Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dust removal device.

Background Art

The use is known of objects and various systems useful to remove dust from various surfaces.

An example of such objects is represented by feather dusters, which can be passed over the surface to be dusted in order to remove the dust.

Such objects consist of a central body which supports catching means such as, e.g., feathers or, alternatively, soft fibers made of synthetic materials, which by means of the electrostatic effect allow effective removal of dust, even on uneven surfaces.

However, feather dusters of this kind have a number of drawbacks.

In fact, the dust removed from the surfaces remains stuck to the fibers of which the feather duster is made, so to be able to reuse it, it is necessary to wash it with water in order to eliminate the dust, with considerable expenditure of time inasmuch as it is necessary to wait until it is perfectly dry before being able to use it again.

Furthermore, in the event of a considerable amount of dust becoming accumulated on the fibers, the movements to which the feather duster is subjected during use cause the dust to become detached and dispersed into the environment.

Another dust removal device is the vacuum cleaner which, as is well known, comprises a fan adapted to create an internal vacuum able to suck up the dust and particles which, by means of a filter or a cyclone system, are removed from the sucked up air and are accumulated in a special container.

Such suction systems permit totally removing dust particles, without the risk of these becoming dispersed again into the surrounding environment.

However, systems such as vacuum cleaners are more suitable for floors or flat surfaces and, although they often have hoses and various accessories, they are not at all suitable for uneven surfaces.

Furthermore, due to their overall dimensions and weight, the use of a vacuum cleaner is particularly inconvenient to remove dust from surfaces located high up.

Disclosure of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a dust removal device which allows easily removing the dust accumulated on the fibers of the feather duster, without it being necessary to wash it or make it unavailable for a certain period of time.

Within the illustrated aim, one object of the present invention is to allow the cleaning of the feather duster even during its use.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the dispersion of dust into the environment during cleaning and dusting operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dust removal device which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in the context of a simple, rational and affordable solution, which is also easy and effective to use.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present dust removal device according to claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a dust removal device, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the use of the dust removal device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a second schematic view of the use of the dust removal device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a front sectional view of a first embodiment of the dust removal device according to the invention in an extended configuration;

Figure 4 is a front sectional view of a first embodiment of the dust removal device according to the invention in a retracted configuration;

Figure 5 is a front sectional view of a second embodiment of the dust removal device according to the invention in an extended configuration; Figure 6 is a front sectional view of a second embodiment of the dust removal device according to the invention in a retracted configuration;

Figure 7 is a front sectional view of a third embodiment of the dust removal device according to the invention in an extended configuration;

Figure 8 is a front sectional view of a third embodiment of the dust removal device according to the invention in a retracted configuration.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these illustrations, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a dust removal device.

The dust removal device 1 comprises at least one feather duster 2 provided with a central body 3 and dust catching means 4 associated with the body itself.

Preferably, these dust catching means 4 with which the feather duster 2 is provided are of the type of synthetic fibers, which, by means of rubbing on the surface to be cleaned, are electrostatically charged, thus improving the ability of the feather duster itself to catch the dust.

As an alternative, the possibility to make available a feather duster 2 provided with catching means 4 of a different type cannot be ruled.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises at least one supporting element 5 defining a hollow seat 6 for the housing of the body 3 and associable with dust suction means 7 such as, e.g. a vacuum cleaner.

Usefully, the supporting element 5 comprises removable connection means 11 to the suction means 7, so that they can be associated with the device 1 in a stable manner during use and can be subsequently removed.

In particular, the connection means 11 are of the type of an interlock made at an extreme portion 12 of the supporting element 5, despite implementation solutions providing connection means of different type cannot be ruled out. As can be seen from the embodiments shown in the illustrations, the body 3 has a proximal portion 3a inserted in the seat 6 and an extremal portion 3b, opposite the proximal portion 3 a, and spaced apart from the supporting element 5.

In order to maintain the feather duster 2 associated with the supporting element 5 during use, the supporting element itself comprises holding means 13 for holding the body 3 housed in the seat 6. Usefully, the holding means 13 comprise at least one holding element 14 interposed between the supporting element 5 and the body 3, so that the device 1 can be used easily without the risk of disassembling the various parts making it.

Still according to the invention, the device 1 comprises at least one covering element 8 associated with the supporting element 5, fitted onto the body 3 to define at least one containment chamber 9 arranged around the body itself.

Suitably, the covering element 8 is movable with respect to the body 3 for at least partially wrapping the dust catching means 4 between at least one retracted configuration and at least one extended configuration.

Advantageously, the body 3 has an elongated shape and the covering element 8 is movable with respect to it along its longitudinal extension.

Particularly, the covering element 8 is movable between a retracted configuration, wherein the catching means 4 are uncovered and available to catch dust from the surface to be cleaned, and at least an extended configuration, wherein the covering element 8 substantially covers completely such catching means, thus allowing the removal and transport of dust towards the suction means 7.

By the term "substantially" used herein is meant that in the extended position the covering element 8 could in any case leave a small portion of the catching means 4 uncovered.

As can be easily understood, in the switch from the retracted position to the extended position, the portion of catching means 4 which is wound by the covering element 8 increases.

