Abstract:
A multi-utility shoe brush system (11) is provided which includes a main body (13) having a several sides meeting other adjacent sides to form angles greater than ninety degrees so a plurality of paste applicator brushes (17, 19, 21b), a soft buffing brush (45), hard soil-removing brush (21a, 53), and one or more polishing pads (23, 27). A handle (31) is attached to the main body (13) to increase the efficiency of the use of the multi-utility shoe brush system (11), and its cleanliness. Each of the brushes and polishing pads is recommended to be removably attached to the main body (13). A shoe horn (49) is attached at the free end of the handle (31) for an additional utility.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to a multi-utility shoe brush system. When people need to clean and to polish several pairs of shoes, they often need several brushes of different sizes and stiffness, and several polishing pads to be effective. Moreover, because there are so many different colors of shoes and their matching shoe pastes, the cleaning and polishing requires several different brushes to be effective. Furthermore, when a person tries to use a single brush in applying more than one color of paste, the residue of the prior application mixes with the new application so that a uniform color application is difficult. Especially with today&#39;s highly distinguishably varying colors, finishes and delicate leather treatments on shoe exteriors, combined with the efficiency and convenience required in today&#39;s fast paced society, the shoe cleaning and polishing demand an improved multi-utility shoe brush system. 
     Prior art had attempted to arrange more than one brush and a polishing pad on a single device. However, even in these multi-purpose brush units illustrated in prior art, these units were limited to having one paste applicator brush, one soft buffing brush, one hard soil-removing brush, and one polishing pad. Therefore, having several brushes within a unit did not solve the problem of needing to have more than one pastor applicator brush within a unit. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a multi-utility shoe-brush system which incorporates several paste applicator brushes, a soft buffing brush, a hard soil-removing brush, and one or more polishing pads within a single unit, so that a person may efficiently clean and polish shoes with one hand held unit. Moreover, there is also a need for a simple and comparatively inexpensive multi-utility shoe brush system in which the various polishing parts, brushes and polishing pads, are accessibly assembled in such positions that each of the polishing parts may be used separately and successively, and in the proper order. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a multi-utility shoe brush system that can eliminate the need to carry several brushes and several polishing pads. The multi-utility shoe brush system is a single, hand held, device which integrates several brushes and several polishing pads to increase the efficiency, while separating each brush and each polishing pad so these brushes and pads will not interfere with the one being used. Moreover, each of the polishing parts is accessibly oriented so that each part may be used successively in the proper order. 
     One version of the multi-utility shoe brush system comprises a main body with five sides and two faces, and a cleaning system comprising one or more brushes and one or more polishing pads. Unlike a regular rectangular-shaped shoe brush with two faces and four sides, the main body has two faces and five sides. The main body is able to have five sides along with two faces because four of the five sides meet at angles greater than ninety degrees. That is, the first side and the second side forms a first angle greater than ninety degrees, the second side and the third side forms a second angle greater than ninety degrees, and the third side and the fourth side forms a third angle greater than ninety degrees. 
     In this version of the multi-utility shoe brush system, the cleaning system comprises one or more brushes and one or more polishing pads. The preferred combination of the brushes and the polishing pads in this version of the multi-utility shoe brush system is one polishing pad on the first side, one paste applicator brush on the second side, one paste applicator brush on the third side, one hard soil-removing brush on the fourth side, a handle attached to the fifth side, a soft buffing brush on the lower face, and a polishing pad on the upper face. 
     Another version of the multi-utility shoe brush system comprises a main body with six sides and two faces, and a cleaning system comprising one or more brushes and one or more polishing pads. Unlike a regular rectangular-shaped shoe brush and unlike the first version described above, the main body has two faces and six sides. The main body is able to have six sides along with two faces because five of the six sides meet at angles greater than ninety degrees, creating the fifth side and the sixth side. That is, the first side and the second side forms a first angle greater than ninety degrees, the second side and the third side forms a second angle greater than ninety degrees, the third side and the fourth side forms a third angle greater than ninety degrees, and the fourth side and the fifth side forms a fourth angle greater than ninety degrees. 
     In this second version of the multi-utility shoe brush system, the cleaning system comprises one or more brushes and one or more polishing pads. The preferred combination of the brushes and the polishing pads in this version of the multi-utility shoe brush system is one polishing pad on the first side, one paste applicator brush on the second side, one paste applicator brush on the third side, one paste applicator brush on the fourth side, one hard soil-removing brush on the fifth side, a handle attached to the sixth side, a soft buffing brush on the lower face, and a polishing pad on the upper face. 
     Because polishing pads are generally made of soft material, such as cloth or sponge, it is preferable to have these polishing pads removably and replaceably attached to the main body. This is more true with the polishing pad attached to the upper face, because this polishing pad will be used often. Similarly, it is preferable to have the brushes removably attached to the main body as well. 
     One of the advantages in using this multi-utility shoe brush system is that although there are several brushes and pads which are integrated onto this single unit, none of the other brushes or the pads will interfere with the other brushes or pads when the Multi-utility shoe brush system is being used. This is because there is only one brush or one pad on each side or face, and each side is sufficiently separated from all other sides and faces. 
