Background. Dusting implements such as feather dusters and lambs wool dusters have been around for many years. Typically these implements include an elongated wand portion and a cylindrically shaped head. The diameter of the head is substantially larger than the diameter of the elongated wand portion.

Initially, these dusting implements are somewhat useful in removing dust. However, they quickly become infused with dust particles and instead of attracting the same, they simply move the dust particles around. Once the implements are so dirtied, they are very difficult to clean and, therefore, must be replaced quite frequently.

Furthermore, these dusting implements are often used by employees of janitorial agencies. Accordingly, since the

existing dusting implements are readily covered with dust and dirt, it is very difficult for employers to spot check their workers to see whether they actually have been dusting. This is due to the difficulty in ascertaining whether the dusting implement was dirtied during prior cleanings or whether it became dirty because of the present cleaning.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning sleeve which has a high dust gathering capability.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning sleeve which can be firmly secured to the head portion of a dusting implement.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a cleaning sleeve that can be readily removed from the dusting implement and washed and dried for further use.

It is still another object to provide such a cleaning sleeve which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiments, demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning sleeve which is adapted to be slidably fitted over the head portion of a dusting implement. The cleaning sleeve includes a sheet of material that has a top end, a bottom end and a pair of opposing edges. The opposing edges are at least partially connected to one another. The bottom end of the sleeve has an aperture formed therethrough and the top end is open.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form which is presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention shown secured over a dusting implement; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention shown partially secured over a dusting implement; Fig. 3 is a bottom cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION Referring now to Figs. 1,2,3 and 4 in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in the figures a cleaning sleeve constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as 10 in Figs. 1,2 and 3, and as 40 in Fig. 4.

The cleaning sleeve 10 is adapted to be slidably fitted

over a dusting implement 12 which includes an elongated wand portion 14 and a cylindrically shaped head portion 16. The head portion typically comprises a shaft surrounded by a cylindrically shaped quantity of lambs wool.

The cleaning sleeve includes a folded over sheet of material 18 that has a top end 20, a bottom end 22 and a pair of opposing side edges 24 and 26. Each of the side edges 24 and 26 includes an upper portion 28 and 30, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the opposing side edges overlie one another and are stitched together. The upper portions 28 and 30 of the side edges, however, are unattached. This facilitates the attachment of the cleaning sleeve 10 to the dusting implement 12 as more fully described below. It should be noted that the side edges can be connected in a variety of other ways, such as by adhesively securing, or thermally bonding, as shown in Fig. 4.

The bottom end 22 is also preferably sealed by stitching the same. Once again, however, it should be noted that the bottom end can be sealed in other ways. An aperture 32 extends upwardly from the bottom end 22 of the cleaning sleeve 10. The aperture 32 is essentially square shaped once the sleeve is fitted over the head portion 16 of the dusting implement 12 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

To prepare for use, the elongated wand portion 14 of the dusting implement 12 is inserted through the top end 20 of the cleaning sleeve. Since the upper portions 28 and 30 of the side edges 24 and 26 are unattached, they can be physically separated from each other to increase the. area of the open top end 20. This facilitates the insertion of the sleeve around the cylindrically shaped head portion 16 of the dusting

implement 12.

The bottom of the wand portion 14 is then passed through the square shaped aperture 32 in the bottom end 22 of the cleaning sleeve 10. The wand portion 14 is further passed through the square shaped aperture until the cleaning sleeve 10 covers the entire head portion 16 of the dusting implement 12 and the bottom end 22 of the cleaning sleeve is adjacent to the bottom of the head portion 16. When so positioned, the cleaning sleeve acquires a cylindrical shape similar to the shape of the head portion of the dusting implement. The cleaning sleeve remains secured to the head portion because it has a diameter which is slightly less that the diameter of the head portion 16. Accordingly, when the sleeve is positioned to cover the lambs wool head portion, the lambs wool is slightly compressed. The restoring force of the lambs wool causes the same to create considerable frictional contact with the sleeve in order to hold it in place.

In the first preferred embodiment, the height of the cleaning sleeve 10 is significantly greater than the height of the head portion 16 of the dusting implement 12. This allows uppermost part of the lambs wool covered head portion to be encased by the cleaning sleeve so that the head portion does not get dirty when the dusting implement is being used.

In the second preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, sleeve 40 is formed of a synthetic material which is a thermally bonded hydrophilic non-woven fabric, such as polypropylene. Using synthetic materials may be preferable for ease of fabrication, since thermal bond 42 can be used as opposed to stitching, as is shown in Figs. 1 through 3. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, this second preferred embodiment includes

a plurality of tassels 44, which extend out over cylindrical shaped head portion 16.

The sheet of material 18 can be comprised of either natural materials such as cotton, linen, flax and hemp and/or synthetic materials, such as nylon, rayon, poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate), polyurethane, polypropylene and poly (ethylenetereph- thalate). The sheet of material may also be impregnated with petroleum mineral oil prior to use in order to increase the dust gathering capability of the cleaning sleeve. As an alternative to impregnation with petroleum mineral oil prior to use, and particularly if the sleeve material itself is a synthetic, it may be impregnated with chemicals that will result in the sleeve being non-statically charged. One such chemical is a solution of propylene glycol and quaternary ammonium chloride.

After one or more uses, the cleaning sleeves 10 and 40 can be removed from the dusting implement 12 and washed either by hand or in a washing machine. Thereafter, the sleeve can be reinserted over the head portion of the dusting implement.

Further, if it is so desired, a further application of mineral oil can be applied to the sleeve to improve the dust gathering properties of the same. After several uses, the cleaning sleeve can be discarded and replaced with a new cleaning sleeve.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim: