Abstract:
A shoe cleaning device is disclosed, mainly comprising a scrubber member and an enclosure. The scrubber member is provided with a handle and retention members to which disinfecting sanitary wipes can be attached, so that a user holding the scrubber member by the handle can use the scrubber member and attached sanitary wipe to efficiently remove soil and contamination from a shoe without soaking the shoe. The enclosure that has an internal space for storing a plurality of sanitary wipes, and an upper separation platform on top of which there is a recess for storing the scrubber member. The enclosure further includes a lid that closes onto the scrubber member and conceals the scrubber member, except for, optionally, the scrubber member handle. The lid preferably closes in a sealed manner to guarantee that the plurality of wipes does not dry out over time.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Non-Provisional Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/564,471, filed on Aug. 1, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,715,422 which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/589,630, filed on Jan. 23, 2012, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shoe cleaning device and, in particular, to a shoe sole cleaning device that includes an enclosure and a handheld scrubber that can be stored inside the enclosure, the enclosure containing disposable sanitary wipes that can be attached to the handheld scrubber in order to clean and sanitize a shoe sole. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People entering a home, place of worship, business or other enclosed space while wearing shoes often carry a wide diversity of substances adhered to their shoe soles. These substances are generally undesirable for different reasons. For instance, the substances can include harmful bacteria picked up in public places such as supermarkets, drug stores, public restrooms, hospitals, parking lots, streets, parks or the like, which can end up being passed onto the floor of the home, place of worship, business or other enclosed space and contaminate the enclosed space. In another example, the substances can include staining agents such as mud, oil, grease, ink or the like which can cause stains on rugs, carpets, tiles, on upholstered furniture and other applicable surfaces in the home or other enclosed space. In yet another example, slippery substances picked up on the streets and brought into a home or other enclosed space floor can cause people walking on the floor to slip and fall, with the risk of being severely injured. 
     In order to prevent the aforementioned inconveniences, many people require shoes to be removed before entering their homes or businesses. Moreover, it is a tradition of many cultures and communities to require shoe removal before entering a home or a place of worship, in order to maintain purity and cleanliness of such an intimate space. However, many cultures are not used to, nor prepared for, such a habit; for instance, in these cultures, people wishing to remove their shoes have to decide whether to leave their shoes outside, pile them in a corner inside the house, carry them inside and wash the soles in a sink, or throw the shoes in a washing machine every day. Understandably, none of these measures is very popular or convenient. In consequence, in many cultures people continue to walk into their homes, businesses or other enclosed spaces wearing stained or contaminated shoes, taking the aforementioned risks. 
     Various shoe sole cleaning devices have been developed over time to help people clean their shoe soles comfortably and efficiently, prior to entering an enclosed space or in other applicable circumstances. However, these cleaning and/or sanitizing solutions are still lacking in availability, ease of use, cost effectiveness, simplicity and true efficiency. 
     For instance, one known solution provides an athletic shoe cleaner in the form of a scraper brush that is carried on a person&#39;s footwear or wrist. The scraper brush is used by removing the device from the footwear or wrist and is subsequently used to scrape off and dislodge large particles or debris adhered to the sole. This known solution, while somewhat useful, presents significant drawbacks. In the first place, although the use of a brush is well known throughout history and is somewhat effective in removing contaminants from shoe soles, the scrubbing action requires vigorous physical effort by the user and frequently scatters the debris in all directions, thus causing dirtiness and contamination of the vicinity. In addition, scrubbing does not remove bacteria, chemicals and other contaminating agents that may be present on the sole. 
     Another known solution in the prior art is a shoe sole sanitizing device consisting of a tray having a reservoir containing a sanitizing solution, and a resilient perforated grate with scraping edges on the tray. The perforated grate is of a resiliency sufficient to be depressed beneath the upper surface of the solution when stepped on by a wearer. A drain is provided in the reservoir for removal of used solution and particles which collects in therein. In certain versions of the design, an automated fluid fill and drain system may be mounted within or on the tray. This known solution, while somewhat useful, presents significant drawbacks. In the first place, the device is generally large in size and requires a dedicated area for use. In addition, in the version where an automated fluid/fill drain device is employed, the device becomes exponentially more complex and expensive due to the plumbing-associated installation costs and due to having to meet the applicable regulatory requirements for disposal of the cleaning solution. An additional drawback is that the device saturates the sole of the shoe, and possibly the shoe upper, resulting in a soaked shoe that requires excessive drying time. 
