GB2616716A - An apparatus for removing or mounting a light bulb - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for removing or mounting a light bulb comprises an elongate body 10 having a handle portion 12 at a first end thereof and a first attachment fixture 14 at a second end thereof, the second end being located distally of the first end; a support frame 16 extending from the second end of the body and having a second attachment fixture 18; a receptacle 20 for receiving and retaining a light bulb, configured to be detachably mountable at the first attachment fixture or the second attachment fixture; a bulb mount seat 22, configured to be detachably mountable at the first attachment fixture or the second attachment fixture and to clutch a bulb mount of a lighting fixture; and a driving means 24 configured to drive the receptacle to rotate to remove or mount a light bulb to the bulb mount clutched in the bulb mount seat; wherein, in use, the receptacle is mounted to one of the attachment fixtures and the bulb mount seat is mounted to the other attachment fixture.

Description

An Apparatus For Removing or Mounting a Light Bulb The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing or mounting a light bulb. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for removing and/or mounting a light bulb from/to a chandelier.

In embodiments, the present invention relates to a chandelier bulb removal and replacement tool, for changing and replacing chandelier bulbs at a height, in a home, office, hotel, or factory.

Replacing a light bulb in an overhead lighting fixture, such as a chandelier, is generally considered a simple task, although it is often not the case. The most common problem is that the bulb that requires changing is often out of reach, especially in an office, factory, or other commercial or public spaces. It is not uncommon for the ceiling height, at which the overhead lighting fixture is positioned, to exceed 3m.

Conventionally, changing and replacing a bulb in an overhead lighting fixture at any significant height requires a ladder or a chair, or even a tower. However, employing a ladder, chair, or tower creates problem for the person changing the bulb, as these means are typically unstable and unsafe, and therefore do not meet health and safety 2 0 standards. As a result, the responsibility for carrying out the task of changing a bulb of an overhead lighting fixture frequently falls to a designated person, such as a janitor or even an electrician. This incurs higher costs than should be for the case of a mundane job. For example, if an electrician is used, he would have to erect a ladder or a tower, remove the unwanted bulb, fit a new bulb, and dismantle the ladder or tower, all at a 2 5 cost of £15 to £20 per hour.

There is therefore a need for a tool for removing and replacing light bulbs, especially for removing and replacing light bulbs of a chandelier.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for removing or mounting a light bulb, comprising an elongate body having a handle portion at a first end thereof and a first attachment fixture at a second end thereof, the second end being located distally of the first end; a support frame extending from the second end of the body and having a second attachment fixture; a receptacle for receiving and retaining a light bulb, configured to be detachably mountable at the first attachment fixture or the second attachment fixture; a bulb mount seat, configured to be detachably mountable at the first attachment fixture or the second attachment fixture -2 -and to clutch a bulb mount of a lighting fixture; and a driving means configured to drive the receptacle to rotate to remove or mount a light bulb to the bulb mount clutched in the bulb mount seat; wherein, in use, the receptacle is mounted to one of the attachment fixtures and the bulb mount seat is mounted to the other attachment fixture.

In embodiments, the bulb mount seat comprises a tubular section defining an upper end and a lower end, the main section having a slot gap configured to receive an arm of a chandelier; a seat portion located at the upper end of the tubular section, configured to provide a perch for a light bulb mount located at an end of the chandelier arm; and mounting means configured to mount to the first attachment fixture or the second attachment fixture. In embodiments, the bulb mount seat has a scoop shape configured to receive a light bulb arm of a chandelier. In embodiments, the support frame includes stabilising members proximal to the second attachment fixture, configured to restrain cables or wires to which the bulb mount is connected.

In embodiments, the second attachment fixture is located on the support frame to oppose the first attachment fixture. In embodiments, the support frame is coupled to the body with adjustable means to vary an angle between the support frame and the body. In embodiments, the first attachment fixture is extendably coupled to the body so as to be extendable away from the body and towards the second attachment fixture. In embodiments, the support frame has four sides arranged in a rectangular shape, with one side coupled to the body proximal to the first attachment fixture, and having the second attachment fixture provided on an opposite side.

In embodiments, the apparatus further comprises illumination means, configured to direct light towards the support frame. In embodiments, the receptacle includes a release mechanism, operable to release a light bulb retained therein. In embodiments, the receptacle comprises a pair of opposing jaws, operable to close to grip onto a bulb and to open to release a light bulb. In embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a controller, configured to be operable to control a speed at which the driving means drive the receptacle to rotate. Preferably, the controller is further configured to be operable to control the release mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, the controller is further configured to be operable to control the jaws of the receptacle.

In embodiments, the receptacle includes a resiliently compressible lining. In embodiments, the body is telescopically extendable. In embodiments, the body -3 -comprises a plurality of sections and is configured to be extendable by receiving one or more extension sections.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described by way of examples, with references to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for removing or mounting a light bulb; Figure 2 is a cross-section view of a receptacle of an apparatus for removing or mounting a light bulb; Figure 3a is an illustration of a bulb mount seat of an apparatus for removing or mounting a light bulb; Figure 3b is an illustration of another bulb mount seat of an apparatus for removing or mounting a light bulb; and Figure 3c is an illustration of another bulb mount seat of an apparatus for removing or 2 0 mounting a light bulb; Referring to figure 1, an embodiment of an apparatus 1 for removing or mounting a light bulb is shown. In this and some other embodiments, the apparatus 1 includes a body 10, a support frame 16, a receptacle 20, a bulb mount seat 22, and driving means 24 for driving the receptacle 20. To remove a light bulb that is mounted to a light bulb mount of a lighting fixture, the apparatus is positioned so that the light bulb mount, with a light bulb mounted thereon, is received in the bulb mount seat 22. The bulb mount seat 22, with the light bulb mount received therein, is then manoeuvred to bring the light bulb mounted to the light bulb mount to meet the receptacle 20. The receptacle 20 receives and clenches the light bulb, and the driving means 24 is operated to rotate the receptacle 20. Rotating the receptacle 20 in turn rotates the light bulb, thereby dismounting the light bulb from the light bulb mount. To mount a light bulb to a light bulb mount, the process is similar, but with the light bulb to be mounted received in the receptacle 20, which is then brought to meet the light bulb mount received in the bulb mount seat 22, and the driving means 24 is operated to drive the receptacle 20 to rotate in the opposite direction to mount the light bulb to the light bulb mount. -4 -

In the embodiment of figure 1, the body 10 is generally of an elongated shape. In particular, as shown in figure 1, the body 10 is a tubular member. The body 10 has a handle portion 12 at one end to facilitate a user to hold and operate the apparatus 1. The body 10 may be made of any strong, rigid, material known to the skilled person, such as a polycarbonate plastic material. The body 10 is extendable to enable the apparatus 1 to be used to remove or mount a light bulb at various different heights. In some embodiments, the body 10 is configured to be telescopically extendable. In some embodiments, the body 10 comprises a number of sections coupled end-to-end, and is configured to be extendable by adding one or more extension sections. In some of these embodiments, the sections and extension sections are tubes and are configured to be coupled together by interference fit. In some other embodiments, the sections and extension sections are configured to be coupled together by threaded coupling. Other forms of coupling known to the skilled person, such as bayonet coupling, may also be suitable. At the other end of the body 10, distal to the end having the handle portion 12, a first attachment fixture 14 is provided, to which the receptacle 20 or the bulb mount seat 22 may be removably mounted. The first attachment fixture 14 may provide a threaded mount, bayonet mount, interference mount, or any other suitable mount known to the skilled person.

