Patent Publication Number: US-2007113365-A1

Title: Aroma duster

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/669,636, filed Apr. 7, 2005, the specification of which is hereby incorporated.  
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates generally to wool and feather dusters, and more particularly, to wool and feather dusters that produce an aroma-therapy fragrance.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Dusters are typically made from natural materials such as lamb wool or feathers, such as ostrich feathers. Dusters are also made from synthetic materials, such as polyesters. While such dusters are effective in removing dust, it would be advantageous if such dusters could also impart a pleasant fragrance to the area being dusted.  
      In the past, a fragrance has been added to a wool, feather, or synthetic duster by spraying the duster and impregnating the feathers, wool, or synthetic material with the fragrance. This method can result in the duster leaving oily marks when used. Moreover, the fragrance typically wears off after only a short period of time.  
     SUMMARY  
      An embodiment of an aroma-therapy duster formed in accordance with the present disclosure includes a handle and a dusting element secured to its first end. The dusting element extends away from the first end of the handle. The duster includes a scented substrate affixed to the first end of the handle and/or the dusting element at the junction of the handle and the dusting element.  
      This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an aroma-therapy feather duster;  
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an aroma-therapy wool duster; and  
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an aroma-therapy wool duster, where the wool is unraveled. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of an aroma-therapy feather duster  10  formed in accordance with the present disclosure. The duster  10  includes a handle  12  with a dusting element composed of feathers  14  attached thereto. The handle  12  is preferably made from wood, metal, or plastic; however, other similar materials may also be used. The handle  12  is sufficiently long to permit a user to grasp the handle  12  with his or her entire hand. Moreover, the surface of the handle  12  is preferably cylindrical in shape to allow the user to comfortably grasp the handle  12  while dusting. Although a curved surface is preferred, other shapes and sizes may also be used.  
      The duster  10  includes a plurality of feathers  14 , where the feathers  14  contain quills  16  and vanes  17 . The feathers may be ostrich feathers or other types of feathers. The feathers  14  are gathered near the quills  16  to form a gathered end, which attaches to a first end  20  of the handle  12  to form the feather duster  10 . To securely fasten the feathers  14  to the handle  12 , the quills  16  are first arranged to surround the handle end  20 . Then, a wire  21  tightly encircles the quills  16  and thereby fastens the quills  16  to the handle  12 . Other securing devices, such as glue, string, or staples, may also be used.  
      A cover  22  encases the quills  16  on the first handle end  20  to further secure the quills  16  to the first handle end  20  and conceal the exposed wire  21  and feather quills  16 . The cover  22  may be made from fabric, plastic, metal, or other similar materials. The cover  22  overlies the quills and wire and may be attached thereto by any convenient means, such as by being stretched over the quills and wires. Alternatively, the wire can be glued or stapled in place.  
      Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the feather duster  10  includes scented wax  26  affixed to the first handle end  20  and the quills  16  where the quills  16  surround the first handle end  20 . The wax  26  is applied to the feather duster  10  by rubbing wax  26  on the first handle end  20  and the quills  16 . The wax can be in the form of a stick to facilitate rubbing the wax onto the quills and handle end. Alternatively, the wax may be softened or melted and then applied to the quills and handle by dipping the quills and handle into the wax or spraying the melted scented wax to the quills and handle. Although the preferred embodiment is described using wax, other suitable substrate materials that can be scented may also be used.  
      The cover  22  encloses the wax  26 , quills  16 , and handle end  20 . The scent of the candle wax  26  permeates throughout the feathers  14  to produce an aroma-therapy fragrance when the feather duster  10  is used. Affixing the wax  26  to the quills  16  and the handle end  20 , rather than impregnating the feathers  14  with a waxy substance, prevents unwanted oils and residue from being left on a surface when dusting. Moreover, since the wax does not wear off when the user is dusting, the duster will maintain an aroma-therapy scent for a longer duration.  
      The scented wax  26  may be formed by mixing wax, such as candle wax, with fragrant essential oils. The wax is formed from the combination of natural and/or synthetic wax with additives according to methods commonly known in the art. Fragrant essential oils, made from plants, herbs, flowers, fruit, wood, seeds, and other natural ingredients, are added to the candle wax to produce the scented wax  26 . The method of combining candle wax with fragrant essential oils is also commonly known in the art.  
      Now referring to  FIG. 2 , another embodiment of an aroma-therapy duster  32  formed in accordance with the present disclosure is depicted. The duster  32  includes a handle  34  and a dusting element composed of lamb&#39;s wool  36 . The lamb&#39;s wool  36  is secured to strips of lamb&#39;s skin  38  on the outer surface of the lamb&#39;s skin  40 . In other words, the strip of skin  38  retains the lamb&#39;s wool  36 . The lamb&#39;s wool  36  may instead be separated from the skin  38  and secured to another flexible medium. The lamb&#39;s wool  36  is preferably 100% lambs wool; however, a synthetic material may also be used.  
      Now referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the skin  38  is wrapped around the handle  34  with the lamb&#39;s wool  36  extending outwardly therefrom to form the wool duster  32 . Starting at a handle end  44 , the skin  38  is wrapped around the handle  34  in a downward spiral fashion. The skin  38  is wrapped around the handle  34  such that an inner surface of the lamb&#39;s skin  42  engages the handle  34 , and the wool  36  extends generally outward from the outer surface of the lamb&#39;s skin  40 . The wool duster  32  may be formed with one piece of wool  36  or with several pieces. Regardless, when wrapped around the handle  34 , the wool  36  generally covers less than half the handle  34 . However, depending on the purpose for which the wool duster  32  will be used, the wool  36  may cover more or less of the handle  34 . The skin  38  is secured to the handle end  44  with at least one fastener  46  such as a staple, nail, or other device. The skin  38  may also be secured to the second handle end  44  with an adhesive such as glue.  
      The wool duster  32  also includes a scent carried by wax  26  or other substrate material. The scented wax  26  may be affixed to the lamb&#39;s skin  38 , the handle  34 , or both. The scented wax  26  is preferably affixed to the inner surface of the skin  42  and the handle end  44 . As with the feather duster  10 , the scented wax may be in the form of a stick where it is applied to the inner surface of the skin  42  and handle  44  by rubbing the stick against the skin and handle. Also, as noted above, the wax  26  also may be affixed to the wool duster  32  by first melting or softening the wax  26  and then applying the wax  26  to the handle end  44  and the inner surface of the skin  42 .  
      The scented wax  26  essentially forms a layer between the handle end  44  and the inner surface of the skin  42 , which aids in securing the skin  38  to the handle  34 . The scent of the wax  26  permeates from underneath the skin  38  and throughout the wool  36  to produce an aroma-therapy fragrance when the wool duster  32  is used. Affixing the wax  26  to the second handle end  44  and the inner surface of the skin  42 , rather than impregnating the wool  36  with a waxy substance, prevents unwanted oils and residue from being left on a surface when dusting. Moreover, the wax does not wear off when dusting; therefore, the duster maintains an aroma-therapy scent for a substantial period of time.  
      Although not shown, the lamb&#39;s wool  36  may be replaced by synthetic materials, such as polyester. The scented substrate may be applied to the junction or interface between the synthetic material and the handle.  
      While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.