Electrostatic Inhibiting Application Device

Abstract

A device for the treatment of the surfaces of people, animals, or objects for the purpose of inhibiting the accumulation and discharge of electrostatic energy. The invention is comprised of a handle (1) or base or some other structural support accompanied by a replaceable a dryer sheet (4). Dryer sheet (4) will be constrained in such a way that it can be easily manipulated into physical contact with the user of the device, an animal, or some other object. Using the device causes the electrostatic inhibiting properties of a dryer sheet (4) to be transferred directly to the target object, person, or animal.

Claims

1. A device that facilitates the transfer of the anti-static properties contained in a dryer sheet from said dryer sheet to people, animals, or most objects that are encountered by people.

2. Said device in claim 1 whose purpose is to retain a typical dryer sheet so that it can be manipulated to come into close proximity or direct contact with people, animals, or most objects that are encountered by people.

3. Said device in claim 1 that is convenient, and not cost prohibitive to own and operate.

4. Said device in claim 1 that will make possible the use of a dryer sheet as a conditioning agent for hair.

Description

DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

[0037] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one possible embodiment of the present invention that can be described as a grasping handle with a removable affixed dryer sheet.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a partially assembled perspective view of the apparatus components illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the apparatus components illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of the assembled apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0041] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another possible embodiment of the invention with a grasping handle, bristle features, and a removable affixed dryer sheet.

[0042] FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the apparatus components illustrated in FIG. 5 depicting the lid feature in an ‘open’ state.

[0043] FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of the apparatus components illustrated in FIG. 5 depicting the lid feature in a ‘closed’ state.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a bottom side view of the assembled apparatus components illustrated in FIG. 5 depicting the lid feature in a ‘closed’ state.

[0045] FIG. 9 is a cut-away view of the assembled apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8 depicting how the assembled components are constrained.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0046] 1 handle [0047] 2 sheet retainer [0048] 3 pin [0049] 4 dryer sheet [0050] 5 handled-brush body [0051] 6 dryer sheet assembly compartment [0052] 7 void area [0053] 8 sheet holder [0054] 9 bristles [0055] 10 hinge [0056] 11 lid [0057] 12 lid magnet [0058] 13 handle magnet [0059] 14 lid compartment

Detailed Description of the First Embodiment

[0060] The first embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Handle 1 is a ridged member that is connected to sheet retainer 2. Handle 1 is a grasping feature that is shaped and sized to be convenient for holding. Sheet retainer 2 is a cylindrical shape constructed of material suitable for retaining inserted retention pins 3. Retention pins 3 are commonly the form of small, slender, pointed, ridged objects with rounded geometry on one end. Dryer sheet 4 is the form of a widely available consumer product commonly presented as “dryer sheet” on packaging and merchandising material.

Operation of the First Embodiment

[0061] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment that allows a user to easily bring dryer sheet 4 into physical contact with a surface. Key features of this assembly include handle 1 and a removable affixed dryer sheet 4. In operation, dryer sheet 4 is first rolled onto sheet retainer 2. Once in place, one or more pins 3 are inserted in a way that dryer sheet 4 becomes constrained to sheet retainer 2. As sheet retainer 2 is solidly attached to the handle 1, the user can now grasp handle 1 and wield the device to bring dryer sheet 4 into physical contact with an object.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a view into a transverse cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 3 illustrating how dryer sheet 4 is installed and retained to sheet retainer 2. Dryer sheet 4 is wrapped around sheet retainer 2. Pins 3 are inserted through dryer sheet 4 and extend into the interior of sheet retainer 2. The static frictional force between pins 3 and the material of sheet retainer 2 prevent pins 3 from backing out of the assembly.