     In yet another solution known in the art, a sole cleaning and drying box apparatus is provided mainly for removing the dark residue that clings to shoe and boot soles after walking and playing on some types of asphalt paving. This box apparatus can be used for various types and sizes of shoes, allowing people to clean and dry both soles in just a few minutes without having to remove their shoes. The device contains high pile, thick tufted carpet pieces on contiguous sturdy basis that serve as the cleaner and dryer elements, working well on a variety of sole indentations. Used with liquid cleaner and a little water, this arrangement allows fast, easy and effective cleaning of shoe and boot soles. A simple attachment to the box holds the lid up while the soles are being cleaned, then closes for better appearance and security. Despite being useful, this solution is not free of significant drawbacks. Mainly, this solution is a combination of the two previously described solutions, as suffers from the deficiencies of both. On one hand, the use of a brush or tufted material scatters debris over adjacent areas. On the other hand, the device is generally large and thus requires a substantial area to be dedicated to the use of the device; in addition, when used with a liquid cleaner and water, the device is likely to over-saturate the sole and possibly the shoe upper. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need in the art to provide a shoe cleaning system and method that overcomes at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks, and is yet convenient to use, and effective in sanitizing and removing contaminating agents from the shoe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing a shoe cleaning device that includes a handheld scrubber member provided with a handle and retention members to which disinfecting sanitary wipes can be attached, so that the scrubber member and the attached sanitary wipe efficiently remove soil and contamination from a shoe without soaking the shoe. The device further includes an enclosure that has an internal space for storing a plurality of sanitary wipes, and an upper separation platform, on top of which there is a recess for storing the scrubber member. The enclosure further includes a lid that closes onto the scrubber member and conceals the scrubber member, except for, optionally, the scrubber member handle. The lid preferably closes in a sealed manner to guarantee that the plurality of wipes does not dry out through time. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the invention consists of a shoe cleaning device comprising: 
     an enclosure having a housing and a lid movably coupled thereto, said housing having a bottom surface, an opposed upper surface, and at least one side wall extending between said bottom surface and said upper surface and configured such that said housing defines an internal space therein; 
     a separation platform adjacent said upper surface of said housing; 
     a scrubber member that includes a base member having upper and lower surfaces, said scrubber member having a handle coupled to said scrubber member upper surface; 
     at least one retention member arranged at said base member upper surface, wherein said retention member is configured to retain a sanitary wipe therein. 
     In a second aspect, the lid is pivotably coupled to the housing. 
     In another aspect, the shoe cleaning device further comprises at least one fastener to secure the lid to the housing in the closed position. 
     In another aspect, the lid is movable between an open position enabling access to said separation platform and a closed position blocking access to said separation platform. 
     In another aspect, the upper surface of said housing defines a recess extending downwardly toward said housing bottom surface, said separation platform being positioned in said recess. 
     In another aspect, the scrubber member base member includes a configuration that is complementary to a configuration of said housing recess such that said scrubber member is selectively received in said housing recess and supported on said separation platform. 
     In another aspect, said lid is movable between an open position enabling access to said separation platform and a closed position blocking access to said separation platform, and wherein said lid comprises an opening arranged to face the recess when the lid is arranged in said closed position, the handle of the scrubber member being configured to protrude outwardly through the lid opening when the scrubber member is received in said housing recess and the lid is arranged in said closed position. 
     In another aspect, the device comprises an open container removably arranged at the housing upper surface, said removable open container having a base and side walls, the housing recess being delimited between the side walls of the open container, and the housing separation platform being the base of said removable open container. 
     In another aspect, the removable open container is configured to adopt a removed position in which access is provided to the internal space, and a mounted position in which said open container base prevents access to the housing internal space. 
     In another aspect, the shoe cleaning device further comprises: 
     a plurality of disposable sanitary wipes positioned in said internal space of said housing, said plurality of wipes being interconnected and contiguous; 
     wherein the shoe cleaning device comprises an opening configured to receive and communicate a respective one of said plurality of wipes from inside said internal space to a position overlaying said separation platform outside of said internal space. 
     In another aspect, the opening is arranged on the housing upper surface. 
     In another aspect, the opening is arranged on the separation platform. 
     In another aspect, said plurality of wipes is formed as a roll of perforated contiguous sanitary cleaning wipes situated on said housing bottom surface in said housing internal space. 
     In another aspect, said enclosure includes a tear tab coupled to said upper surface of said housing, said tear tab being configured to separate a respective wipe from an adjacent wipe. 
     In another aspect, each of said plurality of wipes includes a perforated seam at which respective wipes may be selectively separated. 
     In another aspect, said lid is movable between an open position enabling access to said separation platform and a closed position blocking access to said separation platform, and wherein said enclosure is atmospherically sealed when said lid is at said closed position such that said plurality of wipes is substantially prevented from drying out. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the invention consists of a shoe cleaning device, comprising: 
     an enclosure having a housing and a lid movably coupled thereto, said housing having a bottom surface, an opposed upper surface, and at least one side wall extending between said bottom surface and said upper surface and configured such that said housing defines an internal space therein; 
     a separation platform adjacent said upper surface of said housing; 
     a scrubber member that includes a base member having upper and lower surfaces, said scrubber member having a handle coupled to said scrubber member upper surface; 
     at least one retention member arranged at said base member upper surface, wherein said retention member is configured to retain a sanitary wipe therein; wherein 
     said upper surface of said housing defines a recess extending downwardly toward said housing bottom surface, said separation platform being positioned in said recess, and wherein said scrubber member base includes a configuration that is complementary to a configuration of said housing recess such that said scrubber member is selectively received in said housing recess and supported on said separation platform. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the present invention consists of a method for cleaning shoes, comprising the steps of: 
     providing an enclosure having a housing and a lid movably coupled thereto, said housing having a bottom surface, an opposed upper surface, and at least one side wall extending between said bottom and upper surface and configured such that said housing defines an internal space therein, wherein said enclosure includes a separation platform adjacent said upper surface; 
     providing a scrubber member that includes a base member having upper and lower surfaces, said scrubber member having a handle coupled to said scrubber member upper surface; 
     providing a retention member arranged at said base member upper surface, wherein said retention member is configured to retain a sanitary wipe therein; 
     removing a sanitary wipe from said housing internal space and positioning said sanitary wipe at least partially atop said separation platform; and 
     placing the scrubber member on top of said sanitary wipe; 
     wrapping the sanitary wipe upward and onto said scrubber member and pressing at least part of said sanitary wipe to fit into said retention member. 
     In a second aspect, the method further comprises the steps of: 
     placing the scrubber member at least partially inside a recess extending downwardly toward said housing bottom surface, said separation platform being arranged at the bottom of the recess; 
     moving the lid to a closed position in which the lid blocks access to the separation platform and to the scrubber member base member, and in which at least part of the scrubber member handle protrudes outwards from the enclosure through an opening comprised in the lid; 
     fastening the lid to the housing; 
     holding the device by the handle member protruding outwards from the enclosure. 
     In another aspect, the method further comprises the steps of: 
     removing the separation platform from the housing, to provide access to the internal space therein; 
     placing or removing a plurality of sanitary wipes in said internal space; 
     placing the separation platform on the housing, to conceal said internal space; 
     arranging a first wipe of said plurality of sanitary wipe to protrude outwardly from said internal space through an opening comprised in the housing. 
     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a perspective view of a first embodiment of the shoe cleaning device in accordance with the invention, where the device is shaped as a rectangular prism, the device being shown in a first position in which the lid is arranged in an open position in relation to the housing, and the scrubber member is arranged outside the housing; 
         FIG. 2  presents the device of  FIG. 1 , shown in a second position, in which the scrubber member is inserted in a recess provided in the housing; 
         FIG. 3  presents the device of  FIG. 1  in a third position, in which the lid is arranged in a closed position in relation to the housing, concealing the scrubber member; 
         FIG. 4  presents the device of  FIG. 1  in a fourth position, in which the lid is shown in the open position, two disinfectant sanitary wipes have been pulled out of the housing, and the scrubber member is about to be placed on a sanitary wipe; 
         FIG. 5  presents the device of  FIG. 1  in a fifth position, in which the scrubber member has been placed on the sanitary wipe and the wipe has been wrapped onto and secured to the scrubber member; 
         FIG. 6  presents a perspective view of a second embodiment of the shoe cleaning device in accordance with the invention, where the device is generally cylindrical in shape, the device being shown in a first position in which the lid is arranged in an open position in relation to the housing, and the scrubber member is arranged outside the housing; 
         FIG. 7  presents the device of  FIG. 6  in a second position, in which the lid is arranged in a closed position in relation to the housing, and the scrubber member handle protrudes outwards through an opening in the lid; 
         FIG. 8  presents the device of  FIG. 6  in a third position, in which the lid is shown in the open position, a disinfectant sanitary wipe has been pulled out of the housing and placed on the housing, and the scrubber member is about to be placed on the sanitary wipe; 
         FIG. 9  presents the device of  FIG. 6  in a fourth position, in which the scrubber member has been placed on the sanitary wipe and partially inside a recess of the housing, and the wipe has been wrapped onto and secured to the scrubber member. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Two different embodiments of the shoe cleaning system according to the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5  and  FIGS. 6 through 9 , respectively. 
