Cleat cleaner

Abstract

The cleat cleaner (100) of the present invention is provided in the form of an elongated bar (101) having a central handle portion (110), a claw portion (126) at one end 106 of the bar (101), a chisel portion (135) at a second end (107) of the bar (110), and a bristle receiving portion (121) between the claw portion (126) and handle portion (110). A plurality of bristles (140) is mounted on a front face (102) of the bar (101) in said bristle receiving portion (121). The bar (101) is of a one-piece construction and is formed of injection-molded plastic material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shoe cleaning devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cleat cleaner for athletic shoes.

2. Description of the Related Art

The problem of removing grass, mud and other debris from the soles of athletic shoes is well known. This problem has been addressed in the past by the creation of numerous devices for both scrapping and/or brushing debris from the soles of athletic shoes having cleats or spikes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,363 issued Sep. 6, 1966 to Harris, Jr., teaches a typical cleat-cleaning device. The Harris, Jr., device includes a metal plate secured to one surface of the handle. The plate has spaced tines extending from the edge of the plate that are bent at an angle to the surface and sharpened at the ends thereof for removing debris from the cleats of a shoe. The opposite side of the handle includes nylon bristles forming a brush to remove loose particles of debris from the soles and cleats that were not removed by the tines. Harris, Jr., further teaches the placement of the brush and tines on the same end of the handle.

Many designs for cleat cleaning devices have also been patented in the pass. In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 191,498 issued Oct. 10, 1961 to Chamberlain and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 293,164 issued Dec. 15, 1987 to Shearer the designs of the cleat-cleaning devices include a brush with sharp scrapping edges formed on both ends of the brush handle.

The sharp edges on the above noted cleat cleaners are fine for removing debris from the soles and cleats of an athletic shoe but would damage the body of the shoe if used to clean debris from the joint between the shoe body and shoe sole or from joints between component parts of the shoe body. The sharp edges may also present a hazard to a person reaching for one of these devices in a bag for carrying athletic gear or in the pocket of such a bag or article of clothing.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a cleat cleaner solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cleat cleaner of the present invention is provided in the form of an elongated bar having a central handle portion, a claw portion at one end of the bar, a chisel portion at a second end of the bar, and a bristle receiving portion between the claw portion and handle portion. A plurality of bristles is mounted on a front face of the bar in said bristle receiving portion. The bar is of a one-piece construction and is formed of injection-molded plastic material.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a cleat cleaner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleat cleaner according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cleat cleaner according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleat cleaner according to the present invention demonstrating the use of the device.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning first to FIGS. 2 and 3; where the cleat cleaner 100 according to the present invention is shown. Cleat cleaner 100 is provided in the form of an elongated bar 101 having a claw portion 126 at one end 106, a chisel portion 135 at a second end 107, a central-handle portion 110 and a bristle receiving portion 121 between the claw portion 126 and the handle portion 110. The bar 101 further including a front face 102, a back face 103, a first side face 104 and a second side face 105. A plurality of bristles 140 is mounted in the front face 102 of the bar 101 on the bristle receiving portion 121.

The claw portion 126 is formed by a curved front face portion 124, a curved back face portion 125, and tapered side wall portions 122, 123 that all converge to form a tip 129 on said claw portion 126. Referring now to FIG. 1, the tip 129 of the claw portion 126 may be used to loosen mud and other debris 66 trapped in the joint 53 between the body of the shoe 50 and the top of the sole 51 or other creases in the body of shoe 50.

The bristle receiving portion 121 of the bar 101 is generally square in cross-section. Handle portion 110 is provided in the form of symmetrical side wall portions 104, 105 which taper downwardly from a shoulder 111 of the handle portion 110 towards the center of the handle portion 110 and thereafter tapers upwardly towards shoulder 112 of handle portion 110. A generally straight front face portion 113 and an undulating back face portion 114 is provided between handle shoulders 111 and 112.

The chisel portion 135 of cleat cleaner 100 is formed with symmetric side wall portions 130 and 131, a front face portion 130 that tapers from handle shoulder 112 towards a tip 139 of chisel portion 135 and a back face portion 134 that tapers from said handle shoulder 112 towards the tip 139 of chisel portion 135. FIG. 4 shows how the chisel of the cleat cleaner 100 according to the present invention is used to scrape and pry debris 66 on the sole 51 and between the cleats 52 of shoe 50. Small particles that remain after use of the claw portion 126 and chisel portion 135 are removed using bristles 140 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The cleat cleaner 100 is a one-piece construction preferably formed by an injection molding process using any suitable durable plastic material having a hardness value suitable for carrying out the invention. All the edges of cleat cleaner 100 are smoothed so as to not damage the leather of a shoe body or present a hazard to a user of the device. Bristles 140 are preferably formed of nylon, however, any material suitable for carrying out the aim of the invention may be uses.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A cleat cleaner, comprising:

an elongated bar having a claw portion at one end, a chisel portion at a second end, a central handle portion and a bristle receiving portion between said claw portion and said handle portion;

said bar further including a front face, a back face, a first side face and a second side face; and

a plurality of bristles 140 mounted in said front face of said bar on said bristle receiving portion.

2. The cleat cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said bar is one piece in construction.

3. The cleat cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said bar is formed from an injection molded plastic material.

4. The cleat cleaner according to claim 3, wherein said bristles are formed of nylon.

5. The cleat cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said claw portion is formed by a curved front face portion, a curved back face portion, and tapered side wall portions, that all converge to form a tip on said claw portion.

6. The cleat cleaner according to claim 5, wherein said bristle receiving portion of said bar is generally square in cross-section.

7. The cleat cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said handle portion is provided in the form of:

symmetrical side wall portions which taper downwardly from a shoulder of the handle portion towards the center of the handle portion and thereafter tapers upwardly towards shoulder of handle portion;

a generally straight front face portion between handle shoulders; and

an undulating back face portion between handle shoulders.

8. The cleat cleaner according to claim 7, wherein said chisel portion includes:

symmetric side wall portions;

a front face portion that tapers from handle shoulder towards a tip of chisel portion; and

a back face portion that tapers from said handle shoulder towards the tip of chisel portion.

9. The cleat cleaner according to claim 8, wherein said bar is one piece in construction.

10. The cleat cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said bar is formed an injection molded plastic material.

11. The cleat cleaner according to claim 10, wherein said bristles are formed of nylon.