Patent Application
20080216271
The present invention relates, in general, to floor care and, more particularly, this invention relates to floor care devices for mopping, scrubbing and waxing floors.
Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, mops, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to clean floors.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: DeMoya, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,856 provides a floor cleaning system that includes a mop assembly that is attachable to the user's foot. The mop assembly is constructed to be worn over the foot or the shoe of the user and includes a number of absorbent inserts that can absorb fluid from the floor and that are not compressed by the weight of the user when the user walks. Detachable scrubbing pads are also included that are attachable to the mop assembly.
Ahern, U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,771 discloses a slipper that the user wears on the feet while cleaning the floor. The bottom of the slipper device has a section at the heel and/or toe that is of an abrasive, scrubbing material which is attached to or attached over a section of absorbent material.
The present invention provides a floor care device. Such floor care device includes a foot covering member for covering a predetermined portion of at least one of a user's foot and such user's shoe and protecting such predetermined portion of such user's foot and such user's shoe from at least one of liquids, dirt, cleaning agents, dust and debris. Such foot covering member is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. A securing means is operably connected to such foot covering member for removably securing such foot covering member to such predetermined portion of such at least one of such user's foot and such user's shoe. A floor care member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. Such floor care member is removably and operably connectable to such foot covering member at a predetermined location thereon for at least one of cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, dusting, drying, wiping, applying wax to and removing wax from a surface of a floor.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a washable foot and shoe covering that can be used to mop, scrub, dust, and wax a floor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that will enable a user to mop, scrub, dust, and wax a floor without having to strain a user's back or arms.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fun to use means to care for a floor.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reusable device for caring for flooring.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and easy to use device which fits over a user's foot or shoe and includes various interchangeable attachments for dusting, cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, and waxing a floor.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to
A floor care device, generally designated 10, is provided. Such floor care device 10 includes a foot covering member 12 for covering a predetermined portion of at least one of a user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16 and protecting such predetermined portion of such user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16 from at least one of liquids, dirt, cleaning agents, dust and debris.
Such foot covering member 12 is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that such foot covering member 12 is at least partially water resistant. It is presently preferred that such foot covering member 12 is washable.
It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of terrycloth, spandex, nylon, cotton, plastic, and felt. It is presently most preferred that such first predetermined material is terrycloth. Such first predetermined material may be elastomeric.
A securing means 18 is operably connected to such foot covering member 12 for removably securing such foot covering member 12 to such predetermined portion of such at least one of such user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16. It is presently preferred that such securing means 18 may be at least one of ribbon, elastic bands 26, and string. Such securing means 18 may be a hook and loop type securing means 22. Such foot covering member may also be secured by the fit of such foot covering means. Such foot covering member may also be secured by snugly fitting to such user's foot.
A floor care member 28 is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. Such floor care member 28 is removably and operably connectable to such foot covering member 12 at a predetermined location thereon for at least one of cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, dusting, drying, wiping, applying wax to and removing wax from a surface of a floor.
It is presently preferred that such floor care member 28 is washable. It is presently preferred that such second predetermined material is at least one of cellulose, foam, cotton, micro fiber, and yarn.
It is presently preferred that such floor care device 10 further includes a waterproof layer 32 operably connected to such foot covering member 12 at a predetermined location thereon for protecting such at least one of such user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16 from liquids.
It is presently preferred that a fastening means 34 is disposed on at least one of such foot covering member 12 and such floor care member 28 at a predetermined location thereon for fastening such floor care member 28 to such foot covering member 12.
It is further presently preferred that such fastening means 34 is a hook and loop type fastening means 36 having a first portion 38 thereof disposed on a predetermined location on a bottom portion 42 of such foot covering member 12 and a second portion 44 of such hook and loop type fastening means 36 being disposed on a predetermined location of such floor care member 28 such that such first portion 38 and such second portion 44 may be joined thereby removably fastening such floor care member 12 to such foot covering member 28. Once the desired floor care member has been attached to such foot covering member, such user may slide across the floor thereby cleaning, dusting, waxing, mopping, scrubbing, or the like depending on which floor care member is in use.
Such fastening means 36 may also be a tongue and groove type fastening means.
It is presently preferred that such floor care device is washable.
It is presently preferred that such floor care device includes a shoe horn member 46 disposed at a predetermined location thereon. Such shoe horn member 46 may be disposed on such foot covering member 12 on a rear upper portion thereof.
It is presently preferred that such floor care member is at least one of a sponge, a duster, a scrubber, a waxer, and a wax remover. Such floor care member may include mop wipers operably connected to such floor care member at a predetermined location thereon. It is presently preferred that such floor care member is absorbent.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/892,901 filed Mar. 5, 2007.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60892901 | Mar 2007 | US |