     The illustration of  FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a shoe cleaning device  100  in accordance with the invention. The shoe cleaning device  100  comprises an enclosure  110  which in turn includes a housing  120  and a lid  140 . The lid  140  is movably coupled to the housing  120 , so that the lid can be opened or closed to provide or prevent access to the elements beneath the lid, which will be explained. The housing  120  has a bottom surface  122 , an opposed upper surface  124 , and at least one side wall  126 —four side walls  126 , in the present embodiment—. The side walls  126  extend between bottom surface  122  and upper surface  124 . The bottom surface  122  and side walls  126  are configured to define an internal space  128  within said housing  120 . In addition, the shoe cleaning device  100  includes a separation platform  150  adjacent the upper surface  124  of the housing  120 . In the embodiment shown, the separation platform  150  is a flat, rectangular surface that is perimetrally surrounded by the upper surface  124  in the event that the shoe cleaning device  100  is observed from a top, plan view, and that is arranged at a lower height than the upper surface  124 . 
     The shoe cleaning device  100  further includes a handheld scrubber member  160 , which is the main instrument to be used for cleaning a shoe, boot or other footwear, and in particular for cleaning their sole. The scrubber member  160  includes a base member  162  having an upper surface  164  and a lower surface  166 . The scrubber member  160  further includes a handle  168  coupled to said base member upper surface  164 . The lower surface  166  of the scrubber member provides a scrubbing surface with which to scrub a shoe or shoe sole. The lower surface can be fabricated from a sponge material, an applicator brush, a pliant scouring pad or combinations thereof. It is also contemplated that the entire base member  162  can be manufactured from a sponge material or other brushing or cleaning material. 
     The shoe cleaning device  100  further includes at least one retention member  170 —four retention members  170 , in the present embodiment—arranged at said base member upper surface  164 . The retention members  170  are configured to retain a sanitary wipe therein. Preferably, the retention members  170  provide for releasable retention of the sanitary wipe such that a user may conveniently couple the wipe for use and then remove the soiled sanitary wipe after use, as will be explained. It is also preferred that the retention members  170  are elastic, and biased to grasp the wipe, so that the wipe is automatically grasped by the retention members  170  and thus a wipe can be easily and quickly attached to the scrubber member  160 . 
     Preferably, the lid  140  is pivotably coupled to the housing  120 , for instance by a barrel-hinged connection illustrated only schematically in the figure, but commonly known to a person skilled in the art. Alternative pivotable connections are envisaged, as understood by a person skilled in the art, and will not be described herein in order not to obscure the description of the invention. Having the lid  140  pivotably coupled to the housing  120  prevents the lid  140  from being lost or misplaced when open. 
     The lid  140  is movable between an open position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . In the open position. The lid  140  is separated from the housing upper surface  124 , enabling access to the separation platform  150 . In the closed position, instead, the lid  140  is placed on the housing  120 , blocking access to said separation platform  150 . As can be observed in  FIG. 3 , the shoe cleaning device  100  adopts a very sleek and clean appearance, as well as a very compact configuration, when the lid  140  is closed onto the housing  120 . 
     Turning again to  FIG. 1 , the housing upper surface  124  of the present embodiment defines a recess  174  extending downwardly toward the housing bottom surface  122 . The separation platform  150  is positioned in said recess and, in particular, delimiting the recess  174  vertically in such a way that the separation platform  150  separates the recess  174  from the housing internal space  128 . Having a recess  174  is convenient as it provides a storage space for shoe-cleaning-related items. In the present embodiment in particular, the housing recess  174  and the scrubber member base member  162  are configured in such a way that their shape and size is complementary. As shown in  FIG. 2 , such a configuration allows the scrubber member base member  162  to be selectively received in the housing recess  174  and to be supported on the separation platform  150 . The scrubber member handle  168  protrudes outwardly, and the lid  140  comprises an inner space  142  for receiving the handle  168  when the lid  140  is in the closed position. 
