Aroma duster

Abstract

An aroma-therapy feather duster (10) includes a handle (12) and a dusting element (14, 36) secured to a first end (20) of the handle (12), the dusting element extending away from the end (20) of the handle (12). Scented wax (26) is applied to the first end (20) of the handle (12) and/or dusting element (14) at the juncture or interface therebetween.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/669,636, filed Apr. 7, 2005, the specification of which is hereby incorporated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to wool and feather dusters, and more particularly, to wool and feather dusters that produce an aroma-therapy fragrance.

BACKGROUND

Dusters are typically made from natural materials such as lamb wool or feathers, such as ostrich feathers. Dusters are also made from synthetic materials, such as polyesters. While such dusters are effective in removing dust, it would be advantageous if such dusters could also impart a pleasant fragrance to the area being dusted.

In the past, a fragrance has been added to a wool, feather, or synthetic duster by spraying the duster and impregnating the feathers, wool, or synthetic material with the fragrance. This method can result in the duster leaving oily marks when used. Moreover, the fragrance typically wears off after only a short period of time.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of an aroma-therapy duster formed in accordance with the present disclosure includes a handle and a dusting element secured to its first end. The dusting element extends away from the first end of the handle. The duster includes a scented substrate affixed to the first end of the handle and/or the dusting element at the junction of the handle and the dusting element.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an aroma-therapy feather duster;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an aroma-therapy wool duster; and

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an aroma-therapy wool duster, where the wool is unraveled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an aroma-therapy feather duster 10 formed in accordance with the present disclosure. The duster 10 includes a handle 12 with a dusting element composed of feathers 14 attached thereto. The handle 12 is preferably made from wood, metal, or plastic; however, other similar materials may also be used. The handle 12 is sufficiently long to permit a user to grasp the handle 12 with his or her entire hand. Moreover, the surface of the handle 12 is preferably cylindrical in shape to allow the user to comfortably grasp the handle 12 while dusting. Although a curved surface is preferred, other shapes and sizes may also be used.

The duster 10 includes a plurality of feathers 14, where the feathers 14 contain quills 16 and vanes 17. The feathers may be ostrich feathers or other types of feathers. The feathers 14 are gathered near the quills 16 to form a gathered end, which attaches to a first end 20 of the handle 12 to form the feather duster 10. To securely fasten the feathers 14 to the handle 12, the quills 16 are first arranged to surround the handle end 20. Then, a wire 21 tightly encircles the quills 16 and thereby fastens the quills 16 to the handle 12. Other securing devices, such as glue, string, or staples, may also be used.

A cover 22 encases the quills 16 on the first handle end 20 to further secure the quills 16 to the first handle end 20 and conceal the exposed wire 21 and feather quills 16. The cover 22 may be made from fabric, plastic, metal, or other similar materials. The cover 22 overlies the quills and wire and may be attached thereto by any convenient means, such as by being stretched over the quills and wires. Alternatively, the wire can be glued or stapled in place.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the feather duster 10 includes scented wax 26 affixed to the first handle end 20 and the quills 16 where the quills 16 surround the first handle end 20. The wax 26 is applied to the feather duster 10 by rubbing wax 26 on the first handle end 20 and the quills 16. The wax can be in the form of a stick to facilitate rubbing the wax onto the quills and handle end. Alternatively, the wax may be softened or melted and then applied to the quills and handle by dipping the quills and handle into the wax or spraying the melted scented wax to the quills and handle. Although the preferred embodiment is described using wax, other suitable substrate materials that can be scented may also be used.

The cover 22 encloses the wax 26, quills 16, and handle end 20. The scent of the candle wax 26 permeates throughout the feathers 14 to produce an aroma-therapy fragrance when the feather duster 10 is used. Affixing the wax 26 to the quills 16 and the handle end 20, rather than impregnating the feathers 14 with a waxy substance, prevents unwanted oils and residue from being left on a surface when dusting. Moreover, since the wax does not wear off when the user is dusting, the duster will maintain an aroma-therapy scent for a longer duration.

The scented wax 26 may be formed by mixing wax, such as candle wax, with fragrant essential oils. The wax is formed from the combination of natural and/or synthetic wax with additives according to methods commonly known in the art. Fragrant essential oils, made from plants, herbs, flowers, fruit, wood, seeds, and other natural ingredients, are added to the candle wax to produce the scented wax 26. The method of combining candle wax with fragrant essential oils is also commonly known in the art.

