Abstract
A vacuum dusting attachment including a semi-flexible, elongated, thin, flat cleaning portion for tight spaces having multiple dust collecting chambers and aperture openings for equalizing and maximizing vacuum suction, light elements for improving visual efficiency, side edge brushes for loosening dust and increased dust capture, and a detachable, microfiber mesh cover for the cleaning portion for dust capture and retention; and a connected swivel handle portion including an ergonomically designed cushioned hand portion with soft raised ridges and bumps for non-slippage. An additional independent accordion hose extension vacuum attachment for use with aforesaid dusting attachment or other devices is provided, manufactured to withstand vacuum suction so as to retain desired lengths and bends to reach distant target areas, increasing flexibility when handling an attached dusting attachment, while collapsing for less space, and including a grip disk at one end, and an ergonomic handle on an opposite end, both for handling while in the act of extending, collapsing, and bending.
Claims
1. A dusting attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising: a handle portion including an ergonomic hand grip, and a cleaning portion including a neck portion and a dust collecting housing, said handle portion connectible on one end to a suction hose for the vacuum cleaner and connected on another end to the neck portion, and an interior suction channel extending within the handle portion and neck portion in which a suction force may be generated by the vacuum cleaner, said dust collecting housing having an elongated flattened shape defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and an outer end wall connecting between and defining a narrow width between the top and bottom walls, and an inner end connected to the neck portion, an upper chamber vent and a lower chamber vent each formed in the top wall of the dust collecting housing along the longitudinal axis of the housing, the upper chamber vent positioned between the inner end, opposite side walls and a partition extending laterally between the opposite side walls spaced from the end wall, and the lower chamber vent positioned adjacent the upper chamber vent between the outer end, opposite side walls, and lateral partition, and an upper chamber air flow channel connecting between the upper chamber vent and the suction channel in the neck portion, and a lower chamber air flow channel connecting separately between the lower vacuum chamber vent and the suction channel in the neck portion, wherein a substantially equalized suction force is provided in the upper and lower chamber vents, said upper and lower chamber vents comprising at least 60% of the top wall total surface area.
2. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 additionally comprising another separate air flow channel formed in the dust collecting housing extending around the periphery of the upper and lower chamber vents and having ends which are open towards and in air communication with the suction channel in the neck portion, and a plurality of small spaced apart apertures extending between an outer surface of the housing and the peripherally located air flow channel.
3. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 2 additionally comprising a slip-on cover securable over the flat dust collecting housing, said cover including a microfiber mesh portion positioned to extend over the upper and lower chamber vents and apertures in the peripheral air flow channel and having openings between the mesh large enough to allow dust to pass into the upper and lower chamber vents and peripheral air flow channel while preventing particles and objects larger than said openings from passing.
4. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 additionally comprising a horizontal vane provided in the flat dust collecting housing connecting between the opposite side walls from the lateral partition towards the neck portion and spaced from the top and bottom walls.
5. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the handle portion is swivelably connected to the cleaning portion.
6. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the handle portion is detachably connected to the cleaning portion.
7. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the handle portion and cleaning portion are of a unitary construction.
8. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 2 additionally comprising a plurality of light elements mounted on the dust collecting housing of the cleaning portion.
9. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 8 in which light elements are mounted in apertures in one or more of the side and end walls of the dust collecting housing and are operably connected to a power source positioned in the neck portion.
10. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the hand grip is coated with a cushioning material including a plurality of ridges and raised bumps so as to provide an improved gripping surface.
11. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 2 additionally comprising a plurality of bristle clusters affixed directly to the flat dust collecting housing around the perimeter of said housing.
12. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 3 in which a surface of the slip-on cover positioned over the bottom wall of the dusting housing is made of a solid microfiber material.
13. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 additionally comprising a vacuum hose attachment device which is securable to the handle portion of the dusting attachment, said vacuum hose attachment device including an accordion hose portion having bendable bellow-type walls which retain the hose portion in a selected expanded or collapsed length and angle, at least one outwardly projecting disk grip positioned adjacent an end of the accordion hose portion, and a coupling for connecting multiple hose portions end-to-end or to said handle portion.
14. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 13 in which the vacuum hose attachment device additionally comprises an integral handle portion connected to the accordion hose portion on an end opposite the disk grip.
15. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 13 in which a disk grip is provided on opposite sides of the accordion hose portion.
16. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 6 additionally comprising an ergonomic hand grip coupler for alternatively connecting one or more modified vacuum hose attachment extension devices and modified neck portions directly to the modified neck portion of the dusting attachment.
17. A dusting attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising: a handle portion; and a cleaning portion, wherein, the handle portion comprises a vacuum cleaner hose connecting end, a cleaning portion connecting end, and an internal air flow passageway extending through the handle portion between the vacuum cleaner hose connecting end and cleaning portion connecting end; and wherein, the cleaning portion comprises a neck portion and a dust collecting housing, said neck portion connected on one end to the cleaning portion connecting end of the handle portion and on another end to the dust collecting housing, and an internal air flow passageway extending through the neck portion between the handle portion connecting end and dust collecting housing connecting end, said dust collecting housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and a flattened, elongated body, and including at least a first large suction vent aperture formed in a top wall of the dust collecting housing extending from the proximal end of the housing, and a second large suction vent aperture also formed in the top wall extending from the distal end of the housing, said first and second apertures comprising a major portion of the top wall, and separate air flow chambers connecting between the air flow passageway in the neck portion and the first and second vent apertures.
18. The dusting attachment of claim 17 in which the dust collecting housing additionally comprises a peripheral suction chamber extending around the first and second vents, said peripheral suction chamber including a plurality of spaced apart small vent openings connecting to an outer surface of the dust collecting housing.
19. The dusting attachment of claim 18 in which the flattened dust collecting housing has a length of about 5.5 inches, a width of about 3 inches, and a thickness of about 7/16 inches, and the first and second vent apertures have a length and width of about 2.25 inches.
20. The dusting attachment of claim 17 additionally comprising a microfiber sock-like mesh cover which is securable over the flat dust collecting housing with a microfiber mesh portion positioned over the first and second vents to prevent large debris from entering the vents, said microfiber attracting and retaining at least some of said debris for subsequent disposal.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1A is an isometric view of the multi-chamber vacuum dusting attachment and optional use accordion hose vacuum attachment of the invention.
(2) FIG. 1B illustrates the approximate line measurements of an embodiment of the vacuum dusting attachment and optional use accordion hose vacuum attachment when the hose portion is fully collapsed and fully expanded.
(3) FIG. 2A is an isometric view of the vacuum dusting attachment device illustrating the flat cleaning portion open chambers and including partial cutaway views of the vents in the neck area, the inside of the perimeter tube facing outwards, and the inside ridges of the flat cleaning portion and the handle portion which facilitate a swiveling action.
(4) FIG. 2B illustrates an alternate arrangement for providing a light assembly for use with the dusting attachment of the present invention.
(5) FIG. 3 is a side view of the vacuum dusting attachment device that illustrates the opposite directional view of the open vents on the flat cleaning portion open vents and a possible pin port location on the device.
(6) FIG. 4 is a partially exploded side view of the flat cleaning portion illustrating the horizontal panel for equalizing the vacuum suction.
(7) FIG. 5 is another side view illustrating the directional flow of the intake vents of vacuum dusting attachment device.
(8) FIG. 6 is an opposite side view of the solid side of the flat cleaning portion also showing the upward slope of the ergonomic handle portion.
(9) FIG. 7A is an isometric view of an embodiment of the microfiber mesh sock-like slip on cover that fits over the flat cleaning portion of the vacuum dusting attachment device.
(10) FIG. 7B is an isometric view of another embodiment of the mesh cover having microfiber noodle-like projections on one side.
(11) FIG. 8A is a first side view of the microfiber mesh sock-like slip on cover on the flat cleaning portion of the vacuum dusting attachment device.
(12) FIG. 8B is an opposite side view of the microfiber mesh sock-like slip on cover on the flat cleaning portion of the vacuum dusting attachment device.
(13) FIG. 8C is an opposite view of an alternative microfiber mesh sock-like slip on cover in which the microfiber mesh on the solid side flat of the cleaning portion of the vacuum dusting attachment device is replaced with a solid piece of microfiber fabric.
