US2016078A - Lamp wrench - Google Patents

Description

LAMP WRENCH Filed Nov. 14, 1954 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP WRENCH Marcel E. Demyttenaere, West Springeld, Mass.

Application November 14, 1934, Serial No. 752,953

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in lamp wrenches.

An object of my invention is to provide a lamp wrench, or tool, for removing and replacing elec- 5 tric lamp bulbs which are located at a height ordinarily inaccessible from the oor, without the use of a step ladder.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in such a device, means for automatically gripping and releasing the lamp', as the device is pushed toward, or pulled away from, the socket in which the lamp is located.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a lamp wrench having a plurality of gripping ngers and means for providing cooperation between the ngers, so that they operate together, both in the opening and closing operations.

These, and other objects and advantages of my invention, will be more completely described and disclosed in the specification, the accompanying drawing, and the appended claims.

Broadly, my invention comprises a handle or pole, a plurality of spring arms secured on the handle and provided with bearing clevises, gripping or ringer members pivotally secured in the bearing clevises, and connecting means between the gripping or finger members for synchronizing their movements.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my device, showing the finger members in open position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the finger members in closed, or gripping position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, with the fingers in open position, similar to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the nger members.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View, illustrating the connection of the spring arms to the handle, and

Fig, 6 is a cross, sectional View on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in

which like numerals refer to like parts throughout:-

A handle, or pole I, is formed with a shoulder 2, and, above the shoulder 2, with flat sides 3 and an annular groove 4. A plurality of arm,

or bearing members 5, each formed with an inwardly projecting flange 6, are secured on the handle I, by engagement of the flanges 6 in the groove 4 and a ferrule 1, which is pressed on over the members 5 and against the shoulder 2.

The ferrule I is formed with sockets 8 for holding the arms 5 against the at surfaces 3 and in the form of a square, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that the arms 5 are rmly secured on the handle I and equally spaced, one from the other. The 5 upper, or free -ends of the arms 5 are split and bent to form bearing clevises 9, in which are pivotally supported gripping members Il), by means of studs, or rivets Il. Each of the members I0 is formed with an upper contact, or 10 nger portion I2 and a lower contact, or nger portion I3, and the inner edge, or surface I4, of

the member I0, which connects these finger portions is concave in shape, conforming approximately to the outline of a standard lamp bulb 15 I5, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. A ring I6 of spring wire, slidably secured in openings in the gripping members I0, is engaged in notches I'I, in the clevises 9, when the members I0 are in open position, as indicated in Fig. l, and in full 20 lines in Fig. 4. The ring I6 is cut, or parted, at I8, (see Fig. 3), to permit expansion, and continuity of action of the ring I6 is provided by a. coil spring I3 located on the ends 23 of the ring I6 adjacent the cut I8. The normal tendency of 25 the ring I6 is to force the bearing clevises 9 inwardly, toward each other, as indicated in Fig.

1, and, as the clevises 9 are forced apart by an object engaging the gripping members I Il, as indicated in Fig. 2, the pressure on the object 30 engaged by the gripping members i0, as indicated in Fig. 2, is increased in proportion to its diameter. The open and closed positions of the wire spring ring I6 are on opposite sides of a horizontal plane, passing thr-ough the pivot 35 centers II as indicated in Fig. 4, thus providing a toggle action which results in a snap action of the gripping members I i), as they approach either open, or closed position. This toggle action also provides an eihcient means for holding, or maintaining the gripping members I0 in either open, or closed position.

In operation, the lamp wrench is placed in position with the members I 0 in open position, as indicated in Fig. 1, and in fun unes in Fig, 2, 45 against a lamp bulb,v with the finger portions I3 engaging the bottom of the bulb. As the wrench is forced upwardly against the bulb, the

finger portions I3 are moved downwardly, revolving around their pivots II, and the upper 50 nger contacts I2 are at the same time, moved inwardly around the pivots I I, until the lamp is engaged by both members I2 and I3, as indicated in Fig. 2. Pressure is provided to assist the members I3 in gripping the lamp I5 by the spring 55 ring I6, and by turning the handle l about its Ver- Y tical axis, the lamp l5 may be disengaged from its supporting socket, (not shown). To install a lamp bulb, the operation is reversed. A lamp bulb is placed in the lamp wrench in the position indicated in Fig. 2, and screwed into its support ing socket. A pull on the handle l will then release the bulb from the gripping members I0. The spring ring I6 forces the members l0 to move in unison, either to open, or closed position.

What I claim'is:--Y

1. In a device for the purpose described, a handle, a plurality of arm members rigidly secured on said handle and bent outwardly away from the vertical axis of said handle, the free ends of said arm members being split and bent to form clevises, arm gripping members pivotally secured in said clevises, and a spring ring member slidably secured in said gripping members and spaced from their pivot points, whereby when versed, curved surfaces, engaging the lamp that are pivotally connected to the arms, a split ring slidably interconnecting all of the two arm members and located above the pivotal Vpoints of the said members when in lamp-gripping position, and below the pivoted points, when not in lampgripping position, a spring on the split ends of the ring, the location of said ring operating as a toggle eiectwhen the lamp-engaging arms are operated, and whereby all of the two arm members will operate in unison, in either of their opening or closing positions.

MARCEL E. DEMY'I'IENAERE.

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