Abstract:
A method of use of a dusting tool for cleaning the exposed surface of a camera sensor lens in a recessed digital camera sensor chamber while avoiding contaminating contact with the side walls of the camera sensor chamber, the method comprising the steps of providing a non-scrubbing duster member having opposite one and another ends, and a tuft of bristles having electrostatic charge built up therein; engaging the duster member inside the camera sensor chamber; operatively engaging the bristles leading edge tips onto the exposed surface of the camera sensor lens; and manually sweeping the dusting tool bristles leading edge tips over the full exposed surface of the camera sensor lens including the peripheral edge portion thereof but excluding contaminating contact with the side walls of the camera sensor chamber, while the duster member remains motionless relative to the handle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE DATA 
       [0001]    The present patent application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/756,444, incorporated herein by reference, which was a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/813,471, which was an Entry into U.S. National Phase of PCT application No. PCT/CA2006/000907 filed on Jun. 2, 2006 and also claimed conventional priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/886,336 filed Jun. 8, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to cleaning devices, and more particularly to a portable dusting tool for cleaning delicate surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Digital cameras comprise an electronic sensor, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, lodged in a recessed sensor chamber of the camera, and onto which is projected the image of what is seen through the lens of the camera. This sensor can acquire the image projected thereon and convert it into electronic data, which is thereafter forwarded to data processing means provided on the digital camera. The data processing means then converts this electronic data into an image file of known format, such as in JPEG, TIFF or RAW formats, stored thereafter on the memory card of the camera. Of course, this sensor must remain as clean as possible, since impurities deposited thereon can undesirably alter the final image acquired by the camera. 
         [0004]    It is inevitable that during normal use of a digital camera, its sensor will become exposed to the atmosphere and its airborne impurities, such as minute airborne dust particles. More particularly, on professional digital cameras having interchangeable lenses such as digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras, the sensor exposed lens surface inevitably becomes contaminated by the atmosphere and its impurities whenever the lens is removed from the body of the camera, for example when switching lenses. 
         [0005]    To clean the sensor of their digital cameras, and more particularly to remove dust particles from its surface, digital camera owners have come up with a number of cleaning methods. 
         [0006]    A common cleaning technique used by digital camera owners is to blow air from a canned air duster directly about the surface of the sensor. This technique, in addition to blowing away the dust on the sensor, has the adverse effect of dispersing and not removing dust particles. 
         [0007]    An alternate technique is to blow canned air into the bristles of a brush and then sweeping the surface of the sensor with the brush. Pressurized air is blown on the bristles for two purposes: (1) for blowing away all impurities that may be present between the bristles of the brush, and (2) for electrostatically charging the bristles of the brush, and thus enhancing the brush&#39;s capacity to pick up dust particles present on the camera sensor. 
         [0008]    However, this latter technique also has its drawbacks. Indeed, liquid sometimes squirts out of canned air dusters when air is blown on the bristles, and liquid can thereafter be undesirably smeared on the surface of the sensor when the brush is swept thereacross. Another disadvantage of using canned air dusters is that they are pressurized containers and it is prohibited to bring them aboard aircrafts, which can be inconvenient for travelling photographers for example. Furthermore, pressurized air duster cans are not reusable, and after such a duster has been emptied, it is disposed of and a new one must be purchased. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention relates to a non-scrubbing dusting tool for cleaning the exposed surface of a digital camera sensor lens in a recessed digital camera sensor chamber, said dusting tool comprising : a duster member defining an elongated shank having opposite one and another end, a tuft of bristles having electrostatic charge built up therein, and first connector means directly coupling said tuft of bristles to said shank one end; a handle; and second connector means directly coupling said handle to said shank another end; wherein each of said bristles define a corresponding leading edge tip opposite said shank, said leading edge tips for operative engagement with the sensor lens; wherein said duster member is sized to adjustably fit inside the camera sensor chamber in such a fashion that said bristles leading edge tips will be able to reach all of the exposed surface of the camera sensor lens while avoiding contaminating contact with the camera sensor chamber; and wherein in an operative sensor lens cleaning condition of said dusting tool, said duster member remains motionless relative to said handle while said dusting tool bristles leading edge tips are manually swept over the camera sensor lens to be cleaned. 