Referring still to figure 1, the apparatus 1 further includes a support frame 16, coupled to the body 10 at the end distal to the handle portion 12. The support frame 16 extends from the body 10 and has a second attachment fixture 18 provided thereon to which the receptacle 20 or the bulb mount seat 22 may be mounted. As shown in figure 1, the first attachment fixture 14 and the second attachment fixture 18 are arranged in an 2 5 opposing manner. Similar to the first attachment fixture 14, the second attachment fixture 18 may provide a threaded mount, bayonet mount, interference mount, or any other suitable mount known to the skilled person to enable the receptacle 20 or the bulb mount seat 22 to be removably mounted thereon. In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the support frame 16 has four sides forming a generally rectangular shape, one side of which is couped as aforementioned to the body 10 and the second attachment fixture 18 is provided on the opposite side. The support frame 16 may be coupled to the body 10 in various ways. For example, in some embodiments, the support frame 16 may be coupled to the body 10 by gluing, welding, or using mounting brackets. In some other embodiments, the support from 19 is coupled to the body 10 with adjustable means 28, such as an interference fit bracket, to allow the angle between the support frame 16 and the body 10 to be varied. By enabling the angle between the support frame 16 and the body 10 to be varied, the apparatus 1 may be -5 -used to reach lighting fixtures at various different angles. Similar to the body 10, the support frame 16 may also be made of any strong, rigid, material known to the skilled person, such as a polycarbonate plastic material. The support frame 16 may be formed as one single piece, multiple pieces, or any other suitable manner known to the skilled person. The dimensions of the support frame 16 may also be adjustable by forming the sides with telescopically extendable members or members that are extendable in any other suitable ways known to the skilled person.

As shown in figure 1, the first attachment fixture 14 of various embodiments is extendably coupled to the body 10 to enable the first attachment fixture 14 to independently move away from or towards the body 10. In particular, in the embodiment shown in figure 1, the first attachment fixture 14 is coupled to the body 10 via an extendable mechanism such as a piston or a telescopic arm to enable the first attachment fixture 14 to extend away from or towards the body 10 as indicated by the double-headed arrow in figure 1. In some other embodiments, the first attachment fixture 14 is extendable by way of adding extension members similar to the way the body 10 may be extendable by adding extension sections as described above. With such arrangements, the distance between the first attachment fixture 14 and the second attachment fixture 18 may be varied.

Referring to figure 2, an embodiment of the receptacle 20 is shown in isolation. The receptacle 20 is provided to receive and clench or grip on to a light bulb in order to remove the light bulb from the light bulb mount or to mount the light bulb to the light bulb mount. The receptacle 20 is configured to be removably mounted to either the 2 5 first attachment fixture 14 or the second attachment fixture 18. To facilitate this removable mounting, embodiments of the receptacle 20 has mounting means 31, which may be a threaded mount, bayonet mount, interference mount, or any other suitable mount known to the skilled person, to complement the first attachment fixture 14 and the second attachment fixture 18. In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the receptacle 20 comprises a pair of opposing jaws 34a and 34b, spaced apart by a suitable distance that would be apparent to the skilled person so as to receive a light bulb. The jaws 34a and 34b are sloped inwardly from the opening so that when a light bulb is inserted into the receptacle 20, friction against the jaws 34a and 34b holds the light bulb in place. To facilitate the receiving and retaining of a light bulb in the receptacle 20, some embodiments includes a resiliently compressible lining 38 at the interior of the receptacle 20. The lining 38 may be made of any suitable material known to the skilled person that will deform on insertion of a light bulb, such as silicone -6 -foam or rubber. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that the receptacle 20 may be arranged in other suitable ways so as to enable a light bulb to be received and retained in the receptacle 20, and also to be extracted from the receptacle 20. For example, in embodiments (now shown), the receptacle 20 may be in the form of a cup, and in some of these embodiments (not shown), the cup may also include a resiliently compressible lining 38 at the interior.

In some embodiments, the receptacle 20 further includes a release mechanism 32 that is operable to release a light bulb that is retained in the receptacle 20. In the particular embodiment shown in figure 1, the release mechanism 32 is a piston, although it will be appreciated by the skilled person that other mechanisms able to be operable to release or dislodge a retained light bulb may also be suitable. In a variation of the embodiment of figure 1 (not shown), the jaws 34a and 34a are coupled together with a mechanism, such as various hinges and/or other mechanical devices known to the skilled person, that may be operable to close and open to grip or release a light bulb.

Referring to figure 3a, an embodiment of the bulb mount seat 22 is shown in isolation.

