Abstract:
A foot mountable floor drying device is disclosed as including a generally rectangular rigid plate that is secured to the foot of the user. The plate is larger than the foot so that the former does not contact the floor during use. The device includes a plurality of straps, each of which is sectioned and provided with suitable fastening material so as to be adjustably and releasably secured about the foot. An absorbent cloth pad is secured to the plate in an overlying relationship with the bottom face of the plate. The pad consequently absorbs moisture on the floor as it is the foot is scooted along the floor. It has been determined that the appearance of a floor cleaned and then dried with the inventive device is far superior in appearance than a floor that has been mopped with a cleaning agent and then allowed to air dry.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to floor cleaning equipment and accessories. More particularly, the present invention concerns a foot mounted floor drying device and method of using same, wherein use of the device provides the user with exercise and enhances the durability and appearance of the floor. 
     2. Discussion of Prior Art 
     A floor is traditionally cleaned by spreading a water-based cleaning fluid over the floor and, in some cases, subsequently rinsing the floor with water. Although a mop will sometimes be used to soak up pooled liquid, the floor is traditionally left wet and allowed to air dry. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of cleaning agents specifically suggest that the floor be permitted to air dry and that rinsing of the floor after application of the diluted agent is unnecessary. 
     It has been determined, however, that traditional floor cleaning methods present numerous problems. For example, traditional floor cleaning techniques have a tendency to leave an unsightly, dull film on the floor. It is also known that floors permitted to air dry remain wet for a significant period of time (e.g., fifteen to forty-five minutes), and this presents a hazard to individuals walking on the floor. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Responsive to these and other problems, an important object of the present invention is to provide an improved floor cleaning technique. Another important object of the present invention is to provide a device and technique particularly useful in eliminating the unsightly film often associated with traditional floor cleaning methods. Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a film prevention device that has an inexpensive, durable and simple construction. It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a floor cleaning technique that eliminates the problematic film with the minimal amount of additional time and expense. 
     In accordance with these and other objects evident from the following description of the preferred embodiment, the present invention concerns a foot mountable floor drying device. It has been determined that drying of a floor, regardless of whether it is has been rinsed after application of the cleaning liquid, virtually eliminates the risk of a film residue. It has also been determined that complete drying of the floor actually results in some buffing thereof. This not only eliminates the customary film residue but also produces a shine on the floor, particularly on so-called “hardwood floors”. With regard to the construction of the inventive device, it includes a substantially rigid plate presenting a bottom face and being removably attached to the users&#39;s foot by a foot attachment member. The device further includes an absorbent element substantially covering and being generally fixed relative to the bottom face of the plate. Thus, the user simply attaches the device to one or both feet and then scoots across the floor to effect the desired drying. It will be appreciated that such drying is accomplished while standing (eliminates work on the hands and knees), yet some aerobic activity is provided. The present invention also concerns a floor cleaning method generally involving use of the inventive device. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor drying device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, with the device being shown attached to the left foot of a user; and 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device depicted in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning initially to FIG. 1, the device  10  selected for illustration is shown attached to the left foot F of a user. As will be described further below, the device  10  is designed so that sliding movement of the foot F across the floor (not shown) causes any moisture thereon to be absorbed. It has been determined that the device  10  is particularly beneficial when used to dry the floor after a cleaning liquid has been applied thereto. The device  10  generally includes a rigid plate  12 , a foot attachment member  14  that securely attaches the plate  12  to the foot F, and an absorbent element  16  fixed in an overlying relationship with the bottom of the plate  12 . 
     As perhaps best shown in FIG. 1, the plate  12  preferably is flat and has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the top (e.g., see the phantom lines in FIG.  1 ). The illustrated plate consequently presents flat, relatively parallel top and bottom faces  18  and  20 , respectively, and a four-sided marginal face  22  extending between the top and bottom faces  18  and  20 . The top face  18  is secured against the foot by the foot attachment member  14 , and the bottom face is covered by the absorbent element  16 . The top face  18  of the plate  12  is larger than the user&#39;s foot F so that all of the downward force associated with the foot F is applied against the plate  12 . To accommodate most adult foot sizes, the illustrated plate  12  preferably has a length of at least about six inches and a width of at least about four inches. The four corners  24  of the plate are particularly beneficial when the device  10  is used to dry a floor having right-angle corners (not shown) along its perimeter. That is, the device  10  is easily manipulated into the corners of a floor so that drying of the entire floor is facilitated. It is noted, however, that the corners are slightly rounded (e.g., the corners are defined about an arc defined by a radius of less than about one-quarter inch). Those ordinarily skilled in the art will also appreciate that the flat bottom face  20  is specifically designed for use with flat floors (e.g., wood floors, linoleum, etc.). 
     However, the principles of the present invention are equally applicable to various other plate configurations. For example, it is entirely within the ambit of the present invention to utilize other variously shaped plates (e.g., a circular-shaped plate, a square-shaped plate, a somewhat elliptical plate to generally match the shape of the user&#39;s foot, etc.). It is also possible to provide a plate with a L-shaped bottom face so that the device may be used to dry stairs. The present invention also contemplates a plate having a top surface contoured to match the shape of the bottom of the user&#39;s foot F. 
     The plate  12  may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, wood, etc. It is preferred, however, that the plate  12  have sufficient rigidity to avoid generally all flexing thereof during use. One suitable material comprises ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene having a thickness of at least about three-quarter inch. If desired, the top face  18  of the plate  12  maybe covered with a soft material (e.g., foam rubber) to improve the comfort of the device  10 . 
