Abstract:
A suction-assisted dust mop enables dust to be efficiently attracted to the mop pile surface and held in place during cleaning. An electric motor powered blower or fan connected to a hollow tube generates a suction for cleaning dust at multiple suction holes in the tube walls which in turn generates suction in the fiber pile of the dust mop covering the suction holes. Chemical agents and/or an electrostatically charged fiber pile function along with suction to improve the efficiency of the dust cleaning process.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/206,296 filed on May 23, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Powerduster is a lightweight portable electric appliance powered by rechargeable batteries optimized for gently and efficiently dusting a variety of surfaces. Suction increases the efficiency of the dusting process by attracting dust to the Powerduster dust gathering fiber pile while the fiber pile is moved over surfaces requiring cleaning. Suction is applied in the present invention in combination with a chemical dust retaining compound and/or an electrostatic charge to the fiber pile to maximize dust gathering and retention. The Powerduster maximizes dust retention on the fiber pile while minimizing the intake of dust particles into the appliance. This increased efficiency decreases the amount of time required for dusting since less movement of the fiber pile over surfaces is required to pickup deposits of dust. Larger surface areas can be dusted in the same amount of time in comparison with conventional non-suction dusting devices. 
     Since suction attracts dust to the surface of the Powerduster dusting fiber pile and holds it in place while cleaning, dust is not spread around as in the use of conventional dusting devices. Persons with dust allergies can particularly benefit from the increased dust gather capabilities of the Powerduster. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Existing electric powered suction cleaning devices (vacuum cleaners) are designed to suck dirt and dust into a receptacle for storage and when the receptacle becomes full the dirt is emptied. In contrast, the Powerduster uses suction to attract dust particles to the surface of a fiber pile and hold the dust particles in place on and in the fiber pile until the pile is either cleaned or replaced. The Powerduster does not use suction to transfer dust to a receptacle for storage but instead uses suction to attract and hold dust particles to a fiber pile so that dust is not spread around during cleaning. 
     Non-suction dust cleaning devices in the prior art consist of soft fibers or feathers attached to a handle which when moved over furniture, blinds and other surfaces pick up dust or move the dust particles onto the floor where a vacuum cleaner later picks them up. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It the object of the present invention to provide a dusting appliance which can accomplish the task of attracting dust to a fiber pile using suction generated by a motor-powered blower and holding the gathered dust on the fiber pile using the assistance provided by suction. In addition, it is the object of the present invention to combine chemical agents and/or an electrostatic charge along with suction to the same fiber pile to enhance dust gathering and dust retention capabilities. 
     The present invention provides a lightweight handheld cleaning appliance powered by rechargeable batteries which can pick up dust from a variety of surfaces. The duster, which includes the dust gathering fiber pile, detaches from the extension tube for easy cleaning or replacement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an overall view showing the main components of the preferred embodiment of the suction-assisted dusting appliance present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the duster element of the present invention which attracts and hold dust using the assist provided by suction. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the combined application of an electrostatic charge and/or dust retaining chemical compound along with suction to attract and retain dust particles on and in the fiber pile of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals in the text indicate like elements throughout the drawings. 
