or to at least provide consumers with a useful or commercial choice. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 25 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light bulb changer for changing a light bulb with a glass portion, the changer comprising a unitary bulb receiving portion being shaped to engage with the glass portion of a light bulb; and a rigid pole wherein the bulb receiving portion can be affixed to at least one end. 30 -3 For the purposes of the present description, the term "bulb" is used in a generic sense to refer to any shaped lighting device including globes, elongate fluorescent lighting tubes and newer fluorescent lighting devices which are replacing globes and have convoluted-shaped tubes although the device of the present invention is particularly 5 adapted for use with the globes. The bulb receiving portion may be permanently affixed to the pole. Alternatively, the bulb receiving portion may be removable/replaceable to allow different shaped bulb receiving portions to be fitted. This allows for a single light bulb changer to cater for a 10 variety of different bulb types and/or shapes by simply changing the bulb receiving portion. The bulb receiving portion will typically include a neck portion which engages with the pole to retain the bulb receiving portion thereon, and an enlarged body portion 15 for engaging the bulb for insertion and/or removal. The enlarged body portion is typically defined by at least one sidewall and a shoulder portion extending from the neck portion. Typically, the shoulder portion will extend outwardly. Preferably, the bulb receiving portion is made of an electrically insulating 20 material, such as rubber, which is preferably moulded. Furthermore, the bulb receiving portion is preferably heat resistant to at least withstand the operating temperature of a bulb. The bulb receiving portion may be deformable under a heat load for example to grip the blub more tightly if the blub is warm. 25 The bulb receiving portion will typically be manufactured from a resilient material and some deformation of the bulb receiving portion will normally be required to receive the bulb therein. The deformation will typically be enlargement of the bulb receiving portion. 30 Preferably, the pole is electrically insulated to insulate the operator from more than 250 volts, and even more preferably at least 1000 volts.

-4 Preferably, the pole has a handle that may have a non-slip surface. The handle is preferably rubber and affixed on the proximal end of the pole to provide the operator with a comfortable hand grip. For example, the operator may place one hand on the handle and one hand on the pole, and use the gripping surface of the handle to easily manoeuvre 5 the pole. The pole and bulb receiving portion may be formed of a single piece, or may be separate pieces. If the pole and the bulb receiving portion are separate pieces, preferably different shaped bulb receiving portions can be used to accommodate engagement with 10 different light bulb shapes such as larger, smaller, cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), LED bulbs, novelty shaped bulbs, and the like. The pole may be telescopic and be capable of extending and collapsing to enable the pole to be used at a variety of different lengths. A further advantage of an /5 extending/collapsing pole is that the light bulb changer can be more easily stored and only extended when required. Additionally, a telescopic pole allows the light bulb changer to be easily utilised by the operator on bulbs located at different heights, such as in a house with varying ceiling heights. 20 Preferably, the light bulb changer is at least 0.5 metres long and weighs less than 500 grams. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of changing a light bulb with a glass portion, the method comprising the steps of engaging 25 a bulb receiving portion of a light bulb changer as with the glass portion of a light bulb to be changed; performing the necessary action with the light bulb changer to remove said light bulb from its socket; lowering the light bulb changer to a height where the received light bulb can be 30 substituted with a new light bulb; placing the new light bulb in the socket; and performing the necessary action with the light bulb changer to secure said light bulb into its socket.

-5 Preferably, the necessary action is either a screwing action to remove/secure an Edison bulb, or a push and turn action to remove/secure a bayonet bulb. These actions are not to be regarded as limiting and it should be appreciated that other actions may also 5 be used to change bulbs. In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. /0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a light bulb changer for changing incandescent light bulbs according to an embodiment of the present invention, when in use in a recessed socket. Figure 2 shows a close up of the light bulb changer shown in figure 1. /5 Figure 3 shows the light bulb changer shown in figure 1 holding a standard incandescent light bulb. Figure 4 shows a close up of the light bulb changer shown in figure 1 holding a 20 standard incandescent light bulb. Figure 5 shows the light bulb changer shown in figure I holding a standard incandescent light bulb being held by an operator. 25 Figure 6 shows the light bulb changer shown in figure 1 after inserting a new incandescent light bulb into the socket. Figure 7 shows a light bulb changer for changing a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) according to an embodiment of the present invention, when in use in a recessed 30 socket.

-6 Figure 8 shows the light bulb changer shown in figure 7 after removing a CCFL light bulb from the socket. Figure 9 shows the light bulb changer shown in figure 7 holding a CCFL. 5 Figure 10 shows the light bulb changer shown in figure 9, but with the CCFL removed from the changer. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS /0 Figure 1 illustrates a light bulb changer 10 being held by an operator 11 having a cylindrical rod 12, a handle 13, and a bulb receiving portion 14 (partially covered in Figure 1). The operator 11 has one hand 15 on the handle 13 and another hand 16 on the rod 12. This enables the operator 11 to steadily hold the light bulb changer 10 and make the necessary movements to remove/insert a bulb from/into its socket 17. '5 The rod 12 is made of a lightweight plastic material that also acts as an insulator to the operator 11 from any contact with live electrical conductors that it may come into. Preferably the rod 12 will be insulated to at least withstand 250 volts, and more preferably at least 1000 volts. It will be appreciated that the rod can also be made of other materials, 20 such as fibre glass. Figure 2 illustrates a close up of the bulb receiving portion 14 inside the socket 17 as shown in Figure 1. The bulb receiving portion 14 is made of a single piece of rubber moulded to a shape suitable to receive light bulbs. However, no limitation is meant 25 thereby and other materials, configurations, and/or shapes could also be used. Figure 3 illustrates the light bulb changer 10 holding a standard incandescent light bulb 20 which has been removed from the socket 17. The light bulb 20 is an Edison screw light bulb and was removed by the operator 11 safely and efficiently without the 30 operator 11 having to climb a ladder, touch the potentially hot light bulb 20, or put their hand in or near the socket 17.

