Patent ID: 6499171
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
Footwear cleaning apparatus comprising:a housing having a front wall and a top wall and an opening therein for reception of footwear to be cleaned along a path of movement; a base supporting the housing thereon; a pair of spaced brackets mounted upright on the base; a first cylindrical brush positioned in the path of movement of the footwear; a shaft rotatably supporting the first cylindrical brush between the brackets about a substantially horizontally disposed axis for rotation in a manner yielding to movement of the footwear upon insertion of the footwear into the housing but preventing rotation in the opposite direction; a pair of second cylindrical brushes oppositely positioned adjacent the path of movement of the footwear; a support assembly rotatably supporting each of the second brushes about generally upright axes for rotation in a manner yielding to the movement of the footwear upon insertion of the footwear but preventing rotation in the opposite direction; a third cylindrical brush positioned in the path of movement of the footwear; a pair of spaced upright mounting braces; an axle rotatably supporting the third cylindrical brush between the upright mounting braces about a substantially horizontally disposed axis for rotation in a manner yielding to movement of the footwear upon insertion of the footwear but preventing rotation in the opposite direction; the housing enclosing the first, second, and third brushes at least at the sides and at the end opposite that for insertion of the footwear and so much of the top and front thereof as is not required for insertion of the footwear; wherein the axle with the third cylindrical brush thereon is movable between raised and lowered positions; and wherein spring members bias the axle to a lowered position for engagement of the third cylindrical brush with the footwear when the footwear is inserted into the housing.