The bulb mount seat 22 is provided to hold a light bulb mount still to facilitate the dismounting and removal of a light bulb that is mounted thereon or the mounting of a light bulb to the light bulb mount. In the case where the lighting fixture is a chandelier, the light bulb mount is typically located at the end of an arm extending from a central body and the arm typically has a curved upturned end portion. In the embodiment shown in figure 3a, the bulb mount seat 22 has a tubular main section 40, the tubular main section 40 defining an upper end and a lower end. At the upper end of the 2 5 tubular main section 40, a seat portion 42 is provided to serve as a perch on which the light bulb mount received by the bulb mount seat 22 may sit. As shown in figure 3a, the seat portion 42 of this embodiment of the bulb mount seat 22 is a raised flange extending from the upper end of the tubular main section 40. In some embodiments (not shown), the seat portion 42 may additionally include a grippy surface such as a rubber surface to provide additional purchase when receiving the light bulb mount. At the lower end of the tubular main section 40, mounting means 44 are provided to enable the bulb mount seat 22 to be removably mounted to either the first attachment fixture 14 or the second attachment fixture 18. Similar to the mounting means 31 of the receptacle, the mounting means 44 of the bulb mount seat 22 may be a threaded mount, bayonet mount, interference mount, or any other suitable mount known to the skilled person, to complement the first attachment fixture 14 and the second attachment fixture 18. As shown in figure 3a, the bulb mount seat 22 includes a slot -7 -gap 46, which extends through the seat portion 42 of the bulb mount seat 22, from the upper end of the tubular main section 40, and partially along the length of the tubular main section 40 towards the mounting means 44. In some embodiments, the bulb mount seat 22 further includes fins 48 extending in parallel and radially outwards from the two edges of the slot gap 46. In use, the slot gap 46 is configured to receive an arm of a chandelier with the light bulb mount, which is located at the end of the chandelier arm, seated on the seat portion 42.

As shown in figure 3a, the tubular main section 40 is a hollow sleeve. In some other embodiments (not shown), the tubular main section 40 may be a solid cylinder cut partially through by the slot gap 46.

A variation of the bulb mount seat 22 is shown in figure 3b. This embodiment of the bulb mount seat 22 similarly has a seat portion 42 and mounting means 44 as the embodiment shown in figure 3a. However, instead of the tubular shape shown in figure 3a, the main section 40 of the embodiment shown in figure 3b has a scoop shape, similar to a playground slide, and the fins 48 are curved to follow the contour of the scoop shape. The scoop shape is arranged to follow the contour of a chandelier arm, thereby facilitating the bulb mount seat 22 to receive the chandelier arm.

Referring back to figures 1 and 2, the apparatus 1 further includes driving means 24 configured to cause the receptacle 20 to rotate or spin independently of the rest of the apparatus 1. In some embodiments, the driving means 24 may be a mechanism, which may be any suitable arrangement known to the skilled person, integrated into the 2 5 receptacle 20 and driven by a motor (not shown) or any other suitable means of generating motion to cause the pair of opposing jaws 34a and 34b to rotate simultaneously. In some other embodiments (not shown), the driving means 24 is configured as an accessory that may be added on. In particular, in these embodiments, the driving means 24 may be configured as an accessory to be mounted directly to the first attachment fixture 14 or the second attachment fixture 18, and to have a mount to which the receptacle 20 may be mounted. In some embodiments, the apparatus 1 may further include illumination means 30 to direct light towards the vicinity of the support frame 16 to provide light for operating the apparatus 1. The illumination means 30 may be integrated into the apparatus 1 or may be configured as an accessory that can be removably attached to the apparatus 1. The illumination means 30 may for example be a torch having light bulb, and the light bulb may be an incandescent light bulb, a fluorescent light bulb, a halogen light bulb, an LED, or any -8 -other suitable light emitting device known to the skilled person. The provision of the illumination means 30 allows the apparatus 1 to be used to in a dark environment, for example to replace a faulty light bulb.

