Apparatus, system, and method for self-cleaning handheld dust removal

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for self-cleaning dust removal. The apparatus may be provided with a brush housing 202 having an opening 204, one or more axles 206 disposed around the opening 204, and a plurality of brush fibers 208 emanating from the one or more axles 206 that rotate inward into the opening 204. In addition, the system may include a scraping edge 106, disposed around the opening 204, farther into the brush housing 202 than the one or more axles 206, that scrapes 1408 dust off of the brush fibers 208 as they rotate inward against the scraping edge 106, and a vacuum cleaner intake port 110 inside the brush housing 202 that draws 1410 dust from off and about the brush fibers 208 as they rotate inward 1406. The system may further include a handle 112 connected to the brush housing 202 and a switch 114.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a brush housing having an opening, wherein the opening has a substantially polygonal shape;   two or more axles disposed around a perimeter of the opening in the brush housing, wherein the two or more axles are rigid and are disposed along one or more substantially opposing pairs of sides of the polygonal shape of the opening; and   a plurality of brush fibers emanating from the two or more axles that rotate inward toward opposing brush fibers that rotate inward in an opposite direction about the two or more axles into the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a scraping edge, disposed around the opening, farther into the brush housing than the two or more axles, that scrapes dust off of the brush fibers as they rotate inward against the scraping edge. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum cleaner intake port inside the brush housing that draws dust from off and about the brush fibers as they rotate inward. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brush fibers are selected from the set consisting of microfibers, electrostatic fibers, polyester fibers, wool fibers, and feathers. 
     
     
         5 . A system comprising:
 a brush housing having an opening, wherein the opening has a substantially polygonal shape;   two or more axles disposed around a perimeter of the opening in the brush housing, wherein the two or more axles are rigid and are disposed along one or more substantially opposing pairs of sides of the polygonal shape of the opening;   a plurality of brush fibers emanating from the two or more axles that rotate inward toward opposing brush fibers that rotate inward in an opposite direction about the two or more axles into the opening;   a scraping edge, disposed around the opening, farther into the brush housing than the one or more axles, that scrapes dust off of the brush fibers as they rotate inward against the scraping edge;   a vacuum cleaner having an intake port inside the brush housing that draws dust from off and about the brush fibers as they rotate inward;   a handle connected to the brush housing; and   a switch that activates and deactivates the system.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system is handheld and battery-powered. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the system is rechargeable and further comprises a recharging fixture. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a removable handle extension connectable to the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a swivel joint between the handle and the handle extension. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a power cord and plug connected to the handle extension, wherein the handle extension provides power to the system. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a brush housing having an opening, wherein the opening has a substantially polygonal shape, two or more axles disposed around a perimeter of the opening in the brush housing, wherein the two or more axles are rigid and are disposed along one or more substantially opposing pairs of sides of the polygonal shape of the opening, and a plurality of brush fibers emanating from the two or more axles;   rotating the plurality of brush fibers inward toward opposing brush fibers that rotate inward in an opposite direction about the two or more axles into the opening;   scraping dust off of the brush fibers as they rotate inward against a scraping edge disposed around the opening, farther into the brush housing than the two or more axles; and   drawing dust from off and about the brush fibers through a vacuum cleaner intake port into a dust receptacle having a replaceable filter as the brush fibers rotate inward.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two or more axles and the plurality of brush fibers comprise two or more replaceable brushes, further comprising instructing a user in performing the steps of:
 unmounting one or more of the filter and the brushes; and   mounting one or more of a replacement filter and replacement brushes.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the brushes and the filter respectively comprise the replacement brushes and the replacement filter, further comprising instructing the user in performing the steps of:
 emptying the dust receptacle; and   cleaning one or more of the filter and the brushes.