More particularly, the covering element 8 has a lower extremity 8a and an upper extremity 8b, where the upper extremity 8b is moved away and brought closer, respectively, by the extremal portion 3b of the body 3 in the retracted position and in the extended position.

Advantageously, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 3 and Figure 4, the covering element 8 is of the telescopic type, i.e. it comprises a plurality of tubular elements 15 adapted to slide longitudinally one over the other in order to define the containment chamber 9 and wrap at least partially the catching means 4.

Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 7 and Figure 8, the covering element 8 is of the single block type, i.e. it comprises a single tubular element 15 adapted to slide longitudinally with respect to the body 3 between the retracted position and the extended position.

According to the invention, at least one of the supporting element 5 and the body 3 defines a dust passage channel 10 towards the suction means 7 communicating with the containment chamber 9.

During use, in fact, it is possible to hold the device 1 by means of the supporting element 5 and clean a surface of any kind using the dust catching means 4.

The dust removed from the surface remains associated with the catching means 4 until the movement of the covering element 8 by the user.

In fact, following the movement of the covering element 8 as far as the extended position, the catching means 4 are surrounded by the containment chamber 9, thus allowing the removal of the relative dust by means of the air sucked in by the suction means 7.

Such sucked in air passes between the catching means 4, removes the dust and drags it through the containment chamber 9 and through the passage channel 10, until it is picked up by the suction means 7.

The stable connection with the suction means 7 allows obtaining an air flow which longitudinally crosses the device 1 and conveys the dust particles, as shown schematically in Figures 3, 5 and 7.

The suction means 7 may remain operational throughout the entire period of use of the device 1, in which case the airflow crossing the device 1 permits not dispersing the dust particles into the environment during cleaning operations even when the covering element 8 is in the retracted configuration, or may only be activated after the covering element 8 has been moved to the extended position.

This way, therefore, the dust accumulated on the feather duster 2 is removed effectively, without the need to wash it.

In a first embodiment, shown in Figures 5 and 6, the passage channel 10 is defined by the body 3, which has at least one hole 16 communicating with the passage channel itself and facing the containment chamber 9.

In this embodiment, therefore, when sucked in, the air present in the containment chamber 9 reaches the passage channel 10 passing through the hole 16.

In other words, the airflow containing the dust particles which longitudinally crosses the containment chamber 9 enters the passage channel 10 passing through the hole 16 and is sucked in by the suction means passing through the body 3.

The implementation solution shown in the illustrations comprises a plurality of holes 16 and the supporting element 5 is provided with a holding element 14 which extends longitudinally along the whole seat 6.

Solutions comprising holding elements having a different configuration cannot however be ruled out.

In a second embodiment, shown in Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8, the passage channel 10 is defined by the supporting element 5 and is arranged outside of the body 3, the outer walls of which are without interruption.

In this case, the airflow containing the dust particles passes through the passage channel 10 surrounding the body 3.

In particular, Figures 3 and 4 show the device 1, in an extended configuration and in a retracted configuration respectively, in which the covering element 8 is of the telescopic type and the passage channel 10 is defined by the supporting element 5.

Figures 5 and 6 show the device 1, in an extended configuration and in a retracted configuration respectively, in which the covering element 8 is of the telescopic type and the passage channel 10 is defined by the body 3, which comprises the hole 16 communicating with the passage channel itself.

In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the body 3 comprises a plurality of holes 16 arranged along the longitudinal extension of the body itself, which allow the passage of the airflow containing the dust particles, although the possibility to obtain the holes 16 at a limited portion of the body 3 cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, the catching means 4 can comprise a sheath fittable over the perforated body 3, with which the dust catching elements are associated, preferably made of microfiber.

In particular, the sheath and the catching elements may be provided with a plurality of micro holes adapted to allow the passage of the airflow towards the passage channel, passing through the holes 16.

Figures 7 and 8 show the device 1, in an extended configuration and in a retracted configuration respectively, in which the passage channel 10 is defined inside the supporting element 5, similarly to what previously described, while the covering element 8 is made in a single body piece.

Implementation solutions resulting from the combination of the three embodiments described above cannot however be ruled out.

In a further embodiment of the invention not shown in the illustrations, the covering element 8 is locked together with the supporting element 5.

Moreover, the device 1 is provided with valve means operable in order to allow and/or prevent the passage of the airflow containing the dust particles.

In this specific case, the body 3 is insertable in a removable manner inside the covering element 8 and the valve means are operated following the insertion of the body 3 inside the containment chamber 9, so as to allow the passage of the air towards the suction means 7 and the removal of the dust particles from the catching means 4.

It has in practice been found that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In this regard, it is underlined that the special expedient of providing a dust removal device having a supporting element connectable to the suction means and a covering element for the dust catching means permits easily removing the accumulated dust without having to carry out difficult cleaning operations.

Furthermore, the special expedient of providing suction means associated with the device throughout its use helps to prevent the dispersion of dust in the environment during the cleaning and dusting operations.

Again, the special expedient of providing the covering element movable with respect to the body of the feather duster during use allows having at disposal a feather duster which is always clean during use.