In some embodiments, such as that shown in figure 1, the support frame 16 of the apparatus 1 further includes stabilising members 26 provided in the proximity of the second attachment fixture 18. The stabilizing members 26 may be hooks or brackets or other arrangements suitable for restraining a cable or wire to which a light bulb mount of a lighting fixture is connected. For example, where the light bulb to be removed is mounted in a set of string lights, it is desirable to retrain the cable or wire connected to the light bulb mount to stabilise the light bulb mount to facilitate the engagement of the bulb mount seat 22 with the light bulb mount. Also to facilitate the use of the apparatus 1 on string lights, embodiments are provided with a simplified bulb mount seat 22 as shown in figure 3c, which has a seat portion 42 and mounting means 44, with no tubular main section 40 or slot gap 46 or fins 48.

In some embodiments, the apparatus 1 further includes a controller 36, configured to be operable by a user of the apparatus 1 to control one or more of the driving means 24, the extendable connection of the first attachment fixture 14, the opposing jaws 34a 2 0 and 34b of the receptacle 20, the release mechanism 32, and the illumination means 30. In particular, the controller may be operable to control the speed and direction of rotation of the driving means 24, and/or control the first attachment fixture 14 to extend away from or retract towards the body 10, and/or control the opposing jaws 34a and 34b of the receptacle 20 to open or close to clutch or release a light bulb, and/or to 2 5 control the release mechanism 32 to release a light bulb that is received in the receptacle 20, and/or to control the illumination means 30 to turn on or off the light. The controller 36 may have electronic circuits configured in a suitable way known to the skilled person and connected, wired or wirelessly, to the aforementioned part(s) of the apparatus 1, and the various parts of the apparatus 1 may have corresponding electronic circuits to receive control signals from the controller 36. As shown in figure 1, the controller 36 is located at the handle portion 12 of the body 10. In some other embodiments (not shown), the controller may be configured as a remote control. The controller 36 may be powered in any suitable way known to the skilled person, by batteries for example.

A number of ways of setting up and operating the apparatus 1 will now be described. -9 -

To remove a light bulb from a chandelier with upwardly curving arms, the apparatus 1 is first set up for use. In that respect, the above-described bulb mount seat 22 as exemplified in figures 3a and 3b is mounted to the first attachment fixture 14 and the above-described receptacle 20 is mounted to the second attachment fixture 18. The apparatus 1 is then brought to the light bulb that is to be removed and the arm of the chandelier is received in the bulb mount seat 22. In the process of bring the apparatus 1 to the light bulb, the body 10 of the apparatus 1 may be extended if required if the light bulb would otherwise be out of reach. Once the light bulb mount is seated on the bulb mount seat 22, the bulb mount seat 22 itself may be "raised" towards the receptable 20 whereby the light bulb to be removed is received by the receptable 20; the jaws 34a and 34b may be operated in embodiments in which they are operable to close and open to grip the light bulb. Then, the driving means 24 is actuated, for example by operating the controller 12 in embodiments having a controller 12, to rotate the receptacle 20 in an appropriate direction and at a suitable speed to unscrew the light bulb from the light bulb mount. The removed light bulb may then be extracted by hand or by actuating the jaws 34a and 34b to open, and/or by actuating the release mechanism 32 in embodiments in which the apparatus 1 includes the above-described release mechanism 32.

2 0 To mount a light bulb to a chandelier with upwardly curving arms, the apparatus 1 is set up in a similar way to removing a light bulb from a chandelier with upwardly curving arms, with the additional step of placing a light bulb to be mounted into the receptacle 20 of the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 is then brought to the light bulb mount to which the light bulb is to be mounted and the arm of the chandelier is received in the bulb 2 5 mount seat 22, extending the body 10 if necessary to reach the light bulb mount. Once the light bulb mount is seated on the bulb mount seat 22, the bulb mount seat 22 itself is "raised" towards the receptable 20 to align the light bulb received in the receptacle 20 with the light bulb mount. Then, the driving means 24 is actuated, for example by operating the controller 12 in embodiments having a controller 12 to rotate the receptacle 20 at a suitable speed and in the opposite direction to removing a light bulb to screw the light bulb into the light bulb mount. Once the light bulb is securely screwed into the light bulb mount, the bulb mount seat 22 is "lowered" to dislodge the light bulb from the receptacle 20; operating the jaws 34a and 34b to open and close if necessary.

