Light bulb catcher for use with a changing device

• US 7,131,352 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lamoine Saunders
• Original Assignee: Lamoine Saunders
• Inventors: Saunders, LaMoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Shakeri, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US10/888,900
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 81/531.1, 81/64, 81/531, 81/531.2, 56329-340, 294/19.1, 294/19.3, 294/22, 294/23
• US Class Current: 81/53.11
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/003 Auxiliary devices for installing or removing discharge tubes or lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 3/32 Auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps

Abstract

A light bulb catch is disclosed that comprises a catcher and an attachment mechanism. The catcher may be rotatably or slideably connected to a pole through a rotatable connection and connector. A distal end of the catcher may also be biased away from a proximal end of the catcher or the catcher may be deformable, in order to increase maneuverability and allow the catcher to be moveable between an extended and retracted position. A work product end of the pole, which is contained in the catcher and connects to the attachment mechanism, may telescope and may also be biased towards a forward position, moveable to a rearward position, allowing the user to apply pressure to the light bulb changing device without damaging the bulb. The catch may have many purposes besides simply changing light bulbs as will be realized by those in the art.

Claims

1. A catch for use when installing and removing light bulbs comprising:

a pole having a work product end;

a light bulb attachment mechanism secured to the wok product end of the pole;

a catcher, having a proximal end adapted to be secured toward the work product end of the pole, and a distal end which extends beyond and surrounds the light bulb attachment mechanism secured to the work product end of the pole;

wherein the catcher is movable between an extended position wherein the light bulb attachment mechanism is located between the proximal and distal end of the catcher, and a retracted position wherein the light bulb attachment mechanism is moved toward the distal end of the catcher; and

wherein the catcher is slideably secured to the pole.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the catcher has a rotatable connector for rotatably securing the catcher to the pole.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the catcher has a collapsible frame.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the catcher extends between 3 to 10 inches beyond the light bulb attachment mechanism when the catcher is in the extended position.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the attachment mechanism is moveable between a forward position and a rearward position and is biased toward the forward position.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein the attachment mechanism is a suction cup.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the light bulb attachment mechanism is moveable between a forward position and a rearward position.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the distal end is biased by a biasing device.

9. A device for installing and removing light bulbs comprising:

a pole having a work product end and a user end;

a light bulb attachment mechanism secured to the pole at the work product end;

a catcher having a proximal end secured to the pole toward the work product end, said catcher having a distal end which forms an opening whereby the attachment mechanism may be accessed, said distal end positioned such that the attachment mechanism lies between the proximal and distal ends of the catcher; and

a rotatable connector for rotatably securing the catcher to the pole.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the distal end of the catch is moveable between an extended and retracted position.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the catch is extended in its quiescent state.

12. The invention of claim 10 wherein the catch is collapsible to move between the extended and retracted positions.

13. The invention of claim 10 wherein the catch is slideably secured to the pole for movement between said extended and retracted positions.

14. The invention of claim 9 wherein the distal end of the catch extends between 3 and 10 inches beyond the attachment mechanism.

15. The invention of claim 9 wherein the attachment mechanism is moveable between a forward and rearward position.