     The Powerduster  1  illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of a hollow extension tube  5  fabricated of plastic, carbon fiber, plastic composite, metal or some other material, a removable dust gathering duster  8  which attaches to end  6  of tube  5  and a suction producing fan or blower  16  powered by electric motor  15  at end section  9  of tube  5 . Electric motor  15 , fan or blower  16 , filter  19  and batteries  17  are housed in removable section  9  of tube  5 . The length of hollow extension tube  5  is adjustable enabling the distance of the attached duster  8  from vacuum motor  15  to be increased or decreased. Extension tube  5  can either be rigid or flexible. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, duster  8  consists of hollow tube  30  which has multiple suction holes  32  distributed around the surface of tube  30  wall and end  40 . Tube  30  end  40  is capped or closed to generate suction  20  at holes  32 . However, suction holes  32  may be fabricated in cap or closed end  40  of tube  30 , enabling suction to extend to any fiber pile covering end  40 . Suction holes  32  are dispersed throughout the area covered by fiber pile  37  or duster  8 . The other end  43  of tube  30  attaches to or connects with end  6  of extension tube  5 . The connection joint  55  between duster  8  tube end  43  and tube end  6  can be rigid so that duster  8  does not have the ability to rotate or can be designed to enable duster  8  to rotate. More expensive commercial models of the Powerduster can use an electric motor to rotate duster  8  attached, engaged or connected to joint  55 . A soft or semi-soft fibrous dust gathering material  37  is attached to or covers tube  30  to form duster  8 . Fiber pile  37  covers suction holes  32  so that suction  20  is created in pile  37  when electric motor  15  driven fan or blower  16  is operating. Fiber pile  37  can be removable from tube  30  or permanently attached to tube  30  using an adhesive or other fastening method. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the present invention, along with the application of suction  20  a dust retaining chemical compound  21  is added to the fibers  37  of duster  8  to enhance dust  3  sticking to fibers  37  and/or an electrostatically charged  22  fiber pile  37  assists in retaining and holding dust on and in fiber pile  37 . Fiber pile  37  may be composed of fibers which generate an electrostatic charge  22  or a circuit which includes batteries  17  may actively generate an electrostatic charge  22  in fiber pile  37  by passing an electric current through conductive fibers mixed into fiber pile  37 . Combining the application of a chemical agent  21  and/or an electrostatic charge  22  along with suction  20  generated by a blower or fan mechanism to fiber pile  37  increases the capability to attract dust and retain the dust on fiber pile  37  in comparison to using the chemical agent  21 , electrostatic charge  22  or suction  20  method alone. 
     The fibrous dust gathering material  37  is positioned over the suction holes of tube  30 . Duster  8  dust gathering fiber pile  37  can consist of long soft fluffy fibers or short fibers and the fibers may be curly or straight. Fiber pile  37  may be woven as a fabric or unwoven with multiple fiber strands forming a fluffy dust gathering surface. Duster  8  can be fabricated so it is either disposable or an embodiment can be manufactured that enables attached dust to be easily cleaned off and duster  8  reused. 
     Electric motor  15  which drives fan or blower  16  is powered by rechargeable batteries  17  thus enabling the Powerduster  1  to perform multiple dust cleaning tasks around the house or office. When electric motor  15  powered fan or blower  16  is operating and creating suction  20  at holes  32 , the suction  20  results in the attraction of dust particles  3  to the fibrous dust gathering pile  37  where the dust particles  3  are retained in fiber pile  37 . Even when electric motor  15  and fan or blower  16  are turned off, dust  3  will continue to be retained by fibrous dust gathering pile  37  until cleaning of duster  8  takes place, or in the case of a disposable duster  8 , until the duster  8  is removed and disposed of in a bag. End  9  section of extension tube  5 , which is where electric motor  15  and fan or blower  16  are housed, detaches from extension tube  5  at connection  12  enabling a removable filter or screen  19  to be periodically replaced or cleaned. Filter or screen  19  catches any stray dust particles  3  which may enter the appliance and prevents dust from building up in the space where electric motor driven fan or blower  16  is housed. As an alternative, dust screen or filter  19  may be located at connection joint  55 . On/Off switch  18  turns electric motor  15  on or off. 
     When electric motor  15  powered fan or blower  16  is operating, suction  20  is created inside tubes  5  and  30 , at holes  32  and in the fiber pile  37  of duster  8 . Fan or blower  16 , moves air  27  through holes  32  to create suction  20  in fiber pile  37  and expels the air  27  through vents  11  at one end of motor drive and blower assembly  9 . The suction  20  at holes  32  creates suction  20  in fibrous dust gathering pile  37  which attracts and retains dust particles  3 . In the present invention, suction  20  power should be at a level where the fiber pile  37  does not flatten out or where the fiber pile  37  is sucked into suction holes  32 . In addition, suction  20  should be at a low enough level to minimize the sucking of dust  3  into the appliance while at the same time being at a level where dust particles  3  are attracted to and retained on fiber pile  37 . Higher levels of suction force may be used with fiber pile  37  composed of short fibers or a woven fabric. 
     The suction  20  power of the Powerduster  1  can be varied by scaling up the size and surface area of the dust pile while at the same time increasing the power of motor powered fan or blower  16 . A carrying handle  22  can be added to housing  9  which attaches to tube  5  where the electric motor  15  blower  16  and battery pack  17  are located to facilitate ease of handling. Motor  15 , besides being powered by batteries  17 , can also be powered by plug in cord  24  and Direct Current (DC) and voltage step down transformer  25  which plugs into a standard electrical wall outlet. Cord  24  and transformer  25  also supplies the power to recharge batteries  17 . 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.