(14) FIG. 9 illustrates the optional use accordion hose vacuum attachment of the invention in which in a first accordion hose is shown partially collapsed and a second accordion hose is shown partially expanded.
(15) FIG. 10A illustrates a first alternative arrangement for connecting the vacuum dusting attachment and accordion hose in which the vacuum dusting handle portion is independent from the cleaning portion, grip disks are attached to both ends of the accordion hose, and handle couplers of different lengths are employed.
(16) FIG. 10B illustrates a second alternative arrangement for connecting the vacuum dusting attachment and accordion hose.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(17) The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention.
(18) FIGS. 1-10 illustrate several embodiments of a vacuum cleaner dusting attachment device 10 and an optional use accordion-style hose vacuum attachment device 11 in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1-6 and 8, vacuum cleaner dusting attachment device 10 is generally comprised of a flat cleaning portion 12 and a swivel connected handle portion 16. FIGS. 10A-B illustrate another embodiment of device 10 having a detachable or independent handle portion 17. In other embodiments, the vacuum cleaner dusting attachment device 10 may be of a unitary construction. Also shown in FIGS. 1 and 7-8 is a slip-on cover 14 which is configured to be secured over flat cleaning portion 12 of device 10, and is preferably made of a microfiber mesh material. Cover 14 is designed for use with any of the embodiments of vacuum cleaner dusting attachment device 10.
(19) Flat cleaning portion 12 of device 10 is preferably made in one piece such as by an injection molding process using materials such as, but not limited to, soft Thermal Plastic Rubber (TPR), hard silicone, or of other suitable and similar type materials. Flat cleaning portion 12 may be slightly flexible but must be sufficiently rigid so as not to collapse the vacuum chambers during use. An additional supportive material may be placed internally at strategic locations to prevent collapsing up to a stress hold limitation. Accordion-style hose vacuum attachment device 11, as represented in FIGS. 1A-B and 9, generally includes a handle portion 16, a disk grip 18, and an accordion hose portion 20, 21 configured to be joined between the handle portion 16 and disk grip 18. Two separate accordion-style hose vacuum attachment devices 11 are shown being used together in FIGS. 1A-B, wherein accordion hose 20 in one device 11 is shown in a mostly collapsed position, and accordion hose portion 21 in the other device 11 is shown mostly in an extended position. FIG. 10 illustrates an alternate arrangement where disk grips 18 are provided on both ends of accordion hose 19, and the devices 11 are connected in an end-to-end or stacked relationship either by couplers 15 or independent handle couplers 17. The stacking of device 11 illustrates the ability to connect additional devices 11 as needed to increase the overall length of distance of reach that can be obtained by using device 11 so that device 10 can be used to collect dust from unusually far or distant and hard to reach areas which need dusting.
(20) Referring now in particular to FIG. 3, flat cleaning portion 12 of device 10 has a neck portion 22 and a generally flat rectangular shaped dust collecting housing or body defined by an inner end which connects to the neck portion 22, top wall 23, bottom wall 27, opposite side walls 24 and 26, and an outer end wall 25, which walls may have rounded or chamfered edges. A pair of longitudinally aligned open upper and lower, or proximal and distal, vacuum chamber vents 38 and 39 are formed in top wall 23 of flat cleaning portion 12, and are separated by a lateral center partition 37. Vacuum chamber vents 38 and 39 are preferably rectangular or square, although they may have other shapes, and comprise a major portion of the surface area of top 23. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a horizontal vane or panel 40 is situated extending horizontally in lower chamber vent 38 and connecting between side walls 24 and 26. Panel 40 is spaced inwardly from the open top of vent 38 and from the bottom wall 27, and forms the bottom wall or floor of vent 38. More particularly, horizontal panel 40 is spaced apart approximately equally from the open top of lower chamber vent 38 and the inwardly facing surface of bottom wall 27, and as shown in FIG. 5 one end of panel 40 may extend partially into hollow neck area 22 of device 12 while the other end terminates at center partition 37 (FIGS. 3 and 4) between the vacuum chambers 38 and 39. As shown in FIG. 4, in an embodiment horizontal panel 40 has a perpendicular lip which extends outwardly and forms at least a portion of center partition 37. As shown in FIG. 3, a smaller air flow vent 35 is located in the inner end of the chamber 38, and connects the vacuum chamber 38 with hollow neck area 22 of device 10. Similarly, air flow vent 36 is provided in an inner side wall of vacuum chamber 39 under center partition 37 and extends underneath panel 40 and between side walls 24 and 26 and the inner surface of wall 27 and opens to hollow neck area 22. Upper and lower vacuum chambers 38 and 39 are therefore defined and further enclosed by side walls 25, 26, and 27 around the perimeter. Because the chambers 38 and 39 are separated and have separate air flow or suction vents 35 and 36, respectively, the vacuum suction in vents 35 and 36 and as a result in chambers 38 and 39 is substantially equalized between the two chambers, thus allowing the flat cleaning portion 12 to be of a longer length than most dusting attachments that are available on the market today, and as such allowing more open aperture area for dust collection. The vacuum suction flow of the chambers is shown by arrows 29, 35, and 36 in FIG. 5.
