Shoe cover dispensing systems

Disclosed shoe cover dispensers function in conjunction with a cartridge of pre-stacked shoe covers utilizing an improved loading process, making the process easier and faster for the user. The cartridge can be inserted into the dispenser and then expanded by the dispenser to achieve a stack of expanded shoe covers ready to be automatically released over a shoe when the shoe is placed inside the dispenser.

FIELD

This disclosure pertains to shoe cover dispensing systems.

BACKGROUND

In some shoe cover dispensers, shoe covers are stacked inside of dispensers with clips at each of the four corners of every shoe cover and with the clips connected by an elastic band.FIGS. 1 and 1Ashow exemplary shoe covers2having clips4connected by elastic bands6. The clips4work in conjunction with a dispensing mechanism to hold a flexible cloth, fabric or paper shoe covering portion10of the shoe covers in an expanded, non-deployed position. A foot may then be placed within the boundary of the cover and the dispenser can release the shoe cover from the four corner clips. The elastic band6is released from within the clips, thereby causing the shoe covering portion10to collapse and be secured around the shoe.

Shoe cover dispensers utilize various clip designs. Exemplary clips are shown inFIG. 2. On each dispenser, the particular clip design of choice is secured at all four corners of each shoe cover in the stack. Thus, an elastic band held within a given clip lies directly atop a corresponding elastic band from the clip below. As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, this tends to create tall, inefficient stacks due to the thickness of the elastic bands, leaving large spaces in between the shoe covers unused. Furthermore, the thick elastic bands prevent the clips from sitting directly on top of each other in a parallel position, and instead cause the top and bottom clips to be angled with respect to each other. This condition can cause jamming and interference with dispenser function. Simply compressing the shoe covers together only exaggerates this condition by further reducing the height of the stack at the outer edge (at the clips) relative to where the clip attaches to the elastic bands.

It would be advantageous to be able to consistently include more shoe covers within a given stack, while improving dispenser function. Increasing the number of shoe covers within each stack, without changing the height of the stack, can allow a single dispenser of modest size to provide a large number of shoe covers, such as for large events, while reducing the need to frequently replenish the dispenser with covers.

It would also be advantageous to not have to manually load each shoe cover one at a time into a dispenser.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are novel shoe covers, disposable cartridges of pre-stacked shoe covers, and shoe cover dispensers that function in conjunction with a cartridge of pre-stacked shoe covers. The dispensers utilize an improved loading process, making the overall shoe cover dispensing process easier and faster for the user. A cartridge of non-expanded shoe covers can be inserted into the dispenser and then expanded by the dispenser to achieve a stack of expanded shoe covers ready to be automatically released over a shoe when the shoe is placed inside the dispenser.

Disclosed shoe cover dispensing systems can comprise a rigid body having an upper opening configured to receive a cartridge containing a plurality of pre-stacked shoe covers in a collapsed state, an expansion system configured to elastically expand the received plurality of shoe covers in a received cartridge from the collapsed state to an expanded state, and a releasing system configured to detect the presence of a shoe within the body and automatically release one of the plurality of shoe covers from the expanded state such that the released shoe cover elastically closes around the detected shoe.

The releasing system can comprise a sensor or switch that detects the presence of a shoe positioned inside the body. In some embodiments, the releasing system comprises rotating feed cams that are configured to release a top-most shoe cover in the stack when the feed cams rotates, which can occur in response to the sensor or switch detecting the presence of a foot inside the dispenser. The releasing system can also be configured to detect that a shoe has been removed from the body after a shoe cover has been released onto the shoe, and the dispenser can then move another shoe cover into a position ready to be released onto another foot that is subsequently placed into the body.

The expansion system can comprise a plurality of poles or other structures that extend generally vertically into a received cartridge of shoe covers. For example, the plurality of poles can enter respective stacks of shoe cover clips at the corners of the cartridge. The expansion system can include at least one motor that drives the poles apart from each other to expand the shoe covers. In some embodiments, the expansion system includes at least one motor that drives the poles apart from each other in a first horizontal dimension and at least a second motor that drives the poles apart from each other in a second horizontal dimension that is different from the first horizontal direction. The expansion system can be configured to fracture a disposable frame or packaging of the cartridge while expanding the shoe covers.

