Shoe shine device

Abstract

A shoe shine device includes cylindrical housing sized to fit into a purse or briefcase. A sheet of pliable material suitable for shining shoes can be selectively withdrawn from the housing. After use, the sheet is automatically retracted into the housing.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to a shoe shining device, and more particularly to a device incorporating a shining cloth, the device being compact so that it can easily be stored and packed but readily deployable for use.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Clean and shiny shoes are the mark of a professional, well groomed person, and accordingly, various shoe shining kits are readily available. The kits include separate cans of shoe wax, a variety of brushes, and other similar tools. Some kits may also include sprays which disperse waxy substances. These kits are too bulky to be carried easily by travelers. This is particularly true for business travelers who often try to pack everything into carry-on luggage.

Some hotels provide a small round sponge for shoe shining, but this sponge is too small and inadequate to produce properly shined shoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for shining constructed in accordance with this invention includes an elongated housing with a longitudinal slot. A sheet made of a material suitable for shining shoes and having a generally rectangular shape has one edge secured to a mechanism inside the housing. The second end extends through the slot and can be used to pull the sheet out at least partially so that it can be used to clean shoes. A mechanism is provided inside the housing that locks the sheet while its outside, and then when activated, it automatically retracts the sheet into the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of a show shine device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 1 with a portion of the housing remove to render its interior visible;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the device; and

FIG. 4 shows an orthogonal view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the Figures, a device 10 constructed in accordance with this invention includes a generally cylindrical housing 12 made of a metal, a plastic material, cardboard, etc. Typically the housing may be about 5-7 in. long and have a diameter in the range of ½ to 1 in. The housing is formed with a lateral wall 14 and end walls 16 and 18. A longitudinal slot 20 is formed on the lateral wall 14, extending substantially along the length of the housing 10.

Disposed in the housing is a shoe shining sheet 22 made of paper, a woven or non-woven fabric, or other materials. Preferably, the sheet 22 is soft and pliable so that it does not scuff the shoes during cleaning. Optionally, the sheet 22 may be impregnated at least on one side with an appropriate waxy substance. The sheet includes two lateral edges 24, 26 and two ends 28, 30. End 28 is the free end that is preferably disposed outside the housing. To insure that the end 28 stays outside, the sheet may be provided with an outside stop 31 formed so that the thickness is effectively increased. The outside stop 31 may be made of fabric, cardboard or other material, or may be implemented by folding a portion of the sheet 22 over itself and securing the folded portion by sewing or gluing.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the wall 14 and/or other portions of the housing could be used to provide advertising or other promotional material. Advertising material or other text and graphical images may also be provided on the sheet 22 itself.

Inside the housing 12 there is provided a mechanism 32 for selectively rolling the sheet 12 up and to allow it to be played out and withdrawn from the housing. For example, the mechanism 32 may be implemented by a mandrel 34 housing a coil spring 36, with a clutch 38 at one end. This type of device is well known, for example, in window shades.

Normally, the sheet 22 is disposed within the housing 12 so that only its end 28 is showing in the slot 20. Outside stop 31 insures that the sheet is not drawn inside the housing 12. Within the housing 12 the sheet 22 is wound about the mandrel 34 with end 30 secured to the mandrel 34 and is biased in this position by spring 36. To use the device, a person pulls out the sheet 22 from the housing 12. While intermediate positions may be provided, it is preferable that the whole sheet be pulled out or extended as shown. The clutch 38 latches unto the mandrel 34 to insure that sheet stays in the extended position and can be used by a person to clean and shine his shoes. When he is done, the person releases the sheet 22 so that the sheet is automatically pulled back into the housing 12. This may be accomplished in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the person pulls on the sheet 22 slightly and then releases it. This action causes the clutch 38 to disengage from the mandrel and allow the mandrel to rotate and pulls the sheet 22 in. In another embodiment, an external button (not shown) may be provided to disengage the mandrel and, under the action of the spring, cause the sheet 22 to be pulled back. An inside stop 40 is positioned near end 30. As the sheet 22 is pulled out of the housing, the stop 40 comes into contact with the inner edges of the slot 20 and prevents the sheet to be inadvertently removed or pulled out of the housing 12. The stop 40 may be made in the same way as the rib 32.

Advantageously the device 10 is small enough so that it can be stored easily in a purse, brief case, etc. However, once it is removed, its sheet can be deployed rapidly and easily to allow a person to use it. Moreover, once a person is finished, the sheet 22 is quickly and automatically drawn into the housing and stored there until the next use. The device can be made easily for a relatively small cost.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 spring 36 disposed in the mandrel is replaced by a planar coil spring 40 similar to the ones used in watches is disposed at one end of the mandrel to bias the same.

Numerous modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shoe shine device comprising: a housing with a slot; a cleaning sheet first position in which the sheet extends out of the housing through said slot and a second position wherein the sheet is disposed substantially within the housing; and a mechanism arranged and constructed to bias said sheet toward said second position and allow said sheet to be withdrawn from said second to said first position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said mechanism is locked with said sheet in said first position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing has a lateral wall and said slot extends longitudinally along said lateral wall.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising an outside stop arranged to prevent the sheet to be drawn into the housing.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising an inside stop arranged to prevent the sheet from being completely out of the housing.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes a mandrel engaging an end of said sheet, a biasing element for biasing the sheet and a clutch selectively activated to temporarily lock said sheet in a predetermined position.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said biasing element is a coil spring.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is cylindrical.

9. A shoe shine device comprising: a cylindrical housing with a lateral wall and two end walls, the lateral wall being formed with a longitudinal slot; a generally rectangular sheet made of a material suitable for shining shoes and having a first and a second end; and a mechanism disposed in the housing and engaging said second end of said sheet with said sheet extending through said slot with said first end disposed outside the housing, said mechanism being arranged and constructed to retract said sheet into the housing.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said housing is dimensioned to fit into a purse or briefcase.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said housing has a length in the range of 5-10 in.

12. The device claim 9 wherein said mechanism includes a clutch locking said sheet into a first position wherein most of the sheet is disposed outside the housing for shining shoes, said clutch being releasable to allow said mechanism to draw said sheet into said housing.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising an outer stop mounted on said sheet to prevent withdrawing said first end into said housing.

14. The device of claim 12 further comprising an inner stop mounted on said sheet near said second end to prevent removing said sheet completely from said housing.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein said mechanism includes mandrel.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said mandrel is spring biased.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein said mandrel is biased by a spring disposed axially within the mandrel.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein said mandrel has two opposed ends, and is biased by a spring extending a force between the mandrel and the housing, said sheet being wound on said mandrel.