Shoe-base cleaning apparatus with jack means for filling of cleaning solution

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6273628
  • Patent Number
    6,273,628
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, January 25, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 14, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Eloshway; Charles R.
    Agents
    • Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
Abstract
The invention relates to a shoe-base cleaning apparatus with jack means for filling of cleaning apparatus, which includes an upper, and an unit bottom formed of a sock, a side wall, a wiper, and at least one jack for the filling of cleaning solution or water wax into the wiper. The sidewall extends along the peripheral area of the sock, defining with the sock a receiving chamber. The wiper is mounted in the receiving chamber. The at least one jack is respectively mounted in the side wall for the filling of cleaning solution into the wiper, each formed of a hollow shell and a hollow stud press-fitted into the hollow shell.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to cleaning apparatus and, more particularly, to a shoe-base cleaning apparatus with jack means for replenish of cleaning solution.




2. Description of Related Art




When cleaning the floor, people may move the wiper with the legs over the floor. It is uncomfortable to step the foot on the wet, cold wiper. It is also inconvenient to move the wiper over the floor with the foot or the toes, or to apply cleaning solution or water wax to the wiper during cleaning.




Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cleaning apparatus that eliminates the aforementioned problems.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The main object of the present invention is to provide a shoe-base cleaning apparatus, which can be put on the foot for cleaning the floor conveniently. Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe-base cleaning apparatus, which can be conveniently filled with cleaning solution for cleaning.




To achieve the aforesaid objects, the shoe-base cleaning apparatus of the present invention comprises a unit bottom and an upper. The unit bottom comprises a sock, a sidewall, a wiper, and at least one jack. The sidewall is connected to the peripheral area of the sock, defining with the sock a receiving chamber. The wiper is mounted in the receiving chamber. The at least one jack is respectively mounted in the side wall for the filling of cleaning solution into the wiper, each formed of a hollow shell and a hollow stud press-fitted into the hollow shell. In order to protect the upper against water, the sock and the sidewall are made of waterproof cloth. The waterproof cloth and its stitching are of the known art not within the scope of the invention. For the filling of cleaning solution into the wiper in the receiving chamber, the sidewall is provided with at least one through hole to which a respective jack is fastened. Through the jack in each through hole of the sidewall, clean water, soap water, liquid detergent, solvent, water wax, and etc., is filled into the wiper inside the receiving chamber. Each jack may be provided with a one-way valve to prevent leakage. The wiper of the shoe-base cleaning apparatus is similar to the structure of the insole or out sole of a regular shoe. It can be made of foamed material, sponge, cotton cloths, non-woven cloths, tissues, or other fabrics. Regular wiper materials can be used for the wiper of the shoe-base cleaning apparatus. When cleaning solution or the like is filled into one jack of the shoe-base cleaning apparatus, the wiper immediately absorbs it. For easy washing, the wiper can be made detachable. In order to provide a wide wiping area, the wiper is made having a wiper body detachably mounted in the receiving chamber, and a wiper head formed integral with the wiper body and extended out of the unit bottom.




Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a cutaway of a shoe-base cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a sectional view of the shoe-base cleaning apparatus shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

illustrates the nozzle of the cleaning solution container inserted through the jack, the one-way valve opened according to the present invention.





FIG. 4

is an exploded view of a shoe-base cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference to

FIG. 1

, there is shown a shoe-base cleaning apparatus constructed according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus is generally comprised of an upper


10


, and a unit bottom


20


. The unit bottom


20


comprises a sock


30


, a sidewall


40


, a wiper


50


, and at least one jack


60


.




The sidewall


40


extends along the border area


31


of the sock


30


, defining with the sock


30


a receiving chamber


41


. The wiper


50


fits the receiving chamber


41


. Further, the sidewall


40


is provided with a plurality of jacks


60


through which cleaning solution or the like is filled into the shoe-base cleaning apparatus.