         [0010]    Preferably, there is further included a selectively activated duster actuator, fixedly mounted to said handle and rotatably mounted to said shank; said actuator operating only when said dusting tool is not cleaning the sensor lens; wherein once said electrostatic charge of said tuft of bristles has been depleted, said electrostatic charge thereof is recharged while concurrently removing dust collected by said bristles by bringing said duster tool to an inoperative sensor lens cleaning condition away from the camera sensor chamber and with said actuator being powered to power rotate said shank, wherein said bristles will fan out radially under centrifugal forces. 
         [0011]    Said actuator could then be lodged into a cavity made into said handle. Said first connector means could also consist of a tubular element, integral to said shank one end and defining a flattened mouth portion opposite said shank one end, said tuft of bristles defining an inner end portion frictionally taken in sandwich within said tubular element flattened mouth portion. 
         [0012]    Preferably, said tubular element flattened mouth portion further defines a pair of opposite notches, said notches engaged by registering bristles from said tuft of bristles, wherein said tuft of bristles form a V-shape in said operative lens cleaning condition of said dusting tool, said V-shape providing enhanced lens cleaning capabilities The bristles could be made from polyimide, and preferably having a thickness with the range of 40 to 60 micrometers, and preferably being tapered at their leading edge tip portion. The electrostatic charge build up of said bristles could enable attraction of macroscopic particles up to 14 millimeters in total length, and/or attraction of macroscopic particles down to 1 micrometer in total length. 
         [0013]    The invention also relates to a method of use of a dusting tool for cleaning the exposed surface of a camera sensor lens in a recessed digital camera sensor chamber while avoiding contaminating contact with the side walls of the camera sensor chamber, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a non-scrubbing duster member defining an elongated shank having opposite one and another ends, a tuft of bristles having electrostatic charge built up therein and first connector means directly coupling said tuft of bristles to said shank one end; a handle; and second connector means directly coupling said handle to said shank another end, with each of said bristles defining a corresponding leading edge tip opposite said shank; b) engaging said duster member inside the camera sensor chamber; 
         [0014]    c) operatively engaging said bristles leading edge tips onto the exposed surface of the camera sensor lens; d) manually sweeping said dusting tool bristles leading edge tips over the full exposed surface of the camera sensor lens including the peripheral edge portion thereof but excluding contaminating contact with the side walls of the camera sensor chamber, while said duster member remains motionless relative to said handle. 
         [0015]    Preferably, in step (a), the electrostatic charge build-up is imparted to said bristles by applying a chemical to said bristles. Alternately, in step (a), the electrostatic charge build-up if said bristles is imparted to said bristles by applying an ionization treatment to said bristles. There could also be further included the steps of: providing a selectively activated duster actuator, fixedly mounted to said handle and rotatably mounted to said shank; depleting said electrostatic charge of said tuft of bristles following said sweeping action of said dusting tool bristles leading edge tips; bringing said duster tool to an inoperative sensor lens cleaning condition and away from the camera sensor chamber; and powering said actuator wherein said shank is power rotated and said bristles are brought to fan out radially under centrifugal forces leading to recharging of said electrostatic charge of said bristles while concurrently removing dust collected by said bristles during said manual sweeping step. 
         [0016]    Preferably, in step (c), said operative engagement of the bristles leading edge tips includes the step of non-contacting sweeping action over the exposed surface of camera sensor lens in closely spaced fashion relative thereto. Alternately, in step (c), said operative engagement of the bristles leading edge tips includes the step of direct contacting sweeping action against the exposed surface of camera sensor lens. 
