US2497633A - Internally applied expanding gripping tool - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1950 3, SHAPIRO ET AL 2,497,633

INTERNALLY APPLIED, EXPANDING GRIPPING TOOL Filed April 8, 1947 zsneets-sheet 1 M I Jmntors Feb. 14, 1950 1- sHAPlRO ET AL 2,497,633

INTERNALLY APPLIED, EXPANDING GRIPPING TOOL Filed April 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rza '26 20 ioA /16 80 lao F 9 INVENTfoRs /f gz Q2 |04 5 B '7l/LM@ '72 ATTORNEY 'atentecl Feb. 14, 1.95.0

INTERNALLY APPLIED' EXPANDING GRIPPING T 0L` J'ackShapiro and Marvin Shapiro, New-York, N. Y.

Application April. 8, 1947, SeraL- No.4 739,990

(Cl. 81--72l 2l Claims. 1i

Thisv invention relates to tools for removing lamp basesiromtheir sockets.

Theprimary. object of. the present invention is the. provision, Aof a. tool which is. particularly well adapted for usev in. removingy lamp bases from Sockets from, which., it. is diiilcult. to. remove the lamp baseswhich. is frequently the case',especial' ly in` outdoor. electric Iiglitfv signs duetto corrosion of. the. lampbases inthe sockets, or dueto paint orotlier causes..

Another object of' thev invention i's to provide alampbase removing tool whichis Well adapted to. remove lamp base. from.. the socketby un.- screivi'ng; the` base from the socket; and; which is ofsuch construction and`operation as 12.0. facilitate theremoval of the lamp. base from' the tool;v after the lampbase is. removedf from the socket.

A further obj ect' is generally to provide; alamo base removing tool'whicliis. of..A simple construction and which is highly effective for its purposes and 'easy to use.

Another object isk the. provision of a tool' for cleaning the. inner` surfaces4r of. electric light sockets.

The above andY other objects; features and'adivantages. ofthe present, invention will be fully understood from thez following; descriptionr considered`i in, connection with` theV accompanying illustrative drawings.`

InthedraWihgs Eig.Y 12 is a., side View ofl a; lamp. base'V removing toolembodyingthc presentinvexitont Fig. 2' is a View. similari to Fig.' i showing the' tool carrying a` lamp. bjase which h'asbeen re'- moved.from,asoclc.;`

Fig. 3y is. a View ofthe toolA partly in, elevation and partly. in,r Section,the positions'ofrelatively movable. parts. of' the, tool. 'corresponding to' the positions.. shown in Fig. 1.`

Fig..4 is anend. view oithe'tool:

Eig, 5` isaside View,` in. elevatiomof, a tool` embodyinganother form ofthe intention;

Fig,...6is.a longitudinal sectional'view 'on-the line l-llof'Eig. 5;

Fig...A 7, isE a sectional` view on.` the line T T of Eis, 6:..

Eig.. 9 isla.. side. view of onejof the grippingelements., p

Referring now to the drawings and first to the form of theinventionillustrated in Figs. 1' to 4; theftool lllsembodying thepresent invention comprises a, 1am-pbaseV gripping member |2l andi'an operati-ngmember lill forV conditioning the gripping.. member |2` to grip and. release the.- lamp base and. for actuating; the gripping member. for removing the lamp base from the socket.

