Fluorescent lamp handling device

Claim 2

A fluorescent lamp handling device for installing and removing fluorescent lamps on a fixture comprising support means; clamp means adapted to grip an end of a fluorescent lamp, said clamp means being slidably mounted on said support means; cam means carried by said support means and controlling movement of said clamp means relative to said support means in a first direction and a second direction transverse to said first direction; and actuating means connected with said cam means to operate said cam means to move said clamp means in said first and second directions whereby a fluorescent lamp clamped in said clamp means can be installed on or removed from a fluorescent lighting fixture.

Claim 3

A fluorescent lamp handling device as recited in claim 1 wherein said support means includes an elongate pole having a first end supporting a base member slidably mounting said clamp means and a second end, said actuating means being operable from said second end of said pole.

Claim 4

A fluorescent lamp handling device as recited in claim 2 wherein said base member has a cam channel therein having portions extending in said first and second directions, and said cam means includes a follower secured to said clamp means and movable in said cam channel.

Claim 5

A fluorescent lamp handling device as recited in claim 3 wherein said clamp means includes a pair of plates slidably engaging opposite sides of said base member, each of said plates having a curved end for gripping a fluorescent lamp.

Claim 6

A fluorescent lamp handling device as recited in claim 4 wherein said cam channel has a U-shaped configuration, and said follower includes cylinder means riding in said cam channel and connected with said pair of plates.

Claim 7

A fluorescent lamp handling device as recited in claim 5 wherein said U-shaped cam channel has a pair of legs extending substantially in said first direction and a base connecting said legs and extending substantially in said second direction, said first direction being aligned with the longitudinal axis of a fluorescent lamp gripped by said clamp means, and further comprising control means for determining which of said legs said folloWer rides in from said base to control the operation of said fluorescent lamp handling device between installation and removal modes of operation.

Claim 8

A fluorescent lamp handling device as recited in claim 6 wherein said control means includes a spring biasing said clamp means toward one end of said base member to maintaining said follower in one or the other of said legs of said cam channel, and said actuating means includes a line secured to one of said plates and extending along said base member and said pole to said second end thereof such that a force applied to said line moves said clamp means away from said one end of said base member to move said follower in said cam channel from one leg to said base, said spring moving said follower from said base to the other of said legs.

Claim 9

A fluorescent lamp handling device as recited in claim 7 and further comprising a clamp line secured to one of said plates and passing through said cylinder means and along said base member and said pole to said second end thereof and spring means biasing said pair of plates apart, said clamp line overcoming said spring means to move said plates toward each other to grip a fluorescent lamp.

Claim 10

A fluorescent light handling device as recited in claim 2 wherein said clamp means includes a first clamp assembly having a pair of plates slidably engaging said base member with curved ends adapted to grip a fluorescent lamp and a second clamp assembly having a pair of plates slidably engaging said base member with curved ends adapted to grip a fluorescent lamp, said base member has a first cam channel aligned with said first clamp assembly and a second cam channel aligned with said second clamp assembly, each of said cam channels having portions extending in said first and second directions, and said cam means includes a first follower mounted on said pair of plates of said first clamp assembly and movable in said first cam channel and a second follower mounted on said pair of plates of said second clamp assembly and movable in said second channel.

Claim 11

A fluorescent light handling device as recited in claim 9 wherein each of said first and second cam channels has a U-shaped configuration with a pair of legs extending substantially in said first direction and a base connecting said legs extending substantially in said second direction, said first direction being aligned with the longitudinal axis of a fluorescent lamp gripped by said first and second clamp assemblies, said first and second followers each includes cylinder means riding in said U-shaped channels, and further comprising control means for determining which of said legs in said first and second U-shaped channels said first and second followers ride in to control the operation of said fluorescent lamp handling device between installation and removal modes of operation.

Claim 12

A fluorescent light handling device as recited in claim 10 wherein said control means includes a spring biasing said first and second clamp assemblies toward one end of said base member to maintain said first and second followers in one or the other of said legs of said first and second cam channels, respectively, and said actuating means includes a line secured to one of said plates of one of said first or second clamp assemblies and extending along said base member and said pole to said second end thereof and strap means interconnecting said first and second clamp assemblies such that a force applied to said line moves said first and second clamp assemblies away from said one end of said base member to move said first and second followers in said first and second cam channels, respectively, from one leg to said base, said spring moving said first and second followers from said base to the other of said legs.

Claim 13

A fluorescent light handling device as recited in claim 11 and further comprising operating means including a handle pivotally mounted at said second end of said pole and a clamp line connected to said handle and to each of said first and seCond clamp assemblies, said handle having a stable unclamped position and a stable clamped position moving said clamp line to pull the pair of plates together of each clamp assembly to clamp a fluorescent lamp therein.

Claim 14

A fluorescent light handling device as recited in claim 12 wherein said support means includes a pair of angular adjustment mechanisms to permit angular adjustment of said base member relative to said pole in transverse directions.

Claim 15

A fluorescent light handling device as recited in claim 11 wherein said support means includes an alignment member extending from said one end of said base member to define an index surface adjacent said one end of said base member and carrying legs at the end thereof adapted to be aligned with a stationary socket of a fluorescent lamp fixture, said indexing surface being adapted to receive the edge of a fluorescent lamp to be held by said first and second clamp assemblies.