Circuit tester for Christmas tree light sets

• US 5,539,317 A
• Filed: 11/07/1994
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jay Cavender, Inc., JLJ, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jay Cavender, Inc., JLJ, Inc.
• Inventors: Janning, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, GLENN WARNER
• Application Number:
  US08/335,506
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 324/414, 324/512, 324/527, 324/528, 324/530, 324/550, 324/555, 324/556, 324/632, 324/687, 324/688
• US Class Current: 324/414
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps

Abstract

A novel apparatus for determining the location of an inoperative bulb in a series circuit of decorative Christmas tree type light bulbs is provided which comprises a housing member having an opening adapted to accommodate the physical insertion therein of each of the light bulbs to be tested while in said series circuit. An elongated electromagnetic radiation shield is fixedly secured within said opening and along the inner peripheral surface thereof and an elongated electro-magnetic radiation receptor is fixedly secured along the inner peripheral surface of said shield and insulated therefrom and adapted to intercept electromagnetic radiation which is radiated from a light bulb inserted therein. A battery operated audio amplifier is mounted within said housing and has an input terminal and an output terminal. An energizable signal indicator is fixedly secured to said housing. Finally, means are provided to couple the electromagnetic radiation intercepted by said receptor to the input terminal of said audio amplifier and to couple the output of the audio amplifier to the indicator whereby the indicator is energized whenever electromagnetic radiation is radiated from an inserted light bulb.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining the location of an inoperative bulb in a series circuit of decorative Christmas tree type light bulbs, the combination comprising:

a housing member having an opening adapted to accommodate the physical insertion therein of each of the light bulbs to be tested while in said series circuit;

an elongated electromagnetic radiation shield fixedly disposed within said opening;

an elongated electromagnetic radiation receptor fixedly disposed within said electromagnetic radiation shield and insulated therefrom and adapted to intercept electromagnetic radiation which is radiated from a light bulb inserted therein;

a battery operated audio amplifier mounted within said housing and having an input terminal and an output terminal;

an energizable signal indicator fixedly secured to said housing;

means for coupling electromagnetic radiation intercepted by said electromagnetic radiation receptor to the input terminal of said audio amplifier; and

means for coupling the output of said audio amplifier to said indicator to energize said indicator whenever electromagnetic radiation is radiated from an inserted light bulb.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the opening of said housing member is substantially of cylindrical configuration.

3. Apparatus for determining the location of an inoperative bulb in a series circuit of decorative Christmas tree type light bulbs, the combination comprising:

a housing member having an opening adapted to accommodate the physical insertion therein of each of the light bulbs to be tested while in said series circuit;

an elongated electromagnetic radiation shield fixedly secured to the side walls of said opening;

an elongated electromagnetic radiation receptor fixedly secured to the side walls of said electromagnetic radiation shield and insulated therefrom, and adapted to intercept electromagnetic radiation which is radiated from a light bulb inserted in the opening thereof;

a battery operated audio amplifier mounted within said housing and having an input terminal and an output terminal;

an energizable and visible signal indicator fixedly secured to said housing;

means for coupling electromagnetic radiation intercepted by said electromagnetic radiation receptor to the input terminal of said audio amplifier; and

means for coupling the output of said audio amplifier to said indicator to illuminate said indicator whenever significant electromagnetic radiation is radiated from an inserted light bulb.