     The illustration of  FIG. 1  further shows that the shoe cleaning device  100  of the present embodiment includes an open container  180 , particularly shaped as a rectangular vessel, comprising a base  182 , side walls  184 , and an upper flange  186  extending horizontally from the upper edge of the side walls  184 . The open container  180  is removably arranged at the housing upper surface  124 , preferably by having its upper flange  186  supported on the housing upper surface  124  while the side walls  184  and the base  182  are suspended inside the housing  120 . The housing recess  174  is delimited between the side walls  184  of the open container  180 . In turn, the housing separation platform  150  is provided by the base  182  of the removable open container  180 . When the removable open container  180  is pulled out of its mounted position shown in  FIG. 1 , access is provided to the internal space  128  of the housing. When the open container  180  is placed back onto the housing upper surface  124 , access to the internal space  128  is prevented. 
     In addition, the shoe cleaning device  100  of the present embodiment further includes a plurality of disposable sanitary wipes  190  positioned inside the housing, i.e., in the housing internal space  128 . The plurality of wipes  190  is formed as a roll  192  of perforated contiguous sanitary cleaning wipes situated in the housing internal space  128 , on the bottom surface  122 . The wipes  190  are interconnected so that pulling of the terminal wipe  190  causes simultaneous pulling of the rest of wipes comprised in the plurality of wipes. An opening  194  is formed in the shoe cleaning device  100  to receive and communicate a respective one of said plurality of wipes—the terminal wipe  190  shown in FIG.  1 —from internal space towards the outside. More specifically, the opening  194  is arranged to facilitate pulling of the terminal wipe to allow arranging a wipe  190  in a position overlaying the separation platform  150 , as shown for instance in  FIG. 4 . The illustration shows the wipes  190  having been pulled out until the second wipe is arranged over the separation platform  150 . Any given number of wipes can be pulled out, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the position of the opening  194  allowing for direct placement of one of the wipes over the separation platform  150 . 
     In the present embodiment, the opening is arranged on the upper surface  124  of the housing  120 . For example, the opening  194  can be formed as a gap between the upper surface  124  and the flange  186  of the open container  180 . In another example, the opening  194  could be formed as a slot in the housing upper surface  124  itself. The opening  194  is arranged parallel to two transverse edges  152  of the rectangular separation platform  150  so that the wipe  190 , when pulled, extends parallel to two opposing longitudinal edges  154  of the rectangular separation platform  150 . 
     The sanitary wipes  190  are preferably fabricated from an absorbent material suitable for fluid saturation by a sanitizing/cleaning fluid or liquid. For instance, the sanitary wipes  190  can be a cloth made of cotton, polyester, nylon, paper, paper-composite or combinations thereof. Such wipes are well known and used in the household cleaning industry and are not described in detail so as not to obscure the invention herein. 
     The shoe cleaning device  100  preferably includes a tear tab  196  coupled to the upper surface  124  of the housing  120 . The tear tab  196  is configured to separate two adjacent wipes  190 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , by partially perforating a perforated, tearable seam  198  provided between the adjacent wipes  190  and providing a stop to the second wipe when a pulling force is exerted on the terminal wipe. The stop causes the pulling force to tear the terminal wipe from the second wipe. 
     The enclosure  110  formed by the housing  120  and the lid  140  is preferably atmospherically sealed when the lid  140  is at the closed position, so that the plurality of wipes is substantially atmospherically isolated and thus prevented from drying out when the shoe cleaning device  100  is not being used. Sealing can be achieved by placing elastomeric joints or seals along each mating edge between the housing  120  and the lid  140 . In addition, the housing internal space  128  is preferably air-tight to further contribute to maintain moisture of the plurality of sanitary wipes  190 . 
