Shoe Cleaning Apparatus
The present invention uses rotating cleaning rollers with cleaning fabric carrying cleaning liquid to clean shoe soles. The cleaning fabric, after wiping the shoe soles, is squeezed by a scraper so the used cleaning liquid is separated from the cleaning fabric to be filtered before reusing. The cleaning fabric can be made of different materials to fit the various types of building entrances. After the shoe soles are cleaned by the wet rollers, they may be dried by the drying rollers next to the cleaning rollers.
The present invention relates to a novel shoe-sole-cleaning device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHomes and offices constantly face the problems caused by dirty shoes. The problem is more pronounced in wet weather, when mud, dirt, sand, and other impurities are carried by the dirty shoes into the interior of the buildings, creating cleaning-up work. In heavily trodden places such as a busy office, such impurities may amount to a significant amount of cleaning-up work.
Many prior arts use dry brushes to clean the shoe soles (Pat. Nos. 1,277,834, 2,718,020, 3,048,867). However, when the shoe soles are wet, the effect of a quick dry brush is limited.
Other prior arts (Pat. Nos. 295883, 5,950,269) adopt wet brushes. However, without the roller-cleaning mechanism and without rollers rotating in opposite directions, the efficiency of the device is limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the present invention, multiple rollers, rotating in opposite directions and carrying cleaning liquid, clean the shoe soles. The purpose for rollers rotating in opposite directions is to enhance the efficiency of the device. The cleaning fabric, after rubbing the shoe soles, is squeezed by a scraper on its way down. The scraper assembly directs the separated dirty cleaning liquid to the dirty liquid chamber. The dirty cleaning liquid returns to the clean liquid chamber by passing through a filter. The partitioning wall between the dirty liquid chamber and the clean liquid chamber is of such height that when the filter is clogged, the dirty cleaning liquid would overflow from the dirty liquid chamber into the clean liquid chamber to keep the unit running. The cleaning liquid level is shown on the side of the unit.
Next to the cleaning rollers, a set of drying rollers are installed so the user may dry the shoe soles.
The present invention, by assuring that the roller fabric is soaked in fresh cleaning liquid, and by rubbing the shoe soles with rollers rotating in opposite directions, is more efficient than the prior arts.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Details of operation are shown in
Claims
1. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles comprising:
- a set of cleaning rollers rotating in opposite directions comprising cleaning fabric that is soaked in a cleaning liquid, contained in a clean liquid chamber.
- a scraper assembly that comprises a scraper which squeezes the cleaning fabric on the cleaning rollers on its way down after rubbing the shoe sole and that directs the dirty cleaning liquid into a dirty liquid chamber, and
- a partitioning wall separating the dirty liquid chamber and the clean liquid chamber over which the cleaning rollers are installed.
2. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- a set of gears driving the cleaning rollers that are mated in such a way that the cleaning rollers rotate in opposite directions.
3. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 2, wherein the gears are directly mated so cleaning rollers rotate in opposite directions.
4. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- a set of drying rollers that dry the shoe soles.
5. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 4, wherein the drying rollers are installed on the same shafts that drive the cleaning rollers.
6. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- a sensor that senses the presence of the shoe to turn on the apparatus and the absence of the shoe to turn off the apparatus.
7. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- a switch installed on the top of the apparatus for user to switch on and off the apparatus.
8. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 7, further comprising:
- a timer that turns off the apparatus after the apparatus is turned on for certain period of time.
9. An apparatus for cleaning shoe soles as recited in claim 1, wherein the scraper assembly further comprises a scraper adjustment screw which adjusts the pressure that the scraper exerts on the roller.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 22, 2012
Inventor: Shousong Bai (Monterey Park, CA)
Application Number: 12/884,922