Lint remover with housing and method of using

Abstract

A compact and transportable lint remover ( 10 ). The lint remover ( 10 ) includes a tubular housing ( 12 ) having a closed end ( 16 ), an open end ( 18 ), and an interior chamber ( 14 ) therebetween. A spindle ( 26 ) is movable between a stowed position in which the entire spindle ( 26 ) is within the chamber ( 14 ) and a deployed position in which a majority of the spindle ( 26 ) protrudes from the chamber ( 14 ) through the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ). A cover ( 22 ) is pivotally coupled to the housing ( 12 ) and movable between a closed position in which the cover ( 22 ) closes the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) to prevent the spindle ( 26 ) from being deployed, and an open position that allows the spindle ( 26 ) to be deployed through the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ). A adhesive-bearing roller ( 46 ) is rotatably mounted on the spindle ( 26 ) and secured thereon by a retention cap ( 44 ).

1 . A lint remover ( 10 ) comprising:
 a tubular housing ( 12 ) defining a cylindrical interior chamber ( 14 ) and having a closed end ( 16 ) closing the interior chamber ( 14 ), an open end ( 18 ) to the interior chamber ( 14 ), and a central axis ( 24 ) on which the interior chamber ( 14 ) and the closed and open ends ( 16 , 18 ) are coaxially disposed;   a spindle ( 26 ) coupled to the housing ( 12 ), the spindle ( 26 ) being movable between a stowed position in which the spindle ( 26 ) is entirely within the interior chamber ( 14 ) and a deployed position in which a majority of the spindle ( 26 ) and a distal end ( 28 ) thereof protrude from the interior chamber ( 14 ) through the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) and a proximal end ( 30 ) of the spindle ( 26 ) engages the housing ( 12 ) to retain the spindle ( 26 ) on the housing ( 12 );   a cover ( 22 ) coupled to the housing ( 12 ) for pivoting relative to the housing ( 12 ), the cover ( 22 ) being movable between a closed position in which the cover ( 22 ) closes the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) while the spindle ( 26 ) is within the housing ( 12 ) and prevents the spindle ( 26 ) from being deployed through the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) and an open position in which the cover ( 22 ) exposes the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) and causes the spindle ( 26 ) to be deployed through the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 );   a retention cap ( 44 ) removably coupled to the distal end ( 28 ) of the spindle ( 26 ); and   a roller ( 46 ) rotatably mounted on the spindle ( 26 ) and removably secured thereon by the retention cap ( 44 ), the roller ( 46 ) comprising an adhesive material ( 48 ) on an external cylindrical surface thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end ( 30 ) of the spindle ( 26 ) comprises radially-extending pins ( 32 ) that engage the housing ( 12 ) to retain the spindle ( 26 ) on the housing ( 12 ). 
     
     
         3 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 2 , further comprising slots ( 34 ) recessed into an interior surface of the housing ( 12 ) that defines the interior chamber ( 14 ), the pins ( 32 ) of the spindle ( 26 ) being slidably received in the slots ( 34 ) to enable axial movement of the spindle ( 26 ) relative to the housing ( 12 ). 
     
     
         4 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the slots ( 34 ) has an axial portion ( 34   a ) that prevents rotational movement of the spindle ( 26 ) relative to the housing ( 12 ) as the spindle ( 26 ) moves from the stowed position thereof to the deployed position thereof, and a second portion ( 34   b ) that permits rotational movement of the spindle ( 26 ) relative to the housing ( 12 ) and limits axial movement of the spindle ( 26 ) relative to the housing ( 12 ) when the spindle ( 26 ) is in the deployed position thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover ( 22 ) is coupled to the housing ( 12 ) so as to pivot in a plane perpendicular to the axis ( 24 ) of the housing ( 12 ). 
     
     
         6 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 5 , further comprising a hinge ( 38 ) that couples the cover ( 22 ) to the housing ( 12 ), the hinge ( 38 ) having a first end pivotally coupled to the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) and a second end pivotally coupled to the cover ( 22 ). 
     
     
         7 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising an end cap ( 20 ) that closes the interior chamber ( 14 ) to define the closed end ( 16 ) of the housing ( 12 ). 
     
     
         8 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , further comprising a shaft ( 50 ) extending into the interior chamber ( 14 ) from the end cap ( 20 ), the spindle ( 26 ) being slidably mounted on the shaft ( 50 ). 
     
     
         9 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising means ( 36 ) for biasing the spindle ( 26 ) toward the deployed position thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The lint remover ( 10 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the retention cap ( 44 ) has an arc-shaped surface that engages the cover ( 22 ) when the cover ( 22 ) is in the closed position, closes the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) while the spindle ( 26 ) is within the housing ( 12 ), and prevents the spindle ( 26 ) from being deployed through the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ). 
     
     
         11 . A method of using the lint remover ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 with the spindle ( 26 ) in the stowed position thereof so that the spindle ( 26 ) is entirely within the interior chamber ( 14 ), deploying the spindle ( 26 ) to the deployed position thereof by pivoting the cover ( 22 ) relative to the housing ( 12 ) in the plane perpendicular to the axis ( 24 ) of the housing ( 12 ) to release the spindle ( 26 ) from the interior housing ( 12 ) so that the majority of the spindle ( 26 ) and the distal end ( 28 ) thereof protrude from the interior chamber ( 14 ) through the open end ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) and the proximal end ( 30 ) of the spindle ( 26 ) engages the housing ( 12 ) to retain the spindle ( 26 ) on the housing ( 12 ).   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , the method further comprising using the lint remover ( 10 ) to remove lint from an object while using the housing ( 12 ) as a handle to hold the lint remover ( 10 ) and manipulate the roller ( 46 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , the method further comprising replacing the adhesive material ( 48 ) on the external cylindrical surface of the roller ( 46 ) by removing the retention cap ( 44 ) from the distal end ( 28 ) of the spindle ( 26 ) and removing the roller ( 46 ) from the spindle ( 26 ).