Device for installing or removing fluorescent tubes from lighting fixtures

A device for use in installing and removing fluorescent tubes from a lighting fixture, comprising:

• a cylindrical post having means for rigidly attaching said cylindrical post to a pole;
• a cradle journalled on said cylindrical post for relative rotational movement between said post and said cradle;
• a gear rigidly affixed to said post at an end thereof extending through said cradle;
• a complimentary mating gear rigidly affixed to a shaft journalled for rotation in said cradle and having its axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical post;
• frictional drive rollers rigidly affixed to said shaft for rotation in unison therewith;
• means carried by said cradle for detachably holding a fluorescent tube within said cradle and in frictional engagement with said drive rollers;
• and
• friction producing means interposed between said cylindrical post and said cradle, said friction producing means permitting rotation of said post relative to said cradle when said cradle is held against rotational movement and promoting rotational movement of said cradle in unison with rotational movement of said post when said cradle is freed from rotational restraint;
• whereby, at the times said cradle is rotationally restrained, rotation of said cylindrical post and said pole will produce rotational movement of said frictional drive rollers about their longitudinal axis, and will in turn produce rotational movement of said fluorescent tube about its longitudinal axis within said cradle.