     Another advantage in using this multi-utility shoe brush system is that each of the several paste applicator brushes in the system can have different stiffness of the brush bristles so that the best brush for a job can be chosen. That is, the user may choose different stiffness and softness in the paste applicator brush bristles in order to adapt to each specific application, according to the difference in the shoe exterior finishes and textures. Moreover, because there are several paste applicator brushes, each paste applicator brush can be used only for a particular color of paste; such as one brush for black paste, one brush for brown paste, and one brush for neutral paste. 
     Another advantage in using this multi-utility shoe brush system is that because of a long handle attached to the main body, the user does not have to handle the main body, reducing the risk of the paste rubbed on the user&#39;s hand. Moreover, the long handle makes the multi-utility shoe brush system easy to use and handle, increasing the efficiency. 
     Another advantage in using this multi-utility shoe brush system is that because the polishing pad on the upper face is removably attached to the main body, this more often used polishing pad can be easily replaced. Moreover, with the polishing pad removed, a different large brush, such as another soft buffing brush, can be removably attached to the upper face if needed. Furthermore, as an alternate, a hair brush or even a cloth lint-removing brush may be removably attached to the upper face. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plane view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plane view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a partially broken away section of the top plane view of the second embodiment of the present invention exposing the retractable hard soil brush retracted into the main body, with a spring mechanism depressed; 
     FIG. 2B is a partially broken away section of the top plane view of the second embodiment of the present invention exposing the retractable hard soil brush extended out of the main body, with the spring mechanism released; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention with the second polishing pad exploded to show its removability, with the handle exploded to show its removability, and the shoe horn exploded to show its removability; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the second embodiment of the present invention that shows a polishing pad on the side of the main body; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the figures, a multi-utility shoe brush system 11 according to the present invention comprises a main body 13 and a cleaning system 15 wherein the cleaning system 15 comprises of at least one of a plurality of paste applicator brushes. 
     FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the multi-utility shoe brush system 11 comprising the main body 13 and the cleaning system 15 comprising a first brush 17a, a second brush 19a, a third brush 21a, a first polishing pad 23a on a first side 25a, a second polishing pad 27a on an upper face 29, and a handle 31. An advantage of the multi-utility shoe brush system 11 can easily be seen that, although there are three brushes 17a 19a 21a and two polishing pads 23a 27a, the use of any one of brushes or pads will not interfere with unused brushes or pads because of the angles separating each of the sides. 
     It is necessary, in order to have as many brushes or pads as shown in FIG. 1, that the angles formed when each of the four adjacent sides 25a 33a 37a 41a meet be greater than ninety degrees. That is the first side 25a and the second side 33a are adjacent sides to form a first angle 35a greater than ninety degrees, the second side 33a and the third side 37a are adjacent sides to form a second angle 39a greater than ninety degrees, and the third side 37a and the fourth side 41a are adjacent sides to form a third angle 43a greater than ninety degrees. The preferred embodiment is that the first angle 35a is between about 120 degrees and about 130 degrees, and the third angle 43a is between about 120 degrees and about 130 degrees. The most preferred embodiment is that the first angle 35a is about 120 degrees, and the third angle 43a is about 120 degree. 
     The preferred combination of brushes is that the first brush 17a to be a paste applicator brush, the second brush 19a to be a paste applicator brush of different softness, the third brush 21a to be a hard soil-removing brush of the most stiffness, the first polishing pad 23a to be a soft polishing pad, the second polishing pad 27a on the upper face to be made out of a different softness material, and a soft buffing brush 45 on a lower face 47. The soft buffing brush 45 on the lower face 47 is not shown in FIG. 1, but is shown in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 1 also shows a shoe-horn 49 with a locking end 51 conveniently attached to an end of the handle 31. 
     FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the multi-utility shoe brush system 11 comprising the main body 13 and the cleaning system 15 comprising a first brush 17b, a second brush 19b, a third brush 21b, a fourth brush 53, a first polishing pad 23b on the first side 25b, a second polishing pad 27b on the upper face 29, and a handle 31. An advantage of this embodiment of the multi-utility shoe brush system 11 can easily be seen that, although there are four brushes 17b 19b 21b 53 and two polishing pads 23b 27b, the use of a brush or a pad will not interfere with unused brushes or pads because of the angles separating each of the sides. 
     It is necessary, in order to have as many brushes or pads as shown in FIG. 2, that the angles formed when each of the sides meet be greater than ninety degrees. That is the first side 25b and the second side 33b are adjacent sides to form a first angle 35b greater than ninety degrees, the second side 33b and the third side 37b are adjacent sides to form a second angle 39b greater than ninety degrees, the third side 37b and the fourth side 41b are adjacent sides to form a third angle 43b greater than ninety degrees, and the fourth side 41b and the fifth side 55 are adjacent sides to form a third angle 57 greater than ninety degrees. The preferred embodiment is that the first angle 35b is between about 130 degrees and about 160 degrees, and the fourth angle 57 is between about 130 degrees and about 160 degrees. The most preferred embodiment is that the first angle 35b is about 150 degrees, the second angle 39b is about 120 degrees, the third angle 43b is about 120 degrees, and the fourth angle 57 is about 150 degrees. 