The. gripping `member li2 is preferably formed of,v spring steel and comprises a part or. holder i6. which is preferably cylindrical and which is internally screw-threaded. as indicated at I8. Gripping member L2 is radially expansible and' contractable and for this purposev is provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced'longitudiriall slots 20' which extend to the free' outer end ofv said, gripping member forming, a. plurality of. resilient. segments, 22l which extendA longitudinally of. the gripping member and constitute lamp-base gripping elementsr It will be under'- stood that the gripping member ll2i`speripherally continuous except in the slitted portion which provides the, gripping elements 221 The outer end portion of gripping member lf2 is externally screwet'hrea'ded as indicated at 24vl to fit the, internal screw-threadedH surface of a lamp base which is indicated at'B, inl Fig; 2; It will'` be' understood thatv screw-threaded; portion 24 of the gripping member is cylindrical and that in its normal. or' contracted condition itl may be in,- serted within or threadedinto thescreW-Ltgl'ireade'd shellA of the lamp base after a suicient amount of the glass'ofY the lamp bulb and the' material Whichwas usedfor securing the lamp bulb inthe base have'been'removed; lreferably,` but'not necessarily; the diameterof threadedportion 2l, in itsnormal contracted condition, is such that it is insertable nto the basev onlyA by screwingV it intothe lamp` base.- A shoulder 26 is provided on the grippingl member toA limit the extent of insertion of part 24 ofthe grippingV member in the lamp base.`

The operating; member lo comprises a rigid stem or spindle 28 havingv aA threaded portion t8 whichV is vin screwethreaded' engagement-With `the threaded portion 3l!` of the larme-'base` gripping member l2; Said-stem ZBihas an` outwardly fiar'- ing or inwardly tapering outer end portion 32 which is of: circular cross section-'andil whichis in# engagement with the outwardly flaring or bevelled inner `surface 34 off thefouterend portion- 2li of thel gripping memberY so thatv4` as' a result of' relative rotation ofmembersv I2I and"l M in a predetermined direction end portion 3`2f of operatingV member |41 moves axially or longitudinallyinwardlyof the outerfend portionV Z4^= of gripping member I"2v therebyA radiallyY expanding the latter'for" securely gripping the--lampbaseB internally thereof, with the raised' screw portionsv of .part.24i inthe groovesof the screw-threadsof the lamp base internally thereof. It will be understood that parts 24 and 32 are concentric or coaxial.

Provision is made for releasably holding members I2 and I4 against relative rotation. For that purpose a locking member 36 which as here shown is in the form of a sleeve has a sliding t on spindle I4 but is held against rotary movement thereon by a pin 38 which is fixed to said spindle and which projects into a slot 40 provided in said locking member. The adjacent end of gripping member I 2 is provided with one or more notches 42 in which a companion integral projection 44 of locking member 36 has a removable fit, in one position of said locking member longitudinally of spindle 28 for releasably preventing relative rotation between gripping member I2 and operating member I4. A spring pressed ball 46 is disposed within a lateral groove 48 in spindle 28 and is engageable in either of two recesses U and 52, respectively, for releasably holding the locking member in its locking and retracted positions, respectively. A rigid pin 54 is xed to spindle I4 and projects laterally thereof for engagement with the adjacent edge 56 of part I6 of the gripping member I 2 for limiting the movement of spindle 28 longitudinally toward the outer split end of member I2. It Will be understood that when pin 54 is in engagement with edge 56 of part I6 of member I2, the lamp base gripping member is in its normal or radially contracted condition. Spindle 28 is provided with a` cross pin or handle 5,8 for actuating the tool and for use in effecting the relative rotation of members I2 and I4. Figs. 1 and 3 show relative positions of the parts of the tool in which the threaded part 24 of the tool is insertable into the lamp base B, the screwthreaded portion 24 of the tool being radially contracted. The screw-threaded shell or socket in which the lamp base is mounted and from which it is to be removed by the tool is not shown since sockets of this type are well known.

The lamp base being in its socket is removed therefrom in the following Way: The threaded end portion 24 of the tool, being constructed so that it can be threaded into the base internally thereof is rotated by operation of the spindle I4 by means of the handle 58, .the locking member 36 being in its locking position as shown in Fig. 1. This is eiected by turning the tool in the direction of arrow A in Fig. l, preferably through about three revolutions. Then the locking member 36 is released from the gripping member I2, as illustrated in Fig. 2 and member I4 is then rotated in the opposite direction as indicated .by the arrow B in Fig. 2. The rotation of member I4 in this last mentioned direction results in the radial expansion of screw-threaded portion 24 of the outer gripping member so that the latter securely grips the lamp base internally thereof whereby continued operation thereafter of the tool in 'the same direction is eiective to unscrew the lamp base from the socket for removing the lamp base therefrom.

