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An apparatus for changing a light bulb that is out of reach for a person even with the use of a six foot ladder includes a substantially hollow elongated member and an extendable member which is disposed within the substantially hollow elongated member. A locking member is engageable with the hollow

An apparatus for changing a light bulb that is out of reach for a person even with the use of a six foot ladder includes a substantially hollow elongated member and an extendable member which is disposed within the substantially hollow elongated member. A locking member is engageable with the hollow member and the extendable member for adjusting the length of the apparatus. A replaceable vacuum cup having a predetermined shape is disposed on a first end of the extendable member for attachment to such light bulb. A vacuum pump is disposed adjacent a bottom portion of the hollow elongated member, such pump is engageable with the cup for creating a vacuum in the cup for securing such light bulb therein. A vacuum release assembly is disposed on the pump for releasing such vacuum.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for aiding in removal or installation of a light bulb into a socket, said apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially hollow elongated member;(b) a cup shaped member having a first end thereof attached to a first end of said substantially hollow elongated member, a second end defining

1. An apparatus for aiding in removal or installation of a light bulb into a socket, said apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially hollow elongated member;(b) a cup shaped member having a first end thereof attached to a first end of said substantially hollow elongated member, a second end defining an interior surface shaped and sized for abutting engagement with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the light bulb and an axial aperture in open communication with each of an exterior surface of said first end and a convex interior surface of said second end, whereby said axial aperture being in fluid communication with a hollow interior of said substantially hollow elongated member;(c) a pump attached to an axially opposite second end of said substantially hollow elongated member in fluid communication with said hollow interior thereof, said pump operable to remove air between said interior surface of said cup shaped member and the exterior surface of the bulb through said hollow interior so as to generate a vacuum condition within said cup shaped member, said vacuum condition sufficient to at least temporarily secure the bulb within said cup shaped member, said pump comprising: a body,a bore defined within said body,a passageway connecting said bore with said hollow interior,a plunger mounted for a reciprocal linear movement within said bore, said plunger manually movable into said body so as to initiate removal of said air,a seal mounted for movement within said bore and connected to said plunger, anda spring configured to urge said plunger in a direction away from said body so as to remove said air; and(d) a vacuum removal assembly comprising: a pair of elongated abutments disposed on one exterior surface of said pump in a spaced apart relationship with each other,a spring seat defined on said one surface between said pair of elongated abutments,a plate shaped member positioned between said pair of elongated abutments and being pivotally connected thereto,a spring having one end thereof seated on said spring seat and having a second end thereof positioned in an abutting engagement with an inner surface of said plate shaped member,a passageway within said body, said passageway connecting said hollow interior of said substantially hollow elongated member to atmosphere,a seal disposed on said inner surface of said plate shaped member in sealing alignment with said passageway, anda pivotal movement of said plate shaped member, selectively exposing said passageway to the atmosphere, is being configured to remove said vacuum condition. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said substantially hollow elongated member includes at least a pair of telescopically extending portions and a locking arrangement for at least temporarily securing said at least pair of telescopically extending portions at a preselected linear relationship therebetween. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said substantially hollow elongated member is configured as a variable length member. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pump further includes an abutment on one surface thereof, said abutment having an axial aperture sized to receive a peripheral surface of said substantially hollow elongated member. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pump further includes a flange secured to one surface thereof, said flange having an axial aperture sized to receive a peripheral surface of said substantially hollow elongated member. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said pump further includes a sealing gasket positioned between a surface of said flange and said surface of said pump. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pump further includes another bore sized to receive a peripheral surface of said substantially hollow elongated member and wherein said passageway is connected to said another bore. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including at least partially coiled tubular member disposed within said hollow interior and extending therethrough, said at least partially coiled tubular member having a first end thereof connected to said axial aperture. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said substantially hollow elongated member includes a first member and second member positioned within said first member for a telescopic movement thereto. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further including a locking member configured to lock a preselected position of said second member. 