Automatic Shoe Cover Dispensing Device
An improved covering apparatus for covering shoes, bare feet, or other appendages, wherein the device includes a pedal system that has a low positioned actuator pedal and a mechanism to release a shoe cover when the actuator is engaged by a user.
This invention relates to the field of devices for the automatic placement of shoe covers on shoes.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYThe outer surfaces of shoes collect many undesirable substances such as dirt and mud while worn by a person on any given day. Many industries such as construction, farming, and athletics involve work environments in which the collection of undesirable materials on shoes is particularly substantial. The collection of such substances on shoes and the subsequent transfer of such substances to the interior of homes, buildings, or other structures by foot traffic is undesirable and may raise concerns regarding the cleanliness of the interior of such structures. Shoes may be removed before entering a home, building, or other similar structure to avoid such problems. However, in environments where such a practice of removing shoes from feet before entering such structures is not common or otherwise practical, shoe coverings are used.
Disposable shoe covers are commonly employed to avoid the need for persons to remove their shoes before entering homes, buildings, or other structures. However, placing shoe covers on shoes (particularly, unclean shoes) is inconvenient and may require a person to use hands to place a shoe cover over a shoe, thereby exposing the user's hands to the substances on the shoe. Therefore, hands-free automatic shoe cover devices have recently been developed to allow for a person to automatically place a shoe cover over a worn shoe without the need to manipulate the cover with a user's hands. However, many of these devices employ relatively complex and relatively large mechanisms to accomplish the covering of a shoe, such as the use of heat to shrink wrap shoe covers around a user's shoe. Still other automatic shoe cover devices offer less reliable performance when activated by a user. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanically reliable and simplified automatic shoe covering device that uses inexpensive shoe covers to automatically and consistently cover a user's shoe.
The apparatus described herein provides an improved device for automatically placing a shoe cover on the foot, shoe, or other appendage of a user when a user activates the device by, for example, stepping into an enclosure and onto an actuator pedal. The device typically contains a plurality of covers (typically shoe covers) within the device. Each shoe cover includes a covering material such as a plastic polymeric sheet with a continuous or partial expandable band lining near the perimeter edge of the shoe covering. Attachment members are attached to the band at points along the band. Each attachment member preferably has a lip with a tab extending from the lip. The actuator pedal in the enclosure of the device is in mechanical communication with four rotatable posts, each post being housed within a separate hollow shaft. One improvement of some of the embodiments described herein is that the upper surface of the actuator pedal is no greater than 4.5 centimeters above the upper surface of the base on which the actuator pedal is operating. Each post also includes an interactive first end protruding above each of the four shafts. Another improvement of many of the embodiments described herein is that each interactive first end is preferably integrated with each post, respectively, thereby eliminating misalignment between the posts and the interactive first ends.
While the actuator pedal is not engaged, the four attachment members remain attached, respectively, to the four interactive first ends because of the relationship between the tabs in each of the attachment members and the respective interactive first ends. While the shoe cover device is not engaged, the band(s) of the one or more shoe coverings remains substantially stretched out. When a user's foot acts on the actuator pedal, the posts are all rotated, thereby rotating each of the four interactive first ends. As the interactive first ends rotate, the tabs become disengaged with the interactive first ends, the upper-most shoe covering is released, and the band associated with the upper-most shoe covering contracts into an unstretched position partially enclosing the shoe covering about the upper foot, ankle, or shoe of the user.
Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
An overview of a preferred embodiment of an improved shoe cover dispensing device 10 is shown in
With reference to
Each of the gear members 56 includes legs 72 (72A, 72B, 72C, and 72D). Leg 72A and leg 72C extend through openings in the cover plate 62 and are movably attached to extender 60A and extender 60C, respectively. Leg 72B and leg 72D extend through the cover plate 62 and are movably attached to extender 60B and extender 60D, respectively. As shown in the embodiment shown in
With reference to
An important improvement of the various embodiments described herein over prior art is that the pedal 52 (more specifically, the upper surface 53 of the pedal 52) in these embodiments is not greater than about 4.5 centimeters above the upper surface of the base structure (e.g., the cover plate surface 78) when the device 10 is substantially assembled. In a preferred embodiment, the pedal surface 53 is not greater than about 4.0 centimeters above the base structure when the device 10 is substantially assembled. The lower pedal surface 53 allows more covers 18 to be loaded onto the device 10.
