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US4852925A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lamp replacement tool

Assignee: Honeywell Inc
•
Filing: 1988-06-22
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Granted: 1989-08-01
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Expires: 2008-06-22
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Abstract

Abstract A lamp replacement tool which provides for positively captivating lamps for ease of removing or inserting lamps from or into the type of a lamp housing that forms part of a flush mounted push button switch used in aircraft cockpit control panels. The lamp is mounted behind a display legend formed on the face of the push button and for lamp replacement the push button portion of the switch unplugs from the switch body and hinges down to expose the rear of the lamp. A friction fit maintains the lamp in the lamp housing. The lamp replacement tool includes upper and lower blades extending from a handle member in spaced apart parallel relationship. The lower blade is formed with a forked end portion having a u-shape for engaging with a flange formed on a base portion of the lamp and for embracing the base portion. The upper blade is formed with either a v-shaped portion or an aperture for engaging with a base contact protruding from one end of the lamp. The upper blade terminates in an angled lead-in. The lead-in provides a smooth surface for sliding over the base contact as the upper blade flexes over the base contact when the tool is pushed into engagement with the lamp. The lamp is locked or captivated between the upper and lower blades of the tool when the u-shaped end of the lower blade embraces the base portion and engages with the flange and the interior surfaces of the v-shape or aperture portion of the upper blade engage the periphery of the base contact.

Inventors

  • 👤 David W. Lodin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 18:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01K; H01K3/00; H01K3/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53257; Y10T29/53274; Y10T29/53283

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 127 words
A lamp replacement tool for use in replacing a lamp mounted in a lamp housing wherein the lamp includes a bulb portion, a base portion having one end adjacent the bulb portion, a base contact protruding from another end of the base portion and a flange positioned on the base portion intermediate of the base portion ends, said tool comprising: a. a handle member, b. a lower blade extending from said handle member, c. flange engaging means formed on said lower blade for engaging with the base portion and the flange, d. an upper blade extending from said handle member in the same direction as said lower blade, and e. base contact engaging means formed on said upper blade in predetermined relationship to said flange engaging means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 127 words
A lamp replacement tool for use in replacing a lamp mounted in a lamp housing wherein the lamp includes a bulb portion, a base portion having one end adjacent the bulb portion, a base contact protruding from another end of the base portion and a flange positioned on the base portion intermediate of the base portion ends, said tool comprising: a. a handle member, b. a lower blade extending from said handle member, c. flange engaging means formed on said lower blade for engaging with the base portion and the flange, d. an upper blade extending from said handle member in the same direction as said lower blade, and e. base contact engaging means formed on said upper blade in predetermined relationship to said flange engaging means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said upper blade extends from said handle member in a spaced apart and parallel relationship to said lower blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The tool of claim 2 wherein said flange engaging means includes a forked portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The tool of claim 3 wherein said forked portion is u-shaped and includes chamfered ends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The tool of claim 4 wherein said base contact engaging means includes a v-shape portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The tool of claim 5 wherein said v-shaped portion includes interior surfaces facing said lower blade and an apex formed transverse to the width of said upper blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The tool of claim 6 wherein said apex is aligned with the center-of-radius of said u-shaped portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The tool of claim 5 wherein said upper blade terminates at an angled lead-in extending from said v-shaped portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The tool of claim 4 wherein said upper blade includes an aperture formed therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
The tool of claim 91 wherein said aperture is aligned with the center-of-radius of said u-shaped portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said handle member includes a pry-blade extending therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The tool of claim 11 wherein said pry-blade includes a wedge-shaped distal end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 155 words
A lamp replacement tool for use in replacing a lamp mounted in a lamp housing wherein the lamp includes a bulb portion, a base portion having one end adjacent the bulb portion, a base contact protruding from another end of the base portion and a flange positioned on the base portion intermediate of the base portion ends, said tool comprising: a. a handle member, b. a lower blade extending from said handle member, c. an upper blade extending from said handle member in the same direction as said lower blade in a spaced apart parallel relationship to said lower blade with said lower blade terminating in a u-shaped forked portion having chamfered ends, d. said upper blade including a v-shaped portion having interior surfaces thereof facing said lower blade and an apex formed transverse to the width of said upper blade, and e. said upper blade terminating in a lead-in extending from said v-shaped portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 155 words
A lamp replacement tool for use in replacing a lamp mounted in a lamp housing wherein the lamp includes a bulb portion, a base portion having one end adjacent the bulb portion, a base contact protruding from another end of the base portion and a flange positioned on the base portion intermediate of the base portion ends, said tool comprising: a. a handle member, b. a lower blade extending from said handle member, c. an upper blade extending from said handle member in the same direction as said lower blade in a spaced apart parallel relationship to said lower blade with said lower blade terminating in a u-shaped forked portion having chamfered ends, d. said upper blade including a v-shaped portion having interior surfaces thereof facing said lower blade and an apex formed transverse to the width of said upper blade, and e. said upper blade terminating in a lead-in extending from said v-shaped portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
The tool of claim 13 wherein said handle member includes a pry-blade extending therefrom in a direction opposite to said upper and lower blades.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
The tool of claim 13 wherein said apex is aligned with the center-of-radius of said u-shaped fork portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 145 words
A lamp replacement tool for use in replacing a lamp mounted in a lamp housing wherein the lamp includes a bulb portion, a base portion having one end adjacent the bulb portion, a base contact protruding from another end of the base portion and a flange positioned on the base portion intermediate of the base portion ends, said tool comprising: a. a handle member, b. a lower blade extending from said handle member, c. an upper blade extending from said handle member in the same direction as said lower blade in a spaced apart parallel relationship to said lower blade with said lower blade terminating in a u-shaped forked portion having chamfered ends, d. said upper blade including an aperture formed therethrough and aligned with the center-of-radius of said u-shaped fork portion, and e. said upper blade terminating in a lead-in extending from said aperture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 145 words
A lamp replacement tool for use in replacing a lamp mounted in a lamp housing wherein the lamp includes a bulb portion, a base portion having one end adjacent the bulb portion, a base contact protruding from another end of the base portion and a flange positioned on the base portion intermediate of the base portion ends, said tool comprising: a. a handle member, b. a lower blade extending from said handle member, c. an upper blade extending from said handle member in the same direction as said lower blade in a spaced apart parallel relationship to said lower blade with said lower blade terminating in a u-shaped forked portion having chamfered ends, d. said upper blade including an aperture formed therethrough and aligned with the center-of-radius of said u-shaped fork portion, and e. said upper blade terminating in a lead-in extending from said aperture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 24 words
The tool of claim 16 wherein said handle member includes a pry-blade extending therefrom in a direction opposite to said upper and lower blades.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US251182A Cited
US1023077A Cited
US1244475A Cited
US1641252A Cited
US2184074A Cited
US2608433A Cited
US2802211A Cited
US3214210A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-31 1993-01-30 1993-08-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-31 1997-01-30 1997-08-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-31 2001-01-30 2001-08-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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