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US 10,818,487 B2Granted
Light bulb changing device
AssigneeThe Holms Group
InventorsMichael Lester O'Banion, Lowell Dean Leuking, Todd James Huston, Hugh Miskel, Yandong Shen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light bulb changing device with expandable fingers is extendable to allow a person to install and remove light bulbs from an elevated ceiling without need for climbing a ladder. The device includes a tube, with the fingers attached thereto. A horn is slidably disposed on the top, movement of the horn adjusts the movement of the fingers. A compression spring and pulley housing with pulleys therein actuate movement of a tension member allowing for opening of the fingers and closing the fingers around a light bulb with limited torque to avoid breaking the light bulb.
Claims20
A light bulb changing device comprising:
- a tube having a top end and a bottom end;
- a plurality of flexible fingers connected to the top end of the tube and extending upward therefrom, each of the plurality of flexible fingers having a curvilinear shape and a predetermined length;
- a horn slidably disposed on the top end of the tube and covering at least a portion of the plurality of flexible fingers, whereby slidable movement of the horn relative to the tube adjusts the plurality of flexible fingers between an open position and a closed position;
- a compression spring disposed within the tube, the compression spring upon being compressed to a first length biasing the horn in a first position;
- a tension member, a distal portion of the tension member connected to the horn;
- a sliding handle connected to the bottom portion of the tube with a proximal portion the tension member engaging the sliding handle;
- and
- wherein sliding the sliding handle in a proximal direction effectuates movement of the horn to open the flexible fingers and releasing the handle effectuates movement of the horn to close the flexible fingers with controlled torque generated by the compression spring and based on a relative position of the fingers to the horn.
5 more elements
A light bulb changing device comprising:
- a tube having a top end and a bottom end;
- a plurality of flexible fingers connected to the top end of the tube and extending upward therefrom, each of the plurality of flexible fingers having a curvilinear shape and a predetermined length;
- a horn slidably disposed on the top end of the tube and covering at least a portion of the plurality of flexible fingers, whereby slidable movement of the horn relative to the tube adjusts the plurality of flexible fingers between an open position and a closed position;
- a compression spring disposed within the tube, the compression spring upon being compressed to a first length biasing the horn in a first position;
- a pulley housing having a pulley therein, the pulley housing disposed at the top end of the tube having a tension member engaging the pulley to reduce a force amount to slidably move the horn;
- an extension tube in telescoping engagement with the tube for adjusting a vertical reach of the tube and flexible fingers;
- a sliding handle connected to a proximal end of the extension tube with a length adjustment member engaging the tension member extending therethrough;
- and
- a reel connected to the sliding handle, the reel engaging a proximal portion of the tension member extending through the sliding handle;
- wherein sliding the sliding handle in a proximal direction effectuates movement of the horn to open the flexible fingers and releasing the handle effectuates movement of the horn to close the flexible fingers with a controlled torque generated by the compression spring and based on a relative position of the fingers to the horn.
7 more elements
A light bulb changing device comprising:
- a tube having a top end and a bottom end;
- a plurality of flexible fingers connected to the top end of the tube and extending upward therefrom, each of the plurality of flexible fingers having a curvilinear shape and a predetermined length;
- a horn slidably disposed on the top end of the tube and covering at least a portion of the plurality of flexible fingers, whereby slidable movement of the horn relative to the tube adjusts the plurality of flexible fingers between an open position and a closed position;
- a compression spring disposed within the tube, the compression spring upon being compressed to a first length biasing the horn in a first position;
- a pulley housing having a pulley therein, the pulley rotatably connected to the horn, the pulley housing disposed at the top end of the tube having a tension member engaging the pulley to reduce a force amount to slidably move the horn, a distal portion of the tension member connected to the pulley housing;
- an extension tube in telescoping engagement with the tube for adjusting a vertical reach of the tube and the flexible fingers;
- a sliding handle connected to the extension tube with a length adjustment member engaging the tension member extending therethrough;
- and
- a reel connected to the sliding handle and having a drum therein, the reel engaging a proximal portion of the tension member extending through the sliding handle having the tension member wrapped around the drum, wherein the reel further includes a torsion spring modulating connection of the tension member wrapped around the drum;
- wherein sliding the handle in a proximal direction effectuates movement of the horn to open the flexible fingers and releasing the handle effectuates movement of the horn to close the flexible fingers with a controlled torque generated by the compression spring and based on a relative position of the fingers to the horn.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.