US3069195A - Device for changing tubular lights - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 F. BUCK DEVICE FOR CHANGING TUBULAR LIGHTS Filed May 18, 1959 INVENTOR, FRA NK BUCK;

1 2i? ATTORNEY Unite if Bfififilfi Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3 059,195 DEVICE FOR CHANGING TUBULAR LIGHTS Frank Buck, 480 Nesmuth Road, Glendale, Calif. Filed May 18, 1959, Ser. No. 813,782 1 Claim. (Cl. 294-21) The present invention relates to a device for the removing of and installing of tubular lamps.

Fluorescent lamps have become very popular in office buildings, stores, factories and elsewhere, and usually such lamps are mounted in the ceiling in suitable fixtures which oftentimes render access to said lamps diificult due to the ceiling height and location.

The present invention relates to a device which is easily handled by a workman, is efficient in grasping and holding of a tubular type lamp without damage thereto, and which device may be manipulated so as to release the lamp from its fixture or to replace the lamp in the fixture.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for use in the removal of and the reinsertion of tubular lamps in a fixture which may be manipulated by one hand or if it becomes necessary to use two hands, a single workman may efficiently handle the device without theaid of an assistant. I

In most installations of so-called fluorescent tubular lamps, a ladder is necessary in order to reach the fixture containing the lamp and as a rule two workmen are used as different types of fixtures require different methods of installing the lamp. Most tubular lamps have prongs on the ends thereof and these prongs must be inserted in a certain way into the fixture in order to complete an electrical circuit and to secure the lamp in the fixture.

I have found that a tubular pole formed from a light metal such as aluminum, performs satisfactorily, although it is possible to use some of the plastics now on the market for its construction. Some fluorescent tubes now on the market and sold under different trade-names such as Slim-line, have different means of attachment with a fixture. As an example, movable end plugs or pins. However, regardless of construction and method of tube installation, my invention is efficient in operation. With the present invention the lamp may be easily replaced without fear of dropping the lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of simple structure, of any length desired, inexpensive in cost of manufacture, easily assembled, eflicient in use and fool proof in operation. 7

The above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the device of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing.

The device of the invention includes a pair of half round tubular jaws 1 and 2 joined together by a continuous hinge 3, an elongated tubular pole 4 carrying at one end 5 the said jaws, the opposite end of the pole being provided with a fixed handle 6 and a movable handle 7, together with means to be described whereby actuation of the movable handle will actuate one of the jaws to open or close relative to the fixed jaw.

The half-round tubular jaws 1 and 2 are of elongated form so as to properly embrace a lamp to be either inserted in a fixture or removed therefrom, and the jaw 1 is arranged to be movable relative to the jaw 2. The fixed jaw 2 is secured to the tubular pole 4 by welding or otherwise, as shown at 8, FIGURE 2, while actuating means within the confines of the tubular pole moves the jaw 1.

To best accommodate the structure and the mechanism, the elongated hollow pole 4 is circular in cross-section for the major portion of its length. Adjacent the top thereof the pole is flattened so as to change its form and provide two parallel side wall portions 9 and 10, FIGURE 3, with curved end wall portions joining the side walls as shown at 11 and 12. The curved end walls, however, vary as to height, as best shown in FIGURE 2, the curved end wall 11 being shorter than the curved end wall 12 with the curved end wall 12 secured to the fixed jaw 2. The parallel side walls 9 and 10 likewise vary as to height as shown in FIGURE 2 in order not to interfere with movement of the movable jaw 1. In other words, the top edge 13 for one side wall lies below the maximum downward movement allowed for the movable jaw and said top edge likewise lies below the hinge 3 so as not to interfere with its action. The opposite end of said tubular handle has substantially the same appearance as the top portion thereof, save and exwpt that the said opposite end, designated as 14, is uniform as to depth of wall. A cross section of the end 14 would have substantially the same appearance as the cross section or" FIGURE 3; that is to say, the side walls would be parallel and joined by curved end walls.

Adapted to have sleeve fit engagement at 15 with the portion 14 of the tubular handle is the fixed handle member 6 which has pivoted at 16 the movable handle 7. The movable handle has a curved outer wall 17 and two spaced apart side members 18 and 19 with the side members pivoted between two spaced cars 19 and 20 by means of a pin 21.

