Holiday light bulb tester with light bulb socket insertable probes

In combination with a light bulb string of the standard type which has a plurality of bulbs in sockets wired in series, the bottom of each socket forming an aligned pair of overlapping apertures each leading to an electrical contact inside the socket, the apertures together having a first length, light tester apparatus including:

• a body;
• a pair of linear probes affixed to the body and spaced apart a second length, which second length includes the width of each probe and the space between them and which second length is substantially equal to or less than the first length;
• and
• means on the body for operatively connecting a battery to the probes for supplying electrical current thereto,
• whereby the probes may be inserted into the apertures into electrical connection with the contacts.

A method of testing a bulb of a holiday light bulb string of a standard type having a plurality of bulbs in sockets wired in series, the bottom of each socket forming an aligned pair of apertures or a slot leading to a pair of electrical socket contacts inside the socket, including the steps of:

• providing a light tester apparatus having
• a body, a pair of spaced-apart linear probes affixed to the body, and means on the body for operatively connecting a battery to the probes for supplying electrical current thereto;
• operatively connecting a battery to the connecting means;
• and
• inserting the probes into the pair of apertures or slot of one selected socket so as to form an electrical circuit between the battery and the contacts of the one selected socket,
• whereby an operative light bulb engaged in electrical connection with the contacts of the one selected socket will light
• and whereby an inoperative light bulb engaged in electrical connection with the contacts of the one selected socket will not light.

In combination with a light bulb string of the standard type which has a plurality of bulbs affixed into a plurality of sockets so as to seal otherwise open front ends of the sockets, one bulb per socket, the sockets wired in series, each socket having a bottom forming an aligned pair of overlapping apertures or a slot, that pair of apertures or that slot leading to two separate electrical contacts inside that socket, each of those contacts being engaged in electrical connection with the bulb affixed into that socket, that pair of apertures together or that slot having a first length, light tester apparatus including:

• a body;
• a pair of linear probes affixed to the body so as to protrude outwardly therefrom;
• and
• means on the body operatively connecting a battery to the probes for supplying electrical current thereto,
• the probes being inserted into the pair of apertures or the slot of one selected socket through the bottom of the selected socket and being engaged in electrical connection with the contacts thereof and, thereby, in electrical connection with that bulb of the plurality of bulbs which is affixed in the selected socket.