After the lamp base is removed from its socket spindle 28 of operating member I4 is turned in the opposite direction, say in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1 while the gripping member I2 is held against rotation, for example, by holding the lamp base B which is mounted on said gripping member, until the radial pressure of the screw-threaded portion 24 on the internal screwthreaded surface of the lamp base is released. Then the locking member 36 is returned to its locking position to prevent relative rotation of members I2 and I4 so that removal of the lamp base B from the tool is facilitated by unscrewing said lamp base from the threaded portion 24 of the tool. In case more than average diiiiculty is encountered in removing the lamp base from its socket by turning the handle128 by hand, a wrench or other suitable tool may be applied to member I2, and for this purpose portion I6 of said member is provided with a hexagonal or other part 60 which may be engaged by a wrench and thereby rotated. The outer end of spindle 28 is preferably recessed as indicated at 62 in Fig, 3 to receive parts of the lamp or lamp securing material which might not have been removed from the lamp base preliminary to the insertion of the tool in the lamp base as referred to above.

The tool of the present invention can be used for cleaning electric lamp sockets as well as for removing lamp bases therefrom. In this connection, it will be understood that the tool may be inserted in the socket so as to engage the threaded portion 24 of the tool with the screwthreaded shell of the socket internally thereof. The portion 24 may be expanded, if desired, to provide the required fit between the outer surface of said portion and the inner threaded surface of the socket shell so that rotation of the tool results in scraping and cleaning the said surface of the socket. Thus the tool is particularly well adapted for removing paint, corrosion and other foreign material from the inner surface of the socket shell whereby to clean the same and thereby improve the electrical conducting condition thereof.

In the tool IIIA, embodying the presently preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, the gripping member 19 comprises a plurality of individual gripping elements 12, which are initially separate from the holder part 14, instead of being integral with the holder part I6 as are the gripping elements 22 in the above described tool III. Each gripping element 12 is in the form of a rigid bar and is assembled with the other gripping elements in circumierentially spaced relation around the operating member 1E and with the inner end portions of said gripping elements within theholder part 14. The latter is provided with an internal peripheral groove 18, and each gripping element 12 has a lateral end projection which projects into said groove and is thereby held against movement axially of said part 14. Provision is made for holding elements 12 in circumferentially spaced relation, the means provided for this purpose comprising the circular plates 82 and 84 which surround member- 16 and are spaced from each other longitudinally of member 16, said 'plates having central openings 86 and 88 in which member 16 has a sliding t. Eachplate has a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses 90, in its outer peripheral edge, and each element 12 has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses 92 in its inner edge. In the assembled relation of elements 12 and said plates 82 and 84, the latter engage said elements in the recesses 92 thereof and the elements engage said plates in the recesses thereof, so that said elements are held by said plates in the circumferentially spaced relation thereof and so that said plates are held in iixed spaced relation longitudinally of said elements. The interengagement between elements 12 and plates 82 and 84 is with suiiicient clearance to enable limited radial movement of said elements to their circumferentially expanded and contracted posi-` tions,r corresponding to the radial movement or gripping; elements 22 of toolu i0-, as described above, for operative engagement with and release from the lampA base. Plate 82 is provided with a lateral key projection 94 which engages holder 14 in a recess tv to prevent turning of said plate in said holder, thus holding elements 12 in fixed relation circumferentially of holder 14.

