Shoe cleaning apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11707178-B2
Application number	US-202016802982-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2020
Priority date	Feb 28, 2019
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

A shoe cleaning apparatus and method configured for cleaning a user's shoes while the user is wearing said shoes. A cleaning solution can be supplied by the shoe cleaning apparatus and operation of the shoe cleaning apparatus can agitate the surface of the shoe and the cleaning solution. The shoe cleaning apparatus can be provided as part of a decorative or storage unit, entry system, portable system, or built-in system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a housing assembly;
a platform having an upper surface adapted to receive footwear for cleaning, the platform operably coupled to the housing assembly, wherein the platform is moveable between a first stored position and a second use position wherein the platform is further from the housing assembly than in the first stored position;
a fluid delivery system fluidly coupled to the upper surface and configured to provide a cleaning fluid thereto;
a fluid recovery system fluidly coupled to the upper surface and including a suction source;
a sensor located on one of the housing assembly or the platform, the sensor configured to sense a presence of a user;
an actuator configured to move the platform to the second use position; and
a controller communicatively coupled with the sensor to receive an output therefrom to move the platform from the first stored position to the second use position, the controller communicatively coupled with a pump of the fluid delivery system, and the controller communicatively coupled with the suction source of the fluid recovery system.

2. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluid container removably mounted to the housing assembly and adapted to contain a supply of the cleaning fluid.

3. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one recovery container removably mounted to the housing assembly and having an air and liquid separator therein.

4. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the fluid recovery system includes at least one inlet in communication with the at least one recovery container through which the suction source is configured to draw soiled cleaning fluid therethrough.

5. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a working air conduit extending from the at least one inlet to the at least one recovery container.

6. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the working air conduit is telescopic.

7. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the platform is pivotably coupled to the housing assembly.

8. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to operate the pump and the suction source during a twenty second cycle of operation.

9. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a UV lighting element operably coupled to the controller, the UV lighting element located adjacent a portion of the platform and configured to emit UVC light or UVA light.

10. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is located on a lower surface of the platform.

11. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the platform is hingedly coupled to the housing assembly.

12. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a set of nubs are located on the upper surface of the platform and configured to agitated a surface of footwear received thereon.

13. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing assembly is portable.

14. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid delivery system comprises at least one fluid container and the fluid recovery system comprises at least one recovery container, and wherein at least one of the at least one fluid container and the at least one recovery container is fluidly couplable to a plumbing infrastructure of a building.

15. A shoe cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a platform having an upper surface adapted to receive footwear for cleaning and comprising a fluid distributor and a suction inlet;
a fluid delivery system configured to provide a cleaning fluid to the platform, the fluid delivery system comprising the fluid distributor and a pump controlling a flow of fluid to the fluid distributor;
a fluid recovery system configured to draw soiled cleaning fluid away from the platform, the fluid recovery system comprising the suction inlet, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet, and at least one recovery container;
a housing assembly coupled with a rear portion of the platform, wherein the pump, the suction source, and the at least one recovery container are contained within the housing assembly; and
wherein the platform is moveable between a first stored position adjacent to the housing assembly and a second use position wherein the platform is further from the housing assembly than in the first stored position
an actuator configured to move the platform to the second use position;
a controller communicatively coupled with the actuator to control operation of the actuator; and
a sensor configured to sense a presence of a user, wherein sensed user presence is used control movement of the platform to the second use position.

16. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the platform is at least one of:
pivotably coupled to the housing assembly; and
telescopically coupled to the housing assembly.

17. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one recovery container is removable from the housing assembly and includes an air and liquid separator therein.

18. The shoe cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one recovery container is fluidly couplable to a plumbing infrastructure of a building.

Assignees

• Bissell Inc

Inventors

• Busken-Jovanovich Isaac

Classifications

• A47L23/02 Primary

  Shoe-cleaning machines, with or without applicators for shoe polish · CPC title

• A47L23/26

  Mats or gratings combined with brushes {; Mats} · CPC title

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• B08B7/0035

  by radiant energy, e.g. UV, laser, light beam or the like · CPC title