STORAGE DEVICE FOR A FEATHER DUSTER

Abstract: A storage device for a feather duster comprises a housing (11) in which the feather duster (12) is stored when not being used. The housing encloses a collecting container (26) for dust and/or or vacuum source (22, 23).

Description: STORAGE DEVICE FOR A FEATHER DUSTER This invention relates to storage devices for feather dusters. Vacuum cleaners, dust cloths, or feather dusters are used to remove dust from details and surfaces. Vacuum cleaners with conventional floor nozzles are primarily used for removing dust and dirt particles from floor surfaces. In order to use the vacuum cleaner to pick up dust and dirt from furniture, shelves, and other types of details, there are different accessories to facilitate this cleaning. Such accessories normally comprise a brush nozzle that is secured to the vacuum cleaner tube handle, which via a flexible hose is connected to the vacuum cleaner housing. However, this brush nozzle, together with the connected hose and tube handle, is often regarded as too cumbersome to be used for the cleaning of shelves and other surfaces on which details are tightly placed. Instead, dust cloths and feather dusters are normally used to clean such surfaces. Feather dusters have an advantage in that they comprise several light and flexible thread shaped elements that are bent aside when they touch details and surfaces. Thus, a feather duster may reach in between, and more or less surround, the details to be cleaned. The feather dusters and some of the dust cloths, called micro-fiber cloths, are designed such that they may be charged with static electricity when being used. The dust particles then adhere to the feather duster or the cloth when the particles are removed from a surface. The disadvantage of these feather dusters, as well as all types of cloths, however, is that the operator is forced to move to a space where the dust can be shaken off the feather duster or the cloth. The electric charge is also reduced when the feather duster or the dust cloth has been used for a while. It is previously known to use a feather duster that is combined with a tube- shaped holder, see U.S. Patent No. 4,227,278. A feather support is slidably arranged such that the feathers are hidden in the tube when the feather duster is not used. However, this device has the same disadvantages as an ordinary feather duster, since the operator has to move to a place where the dust particles can be shaken off in order to clean the feather duster. This invention provides a self-supporting storage device for a feather duster in which the dust particles that adhered to the feather duster can be removed and/or the feather duster can be charged with static electricity. This is achieved by means of a device having a housing in which the feather duster is stored when not being used. The housing encloses a storage chamber for the feather duster, a fan unit to achieve an air flow through the chamber in order to clean the feather duster and to charge the feather duster with static electricity, and a container for collecting dust particles that are removed from the feather duster by the air flow. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by the accompanying drawing, which schematically shows a vertical section through the device according to an embodiment of the invention. The storage device 10, as shown in the drawing, comprises a self-supported housing 1 1 in which a feather duster 12 is stored when not being used. The feather duster comprises a handle portion 12a and a shaft portion 12b having several threads or fibers 12c that can be charged with static electricity. The housing comprises two parts, a storage part 11a and a collecting part l ib, that are removably connected to one another but are normally connected to one another by a snap fastening device or the like (not shown). The storage part 1 la is provided with a storage chamber 13 for the feather duster 12. The chamber is limited by one or several side walls 14 and a bottom 15 having several comparatively large air outlet openings 16. The chamber 13 has at its upper part an air inlet opening 17 through which the feather duster 12 can be inserted into and be removed from the storage device 10. The chamber 13 also has a clip 18 or other fastening device by which the storage device 10 can be fixed to the clothes of the person using the feather duster 12. The collecting part 11 b is provided with one or several side walls 19 and a bottom 20 having several supports 21 on which the storage device rests when not being used. The collecting part l ib forms an upper and a lower section, and the lower section encloses a small fan unit with a fan 22 and an electric motor 23. The electric motor 23 is supplied by electricity from a battery 24 and is controlled by means of electric control means (not shown). The fan unit is placed such that the outlet side of the fan 22 communicates with several outlet openings 25 arranged at the bottom 20 of the collecting part l ib, whereas the inlet side of the fan 22 communicates with the upper