Detailed Description of the Second Embodiment

[0063] A second embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Handled-brush body 5 is a ridged member used for grasping with the key features of a dryer sheet assembly compartment 6 and bristles 9. Dryer sheet 4 is the form of a widely available consumer product commonly presented as “dryer sheet” on packaging and merchandising material. Dryer sheet assembly compartment 6 contains a void area 7 that continues all the way through to the opposite side of handle 5. Dryer sheet assembly compartment 6 is shaped to accommodate an assembly consisting of dryer sheet 4 and sheet holder 8.

[0064] Sheet holder 8 is shaped and sized to accommodate being wrapped completely by dryer sheet 4 and while securely fitting into the geometry of dryer sheet assembly compartment 6. Hinge 10 is a typical jointed device simultaneously attached to lid 11 and handled-brush body 5. Lid 11 contains a pocketed feature lid compartment 14. Bristles 9 are typical of the bristle features that would be found on a widely available common hair brush. Bristles 9 are slender semi-rigid members integral to and protruding out from the underside of handled-brush body 5.

[0065] Hinge 10 is simultaneously attached to lid 11 and handled-brush body 5 on the surface opposite of where bristles 9 protrude from. The underside of lid 11 contains a feature lid compartment 14 that partially encapsulate the assembled components of dryer sheet 4 and sheet holder 8. Lid magnet 12 is fixed to lid 11. Handle magnet 13 is fixed to handled-brush body 5. The polarity of the outward facing surface of lid magnet 12 is opposite the polarity of the outward facing surface of handle magnet 13. When lid 11 is in a ‘closed’ state, lid magnet 12 and handle magnet 13 are positioned in a way to become magnetically attracted to each other.

Operation of the Second Embodiment

[0066] Open the assembly by pivoting lid 11 to an ‘open’ state. This is accomplished by pivoting hinges 10 from the ‘closed’ state depicted in FIG. 7 to the ‘open’ state depicted in FIG. 6. Dryer sheet 4 is rolled up to completely wrap around the exterior of sheet holder 8. The assembly of dryer sheet 4 and sheet holder 8 is placed into dryer sheet assembly compartment 6.

[0067] With the assembled dryer sheet 4 and sheet holder 8 installed to handled-brush body 5, close lid 11 by pivoting hinges 10 from the ‘open’ state depicted in FIG. 6 to the ‘closed’ state depicted in FIG. 7. When the closing operation is complete, lid magnet 12 and handle magnet 13 will be in close proximity. The opposite polarity of lid magnet 12 and handle magnet 13 will cause these components to be magnetically attracted to each other. The resulting magnetic forces will retain the assembly of dryer sheet 4 and sheet holder 8 inside the device.

[0068] Illustrated in FIG. 9, the assembly of dryer sheet 4 and sheet holder 8 is constrained between lid compartment 14 and compartment 6. Dryer sheet 4 is fully retained within the assembly and prohibited from movement during use. A portion of the surface of dryer sheet 4 passes through void area 7 and is exposed to any surface the user chooses to perform the act of brushing on.

[0069] The user grasps handled-brush body 5 to wield the device and perform the common act of brushing on any suitable surface. This motion will bring dryer sheet 4 into physical contact with hair, fur, or any material that can be brushed.

Alternative Embodiments

[0070] The forgoing embodiments are meant to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive for the invention. A countless number of other embodiments are possible. Not all possible constructions are listed in this application.

RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

[0071] While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this should not be construed as limitation on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several embodiments thereof. Other variations of this invention are possible. For example, devices designed specifically to facilitate physical contact between a dryer sheet and livestock, fabrics, books, pets, clothing, floors, tables, seats, furniture, machinery, electronic equipment, appliances, or any other objects, meet these criteria and can be considered variations on the invention being claimed. The device itself may exhibit an alternative design, form, shape, or size provided a dryer sheet is utilized in the operation of the device.

CONCLUSION

[0072] To summarize, the ESD inhibiting device described allows a user to conveniently wield a dryer sheet such that it can be made to come into physical contact with almost any surface for the purpose of reducing the chance for ESD to occur.