Patent Application
20240366059
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The disclosure relates to washing devices and more particularly pertains to a new washing device for washing the soles of shoes when the shoes have been worn outdoors. The device includes a washing box and a plurality of scrubbers strategically positioned in the washing device for washing soles of shoes that are place in the washing box. The device includes a water and detergent delivery system for enhancing washing the shoes, a drain for collecting the water and detergent and a plurality of blowers for drying the shoes. The device has electronic controls that automatically open lids of the washing box and controls washing cycles for the washing box.
The prior art relates to washing devices including a variety of shoe cleaning devices that each includes a unique cleaning element that is exposed such that a user can place their foot on the cleaner while wearing a shoe for cleaning a sole of the shoe. In each instance the shoe is exposed while the shoe is being cleaned. In no instance does the prior art disclose a shoe cleaner that includes a box into which a pair of shoes can be enclosed and a plurality of cleaning brushes rotatably disposed in the box for cleaning the pair of shoes.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a washing box to insertably receive a pair of shoes for washing the pair of shoes. A water reservoir is removably attachable to the washing box to contain water for washing the shoes in the washing box and a detergent reservoir is removably attachable to the washing box to contain detergent for washing the shoes in the washing box.
A plurality of basal scrubbers and a plurality of lateral scrubbers are each movably integrated into the washing box for scrubbing a sole of the shoes. A plurality of rollers is pivotally attached to the washing box to roll along the support surface. Additionally, a pair of stands is pivotally attached to the washing to support the washing box above the support surface.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The washing box 12 has a tray 24 extending laterally away from the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12. The tray 24 has a water input 26 and a detergent input 28 each being integrated into a top surface 30 of the tray 24. The perimeter wall 18 has a drawer opening 32 extending into the fluid compartment 15 and the washing box 12 has a lip 34 extending downwardly from a bottom surface 36 of the bottom wall 16 which rests on a support surface 38 when the washing box 12 is positioned on the support surface 38. Additionally, the lip 34 is aligned with the perimeter wall 18 having the lip 34 surrounding the bottom wall 16.
A drawer 40 is slidable into the drawer opening 32 in the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 thereby facilitating the drawer 40 to be positioned in the fluid compartment 15. In this way the drawer 40 can capture the water 17 that drains through the dividing wall 20. The drawer 40 is removable from the drawer opening 32 to facilitate the water 17 to be emptied from the drawer 40. A cut-out 42 extends downwardly in an upper edge 44 of a front wall 46 of the drawer 40 for gripping to open the drawer 40 when the drawer 40 is closed.
A pair of lids 48 is each pivotally attached to the washing box 12 and each of the pair of lids 48 is positionable between a closed position and an open position. Each of the pair of lids 48 has a bottom edge 50 which intersects a front edge 52 at a perpendicular angle and an outer surface 54 that is concavely arcuate with respect to the bottom edge 50 such that each of the pair of lids 48 defines a half-shell. The bottom edge 50 of each of the pair of lids 48 is hingedly coupled to a top edge 56 of the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 at a point located at an intersection with the outer surface 54 of the lids 48. The bottom surface 36 of each of the pair of lids 48 rests on the top edge 56 of the perimeter wall 18 having the front edge 52 of each of the pair of lids 48 abutting each other when the lids 48 are closed. The bottom edge 50 of each of the pair of lids 48 extends upwardly from the top edge 56 of the perimeter wall 18 when the lids 48 are opened.
A pair of handles 58 is each attached to a respective one of the pair of lids 48 to facilitate the washing box 12 to be carried. Each of the handles 58 includes a grip 60 that is spaced from the outer surface 54 of the respective lid 48 thereby facilitating the grip 60 to be gripped. The grip 60 associated with each of the handles 58 is oriented parallel with the front edge 52 of the respective lid 48. A pair of lid actuators 62 is each integrated into the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 and each of the lid actuators 62 is in mechanical communication with the bottom edge 50 of a respective one of the lids 48. Each of the lid actuators 62 is actuatable into an opening condition for urging the pair of lids 48 into an open position. Conversely, each of the lid actuators 62 is actuatable into a closing condition for urging the pair of lids 48 into a closed position.
A motion sensor 64 is integrated into the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 to sense motion near the washing box 12 and the motion sensor 64 is electrically coupled to each of the pair of lid actuators 62. Each of the lid actuators 62 is actuated into the opening condition when the motion sensor 64 senses motion to facilitate the pair of shoes 14 to be placed into the washing box 12. Each of the pair of lid actuators 62 is actuated into the closing condition a pre-determined duration of time after the pair of lid actuators 62 is actuated into the opening condition. Additionally, each of the lid actuators 62 may comprise an electric motor or other similar device that can produce rotational torque.
