GB2248767A - A duster - Google Patents

Abstract

A duster comprises a foamed synthetic plastics material formed to have a plurality of slender, flexible formations, tentacle fashion. The formations may be cut with a die or with a hot wire grid (12) Fig. 1) (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

A DUSTER THIS INVENTION relates to a duster.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a duster comprising a-foamed synthetic plastics material formed to have a plurality of slender, flexible formations, finger or tentacle fashion.

In a preferred embodiment, the slender formations may extend from a base of the material. The base may be attached to a handle.

In another embodiment, the slender formations may be separate, the formations being attached to a handle or base.

In one embodiment, suitable for dusting large surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and generally robust objects such as exterior furniture and the like, the formations may have a cross-sectional dimension of typically 5 mm to 20 mm, and may have a length of typically 10 art to 30 cm. The material may have a coarse open cell texture.

In another embodiment, suitable for dusting smaller surfaces and more delicate objects, such as for general interior use, the formations may be thinner and shorter and the texture of the material may be finer.

In yet a further erbodintent suitable for use in dusting delicate objects such as chinaware, silverware, and the like, the formations may be thin, of the order of 1 mm to 2 mm.

The length and resilience of the formations may be selected bearing in mind the intended use of the duster. Thus, for heavy duty such as in dusting of clinging dust and grime, the formations may be relatively stiff and thus also relatively short. In contrast, for light duty such as for dusting delicate objects, the formations may be relatively compliant and thus relatively iong.

The material of which the duster is made will be selected bearing in mind the intended duty. Thus, for general interior use, a relatively inexpensive foamed material may be suitable. On the other hand, for heavy duty, a suitable polyurethane composition may be required. Generally, of materials currently available, the Applicant favours flexible polyurethane foamed material.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accocoanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings Figure 1 shows, in three dimensional view, schematically, one method of forming a duster head in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 and shows the formed duster head; Figure 3 shows, in three dimensional view, a duster formed of the duster head of Figure 2; Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 but shows, to a larger scale, a duster for delicate applications; Figure 5 shows, in three dimensional view, to a small scale, a first step in accordance with a preferred production technique of a duster in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 shows, in three dimensional view, to a larger scale, a strip of material produced by the step of Figure 5;; Figure 7 shows, in front view, a further step in the production process, to the same scale as Figure 6; Figure 8 shows, to an intermediate scale, yet a further step in the production process; and Figure 9 shows, to the same scale as Figure 8, a duster in accordance with the invention produced by tne prcaussion iesnnlque oL Figures 5 to 8.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, a duster head for a duster in accordance with the invention is conveniently manufactured from a block of foamed material such as indicated generally by reference numeral 10. Forming is conveniently through a hot wire grid 12, extrusion fashion. The grid 12 may be electrically heated, resistive wire fashion. Wires forming the grid may be spaced in the direction in which the block of foamed material will be moved through the grid such that perpendicular sections of wires do not intersect.

With reference to Figure 2, reference numeral 10.1 indicates the block 10 after one end portion, generally indicated by reference numeral 14, has been cut by means of the hot wire grid 12 of Figure 1 to form a plurality of slender, elongate formations 16, finger or tentacle fashion. An opposed portion of the block 10.1 has been left intact to form a base 18 from which the formations 16 extend.

With reference to Figure 3, the base 18 has been compressed and is held captive in a sleeve 24 at an end of a handle 22 to form a duster 20. It is to be appreciated that compression of the base 18 causes the formations 16 to diverge as illustrated.

It is to be appreciated that the formations 16 are relatively coarse and that the texture of the foamed material is also relatively coarse. Furthermore, the compliance of the foamed material and thus the compliance of the formations 16 are relatively high. Thus, the duster 20 is especially suitable fur g@lea bit#ioL use Lu UU#L furniture and the like.

With reference to Figure 4, a duster 120 is shown which is substantially smaller than the duster 20 and is especially suitable for dusting delicate objects such as chinaware, silverware, electronic instruments and the like. Generally its features are similar to the features of the duster 20 and they are numbered alike.

The main difference between the dusters is that the formations 116 of the duster 120 are substantially more numerous and much thinner and shorter. The material of the duster head 110 is more sophisticated and stronger than that of the duster head 10.1 to enable the slender formations 116 to be formed and to ensure that they will not easily be severed in use. It is, for example, anticipated that the duster 120 will be of a foamed polyurethane material.

If it is required that the compliance of the formations 116 be low, i.e. that they are stiff, the duster head 110 can be manufactured of a stiff material, or the formations 116 may be short, or both.

It is a first advantage that foamed material has been found by the Inventor to remove dust well. Thus, a duster in accordance with the invention is expected to be very effective in removing dust.