         [0017]    The invention also relates to the combination of a digital camera having a recessed camera sensor chamber and a sensor lens at a flooring section of said camera sensor chamber, said sensor lens having an exposed surface opening into said camera sensor chamber, and a non-scrubbing dusting tool for cleaning said exposed surface of said camera sensor lens, said dusting tool comprising : a duster member defining an elongated shank having opposite one and another end, a tuft of bristles having electrostatic charge built up therein and first connector means directly coupling said tuft of bristles to said shank one end; a handle; and second connector means directly coupling said handle to said shank another end; wherein each of said bristles define a corresponding leading edge tip opposite said shank, said leading edge tips adapted to operatively engage with said sensor lens; wherein said duster member is sized to adjustably fit inside the camera sensor chamber in such a fashion that said bristles leading edge tips will be able to reach all of the exposed surface of the camera sensor lens while avoiding contaminating contact with the camera sensor chamber; and 
         [0018]    wherein in an operative sensor lens cleaning condition of said dusting tool, said duster member remains motionless relative to said handle while dusting tool bristles leading edge tips are manually swept over the camera sensor lens to be cleaned. 
         [0019]    Preferably, there is further included an elongated protective cap, releasably mounting over said duster member in friction fit fashion against said second connector means when said dusting tool is not in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    In the annexed drawings: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dusting tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation of the dusting tool of  FIG. 1  with the handle member and the brush connector cut away, and showing how the bristles of the brush fan out and are rid of dust when the user activates the dusting tool shank rotating motor; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an exploded front perspective view of the embodiment of dusting tool of  FIG. 1 , the dusting tool having a brush and corresponding brush connector; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded, front elevation view of a dusting tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5 , on the third sheet of drawings, is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing a third embodiment of dusting tool; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of dusting tool; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a top end view of the dusting tool of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but with the dusting tool rotated by a quarter of a turn; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the top end portion of the dusting tool of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the dusting tool components of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a portion of a digital camera in partially cut-away view, suggesting how the dusting tool of the present invention can be used to clean in a non-scrubbing fashion the exposed surface of the flat sensor lens on the floor of the camera sensor chamber; 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a partly schematic side elevational view of the camera sensor chamber of  FIG. 11 , suggesting how the non-spinning bristles of the dusting brush of the present invention can reach out to the full peripheral edge portion of the exposed surface of the sensor lens of the camera sensor chamber while avoiding contaminating contact with the adjacent upright walls of the camera sensor chamber; and 
           [0033]      FIGS. 13 to 17  show a prior art roller-type dusting tool, with  FIGS. 13-15  being views from a perspective similar to  FIGS. 6 to 8  respectively, but showing only part of the handle, and with  FIGS. 16 and 17  being views from a perspective similar to  FIGS. 11 and 12  respectively, wherein there is suggested that the prior art dusting tool cannot reach the peripheral edge portion of the sensor lens exposed surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]      FIGS. 1-3  show a portable dusting tool  10  for digital camera sensors according to one embodiment of the present invention. Sensor dusting tool  10  comprises a handle member  12 , in turn comprising a casing  14 . Casing  14  defines an elongated main body portion  14   a,  and a neck portion  14   b  extending from one end of main body portion  14   a.    
         [0035]    Casing  14 , as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , is at least partially hollow and in one embodiment may comprise a brush actuator therein, such as an electric rotary motor  16  powered by batteries  18 . Batteries  18  are electrically connected to motor  16  as known in the art, for example by wires (not shown). Handle member  12  is also provided with a switch  20  controlling the selective powering of motor  16  by batteries  18 , and which the user can depress with his finger F (as suggested in  FIG. 2 ) to activate motor  16 . 
         [0036]    Motor  16  comprises a rotary shaft  22  connected to and rotating as one with the rotor (not shown) of motor  16 . Shaft  22  extends within the hollow casing neck portion  14   b.    
         [0037]    Dusting tool  10  also comprises a duster member connected to the brush actuator. More particularly, dusting tool  10  is provided with a duster brush  24  that may be operatively coupled to motor  16  through the instrumentality of a brush connector  30 . Brush connector  30  comprises a cylindrical and tubular socket portion  32 , in turn having an open top to allow insertion of the butt end portion of duster brush  24  therein. Socket portion  32  defines four slots  33  extending from its top rim end towards its bottom end and stopping short of the latter. Slots  33  allow the sections of socket  32  therebetween to radially outwardly spread apart as duster brush  24  is inserted in socket portion  32 . 
