Hands-free method of storing and retrieving footware

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12022943-B1
Application number	US-202418599279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2024
Priority date	Oct 12, 2021
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A shoe organizer unit, a method of using a shoe organizer unit, and a method for storing shoes in a plurality of shoe storing shelves of a shoe organizer unit are described. The shoe organizer unit includes a plurality of shoe storing shelves adapted to store shoes therein. A plurality of linear actuators moves the plurality of shoe storing shelves in a path within a cabinet. A controller manages operation of the linear actuators to move the shoes along the path. Transparent panels secure the shoes within the cabinet. Secure storage and retrieval of the shoes is controlled by electronics including a keypad, a push button and a shoe shelf identification code card printer. The shoe organizer unit provides for sterilization of the shoes stored and secure storing and retrieval of the shoes.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hands-free method of storing and retrieving footwear, comprising:
storing a pair of shoes comprising a first shoe and a second shoe in the shoe organizer unit, by:
inserting the first shoe of the pair of shoes into a first shoe retainer of a shoe storing shelf of a plurality of shoe storing shelves, wherein the shoe storing shelf is located in a shoe reception area of the shoe organizer unit;
removing the first shoe by twisting the first shoe against a first pair of retractable pillars located in the first shoe retainer;
inserting the second shoe of the pair of shoes into a second shoe retainer of the shoe storing shelf;
removing the second shoe by twisting the second shoe against a second pair of retractable pillars located in the second shoe retainer;
wherein the removing and the inserting of the first and second shoes are completed without using hands;
receiving a shoe shelf identification code from a keypad located on the shoe organizer unit, the keypad operatively connected to a controller which generates the shoe shelf identification code and stores the shoe shelf identification code in a memory;
pressing an actuator switch to move the shoe storing shelf upwards into a sealed area of the shoe organizer unit;

retrieving the pair of shoes from the shoe organizer unit by:
inputting the shoe shelf identification code into the keypad, wherein the controller matches the shoe shelf identification code to the shoe shelf identification code stored in the memory, the controller further providing power to a plurality of linear actuators to move the shoe storing shelf into a shoe reception area of the shoe organizer unit; and
removing the first shoe from the first shoe retainer and the second shoe from the second shoe retainer.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
twisting the first shoe against the first pair of retractable pillars while holding a handrail located on a front wall of a cabinet.

3. The method of claim 2 , comprising:
receiving a shoe shelf identification code card from a printer located on the keypad when storing the pair of shoes in the shoe organizer unit; and
inputting the shoe shelf identification code card into a card receiving slot in the keypad when retrieving the pair of shoes from the shoe organizer unit.

Assignees

• Univ Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal

Inventors

• Saif Heba Nabil
• El-Wakeel Hala
• Alhilal Asma
• Almanaa Nourah
• Altuwaijri Nouf

Classifications

• A47B57/06

  with means for adjusting the height of the shelves (A47B57/04, A47B57/30 take precedence) · CPC title

• E05B69/003

  for locking shoes against removal · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A47L23/02

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

• A61L2/10

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title