To remove a light bulb from a chandelier with downwardly curving arms, the apparatus 1 is set up with the bulb mount seat 22 mounted to the second attachment fixture 18 -10 -and the receptacle 20 mounted to the first attachment fixture 14. The apparatus 1 is then brought to the light bulb that is to be removed and the arm of the chandelier is received in the bulb mount seat 22. The body 10 may be extended if required if the light bulb mount would otherwise be out of reach. Once the light bulb mount is seated on the bulb mount seat 22, the receptacle 20 may be "raised" towards the bulb mount seat 22 to receive the light bulb that is to be removed. Then, the driving means 24 is actuated, by operating the controller 12 for example in embodiments having a controller 12, to rotate the receptacle 20 in an appropriate direction and at a suitable speed to unscrew the light bulb from the light bulb mount. The removed light bulb may then be extracted by hand or by actuating the jaws 34a and 34b to open, and/or by actuating the release mechanism 32 in embodiments in which the apparatus 1 includes the above-described release mechanism 32.

To mount a light bulb to a chandelier with downwardly curving arms, the apparatus 1 is set up in a similar way to removing a light bulb from a chandelier with downwardly curving arms, with the additional step of placing a light bulb to be mounted into the receptacle 20 of the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 is then brought to the light bulb that is to be removed and the arm of the chandelier is received in the bulb mount seat 22, extending the body 10 if necessary to reach the light bulb mount. Once the light bulb 2 0 mount is seated on the bulb mount seat 22, the receptacle 20 is "raised" towards the bulb mount seat 22 to align the light bulb received in the receptacle 20 with the light bulb mount. Then, the driving means 24 is actuated, for example by operating the controller 12 in embodiments having a controller 12 to rotate the receptacle 20 at a suitable speed and in the opposite direction to removing a light bulb to screw the light bulb into the light bulb mount. Once the light bulb is securely screwed into the light bulb mount, the receptacle 20 is "lowered" to dislodge the light bulb from the receptacle 20; operating the jaws 34a and 34b to open and close if necessary.

To remove a light bulb from a light bulb mount of a set of string lights, the apparatus 1 is set up with the bulb mount seat 22 mounted to the second attachment fixture 18 and the receptacle 20 mounted to the first attachment fixture 18. The apparatus 1 is then brought to the light bulb mount, which is then received in the bulb mount seat 22. The apparatus 1 is further manoeuvred to catch the wires or cables extending from the light bulb mount with the above-described stabilizing members 26. Once the light bulb mount is seated and stabilised, the receptable 20 mounted on the first attachment fixture 14 may be "raised" to engage the light bulb. Then, with the light bulb in the clutches of the receptacle 20, the driving means 24 is actuated, by operating the controller 12 for example in embodiments having a controller 12, to rotate the receptacle 20 in an appropriate direction and at a suitable speed to unscrew the light bulb from the light bulb mount.

To mount a light bulb to a light bulb mount of a set of string lights, the apparatus 1 is set up in a similar way to remove a light bulb from a light bulb mount of a set of string lights, with the additional step of placing a light bulb to be mounted into the receptacle 20 of the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 is then brought to the light bulb mount, which is then received in the bulb mount seat 22. The apparatus 1 is further manoeuvred to catch the wires or cables extending from the light bulb mount with the above-described stabilizing members 26. Once the light bulb mount is seated and stabilised, the receptable 20 mounted on the first attachment fixture 14 is "raised" towards the bulb mount seat 22 to align the light bulb received in the receptacle 20 with the light bulb mount. Then, the driving means 24 is actuated, for example by operating the controller 12 in embodiments having a controller 12 to rotate the receptacle 20 at a suitable speed and in the opposite direction to removing a light bulb to screw the light bulb into the light bulb mount. Once the light bulb is securely screwed into the light bulb mount, the receptacle 20 is "lowered" to dislodge the light bulb from the receptacle 20; operating the jaws 34a and 34b to open and close if necessary.