     The preferred combination of brushes in this embodiment of the invention is that the first brush 17b to be a paste applicator brush, the second brush 19b to be a paste applicator brush of different softness, the third brush 21b to be a paste applicator brush of different softness from the first brush 17b and the second brush 19b, the fourth brush 53 to be a hard soil-removing brush of the most stiffness, the first polishing pad 23b to be made of soft material, such as soft sponge, the second polishing pad 27b on the upper face 29 to be made of different softness material, and a soft buffing brush 45 on a lower face 47. The soft buffing brush 45 on the lower face 47 is not shown in FIG. 1, but is shown in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 2 also shows a shoe-horn 49 with a locking end 51 conveniently attached to an end of the handle 31. 
     FIG. 2 also shows the outline of a rectangular cavity 59, formed by a plurality of walls 61 which are cut into the main body 13, so that the fourth brush 53 may slide in and out of the main body 13. Also shown in FIG. 2 is the outline of a locking mechanism 63 which allows the fourth brush 53 to be locked in the main body 13 and the out of the main body 13. FIG. 2 also shows the outline of a spring mechanism 65. The locking mechanism 63 and the spring mechanism 65 are better shown in the FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. 
     The combination of the rectangular cavity 59 and the locking mechanism 63 can conveniently hide the fourth brush 53 away when the fourth brush 53 is not in use. This concept of retractively storing a brush or a pad may be utilized with any of the brushes or pads of this invention. 
     FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show the general working of the locking mechanism 63. FIG. 2A illustrates the fourth brush 53 locked away inside the main body 13 with the spring mechanism 65 depressed. FIG. 2B illustrates the fourth brush 53 released outside the main body 13 with the spring mechanism 65 also released. 
     The inventor does not fully understand the mechanical details of the locking mechanism 63, but the locking mechanism 63 shown represents a common plunger type locking device which is commonly used at an end of ball-point pens to store the ink cartridge away when not in use. This illustration of the locking mechanism 63 is to illustrate one of the means for locking the fourth brush 53 inside the main body 13 and outside the main body 13. This illustration does not limit the use of any other means of locking the brush or the pad inside and outside the main body 13 such as use of pins, screws, nuts and bolts, a spring and a release, or other mechanical devices. 
     FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 with the second polishing pad 27b exploded to show its removability, with the handle 31 exploded to show its removability, and the shoe horn exploded to show its removability. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the handle 31 has a first end 67 and a second end 69 wherein the first end 67 removably attaches to a sixth side 71 of the main body 13. The second end 69 removably accepts the locking end 51 of the shoe horn 49. FIG. 3 also shows the soft buffing brush 45 attached on the lower face 47 of the main body 13. 
     FIG. 3 shows the second polishing pad 27b slidably attaching to the upper face 29 of the main body 13 by the use of a groove 73 on the first side 25b and the fifth side 55. One advantage of the removability of the second polishing pad 27b is that it can be replaced after an extended use. The softness of the second polishing pad 27b would require periodic replacements to maintain the multi-utility shoe brush system 11 at its best efficiency. Moreover, if the multi-utility shoe brush system 11 requires another buffing brush 45 or anything else, the second polishing pad 27b can be removed and replaced with another brush or pad according to the user&#39;s specific needs. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the most preferred means to removably attach the second polishing pad 27b, the handle 31, and the shoe horn 49. This illustration, however, does not limit the use of any other means of removably attaching any of the brushes 17b 19b 21b 45 53, polishing pads 23b 27b, handle 31, or shoe horn 49 to the main body 13 or to the handle 31. Alternate means would be the use of pins, screws, nuts and bolts, or other mechanical devices. 
     FIG. 4 shows the first polishing pad 23b mounted on the first side 25b of the main body 13. The removability of the first polishing pad 23b is also preferred and the removability can be obtained by the use of snap-on pressure fitting device, screws, nails, pins, other mechanical devices, or bonding. 
     FIG. 5 shows the second polishing pad 27b tightly fitting over the grooves 73 cut into the first side 25b and the fifth side 55 of the main body which can also be seen in FIG. 3. Moreover, the preferred embodiment will have each individual brushes removably attached to the main body 13. Such removably attaching means could be the use of snap-on pressure fitting device, screws, nails, pins, other mechanical devices, or bonding. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, each of the brushes can be replaced with a polishing pad of different softness and skin textures, a hair brush or a cloth lint-removing brush. For another example, the hard soil-removing brush can be replaced with a several metal spikes. For another example, a cover (not shown) may be used to enclose the main body 13 and the cleaning system 15 to protect the multi-utility shoe brush system 11. 
     Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment or the preferred versions contained therein.