Disclosed cartridges can comprise a plurality of elastically expandable shoe covers in a non-expanded state and a disposable frame positioned at least partially around the shoe covers, wherein the disposable frame contains the shoe covers in a stacked relationship in the non-expanded state yet permits the shoe covers to be expanded from the non-expanded state to an elastically expanded state by a shoe dispensing system. For example, the disposable frame can comprise at least one weakened portion that is configured to fracture when the shoe covers are expanded by a shoe cover dispensing system from the non-expanded state to an elastically expanded state. The cartridge can contain the shoe covers in a stacked pattern such that rings coupled to elastic portions of the shoe covers are stacked in columns at the corners of the cartridge, which allows the poles of the dispenser to be inserted into the columns of rings from the bottoms of the columns. In each column, there can be two or more different types of rings ordered in an alternating pattern to help position the elastic portions of the shoe covers in such a manner that allows the entire stack of shoe covers to be shorter, having more shoe covers per vertical dimension unit of the stack.

Disclosed shoe covers can comprise a sheet of flexible material configured to at least partially cover a shoe, an elastic portion coupled to the sheet of flexible material and configured to retain the sheet of flexible material on a shoe, and a plurality of rings coupled to the elastic portion and configured to engage an expansion mechanism, wherein moving the plurality of rings apart from each other causes the elastic portion to elastically expand to open the shoe cover for receiving a shoe, and wherein releasing the a plurality of rings allows the elastic portion to elastically contract to close the shoe cover on a shoe. The elastic portion can comprise an annular elastic band forming an expandable opening of the shoe cover, and the plurality of rings can be spaced around a perimeter of the annular elastic band. The a plurality of rings are configured to be positioned around receiving poles of an shoe dispenser such that separation of the receiving poles causes elastic expansion of the elastic portion of the shoe cover. The plurality of rings can comprise at least two differently shaped rings that nest with one another such that the differently shaped rings can be organized in an alternating pattern in stacked columns of rings in the cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary Shoe Covers and Shoe Cover Clips

Disclosed herein are shoe cover clips capable of nesting with respect to one another to optimize the stacking of shoe covers. This nesting can be accomplished with the use of two or more specifically designed clips, which can have similar end portions for interacting with the mechanism in the dispenser but have different engagement projections for an elastic member (such as different attachment sites for an elastic and/or elastic band). Differences in elastic band attachment sites allow for staggering of elastic bands, such that they do not rest on top of each other to create spatially inefficient stacks in the vicinity of the clips. Rather, the elastic bands can be configured to rest one in front of the other, in the same transverse plane or in different planes, in the vicinity of the clips. This staggering can reduce the overall height of a stack of shoe covers by a significant amount. In various embodiments, the height reduction achieved is at least about 33%, at least about 30%, at least about 25%, at least about 20%, or at least about 15%.

FIGS. 4A-4Cshow an exemplary set of clips for efficiently stacking individual shoe covers.FIG. 4Ashows a first, long clip20having a circular end portion22which interacts with the dispensing mechanism/actuator and a common stem24. The common stem24can comprise at its terminus two opposing prongs26for holding an elastic band that surrounds a shoe covering portion (not shown) of the shoe cover. The stem24can extend radially outward from a location along the outer perimeter of the circular end portion22. The prongs26can each project sideways, away from the axis of the stem24, in opposite directions. The prongs26can together form a channel28for holding an elastic band in place, such as elastic band29shown inFIG. 4C.

FIG. 4Bshows a second, short clip30having a circular end portion32and two stems34projecting radially outward an equivalent distance from two locations spaced apart along the outer perimeter of the circular end portion32. This distance (i.e., the length of these stems34) is desirably shorter than the length of the stem24of the long clip20. The two stems34can each have a prong36and form an open channel38for holding in close proximity to the short clip30a second elastic band, such as the elastic band39shown inFIG. 4C, that extends between the two prongs36. In some embodiments, the prongs36attach directly to the outer perimeter of the end portion32.

