US135376A - Improvement in dusters - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAWN M. SMITH, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO LYDIA A. SMITH,

I OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT m DUSTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,376, dated January 28, 1873.

or manufaeture'of a duster, composed in part of a fine fiber to constitute the body of the duster, and in part of .a coarse fiber or feathers to serve as a stiffener to prevent the finer fibers or body from becoming moppy.

Hemp dusters, so called-that is, dusters composed entirely of hemp orflax-are not considered as durable or as efficient after a little use in removing dust as when new, for the reason that the hemp soon loses the stiffening artificially imparted to it, and the duster becomes moppy and flabby, and its efficiency is therefore very greatly impaired. Feather clusters are light and pretty, but they are expensive, and are not reliable nor durable, for the reason that when they become a little worn the shafts or stems of the feathers becomebare, and the dusters are not suitable for dusting nice furniture because of the liability of scratching the same; and, moreover, the vanes soon wear off, and an expensive duster is rendered useless.

By my invention I combine in a single duster all the good qualities of the hemp dustor with the lightness of the feather duster.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved duster. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse or cross section taken on the plane of the line a: m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram explanatory of the manner of making the duster.

A designates a layer or several layers of the fine fiber which is to constitute the body of the duster; and this may consist of hemp, flax, or jute. B designates the stiffener, and this may consist of feathers, Manila, Tampico, Sisal, hemp, and, in some cases, bristles.

In making the duster I lay out evenly the desired quantity of fine fiber for the outside A of the duster. (See Fig. 4.) I then lay the stiffeningsay, feathers B-upon the layer A, and then upon this stiffenerIfind it desirable to place another layer, A, of the fine fiber. The whole is then stitched together, say, from two to four inches from the end, which is to be fastened to the handle, say, as shown at a, Fig. 4. The end which is to receive the handle is then, preferably, again stitched, as shown at b, Fig. 4, in order to draw or pucker this end till of a size to fit the handle D, to'which it is secured. by gluing, wiring, or any other secure method and a cap of leather or other material, (I, is, preferably, placed over this fastened end in order to render more neat the appearance of the duster.

In practice I find that from three to six ounces of the finer or body fiber and from one to one and a half ounce of stiffening will produce the ordinary sizes of dusters.

The arrangement of the stiffening may be varied. It may be located as shown in Fig.

2, or in the center, or otherwise, so long as it is so placed as to have the effect of preventing the body of the. duster from becoming ppy- My improved duster possesses every merit of both the hemp and the feather duster, without the objectionablefeatures of either. When constructed of fiber and feathers, as herein shown, it combines the softness and durability of the one with the flexibility and lightness of the other.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The new article of manufacture of a duster, composed of a body of fine fiber, A, with stiff ening B, and provided with a handle, D, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

GAVVN M. SMITH.

Witnesses:

H. M. CARR, THOMAS W. COLE Scofr'r.

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