The operatingv member 16 has a screw-threaded portionv S3 which is in screw-threaded engagement with the internally screw-threaded partr |00 of holder 14, soA that relative turning of members 14 and 15 results in relative longitudinal or axial movement of said members. Operating member 16 has an outwardly aring or inwardly tapering conical end portion |02 for engagement with the` bevelled ends |04 of gripping elements 12 for moving said elements radially outwardly to their expanded or lamp-base gripping positions. It will be understood that when member 'it is rotated in relation to holder 14 in such direction that part |02 moves axially of the holder toward end |06 thereof, said part |02 engages the bevelled ends |04 of elements 12 for moving them to their circumerentiallyexpanded positions, and it will be noted that the outward radial movement of said elements is limited. by the engagement of the edge surfaces |0.&,of the latter with the inner peripheral surface ||0` of holder 14. Thus, in the final circumferentiallyexpanded positions of elements 12, the latter are clutched to the holder 14.

When, as here shown, the tool is designed for removing lamp bases of the screw-threaded type from screw-threaded socket shells, elements 12, like elements 22 of tool I0 are screw-threaded, collectively, for engagement of the screw-threaded portions |,I2 of said elements internally of the lamp base as described above in respect to theVv operation of tool I0. When the gripping member is inserted into the lamp base, they elements 12l are in their fully circumferentiallycontracted positions, part |02 being at its extreme position away from end |06 of holder 14 by reason of the engagement of the locking member1-||4 with holder 14 in a manner similar to theaction oflocking member 360i tool |0. Locking member H4 has'two diametrically opposite projections H6 which engage holder 14 in the diametrically opposite recesses ||8 provided in the edge i lflof said holder. Locking member |4 is movable longitudinally of member 16, in the same way as said locking member 36, into and out of engagement with holder 14, and has the pin and slot connection and spring-pressed holder shown at 38, 40, 46 and 48 in Fig. 3 in reference to tool I0. In addition, locking member ||4 has a ringer piece I9 vwhich may be engaged by the users iingers, when the tool is held in his hand with the handle |20 against his palm, for retracting the locking member from engagement with holder 14. Handle |20 is removably secured to the end or operating member 16 in any suitable way as by a screw |24, said end of member 16 having a non-circular part |26 which rits nonrotatably into a corresponding shaped opening |28 in the handle.

The tool IDA is operable in the same Way as the tool Iii for removing lamp bases from their sockets as hereinbefore described with reference `to tool l0. It will be noted that the holder '14 is provided with a non-circular part |29, here shown as hexagonal, to provide a wrench-grip as described above with reference to part 60 of tool |0.

Thevtool |0A-,.like` the tool |10, may also be used for cleaning electric lampy sockets. When used for this purpose, elements 12.l are in partially circumferentially-expanded condition, Preferably said elements arein the positions to which they are moved by part |02 of the operating member as a result of oney complete` turnor revolution of said member in relation to holder` 14 for causing movement of part |02 toward end |05 or said holder. During the operation of the tool for cleaning the socket, holder 14 is locked to member 16 by locking member |`|4.

It will be noted that the outer ends of elements 12 are also bevelled at their outer edges as indicated at |30 so. that the gripping member considered as a whole has an inwardly tapering outer end toy facilitate insertion of the gripping member into the lampl base or into the lamp base socket. It will be understood that the tool LBA is operated substantially in the same way as tool l0 either for removing a lamp-base from its socket or for cleaning a socket. If desired, either end of handle |20 may be pointedr for use in cleaning cement and/or glass from the lamp base so that the gripping member may be inserted into the base, or for the same purpose, a suitable device (not.- shown) may be secured to handle |20, and

in either case the tool IBA may be held inthe hand for the cleaning operation by gripping, the holder 14v in. the palm of the hand.

Holder i4 is preferably made in one piece, aS shown, and assembled: with. member 16 gripping elements 12 and plates 82 and 842, before locking` member ||4 and handle |20 are attached tof or mounted on said operating member. Ink this connection, it will be understood that there is` su'lcient clearance between elements 12 and said plates-and betweensaid elements 1,2 and holder 14 to enable all of these parts to lbe assembled together into a unit and then assembled as a unit with member 16- by inserting the latter through the openings 86 and 38 in the plates and through the holder 14. After holder 14, elements 12 and plates' 82 and 84 are assembled as a unit on member 16, locking member ||4 is placed in position' on and secured to member 16, and nally handle |20 is attached. It 4will be noted that elements 12 cannot be removed unless operating member 1E is withdrawn from the assembly and that this cannot be done withoutv first removing locking member ||4 and handle |20.