         [0038]    Moreover, brush connector  30  also comprises an elongated coupling pin  34  tapering towards its outer end, integrally and coaxially affixed to the bottom end of elongated socket portion  32 . The outer free end of coupling pin  34  is centrally and axially bored, and an elongated and cylindrical cavity  35  thus extends coaxially along coupling pin  34  (only shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0039]    Brush connector  30  can be coupled to motor  16  by inserting coupling pin  24  in the opening  14   c  at the outermost end of casing neck portion  14   b,  such that the motor&#39;s shaft  22  becomes snugly friction-fitted in cavity  35  of coupling pin  34 . 
         [0040]    As mentioned above, brush connector  30  is preferably operatively coupled to the duster brush motor  16 . Duster brush  24  comprises a shank  25 , made of wood for example, and whose butt end portion  25   a  is destined to be received and friction-fitted in the lumen of brush connector socket portion  32 . Shank  25 , at its upper end portion  25   b,  comprises a brush head formed of a ferrule  26  holding a bunch of bristles  29  in a tuft  28 . Bristles  29  are destined to be swept about the sensor of a digital camera to pick up and collect dust that may be present thereon, as described hereinafter. 
         [0041]    Importantly, rotary motor  16  is always inoperative when bristles  29  sweep the sensor lens  160  ( FIGS. 11-12 ), i.e. bristles  29  never spin during sensor lens cleaning operations. 
         [0042]    Casing  14 , motor shaft  22 , brush  24 , connector socket portion  32  and coupling pin  34 , are all elongated structures and are arranged coaxially to each other, and define a common longitudinal axis  15 . 
         [0043]    Bristles  29  are preferably made of a synthetic material, e.g. a polyamide material such as Nylon®, but could also be made of a natural material such as feather, wool, or fur. Moreover, bristles  29  are imparted with the following characteristics:
       They are preferably soft and resilient. If the bristles are not flexible and resilient enough, they will be prone to breaking during use, and thus broken pieces of bristles may become lodged in the recessed digital camera sensor chamber (not shown) in which the camera sensor lens is nested. Moreover, softer and more resilient bristles are less prone to breaking and are thus more durable. Finally, the bristles need to be delicate enough to be swept about a sensitive surface (e.g. that of a camera sensor) without scratching it.   For optimal performance, bristles  29  preferably have a thickness ranging between 40 to 60 μm (micrometers).   They have an enhanced electrostatic charge build-up capability. The bristles can readily accumulate electrostatic charges, in order to be able to electrostatically attract dust particles and other macroscopic impurities (e.g. maximum total length of 15 mm) and preferably microscopic impurities (e.g. minimum total length of 1 μm). This characteristic could be imparted to the bristles either (1) during pre-processing, by producing the bristles out of a material having inherent electrostatic charge build-up capabilities; or (2) during post-processing, by applying a chemical or ionization treatment to the produced bristles.   Enhanced resistance to chemical substances. This is a desirable characteristic since any alteration in chemical composition of the bristles will affect its capability to electrostatically attract dust.       
 
         [0048]    The width of the tuft of bristles  28  should be adapted to the size of the optical sensor it is destined to be used on. The tuft of bristles  28  can have a width ranging for example between 1 and 60 millimetres, and should be small enough to fit into the camera&#39;s recessed sensor chamber, and it may be large enough to sweep the entire surface of the camera&#39;s sensor in a single stroke. Moreover, and as suggested in  FIG. 11 , ferrule  26  must have a smaller width than that of the tuft of bristles such that a clearance exists between ferrule  26  and the walls  264  of the sensor chamber  262  when the duster brush  24  is used to sweep the sensor  260 , hence preventing scratching by the ferrule  26  of the sensor chamber walls  264 . For example, a brush  24  with a ferrule  26  having a width of 20 mm, and a tuft of bristles  28  having a width of 24 mm, should preferably be used when cleaning a full frame sensor having dimensions of 36 mm×24 mm. 