For the purposes of clarifying the description related to certain numbered elements discussed infra, only one side of the shoe cover device 10 is described. However, it should be understood that various embodiments of the invention may require a pair of each of such elements. The corresponding elements not specifically discussed herein are given the same number designation as the corresponding element described, but with the use of the suffix letter “B” instead of “A.” With reference to
Channel member 82A is attached to the cover plate 62, preferably by screws such as channel plate screw 84. Channel member 82A includes a first engagement spring connection member 86A. Force splitting member 74A includes a second engagement spring connection member 88A. One end of an engagement spring 90A is attached to the first engagement spring connection member 86A and an opposite end of the engagement spring 90A is attached to the second engagement spring connection member 88A. Therefore, engagement spring 90A maintains some amount of static or dynamic force in the direction of arrow GA, substantially keeping the pedal 52 in a raised position unless acted upon by a user.
A pair of head ends 92A included on force splitting member 74A contain gear teeth 94 as shown in
The shoe cover device 10 as described in this embodiment is activated (or a first activation period begins) when enough pressure is applied to the actuator pedal 52 to substantially move the actuator pedal 52. As the actuator pedal 52 is pressed upon and moved, the pedal base 54 moves downward. As the pedal base 54 moves downward, attachment members 70 move closer to one another as shown by arrows AM and the gear members 56 rotate as shown by arrows GM as shown in
With reference to
After at least one shoe cover like shoe cover 18 is released from posts 36 and when substantial pressure is removed from the actuator pedal 52, engagement springs 90 operate to bring the force splitting members 74 back to substantially the same position the force splitting members 74 were before the actuator pedal 52 was initially engaged during the first particular activation period (hereinafter defined as an “initial position” as shown in
With reference again to
With reference to
With reference to
Shoe cover device 10 is preferably made from a metal or other high tensile strength material such as steel, aluminum, other suitable metals or combinations thereof, high tensile strength polymers, and the like. Suitable materials with lower tensile strength may be used to form release buttons 98 and attachment members 24. The shoe covering 20 is preferably made from a suitable flexible or semi-flexible polymeric material.
It should be understood that where means of attachment are described within this disclosure such as screws, nut and bolt assemblies, glue, and the like, other means of attachment may be used in other embodiments to substitute such screws, nut and bolt assemblies, and glue such as screws, nut and bolt assemblies, bolts, glue, nails, pins, welding, and other similar means of attachment known to those skilled in the art.
Some of the various elements described herein have been named based on certain general characteristics of their function(s) or general features such as shape. However, the names of the various elements described herein are not meant to be limiting; the names are only used within this disclosure to help the reader better reference particular elements in relation to other elements as shown in the exemplary figures.
The foregoing description of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for purposes of illustration only, and it is understood that numerous modifications or alterations may be made in and to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein.
Claims
1. An improved apparatus for dispensing covers for at least partially covering an appendage of a user, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a base structure;
- b. an actuator pedal system including an actuator pedal, wherein the upper surface of the actuator pedal is no greater than about 4.5 centimeters from the upper surface of the base structure when the apparatus is substantially assembled;
- c. a plurality of rotatable posts, each post including an upper interactive end and a lower engagement end, wherein the upper interactive end is engagable with at least one appendage cover when the actuator pedal is in an unactuated position; and
- d. at least one transmission member for transmitting force from the actuator pedal system to the rotatable posts such that when the actuator pedal is actuated by a user, the rotatable posts rotate, thereby causing the upper interactive ends to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the upper interactive ends.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the actuator pedal is no greater than about 4.0 centimeters from the upper surface of the base structure when the apparatus is substantially assembled.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper interactive ends are integrated with the rotatable posts.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base structure comprises a cover plate.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper interactive ends prevent more than one appendage cover from disengaging from the upper interactive ends during a single actuation event.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator pedal system includes a plurality of rotatable gears such that the at least one transmission member transmits force from the rotating gears to the rotatable posts.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator pedal system includes at least one rotating linkage such that the at least one transmission member transmits force from the rotating linkage to the rotatable posts.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rotatable posts comprises a first rotatable post and a second rotatable post.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:
- a. a cross beam movable along the first rotatable post and the second rotatable post;
- b. a cross beam first spring aligned along the first rotatable post;
- c. a cross beam second spring aligned along the second rotatable post, wherein the cross beam first spring and the cross beam second spring bias the cross beam toward the upper interactive ends.
