LINT REMOVER WITH HOUSING AND METHOD OF USING

Abstract

A compact and transportable lint remover (10). The lint remover (10) includes a tubular housing (12) having a closed end (16), an open end (18), and an interior chamber (14) therebetween. A spindle (26) is movable between a stowed position in which the entire spindle (26) is within the chamber (14) and a deployed position in which a majority of the spindle (26) protrudes from the chamber (14) through the open end (18) of the housing (12). A cover (22) is pivotally coupled to the housing (12) and movable between a closed position in which the cover (22) closes the open end (18) of the housing (12) to prevent the spindle (26) from being deployed, and an open position that allows the spindle (26) to be deployed through the open end (18) of the housing (12). A adhesive-bearing roller (46) is rotatably mounted on the spindle (26) and secured thereon by a retention cap (44).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/248,323, filed Oct. 2, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to lint removers, and more particularly to a lint remover equipped with a lint roller adapted to be stowed within a housing and deployed from the housing for use. The housing serves as a handle for the lint remover during use.

Lint removers are used to capture and remove fibrous matter, such as hair or lint, from objects such as articles of clothing. Lint removers are available in various forms, including brushes and rollers. The former are equipped with small bristles arranged to capture fibrous matter. On the other hand, a lint roller typically comprises a rotatable cylinder whose outer cylindrical surface carries a replaceable adhesive sheet that promotes the ability of the cylinder to capture fibrous matter. Lint rollers are often more capable of capturing fibrous matter than are lint brushes as a result of the sticky adhesive. Lint rollers are also often gentler than lint brushes on delicate fabrics. However, a downside is that lint rollers are more difficult to transport since the adhesive can cause the roller to stick to essentially anything with which the roller comes in contact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a compact and transportable lint remover.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the lint remover includes a tubular housing defining a cylindrical interior chamber. The housing further has a closed end that closes the interior chamber, an oppositely-disposed open end to the interior chamber, and a central axis on which the interior chamber and the closed and open ends are coaxially disposed. A spindle is coupled to the housing so as to be movable between a stowed position in which the spindle is entirely within the interior chamber and a deployed position in which a majority of the spindle and a distal end thereof protrude from the interior chamber through the open end of the housing and a proximal end of the spindle engages the housing to retain the spindle on the housing. A cover is coupled to the housing for pivoting relative to the housing. The cover is movable between a closed position in which the cover closes the open end of the housing while the spindle is within the housing and prevents the spindle from being deployed through the open end of the housing, and an open position in which the cover exposes the open end of the housing and causes the spindle to be deployed through the open end of the housing. A retention cap is removably coupled to the distal end of the spindle, and a roller is rotatably mounted on the spindle and secured thereon by the retention cap. The roller comprises an adhesive material on an external cylindrical surface thereof.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of using the lint remover described above. Such a method includes, with the spindle in the stowed position thereof so that the spindle is entirely within the interior chamber, deploying the spindle to the deployed position thereof by pivoting the cover relative to the housing to release the spindle from the interior housing so that the majority of the spindle and the distal end thereof protrude from the interior chamber through the open end of the housing and the proximal end of the spindle engages the housing to retain the spindle on the housing.

An advantage of this invention is that the housing of the lint remover is adapted to completely enclose the roller, as well as serve as a handle when the roller is deployed from the housing. The housing permits the lint remover to be more easily transported by reducing the likelihood that the adhesive carried on the roller, such as a replaceable sheet on the roller, might leave an unwanted residue on objects with which the remover comes in contact.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a cross-sectional view of a lint remover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, and shows an adhesive lint roller of the lint remover stowed within a housing.

FIG. 2 shows the lint remover of FIG. 1 with the lint roller deployed from the housing.

