Static based digital single lens reflex camera sensor cleaner
A cleaning device for removing foreign particles off of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera sensor filter comprising a hand held application wand, a double sided adhesive and static foam tape and a grouping of extra foam tapes that form a pad which is kept clean within a reusable bag. The user would hold the application wand by the finger grip, remove one release tab from the pad and adhere the base of the application wand to the top of the exposed foam tape so that the shape of the wand base and the foam tape align. The user would then lift up on the wand with their hand and remove the foam tape from the pad. The next step would be to insert the wand base and foam tape into the DSLR lens opening where the sensor filter resides. The foam tape would be pressed down onto the sensor filter and adhere any foreign particles to its static layer. The wand and foam tape would then be removed by lifting up on the wand with ones hand. The cleaning static layer is specially designed to leave no residue or contamination on the sensor filter. After cleaning the user would remove the used foam tape from the wand base by hand and discard. The wand would be kept for future cleaning.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/601,025, filed Nov. 20, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. More specifically this invention relates to the safe removal of foreign particles that accumulate on the internal imaging sensor filter found within a DSLR camera. A principle function of this invention is to clean the sensor without causing contamination, residue or damage to the sensor filter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTDSLR camera sensor filters are most often cleaned by several means ie; electrostatic brush, sterile swab and liquid and hand held air puffers. Most of these systems don't function at a performance level that is desirable and leave many foreign particles on the sensor filter after cleaning. The brush and the swab cleaning method uses a dragging motion to remove the dust which might scratch the sensor filter during the cleaning process. Also, both the brush and the swab method uses parts that can not pass FAA security check points for airline passenger boarding. The brush uses canned air that can not be taken on a plane by any means and the swab used flammable liquid that can not be carried aboard the passenger compartment of a commercial airliner. Many traveling photographers do not like being separated from their camera equipment due to its high cost and being fragile. So, the ability to offer a device which can be carried on board an airliner is much desired.
An alternative solution would be using a cleaning device that uses a hand held motion of up and down during the cleaning process which would exclude the possible sensor scratching due to the dragging method of the brush and swab. In order to adhere the foreign particles to this new cleaning device a statically charged plastic is being utilized. This statically charged PVC has been specifically designed for glass and plastic applications that will not leave contamination or residue after application. This new cleaning device consists of three main elements, the hand operated application wand, a double sided foam tape and a pad used for storing multiple foam tapes. This new device does not use anything that is considered contraband by the FAA and can be brought aboard the passenger compartment of a commercial airliner.
Regarding prior art of a statically charged plastic sensor filter cleaner, the inventor did a thorough search within the United States Patent and Application archives and could not find any reference to a static based DSLR sensor cleaner that uses an up and down motion, leaves no residue during application and has an application wand, double sided foam tape and a pad for storing multiple foam tapes. It is the inventor's opinion that the above stated static cleaning device is a new and effective invention for the intended use providing certain advantages to be described in detail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is a cleaning device for removing foreign particles from a sensor filter found within the internal workings of a functioning DSLR camera. The unique aspects of the present invention are first, the combination of the three main elements, the application wand, the foam tape and the pad to create an easy to use and safe sensor filter cleaning device for the removal of foreign particles that can be used multiple times. Second, the surface used to remove the foreign particles leaves no residue or contamination after application. The Third feature is the use of soft foam between the application wand and the cleaning statically charged plastic to help cushion and soften the hand held cleaning process. The fourth feature is using a removable adhesive tape on the top of the foam so the foam can be removed from the wand by hand and discarded. This provides an effective and easy solution for the reuse of the wand and new cleaning foam tapes that reside on the pad. The island position of this removable adhesive tape is to eliminate the chance of adhesive contamination when the foam tape is kiss-cut during manufacturing. The fifth feature is the combination of many foam tapes to form a pad that is contained within a reseal-able bag. This feature allows for multiple future uses and keeps the unused foam tapes clean. The sixth feature is the unique application wand design, it has a finger grip that offsets the user's fingers so the user can have a clearer sight path of the sensor filter and can apply the invention more easily. The seventh feature is that the application wand base and the cleaning tape are sized so that no matter what size the DSLR sensor is, the foam cleaning adhesive can cover every inch of the sensor filter with only four applications. The eighth feature of this new invention is the ability to pass FAA regulations regarding materials that can be carried aboard the passenger's compartment of a commercial airliner.
An alternative feature is the ability to produce pads that contain fewer or greater number of foam tapes in order to achieve a price point for the retail market. An alternative construction would be to provide only the statically charged PVC in pre cut shapes on a release card so they could be adhered to the bottom of the cleaning adhesive foam tape found in patent application Ser. No. 11/601,025. In this embodiment of the invention the preferred method of foreign particle removal is by use of an electrostatically charged polymeric layer or film to pick up the dust particles.
