The Black & Decker DustBuster (now stylized as dustbuster) is a cordless

vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner, also known simply as a vacuum, is a device that uses suction, and often agitation, in order to remove dirt and other debris from carpets, hard floors, and other surfaces. The dirt is collected into a dust bag or a plastic bin. ...

that was introduced in January 1979. Mark Proett and Carroll Gantz are listed as the inventors on the utility and design patents, respectively, assigned to

Black & Decker Black+Decker is an American manufacturer of power tools, accessories, hardware, home improvement products, home appliances, and fastening systems, headquartered in Towson, Maryland, north of Baltimore, where the company was originally establis ...

for a cordless vacuum cleaner. Mark Proett was an engineer whose utility patent was for B&D's Model 9321 cordless vacuum cleaner, called the Spot Vac, a component of the Mod 4 series of power tools (shrub trimmer, lantern, grass shear, drill, and Spot Vac), all powered by a single, rechargeable, and interchangeable "energy pak" handle with batteries. The device uses

suction power Airwatt or air watt is a unit of measurement that represents the true suction power of vacuum cleaners. It is calculated by multiplying the airflow (in cubic metres per second) by the suction pressure (in pascals). This measurement reflects the e ...

to pick up fine

dirt Dirt is any matter considered unclean, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debris: scattered pieces of waste or remains * Du ...

and debris including pet hair. The design originated from the Apollo space mission, where

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

required a portable, self-contained drill capable of extracting core samples from the lunar surface.

was tasked with the job, and developed a computer program to optimize the design of the drill's motor and ensure minimal power consumption. That computer program led to the development of a cordless miniature vacuum cleaner. The Mod 4 series was introduced in 1974 but was generally not successful in the marketplace. However, in post-mortem consumer research, the Spot Vac was highly successful with women, who borrowed it from their husband's workbench in the basement to clean up minor spills in the kitchen and upstairs. This inspired the design of a new household product specifically for use upstairs by women. The product appearance was completely redesigned by Gantz's design patent, the first design patent ever filed by B&D, renamed the Dustbuster and introduced in January 1979 as a household product, not a power tool. Gantz was Manager of the Black & Decker the United States Consumer Power Tool Division's Industrial Design Department at the time. Over a million Dustbusters were sold in its first year, four times that of the traditional handheld vacuum market and its success enabled B&D to establish a new Household Products Division, which in 1983, acquired and merged with General Electric Housewares Operations in

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut and the List of cities in New England by population, fifth-most populous city in New England, with a population of 148,654 in 2020. Loc ...

. By 1985, B&D had the majority share of cordless vacuum cleaner market and the Dustbuster sold 7 million units annually. The product has been redesigned several times, and as of 2016 Black and Decker still used the name in its handheld vacuum products. In 1995, the Smithsonian acquired a 1979 Dustbuster and placed it in their electrical collection at the National Museum of American History. By this time, it is estimated that over 100 million "Dustbusters" had been sold. "Dustbuster" has become a

genericized trademark A generic trademark, also known as a genericized trademark or proprietary eponym, is a trademark or brand name that, because of its popularity or significance, has become the generic term for, or synonymous with, a general class of products or ...

for a handheld vacuum cleaner in some parts of the world, due to its success as a design and worldwide recognition. In 2009, the original 1979 Dustbuster was selected and published as a detailed "Catalyst" case study by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) to illustrate the power of design to achieve commercial success and to effect positive change in the marketplace."Catalyst 2009 Case Studies," IDSA The 1990–1996

General Motors General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company is most known for owning and manufacturing f ...

minivan Minivan (sometimes called simply a van) is a car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows . The equivalent classification in Europe is MPV (multi-p ...

s (the

Chevrolet Lumina APV The Chevrolet Lumina APV is a minivan that was produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Launched as the first front-wheel drive minivan sold by Chevrolet, the Lumina APV was sold in a single generation from the 1990 to 1996 model yea ...

Pontiac Trans Sport The Pontiac Trans Sport is a minivan that was marketed by Pontiac from the 1990 to 1999 model years. The first minivan marketed by the division, the Trans Sport marked the beginning of a wider transition of moving away from sedans and station wag ...

and

Oldsmobile Silhouette The Oldsmobile Silhouette is a minivan manufactured by General Motors for model years 1990–2004 over two generations. Production ended when General Motors discontinued its Oldsmobile brand in 2004. GM continued to market badge-engineered vari ...

) had styling that were frequently likened to the DustBusters.

Notes

External links

Black & Decker dustbuster vacuums (USA)

Black & Decker hand-held vacuums (UK)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Black and Decker Dustbuster NASA spin-off technologies Vacuum cleaners Products introduced in 1979

See also

Notes

External links