Patent Publication Number: US-6904830-B1

Title: Broken bulb remover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a tool or accessory for removing broken bulbs from electrical light fixtures. 
   A well-known problem arises when an electric light bulb is inadvertently broken while it is still in the socket. In addition to the possible electrical hazards, the glass envelope that encloses the filament and glass stem encasing the filament is completely shattered, leaving dangerous and sharp remnants of the glass envelope protruding from the light socket. Oftentimes, the threaded metal shell in the base of the light bulb is tightly engaged with the threaded wall of the socket. There is nothing to grasp and turn to remove the broken light bulb from the socket. It may be difficult also to electrically isolate and inactivate the wiring leading to the socket, leaving an electrical hazard in addition to a physical hazard. 
   Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved broken bulb remover. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a broken bulb remover which guards against electrical hazards. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a broken bulb remover which guards against physical hazards from broken glass. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a broken bulb remover that is inexpensive and designed for mass production and easy assembly. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly stated, the invention comprises a broken bulb remover especially adapted for removing a broken light bulb by engaging and twisting the glass stem enclosing the filament leads while stabilizing the tool against the glass coating bonded to the threaded metal wall of the bulb. The broken bulb remover comprises a pair of longitudinal members of non-conductive material having handle sections on one end thereof, substantially semi-cylindrical engagement sections on the other end thereof, and transversely extending fulcrum sections disposed therebetween. The fulcrum sections include a mating pin and socket to connect the longitudinal members together and allow pivoting action, so that the engagement sections separate when the handle sections are squeezed together. The engagement sections have internal ribs adapted for engagement with the glass stem and external semi-cylindrical surfaces for engaging and stabilizing the tool against the internal glass coating of the broken light bulb when the tool is rotated to unscrew the remaining portions of the broken bulb. A transparent non-conductive shield is mounted around the fulcrum sections to protect against electrical shock and broken glass. 

   
     DRAWING 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of the broken bulb remover with protective shield attached, 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the broken bulb remover without protective shield, 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of one longitudinal member before assembly, 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the longitudinal member of  FIG. 3 , 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the other longitudinal member before assembly, 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the longitudinal member of  FIG. 5 , and 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial view of the broken bulb remover together with portions of a broken bulb illustrating operation of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawing, the broken bulb remover is shown generally at  10  to comprise an assembly of a first longitudinal member  12  and a second longitudinal member  14 . The longitudinal members, which are made of non-conductive material such as PVC, are connected together at a fulcrum section shown generally at  16 . A protective shield  18  of transparent conductive material such as Lucite comprises a circular disc with a central opening  20  conformed to fit the contours of fulcrum section  16 . A warning message  22  is imprinted on the shield  18 . 
     FIG. 2  of the drawing illustrates the assembled broken bulb remover  10  without the protective shield  18  in order not to obscure tile details. The upper longitudinal member  12  comprises a handle section  24  on one end and an engagement section  26  on the other. Similarly, the lower longitudinal member  14  comprises a handle section  28  on one end and an engagement section  30  on the other. The fulcrum section  16  between the opposed handle sections  24 ,  28  and engagement sections  26 ,  30  is made up of a transversely extending pin which is integral with the longitudinal member  12  and a complementary transversely extending socket which is integral with the lower longitudinal member  14 . The fulcrum pin and fulcrum socket are arranged such that the longitudinal members are freely pivotable about them and such that, contrary to the normal pliers action, the engagement sections  26 ,  30  separate from one another when the handle sections  24 ,  28  are squeezed. 
   A light compression spring  36  between handles serve to bias the handles apart and the engagement sections together as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The engagement sections  26 ,  30  are adapted both internally and externally to provide engagement with the glass stem and the glass coating respectively of the remaining portions of the broken light bulb. Internal ribs, not seen in  FIG. 2 , receive and engage portions of the glass stem so that torque can be applied. In the preferred form shown in  FIG. 2 , the exterior surfaces are semi-cylindrical and include a slight taper at  26   a ,  30   a . A number of circumferentially spaced tabs of a soft contact material, such as silicone, shown at reference number  38 , center and stabilize the tool. 
   Reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  together show the details of the upper longitudinal member  12 . Member  12  is generally semi-cylindrical in shape on either end with an integral transversely extending pin  40  extending from a boss  42 . The handle section  24  has a fairly thin wall  44  which extends downward to close the end at  46 . As seen in the plan view of  FIG. 4 , a circular well  48  is provided to receive a spring (not shown). Strengthening ribs  50  complete the handle section. The fulcrum section  16 , comprising transversely extending pin and boss  42 , is integrally formed with the longitudinal member. Pin  40  is bifurcated at  52  and has an enlarged head  54  to allow it to contract and fit into the fulcrum socket with a snap fit during assembly. 
   The engagement section  26  is generally semi-cylindrical in shape with a semi-cylindrical external wall  56  and a radial internal rib  58 . Rib  58  is sloped at  58   a  so as guide the glass stem of a broken bulb onto the rib. 
   The end of the engagement section is tapered slightly as shown by reference numeral  60  and a series of circumferentially spaced holes  62  extend around the semi-cylindrical wall. Holes  62  are used to receive the silicone tabs  38  shown at  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6  together, the lower longitudinal member  14  is shown. The handle section  28  is formed substantially identical to the handle section of the upper longitudinal member with a wall  45 , downwardly curved end  47 , spring well  49  and strengthening rib  51 . The engagement end  30  is formed substantially identical to the engagement end of the upper longitudinal member, having a semi-cylindrical external wall  57 , a radial internal rib  59  with a sloped end, and a tapered end section  61  with circumferentially spaced holes  63 . Fulcrum section  16  comprises fulcrum socket  64  formed in a boss  66 . Socket  64  is a cylindrical hole extending transversely of the longitudinal member and dimensioned to receive the fulcrum pin  40  to allow pivoting action and to retain the fulcrum pin with a snap fit when it is assembled so as to connect the longitudinal members together. 
   OPERATION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7  of the drawing, a partial view is shown of the broken bulb remover with only the engagement sections  26 ,  30  depicted. A portion of a light bulb socket is indicated by a housing  68  holding a threaded conductive metal socket  70 . The base  68  may take many different forms and shapes well known in the art. The base of a broken light bulb is disposed in socket  70  and indicated generally at  72 . The broken bulb includes a metal shell  74  threaded on the exterior and screwed into socket  70 . A glass coating  76  on the inside of the shell is integral with a stem  78  supporting leads to the filament (not shown). The stem generally has an enlarged end consisting of diametrically opposed flared portions  78   a . The coating  76  is also integral with the glass envelope of the light bulb, which is missing, leaving only projecting jagged remnants  80 . The engagement sections  26 ,  30  of the broken bulb remover  10  have been inserted into the cavity between coating  76  and stem  78  so that the circumferentially spaced tabs  38  are in contact with glass coating  76 . At the same time, the stem  78  is guided between the radial internal ribs  58 ,  59 . The flared portions  78   a  of the stem extend radially beyond the internal diameter of the ribs  58 ,  59 . Slight rotation causes the flared portions to interfere and provided added gripping action of the ribs. One such flared portion  58   a  is seen in front of rib  59  in  FIG. 7  and the other is behind rib  58 . Rotation of the broken bulb remover, while maintaining the soft tabs  38  in contact with glass coating  76  to stabilize and center the tool, allows an even torque to be applied to the glass stem. This enables the user to unscrew tile light bulb base  72  from socket  70  without breaking the stem. During this operation, the user is protected from electrical and physical hazards by the protective shield  18 . 
   While there has been described what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is desired to secure in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.