Duct cleaning attachment for a vacuum

Abstract

A duct cleaning attachment includes a hollow body having an exterior surface with a curved under-belly, one of a tapered or rounded leading end, a trailing end, and an interior surface defining an interior cavity. A coupling is positioned at the trailing end wherein the body is coupled to a hose from a vacuum source in a manner that results in air being drawn from the interior cavity by the vacuum source. The body has openings from the exterior surface to the interior surface.

1 . A duct cleaning attachment, comprising:
 a hollow body having an exterior surface with a curved under-belly, one of a tapered or rounded leading end, a trailing end, and an interior surface defining an interior cavity;   a coupling positioned at the trailing end wherein the body is coupled to a vacuum source in a manner that results in air being drawn from the interior cavity by the vacuum source; and   openings in the body from the exterior surface to the interior surface.   
     
     
         2 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the trailing end is one of tapered or rounded. 
     
     
         3 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the body is cylindrical with a central reduced diameter section and the openings are positioned in the reduced diameter section. 
     
     
         4 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a brush comprised of a sleeve that overlies the reduced diameter section and has outwardly extending bristles. 
     
     
         5 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve slides to assume a position either on a leading end side or on a trailing end side of the openings. 
     
     
         6 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the leading end is bulbous. 
     
     
         7 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a flexible hose. 
     
     
         8 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is coupled to a hose of the vacuum source. 
     
     
         9 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert within the body having an outer perimeter that is smaller than the inner perimeter of the body, and having fins that extend outward from the vacuum section such that, as the body lays on a surface, the fins cause the insert to move away from the surface relative to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a swivel coupling. 
     
     
         11 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body comprises a positioning wheel at an angle relative to the hollow body, the positioning wheel biasing the hollow body in a first direction when moved forward, and in a second direction when moved backward. 
     
     
         12 . The duct cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having a larger opening area than the upper surface. 
     
     
         13 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 12 , wherein the upper surface has no openings. 
     
     
         14 . A duct cleaning attachment for a vacuum, comprising:
 a leading end, the leading end being one of tapered or rounded;   a trailing end having an attachment sized to attach to a hose of a household vacuum cleaner; and   a vacuum section disposed between the tapered leading end and the tapered trailing end, the vacuum section having at least one vacuum opening.   
     
     
         15 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the trailing end is one of tapered or rounded. 
     
     
         16 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the vacuum opening is disposed in a recess of the vacuum section. 
     
     
         17 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the leading end, the trailing end and the vacuum section are substantially spherical. 
     
     
         18 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the vacuum section is less than half the height of a diameter of a household duct. 
     
     
         19 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , further comprising an insert within the vacuum section having an outer perimeter that is smaller than the inner perimeter of the vacuum section, and having projections that extend outward from the vacuum section such that, as the vacuum section lays on a surface, the projections cause the insert to move away from the surface relative to the vacuum section. 
     
     
         20 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment sized to attach to a hose of a household vacuum cleaner comprises a swivel coupling. 
     
     
         21 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , further comprising a positioning wheel at an angle relative to the duct cleaning attachment, the positioning wheel biasing the duct cleaning attachment in a first direction when moved forward, and in a second direction when moved backward. 
     
     
         22 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the vacuum section comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having a larger opening area than the upper surface. 
     
     
         23 . The duct cleaning attachment of  claim 22 , wherein the upper surface has no openings. 
     
     
         24 . In combination,
 a household vacuum cleaner having a vacuum hose; and   a duct cleaning attachment for the vacuum hose, comprising:   a tapered leading end;   a tapered trailing end having an attachment sized to attach to a hose of a household vacuum cleaner; and   a vacuum section disposed between the tapered leading end and the tapered trailing end, the vacuum section having at least one vacuum opening.