Shoe management apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12207707-B2
Application number	US-202117356316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2021
Priority date	Jun 24, 2020
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A shoe management apparatus includes a receiving portion defining a receiving space for receiving a shoe therein, a first supply portion including a duct for guiding flow of a fluid, and a second supply portion connected to the first supply portion, extending in a longitudinal direction of the first supply portion and angled towards the receiving portion, the second supply portion receiving the fluid from the first supply portion and directing the fluid to the shoe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe management apparatus, comprising:
a receiving portion defining a receiving space for receiving a shoe therein;
a first supply portion for guiding flow of a fluid;
a second supply portion connected to the first supply portion, extending in a longitudinal direction of the first supply portion and angled towards the receiving portion, the second supply portion being configured to receive the fluid from the first supply portion and to direct the fluid to the shoe,
wherein the first supply portion comprises:
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 disposed outside the second supply portion; 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 fluid comprises at least one selected from a gas comprising air and a liquid comprising water.

3. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion comprises:
an upper surface disposed in a horizontal direction, the first supply portion being disposed on the upper surface;
side surfaces disposed under the upper surface at opposing ends of the upper surface and extending in a vertical direction, the vertical direction being perpendicular to the horizontal direction; and
a foothold portion disposed below the upper surface and storing foreign substances falling from the shoe therein.

4. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a plurality of height measurement sensors disposed along at least one of the side surfaces in the vertical direction and configured to measure a height of the shoe; and
a controller configured to:
receive measured values from the plurality of height measurement sensors, and
control operation of the second supply portion based on measured values sent from the height measurement sensors.

5. 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.

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.

7. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first supply portion further comprises a heat exchanger abutting the blower and configured to perform heat exchange with the fluid before flowing into the blower.

8. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
a Peltier device configured to allow variation in temperature thereof upon supply of electric current thereto;
a first heat exchange plate connected to a first side of the Peltier device and configured to perform heat exchange with the fluid; and
a second heat exchange plate connected to a second side of the Peltier device and performing heat exchange with the fluid, the second side of the Peltier device being opposite to the first side of the Peltier device.

9. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second supply portion comprises:
a duct body disposed inside the rotatable duct and configured to move along the rotatable duct;
a second driver connected to the first supply portion and configured to generate a rotational force;
a screw bar having an outer gear and configured to be rotated by the rotational force from the second driver; and
a core member connected to the duct body or a lower duct disposed at a lower side of the duct body, the core member having a tube shape and formed with an inner gear corresponding to the outer gear of the screw bar and being configured to move linearly along the screw bar by rotation of the screw bar.

10. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the second supply portion further comprises a stopper protrusion protruding outwardly from the duct body,
wherein the first supply portion further comprises a guide groove extending in a linear direction on an inner surface of the rotatable duct facing the duct body, and
wherein the stopper protrusion is guided to move linearly along the guide groove.

11. A shoe management apparatus, comprising:
a receiving portion defining a receiving space for receiving a shoe therein;
a first supply portion for guiding flow of a fluid;
a second supply portion connected to the first supply portion, extending in a longitudinal direction of the first supply portion and angled towards the receiving portion, the second supply portion being configured to receive the fluid from the first supply portion; and
a third supply portion disposed adjacent to the second supply portion and angled towards a front side of the shoe while contacting an insole of the shoe, the third supply portion receiving the fluid from the second supply portion and changing a discharge direction of the fluid from the second supply portion towards the front side of the shoe,
wherein the first supply portion comprises:
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 disposed outside the second supply portion;
a first driver connected to the rotatable duct and configured to generate a rotational force to rotate the rotatable duct; and
a stationary housing secured to the receiving portion, connected to the stationary duct and having an interior space.

12. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the third supply portion comprises:
a lower duct disposed at a lower side of the second supply portion and angled towards the front side of the shoe while contacting the insole of the shoe; and
a deformable duct connecting the lower duct to the second supply portion and configured to deform by external force.

13. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein the rotatable duct is configured to rotate to be disposed within the interior space of the stationary housing.

14. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the rotatable duct is operated 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.

15. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second supply portion comprises:
a duct body disposed inside the rotatable duct and configured to move along the rotatable duct,
a second driver connected to the first supply portion and configured to generate a rotational force;
a screw bar having an outer gear and configured to be rotated by the rotational force from the second driver; and
a core member connected to the duct body or a lower duct disposed at a lower side of the duct body, the core member having a tube shape and formed with an inner gear corresponding to the outer gear of the screw bar and configured to move linearly along the screw bar by rotation of the screw bar.

16. The shoe management apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the third su

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

• A43D3/1408

  Devices for heating or drying shoes · CPC title

• A43D95/10 Primary

  Drying or heating devices for shoes · CPC title