It will be understood that while the tools embodying the present invention are intended primarily for use in connection with lamp bases of the screw-threaded type and are therefore provided with screw-threaded gripping members, it is within the scope of the present invention to omit the screw-threads from said gripping members when the tool is designed for use with other types of lamp bases, for example lamp bases which have bayonet type of connection with a lamp socket of the bayonet-slot type. In the latter event, the gripping member on certain of the base-gripping elements thereof may have a lateral projection to engage one or more lateral projections or protuberances Which are usually present in the internal peripheral surface of the lamp base in line with the projections which engage in the bayonet-slots of the socket.

This application is a continuation in part of our application, Serial No. 669,061, led May 11, 1946.

It will be understood that various changes in the details of construction and in the arrangeammessi ment of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of our invention within the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tool for removing a screw-threaded lamp base from a threaded socket comprising a holder member having an internally screw-threaded part, a rod having a screw-threaded stem in screw-threaded engagement with said part, said holder member having a tubular portion extending axially from said screw-threaded part, said tubular portion being provided with an internal peripheral groove, a plurality of circumferentially disposed gripping elements carried by said f holder member in said tubular Iportion thereof, each of said gripping elements being provided in its outer surface with a lateral end projection removably positioned in said groove for preventing relative axial movement of said holder member and said gripping elements, said gripping elements being radially movable in relation to said holder member and extending axially beyond the free end of said tubular portion thereof,

said gripping elements being externally screwthreaded in the extended portions thereof for engagement with the screw-thread of the lamp base internally of the latter, each of said gripping elements comprising a longitudinally extending bar having an inner surface `portion which flares outwardly toward the outer end thereof and being provided with longitudinally spaced recesses disposed on the inner surface thereof above said flared portion, and a pair of circular centrally apertured plates each provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses in the outer peripheral edges thereof, said plates engaging said gripping elements in the longitudinally spaced recesses thereof and said gripping elementsl engaging said plates in the circumferentially spaced recesses thereof whereby said gripping elements are retained by said plates in the circumferentially spaced relation thereof and said plates are held in fixed spaced relation longitudinally of said elements, said interengagement between said gripping elements and plates enabling limited radial movement of said gripping elements to their circumferentially expanded and contracted positions for operative engagement with and release from the lamp base,

the upper one of said plates being provided with a lateral key projection, said tubular portion being provided on its inner surface with a recess in which said key projection is disposed for preventing the turning of said upper plate in said holder member, said rod extending through the apeitures in said plates and having a sliding lit therein, and said rod being provided lwith an inwardly tapering part at the end thereof below the screw-threaded stem thereof, said inwardly tapering part being in juxtaposition to said outwardly flaring surface portions of said gripping elements whereby rotation of said rod in relation to said holder member in a direction for unscrewing the lamp base from its socket results in axial movement of said inwardly tapered part toward the end of said holder member opposite the free end of said 'tubular portion thereof and in a radial outward movement of said gripping elements to clamp the latter radially against the lamp base so that continued rotation of Said rod in said direction causes the lamp base to be unscrewed from its socket.

2. A tool for removing a screw-threaded lamp 'base from a socket, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gripping elements are provided with bevelled outer surface portions at the outer ends thereof for facilitating the insertion of said elements into the lamp base or into the lamp base socket.

JACK SHAPIRO. MARVIN SHAPIRO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile` of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 736,991 Matthews Aug. 25, 1903 851,137 Manley Apr. 23, 1907 1,390,917 Lyon Sept. 13, 1921 1,492,466 Jarmolowsky Apr. 29I 1924 1,813,567 Delorme July 7, 1931 1,892,904 Robinson et al. Jan. 3, 1933 2,360,054: Haas Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311,451 Germany! Mar. 22, 1919

Images