A water reservoir 66 is attached to the washing box 12 to contain water 17 for washing the shoes 14 in the washing box 12. The water reservoir 66 is in fluid communication with the water input 26 on the top surface 30 of the tray 24 such that the water input 26 receives the water 17 from the water reservoir 66. A detergent reservoir 70 is attached to the washing box 12 to contain detergent 72 for washing the shoes 14 in the washing box 12. The detergent reservoir 70 is in fluid communication with the detergent input 28 on the top surface 30 of the tray 24 such that the detergent input 28 receives the detergent 72 from the detergent reservoir 70.
A pump 76 is integrated into the washing box 12 and the pump 76 has a pair of inputs 78 and an output 80 extending into an interior of the washing box 12. Each of the inputs 78 of the pump 76 is fluidly coupled to a respective one of the water input 26 and the detergent input 28 in the tray 24 to spray the water 17 and the detergent 72 outwardly through the output 80 of the pump 76 and into the washing box 12. The pump 76 may comprise an electric water pump or the like.
A plurality of basal scrubbers 82 is provided and each of the plurality basal scrubbers 82 is movably integrated into the washing box 12 to have the shoes 14 positioned on top of the plurality of basal scrubbers 82 when the shoes 14 are positioned in the washing box 12. The plurality of basal scrubbers 82 is actuatable into a scrubbing condition to scrub a sole 84 of the shoes 14. Each of the plurality of basal scrubbers 82 comprises a first motor 86 that is integrated into the dividing wall 20 of the washing box 12 such that an output shaft 88 of the first motor 86 extends upwardly from the dividing wall 20. The first motor 86 rotates in a first direction when the first motor 86 is turned on and the first motor 86 may comprise an electric motor or the like.
Each of the basal scrubbers 82 includes a set of first bristles 90 coupled to the output shaft 88 such that the first bristles 90 abuts the sole 84 of a respective shoe 14. Each of the set of first bristles 90 is comprised of a rigid material, including but not being limited to steel or aluminum, to dislodge mud and rocks from the sole 84 of the respective shoe 14 when the first motor 86 is turned on. Each of the basal scrubbers 82 includes a set of second bristles 92 coupled to the output shaft 88 and the second bristles 92 abuts the sole 84 of the respective shoe 14. The set of second bristles 92 is arranged into an annular ring which surrounds the set of first bristles 90. Additionally, each of the set of second bristles 92 is comprised of a resiliently bendable material to scrub the sole 84 of the respective shoe 14 when the first motor 86 is turned on.
The plurality of basal scrubbers 82 is arranged into a pair of rows 94 which each extends along a substantial length of the dividing wall 20. Furthermore, each of the plurality of slots 22 in the dividing wall 20 is elongated and the plurality of slots 22 is arranged in a plurality of rows 96 that are staggered with respect to the rows 94 of basal scrubbers 82. A plurality of lateral scrubbers 98 is provided and each of the lateral scrubbers 98 is movably integrated into the washing box 12 to abut a respective one of the pair of shoes 14 when the pair of shoes 14 are placed into the washing box 12. Each of the plurality of lateral scrubbers 98 is actuatable into a scrubbing condition to scrub the pair of shoes 14. The plurality of lateral scrubbers 98 includes a pair of sets of lateral scrubbers 100 that is each integrated into a respective one of a first lateral side 102 and a second lateral side 104 of the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12.
Each of the plurality of lateral scrubbers 98 comprises a second motor 106 that is integrated into the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 such that an output 108 of the second motor 106 is directed into an interior of the washing box 12. The second motor 106 rotates in a first direction when the second motor 106 is turned on. A set of third bristles 110 is coupled to the output 108 of the second motor 106 to abut a lateral side 112 of the sole 84 of a respective one of the shoes 14. Each of the third bristles 110 is comprised of a resiliently deformable material to scrub the lateral side 112 of the sole 84 of the respective shoe 14 when the second motor 106 is turned on.