Referring to

FIG. 2

, the jack


60


is fastened to one through hole


42


on the sidewall


40


, comprised of a hollow stud


70


and a socket-like hollow shell


80


. The hollow shell


80


is attached to the inner side of the sidewall


40


around the through hole


42


, having a tubular back extension


81


. The hollow stud


70


comprises a tubular shank


72


press-fitted into the tubular back extension


81


of the hollow shell


80


, and an outward top flange


71


pressed on the outer side of the side wall


40


around the through hole


42


to secure the hollow shell


80


to the side wall


40


. Because the jack


60


is formed of a hollow stud


70


and a socket-like hollow shell


80


matching the hollow stud


70


, it can easily be fastened to the through hole


42


without the use of hand tool means. Further, the jack


60


protects the side wall


40


against tearing upon insertion of nozzle means to fill cleaning solution or the like into the shoe-base cleaning apparatus (see FIG.


2


).





FIG. 4

shows a shoe-base cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the wiper


50


is detachably fastened to the receiving chamber


41


, comprising a wiper body


51


fitting the receiving chamber


41


, a wiper head


52


integral with the wiper body


51


and stopped outside the unit bottom


20


, and a plurality of guide grooves


53


corresponding to the jacks


60


and adapted to guide cleaning solution into the wiper body


51


and the wiper head


52


. The wiper


50


of this alternate form provides a relatively broader area for cleaning. Further, because the wiper


50


is detachable, it can easily be removed from the unit bottom


20


for washing or replacement.




Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, a one-way valve


82


is provided in the tubular back extension


81


of the hollow shell


80


of each jack


60


. When inserting the nozzle


91


of a cleaning solution container


90


into the tubular shank


72


of the hollow stud


70


, the one-way valve


82


is opened, for enabling cleaning solution


100


to be filled into the receiving chamber


41


and absorbed by the wiper


50


(see also FIGS.


1


and


4


). After removal of the nozzle


91


from the jack


60


, the one-way valve


82


automatically closes the passage of the tubular shank


72


of the hollow stud


70


, preventing a leakage of cleaning solution.




Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.



Claims
  • 1. A shoe-base cleaning apparatus having an upper and a unit bottom, said unit bottom comprising:a sock, said sock having a peripheral area; a sidewall connected to said sock along the peripheral area of said sock and defining with said sock a receiving chamber; a wiper mounted in said receiving chamber; and at least one jack respectively mounted in said side wall for the filling of cleaning solution into said wiper in said receiving chamber, said at least one jack each comprising a hollow shell having a closure mechanism, and a hollow stud press-fitted into said hollow shell.
  • 2. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side wall comprises at least one through hole to which said at least one jack is respectively fastened.
  • 3. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow shell comprises a tubular back extension, and said hollow stud comprises a tubular shank body press-fitted into the tubular back extension of said hollow shell and an outward top flange stopped at an outer side of said side wall against said hollow shell.
  • 4. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said closure mechanism is connected to said tubular back extension of said hollow shell to define a one-way valve adapted to control the passage of cleaning solution there through said tubular shank body of said hollow stud.
  • 5. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the number of said at least one jack is at least 2.
  • 6. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiper is detachably inserted into said receiving chamber.
  • 7. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiper comprises at least one guide groove respectively aimed at said at least one jack.
  • 8. The shoe-base cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiper comprises a wiper body detachably inserted into said receiving chamber and a wiper head integral with said wiper body and extending outwardly from a bottom thereof.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Number Name Date Kind
1287487 Smith Oct 1918
2075850 Johnson Apr 1937
2790191 Johnson Apr 1957
3359591 McGuire Dec 1967
3362775 Meucke Jan 1968
3969026 Johnson Jul 1976
4945599 Flynn Aug 1990
5473788 Aragona Dec 1995
5921003 Kim Jul 1999
6052856 DeMoya et al. Apr 2000
6134741 Spalione Oct 2000