Now referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of an aroma-therapy duster 32 formed in accordance with the present disclosure is depicted. The duster 32 includes a handle 34 and a dusting element composed of lamb's wool 36. The lamb's wool 36 is secured to strips of lamb's skin 38 on the outer surface of the lamb's skin 40. In other words, the strip of skin 38 retains the lamb's wool 36. The lamb's wool 36 may instead be separated from the skin 38 and secured to another flexible medium. The lamb's wool 36 is preferably 100% lambs wool; however, a synthetic material may also be used.

Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the skin 38 is wrapped around the handle 34 with the lamb's wool 36 extending outwardly therefrom to form the wool duster 32. Starting at a handle end 44, the skin 38 is wrapped around the handle 34 in a downward spiral fashion. The skin 38 is wrapped around the handle 34 such that an inner surface of the lamb's skin 42 engages the handle 34, and the wool 36 extends generally outward from the outer surface of the lamb's skin 40. The wool duster 32 may be formed with one piece of wool 36 or with several pieces. Regardless, when wrapped around the handle 34, the wool 36 generally covers less than half the handle 34. However, depending on the purpose for which the wool duster 32 will be used, the wool 36 may cover more or less of the handle 34. The skin 38 is secured to the handle end 44 with at least one fastener 46 such as a staple, nail, or other device. The skin 38 may also be secured to the second handle end 44 with an adhesive such as glue.

The wool duster 32 also includes a scent carried by wax 26 or other substrate material. The scented wax 26 may be affixed to the lamb's skin 38, the handle 34, or both. The scented wax 26 is preferably affixed to the inner surface of the skin 42 and the handle end 44. As with the feather duster 10, the scented wax may be in the form of a stick where it is applied to the inner surface of the skin 42 and handle 44 by rubbing the stick against the skin and handle. Also, as noted above, the wax 26 also may be affixed to the wool duster 32 by first melting or softening the wax 26 and then applying the wax 26 to the handle end 44 and the inner surface of the skin 42.

The scented wax 26 essentially forms a layer between the handle end 44 and the inner surface of the skin 42, which aids in securing the skin 38 to the handle 34. The scent of the wax 26 permeates from underneath the skin 38 and throughout the wool 36 to produce an aroma-therapy fragrance when the wool duster 32 is used. Affixing the wax 26 to the second handle end 44 and the inner surface of the skin 42, rather than impregnating the wool 36 with a waxy substance, prevents unwanted oils and residue from being left on a surface when dusting. Moreover, the wax does not wear off when dusting; therefore, the duster maintains an aroma-therapy scent for a substantial period of time.

Although not shown, the lamb's wool 36 may be replaced by synthetic materials, such as polyester. The scented substrate may be applied to the junction or interface between the synthetic material and the handle.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An aroma-therapy duster comprising:

a handle;

a dusting element secured to a first handle end, the dusting element extending away from said first end; and

scented substrate affixed to the first end of the handle and/or the dusting element at the junction of the handle and the dusting element.

2. The duster of claim 1, wherein the scented substrate comprises wax combined with fragrant essential oils.

3. The duster of claim 2, wherein the dusting element is selected from wool, feathers, and synthetic material.

4. The duster of claim 3, wherein the dusting element is lamb's wool.

5. The duster of claim 3, wherein the dusting element comprises ostrich feathers.

6. The duster of claim 3, wherein the dusting element comprises polyester.

7. The duster of claim 1, wherein a fastener secures the dusting element to the handle.

8. A method of affixing aroma-therapy wax to a duster having a handle and a dusting element, the method including:

mixing fragrant essential oils with a substrate; and

applying the scented substrate at the juncture of the handle and the dusting element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the dusting element is applied to the handle after application of the scented substrate.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the dusting element is applied to the handle before the scented substrate is applied to duster.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of wax and candle wax.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the scented substrate is rubbed on to the dusting element and/or the handle.

13. An aroma-therapy duster comprising:

a handle;

a dusting element secured to the handle, the dusting element selected from the group consisting of wool, a plurality of feathers, and synthetic material; and

scented wax applied to the juncture of the dusting element and the handle.

14. The duster of claim 13, wherein the scented wax is candle wax combined with fragrant essential oils.

15. The duster of claim 13, wherein the dusting element comprises lamb's wool secured to lamb's skin.

16. The duster of claim 15, wherein the lamb's skin is fixedly wrapped around the handle with the lamb's wool extending generally outwardly therefrom.

17. The duster of claim 13, wherein the feathers comprise ostrich feathers.

18. The duster of claim 13, wherein the synthetic material comprises polyester.