To actuate the movable jaw 7, I have provided a pair of parallel levers 22 and 23 carried on pivot pin 24, which pivot pin extends through the side walls 9 and 10, the pin being headed, as shown in FIGURE 3. Pivoted between the said levers 22 and 23 by means of a pin 25, is the flattened end of a link 26, which link at one end is provided with a ball 27 confined within a socket member 28, which socket member is externally secured to the movable jaw 1. The opposite ends of levers 22 and 23 have pinned therebetween the flattened end 29 of a link rod 30, which rod is screw threaded at 31. This rod is passed through an enlarged diametric bore 32 in a cylindrical member 33 which has end studs, which studs are secured in boxes of the movable handle 16. A spacer bushing 34 may surround a portion of the threaded area 31 of the link red, the threads 31 carrying a nut 35 for adjusting the length of the link rod between the pivot point thereof with levers 22 and 23 and the cylindrical member 32.

The link rod carries a button 36 which is adjustably slidable thereon, said button securing one end 37 of a coil spring 38', the opposite end of said spring having hooked engagement with a tie 39, the opposite end of the tie being secured to an eye 41% externally carried by the movable jaw 1.

It will be observed upon reference to FIGURE 4, that the tubular pole is so formed at its upper end as to provide for two web members 41 and 42 which extend on opposite sides of the sides 9 and Ill and join the fixed jaw. This adds to the stability of the device.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows.

Upon reference to FIGURE 2 it will be observed that the pivot pin 24 lies on the axis of pole 4 while hinge line 3 for the jaws lies between the pole axis and wall 12. This construction is used as it allows for easy movement of the movable jaw 1 relative to the fixed jaw when the actuating means therefor is operated and particularly allows for a full opening between the jaws, as well as a closing thereof. The ball and socket arrangement between the movable jaw and the link 26 allows change of radius when the levers 22, 23 are rotated about their pivot pin 24.

When the movable handle 7 is rotated on pin 21 relative to the fixed handle 6, the link rod 36 is moved downwardly and the spring 33 is tensioned. Downward movement of the link rod rotates the pair of levers 22 and 23, the end of said levers connecting the link 26 moving upwardly to move the jaw 1. toward jaw 2, as for instance the position indicated in FlGURE 2 by dotted lines. The degree of rotation permitted the levers 22 and 23 will depend, to a certain extent, upon the length of the link rod 30 relative to the member .32. This length is adjustable through the medium of the nut 35 carried on the threads 31. It is perhaps obvious that the hand will engage both the movable handle 7 and the fixed handle 6 and that a closing of the hand will move the handle 7 toward the fixed handle. Such movement is resisted by the coil spring 38 which is tensioned when the movable handle swings toward the fixed handle. This tensioning performs two services; to wit: it stabilizes movement of the levers 22 and 23 so that there is always a resistance to movement of the jaw 1, and secondly, it stabilizes movement caused by the levers 22 and 23 in the movement of the movable jaw through the link 26. In other words, there is no free play in the actuating mechanism, to the end that the jaws will positively grip the tubular lamp, here indicated as a fluorescent tube 4 4. For the purpose of assuring that the link rod does not rattle within the casing, I may provide a series of flexible washers 45 of sponge rubber or other material, in said tubular pole, which washer are carried upon and surround the link rod.

In actual use, the operator, either with one hand or with both hands where the stabilizing of the tubular pole is necessary, operates the movable handle 7 to swing the movable jaw either to open or closed position, although normally the movable jaw will always tend to open. In order to protect the tubular lamp, the inner 4 surfaces of both jaws may be coated with a material such as rubber, cork, or the like 43, which material will likewise function to frictionally engage the periphery of the lamp.

1 claim:

A tool for handling elongated fluorescent light tubes, comprising a cylindrical hollow pole enlarged at its lower end to form a fixed handle member and having at its upper end a transverse elongated fixed jaw arcuate in cross-section, a movable handle pivoted to the hollow pole in position to cooperate with the fixed handle member, a transverse elongated movable jaw, arcuate in cross-section, joined to the fixed jaw by a hinge having its pivot offset with relation to the axis of the hollow pole, and mechanism located within the hollow pole for operatively connecting the movable handle member to the movable jaw; said mechanism including a centrally pivoted lever turning about a pin passing transversely through said axis of the hollow pole and through opposite sides of 20 the hollow pole proximate to and parallel to the axis of the hinge joining the jaw members, a relatively long link rod of readily adjustable length connecting one end of the centrally pivoted lever with the movable handle memher and a relatively short link connecting the opposite 25 end of the centrally pivoted lever to the movable jaw,

whereby when the two handle members are gripped together a fluorescent light tube may be grasped with a positive grip avoiding free play and the jaws may, because of the offset location of the continuous hinge, open 30 to a wide extent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images