FIG. 3 shows an end view of the lint remover of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 represents a cross-sectional view of the housing of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 represents a side view of an end cap that closes one end of the housing of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 6 represents a side view of the spindle of FIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are end views of the spindle of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 8 depict a lint remover 10 and components thereof. The lint remover 10 is represented as comprising a tubular-shaped housing 12 that defines an interior chamber 14. The housing 12 is represented in FIGS. 1 through 4 as having cylindrical-shaped exterior and interior surfaces, though it should be understood that each of these surfaces could be contoured to promote aesthetic or functional aspects of the housing 12 or of the lint remover 10 as a whole. One end 16 of the housing 12 (and chamber 14) is closed by an end cap 20, while the opposite end 18 of the chamber 14 is adapted to be selectively closed and exposed with a cover 22. The cap 20 is represented as being secured with pins or dowels to the end 16 of the housing 12, though other techniques for securing the cap 20 could be used. The housing 12 has a central axis 24 on which the interior chamber 14 and the closed and open ends 16 and 18 of the housing 12 are coaxially disposed.

A tubular-shaped spindle 26 is coupled to the housing 12 and adapted to be movable between a stowed position (FIG. 1) in which the spindle 26 is entirely within the interior chamber 14 of the housing 12, and a deployed position (FIG. 2) in which a majority of the spindle 26 and a distal end 28 thereof protrude from the interior chamber 14 through the open end 18 of the housing 12. A proximal end 30 of the spindle 26 is configured to engage the housing 12 to retain the spindle 26 on the housing 12. For this purpose, the proximal end 30 is shown as having a larger diameter than the remainder of the spindle 26 to provide a close diametrical fit with the open end 18 of the housing 12, and as having pins 32 that extend radially from the proximal end 30 of the spindle 26 to individually engage slots 34 defined in the interior surface of the housing 12 that defines and surrounds the chamber 14. Each slot 34 is represented as having an axial slot portion 34a and an L-shaped slot portion 34b, which together result in each slot 34 having roughly an inverted hook or J-shaped configuration. The pins 32 and the axial slot portions 34a permit the spindle 26 to move axially within the housing 12, but cooperate to prevent rotational movement of the spindle 26 within the housing 12 while the pins 32 remain with the axial slot portions 34a. Axial movement of the spindle 26 within the housing 12 is promoted by a shaft 50 that extends into the interior chamber 14 from the end cap 20 and whose axis coincides with the axis 24 of the housing 12. The spindle 26 has an interior bore 52 in which the shaft 50 is received, such that the spindle 26 is slidably mounted on the shaft 50 to maintain the spindle 26 in coaxial alignment with the housing 12. At the outermost extension of the spindle 26 relative to the housing 12, the L-shaped slot portions 34b enable the spindle 26 to rotate, for example, about forty-five degrees, relative to the housing 12 to a position in which the pins 32 and slot portions 34b permit limited axial movement of the spindle 26 within the housing 12, effectively locking the spindle 26 in its deployed position. As a result, the slots 34 prevent rotational movement of the spindle 26 relative to the housing 12 as the spindle 26 moves between its stowed and deployed positions, and permit limited rotational and axial movement of the spindle 26 relative to the housing 12 when the spindle 26 is in its deployed position.

The spindle 26 further includes a retention cap 44 that is removably coupled to the distal end 28 of the spindle 26. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 44 is threaded into a threaded bore defined in the distal end 28 of the spindle 26, though it should be apparent that other techniques could be used to secure the cap 44 to the spindle 26, while allowing the cap 44 to be easily removed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 represent the optional use of a spring 36 or other suitable biasing means for biasing the spindle 26 toward its deployed position. The spring 36 is shown as surrounding the shaft 50 and engaging the end cap 20 of the housing 12 and the lower end of the spindle 26, which causes the spindle 26 to be biased away from the end cap 20 and through the open end 18 of the housing 12.

A cylindrical-shaped roller 46 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 26 and secured thereon by the retention cap 44. The roller 46 functions as the means by which hair, lint and other fibrous matter can be captured with the lint remover 10. Accordingly, the outer surface of the roller 46 is preferably cylindrical and equipped with an adhesive, which can be of any type currently used or suitable for use with lint rollers. In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive 48 is carried on a tubular-shaped disposable tube or sheet that surrounds the cylindrical surface of the roller 46. Alternatively, the adhesive 48 can be present on the cylindrical surface of the roller 46, in which case the entire roller 46 may be disposable. As should be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the roller 46 can be removed from the spindle 26 be removing the cap 44.

