Tool for removing lightbulb bases and cleaning lightbulb sockets

Claim 2

A tool for removing broken lightbulb bases from, and subsequent cleaning of, electric lightbulb sockets, said tool comprising an elongated rod-like handle member dimensioned to be held in the human hand for rotation about its axis and having first and second end portions, said first end portion comprising a socket cleaner rod including brush means extending outwardly from said socket cleaner tool, said brush means being dimensioned to engage the side walls of an electric socket into which said socket cleaner rod is inserted and an abrasive end surface on said socket cleaner rod for engaging the base contact of an electrical socket when said socket cleaner rod is inserted in an electrical socket so that rotation of the tool causes the brush means to clean the side walls of the socket while the abrasive surface simultaneously cleans and removes corrosion from said base contact.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said abrasive end surface is of concave configuration.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal of the lightbulb base from an electric lightbulb socket.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein said base removing tool portion comprises a conical body member tapering downwardly from its juncture with said handle member to an end termination.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein said lightbulb base gripping means include longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member and having sharp edges for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 additionally including plural end lug fingers extending in an axial direction and having sharp radial edge surfaces oriented radially to the axis of said conical portion.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 wherein said end lug fingers are aligned with said radial flanges and the sharp edges on said longitudinal radial flange members merge into and are aligned with said sharp radial edge surfaces on said end lug fingers.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal of the lightbulb base from an electric lightbulb socket.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 8 wherein said base removing tool portion comprises a conical body member tapering downwardly from its juncture with said handle member to an end termination.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 9 wherein said lightbulb base gripping means include longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member and having sharp edges for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 1 wherein said second end portion includes a lightbulb base removing tool portion having gripper means for engaging the inner surface of a lightbulb base to enable rotation of the lightbulb base to effect removal thereof from a lightbulb socket and said elongated rod-like handle member, said socket cleaner tool and said lightbulb base removing tool portions are unitarily formed of metal, said abrasive end surface is of concave configuration, said base removing tool portion including a downwardly tapering conical body member extending from a juncture with said handle member and tapering downwardly to an end termination, longitudinal radial flange members provided on said conical body member extending along the length thereof in a generally radial direction and having sharp edges at their outermost extent for engaging the internal side walls of a lightbulb base, plural lug fingers extending in an axial direction and having sharp radial edge surfaces for engaging the internal bottom portion of a lightbulb base and additionally including longitudinal radial fingers on said handle member for aiding in the manual gripping of said handle member by a user.