11. An apparatus for aiding in removal or installation of a light bulb into a socket, said apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially hollow elongated member;(b) a cup shaped member having a first end thereof attached to a first end of said substantially hollow elongated member, a second end defining an interior surface shaped and sized for abutting engagement with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the light bulb and an axial aperture in open communication with each of an exterior surface of said first end and a convex interior surface of said second end;(c) at least partially coiled tubing member extending through a hollow interior of said substantially hollow elongated member and having a first end thereof connected to said axial aperture;(d) a pump attached to an axially opposite second end of said substantially hollow elongated member and connectable to a second end of said coiled tubing member, said pump operable to remove air between said interior surface of said cup shaped member and the exterior surface of the bulb through said coiled tubular member so as to generate a vacuum condition within said cup shaped member, said vacuum condition sufficient to temporarily secure the bulb within said cup shaped member;(e) a pair of elongated abutments disposed on one exterior surface of said pump in a spaced apart relationship with each other;(f) a spring seat defined on said one surface between said pair of elongated abutments;(g) a plate shaped member positioned between said pair of elongated abutments and is being pivotally connected thereto;(h) a spring having one end thereof seated on said spring seat and having a second end thereof positioned in abutting engagement with an inner surface of said plate shaped member;(i) a passageway connecting said hollow interior of said substantially hollow elongated member to the atmosphere;(j) a seal disposed on said inner surface of said plate shaped member in sealing alignment with said passageway; and(k) wherein a pivotal movement of said plate shaped member, selectively exposing said passageway to atmosphere, removes said vacuum condition. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said pump includes: (a) a body;(b) a bore defined within said body;(c) a passageway connecting said bore with said hollow interior;(d) a plunger mounted for a reciprocal linear movement within said bore, said plunger manually movable into said body so as to initiate removal of said air;(e) a seal mounted for movement within said bore and connected to said plunger; and(f) a spring configured to urge said plunger in a direction away from said body so as to remove said air. 13. An apparatus for aiding in removal or installation of a light bulb into a socket, said apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially hollow elongated member;(b) a cup shaped member having a first end thereof attached to a first end of said substantially hollow elongated member, a second end defining a concave interior surface shaped and sized for abutting engagement with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the light bulb and an axial aperture in open communication with each of an exterior surface of said first end and a convex interior surface of said second end;(c) at least partially coiled tubular member extending through a hollow interior of said substantially hollow elongated member and having a first end thereof connected to said axial aperture;(d) a pump including: (i) a generally solid body,(ii) a first bore disposed within said body;(iii) a second bore disposed within said body axially with and external to said first bore, a diameter of said second bore being smaller than a diameter of said first bore,(iv) a shoulder formed at a juncture of said second and first bores,(v) a third bore disposed within said body, said third bore sized and shaped to receive an exterior surface of said second end of said substantially hollow elongated member,(vi) a fourth bore disposed axially with and external to said third bore, said fourth bore sized to receive, in a substantially sealed manner, an exterior surface of a second end of said at least partially coiled tubular member,(vii) a first passageway connecting said fourth bore with said second bore;(viii) a second passageway having one end thereof connected in fluid communication to said first passageway and having an opposite end thereof connected in fluid communication to an exterior surface of said body,(ix) a plunger mounted for a linear reciprocal motion within said first bore, said plunger having an open first end, an axially opposite closed second end and a hollow interior,(x) an elongated member disposed within said hollow interior of said plunger and having a first end thereof attached to an interior surface of said closed second end, said elongated member disposed for a reciprocal linear movement within said first and second bores,(xi) a first disk shaped member mounted on said elongated member for movement thereon, said first disk shaped member having one surface thereof disposed in abutting engagement with said shoulder during operation of said pump, said first disk shaped member further having an axial aperture sized to pass said elongated member therethrough,(xii) a first compression spring seated on said elongated member between another surface of said first disk shaped member and said interior surface of said closed second end of said plunger,(xiii) a second disk shaped member rigidly mounted on said elongated member for movement therewith within said second bore,(xiv) a first seal positioned between said first and second disk shaped members, said first seal having a disk shaped body, an abutment disposed on one surface of said disk shaped body coaxially therewith, a peripheral flange inclined outwardly at an angle relative to said one surface of said disk shaped body, and an aperture formed through a thickness of each of said disk shaped body and said abutment so that said first seal is mounted on said elongated member for movement therewith, and(xv) wherein a repetitive reciprocal movement of said plunger removes air between said concave interior surface of said cup shaped member and the exterior surface of the bulb through said coiled tubular member so as to generate a vacuum condition within said cup shaped member, said vacuum condition sufficient to temporarily secure the bulb within said cup shaped member;(e) a check valve assembly positioned within said second bore and including: (i) a second seal having one surface thereof positioned in abutting engagement with a bottom of said second bore,(ii) a flap disposed axially within a thickness of said second seal, and(iii) a third disk shaped member positioned in abutting engagement with an opposite surface of said second seal and having an axial aperture formed through a thickness thereof and having a diameter being generally equal to a diameter of said flap,(iv) said check valve assembly configured to permit air flow only from said forth bore to said second bore; and(f) a vacuum removal assembly including: (i) a pair of elongated abutments disposed on said one exterior surface of said body in a spaced apart relationship with each other,(ii) a spring seat defined on said one surface between said pair of elongated abutments,(iii) a plate shaped member positioned between said pair of elongated abutments and is pivotally connected thereto,(iv) a second spring having one end thereof seated on said spring seat and having a second end thereof positioned in abutting engagement with an inner surface of said plate shaped member,(v) a third seal disposed on said inner surface of said plate shaped member in sealing alignment with said second passageway, and(vi) wherein a pivotal movement of said plate shaped member exposing said second passageway to atmosphere removes said vacuum condition.