| United States Patent | 5,802,667 |
| Williams | Sept. 8, 1998 |
Duct cleaning device
Abstract
A duct cleaning device, including a flexible conduit with a first, inlet end and a second, outlet end. An end cap with a central hole is attached to the first end; a connector adapted for coupling the device to a vacuum hose (or the inlet of a vacuum cleaner) is attached to the second end. A flexible, radially-projecting brush is attached to the exterior of the conduit, extending helically about the conduit; a plurality of throughholes (some of which carry flexible, radially-projecting tubes) are positioned near the brush. In operation, the device is connected to a source of vacuum. The first end is rotated while being moved into (or removed from) a duct, while the brush sweeps the interior surface of the duct to dislodge particulates of house dust and other contaminants from the surface. The particulates are swept into the conduit through the hole in the end cap and the throughholes in the conduit. The conduit and the brush are flexible, so the device can readily traverse offsets and bends in duct systems without damaging flexible plastic or fiberglass ducts.
| Inventors: | Williams; Mark A. (Martinez, GA). |
| Assignee: | Steates; Paula (Martinez, GA), a part interest . |
| Appl. No.: | 711,220 |
| Filed: | Sept. 9, 1996 |
| Intl. Cl. : | A47L 5/38 |
| Current U.S. Cl.: | 15/395; 134/21; 134/22.11; 15/397; 15/398 |
| Field of Search: | 15/398, 395, 397, 104.05, 104.066, 104.2; 134/21, 22.11 |
| 1,831,099 | Nov., 1931 | Densmore | |
| 1,869,730 | Aug., 1932 | Antle | 15/395 X |
| 1,902,534 | Mar., 1933 | Wielatz | |
| 2,232,358 | Feb., 1941 | Baerer | 15/104.2 X |
| 2,243,120 | May, 1941 | Pollitt | |
| 2,606,338 | Aug., 1952 | De Lorenzo | 15/395 |
| 2,866,221 | Dec., 1958 | Warva | 15/397 |
| 2,982,971 | May, 1961 | Garaway | 15/1.7 X |
| 3,176,772 | Apr., 1965 | MacGregor | 15/104.2 X |
| 3,432,383 | Mar., 1969 | Russell | 134/22.11 X |
| 4,792,363 | Dec., 1988 | Franklin et al. | 15/395 X |
| 5,109,567 | May, 1992 | Harrison | |
| 5,383,243 | Jan., 1995 | Thacker et al. | 15/104.05 X |
| 5,608,941 | Mar., 1997 | Kleinfeld | 15/395 X |
Primary Examiner: Moore; Chris K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reichmanis; Maria
Plans For The Future
This invention is for sale or lease. Interested parties please contact my Patent Attorney Maria Reichmanis.
Maria Reichmanis
220 Richland Avenue West
Aiken, S.C. 29801
Phone: (803) 641-1900
This device can bring Duct cleaning into the home of millions of people. With the right development. The consumers would have different sizes, that can be used with their vacuum or a complete unit could be design for consumers. This unit would have other applications as well. The unit would be used with the cleaning devices for duct work and other house hold cleaning attachments for typical applications.
This also applies to Janitorial Service Companies. These companies would now be able to offer an additional service.
Rental Companies can now offer equipment that is easy to use and effective to their customers for duct cleaning. You are only limited by your imagination for possible customers.
The potential is high because more people everyday are becoming aware of " Sick House or Building Syndrome". Duct Cleaning is a growing service, that will continue to increase due to the education of Indoor Air Quality.
Please free to contact me with any questions or ideas.
For those you doubt that this is a true Patent. A patent search can be done by going to the US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE site. Just type in the number at the top of the page.