Positive and negative ion distributor bar

Claim 1

In apparatus for reducing static electricity on work surfaces, the combination that includes: (a) first electrical conductor means having first tips spaced therealong in a first longitudinal row to dispense positive ions in response to first voltage application to the first conductor means, (b) second electrical conductor means having second tips spaced therealong in a second longitudinal row to dispense negative ions in response to second voltage application to the second conductor means, the first and second voltages being different, and (c) a longitudinally elongated, electrically insulative bar mounting said conductor means at locations and separations from one another characterized in that static electricity at or proximate the work to be treated is effectively reduced to non-objectionable levels when such differential voltages are applied to the conductor means, (d) the first and second rows being parallel, said tips being in first and second recesses, respectively, defined by the bar, (e) the first conductor means including a first conductor adapted to have positive voltage applied thereto, and the second conductor means includes a second conductor adapted to have negative voltage applied therebetween, the conductors located within said bar, and being flexible, said bar including first and second bar sections, said first section defining said first recesses and said second section defining said second recesses, said sections consisting of electrically insulative plastic material, (f) each section defining a chamber receiving one of said conductors adjacent the recesses, each conductor including an electrically conductive core and an insulative sheath thereon, the needles pressed through said cores to sidewardly adhere to the core, (g) the bar further including a divider plate, (h) said sections mounted along opposite sides of the divider plate so that the first recesses are staggered relative to the second recesses.