         [0049]    The dusting tool according to the illustrated embodiment is made modular in order to be able to receive brushes of different dimensions. This is suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , where dusting tools  10  and  10 ′ respectively have differently sized brushes  24 ,  24 ′ and complementary brush connectors  30 ,  30 ′ respectively. These brush/connector combinations, even though they have differing dimensions, can be coupled to a same handle member  12 . 
         [0050]    To use the dusting tool  10 , it must first be assembled. To do so, the user first inserts batteries  18  in the battery housing if necessary. The user then selects a duster brush  24  of the desired dimensions and inserts the butt end portion  25   a  of its shank  25  in the corresponding brush connector socket  32 . The user then connects brush connector  30  to motor  16  by inserting its coupling pin  34  through casing neck portion opening  14   c,  and by friction-fitting motor shaft  22  in the coupling pin cavity  35 . 
         [0051]    Prior to dusting a surface such as a camera sensor  260 , it is desirable to rid the tuft of bristles  28  from ambient dust particles that may have gravitated towards it, and/or to remove dust particles that may have remained within the tuft of bristles  29  after a previous use of the dusting tool. It is further necessary to electrostatically charge the bristles  29  in order for them to be able to electrostatically attract and collect dust from the surface to be dusted. 
         [0052]    To do so, the user depresses switch  20 , which activates motor  16  and consequently spins elongated brush  24  along its longitudinal axis at a substantially high speed. This causes the bristles  29  of the brush to fan out radially as suggested in  FIG. 2 . The rotation of brush  24  has two effects:
       the bristles  29  of the brush move rapidly relative to ambient air molecules. Bristles  29 , as mentioned above, have the inherent capacity to easily build-up an electrostatic charge. Thus, the friction between the rotating bristles  29  and the ambient air molecules causes the bristles  29  to develop an increased electrostatic charge.   the dust particles P that may have become lodged between bristles  29  centrifugally accelerate and are expelled from the tuft of bristles  28 .       
 
         [0055]    Activating motor  16  thus charges the bristles  29  and concomitantly rids brush  24  from dust particles and various other impurities that may be lodged between its bristles  29 , and prepare dusting tool  10  for future use on a surface to be dusted. 
         [0056]    After motor  16  has been deactivated and after rotation of brush  24  has stopped, brush  24  can then be inserted in the sensor chamber  262  of the digital camera  266 , and the non-spinning tuft of bristles  28  can be gently swept across the surface of the camera sensor. Mechanical contact between the distal end portion of the bristles  29  and the digital camera sensor  260  is possible but not essential. Indeed, bringing the tip of the bristles  29  in closely spaced fashion to the digital camera sensor  260  may be sufficient to enable the dust to be attracted by and gravitate towards the electrostatically charged bristles  29 , and to be fully operational to dislodge dust. Since bristles  29  are electrostatically charged, dust particles present on the sensor&#39;s surface  260  cling to the bristles  29  of the brush  24 , and are hence removed form the sensor surface  260 . 
         [0057]    Modifications to the above-described embodiment could be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the dusting tool  10  could be provided with means enabling the user to select various motor speeds for example between 5000 to 20000 RPM in order to vary the rotation speed of the duster brush  24 . Alternately, the duster actuator  16  could be something else than a mere rotary motor; it could for example be a powered actuator selectively activated to engender vibration, rotation, sonication, reciprocating axial motion, or a combination of these actions, of the duster brush  24  including its bristles  29 , in order for the bristles  29  to become electrostatically charged and for impurities lodged between the bristles to be expelled out of the brush. 
         [0058]    Alternatively, the motor  16  could be replaced by an alternate duster actuator that does not require batteries, for example a manual actuator composed of a series of cooperating gears which can be set in motion by manually rotating a crank. 