It is a second advantage that a duster in accordance with the invention can easily be cleaned by washing the duster head in soap and water, or other suitable cleaning liquid.

It is a further advantage that a duster can be manufactured for a specific purpose or duty as described above. The invention is thus very versatile in providing different dusters for different duties or conditions. In this regard, it is to be appreciated that a wide variety of materials is available from which proper selection can be made, although, as mentioned above, the Applicant currently favours a suitable grade of flexible polyurethane foamed material.

It is a further advantage that, especially for unsophisticated uses, the material for manufacturing the duster head can be relatively inexpensive and the duster can be produced correspondingly inexpensively.

With reference generally to Figures 5 to 9, a preferred production technique and a finished duster in accordance with the invention are now described in more detail.

With reference more specifically to Figure 5, a block of material is generally indicated by reference numeral 200. The block of material is of a suitable grade of polyurethane material, selected bearing in mind the intended application of dusters to be made of the material. The block 200 is large having linear dimensions in the order of about 1 m or even more. The length of the block is indicated by reference numeral 202, its width by reference numeral 204 and its height by reference numeral 206.

With reference also to Figure 6, as a first step, a profile cutter is used to cut strips of material 212 out of the block 200. The length of each strip 212 corresponds to the width 204 of the block 200.

A plurality of strips 212 is cut from a layer 214 of the block 200, the strips being in a first orientation. The following layer 215 is cut "dovetail"-fashion from a second layer 215, the orientation of the strips 212 being inverted. The next layer 216 will be cut with the orientation corresponding to the orientation of the first layer 214, and the like.

A strip 212 is shown to a larger scale and in more detail in Figure 6. It has, in series and in integral form, a generally parallel base 218 and a wedge portion 220. Typical dimensions of the strip 212, for a general application, will be such that the base 218 is about 20 ntm high and the wedge portion 220 is about 150 mm high. The width of the base 212 is about 8 mm and the width at the apex of the wedge portion 220 is about 2 mm.

With reference to Figure 7, a subsequent operation is to cut, by means of a die, elongate formations 224 out of the wedge portion 220 along cutting paths 222. Blades of the die correspond to the cutting path 222.

The base 218 is left intact. Relatively short and wide sections 228 are cut adjacent the base 218. In series with and integral with the sections 228, sections 230 of intermediate width are cut. In series with and integral with the sections 228 and 230, relatively long slender sections 232 are cut.

When visualizing the shape of the elongate formations 224, the cross sectional shape of the strip 212, as can be perceived from Figure 6, must be borne in mind.

With reference to Figure 8, a strip 212.1 i.e. in its condition after the cutting step described with reference to Figure 7, is wound around one end of a handle 234 and is fastened to the handle 234 by means of a synthetic plastics strap 336. The Applicant believes that a strap similar to, even identical to, straps used by electricians and the like to tie electrical wires together will be suitable for this function.

The strip 212.1 is wound around the handle 234 at least once, but, if desired more than once, depending on the duty or application intended for the duster. A number of dusters are formed from a strip 212.2, the balance of the strip which is not used on a particular duster, merely being cut off.

With reference to Figure 9, a hollow frusto-conical sleeve 238 is pushed over the wound strip 212.1 from the free end of the handle 234. The sleeve 238 has, in series, a hollow frusto-conical sleeve portion 248 and a collar 250. The sleeve 238 operates as a choke and the shape of a duster head 258 formed of the wound strip 212.1 can be adjusted by suitable axial displacement of the sleeve 238.

When in a desired position, a nail 252 or the like is applied through the collar 250 into the handle 234. This completes the duster generally indicated by reference numeral 254. As can be seen in Figure the duster 254 ccmprises the handle 234, and also a du@@@@ head 2@@ formed of the wound strip 212.1.

The duster of Figure 9 generally has the advantages as described above for the dusters of Figures 3 and 4. In addition, it is manufactured in a manner, as described, which the Applicant believes is suitable for mass production.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A duster comprising a foamed synthetic plastics material formed to have a plurality of slender, flexible formations, tentaclefashion.

2. A duster as claimed in Claim 1 in which the formations extend from a base of the material.

3. A duster as claimed in Claim 1 in which the formations are separate and are attached to a handle.

4. A duster as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 3 inclusive which duster is suitable for dusting large surfaces and robust objects, the formations having a cross-sectional dimension of between 5 mm and 20 mm, and a length of between 100 mm and 300 mm, the plastics material having a coarse open cell texture.

5. A duster as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 3 inclusive which duster is suitable for use in dusting delicate objects, the formations having a cross sectional dimension of between 1 mm and 2 mm.

6. A duster, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings.

7. A duster, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 5 to 9 of the drawings.