FIG. 4Cshows the long clip20stacked on top of the short clip30. Due to their shorter length, as shown, the stems34of the short clip30can hold elastic band39at locations radially inward (relative to the center of the circular end portions22,32) of the elastic band29retained by the long clip20. Thus, the radially spaced elastic bands29,39do not stack in the vicinity of the clips20,30. Furthermore, the stems34can be spaced apart by a distance that is slightly greater than the distance between prongs26. By having such spacing, the stems34and/or the prongs36can, in some cases, be biased or otherwise configured to project upward, such that at least a portion of the prongs36holding the second elastic band39shares substantially the same transverse plane as at least a portion of the prongs26holding the first band29. In some embodiments, rather than the stems34projecting upward towards the long clip20, the stem24of the long clip20can project downward towards the short clip30. In some embodiments, the heights of the prongs26,36are each no greater than the combined height of the two end portions22,32. A “transverse plane” as used herein refers to a plane extending in a latitudinal direction, perpendicular to the axis of the stack of shoe covers and parallel to the individual shoe covers.

In addition to having long clips20stacked on top of short clips30, a stack of shoe covers can also have short clips30stacked on top of long clips20(FIG. 6). In this case, the stem24of the long clip20can project upwards towards the short clip30, or the stems34can project downwards, outside of the stem24, towards the long clip20. Any arrangement of alternating clip types can be used.

In other embodiments, the clips20,30can each remain completely in its own transverse plane, while stacked directly on top of the other with each clip20,30carrying an elastic band within its respective channel28,30. In some of these embodiments, the channel28and/or the prongs26has a height no greater than the height of the end portion22of the long clip20, and the channel38and/or the prongs36has a height no greater than the end portion32of the short clip30. In various embodiments, the stems34can be spaced closer or further apart, along the outer perimeter of the end portion32. In some embodiments, the stem24is shorter than each of the stems34, thereby rendering clip20(with a single stem) the “short clip” and clip30(with dual stems) the “long clip.”

FIGS. 5A and 5Bshow an exemplary shoe cover50(shoe covering material omitted) with an elastic band52and four clips located at its four corners54,56. Each shoe cover50can have a mixed collection of clips, such as two clips20and two clips30. The two clips20can be located at diagonally opposite corners54, with the two clips30located at the other two corners56(also diagonally opposite from one another). As a result, the elastic band52extending around the clips20,30can form the general shape of a slanted parallelogram. In particular, each elastic band52can extend in an angled direction, slightly inward or slightly outward relative to the center of the shoe cover50, between the clip prongs36and26. The present disclosure should not be construed as limited to shoe covers with elastic bands forming such a shape between clips. Other shapes can be formed in conjunction with clips, which may involve greater than four primary corners, such as six or eight corners.

FIG. 6shows a stack of individual shoe covers50(shoe covering material omitted) with clips20,30loaded onto a cartridge60, which in turn can be loaded into a shoe cover dispenser (such as described below). The shoe covers50can all be loaded directly onto the cartridge60in the slanted parallelogram configuration. The orientation of the shoe covers50can alternate within the stack, such that, at each corner of the stacked shoe covers (i.e., at each corner of the cartridge60), the stacked clips switch back-and-forth between clips20and clips30. The elastic bands52A and52B of vertically adjacent shoe covers50can cross past one another along the side of the cartridge60, but are prevented from crossing in the vicinity of the clips20,30. Thus, as a result of this alternating arrangement, the elastic bands52A,52B of vertically adjacent shoe covers50are prevented from piling on to each other and the clips20,30at the corners54,56. The clips20,30are thereby permitted to stack directly on top of one another in a substantially parallel configuration. In various embodiments, at none of the corners54,56is the height associated with stacking two shoe covers50greater than the height of the two stacked clips20,30at their respective end portions22,32.

In other embodiments, each individual shoe cover comprises only one variety of clip (e.g., either four clips20at each corner or four clips30at each corner), with the type of clip alternating between vertically adjacent covers within the stack. The shoe covers having different clips20,30can be efficiently stacked atop one another (i.e., no stacking of the elastic bands at the clips), though there may be a difference in the level of tension in the elastic bands52and/or the shoe covering portions. For example, a shoe cover with four clips30may hold an elastic band and/or the shoe covering material in greater tension than a shoe cover with four clips20, due to the shorter length of the stems36compared to stems26. Alternatively, the shoe covers can be made to vary slightly in the dimensions of the shoe covering portion and/or the size or type of elastic band used.