10. An improved apparatus for dispensing covers for at least partially covering an appendage of a user, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a base structure;
- b. an actuator pedal system including an actuator pedal;
- c. a plurality of rotatable posts, each post integrally including an upper interactive end and a lower engagement end, wherein the upper interactive end is engagable with at least one appendage cover when the actuator pedal is in an unactuated position; and
- d. at least one transmission member for transmitting force from the actuator pedal system to the rotatable posts such that when the actuator pedal is actuated by a user the rotatable posts rotate, thereby causing the upper interactive ends to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the upper interactive ends.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the base structure comprises a cover plate.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the actuator pedal system includes at least one rotating linkage such that the at least one transmission member transmits force from the rotating linkage to the rotatable posts.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of rotatable posts comprises a first rotatable post and a second rotatable post.
14. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
- a. a cross beam movable along the first rotatable post and the second rotatable post;
- b. a cross beam first spring aligned along the first rotatable post;
- c. a cross beam second spring aligned along the second rotatable post, wherein the cross beam first spring and the cross beam second spring bias the cross beam toward the upper interactive ends.
15. An improved apparatus for dispensing covers for at least partially covering an appendage of a user, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a base structure;
- b. an actuator pedal system including an actuator pedal substantially connected to at least one rotating linkage;
- c. a plurality of rotatable posts, each post including an upper interactive end and a lower engagement end, wherein the upper interactive end is engagable with at least one appendage cover when the actuator pedal is in an unactuated position; and
- d. at least one transmission member substantially connected to the at least one rotating linkage for transmitting force from the at least one rotating linkage to the rotatable posts such that when the actuator pedal is actuated by a user, the rotatable posts rotate, thereby causing the upper interactive ends to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the upper interactive ends.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rotating linkage comprises a rotating gear.
17. An improved apparatus for dispensing covers for at least partially covering an appendage of a user, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a cover plate;
- b. an actuator pedal system including an actuator pedal;
- c. a first transmission member including a first base transmission end connected to the actuator pedal system by a first rotating linkage, a first right transmission end, and a first left transmission end;
- d. a second transmission member including a second base transmission end connected to the actuator pedal system by a second rotating linkage, a second right transmission end, and a second left transmission end;
- e. a first rotatable post including a first upper interactive end and a first lower engagement end, wherein the first upper interactive end is attachable to an appendage cover and wherein the first lower engagement end includes a first lower gear that is movably associated with the first right transmission end, such that when the actuator pedal system is actuated by a user, the first rotatable post rotates, thereby causing the first upper interactive end to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the first upper interactive end;
- f. a second rotatable post including a second upper interactive end and a second lower engagement end, wherein the second upper interactive end is attachable to an appendage cover and wherein the second lower engagement end includes a second lower gear that is movably associated with the first left transmission end, such that when the actuator pedal system is actuated by a user, the second rotatable post rotates, thereby causing the second upper interactive end to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the second upper interactive end;
- g. a third rotatable post including a third upper interactive end and a third lower engagement end, wherein the third upper interactive end is attachable to an appendage cover and wherein the third lower engagement end includes a third lower gear that is movably associated with the second right transmission end, such that when the actuator pedal system is actuated by a user, the third rotatable post rotates, thereby causing the third upper interactive end to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the third upper interactive end; and
- h. a fourth rotatable post including a fourth upper interactive end and a fourth lower engagement end, wherein the fourth upper interactive end is attachable to an appendage cover and wherein the fourth lower engagement end includes a fourth lower gear that is movably associated with the second left transmission end, such that when the actuator pedal system is actuated by a user, the fourth rotatable post rotates, thereby causing the fourth upper interactive end to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the fourth upper interactive end.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the actuator pedal system further comprises a plurality of rotating gears such that when the actuator pedal is actuated by a user, the rotating gears rotate, thereby causing the rotatable posts to rotate, thereby causing the upper interactive ends to disengage with the appendage cover in closest proximity to the upper interactive ends.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the upper interactive ends are integrated with the rotatable posts, respectively.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the upper surface of the actuator pedal is no greater than about 4.0 centimeters from the upper surface of the cover plate when the apparatus is substantially assembled.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 14, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2009
Inventor: Jinpeng Li
Application Number: 11/957,135
International Classification: A47G 25/80 (20060101);