Portable miniature bulb tester having bristle brushes for contacting the bulb terminals

Claim 1

A hand-held battery powered test device for miniature electric bulbs comprising: a rigid case having a pair of separable shell sections of relatively thin wall and lightweight, insulative material, one section defining an interior compartment of such size and shape as to snugly receive therein a low-voltage battery having a pair of terminals, the other section having an aperture formed in one wall thereof, first and second opposed contact brushes comprising a plurality of conductive wire bristles bonded to said one wall on the interior thereof and being spaced apart so as to be externally accessible through and immediately within said aperture, resilient means disposed on the underside of said brushes for support thereof, and conductive means for connecting said battery terminals to respective contact brushes to oppositely polarize the same, said aperture being of such size as to readily accommodate the base oF a miniature light bulb and to expose a substantial lateral portion of said brushes, said brushes being of such size as to receive and make multiple contact with the terminals of a miniature electric bulb and being of such weight and flexibility as to be slightly resilient under normal manual engagement with such bulbs whereby a bulb is tested by touching the terminals of said bulb across said opposed contact brushes.