Exemplary Shoe Cover Dispensing Systems and Methods

Shoe covers are used in many industries including medicine (e.g., in operating rooms), electronics (e.g., in clean rooms) and real estate (e.g., for viewing homes). Applying shoe covers to the foot is an operation which varies from the user stretching it over their shoe by hand to a dispenser which will apply the cover over the shoe automatically. In the latter example, a dispenser can be a mechanically designed unit or an electro-mechanical unit in the operation of dispensing the cover. In some shoe cover dispensers, loading the shoe covers into the dispenser is done individually by stretching the covers and inserting corner clips into the dispenser mechanism. This is a very time consuming and error prone process, and must be performed multiple times in order to fill the dispenser with shoe covers. In other shoe cover dispensers, a column of folded shoe covers is loaded into a dispenser and the shoe covers are fed one-by-one into a mechanism which allows users to stretch each dispensed cover by using the heel of the shoe to pull one end of the cover and stretching it over the toe of the shoe. However, this is also a time consuming and error prone process.

As an improvement to this art, disclosed shoe cover dispensers function in conjunction with a cartridge of pre-stacked shoe covers utilizing an improved loading step, making the process easier and faster for the operator. The cartridge can be inserted into the dispenser and then expanded by the dispenser to achieve a stack of expanded shoe covers ready to be automatically released over a shoe when the shoe is placed inside the dispenser.

FIGS. 7 and 8show an exemplary cartridge100including a stack of shoe covers102each having four clips104and an elastic band running through the four clips, and a covering material (e.g. plastic). The shoe covers102, clips104, elastic band, and covering material can be identical to or similar to the technology shown and described in related toFIGS. 4A-6. The clips104form four vertical stacks at the four corners of the cartridge100. As shown inFIG. 8, the clip stacks can be hollow to receive vertical loading rods of a dispenser from the bottom of each stack.

The shoe covers102are held in the cartridge100by a frame106(e.g., disposable packaging), which can comprise polymeric material, cardboard, and/or other suitable materials. The frame106holds the shoe covers102in a compact state with the elastic bands relaxed. The frame106can be perforated at certain locations, or otherwise readily fracturable, such that the frame106can be fractured, broken apart, torn, or otherwise opened by a dispenser in order to expand the four columns of clips104diagonally apart from each other and ready the covers102to receive a shoe. For example, the frame106can be readily fracturable along the four upper corners of the frame (shown inFIG. 7above the stack of clips104) such that the four side panels of the frame separate from each other and move (e.g., pivot or slide) downwardly when the cartridge is expanded outwardly. The four side panels can pivot about the lower edges where they join the bottom panel (shown inFIG. 8). This allows the remnants of the frame106to reside at the bottom of a dispenser during the dispensing of the shoe covers. When the shoe covers are all dispensed, the remnants of the frame become accessible and can be readily removed so a new cartridge can be loaded into the dispenser. In other embodiments, at least part of the remnants of the frame can be removed after expansion of the covers and before the covers are dispensed. The bottom panel of the frame106can have a central opening108that allows a portion of the dispenser to be inserted up into the cartridge when it is loaded into the dispenser.

FIG. 9shows a cartridge100being loaded into an exemplary shoe cover dispenser200. The cartridge100is inserted into the dispenser200in the same location as where the shoe is inserted. The dispenser200then expands the shoe covers102in the cartridge100horizontally to a stretched position sufficiently large enough for a shoe to be placed within the borders of the cover. In expanding the shoe covers102, the dispenser200can apply sufficient force to fracture the frame106of the cartridge. When the covers are expanded, the dispenser is ready for use. When a user places her shoe into the top opening of the dispenser within the boundaries of the covers and applies a downward load through the covers, a switch (e.g., pressure sensitive) of the dispenser triggers the release of one shoe cover102(e.g., the upper most and/or inner most cover) by disengaging each of the corner clips104of that cover substantially simultaneously. The cover then elastically closes around the users foot, after which the user can remove her foot with the cover applied. The dispenser can then cause a next shoe cover in the stack to move into a ready-to-be-deployed position, and the process can repeat until all the covers are dispensed. Then the remnants of the frame can be removed (if still present) and a new cartridge can be inserted and the entire process can be repeated.

