US3666113A - Holder for light bulbs - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for spare light bulbs including a generally rectangular board of molded plastic foam material having a plurality of cavities opening through one surface of the board and arranged in a uniform geometric pattern formed of aligned columns and rows. Bulb holding screw sleeve devices are friction fitted one in each of the cavities.

Description

United States Patent Burrellet a1.

[is] 3,666,l 13 May 30, 1972 HOLDER FOR LIGHT BULBS [72] Inventors: Dean Wm. Burrell, 35 Jefferson St., El-

licottville, N.Y. 14731; Paul A.. Costello, 27 Stevens Rd., Needham, Mass. 02192; Robert C. Costello, 349 Adams St., Milton, Mass. 02186 22 Filed: Aug. 19,1970

21 App1.No.: 64,967

[52] US. Cl ..21l/26 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 7/00 [58] FieldofSearch .l .......2l1/26, 13, 69.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,554,818 9/1925 Greenstreet ..21 1/26 X 1,911,826 5/1933 Kaclber....

2,960,235 11/1960 Farber ....2l l/26 3,055,506 9/1962 Moorhead ..21 1/26 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 683,132 311964 Canada .2! H26 Primary ExaminerNi1e C. Byers, Jr. Attorney-Bean & Bean [57] ABSTRACT A holder for spare light bulbs including a generally rectangular board of molded plastic foam material having a plurality of cavities opening through one surface of the board and arranged in a uniform geometric pattern formed of aligned columns and rows. Bulb holding screw sleeve devices are friction fitted one in each of the cavities.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY30 I972 3.666113 INVIiNlO/(S 0HN wr. BURRELL mm A. cosreuo BY ROBERT c.cosTu0 ATTORNEYS HOLDER FOR LIGHT BULBS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to holders for electric light bulbs and more particularly to an inexpensive holder adapted to store in full view spare light bulbs in a suitable location convenient for household use.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holder is in the form of a single, generally rectangular, plastic foam board having a plurality of cavities, which open through one surface thereof and are adapted to receive light bulb holding screw sleeve devices. The sleeve devices are friction fitted within the cavities and may, if necessary, be positively prevented from rotating therein during use by applying an adhesive to the walls of the cavities prior to inserting the sleeve devices.

In an alternative form of the present invention, the cavities extend completely through the board and have their rear ends closed by a sheet of cardboard or the like adhesively bonded to the rear surface of the board.

The holder may be mounted on a convenient vertical surface, such as a wall, door or the like by passing conventional screw fastener devices through apertures, which are preferably formed in the board during mold forming thereof. When mounted, the holder serves to removably retain a plurality of spare light bulbs in position such that their wattage ratings may be readily observed by a user.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a holder formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an alternative construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring more particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the holder of the present invention is generally designated as 10.

Holder includes a generally rectangular board 12, which is preferably formed of molded plastic foam material, such as expanded polystyrene. As will be apparent from viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, board 12 is formed with a plurality of generally cylindrical cavities 14, which open only through board front surface 16. Cavities 14 are preferably formed during mold forming of board 12.

Friction fitted within cavities 14 are screw threaded sleeve devices 18, which may be formed of metal or plastic, as desired. It will be understood that sleeve devices 18 are dimensioned to threadably receive the threaded metal base portions of conventional light bulbs, not shown, such that the light bulbs may be removably mounted on board 12 with their glass bulb or illuminating portions, which conventionally have their wattage ratings imprinted thereon, arranged to upstand from board surface 16. Cavities l4, and thus sleeve devices 18, are preferably arranged in a uniform geometric pattern formed by aligned columns and rows, as best shown in FIG. I, with sufficient spacing therebetween to permit a light bulb to be inserted or removed without interference with adjacent light bulbs. However, the spacing between cavities of adjacent rows or columns may be varied in forming for use by light bulbs of materially different sizes, as well as watt ratings, to be mounted on the same holder.

The possibility of rotation of sleeve devices 18 within cavities 14 during insertion or removal of light bulbs, may be prevented by applying a suitable quick drying glue or other adhesive, not shown, to the side walls of cavities prior to the placin of the sleeve devices therein.

I-Iol er 10 may be mounted on any convenient vertical surface, such as a wall, door or the like, not shown, by one or more conventional, headed screw fasteners 20.

Preferably, apertures, not shown, which are dimensioned to receive screw fasteners 20, are formed in board 12 during fabrication thereof in order to facilitate mounting of the holder. When holder 10 is mounted, it serves to arrange a plurality of spare light bulbs in position such that they can be easily inserted or removed therefrom, while permitting their wattage ratings to be readily observed by a user.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative form of the present invention, wherein cavities 14 open through both front and rear board surfaces 16 and 22, respectively. In this construction, the rear ends of cavities 14 are closed by a sturdy paper or thin cardboard sheet 24, which may be adhesively bonded to rear surface 22.

While the present holder has been described for use with light bulbs, it will be apparent that its construction is suitable for use with other electrical devices having threaded bases, such as fuses of the plug type. Moreover, it will be understood that although several forms of the present invention have been described, various modifications in the construction and/or use thereof will likely occur to one skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description.

We claim:

1. A holder for mounting electrical devices on a vertically disposed mounting surface wherein said devices are characterized as having a screw threaded base portion, said holder comprising in combination:

a board, said board being mold formed of plastic foam material having a plurality of cavities, said cavities having front ends opening through a front surface of said board, said board carrying means for simultaneously closing rear ends of said cavities;

a sleeve device frictionally retained within each of said cavities, each said sleeve device being threaded to removably receive said base portion; and

at least one threaded fastener device for attaching said holder to said mounting surface, said fastener device being arranged to bear on said front surface of said board and to extend rearwardly through said board and said means carried thereby and into said mounting surface.

2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by said board comprises an integral part of said board.

3. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by said board comprises a thin sheet of material adhesively bonded to a rear surface of said board.

Claims (3)

1. A holder for mounting electrical devices on a vertically disposed mounting surface wherein said devices are characterized as having a screw threaded base portion, said holder comprising in combination: a board, said board being mold formed of plastic foam material having a plurality of cavities, said cavities having front ends opening through a front surface of said board, said board carrying means for simultaneously closing rear ends of said cavities; a sleeve device frictionally retained within each of said cavities, each said sleeve device being threaded to removably receive said base portion; and at least one threaded fastener device for attaching said holder to said mounting surface, said fastener device being arranged to bear on said front surface of said board and to extend rearwardly through said board and said means carried thereby and into said mounting surface.

2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by said board comprises an integral part of said board.

3. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by said board comprises a thin sheet of material adhesively bonded to a rear surface of said board.

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