VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT HAVING A CONCAVE VACUUM HEAD WITH A SWIVEL JOINT THAT SWIVELS ONLY WITHIN A CENTRAL PLANE OF THE VACUUM HEAD

1 . An apparatus for attachment to a vacuum cleaner, the apparatus comprising:

a vacuum head, the vacuum head including a concave opening having a concave curvature corresponding to a convex curvature of a cylindrical surface to be vacuumed; and

an attachment mechanism configured to support the vacuum head and configured to provide suction generated by the vacuum cleaner to the vacuum head.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical surface that is to be vacuumed is one of: a log, a pipe, a post, a beam.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a swivel joint that swivels only within a central plane of the vacuum head.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a swivel joint that includes a bendable hose for providing suction to the vacuum head in any swivel position.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum head includes a plurality of bristles disposed at the concave opening of the vacuum head.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of bristles are disposed at acute angles with respect to the concave opening of the vacuum head.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of bristles are disposed at an angle of about 45° with respect to the concave opening of the vacuum head.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the concave opening has a curvature corresponding to a convex surface with a cylindrical curvature having a radius between approximately 6 inches and approximately 12 inches.

9 . An apparatus for attachment to a vacuum cleaner, the apparatus comprising:

a vacuum head including a concave opening having a curvature that generally corresponds to the convex curvature of a surface to be vacuumed, the vacuum head being symmetrical about a central plane that bisects the vacuum head;

a swivel joint having a first section in fixed engagement with the vacuum head, and a second section that is in swivelable relationship with the first section, the swivel joint being configured to swivel only through the central plane of the vacuum head; and

a flexible conduit extending from the first section to the second section, the flexible conduit being configured to provide suction generated by the vacuum cleaner to the vacuum head.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first section includes a neck extending therefrom for connection to a further conduit.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first section of the swivel joint includes a sphere having an annular opening for supporting an end of the conduit, the sphere further having an arcuate passageway; and

the second section of the swivel joint includes a carriage mounted for swiveling within the sphere, wherein the neck is in fixed alignment for swiveling with the carriage, and wherein the neck extends through the arcuate passageway and is movable with the carriage as the carriage swivels with respect to the sphere.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the carriage includes a rail, and the sphere includes a track configured to engage the rail, wherein movement of the rail along the track allows the carriage to rotate within the sphere.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the carriage includes at least two rails disposed at opposite sides of the neck, wherein the sphere includes at least two tracks respectively engaging the at least two rails, and wherein movement of the at least two rails along the at least two tracks allows the carriage to swivel within the sphere.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sphere comprises:

a first hemisphere fixed to the vacuum head, the first hemisphere including the annular opening; and

a second hemisphere fixed to the first hemisphere, the second hemisphere including the arcuate passageway.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first and second hemispheres include overlapping peripheral edges.

16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the vacuum head includes a plurality of bristles disposed at the concave opening of the vacuum head.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of bristles are disposed at acute angles with respect to the concave opening of the vacuum head.

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of bristles are disposed at an angle of about 45° with respect to the concave opening of the vacuum head.

19 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the concave surface has a curvature corresponding to a convex surface of a log having a radius of between approximately 6 inches and approximately 12 inches.

20 . An apparatus for attachment to a vacuum cleaner, the apparatus comprising:

a vacuum head including a concave opening having a curvature generally corresponding to a convex curvature of a surface to be vacuumed;

a sphere including a first hemisphere fixed to the vacuum head, and a second hemisphere fixed to the first hemisphere, the first hemisphere having an annular opening, the second hemisphere having an arcuate passageway, attachment of the first and second hemispheres forming a track along an interior surface of the sphere;

a carriage having a neck configured to extend through the arcuate passageway, the carriage including a rail configured to engage the track so as to allow the carriage to swivel within the sphere, and to allow the neck to move along the arcuate passageway; and

a conduit extending between the annular opening of the first hemisphere and the neck so as to provide fluid communication of suction between the vacuum head and the vacuum cleaner.