(21) In addition, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a chamber 34 is provided in flat cleaning portion 12 extending around the outer periphery of vacuum chambers 38 and 39 in the space defined by side walls 24 and 26, end wall 25, top and bottom walls 23 and 27, and the interior side walls of vacuum chambers 38 and 39. The perimeter tubular hollow open chamber 34 thus encircles the three edges of the tool portion 12 of device 10, and has open ends on both sides of the flat cleaning portion 12, where starting at the hollow neck area 22 (see FIG. 4), at the point that the flat cleaning portion tool flattens out, it continues along the side wall 24, (see FIGS. 3 and 6), swinging around the front of the flat cleaning portion edge 25, and it continues on along the opposite side wall 26, and ending again at the other side of the hollow neck area 22. The tubular hollow perimeter chamber 34 is solid along the inside area that faces the two vacuum chambers 38 and 39 and therefore is not connected to such chambers. As will be evident from viewing FIG. 2, a plurality of dust collecting holes 29 as well as openings which contain light elements 30 are located along the outside surface of the tubular perimeter chamber 34. The light elements 30 may be LED lights or another known type of light element, and can be solar powered, or powered by other methods described herein, but for these illustrated purposes the lights are connected to a battery source 42 and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2A includes a partial cutaway view of the side wall of chamber 39 which is cut away to illustrate an inside view of a section of the inner perimeter wall of chamber 34, such that a back view of one of the open holes 29 and of a light element 30 which is affixed to a string of wiring 31 is illustrated. Wiring string 31 is electrically connected to appropriate contacts in battery holding chamber 32, which in a preferred embodiment would use button or flat batteries 42 for space saving purposes, and the wiring string 31 would encircle inside the hollow perimeter chamber 34 and end and be attached to the inside wall of the neck 22, just beyond the other end opening of 34. Along the way, light elements 30 attached to the wiring string at designated locations would be placed in the allotted hole openings. Located at the top of the battery holding chamber 32 is a hinged lid member with an attached soft button on and off switch 33 which connects to the battery powering system (FIG. 2A). In an embodiment wiring 31 may be enclosed in an outer casing in order to minimize the amount of dust which collects on the wiring during use of the dust collection device 10 of the invention. Additionally, in an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2B, outer edge tubular vent 34 may be provided as a separate structure from flat cleaning portion 12, if necessary, to input a wiring section, with the possibility of sliding on and off of flat cleaning portion 12.
(22) Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1-6 and 8, sections of soft paint brush-like bristle clusters 28 are affixed to the outer perimeter of chamber 34. The bristles are configured so as to face upwards towards and extend slightly beyond the top surface 23 of flat cleaning portion 12 so as to facilitate the loosening and collection of dust and help direct the dust particles towards the open aperture vents 29, 35, and 36, of which by provision of a suction force and as shown by arrows 29, 35, and 36 in FIG. 5 the collected dust flows from the cleaning portion 12 to the neck area 22 and continues onto and into a vacuum receptacle.