     The foot attachment member  14  is preferably in the form of several straps  26 , 28 , 30  adjustably secured over the user&#39;s foot F to fixedly secure the plate  12  thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the straps  26 , 28 , 30  is sectioned into two segments that are adjustably fastenable to one another. As particularly shown with respect to the strap  30  in FIG. 1, the undersurface adjacent the distal end of one of the strap segments and the top surface adjacent the distal end of the other strap segment are provided with complemental fastening structure  32  for permitting adjustable interconnection of the segments. The illustrated fastening structure comprises hook and loop fastening material, although other suitable fastening structure (e.g., snaps, buttons, a metal hook and spaced apart catches, etc.) may be used. The straps  26 , 28 , 30  are formed of any suitable material (e.g., nylon strapping). The straps  26 , 28 , 30  are preferably attached to the plate  12  by inserting each strap segment through an opening (not shown) extending through the plate  12  (from the top face  18  to the bottom face  20 ) and then being fixed to the bottom face  20  (e.g., by staples, adhesive, etc.). However, the straps  26 , 28 , 30  may be attached to the plate  12  in any other suitable manner. For example, the straps may each alternatively consist of a single element that loops around the underside of the plate or each alternatively comprise two segments that are attached to the top face  18 . 
     It is noted that the rearmost strap  26  is configured and dimensioned to wrap over the foot just forward of the malleolus. The remaining two straps  28   30  are adapted to cross over one another along the top of the metatarsal region of the user&#39;s foot F. The straps  26 , 28 , 30  hold the foot F firmly against the top face  18  of the plate  14 , particularly when the foot F is slid forwardly across the floor. If desired, the foot attachment member  14  may further include a heel strap (not shown) that projects from the plate forwardly of the ankle strap  26  and wraps around the heel of the foot F. It will be appreciated that such a heel strap would further inhibit relative movement between the user&#39;s foot F and the plate  12  when the foot F is slid rearwardly across the floor. 
     The foot attachment member  14  may further be variously constructed. For example, the principles of the present invention are equally applicable to a foot attachment member consisting of an upper or cover that encases the foot F. It will be appreciated, however, that the straps  26 , 28 , 30  are most preferred because they provide the greatest degree of ventilation while securely attaching the user&#39;s foot F to the plate  12 . 
     Again, the absorbent element  16  overlies the bottom face  20  of the plate  12  and is thereby pressed against the floor as the foot F is slid across the floor. In the illustrated embodiment, the element  16  comprises a flexible sheet of fabric cloth that is removably attached to the plate  12 . The sheet  16  preferably has a greater width and length than the plate  12  so that it wraps over the marginal face  22  and onto the top face  18 , although it is only important that the sheet  16  cover the bottom face  20 . The illustrated sheet  16  has a marginal passageway (not shown) formed therein preferably by folding all four edges over and attaching the sheet to itself. Received within the passageway is a drawstring  34  that may be drawn taut once the sheet  16  is placed over the plate  12  in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The drawstring  34  is formed of any suitable material (e.g., nylon string) and may alternatively comprise a continuous elastic strap that need not be drawn taut and then knotted as shown. Moreover, the bottom face  20  of the plate  12  and the central portion of the interior surface of the sheet  16  are provided with complemental fastening structure  36  (see FIG.  2 ), preferably in the form of hook and loop fastening material, for securely fixing the sheet  16  to the plate  12 . The hook and loop fastening material  36  preferably extends across substantially all of the bottom face  20  and is coextensive on both the plate  12  and the sheet  16 . It is, however, entirely within the ambit of the present invention to provide spaced apart discrete strips on the plate  12  and/or sheet  16  or other material arrangements (e.g., hook and loop fastening material along the marginal face  22 , etc.), if desired. Furthermore, other suitable fastening structure and arrangements may be used (e.g., reusable backing and adhesive layer, etc). It is also entirely within the ambit of the present invention to permanently attach the sheet  16  to the plate  12  so that the latter must be discarded with the former. 
     The sheet  16 , particularly its exterior surface (the exposed, bottom surface of the sheet  16  in FIG.  2 ), is highly absorbent, such that moisture on the floor is quickly absorbed by the sheet  16  as the plate  12  is moved across the floor. The sheet is preferably formed of a thick cotton fabric having a terry-stitch exterior surface. In addition, the sheet  16  is preferably constructed so that it may be repeatedly wrung out during drying of the floor and may be washed in a conventional washing machine between uses. However, the principles of the present invention are equally applicable to other suitable absorbent materials. For example, the sheet  16  may alternatively comprise a chammy. 
     The use of the device  10  should be apparent from the foregoing description. It shall therefore be sufficient to explain that the device  10  is preferably used after moisture has been deliberately applied to the floor, although such deliberate application of the moisture is unnecessary. It will be appreciated that the moisture will usually be in the form of a cleaning liquid or water (often applied as a rinse after the cleaning liquid has been applied). The moisture is typically applied by standard mopping techniques. The device  10  is secured to the user&#39;s foot F by attaching the straps  26 , 28 , 30  in the illustrated manner, either before or after the cleaning liquid and/or water has been applied to the floor. The user then simply slides his/her foot F across the floor to absorb the moisture thereon. A device  10  may be secured to both feet, if desired. During use of the device  10 , it may be necessary to remove the sheet  16  and wring it out so that additional moisture may be absorbed. It may also be necessary in some instances to secure a device  10  to only one foot so that the user&#39;s entire weight need not be applied against the device during drying of the floor. 
     Again, it has been determined that such a floor cleaning method not only serves to dry the floor but also eliminates the unsightly film residue often left with traditional cleaning techniques. It has also been determined that the floor is buffed to some degree, which further improves its appearance. Yet further is the aerobic but not overly strenuous activity provided to the user. 
     The embodiment described above is to be used as illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The inventor hereby states her intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.