Cleaning tool for electronic and computer equipment

Details Cleaning tool for electronic and computer equipment Cleaning tool for electronic and computer equipment

1999-06-05

2001-10-09

Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)

Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning

Implements

Combined

C015S104001, C015S118000, C015S211000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06298514

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
This invention, entitled “Cleaning Tool for Electronic and Computer Equipment”, was devised and invented by Matthew H. Lazich, Rodolfo Castelum, and Sean S. Lee, and relates to a device which may be used for cleaning electronic and computer equipment, such as a computer keyboard, laptop computers, control panel or console, computer mouse, computer vents and disk drive openings, stereo equipment, cameras automobile dashboards, and he like. Said invention is particularly useful in cleaning lint, particulate matter such as dust, and grime, i.e., a combination of grease or oil with dust or the like, from between the keys of a keyboard, and between the buttons and crevices of a console or control panel.
This “Clearing Tool for Electronic and Computer Equipment”, will hereinafter be referred to as the “Cleaning Tool”, and as a proper noun, with the first letter of each word capitalized, throughout this specification and its appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND THE NEED FOR THE PRESENT INVENTION
Electrical and computer equipment, and particularly the control panels and consoles, are exposed to the office or home environment, and in time, accumulate dust, lint, grime, food particles, and other particulate matter in the cracks and parting lines around the buttons, and the like. If this particulate matter is not removed, the equipment becomes unsightly and unpleasant to use, and may be subject to failure, due to electrical or electromechanical shorts of physical obstructions. Heretofore, the means for removing such particulate matter is with a wet rag, cloth, or cotton swab, or with compressed air or a vacuum cleaner. These means are ineffective, and pose a risk to the equipment, where, e.g., water ray damage the circuitry. Furthermore, blown air from a compressed air canister is likely to push the particulate matter further into the equipment, thereby increasing the risk of potential failure.
The inventors, Matthew H. Lazich, Rodolfo Gastelum, and Sean S. Lee, have devised and invented a device to clean lint, grime, and particulate matter, from between the keys of a keyboard, from between the buttons on a control panel or console, and from the parting lines and crevices in electronic and computer equipment, such as a computer mouse.
A primary application for the present invention is to clean the aforementioned electronic and computer equipment with ease and to safely remove said particulate matter such as lint, dust, grime, and the like, from said equipment. Failure to periodically remove such particulate matter from said equipment, may cause the malfunction or failure of the equipment. Using other means to attempt to remove particulate matter, such as the use of a wet rag or cotton swap, or an air pressure device, such as a air spray canister, or a vacuum cleaner, ray incur damage to sensitive electronic and computer equipment, and these means are often ineffective. Furthermore, it is inconvenient and more time consuming to use a vacuum cleaner or a wet rag to attempt to clean said equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF FURTHER ADVANTAGES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In trying to solve the above-described electronics and computer equipment problems and disadvantages and within the scope of this objective, it was surprising to find that a solution to the above described problems and disadvantages need not be expensive or involve complex technology.
The objectives and advantages of a simple embodiment of the present Cleaning Tool invention include:
1. The Cleaning Tool invention is inexpensive to tool and manufacture.
2. The Cleaning Tool invention is small and easy to store and transport.
3. The simple and preferred embodiments of the Cleaning Tool invention has two cleaning elements, with one located at each -end of said Cleaning Tool, as shown in the drawing Figures.
4. The Cleaning Tool invention has a cleaning element which is designed for cleaning between keys, buttons, parting lines, or crevices, and is thin and may be, for example, fan or fish-tail shaped, is shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
.
5. The Cleaning Tool invention also, has a cleaning element which is designed for cleaning a computer mouse (once the sphere is removed from the mouse), and other concave surfaces, and this cleaning element is shaped like a banded quasi-sphere or a portion thereof, such as a band around a quasi-sphere or the like as shown in FIGS
1
-
20
. Said band may be a portion of a band; such as a band extending 85 percent about the quasi-sphere, with a 15 percent gap. The banded quasi-sphere may be a flattened sphere, a frusto-sphere, a disc shape, an ellipsoidal shape, a cylinder, cone, frusto-conical section, or a combination thereof. This cleaning element has particular utility in cleaning not only the orifice of a mouse with the sphere removed, but also the bearings, torus and sphere shaped sensors, and the like, contained within said orifice.
6. The Cleaning Tool invention uses a hook and loop fastening material, such as VELCRO®, or the like, and which is attached to the fan tip (
2
) and the band channel (
6
), as the cleaning element or means. The tiny hooks or loops act to attach lint, dust, dirt, and grime thereto, and remove it from the desired area. The lift, dust, dirt, and grime may then be manually removed from said hook and loop cleaning surface of the Cleaning Tool, see
FIGS. 21 and 22
for embodiments of the hook surface (
7
).
7. The Leaning Tool invention may utilize a hook or a loop fastener as the cleaning element. The tiny hooks have a greater adhesive-like effect, and may be preferred in some embodiments, whereas the tiny loops may be preferred in some other embodiments. For most applications, the tiny hooks are preferred on the band quasi-spherical tip (
3
), and the tiny loops are preferred on the fan tip (
2
).
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following descriptions, when taken with the accompanying drawing figures that show, for purposes of illustration only, embodiment constructions in accordance with the present invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4417370 (1983-11-01), Lewis
patent: 4760618 (1988-08-01), Chapin
patent: 5519910 (1996-05-01), Messina
patent: 5970559 (1999-10-01), Christy
patent: 5985042 (1999-11-01), Fiedler
patent: 2268049 (1994-01-01), None

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