(23) Referring again to FIG. 2A, the hollow neck area 22 of flat cleaning portion 12 rounds out to fit into the hollow handle area 16 of device 10. At the very end of the rounded neck area 22 that is part of flat cleaning portion 12, a ridge 41 is formed on the outer surface of the rounded neck area which extends around and outwards and which when placed within hollow handle area 16, is received in an internal protruding ridge 54 of handle 16 keeping the two pieces connected as well as allowing flat cleaning portion 12 and handle portion 16 to swivel in a circular motion, which will allow for a greater fluidity of movement in the use of device 10.
(24) The area 55 of the handle 16 of device 10 is specifically designed to be ergonomically shaped for comfortable gripping and use as it is held by a consumer. Further, the outer surface of handle area 55 is coated with soft material such as but not limited to TPR as well as having ridges 56 and/or raised bumps 57 (FIG. 2A) so as to allow for additional hand purchase especially if the hand sweats. The overall weight of the handle 16 is further lessened by using the interior area 59 for coupling with another device, since a main purpose of devices 10 and 11 is to provide lightweight tool attachments for use with a vacuum that are ergonomically comfortable.
(25) FIGS. 1 and 7-8 illustrate the microfiber mesh sock-like slip on cover 14 of the invention. Cover 14 is considered an integral part of flat cleaning portion 12 of the vacuum dusting attachment device 10. The flat cleaning portion 12 vacuum suction vents are not designed for use without using the microfiber cover as the outgoing flow direction vent 35 (FIGS. 3-5) that originates from upper vacuum chamber 38, and outgoing flow vent 36 that originates from the lower vacuum chamber 39, and the hollow tubular perimeter 34, are not designed for, and are too narrow to process anything larger than dust particles since any debris larger would be trapped in the narrow openings and block the vacuum suction flow. The microfiber mesh cover 14 (FIG. 7) thus protects the open apertures of the device. The open vents of device 10 are covered by the microfiber mesh top 44 and mesh sides 45, and sort debris size from entering. In addition to preventing large debris from entering the flat cleaning portion 12 of device 10, by the nature of microfiber, the microfiber mesh attracts and retains on the fibers additional dust and debris that does not enter the mesh holes. The microfiber holds onto the debris, even on the bottom area 47, 48 (FIGS. 8B, 8C) and retains it for further collection by the consumer by removing the vacuum dusting device 10 with the microfiber cover 14 still attached, and vacuuming off the dust and debris to clear the mesh openings with the open nozzle of a vacuum unit, or it could be shaken out, as well as washing or replacing it. Having additional mesh covers on hand could help in designating one for light soiled surfaces and another for unsanitary heavily soiled surfaces. A disposable cover could also be devised as well as color coordinated covers, and other covers could be devised in material for other purposes.
(26) On the solid side 27 (see FIG. 6) of the flat cleaning portion 12 of device 10, the mesh cover 14 could alternately be made of a solid microfiber material 48 (FIG. 8C) which could be used for buffing, as well as protection from scratching surfaces. On the sides of the mesh cover there are sewn openings 46 (FIG. 8B) which allow for the brush bristles 28 (FIG. 8C) to come through as well as for the projected light from light elements 30 (FIG. 8A) to be unobstructed. The sock-like mesh cover 14 is held onto the flat cleaning portion 12 of device 10 by an elasticized soft cloth band 50 (FIG. 7) similar, but not limited to, to how a sock is held onto an ankle or calf. Another alternative is to create a microfiber mesh cover that attaches using a hook and loop system such as a Velcro system whereby the microfiber cover attaches to a corresponding Velcro strip placed onto the vacuum dusting attachment; and/or Velcro is placed on corresponding ends of the microfiber cover that is manufactured as a flat piece so it wraps around and stays upon the vacuum dusting attachment. The Velcro could be sewn onto the microfiber mesh cover 14 during production.