The cover 22 is coupled to the housing 12 at its open end 18, and is shown as being movable between a closed position (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIG. 2). In the embodiment shown, the cover 22 is adapted to pivot or swivel in a plane perpendicular to the axis 24 of the housing 12, though other configurations are foreseeable. In the closed position, the cover 22 closes the open end 18 of the housing 12 while the spindle 26 is within the housing 12, and in so doing prevents the spindle 26 from being deployed through the open end 18 of the housing 12. In the open position, the cover 22 is swiveled away from the open end 18 of the housing 12 to expose the internal chamber 14, which causes the spindle 26 to be deployed through the open end 18 of the housing 12 under the biasing force of the spring 36. Because the spring 36 causes the cap 44 of the spindle 26 to be biased into engagement with the lower surface of the cover 22, the cap 44 is shown as having a dome-shaped or arc-shaped upper surface to reduce friction and, therefore, the effort required to swivel the cover 22 away from the housing 12 while the cover 22 is subjected to the force of the spring 36 transferred to the cover 22 by the cap 44. Various configurations are possible for connecting the cover 22 to the housing 12. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the connection comprises a hinge arm 38 whose opposite ends are rotatably coupled with pins or dowels to the rim 40 of the housing 12 and to the rim 42 of the cover 22, as seen in FIG. 3.

As evident from FIG. 1, the housing 12 and its end cap 20 and cover 22 define the entire external appearance of the lint remover 10 when the spindle 26 and roller 46 are stowed. Therefore, the housing 12 can be manufactured to have any suitable design, color, shape/contour, or other ornamentation that might appeal to certain segments of the population, including ornamentation that relates to certain hobbies, pets, lifestyles, and the like. The ornamentation of the housing 12 can also be specially adapted for storing the lint remover 10 in, for example, a purse, car, briefcase, etc.

In use, the lint remover 10 can be used to remove lint, hair or other fibrous material from a surface of an object, such as a garment, by releasing the spindle 26 and its roller 46 from the interior chamber 14 of the housing 12. Starting with the spindle 26 in its stowed position so that the spindle 26 is entirely within the interior chamber 14 (FIG. 1), the spindle 26 can be deployed to its deployed position (FIG. 2) by pivoting the cover 22 away from the housing 12 and perpendicular to the axis 24 of the housing 12 to release the spindle 26 from the chamber 14. The biasing force of the spring 36, in cooperation with the pins 32 on the spindle 26 and the slots 34 of the housing 12, causes a majority of the spindle 26 to protrude from the interior chamber 14 through the open end 18 of the housing 12. The maximum extent of the spindle 26 from the housing 12 is limited by the pins 32 at the proximal end 30 of the spindle 26, which engage the L-shaped slot portions 34b in the wall of the housing 12 to retain the spindle 26 in the housing 12. The spindle 26 can then be temporarily locked in its deployed position by rotating the spindle 26 relative to the housing 12 to cause the pins 32 to enter the L-shaped slot portions 34b of the slots 34. The spring 36 then helps to maintain the spindle 26 in its deployed position by helping to retain the pins 32 in the L-shaped slot portions 34b of the slots 34.

Thereafter, the housing 12 is suitably configured to be employed as a handle for the lint remover 10 during its use, so that the lint remover 10 can be held by the housing (handle) 12 and the roller 46 manipulated as may be necessary during removal of fibrous material with the roller 46. The relatively larger proximal end 30 of the spindle 26 minimizes the diametrical clearance with the interior surface of the housing 12 to provide greater stability of the spindle 26 and its roller 46, and the complementary pins 32 and slots 34 provide further stability by restricting the axial and rotational movement of the spindle 26 relative to the housing 12.

As previously noted, use of the lint remover 10 can also entail replacing the adhesive 48 after it has accumulated fibrous material to the point where ability of the roller 46 to capture material is diminished. For this purpose, the roller 46 can be removed from the spindle 26 after removing the retention cap 44 from the distal end 28 of the spindle 26.

While the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the physical configuration of the lint remover 10 could differ from that shown, and various materials and processes could be used to manufacture the lint remover 10 and its components. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A lint remover (10) comprising:

a tubular housing (12) defining a cylindrical interior chamber (14) and having a closed end (16) closing the interior chamber (14), an open end (18) to the interior chamber (14), and a central axis (24) on which the interior chamber (14) and the closed and open ends (16,18) are coaxially disposed;

a spindle (26) coupled to the housing (12), the spindle (26) being movable between a stowed position in which the spindle (26) is entirely within the interior chamber (14) and a deployed position in which a majority of the spindle (26) and a distal end (28) thereof protrude from the interior chamber (14) through the open end (18) of the housing (12) and a proximal end (30) of the spindle (26) engages the housing (12) to retain the spindle (26) on the housing (12);

a cover (22) coupled to the housing (12) for pivoting relative to the housing (12), the cover (22) being movable between a closed position in which the cover (22) closes the open end (18) of the housing (12) while the spindle (26) is within the housing (12) and prevents the spindle (26) from being deployed through the open end (18) of the housing (12) and an open position in which the cover (22) exposes the open end (18) of the housing (12) and causes the spindle (26) to be deployed through the open end (18) of the housing (12);

a retention cap (44) removably coupled to the distal end (28) of the spindle (26); and

a roller (46) rotatably mounted on the spindle (26) and removably secured thereon by the retention cap (44), the roller (46) comprising an adhesive material (48) on an external cylindrical surface thereof.

2. The lint remover (10) according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end (30) of the spindle (26) comprises radially-extending pins (32) that engage the housing (12) to retain the spindle (26) on the housing (12).

3. The lint remover (10) according to claim 2, further comprising slots (34) recessed into an interior surface of the housing (12) that defines the interior chamber (14), the pins (32) of the spindle (26) being slidably received in the slots (34) to enable axial movement of the spindle (26) relative to the housing (12).

4. The lint remover (10) according to claim 3, wherein each of the slots (34) has an axial portion (34a) that prevents rotational movement of the spindle (26) relative to the housing (12) as the spindle (26) moves from the stowed position thereof to the deployed position thereof, and a second portion (34b) that permits rotational movement of the spindle (26) relative to the housing (12) and limits axial movement of the spindle (26) relative to the housing (12) when the spindle (26) is in the deployed position thereof.

5. The lint remover (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (22) is coupled to the housing (12) so as to pivot in a plane perpendicular to the axis (24) of the housing (12).

6. The lint remover (10) according to claim 5, further comprising a hinge (38) that couples the cover (22) to the housing (12), the hinge (38) having a first end pivotally coupled to the open end (18) of the housing (12) and a second end pivotally coupled to the cover (22).

7. The lint remover (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an end cap (20) that closes the interior chamber (14) to define the closed end (16) of the housing (12).

8. The lint remover (10) according to claim 7, further comprising a shaft (50) extending into the interior chamber (14) from the end cap (20), the spindle (26) being slidably mounted on the shaft (50).

9. The lint remover (10) according to claim 1, further comprising means (36) for biasing the spindle (26) toward the deployed position thereof.

10. The lint remover (10) according to claim 9, wherein the retention cap (44) has an arc-shaped surface that engages the cover (22) when the cover (22) is in the closed position, closes the open end (18) of the housing (12) while the spindle (26) is within the housing (12), and prevents the spindle (26) from being deployed through the open end (18) of the housing (12).

11. A method of using the lint remover (10) of claim 1, the method comprising:

with the spindle (26) in the stowed position thereof so that the spindle (26) is entirely within the interior chamber (14), deploying the spindle (26) to the deployed position thereof by pivoting the cover (22) relative to the housing (12) in the plane perpendicular to the axis (24) of the housing (12) to release the spindle (26) from the interior housing (12) so that the majority of the spindle (26) and the distal end (28) thereof protrude from the interior chamber (14) through the open end (18) of the housing (12) and the proximal end (30) of the spindle (26) engages the housing (12) to retain the spindle (26) on the housing (12).

12. The method according to claim 11, the method further comprising using the lint remover (10) to remove lint from an object while using the housing (12) as a handle to hold the lint remover (10) and manipulate the roller (46).

13. The method according to claim 11, the method further comprising replacing the adhesive material (48) on the external cylindrical surface of the roller (46) by removing the retention cap (44) from the distal end (28) of the spindle (26) and removing the roller (46) from the spindle (26).