In some embodiments, the dispenser200includes a mechanism202(shown inFIGS. 10-14) positioned within an outer body204(FIG. 9). Mechanism202is just one non-limiting example, and many variations of this embodiment can be utilized to perform equivalent functions, as are described herein. The mechanism202includes four vertical posts206that can move diagonally horizontally apart from and towards each other through a specific combination of x-direction and y-direction movements driven by a central horizontal auger210mounted above a lower base plate204. This allows the four posts206to move between the contracted loading position shown inFIGS. 10-12and the expanded dispense position shown inFIGS. 13-14.

The dispenser200can be powered by at least one on-board power supply220(e.g., a rechargeable battery) and/or a corded power supply. For example, the power supply may include a 12V solid lead acid rechargeable battery, or a power cord that plugs into a wall outlet. An on-board power supply can allow the dispenser200to be mobile and not depend on its location having a power outlet. The power supply can power various motors (e.g., motors212,230,242) and one or more electrical controllers (e.g., on circuit board252) coupled to the motors. A master power switch250and/or other user operated switches/control devices can also be included.

To load the cartridge100into the dispenser200, the four columns of clips104of the cartridge are slid over the tops of the four posts206and down toward the base plate204when the mechanism202is in the contracted, load position (FIGS. 10-12). Once the cartridge100has been loaded, the dispenser200moves the posts206diagonally outward to the dispense position (FIGS. 13-14), fracturing/breaking the frame106of the cartridge that is used to organize the covers within the cartridge. For example, the frame106can fracture along perforations located at or near the bottom of the frame, allowing the sides and bottom of the frame to move upwardly to the top of the covers102when the covers are expanded. In other embodiments, the frame106can fracture along perforations located at or near the bottom of the frame, allowing the sides and bottom of the frame to move upwardly to the top of the covers102when the covers are expanded. Once the covers are fully expanded by the dispenser200, the remnants of the frame106can become a generally flattened material and can be located near the top of the expanded covers and/or near the bottom of the dispenser, such that the frame remnants can be easily accessed and removed from the dispenser200. In some embodiments, portions of the fractured frame106can remain within the dispenser200during the dispensing period and can be accessed and removed after some or all of the covers102can been dispensed.

When the cartridge100is loaded into the dispenser200, a central platform222mounted on the base plate204projects upwardly into a lower recess108of the cartridge (seeFIG. 8). When the shoe covers102are expanded within the dispenser200, a switch or sensor (e.g., pressure sensitive switch224) coupled to the top of the platform222is pressed up against the lower surface of the stack of shoe covers102. In this position, the switch224can sense the presence of the users foot/shoe, such as by sensing the additional pressure applied to the top of the stack of covers102by a shoe pressing down on the covers, triggering the release of the top cover102over the shoe. When the shoe is removed, the switch224can trigger the next shoe cover102to be moved into position for dispensing.

The mechanism202can include various components and features to cause the posts206to move diagonally between the loading position and the dispensing position. To move the posts206diagonally apart from the loading position, the controller at252causes a motor212to rotate the auger210in a first direction. The auger210is mounted for rotational motion by a bearing in the central platform222and an end bearing226. The auger210can also include a gear228that can engage a control device to optionally prevent the auger from rotating in one direction or both directions. The auger210includes two threaded sections, such as with opposite threading, that each engage with one of two threaded brackets214, one of the brackets being located on each side of the central platform222and each bracket being coupled to two of the posts206. As the auger210rotates, the brackets214move linearly apart from each other along the auger. Each bracket214includes two slots218oriented perpendicular to the auger210, with the two slots218of each bracket located on opposite sides of the auger.