-7 A close up of the bulb receiving portion 14 holding the light bulb 20 can be seen in Figure 4. As the light bulb 20 in the Figures is an Edison screw light bulb, in order to remove the light bulb 20 as shown in Figure 4, the light bulb changer 10 is required to receive the light bulb 20 in the socket (as shown in Figures 1 and 2), and rotate the light 5 bulb 20 to unscrew it from the socket 17, and lower the light bulb changer 10 as shown in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows a close up view of a lit light bulb after it has been changed by the light bulb changer 10. Although the light bulb 20 shown in figures 1 to 6 is a standard /0 incandescent Edison screw light bulb, it will be appreciated that the light bulb changer can change other types of light bulbs. For instance, a bayonet light bulb can also readily be changed using the light bulb changer 10 by performing different actions with the light bulb changer 10 when removing and inserting a light bulb. Furthermore, different types and/or shapes of bulbs can also be changed using a different shaped bulb receiving 15 portion. The light bulb changer 10 can easily be adapted to change a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) as shown in figures 7 to 10 by making a minor change to the shape of the bulb receiving portion 14. Figures 7 and 8 show a close up of the bulb 20 receiving portion 14 when changing a CCFL bulb 20 with an Edison screw fitting. Other than the bulb 20 being a different shape, the light bulb changer 10 is used in exactly the same manner. Figures 9 and 10 show a close up of the bulb receiving portion 14 with a CCFL bulb 20 being respectively received by, and removed from, the bulb receiving portion 14. 25 The light bulb changer is a light weight, portable, and insulated apparatus for changing light bulbs and is useful for maintenance staff, handymen, electrical staff, electricians, home users, and anyone else who may change a light bulb. As the operator can change the bulb from a distance and does not need to directly contact the bulb to be 30 changed, the probability of any accidents occurring is greatly minimised. For example, the length of the light bulb changer 10 prevents the operator 11 from having to climb a ladder, or stand on a chair, reducing the possibility of a fall accident occurring. Additionally, the operator I I does not need to manually handle the light bulb 20. This -8 means that they will not be burned by the bulb if it is hot, cut by the bulb is the glass breaks, or receive an electric shock from potentially live electrical conductors. As the light bulb changer 10 is portable, it is not only safer but also more efficient 5 at changing light bulbs 20. A light bulb changer 10 can be conveniently stored in a cupboard and retrieved when needed. The operator does not need to find and carry a ladder to the location where the light bulb 20 is to be changed. Although the light bulb changer 10 has been shown in the Figures as being a fixed 10 length, this is not to be regarded as limiting. The light bulb changer 10 may be manufactured in a variety of different lengths and/or be provided with a telescopic rod that enables the light bulb changer to variably reach different distances. This would be particularly useful in a warehouse, supermarket, shopping centre, or the like, as they typically have very high and/or sloping ceilings. '5 It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The foregoing embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will 20 readily occur to those skilled in the art. Although the invention has been described with respect to changing light bulbs, no limitation is meant thereby. Throughout this specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprise" and variants thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising" are to be 25 interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers.

Claims (17)

1. A light bulb changer for changing a light bulb with a glass portion, the changer comprising: 5 a unitary bulb receiving portion being shaped to engage with the glass portion of a light bulb; and a rigid pole wherein the bulb receiving portion can be affixed to at least one end.

2. A light bulb changer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bulb receiving 10 portion is permanently affixed to the pole.

3. A light bulb changer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bulb receiving portion is interchangeable. 15

4. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bulb receiving portion further comprises a neck portion which engages with the pole to retain the bulb receiving portion thereon; and an enlarged body portion for engaging the bulb. 20

5. A light bulb changer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the enlarged body portion of the bulb receiving portion is typically defined by at least one sidewall and a shoulder portion extending outwards from the neck portion.

6. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, 25 wherein the bulb receiving portion is made of an electrically insulating material.

7. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bulb receiving portion is made of moulded rubber. 30

8. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bulb receiving portion is deformable under a heat load. -10

9. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pole is electrically insulated to insulate the operator from more than 250 volts. 5

10. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a handle that provides a non-slip surface.

11. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pole is extendable and collapsible. /0

12. A light bulb changer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pole is telescopic.

13. A light bulb changer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light bulb changer is at least 0.5 metres long and weighs less than 500 grams. 15

14. A method of changing a light bulb with a glass portion, the method comprising the steps of engaging a bulb receiving portion of a light bulb changer, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with the glass portion of a light bulb to be changed; 20 performing the necessary action with the light bulb changer to remove said light bulb from its socket; lowering the light bulb changer to a height where the received light bulb can be substituted with a new light bulb; placing the new light bulb in the socket; and 25 performing the necessary action with the light bulb changer to secure said light bulb into its socket.

15. A method of changing a light bulb as claimed in claim 14, wherein the necessary action is a screwing action to remove or secure an Edison bulb. 30

16. A method of changing a light bulb as claimed in claim 14, wherein the necessary action is a push and turn action to remove/secure a bayonet bulb. - 11

17. A light bulb changer substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings.