Patent Publication Number: US-2015059530-A1

Title: Compact energy saver light bulb installer and removal

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a light bulb installer and remover that is specifically designed for energy saving light bulbs. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many devices have been developed to remove light bulbs from light sockets. The light bulbs come in different varieties such as the conventional incandescent bulb with a bubble shape. Fluorescent light bulbs are available in a tubular shape and dome shape bulbs are placed in recessed areas in the ceiling. Many times individuals must get on ladders to reach the light bulbs for removal and installation. The ascending and descending of the ladder can be dangerous for the user. Further the individual may fall while removing the light bulb from the socket. As a consequence various extension rods with grasping calipers have been developed to help in the removal of light bulbs from high ceilings that aren&#39;t reachable from the ground. 
     The recent development in light bulbs has created various shaped light bulbs that are used for energy saving purposes. Energy saving light bulbs have unique shapes that may not be conducive for the conventional light bulb removal devices currently used. Consequently there&#39;s a need for a method or device that can be used to remove an energy saving light bulb that is conducive to the unique shaped the energy saving light bulbs that are presently on the market. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an extendable light bulb remover/installer for use on energy saving bulbs comprising: a handle; three sections extending from the handle, where each section includes a channel and a series of holes parallel to the channel; a spring loaded lever placed on a first section and a second section, where the lever enables the adjustment of the remover/installer; a pair of holes at a top end of the top section; and an attachment that engages the top end. The attachment includes an engagement end. The engagement end includes one of the following shapes: a Y-shape, a triangular shape, a square shape or a Z-shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a pole used in conjunction with an attachment for the removal of energy saving light bulbs in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts two attachments for use with particular energy saving light bulbs. 
         FIG. 3  provides additional exemplary embodiments of the attachments for use on alternative energy saving light bulbs. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an attachment that is used for the removal of a broken energy saving light bulb. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to an extendable pole and various types of attachments that are placed on the pole to enable the installation and removal of energy saving light bulbs. Due to the ability to have an extendable pole the present invention eliminates need for the use of a ladder for the installation and removal of energy saving light bulbs. Further present invention includes a variety of attachments that work in conjunction with the various shapes and sizes of energy saving light bulbs. The particular shapes provide a conducive fit for the attachment into an opening of the light bulb that allows that attachment to turn the light bulb either clockwise or counterclockwise for the installation or removal of the bulb from a light socket. The pole is extendable due to the sections provided that include a means to lock the pole into a particular length and therefore vary the length of the pole as needed. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1 , a pole  100  is depicted along with sections  31 ,  33 ,  35 . The pole  100  includes a handle  20  that has small hole  22  provided for storage purposes. The sections  31 ,  33 ,  35  are extendable to various lengths to provide a means to extend the pole to the desired length for installation of the energy saving bulbs. Further shown in  FIG. 1  are components of each section  31 ,  33  and  35  where each section has a channel that extends the length of each section that prevents the inside of the pole from turning during use. Section  31  includes channel  32 , section  33  includes channel  34  and section  35  includes channel  36  as shown. Running parallel all on one side of each respective channel is a series of holes  24  along section  33  and holes  26  along section  35 . The channels assist in the adjustment of the length of the pole  100  in an assembled position as shown in  FIG. 1 . A spring-loaded lever  13  inserts into one of the holes provided along each section to adjust the height of the pole  100 . The spring-loaded lever  13  includes a spring  11  on the inside of the lever  13 . The spring  11  allows as user to push the lever inwardly in order to adjust the position along the series of holes provided along each section of the pole  100 . Once the lever is in a respective hole, the pole is locked in a particular position for use. 
     The pole  100  further includes an attachment  40  that installs on the top of section  35 . Although one hole  42  is depicted a second hole on the opposite side of the pole is available for the insertion of the attachment  40 . The attachment  40  is used to engage the energy saving bulb and to remove or install a bulb once in position. Various versions or embodiments of the attachments are described below. Further with respect to  FIG. 1 , the channels provide a locking mechanism for the sections  31 ,  33 ,  35 . Top views of these sections are also provided in  FIG. 1  with top surface of sections  31   a    33   a,    35   a  shown respectively in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts two embodiments of the attachment in accordance with the present invention. A first attachment  50  is depicted which works in conjunction with energy saving bulb  60 . The first attachment  50  includes a Y-shaped engaging end  55 . The Y-shaped engaging end  55  includes two prongs in a Y-shape. At the bottom of the first attachment  50  is a V-shaped spring  44  that includes a round knob protruding on each side of a spring. These knobs insert into the openings of body on the pole, hole  42 , to engage the attachment onto the pole. Once engaged the first attachment  50  is capable of removing a twister or spiral shaped energy saving bulb  60  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each attachment includes the V-shaped spring  44  for the engagement of an attachment into the pole  100  at section  35 . A second attachment  51  is also shown in  FIG. 2 . The second attachment  51  includes a triangle shaped at the engagement end  56 . The second attachment  51  is used in conjunction with the energy saving bulb  61  as shown. The triangle shape engages between the prongs extending down the length of the energy saving bulb  61 . 
     A third attachment  52  is depicted in  FIG. 3 . The third attachment  52  includes a square shaped engagement end  57 . This square shape is a design for bulbs having four sides and allows for the insertion of the square through the middle of the four sides of an energy saving bulb  62  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Therefore the square shape inserts through this opening and enables for the rotating of the bulb for installation and removal. A fourth attachment  53  is also shown in  FIG. 3 . The fourth attachment  53  includes a Z-shaped engagement end  58 . The Z-shaped engagement is inserted in the center of an energy saving light bulb  63  that has four downward tubes side by side. The Z-shaped engagement wraps around the middle tubes and then secures the attachment into position for the rotation of energy saving bulb  63 . 
     Further in  FIG. 4  a fifth attachment  54  is depicted. The fifth attachment  54  includes a flat spatula type top  59 . The top  59  is designed to remove any broken energy saving bulbs such as Bulb  64  depicted in  FIG. 4 . The attachment  54  is depicted from two side views one showing the top  59  aligned with the broken bulb  54 . The attachment is also used in conjunction with a cup  66  that actually catches the bulb as it is removed from the socket. The flat top  59  is inserted into an opening of the energy saving bulb  64  and it is used to remove the bulb from a socket and the cup provides a means to catch the bulb and any broken glass that may fall during the removal. 
     The present invention provides a complete system for the removal and installation of energy saving bulbs through the use of extendable Pole  100  and the various attachments described herein.