Shoe cleaner for retractably attaching under a door of a vehicle

Abstract

A shoe cleaner for retractably attaching under a door of a vehicle. An enclosure is attached under the door of the vehicle. A brush assembly is retractably and extendably attached to the enclosure. A track drive retracts and extends the brush assembly relative to the enclosure. A brush drive spins the brush assembly. A worm gear of the track drive is operatively attached to a motor of the track drive and to a pair of arms of the brush assembly to allow the pair of arms and at least one brush of the brush assembly to extend from the enclosure, when polarity of the motor is such that it rotates in one direction, until such time that a pin of the track drive contacts an extension limit micro-switch of the track drive stopping the motor and to retract into the enclosure, when the polarity of the motor is reversed such that it rotates in the other direction, until such time that the pin contacts a retraction limit micro-switch of the track drive stopping the motor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe cleaner, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a shoe cleaner for retractably attaching under a door of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for shoe cleaners have been provided in the prior art. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe cleaner for retractably attaching under a door of a vehicle that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

Briefly stated, another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe cleaner for retractably attaching under a door of a vehicle. An enclosure is attached under the door of the vehicle. A brush assembly is retractably and extendably attached to the enclosure. A track drive retracts and extends the brush assembly relative to the enclosure. A brush drive spins the brush assembly. A worm gear of the track drive is operatively attached to a motor of the track drive and to a pair of arms of the brush assembly to allow the pair of arms and at least one brush of the brush assembly to extend from the enclosure, when polarity of the motor is such that it rotates in one direction, until such time that a pin of the track drive contacts an extension limit micro-switch of the track drive stopping the motor and to retract into the enclosure, when the polarity of the motor is reversed such that it rotates in the other direction, until such time that the pin contacts a retraction limit micro-switch of the track drive stopping the motor.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the shoe cleaner of the present invention retractably attached under a door of a two-door vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the shoe cleaner of the present invention retractably attached under two doors of a four-door vehicle;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 3 in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 of a first embodiment of the shoe cleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a reduced diagrammatic top plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of the shoe cleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 8 in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 of a second embodiment of the shoe cleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 9 in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 of a third embodiment of the shoe cleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 10 in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 11 in FIG. 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

• 20 shoe cleaner of present invention for retractably attaching under door 22 of vehicle 24
• 22 door of vehicle 24
• 24 vehicle

FIRST EMBODIMENT

• 120 shoe cleaner
• 126 enclosure for attaching under door 22 of vehicle 24
• 127 brush assembly
• 128 track drive
• 130 brush drive
• 132 pair of side walls of enclosure 126
• 134 back wall of enclosure 126
• 136 top wall of enclosure 126
• 138 bottom wall of enclosure 126
• 140 open front of enclosure 126
• 142 at least one brush of brush assembly 127
• 144 pair of arms of brush assembly 127
• 146 axle of each brush of at least one brush 142 of brush assembly 127
• 148 motor of track drive 128
• 150 worm gear of track drive 128
• 152 motor of brush drive 130
• 154 drive pulley of brush drive 130
• 156 driven pulley of brush drive 130
• 158 drive belt of brush drive 130
• 160 extension limit micro-switch of track drive 128
• 162 retraction limit micro-switch of track drive 128
• 164 through slot through one side wall of pair of side walls 132 of enclosure 126 of track drive 128
• 166 forward terminus of through slot 164 through one side wall of pair of side walls 132 of enclosure 126 of track drive 128
• 168 rearward terminus of through slot 164 through one side wall of pair of side walls 132 of enclosure 126 of track drive 128
• 170 pin of track drive 128

SECOND EMBODIMENT

• 220 shoe cleaner
• 227 brush assembly
• 242 two brushes of brush assembly 227

THIRD EMBODIMENT

• 320 shoe cleaner
• 326 enclosure
• 328 track drive
• 338 bottom wall of enclosure 326
• 340 open front of enclosure 326
• 360 extension limit micro-switch of track drive 328
• 362 retraction limit micro-switch of track drive 328
• 372 door of enclosure 326

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic perspective view of the shoe cleaner of the present invention retractably attached under a door of a two-door vehicle, and, a diagrammatic perspective view of the shoe cleaner of the present invention retractably attached under two doors of a four-door vehicle, the shoe cleaner of the present invention is shown generally at 20 for retractably attaching under a door 22 of a vehicle 24.

The configuration of a first embodiment of the shoe cleaner 120 can best be seen in FIGS. 3-7, which are, respectively, an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 3 in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 of a first embodiment of the shoe cleaner of the present invention, an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 4-4 in FIG. 3, a reduced diagrammatic top plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 5 in FIG. 3, an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 6 in FIG. 3, and, a schematic diagram of the circuitry of the shoe cleaner of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The shoe cleaner 120 comprises an enclosure 126, a brush assembly 127, a track drive 128, and a brush drive 130.

The enclosure 126 is for attaching under the door 22 of the vehicle 24.

The brush assembly 127 is retractably and extendably attached to the enclosure 126.

