Abstract:
A cleaning article specifically adapted for the cleaning of ceiling fans generally and especially the blades thereof is comprised of an elongated dust-attractive sleeve sized and shaped to receive a conventional ceiling fan blade therein and having both interior and exterior surfaces especially adapted for removal and trapping of dust. The sleeve includes an opening through which fan blades are received, and the opening includes means for maintaining the opening in the desired shape to mitigate against prematurely dislodging dust from fan blade surfaces which would otherwise occur if the opening were collapsed during insertion of the sleeve over the blade. Closure means are provided for sealing the open end of the sleeve upon completion of the cleaning task to permanently trap dust inside.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 611662,150 filed Jun. 20, 2012 and entitled, A Disposable Convenient Dust Attracting Sleeve that can be used to Clean Ceiling Fans. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an equestrian riding saddle accessory device for improving rider comfort and safety, 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A ceiling fan is a mechanical fan, usually electrically powered and suspended from either a ceiling or roof structure, and that uses hub-mounted rotating paddles to circulate air. Ceiling fans cool people and animals effectively by introducing slow movement into the otherwise still, hot air of a room or other space, to induce evaporative cooling (i.e., evaporating perspiration on the skin which cools the body). Ceiling fans are popular in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, homes, offices, garages, commercial and industrial buildings, hotels, restaurants, bars, livestock enclosures and outdoor structures such as covered porches, gazebos and the like. They are especially popular in warmer climates such as in the southern United States where they originally proved useful. 
         [0004]    Despite the longstanding popularity of ceiling fans as a means of circulating air and cooling the skin, all suffer from a common problem, namely they are challenging to clean because of their mounting height. As a result, the task is often put off, sometimes indefinitely. By the time this chore is finally attended to, dust and other airborne debris has accumulated in a thick heavy layer which, when disturbed, is sent back into the air and onto underlying furniture, bedding, electronics, decorative items and worse yet, people and their pets. The dust can be loaded with mites that when inhaled and/or contact the skin create health risks including allergic reactions and sinus infections or exacerbate existing health problems like asthma. In order to mitigate these consequences, people have resorted to wearing breathing masks, hats, various sorts of rainwear and other protective clothing and even umbrellas during the cleaning process to shield themselves from the falling debris. It is also not an uncommon practice to spread drop cloths or old sheets on the floor and over any furniture under the fan. Other practices have included resorting to spraying the blades before cleaning with a solution of water and distilled white vinegar using a spray bottle to dampen the layer of dust thereby reducing its ability to become airborne when disturbed. 
         [0005]    Heretofore, there have also been developed a myriad of cleaning implements designed to facilitate the cleaning of ceiling fans including various brushes, wands, dusters, vacuums and the like. While such implements are useful in helping to reach ceiling fan blades for cleaning, and for removing the dust therefrom, they do not prevent dust from falling from the blades onto the user below in the process. Although vacuums with attachments designed for this purpose exist, they are often bulky and awkward to use and do not prevent the dust from becoming airborne when the implement makes contact with the blade (i.e., because the implement on contacts a small area of the blade and any one time, dust on the rest of the blade is susceptible to becoming dislodged and airborne). 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a ceiling fan cleaning apparatus capable of cleaning ceiling fans without the risk of the dust accumulated thereon from becoming airborne in the process, from falling on the user of the apparatus, and from falling on the flooring, furnishings, bedding and other objects below the fan. There is also a need in the art for such an apparatus further capable of permanently trapping the dust in a sealable and disposable contain 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The subject invention meets the need in the art by providing a cleaning article specifically adapted for the cleaning of ceiling fans generally and especially for removing and trapping within an enclosure dust accumulated on the blades thereof. As used hereinafter, the term “dust” should be construed broadly to mean the small particles of organic and inorganic matter (i.e., dirt) that settle on horizontal surfaces, typically in buildings and other covered structures, together with the microscopic organisms often found therein including bacteria, viruses and the like. The subject cleaning article is comprised of an elongated dust-attractive sleeve sized and shaped to receive a conventional ceiling fan blade therein and having both interior and exterior surfaces especially adapted for removal and trapping of dust. The sleeve includes an opening through which fan blades are received, and the opening includes means for maintaining the opening in the desired shape to mitigate against prematurely dislodging dust from fan blade surfaces which would otherwise occur if the opening were collapsed during insertion of the sleeve over the blade. Closure means are provided or sealing shut the open end of the sleeve to permanently trap dust inside. It should be appreciated that the exterior surfaces of the subject cleaning article may also have utility themselves as dust attractants and polishers. In other embodiments, the inner and outer sleeve surfaces may include projecting members for increasing surface area and for improved cleaning of irregular surfaces of ceiling fans. 