A plurality of blowers 114 is provided and each of the plurality of blowers 114 is fluidly integrated into the washing box 12 to blow air into the washing box 12 for drying the shoes 14. Each of the plurality of blowers 114 is integrated into a back side 116 of the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 and the plurality of blowers 114 is arranged in a row 118 extending laterally across the back side 116. Each of the blowers 114 may comprise an electric motor and a fan driven by the electric motor. A control touch screen 120 is integrated into the front side of the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 such that the control touch screen 120 can be manipulated by a user. The control touch screen 120 is in communication with each of the plurality of basal scrubbers 82 and each of the plurality of lateral scrubbers 98 for turning the plurality of basal scrubbers 82 and the plurality of lateral scrubbers 98 on and off.
A control circuit 122 is integrated into the washing box 12 and the control circuit 122 is electrically coupled to the control touch screen 120, the first motor 86 associated with each of the basal scrubbers 82, the second motor 106 associated with each of the lateral scrubbers 98, the pair of lid actuators 62, the pump 76, the plurality of blowers 114 and the motion sensor 64. The control circuit 122 includes an electronic memory 123 which stores a database comprising a plurality of operational subroutines for the pump 76, the basal scrubbers 82, the lateral scrubbers 98 and the blowers 114. The control touch screen 120 displays indicia comprising a graphical user interface for selecting one of the operational subroutines.
A timer touch screen 124 is integrated into the front side of the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 such that the timer touch screen 124 can be manipulated by the user. The timer touch screen 124 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 122. The control circuit 122 includes an electronic timer 126 and the timer touch screen 124 displays indicia comprising numbers which display a time remaining for a duration of time that is being counted down by the electronic timer 126. The timer touch screen 124 may comprise a light emitting diode display or other type of electronic display.
A plurality of rollers 128 is provided and each of the plurality of rollers 128 is pivotally attached to the washing box 12. The plurality of rollers 128 is positionable in a deployed position to facilitate the plurality of rollers 128 to roll along the support surface 38 and the rollers 128 are positionable in a stored position. Each of the plurality of rollers 128 includes a leg 130 that is pivotally coupled to the bottom surface 36 of the bottom wall 16 of the washing box 12 and a wheel 132 that is rotatably disposed on the leg 130 at a point located adjacent to a distal end 134 of the leg 130. The wheel 132 has a rotational axis which is perpendicularly oriented with the leg 130 and each of the plurality of rollers 128 is positioned proximate a respective one of four corners 136 of the bottom wall 16. Furthermore, the leg 130 associated with each of the plurality of rollers 128 is directed toward a centerline of the bottom wall 16 when the plurality of rollers 128 is in the stored position.
A pair of stands 138 is each pivotally attached to the washing box 12. Each of the pair of stands 138 is positionable in a deployed position to support the washing box 12 above the support surface 38 and each of the pair of stands 138 is positionable in a stored position. Each of the pair of stands 138 includes a central member 140 which extends between a pair of outward members 142 that are perpendicularly oriented with the central member 140. A distal end 144 of each of the outward members 142 of each of the pair of stands 138 is pivotally attached to the bottom surface 36 of the bottom wall 16 of the washing box 12. Each of the pair of stands 138 is positioned between a respective pair of the plurality of rollers 128 having the central member 140 associated with each of the pair of stands 138 being oriented parallel with a respective one of the first lateral side 102 and the second lateral side 104 of the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12.
A power supply 146 is integrated into the washing box 12 and the power supply 146 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 122. The power supply 146 comprises a rechargeable battery 148 that is integrated into the washing box 12 and the rechargeable battery 148 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 122. The power supply 146 includes a charge port 150 that is recessed into the perimeter wall 18 of the washing box 12 for insertably receiving a charge cord 152. The charge port 150 is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery 148 for charging the rechargeable battery 148.
In use, the lids 48 are urged into the open position when the motion sensor 64 senses motion to facilitate the pair of shoes 14 to be placed in the washing box 12. The lids 48 are urged closed after a predetermined duration of time and the control touch screen 120 is touched to select a washing cycle. Each of the basal scrubbers 82 and each of the lateral scrubbers 98 wash the sole 84 of the shoes 14 while the pump 76 urges water 17 and detergent 72 into the washing box 12 to enhance cleaning the shoes 14. The blowers 114 are turned on once the washing cycle is complete to dry the shoes 14 and the lids 48 are urged into the open position once the blowers 114 are turned off. In this way the shoes 14 can be automatically cleaned after being worn outside. The drawer 40 can be removed from the washing box 12 to facilitate the dirty water 17 and detergent 72 to be emptied from the drawer 40 when the shoes 14 are finished being cleaned.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