(27) In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the dusting attachment 10 has a length from the hose connection end handle 16 to end 25 of flat cleaning portion 12 of approximately 12 inches. Handle 16 has a diameter of about 1 inches at the hose connecting end, while neck area 22 of cleaning portion 12 has a length of about 4 inches. The flat dust collecting housing of cleaning portion 12 has a length of about 5 inches and a width between the outer surfaces of side walls 24 and 26 of about 3 inches. Vacuum chambers 38 and 39 have dimensions of about 2.25 inches square, and thus cover a major portion of the surface area of the top surface 23 of the flat housing. This is made possible by the provision of separate suction vents 35 and 36 for the vacuum chambers 38 and 39, respectively, and vane 40 which as is also shown in FIG. 2B allows for separate substantially equalized suction forces to be directed to each chamber. Otherwise, the suction force in the lower chamber 39 would be much less than the upper chamber 38, since it is significantly further from the source of the vacuum suction, and the same would result if a single chamber was provided. It is preferred in embodiments including peripheral chamber 34 that the upper and lower chambers 38 and 39 comprise at least 50% of the surface area of top surface 23, and in a more preferred embodiment comprises at least 60% of the surface area of top surface 23. In the event that peripheral chamber 34 is omitted, chambers 38 and 39 can be enlarged even further although this is less preferred than having chamber 34. The dusting housing also has a height or thickness of about 7/16 inches, and thus is thin enough to fit in narrow spaces that need to be dusted, such as under a stereo receiver or the like as discussed above. In addition, the thin profile also contributes to the equalized suction force provided in the separate vacuum chambers 38 and 39 since although chamber 39 is somewhat deeper than chamber 38, the housing overall is sufficiently thin in use that there is little if any effect on the suction force. In addition, attachment 11 in the illustrated embodiment has a length of about 18 inches when collapsed, and a length of about 34 inches when expanded. The several components of the present invention may have different dimensions from the illustrated embodiment while still falling within the intended scope of the invention.
(28) The accordion hose vacuum attachment device 11 (FIG. 9) is lightweight and can be expanded and collapsed to any desired length, or bent to any desired shape. Preferably the total expansion would be approximately 2 feet which would be a comfortable width for a consumer to manually pull out to expand or push to collapse the accordion hose which might tend to be of a sturdy material, using the disk grip 18 and the handle 16, which is structurally the same handle 16 used on device 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, device 11 may be modified such that the handle side 16 is replaced with another disk grip 18 so as to insert additional length where a handle is not required, so the accordion hose would have disk grips on both ends. Each grip disk 18 is made of a sturdy material having a disc-shape which extends outwardly and is coated with a softer material similar to the handle 16, so that rim 64 is cushioned for comfort of the hand. The soft material on the disk continues as the disk diminishes to the rounded size area 63 and 65 that corresponds to the circumference of the accordion hose. A coupling insert nozzle end 62 is provided adjacent to the grip disk 18 for connecting adjacent hose sections end to end to expand the length of the hose. The accordion hose, shown in FIG. 9 and indicating as mentioned above the view 20 of the accordion hose partially collapsed and the view 21 of the accordion hose partially expanded, would be manufactured so the bellow walls are thick enough to resist collapsing from vacuum suction while extended and to retain any bended direction placed by the customer. A material for the hose shall have to be rigid, such as but not limited to a plastic material, but yet flexible so as to avoid cracking with repeated usage. The advantage of using the accordion hose is that it is lighter, bendable, and can telescope to any length desired within its range of maximum expansion for reaching specific target areas, and additional accordion hose vacuum attachments of device 11 can be coupled together to add more extension when needed, while always providing a conveniently located handle to grasp. Another advantage is that the hose may be collapsed to a length of approximately a third of the fully extended hose, making the accordion hose vacuum attachment 11 ideal for storage and carrying while cleaning as opposed to using rigid long extension hoses. Use of the grip disk 18 and handle 16 makes it easier to pull outwards to expand the length of the hose and push inwards to collapse the hose, while the handle can be used to hold and direct the accordion hose.
(29) Referring again to the accordion hose vacuum attachment device 11 (FIG. 9), it should be noted that if attachment device 11 is attached directly behind the vacuum dusting attachment device 10, it can be raised to reach distant areas, but when close up cleaning is desired and the consumer is handling the vacuum dusting attachment 10, the accordion hose vacuum attachment 11 left attached to both the handle end and the vacuum cleaner can freely extend and swing unaided in any direction behind the consumer.
(30) While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art, and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.
(31) As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.