- 20 Finger Grip
- 21 Stem
- 22 Angle Support
- 23 Base
- 24 Wand Width Measurement
- 25 Wand Height Measurement
- 26 Side View
- 27 Side View
- 28 Top View
- 29 Base Height Measurement
- 30 Base Width Measurement
- 40 Release Tab
- 41 High Tack/Medium Tack Removable Tape
- 42 Soft Open Cell Foam
- 43 Statically Charged PVC Layer
- 44 Mylar Carrier Card
- 45 Reseal able Plastic Bag
- 50 Soft Open Cell Foam Width Measurement
- 51 High Tack/Medium Tack Removable Tape Width Measurement
- 52 Soft Open Cell Foam Height Measurement
- 53 High Tack/Medium Tack Removable Tape Height Measurement
- 54 Release Card Width Measurement
- 55 Release Card Height Measurement
- 56 Release Gap Height Measurement
- 57 Foam Pad Height Measurement
- 58 Release Gap Width Measurement
- 59 Foam Pad Width Measurement
- 70 DSLR Camera Without Lens
- 71 Sensor Filter of DSLR Camera
- 72 Internal Wall of DSLR Camera
- 73 Statically Charged Plastic PVC Piece
- 74 Release Card with die cut Statically Charged PVC Pieces
The cleaning device is made up of three main elements, the application wand
The application wand
The pad
The use of different foams, thicknesses and softness could be implemented but they would need to retain the ability to thermally or adhesively bond to Static PVC layer 43. Other electrostatically charged polymeric materials could be used but they would need to retain the same non-residue forming properties and have the ability to either thermally bond or pressure adhere to foam.
The next step is the lamination of High Tack/Medium Tack Removable Tape 41 with the high tack side facing the foam and the medium tack facing up, and the release tab 40. The High Tack/Medium Tack Removable Tape 41 is positioned in an island formation
The foam tape
In use, the user would expose the foam pad from the plastic bag 45 and remove a release tab 40 which would reveal the medium tack removable adhesive 41 on the topside of the foam tape, shown in
While these and other features of the invention have been described by reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be varied in manufacturing, arrangement and detail without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter comprising:
- a first adhesive member having a first upper adhesive surface, and a second lower static surface having a lesser adhesion strength than the first upper adhesive surface; a release tab removably adhered to the first upper adhesive surface of the first adhesive member; a resilient pad adhered to the second lower static surface of the first adhesive member; a polymeric cleaning layer bonded to the resilient pad, the polymeric layer having statically charged surface facing away from the foam pad; and, a protective cover layer removably adhered to the statically charged surface.
2. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 1 wherein the length and width of the polymeric cleaning layer are less than the respective length and width of the resilient pad.
3. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric cleaning layer comprises statically charged plastic.
4. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric cleaning layer is selected to leave a residue-free sensor surface.
5. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 1 wherein the release tab is removable from an upper adhesive surface of the first adhesive member.
6. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a handle adhered to the upper adhesive surface of the first adhesive member.
7. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 7 wherein the handle comprises a lower surface for receiving the first upper adhesive surface of the first adhesive member and an upper elongate portion.
8. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cleaning members mounted on a supportive underlayer, each cleaning member comprising:
- a first adhesive member having a first upper adhesive surface, and a second lower static surface having a lesser adhesion strength than the first upper adhesive surface;
- a release tab removably adhered to the first upper adhesive surface of the first adhesive member;
- a resilient pad adhered to the second lower adhesive surface of the first adhesive member;
- a polymeric cleaning layer bonded to the resilient pad, the polymeric cleaning layer having statically charged surface facing away from the foam pad; and,
- a protective cover layer removably adhered to the polymeric cleaning layer.
9. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor according to claim 8 further comprising each member being individually releasable from the supportive underlayer.
10. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 8 wherein the length and width of the first adhesive layer are less than the respective length and width of the resilient pad.
11. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 8 wherein the polymeric cleaning layer comprises statically charged plastic.
12. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 8 wherein the polymeric cleaning layer is selected to leave a residue-free sensor surface.
13. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 8 wherein the release tab is removable from an upper adhesive surface of the first adhesive member.
14. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 8 wherein the length and width of the first adhesive layer are less than the respective length and width of the resilient pad.
15. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric cleaning layer comprises statically charged plastic.
16. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter according to claim 7 further comprising the upper elongate portion having a central longitudinal axis, and a gripping portion offset from the central longitudinal axis.
17. A tool for cleaning a digital single lens reflex camera sensor filter comprising:
- a statically charged plastic which can be adhered to the cleaning adhesive base of the foam tape found in patent application Ser. No. 11/601,025;
- a release card adhered to the static surface of the statically charged plastic;
- a statically charged plastic cut in multiple sections that are statically adhered onto the release card.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2007
Publication Date: May 22, 2008
Inventor: Ross Wordhouse (Bend, OR)
Application Number: 11/881,827
International Classification: A47L 25/00 (20060101);