Vacuum cleaner accessory

Claim 1

In combination with a power driven vacuum cleaner having a flexible hose extending therefrom that has a first free end and in which hose a negative pressure is maintained, a combined dirt and dust loosening and retrieving device removably mounted on said free end of said hose, said device including: a. a first housing that includes a first cylindrical shell having first and second ends, said first end developing into a first conical shell that has an apex in which a first port is defined, said first conical shell having a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced second ports therein, said first cylindrical shell having a transverse circumferential resilient rib extending inwardly from the interior surface thereof, and said rib situated intermediate said first and second ends of said first cylindrical shell; b. a second housing molded from a resilient polymerized resin, said second housing including a second cylindrical shell that has first and second ends, said first end of said second shell developing into a second conical shell that has a truncated apex portion, said second conical shell having a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced U-shaped slits formed therein that define resilient tabs within the confines thereof, said tabs of greater area than that of said second ports, said second housing of such dimensions as to fit snugly within said first housing and being held in a fixed position therein by said rib engaging said first end of said second cylindrical shell, and said tabs being radially aligned with said second ports in said first conical shell and sealing said second ports when said tabs are in first positions; c. a spring loaded sealing member disposed between the apex portions of said first and second conical shells, said sealing member at all times tending to assume a first position where it seals said first port in said first conical shell; d. a first brush secured to said sealing member which first brush extends outwardly through said first port; and e. a plurality of second brushes secured to said tabs and extending outwardly through said second ports, said first and second brushes sufficiently stiff as to move said spring loaded sealing member and said tabs with which they are associated to second positions when said first and second brushes are brought into pressure rubbing contact with a surface on which dust or dirt may exist, said rubbing contact tending to loosen said dust or dirt, and said sealing member and tabs when in said second positions allowing streams of velocity air to flow from the ambient atmosphere into the interior of said second housing, and said streams of air carrying said dust or dirt that has been loosened into the interior of said second housing for subsequent transfer through said hose to said vacuum cleaner.