SOLDERING IRON

THIS INVENTION relates to a soldering iron, to a kit including a soldering iron and to a method of heating a soldering iron.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a soldering iron including a head defining a cavity shaped and dimensioned to receive an electric light bulb operable to heat the head.

The soldering iron typically includes an elongate body or handle by means of which it can be handled or manoeuvred in use. The handle may have a neck at one end. The neck may include a locating formation or socket body for receiving the electric light bulb. The locating formation may be removably attached to the handle.

The locating formation may be in the form of a socket. The socket may be defined by the neck. The neck with mounted electric bulb may be removably receivable in the head.

The soldering iron may include locking means for locking the head to the neck. The locking means may include a grub screw co-operating with a threaded bore.

The head may have one or more apertures in communication with the cavity thereby to serve, in use, as a light source when the electric light bulb is in position and energised. Advantageously, the one or more apertures may be arranged to provide light in a work area in the vicinity of the head.

Alternatively, the soldering iron may include a head in the form of a tube, or other elongate hollow body having an inner end and an outer end. The tube or other

elongate hollow body may therefore define the cavity shaped and dimensioned to receive the electric light bulb.

The soldering iron may include an elongate hollow handle and an elongate body member retractable into the handle. The body member may have a neck which defines a locating formation for receiving the electric bulb. The neck may further include a spigot formation receivable into the head. The body member may be manufactured from a ceramic material.

The soldering iron may include electrical power supply means for connection to an electrical power supply. The electrical power supply means may be in the form of an on-off switch which is provided in conductors interconnecting the power supply means and the locating formation. A resistor may be connected with the locating formation to limit, in use, the current flow to the electric light bulb. The soldering iron may further include a heat sink which is positioned adjacent the resistor.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit which includes: a soldering iron as described above; and an electric light bulb operable to heat the head.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of heating a head of a soldering iron which includes powering an electric light bulb housed within a cavity defined by the head of the soldering iron.

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a part sectional exploded side elevation of one embodiment of a soldering iron in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the soldering iron of another embodiment of a soldering iron, in extended mode, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 shows a sectional side elevational view of the soldering iron of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows the embodiments of Figure 2 and Figure 3 in a retracted mode; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of a soldering iron in accordance with the inventions.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a first embodiment of a soldering iron in accordance with the invention. The soldering iron 10 has a body portion 12 with an electrical power supply cord 13. The body portion 12 has a handle 11 and a neck 14 defining a socket 15 to accommodate the spigot formation of a 12 Volt direct current light bulb 16 (indicated dotted). The neck 14 and socket 15 are defined by a connecting formation which is removably attached by means of a grub screw or the like (not shown) to the handle 1 1 of the body portion 12.

The soldering iron 10 further includes a red copper head 18 defining a cavity 20 within which a head end 16.1 of the light bulb 16 is receivable. The head 18 further has a socket formation 18.1 to fit over the neck 14. The head 18 is secured to the neck 14 via a grub screw 22 screwing into a screw threaded hole 18.2 in the head 18.

The head further has openings 24, 24.1 , 24.2 through which light rays can pass when the soldering iron 10 is in use. The head 18 has a pointed end 18.3.

In use a light bulb 16 would be fitted into the socket 15. The head 18 would be fitted over the neck 14 and positioned so that a grub screw 22 could be fitted into position to hold the head 18 and the neck 14 together. The bulb 16 would then be energised from a 12 Volt direct current power source via the power supply cord 13 and after a time the head 18 would become heated sufficiently for use.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown details of a further embodiment of the invention. In the further embodiment reference numeral 100 refers generally to a soldering iron in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. The soldering iron 100 has a head 118 in the form of a copper tube having an inner end 118.1 and a pointed outer end 118.2. The tube 1 18 defines a cavity 120 within which an electric light bulb 16 (indicated as dotted) is receivable. This embodiment further includes an elongate hollow handle 122 and an elongate body member 124 retractable into the handle 122. The body member 124 has a neck 126 at what, in use, would be its outer end, the neck 126 having a locating formation 128 for receiving the electric light bulb 16. The body member 124 further has a spigot formation 130 receivable into the inner end 118.1 of the tube 118. The body member 124 is of a ceramic material.

The tube 118 has an open end 118.2 therefore providing adequate lighting at a worksite (separate openings 24, 24.1 , 24.2 not being necessary).

The body member 124 has a slide button 132 attached to it, the button 132 being slidable in an elongate slot 134 provided in the hollow handle 122. Displacement of the slide button 132 in the direction of the arrow 136 withdraws the body member 124 into the hollow handle 122 (as shown in Figure 4). Displacement of the slide button 18.2 in a direction opposite to arrow 136 extends the body member 124 into operative mode (as shown in Figures 2 and 3).

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, reference numeral 138 refers to a power supply means for connecting the soldering iron 10, 100 to an electrical power supply (12 Volt direct current power source). An electrical switch 140 (not shown in Figure 1 ) is provided in electrical conductors 142 interconnecting the power supply means 138 and the locating formation 128. A resistor 144 is connected in series with the locating formation 128. A heat sink 146 is operatively positioned adjacent the resistor 144.

The inventor believes that the invention, as illustrated, will be advantageous as one is able to utilise an electric light bulb 16, which is readily available (and which in an emergency can be obtained from a vehicle headlight assembly), as a heating element for the soldering iron 10 , 100. The electric light bulb 16 also serves as a light

source when the soldering iron 10, 100 is used in unlit, inaccessible places. Furthermore, as the soldering iron 10, 100 can be powered using a conventional 12 Volt battery, such as a vehicle or ship's battery, the soldering iron 10, 100 can be used in remote places where the only power source available is a 12 Volt battery.