         [0008]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important components and features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0009]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0010]    It is, therefore, a primary object of the subject invention to provide a cleaning article especially adapted for removal of dust from ceiling fans, the article having means for encasing a fan blade to prevent dust accumulated thereon from becoming airborne, the article having both exterior and interior cleaning surfaces. 
         [0011]    It is another primary object of the subject invention to provide a cleaning article suitable for use on most ceiling fan blade types and lengths. 
         [0012]    Another primary object of the subject invention is to provide a cleaning article for ceiling fans, the article having dust retention means in the form of an elongated sleeve for preventing dust trapped therein from becoming airborne. 
         [0013]    It is also an object of the subject invention to provide a ceiling fan cleaning article having at least one outer surface adapted with a plurality of dust attracting members for the more effective removal of dust from irregular surfaces of ceiling fans. 
         [0014]    Another object of the subject invention is to provide a ceiling fan cleaning article that is relatively simple in design and therefore capable of rapid construction at relatively low costs. 
         [0015]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional ceiling mounted ceiling fan. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a ceiling fan cleaning article of the subject invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning article of  FIG. 2  taken along line  3 - 3 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the subject cleaning article mounted on a ceiling fan blade for removal of dust therefrom. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    It should be clearly understood at, the outset that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawings herein, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, any reference to the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate. 
         [0022]    Before the subject invention and its advantages can be fully appreciated, it is first necessary to understand the relevant components of a conventional ceiling fan. Accordingly, reference is first made to  FIG. 1  in which there is illustrated a conventional ceiling fan designated generally by reference numeral  100  and comprising an electric motor (not shown) inside a decorative housing  102 , a rotatable flywheel  104  depending from the motor, a plurality of blade arms  106  (also known as blade brackets, blade arms, blade holders, or flanges) each of which is used to hold a corresponding blade  108  (also known as paddles or wings). In other embodiments, a rotor (not shown) is an alternative to blade irons to receive and secure the blades  108 . Many ceiling fans also include one or more downlights  110  (also known as a light kit) for adding ambient light to a room, and/or an uplight(s) (not shown) for projecting light onto the ceiling for aesthetic reasons (i.e., to create ambiance). Ceiling fans are either directly mounted to the ceiling using a mounting kit (not shown) or indirectly via a downrod (not shown). For most residential ceiling fans, blade spans, meaning the distance from one blade tip to the opposite blade tip or the overall diameter of a fan&#39;s blades while in motion, range from 29 to 54 inches, the most popular being the 52-inch model. The size of the blades themselves will typically range from 19 inches to 36 inches long, and from 4 inches to 10 inches wide, but can be significantly longer and/or wider on models designed for commercial or industrial applications. The blades  108  of ceiling fans are typically made of wood, plywood, iron, aluminum or plastic, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and surface textures. For instance, so-called “tropical fans” include blades that simulate palm leaves, There are also aftermarket blade attachments that are mounted to (i.e., underneath) the fan blades to change their aesthetic appearance. 
         [0023]    With a typical ceiling fan construction having been described above, reference is now made to  FIG. 2  in which there is illustrated a perspective view of a first embodiment of the subject ceiling fan cleaning article designated generally by reference numeral  10  (hereinafter also referred to as “cleaning article” and “cleaning apparatus”). Cleaning article  10  is comprised of an elongated dust attracting sleeve  12  sized to receive therein a ceiling fan blade  108 . For example, sleeve  12  may have a length of  20  inches to  37  inches long, and, a width of  5  inches to  11  inches wide to accommodate conventional sized fan blades, but can be significantly longer and/or wider to accommodate blade of ceiling fans having oversized blades such as those intended for use in commercial or industrial applications. Sleeve  12  is comprised of a top panel  14  partially joined to a bottom panel  16  to form an open end  18 , a closed end  20  and a void or space therebetween sized to receive a fan blade therein with relatively little freedom of movement. Top panel  14  and bottom panel  16  each include a preferably but not essentially dust attracting outer facing surface  14 A and  16 A, respectively, and a dust attracting inner facing (Le., fan blade facing) surface  14 B and  16 B, respectively. As should be readily appreciated, the sleeve can be easily constructed from a single sheet of material by folding the sheet over upon itself along a fold line or “juncture”  22  to form top panel  14  (also referred to herein as “first panel”) and bottom panel  16  (also referred to herein as “second panel”) the overlapping free side edges  24  and trailing edges  26  of which are joined together using a variety of joinder means including, but not limited to stitching, gluing, chemical bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, physical bonding, or some combination thereof. In alternate embodiments, side edges  24  and trailing edges  26  may be folded across a portion of either top panel  14  or bottom panel  16  before being joined together to create a neater appearance and, more importantly, a superior seal between them. As an alternative to a single sheet of material folded over upon itself, two separate sheets may be attached to one another in which case fold line  22  would be replaced with a second pair of overlapping side edges (not shown) joined together via any of the above-mentioned joinder means. As yet another alternative, sleeve  12  may be comprised of a tube of material with no longitudinal side edges, but rather having a continuous inner surface uninterrupted by any seams, folds or the like. 
