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Voodoo Hoover

Or, for pedants, "Voodoo Vac".
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I have an area of ceiling above my stairs which is about 5 meters from the floor, and well above my reach. And in the corner of said ceiling, is a huge cobweb. Last night, as I stood javelin-throwing a stiff bristled broom at the problem, I realised it was time to halfbake a solution.

Enter the Voodoo Hoover. At the flick of a switch a second hose and nozzle emerge from my vacuum cleaner and begin to extend before my eyes. Probably, snake-charming music will play at this point. Incredibly, it grows to 4 meters long and stays rigid as I lift it to the ceiling and suck up the cobwebs.

“Wow”, I think. “This must be Voodoo”. But before you start to [M-F-you-know-what] I’ll let you in on the clever bit. It’s not magic, magik or voodoo at all. In fact, it’s a bit of simple technology.

When I need to reach a high area, I flick a switch and a valve in my vacuum blows air into the inflatable walls of a hollow tube. Once the tube is inflated firmly enough for it to withstand the force of the vacuum, the valve closes, and the vacuum begins to suck through the middle of the newly formed pipe.

Once the ceiling is clean, and the cobwebs removed, the pipe can be distended at the flick of a switch, and the vacuum now pull the air from the hollow tube walls until it is compact are ready to be tucked back into the side of the machine.

Novelty snake and elephant versions will soon flood the market. There may even be a pink version for Bevis and Butthead types to snigger at.

Fishrat, Sep 26 2006

The Jungle Book http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061852/
Just because I like it really. [DrBob, Sep 26 2006]

Just how rigid is it? http://www.harrypri...irewalk/karachi.jpg
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 27 2006]

[link]






       crickey! on so many levels...
po, Sep 26 2006
  

       I think this could have applications in the self-defence market for 60's songstresses. A sort of Lulu Voodoo Hoover Judo if you will.[+]
zen_tom, Sep 26 2006
  

       Not to mention using a blowing action in order to apply specialist excrement cleaning fluids in order to treat out of reach Canadian footwear; Vancouver Voodoo Hoover Shoe Poo Remover.   

       Ok, that's it - I'm not doing any more. I promise.   

       [Fishrat] it's a winner. There's just not enough Voodoo around these days.
zen_tom, Sep 26 2006
  

       + I need one of these...I'm thinking the snake version will suit my tastes.
xandram, Sep 26 2006
  

       I'd like to use the novelty Bear version decorated with native American patterns to reach high climbing plants, please. The Sioux Baloo Voodoo Kudzu Hoover.
DrBob, Sep 26 2006
  

       I have the same problem. I like this better than rigging up the shop vac parts to extend the regular vac reach.
Shz, Sep 26 2006
  

       //Incredibly, it grows to 4 meters long and stays rigid//   

       Hoovers on viagra, eh?
DesertFox, Sep 26 2006
  

       And if you became proficient with this tool and opened a business, your customers would say "The Voodoo that you do so well". (+)
normzone, Sep 26 2006
  

       I think it's the manner in which the tube transitions form flexible to extensible and back again that makes it unique. You'd need some high pressures to support the tall columns.
normzone, Sep 26 2006
  

       //You'd need some high pressures to support the tall columns// I don't think I could resist that line...
po, Sep 26 2006
  

       I couldn't resist the //snake-charming// aspect.
Shz, Sep 26 2006
  

       Yeah! Yeah! And if they stare at you while doing it they would be The Shocking flocking rocking gawking.. wait a minute. Which idea am I on right now?
NotTheSharpestSpoon, Sep 27 2006
  
      
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