section forming a collecting container 26 for dust particles. The collecting container 26 is separated from the inlet side of the fan 22 by means of a replaceable filter 27. The device operates and is used in the following way. Normally, the storage device rests on the supports 21 and the feather duster 12 is inserted into the storage chamber 13. When the feather duster is to be used, the electric motor 23 is started for a short while. The air is sucked in through the inlet opening 17 and the threads 12c of the feather duster 12 flutter and rub against one another and the surrounding walls, causing the threads 12c to be charged with static electricity. Then, the feather duster 12 is pulled out from the storage chamber 13 and the dusting operation can be made. During the dusting operation, dust particles will stick to the threads 12c. When the feather duster is again inserted into the storage chamber 13 and the electric motor 23 is started, air that is sucked in through the inlet opening 17 brings the dust particles through the outlet openings 16 of the storage chamber into the collecting container 26 where the particles are separated from the air by means of the filter 27. The air then continues to flow through the fan 22 and to atmosphere through the outlet openings 25 of the collecting part l ib. Simultaneously, the threads 12c are charged with static electricity such that the feather duster 12 is again ready to be used. If the operator wishes, the operator may carry the storage device 10 by fastening the clip 18 on the clothes of the operator during a more extensive vacuum cleaner operation or during a normal vacuum cleaning operation. Thus, the feather duster 12 is always accessible and simply can be cleaned without the need for the operator to walk to a suitable place for shaking off the feather duster. The collecting container 26 is then emptied when the complete vacuum cleaning operation has been finished or at a later stage by separating the storage part 11 a from the collecting part 1 lb. If the device described above is placed stationary, the battery may of course be replaced by mains supply. The feather duster 12 might also be provided with a collar 28 that serves as a cover for the storage chamber inlet opening 17. In such a case, the chamber 13, which preferably is cylindrical, has another inlet opening 29 that is placed at the upper part of the chamber 13 such that air flows tangentially into the chamber. While the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, other modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or method to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. The present invention herein is not to be construed as being limited, except insofar as indicated in the appended claims.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A storage device for a feather duster characterized in that the device comprises a housing (11) in which the feather duster (12) is stored when not being used, the housing encloses a storage chamber (13) for the feather duster (12), a fan unit (23, 24) to achieve an air flow through the chamber in order to clean the feather duster and to charge the feather duster with static electricity, and a container (26) for collecting dust particles that are removed from the feather duster by the air flow. 2. A storage device according to claim 1 characterized in that the housing is self-supporting. 3. A storage device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the fan unit (23, 24) forms a vacuum source communicating with the storage chamber (13). 4. A storage device according to claim 3 characterized in that the collecting container (26) is placed between the storage chamber (13) and the vacuum source. 5. A storage device according to claim 4 characterized in that a filter (27) is placed between the collecting container (26) and the vacuum source. 6. A storage device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the storage chamber (13), via an inlet opening arranged in the chamber, communicates with atmosphere. 7. A storage device according to claim 6 characterized in that the feather duster (12) is provided with a collar (28) serving as a cover for the storage chamber. 8. A storage device according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the air inlet opening is placed at one end of the storage chamber (13) and at least one outlet opening is placed at the other end of the storage chamber. 9. A storage device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the fan unit (23, 24) is driven by a battery (24). 10. A storage device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the housing (1 1) is provided with a fastening means (18) for fixing the housing to an operator or to the clothes of the operator.

Inventors: LINDQUIST TOMMY, NYBERG CURT, LINDQUIST, TOMMY, NYBERG, CURT
Applicants: ELECTROLUX AB, LINDQUIST TOMMY, NYBERG CURT, AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX, LINDQUIST, TOMMY, NYBERG, CURT
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A47L13
IPC codes: A46B17, A47L13, A47L25, B08B5, B08B6