Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning ducts of a heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. In one embodiment, a pod has a vacuum chamber therein, a drive motor located within the pod and configured to receive a removable drive shaft therein, and a conduit member located within the pod adjacent the drive motor. The conduit member has a vacuum inlet opening at an exterior wall of the pod and a drive shaft exit opening formed in the conduit member through which the removable drive shaft can extend. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a man-portable pod and a cart removably-coupleable to the man-portable pod. A method of manufacturing the apparatus and a method of cleaning an HVAC duct is also provided.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cleaning ducts of a heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a pod having a vacuum chamber therein, a drive motor located within the pod and configured to receive a removable drive shaft therein, and a conduit member located within the pod adjacent the drive motor. The conduit member has a vacuum inlet opening at an exterior wall of the pod and a drive shaft exit opening formed in the conduit member through which the removable drive shaft can extend. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a man-portable pod and a cart removably-coupleable to the man-portable pod. A method of manufacturing the apparatus and a method of cleaning an HVAC duct is also provided.

Abstract: A knife and scissors sharpener with a guard for the former. The scissors sharpener has an opening for each blade of the scissors with a cylindrical sharpening stone extending across them. The stone may rotate about an axis perpendicular to the openings to allow its positioning parallel to the cutting edges of the scissors to effectuate the sharpening of the blades. A spring normally keeps the cylindrical stone in one position, but the force exerted on the scissors' handles will cause the stone to move to its proper orientation. The knife sharpener employs two tungsten carbide sharpening elements crossed to form two V's. The sharpening elements in one V have a configuration for effectuating knife sharpening. In the other V, the elements will hone a previously sharpened knife blade. A circular disk holds the crossed sharpening elements in the handle. Rotating the holder 180.degree. permits a change between the sharpener and the honer.