Shoe management apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12201258-B2
Application number	US-202117356298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2021
Priority date	Jun 24, 2020
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A shoe management apparatus including a receiving portion defining a receiving space for receiving shoes therein, a first supply portion for guiding flow of a fluid towards the receiving portion, the first supply portion including a stationary duct disposed above the receiving space, a flexible duct connected to the stationary duct and able to rotate to change shape, a rotatable duct connected to the flexible duct and a first driver connected to the rotatable duct and for generating a rotational force to rotate the rotatable duct.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe management apparatus, comprising:
a receiving portion defining a receiving space for receiving shoes therein;
a first supply portion for guiding flow of a fluid towards the receiving portion, the first supply portion comprising:
a stationary duct disposed above the receiving space;
a flexible duct connected to the stationary duct and configured to rotate to change shape;
a rotatable duct connected to the flexible duct; and
a first driver connected to the rotatable duct and configured to generate a rotational force to rotate the rotatable duct.

2. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion comprises:
an upper surface disposed in a horizontal direction and formed with a movement hole, the rotatable duct being configured to move within the movement hole; and
side surfaces disposed under the upper surface at opposing ends of the upper surface, the side surfaces extending in a vertical direction, the vertical direction being perpendicular to the horizontal direction.

3. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first supply portion further comprises a stationary housing secured to the upper surface of the receiving portion and positioned within the movement hole, the stationary housing including an interior space, and
wherein the rotatable duct is configured to rotate to be disposed within the interior space of the stationary housing.

4. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first supply portion further comprises a stationary housing secured to the receiving portion and having an interior space, and
wherein the rotatable duct is configured to rotate to be disposed within the interior space of the stationary housing.

5. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the stationary housing surrounds at least a portion of the flexible duct, and
wherein a lower side of the flexible duct is disposed inside the rotatable duct.

6. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first supply portion further comprises a blower disposed adjacent to the stationary duct and configured to supply the fluid into the stationary duct; and
wherein the stationary duct comprises:
a first duct disposed adjacent to the blower and extending in a horizontal direction; and
a second duct angled downwards from a distal end of the first duct and connected to the flexible duct.

7. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first duct has a cross-sectional area that gradually increases from the second duct towards the blower.

8. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible duct includes an upper side connected to the stationary duct and a lower side disposed inside the rotatable duct, and
wherein the flexible duct guides air received through the stationary duct to flow into the rotatable duct.

9. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible duct defines a duct channel having a zigzag shape to allow air to be discharged into the rotatable duct through the flexible duct.

10. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible duct comprises:
a first flexible tube connected to the stationary duct and including one surface having a concave shape; and
a second flexible tube connected to the first flexible tube and including one surface having a convex shape, and
wherein inner channels of the first flexible tube have a same cross-sectional area as inner channels of the second flexible tube.

11. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first driver includes:
a motor bracket secured to the receiving portion; and
a drive motor secured to the motor bracket and axially connected to a rotational center of the rotatable duct to rotate the rotatable duct.

12. A shoe management apparatus, comprising:
a casing including an electric compartment configured to supply air for drying a shoe;
a receiving portion positioned within the casing and defining a receiving space for receiving the shoe; and
a first supply portion guiding a flow of the air towards the receiving portion, the first supply portion comprising:
a stationary duct disposed above the receiving space;
a flexible duct connected to the stationary duct and configured to rotate to change shape;
a rotatable duct connected to the flexible duct; and
a first driver connected to the rotatable duct and configured to generate a rotational force to rotate the rotatable duct.

13. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the casing further comprises an interior flow channel extending between the electric compartment and the first supply portion such that the air supplied from the electric compartment to the interior flow channel is supplied to the shoe through the first supply portion.

14. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the electric compartment comprises:
a steam generator configured to supply steam to the first supply portion to sterilize the shoe; and
a main blower connected to the steam generator and configured to deliver the steam generated by the steam generator to the first supply portion through an interior flow channel disposed inside the casing.

15. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the first supply portion further comprises a stationary housing secured to the receiving portion and having an interior space, and
wherein the rotatable duct is configured to rotate to be disposed within the interior space of the stationary housing.

16. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the rotatable duct is operable in a first mode in which the rotatable duct is rotated to be positioned within the interior space of the stationary housing and in a second mode in which the rotatable duct is rotated to be positioned outside the interior space of the stationary housing and into an interior of the receiving space.

17. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the first supply portion further comprises a blower disposed adjacent to the stationary duct and configured to supply the air into the stationary duct.

18. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first supply portion further comprises a heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the blower and configured to perform heat exchange with the air before flowing into the blower.

19. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the flexible duct defines a duct channel having a zigzag shape to allow the air to be discharged into the rotatable duct through the flexible duct.

20. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the flexible duct comprises:
a first flexible tube connected to the stationary duct and including one surface having a concave shape; and
a second flexible tube connected to the first flexible tube and including one surface having a convex shape, and
wherein inner channels of the first flexible tube have a same cross-sectional area as inner channels of the second flexible tube.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yoo Hyunsun
• Choi Jeong Guen
• Oh Joohyeon
• Lim Jae Myung
• Han Byoungjoon
• Lee Sang Yoon
• Kim Hyunju
• Seong Jeaseok

Classifications

• A61L2103/50

  Textiles, e.g. bedwear or towels · CPC title

• A61L2202/122

  Chambers for sterilisation · CPC title

• A61L2202/15

  Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers · CPC title

• A61L2/26

  Accessories · CPC title

• A61L2202/17

  Combination with washing or cleaning means · CPC title