Each of the four slots218is engaged with a respective one of four carriages216that carry the four posts208. Each carriage216extends through the respective slot218and is coupled to the respective bracket214such that the carriage216is forced to move in the longitudinal direction of the auger (the “x-direction”) along with the motion of the respective bracket214in the x-direction, while being free to slide along the length of the slot218perpendicular to the auger (the “y-direction”). The vertical longitudinal direction of the posts206is the “z-direction.”

Each carriage216can include a lower flange217that is mounted in a respective one of four diagonally disposed channels208in the base plate204. As the auger210rotates and drives the brackets214away from each other in the x-direction, the brackets214drive the carriages216along the channels208, allowing the carriages to slide along the slots218in the y-direction as the lower flanges217of the carriages216moved along the channels208, such that the carriages and the posts206move in both the x-direction and the y-direction simultaneously as controlled by the path of the channels.

In some embodiments, each post206can also rotate through individual motors230mounted to the respective carriage216adjacent to the post. Each of the four motors230can drive a gear232, which drives a gear234mounted around the base of the post208, which causes the post to rotated about its vertical z-axis relative to the carriage216. This rotation of the post206turns threads incorporated into the outer surface of the post, which drives the column of clips104mounted around the post into a compressed stack.

As shown inFIG. 15, at the top of each post206is a feed cam240(illustrated in detail inFIGS. 16-24) that rotates independently of the rotation of the post206. The rotation of the feed cam240allows one clip104(the top most clip) to be released after the switch224is triggered, and sets the dispense cycle in motion. Each feed cam240can be mounted on a vertical rod extending through the post and coupled to a gear244(FIG. 13) near the base of the post, which is driven by an individual motor242carried by the carriage214. There can be four motors242that drive the rotation of each of the four feed cams240.

After reaching the expanded, dispense position (FIGS. 13-14) with the covers104expanded, the dispenser200rotates the four posts206to raise the four columns of clips104to the top of each post against the feed cam240. The dispenser200then rotates the top feed cams240to load only the top clips104into the dispense position, then rotates the feed cam240the opposite direction to pull the remaining clips down, out of the way for the four top clips to be the only clips to release. When the switch224is activated by a shoe, the feed cams240rotate to release the four top clips104dispense the top shoe cover102such that the elastic band causes the cover to snap around the shoe. The posts206then rotate to push the clips up to the feed cam240again, and the feed cam rotates to load the four top clips again in preparation to dispense the next shoe cover. This cycle can repeat until all the covers are dispensed. When the shoe cover stack is empty, pushing a switch on the dispenser200causes the posts206to move back inward to the load position by rotating the auger210in the opposite direction.

As a precautionary feature, the dispenser can include a “Clear Function” button or switch in case a cover gets caught on a shoe or fails to properly feed. Pushing this switch causes the posts to partially move inward. The feed cams rotate allowing the user to remove the shoe cover in question. The dispenser can then be put back into the dispense position.

The electronic controls for the dispenser can include LEDs, such as on the board252as shown inFIG. 13, to assist in identifying the dispenser functions in process. For example, a “green” light can indicate the system is ready to dispense, a “yellow” light can indicate that the system is ready to load a cartridge, a flashing “green” can indicated that the dispenser is expanding a cartridge, a flashing “yellow” can indicated that the dispenser is collapsing towards the load position, and/or a “red” light can indicate a fault situation with a miss-fed shoe cover (e.g., Clear Function required).

The dispenser200can also have a stabilizing handle207(FIG. 9) which attaches to the back of the dispenser and extends upward to a height which easily allows the user to grasp the handle. This provides the user the ability to balance on one foot as the other foot is placed within the dispenser.

As used herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “at least one” encompass one or more of the specified element. That is, if two of a particular element are present, one of these elements is also present and thus “an” element is present. The terms “a plurality of” and “plural” mean two or more of the specified element. As used herein, the term “and/or” used between the last two of a list of elements means any one or more of the listed elements. For example, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means “A,” “B,” “C,” “A and B,” “A and C,” “B and C” or “A, B and C.” As used herein, the term “coupled” generally means physically coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled items absent specific contrary language.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is at least as broad as the following claims. We therefore claim all that comes within the scope of the following claims.