         [0059]    It is also understood that the brush connector  30  providing modularity to the dusting tool, and releasably connecting the duster brush  24  to the motor  16 , is optional. It is understood that any suitable fastening means, whether they be permanent or quick-release fastening means, could be used to fasten the duster member to the duster actuator. Alternately, the duster brush  24  could be directly connected to the duster actuator  16  in any conventional manner. 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  shows a duster tool  110  according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Duster tool  110  comprises a handle member  112  defining a casing  114 , in turn defining an ergonomically shaped main portion  114   a  and a neck portion  114   b.  Casing  114  houses a motor therein (not shown), the motor having a rotary shaft (not shown) extending at least partially in casing neck portion  114   b  and whose rotary movement is controlled by a switch  120 . Moreover, duster tool  110  has a brush member  124  defining a tubular shank  125  (metallic for example), the upper end of which is pressed around a tuft of bristles  128 . Shank  125  fixedly carries, at its bottom end, a connector member  130  (made of plastic for example). Connector member  130  defines a cavity therein (not shown), similar to cavity  35  of brush connector  30  of  FIG. 2 , into which can be snugly friction fitted the shaft of the duster tool&#39;s rotary motor. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , brush member  124  and the connector member  130  are fixedly assembled together, and it is this fixed assembly as a whole that is releasable from handle member  112 . Moreover, duster tool  110  is provided with a hollow, elongated protective cap  150  which can be slipped around the brush  124  and secured to the casing  114  by twisting it in place to friction-fit a projection  154  made on the inner peripheral wall of the protective cap  150  within a groove  152  made into the casing neck portion  114   b.    
         [0061]    In still another embodiment of dusting tool  210  shown in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , a contoured unibody handle  214  is provided. Socket  232  interconnects handle neck  214   b  to duster brush  224 . In brush  224 , ferrule  226  coaxially interconnects elongated shank  225  with the tuft of bristles  228 . Ferrule  226  includes a flattened outer end mouth portion  226 A into which becomes frictionally interlocked the inner end portion of the tuft of bristles  228 . Ferrule mouth portion  226 A further includes two opposite notches  226 B,  226 C, that enable some adjacent bristles to engage therein. Hence, notches  226 B,  226 C enable the tuft of bristles  228  to form an outwardly diverging V-shape, as best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 10 . The V-shape of the tuft of bristles  228  optimizes performance of the dust brush  124 , in facilitating access of the bristles to hard to reach areas in the recessed digital camera sensor chamber  262  ( FIG. 11 ). 
         [0062]    Preferably, and as best illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  11  and  12 , the leading edge tip portion  228 A of the tuft of bristles will be tapered, to provide precision in the sensor lens surface to be cleaned while facilitating avoidance of accidental contaminating bristles engagement with the side walls  264  of the sensor chamber  262  of the digital camera  266 . 
         [0063]      FIGS. 13 to 17  show a prior art scrubbing channel  300 , having a handle  302 , a cylindroid roller  304  and a bracket  306  rotatably interconnecting handle  302  and roller  304 . During cleaning operations, roller  304  rotates under power from a spin-inducing electric motor. It is clearly shown in  FIG. 17  that as roller  304  moves toward but short of the peripheral edge of sensor lens  260 , roller  304  comes to undesirably abut against the side wall  264  of the camera lens recessed chamber  262  preventing a peripheral edge portion  260 A of the sensor remains uncleaned. 
         [0064]    Clearly, such a prior art scrubbing tool  300  would be inefficient and in fact inoperative in removing dust particles from exposed surface  260  of the digital camera lens sensor at the bottom flooring  266  of this sensor chamber  262 . Indeed, since some dust particles will always remain at peripheral edge  260 A because of the incomplete cleaning operation of scrubbing tool  300 , any motion of the digital camera will inevitably bring about migration of these remaining dust particles towards more central parts of this recessed sensor lens  260  that where previously cleaned, thus rendering useless the previous cleaning in the first place. 
         [0065]    It is further noted that although the present cleaning tool has been described as a cleaning tool for digital camera sensors, the present cleaning tool could be used for cleaning other delicate surfaces, such as optics, i.e. the various glass elements of a camera lens, the mirror of a SLR camera, negative film, transparencies, electro-optical devices such as digital imaging devices, etc.