The track drive 128 is operatively attached to the brush assembly 127 to retract and extend the brush assembly 127 relative to the enclosure 126.

The brush drive 130 is operatively attached to the brush assembly 127 to spin the brush assembly 127.

The enclosure 126 is generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped, and has a pair of side walls 132, a back wall 134, a top wall 136, a bottom wall 138, and an open front 140.

The brush assembly 127 comprises at least one brush 142 and a pair of arms 144.

Each brush 142 of the brush assembly 127 is cylindrically-shaped and rotatably mounted between the pair of arms 144 of the brush assembly 127, by an axle 146.

The pair of arms 144 of the brush assembly 127 are retractably and extendably attached to the enclosure 126 so as to allow the at least one brush 142 of the brush assembly 127 to extend from and retract into the enclosure 126.

The track drive 128 comprises a motor 148 and a worm gear 150.

The motor 148 of the track drive 128 is attached in the enclosure 126.

The worm gear 150 of the track drive 128 is operatively attached to the motor 148 of the track drive 128 and to the pair of arms 144 of the brush assembly 127 so as to allow the pair of arms 144 of the brush assembly 127, and the at least one brush 142 of the brush assembly 127 therewith, to extend from the enclosure 126 when the motor 148 of the track drive 128 rotates the worm gear 150 of the track drive 128 in one direction, and to allow the pair of arms 144 of the brush assembly 127, and the at least one brush 142 of the brush assembly 127 therewith, to retract into the enclosure 126 when the motor 148 of the track drive 128 rotates the worm gear 150 of the track drive 128 in the other direction.

The brush drive 130 comprises a motor 152, a drive pulley 154, a driven pulley 156, and a drive belt 158.

The motor 152 of the brush drive 130 is disposed to move with the pair of arms 144 of the brush assembly 127, and has the drive pulley 154 of the brush drive 130 connected thereto to rotate therewith.

The driven pulley 156 of the brush drive 139 is connected to the axle 146 of the brush assembly 127 to rotate therewith.

The drive belt 158 reeves around both the drive pulley 154 of the brush drive 130 and the driven pulley 156 of the brush drive 130 to spin the at least one brush 142 of the brush assembly 127 when the motor 152 of the brush drive 130 is activated.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the track drive 128 further comprises an extension limit micro-switch 160 and a retraction limit micro-switch 162.

The track drive 128 further comprises one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126 having a through slot 164. The through slot 164 in the one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126 extends longitudinally therealong, and has a forward terminus 166 and a rearward terminus 168.

The extension limit micro-switch 160 of the track drive 128 is disposed on the one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126 and operatively communicates with the forward terminus 166 of the through slot 164 in the one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126.

The retraction limit micro-switch 162 of the track drive 128 is disposed on the one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126 and operatively communicates with the rearward terminus 168 of the through slot 164 in the one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126.

The track drive 128 further comprises a pin 170.

The pin 170 of the track drive 128 extends laterally outwardly from a rearward position of an arm 144 of the brush assembly 127, adjacent the one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126, and freely through the through slot 164 in the one side wall 132 of the enclosure 126.

The brush assembly 127 is extended from the enclosure 126, when the polarity to the motor 148 of the track drive 128 is such that it rotates in one direction, until such time that the pin 170 of the track drive 128 contacts the extension limit micro-switch 160 of the track drive 128 stopping the motor.

The brush assembly 127 is retracted into the enclosure 126, when the polarity to the motor 148 of the track drive 128 is reversed such that it rotates in the other direction, until such time that the pin 170 of the track drive 128 contacts the retraction limit micro-switch 162 of the track drive 128 stopping the motor.

The configuration of a second embodiment of the shoe cleaner 220 can best be seen FIG. 8, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 8 in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 of a second embodiment of the shoe cleaner of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The shoe cleaner 220 is similar to the shoe cleaner 120, but with the at least one brush 242 of the brush assembly 227 being two brushes 242, disposed side-by-side with each other.

The configuration of a third embodiment of the shoe cleaner 320 can best be seen in FIGS. 9-11, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 9 in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 of a third embodiment of the shoe cleaner of the present invention, a diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 10 in FIG. 9, and, a diagrammatic perspective view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 11 in FIG. 9, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The shoe cleaner 320 is similar to the shoe cleaners 120 and 220, but with the addition of the enclosure 326 having a door 372. The door 372 of the enclosure 326 is pivotally attached to the bottom wall 338 of the enclosure 326, and closes the open front 340 of the enclosure 326 when the brush assembly 327 is retracted into the enclosure 326 and opens the open front 340 of the enclosure 326 when the brush assembly 327 is to be extended from the enclosure 326.

The door 372 of the enclosure 326 is operatively connected to the extension limit micro-switch 360 of the track drive 328 and the retraction limit micro-switch 362 of the track drive 328 so as to open when the brush assembly 327 is to be extended from the enclosure 328 and to close when the brush assembly 327 is retracted into the enclosure 328.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a shoe cleaner for retractably attaching under a door of a vehicle, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

1. A shoe cleaner for retractably attaching under a door of a vehicle, comprising: a) an enclosure; b) a brush assembly; c) a track drive; and d) a brush drive; wherein said enclosure is for attaching under the door of the vehicle; wherein said brush assembly is retractably and extendably attached to said enclosure; wherein said track drive is operatively attached to said brush assembly to retract and extend said brush assembly relative to said enclosure; and wherein said brush drive is operatively attached to said brush assembly to spin said brush assembly.

2. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped.

3. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein said enclosure has a pair of side walls; wherein said enclosure has a back wall; wherein said enclosure has a top wall; wherein said enclosure has a bottom wall; and wherein said enclosure has an open front.

4. The cleaner of claim 3, wherein said brush assembly comprises at least one brush; and wherein said brush assembly comprises a pair of arms.

5. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein each brush of said brush assembly is cylindrically-shaped.

6. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein each brush of said brush assembly is rotatably mounted between said pair of arms of said brush assembly by an axle.

7. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein said pair of arms of said brush assembly are retractably and extendably attached to said enclosure so as to allow said at least one brush of said brush assembly to extend from and retract into said enclosure.

8. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein said track drive comprises a motor; and wherein said track drive comprises a worm gear.

9. The cleaner of claim 8, wherein said motor of said track drive is attached in said enclosure.

10. The cleaner of claim 8, wherein said worm gear of said track drive is operatively attached to said motor of said track drive and to said pair of arms of said brush assembly so as to allow said pair of arms of said brush assembly, and said at least one brush of said brush assembly therewith, to extend from said enclosure when said motor of said track drive rotates said worm gear of said track drive in one direction, and to allow said pair of arms of said brush assembly, and said at least one brush of said brush assembly therewith, to retract into said enclosure when said motor of said track drive rotates said worm gear of said track drive in the other direction.

11. The cleaner of claim 6, wherein said brush drive comprises a motor; wherein said brush drive comprises a drive pulley; wherein said brush drive comprises a driven pulley; and wherein said brush drive comprises a drive belt.

12. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein said motor of said brush drive is disposed to move with said pair of arms of said brush assembly.

13. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein said motor of said brush drive has said drive pulley of said brush drive connected thereto to rotate therewith.

14. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein said driven pulley of said brush drive is connected to said axle of said brush assembly to rotate therewith.

15. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein said drive belt reeves around both said drive pulley of said brush drive and said driven pulley of said brush drive to spin said at least one brush of said brush assembly when said motor of said brush drive is activated.

16. The cleaner of claim 8, wherein said track drive comprises an extension limit micro-switch; and wherein said track drive comprises a retraction limit micro-switch.

17. The cleaner of claim 16, wherein said track drive comprises one side wall of said enclosure having a through slot; wherein said through slot in said one side wall of said enclosure extends longitudinally therealong; wherein said through slot in said one side wall of said enclosure has a forward terminus; and wherein said through slot in said one side wall of said enclosure has a rearward terminus.

18. The cleaner of claim 17, wherein said extension limit micro-switch of said track drive is disposed on said one side wall of said enclosure; and wherein said extension limit micro-switch of said track drive operatively communicates with said forward terminus of said through slot in said one side wall of said enclosure.

19. The cleaner of claim 17, wherein said retraction limit micro-switch of said track drive is disposed on said one side wall of said enclosure; and wherein said retraction limit micro-switch of said track drive operatively communicates with said rearward terminus of said through slot in said one side wall of said enclosure.

20. The cleaner of claim 17, wherein said track drive comprises a pin.

21. The cleaner of claim 20, wherein said pin of said track drive extends laterally outwardly from a rearward position of an arm of said brush assembly, adjacent said one side wall of said enclosure, and freely through said through slot in said one side wall of said enclosure.

22. The cleaner of claim 20, wherein said brush assembly is extended from said enclosure, when polarity to said motor of said track drive is such that it rotates in one direction, until such time that said pin of said track drive contacts said extension limit micro-switch of said track drive stopping said motor of said track drive.

23. The cleaner of claim 22, wherein said brush assembly is retracted into said enclosure, when the polarity to said motor of said track drive is reversed such that it rotates in the other direction, until such time that said pin of said track drive contacts said retraction limit micro-switch of said track drive stopping said motor of said track drive.

24. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein said at least one brush of said brush assembly is two brushes.

25. The cleaner of claim 24, wherein said two brushes of said brush assembly are disposed side-by-side with each other.

26. The cleaner of claim 16, wherein said enclosure has a door.

27. The cleaner of claim 26, wherein said door of said enclosure is pivotally attached to said bottom wall of said enclosure.

28. The cleaner of claim 26, wherein said door of said enclosure closes said open front of said enclosure when said brush assembly is retracted into said enclosure; and wherein said door of said enclosure opens said open front of said enclosure when said brush assembly is to be extended from said enclosure.

29. The cleaner of claim 26, wherein said door of said enclosure is operatively connected to said extension limit micro-switch of said track drive and to said retraction limit micro-switch of said track drive so as to open when said brush assembly is to be extended from said enclosure and close when said brush assembly is retracted into said enclosure.