Multi-configuration lamp manipulation tool
Assignee2Ules, LLC
InventorBarry F. Petty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a lamp manipulation tool (LMT) having a bellows engaged within a container and fluidly connected to a vacuum source disposed in the container, the vacuum source being configured to apply a suction such that the bellows is releasably coupled to a lamp when the lamp occludes an aperture of the bellows. In an illustrative example, the bellows may have a first aperture into the bellows and a second aperture within the bellows. The first aperture may, for example, be larger than the second aperture. The vacuum source may, for example, be operated by a remote switch. The container may, for example, be coupled to a handle. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a single LMT that allows a user to manipulate a variety of lamps beyond the user's normal reach.
Claims20
A lamp manipulation apparatus comprising:
- a bellows comprising a flexible first wall defining a first cavity, a first annular aperture into the first cavity at a distal end of the bellows, and a second annular aperture within the first cavity and proximal to the first aperture, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first aperture is greater than a cross-sectional area of the second aperture and a cross-sectional area of the first cavity monotonically decreases from the first aperture to the second aperture;
- a container having a second wall defining a second cavity with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the bellows is at least partially disposed within the second cavity and the first wall of the bellows is engaged with the second wall of the container and at least one of a coupler and a handle at the lower end;
- and,
- a vacuum pump disposed within the second cavity between the upper end and the lower end and fluidly connected to the first cavity, wherein the vacuum pump is configured to apply a suction to the first cavity such that, when a removable lamp unit occludes at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture, a distance between the first aperture and the second aperture decreases and the bellows is releasably coupled to the lamp unit.
A lamp manipulation apparatus comprising:
- a bellows comprising a flexible first wall defining a first cavity, the first cavity having a first aperture into the first cavity at a distal end of the bellows, and a second aperture within the first cavity and proximal to the first aperture;
- a container having a second wall defining a second cavity with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the bellows is at least partially disposed within the second cavity and the first wall of the bellows is engaged with the second wall of the container and at least one of a coupler and a handle at the lower end;
- and,
- a vacuum source disposed within the second cavity between the upper end and the lower end and fluidly connected to the first cavity, wherein the vacuum source is configured to apply a suction to the first cavity such that, when a target object occludes at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture, the bellows is releasably coupled to the target object.
A lamp manipulation apparatus comprising:
- a bellows comprising a flexible first wall defining a first cavity, the first cavity having a first aperture into the first cavity at a distal end of the bellows, and a second aperture within the first cavity and proximal to the first aperture;
- a container having a second wall defining a second cavity with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the bellows is at least partially disposed within the second cavity and the first wall of the bellows is engaged with the second wall of the container and at least one of a coupler and a handle at the lower end;
- and,
- means for applying a suction to the first cavity such that, when a removable lamp unit occludes at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture, the bellows is releasably coupled to the lamp unit, wherein the means for applying a suction is disposed within the second cavity between the upper end and the lower end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.