         [0024]    Sleeve  12  has a relatively flat or “planar” profile and terminates at one end in opening  28  is sized to receive therethrough a ceiling fan blade  108  in non-contacting fashion (i.e. opening  28  is large enough to accommodate entry of a fan blade therethrough without the fan blade touching the leading edge  30  of sleeve  12  that defines opening  28 . Having an opening sized to receive fan blades in non-contacting fashion is important to prevent open end  18  of cleaning article  10  from disturbing dust accumulated on the blade surfaces. In preferred embodiments, bottom panel  16  extends a distance past open end  18  of sleeve  12  to form flange  32 . Flange  32  serves two purposes. First, flange  32  catches any dust that may become dislodged from blade  108  by the leading edge  30  of opening  28  as sleeve  12  is slipped over blade  108  for cleaning as more fully described below. Second, flange  32  may be folded back along fold line  42  over a portion of open end  18  to close opening  28  thereby permanently trapping within sleeve  12  dust deposited therein during the cleaning process. A variety of sealing means may be employed to fix flange  32  in place once closed such as, by way of example only, hook and loop tape  40  mounted to abutting surfaces of flange  32  and open end  18  of sleeve  12 . Other methods employ the use of peel-off adhesive strips or interlocking rails such as are found in plastic storage bags. In other embodiments, opening  28  may be closed without the use of flange  32 . For instance, opening  28  may be closed using a drawstring in manner well known in the art, or alternatively, support means  34  may be reshaped under manual pressure to close opening  28 . 
         [0025]    In order to keep opening  28  from closing upon itself, a variety of opening support means  34  may be fitted around at least a portion of the circumference of opening  28 . In one embodiment, opening support means comprises a length of pliable material such as wire or soft plastic that can be easily bent into the desired shape, such as oval, ovoid, circular or the like, so that a fan blade  108  can easily be passed therethrough. In the example illustrated, a portion of top panel  14  is folded back over itself forming a flap  36  under which a length of wire  34  is secured in place. Other means of attaching opening support means  34  in place may also be employed as well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0026]    In order to afford sleeve  12  with the ability to retain a relatively planar shape, longitudinal support means may be incorporated into sleeve  12  and may extend into flange  32  (as shown). In one embodiment, longitudinal support means is comprised of one or more pliable support members  38  comprised of a rigid or pliable material such as wire or soft plastic, for instance, attached to or incorporated into sleeve  12  along its longitudinal axis, preferably but not essentially between abutting surfaces of top panel  14  and bottom panel  16 . Although illustrated in  FIG. 2  to be located proximate free side edges  24  and juncture  22 , it may be appreciated that longitudinal support means may be incorporated anywhere along the length of top panel  14 , bottom panel  16 , or both. 
         [0027]    The materials of construction of the subject cleaning article  10  generally, and top panel  14  and bottom panel  16  in particular. are generally known in the art and can be formed by any material or material-forming process known, including woven and non-woven materials, polymers, gels, extruded materials, laminates, layered materials which are bonded together integral and thus form a co-material, fused materials, extruded materials, air laying, etc. Some such materials are fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,231,685 and 7,566,671 the disclosures of which is expressly incorporated by reference to the extent they are not inconsistent with the teachings of the subject invention. In a preferred embodiment, top panel  14  and bottom panel  16  are comprised of fibers defining at least one cleaning surface such as dust attracting inner (blade facing) surfaces  14 B and  16 B, respectively. The panels  14 , 16  may, for example, include a plurality of fluffed nonwoven fabrics made of synthetic resins, which may be welded to one another. The panels may include fibers constructed from (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and conjugated fibers of PE/PET or PEE/PP (e.g., conjugated fibers of a core/sheath structure having a core of PP or PET and a sheath of PE). The nonwoven fabric may be a thermal bonded nonwoven fabric, a spun-bonded nonwoven fabric or a spun-laced nonwoven fabric. Alternatively panels  14 , 16  may be formed of a thermoplastic resin film such as a PE film or a PP film. Of course, it is also possible that panels  14 , 16  are formed of a laminated sheet of a nonwoven fabric and a resin film. 