In an alternative to the above-described ways of setting up the apparatus 1 for removing a lightbulb, the apparatus 1 may be set up for cleaning a lightbulb that is mounted to a light bulb mount. To facilitate this, the receptacle 20 is replaced with a cleaning tool (not shown). The cleaning tool is similar in some ways to the receptacle 2 5 20 in that it has mounting means 31 for mounting to the first attachment fixture 14 or the second attachment fixture 18. It also has driving means 24 to cause the clean tool to rotate or spin independently of the rest of the apparatus 1. Additionally, the cleaning tool has cleaning means connected to the driving means 24 such that when the driving means 24 are activated, the cleaning means rotates. The cleaning means may be of any suitable form known to the skilled person. For example, in some embodiments, the cleaning means may be a brush head or cloth head. To clean a light bulb, the apparatus 1 is set up either with the cleaning tool mounted to the first attachment fixture 14 and the bulb mount seat 22 mounted to the second attachment fixture 18, or with the cleaning tool mounted to the second attachment fixture 18 and the bulb mount seat 22 mounted to the first attachment fixture 14; the orientation depends on the orientation of the light bulb as per the description above (i.e. whether the arms of the chandelier curve upwardly or downwardly). The apparatus 1 is then brought to the light -12 -bulb that is to be cleaned in ways similar to those described above for removing a light bulb using the apparatus 1. Then, instead of actuating the driving means 24 to rotate the receptacle 20, the driving means 24 is actuated to rotate the cleaning means.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described with particular reference to the examples illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the examples described within the scope of the appending claims.

Claims (17)

1. -13 -Claims: 1. An apparatus (1) for removing or mounting a light bulb, comprising: an elongate body (10) having a handle portion (12) at a first end thereof and a first attachment fixture (14) at a second end thereof, the second end being located distally of the first end; a support frame (16) extending from the second end of the body (10) and having a second attachment fixture (18); a receptacle (20) for receiving and retaining a light bulb, configured to be detachably mountable at the first attachment fixture (14) or the second attachment fixture (18); a bulb mount seat (22), configured to be detachably mountable at the first attachment fixture (14) or the second attachment fixture (18) and to clutch a bulb mount of a lighting fixture; and a driving means (24) configured to drive the receptacle (20) to rotate to remove or mount a light bulb to the bulb mount clutched in the bulb mount seat (22); wherein, in use, the receptacle (20) is mounted to one of the attachment fixtures (14) and the bulb mount seat (22) is mounted to the other attachment fixture (18).
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bulb mount seat comprises: a tubular section (40) defining an upper end and a lower end, the main section (40) having a slot gap (46) configured to receive an arm of a chandelier; a seat portion (42) located at the upper end of the tubular section (40), configured to provide a perch for a light bulb mount located at an end of the chandelier arm; and mounting means (44) configured to mount to the first attachment fixture or the second attachment fixture.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the bulb mount seat has a scoop shape configured to receive a light bulb arm of a chandelier.
4. 4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the support frame includes stabilising members (26) proximal to the second attachment fixture, configured to restrain cables or wires to which the bulb mount is connected.
5. -14 - 5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the second attachment fixture is located on the support frame to oppose the first attachment fixture.
6. 6. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the support frame is coupled to the body with adjustable means (28) to vary an angle between the support frame and the body.
7. 7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the first attachment fixture is extendably coupled to the body so as to be extendable away from the body and towards the second attachment fixture.
8. 8. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the support frame has four sides arranged in a rectangular shape, with one side coupled to the body proximal to the first attachment fixture, and having the second attachment fixture provided on an opposite side.
9. 9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising illumination means (30), configured to direct light towards the support frame.
10. 10. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle includes a release mechanism (32), operable to release a light bulb retained therein.
11. 11. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle comprises a pair of opposing jaws (34a, 34b), operable to close to grip onto a bulb and to open to release a light bulb.
12. 12. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a controller (36), configured to be operable to control a speed at which the driving means drive the receptacle to rotate.
13. 13. The apparatus of claims 10 and 12, wherein the controller is further configured to be operable to control the release mechanism.
14. 14. The apparatus of claims 11 and 12, wherein the controller is further configured to be operable to control the jaws of the receptacle.
15. -15 - 15. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle includes a resiliently compressible lining (38).
16. 16. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the body is telescopically 5 extendable.
17. 17. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sections and is configured to be extendable by receiving one or more extension sections.