US3473423A

US3473423A - Bulb remover device

Info

Publication number: US3473423A
Application number: US732372A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer V Peck
Original assignee: ELMER V PECK
Current assignee: ELMER V PECK
Priority date: 1968-05-27
Filing date: 1968-05-27
Publication date: 1969-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1986-10-21

Description

0d. 21, 1969 E. v. PECK 3,473,423

BULB REMOVER DEVI CE Filed May 27, 1968 INVTOR.

MEQ I/ PECK BY f ,0r faQ/VE y.

3,473,423 BULB REMOVER DEVICE Elmer V. Peck, 15421 Hartsville St., La Puente, Calif. 91744 Filed May 27, 1968, Ser. No. 732,372 Int. Cl. Hlllk 3/32; B25j 15/00 ILS. Cl. 81-64 2 Claims ABSTRACT OlF TIE DISCLOSURE A bulb remover device which provides a cup means for ease in unscrewing and removing bulbs of various kinds of the type used in automobile headlight and taillight sockets, together with a handle for easy use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a new type of bulb remover device which has been adapted for use in unscrewing and removing bulbs of the type used in automobile headlight and taillight sockets.

Prior art The invention comprises a new type bulb remover device which provides both a vacuum and friction means to unscrew and remove bulbs in vehicles having headlight and taillight socket. The invention also includes an optional cleaning means which may be enclosed within the handle of the device.

Vehicles such as automobiles have numerous light bulbs for various purposes such as headlights, taillights, and dashboard lights. It is common knowle-dge that such light bulbs are often diicult to remove from their sockets even after a brief period of use because the metal portion of such bulbs easily corrodes and sticks to the socket. The socket itself is also subject to corrosion. Accordingly, in the process of attempting to unscrew such bulbs which have burned out, induviduals may easily break the glass portion of the bulb, not only cutting themselves, but making the base portion of the bulb much more diicult to remove from the socket after the glass portion of the bulb has been broken.

Thus, there is a substantial need for a device which will provide a. simple and convenient means for safely and easily unscrewing and removing such bulbs from sockets in vehicles. Of course, my invention may be used in any application where this type of problem is met, not only in automobiles and other vehicles.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a device which is capable of being easily used by a person to unscrew and remove light bulbs from sockets, particularly in vehicles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which can be used immediately and without the need of any modiiication, to unscrew and remove various sizes of light bulbs, particularly of the type used in vehicles.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bulb removal device which provides means for cleaning the sockets from which a light bulb is unscrewed and removed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device capable for use for the foregoing purposes and which is relatively easy to manufacture, assemble, and use.

These and other objects will be more readily understood by reference to the following description and claims, taken nted States Patent O" 3,473,423 Patented Oct. 2l, 1969 ICC in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof in which FIGURE l is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of FIGURE l showing the bulb remover device in use.

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2 except that the bulb is shown removed from its socket.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the cleaning means of the bulb remover device in use in a bulb socket.

FIGURE 5 is a view showing my bulb remover device in use on a bulb of larger size than the bulb in FIGURE 2.

With reference to the drawing, my invention comprises a handle member 10, preferably formed in the shape of a cylinder, and provided with a series of longitudinal grooves 12 in its outer circumference for ease in gripping.

One end of the handle 10 is formed into a socket 14 having a concave bottom 16 which receives a vacuum cup 18. The handle 10 may be made out of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, wood, or similar materials. The vacuum cup 18 can be made of any suitable resilient material, such as plastic, or natural or synthetic rubber.

The side walls 20 of the vacuum cup 18 are formed to closely fit the inside contour of the socket 14. The top of the side walls 20 has an outwardly projecting ange 22 having a circumference approximately equal to the slightly flared end of the handle 10 which terminates in the socket 14. The bottom of the sidewall 20 of the vacuum cup 18 is formed into an inwardly projecting lip 24.

The other end of the handle 10 has a reduced portion 26 which terminates in a cylindrical wire brush 28 having a diameter slightly less than the reduced portion 26. A cover member 30 fits over the reduced portion 26 and has longitudinal grooves 32 on its outer circumference which register with the grooves 12 of the handle 10.

The bulb remover device may omit the cylindrical wire brush 28, so that the handle may be more or less solid throughout, since the wire brush 28 is optional.

To illustrate the actual use of my invention,

light bulbs

34 and 36 are respectively shown in socket 38 in FIG- URES 2 through 5 of the drawings.

In operation, a person may grasp the handle 10 of the bulb removal device with his hand and then bring the socket end having the vacuum cup 18 immediately adjacent to the light bulb desired to be removed. As shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the vacuum cup 18 receives the glass portion of the light bulb 34 and rmly grips it so that the action of both friction and vacuum permits easy rotation of the light bulb 34, which is then easily unscrewed and removed. The socket 38 may then be cleaned of corrosion by any suitable means, such as the action of the wire brush 28 if the attachment is contained within the handle 10.

For light bulbs larger than the light bulb 34, such as the light bulb 36 in the drawings, the flange 22 of the vacuum cup 18 provides a friction fit around the tip of the bulb 36 so that upon applying hand pressure from the handle 10 in a horizontal direction against the tip of bulb 36, the bulb 36 may be rotated easily and unscrewed and removed. Again as in the Case of the light bulb 34, the socket 38 may then be cleaned of corrosion by any suitable means, such as the wire brush 28.

Although I have described my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred form of my invention, it is understood that numerous changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made.

I claim:

1. In a bulb remover device -of the type having a handle member at one end, the improvement comprising a cylindrical cavity formed in the other end of said handle member, a resilient cup member having cylindrical side walls insertable inside said cavity and placed in said 3 cavity and having an outer flange member extending around the outer portion of the cup member, said flange member being adapted for engaging and gripping the outer bulb portion of a bulb whereby rotation of the bulb relmover device produces a corresponding rotation of the bulb to unscrew and permit removal of the bulb.

2. A bulb remover device comprising:

a handle member at one end;

a cavity formed in the other end, said cavity having a concave bottom and cylindrical side walls;

a resilient cup member having cylindrical side walls insertable inside said cavity and formed to fit the inside contour of the cylindrical side walls of said cavity;

an inwardly projecting lip formed at the bottom of Said cylindrical side walls of said cup member; and

an outwardly projecting ange formed at the top of said cylindrical side walls of said cup member for engaging and gripping the outer bulb portion of `1 bulb, whereby rotation of the bulb remover device produces a corresponding rotation of the bulb to unscrew and permit removal of the bulb.

References Cited JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 294-21