         [0028]    In order to increase the surface area of dust collecting surfaces, especially but not solely those inside sleeve  12 , at least one of top panel  14  and bottom panel  16  may include a plurality of fibers, fiber bundles or other similar dust attracting members  42  projecting from at least a portion of at least one sleeve surface including one or more of outer surface  14 A, outer surface  16 A, inner (blade facing) surface  148  and inner (blade facing) surface  16 B as best shown in  FIG. 3 . As should be readily appreciated, increasing the surface area of these structures increases the amount of dust that may be trapped with cleaning article  10 . Increased surface area is especially important for inner surface  148  of top panel  14  because the greatest amount of dust accumulates on the top of each fan blade  108  with which inner surface  14 B will come into contact. 
         [0029]    Other means may also be employed to increase dust uptake by the subject cleaning article  10 . It should be recognized that fibers within top and bottom panels  14 , 16 , as ell as those that comprise dust attracting members  42 , can take a variety of forms and orientations to increase various performance characteristics of cleaning article  10  as described more fully in the above-referenced patents. They may also include or comprise absorbent materials such as acrylic based polymers applied as a coating or turned into fibers directly. The absorbent materials increase the overall absorbency of the fibers, prevent the fibers from packing close together into a fiber mass, and enhance the friction of the fibers. As is also well known in the art, these structures could also include a piezoelectric crystal to impart an electrostatic charge during use to increase dust retention. 
         [0030]    Finally, cleaning article  10  may be modified with a variety of applicator receiving means (not shown) for the temporary engagement of hand-held applicator devices designed to facilitate reaching fan blades  108  and/or mounting of article  10  there around for cleaning. 
       Method of Use 
       [0031]    In use, the user first manually shapes opening  28  to a configuration that accommodates receiving the fan blade(s) to be cleaned therethrough by bending opening support means to the desired shape. Next, one or more of the outer surfaces  14 A, 16 A and inner surfaces  148 ,  16 B of top panel  14  and bottom panel  16  may optionally be sprayed with water or a commercially available dust-attractant fluid including but not limited to those identified in the above-referenced &#39;671 patent, namely Pledge® Multi-Surface Cleaner, Pledge® Wood and Glass Cleaner, End Dust®, Fantastic® all purpose cleaner, Windex® glass cleaner, anti-bacterials such as Oust® or Lysol®, fragrances such as Glade®, leather or vinyl treatment such as Armor All®, fabric protectors such as Scotch Guard®, or fabric fresheners such as those manufactured by S.C. Johnson &amp; Son, Inc. of Racine, Wis., or Fabreze®. The fluid may alternatively generally comprise, without limitation: any all-purpose cleaner, oil or water based dust inhibitor, anti-static, anti-microbial, antibacterial, sanitizing and de-odorizing agent, dusting agent, glass cleaner, furniture polish, leather or vinyl treatment, other cleaning agent, wax, polish or shining agent, softening agent, friction-enhancing compound, perfumes, dish cleaner, soap, insect repellent or insect barrier, dust mite killer or repellant, abrasive cleaner, shoe polish, pet sanitation products, etc., Optional longitudinal support means  38  are shaped to afford sleeve  12  with an overall flat or planar shape. Cleaning article  10  is then raised to be in coaxial alignment with the first fan blade to be cleaned and is then slipped carefully over the fan blade until sleeve  12  covers the entire blade  108  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Positioned thusly, the user then manually “polishes” the fan blade by moving sleeve back and forth axially, transversely and otherwise to cause inner surface  14 B,  16 B to contact the blade and transfer all dust collected on the blade to the interior of sleeve  12 . Sleeve  12  may be gently squeezed against the blade surface during this process. Prior to removal of cleaning article  10  from fan blade  108 , opening support means should be manipulated until opening  28  is fit snuggly around the fan blade. Open end  18  of sleeve  12  may be gently squeezed against the blade surface during withdrawal of sleeve  12  from the blade. Upon removal, the process is repeated until all blades have been cleaned. After the last fan blade has been cleaned sleeve  12  should be closed with closure means  40  to permanently trap all dust inside. As should be readily appreciated, the outer surfaces  14 A, 16 A of sleeve  12  may then be used to clean the remaining surfaces of the fan  100 . Cleaning article  10  may then be discarded. 
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specifications, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.