     The illustrations of  FIGS. 4 and 5  allow for better understanding of how the shoe cleaning device  100  is used for cleaning a shoe. Once the lid  140  is opened, a sanitary wipe  190  is removed from the housing internal space  128  and positioned at least partially atop the separation platform  150 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The illustration shows the second sanitary wipe  190  on top of the separation platform  150 , but a person skilled in the art will understand that the first, third or other sanitary wipe  190  along the plurality of sanitary wipes could have been placed atop the separation platform  150  instead. Then, as indicated by arrow  300  in the figure, the scrubber member  160  is placed on top of the sanitary wipe  190  that is atop the separation platform  150 . Once the scrubber member  160  contacts the sanitary wipe  190 , the sanitary wipe  190  is wrapped upward and onto the scrubber member  160  as shown in  FIG. 5 , and portions of the sanitary wipe  190  are pressed to fit into the retention members  170 . The sanitary wipe  190  is thus firmly attached to the scrubber member  160 , and the scrubber member  160  is ready to be used for cleaning a shoe or shoe sole. Once the shoe has been cleaned, the sanitary wipe  190  is simply pulled off and disposed, and the scrubber member  160  is stored back in the recess  174 . 
     The shoe cleaning device  100  can also be loaded or unloaded with sanitary wipes  190  as follows. The user removes the separation platform  150  from the housing  120 —generally by removing the open container  180 , the base of which provides the separation platform  150 —, in order to provide access to the internal space  128  therein. The user then places or removes a plurality of sanitary wipes  190  in the internal space  128 , and places the separation platform  150  back on the housing  120 , to conceal the internal space  128 , while simultaneously arranging a terminal or first wipe  190  of said plurality of sanitary wipe to protrude outwardly from said internal space  128  through the opening  194 . 
     The illustration of  FIG. 6  shows a second embodiment of the present invention, consisting in a shoe cleaning device  200  comprising an enclosure  210  that has a housing  220  and a lid  240 , similarly to the first embodiment. The lid  240  is movably coupled to the housing  220 . The housing  220  has a bottom surface  222 , an opposed upper surface  224 , and one side wall  226  extending between the bottom surface  222  and the upper surface  224 . The bottom surface  222 , upper surface  224  and side wall  226  are configured so that an internal space  228  is defined inside the housing  220 . The shoe cleaning device  200  further includes a separation platform  250  adjacent the upper surface  224  of the housing  220 . Similarly to the previous embodiment, a scrubber member  260  is provided, having a base member  262  and a handle  268 . The base member  262  presents an upper surface  264 , from which the handle  268  protrudes upwards, and a lower surface  266 . In the present embodiment, the base member  262  is a round sponge, pliant scouring pad or other combination thereof and the handle  268  is a rigid sphere. The scrubber member  260  features four retention members  270 —three of which are visible in the figure—arranged at the base member upper surface  264 . Each retention member  270  is configured to retain a sanitary wipe therein, similarly to the previous embodiment. The housing upper surface  224  defines a recess  274  extending downwardly toward the housing bottom surface  222 . The separation platform  250  is positioned in the recess  274 . The scrubber member base member  262  is complementary to the housing recess  274  so that the scrubber member  260  can be selectively received in the housing recess  274  and supported on the separation platform  250 . The lid  240  is movable between an open position enabling access to the separation platform  250 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and a closed position blocking access to the separation platform  250 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Turning again to  FIG. 6 , the present embodiment is different from the previous embodiment in that the lid  240  further includes an opening  242  arranged to face the housing recess  274  when the lid  240  is arranged in the closed position. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the scrubber member handle  268  is configured to protrude outwardly through the lid opening  242  when the scrubber member  260  is received in the housing recess  274  and the lid  240  is arranged in the closed position. Such an arrangement of the handle  268  passing through the lid opening  242  not only provides a singular aesthetic finish, but also provides the scrubber member handle  268  with an additional functionality of serving as a user-gripping handle to hold the entire shoe cleaning device  200 . This additional functionality is enhanced by having the shoe cleaning device  200  further include at least one fastener to secure the lid  240  to the housing  220  in the closed position. For instance, the present embodiment includes a rotatable T-shaped fastener  244  attached to the housing  220  and configured to engage with a matching slot  246  formed on a flap  248  of the lid  240 . In alternative embodiments, the lid can be sealed with respect to housing by way of a releasable clasp, snap, buckle or other mechanical fastening means. Being able to secure the lid  240  to the housing  220  allows the user to safely hold and carry the shoe cleaning device  200  by gripping the scrubber member handle  268 . 
     In addition, similarly to the previous embodiment, the shoe cleaning device  200  of the present embodiment includes a plurality of interconnected, contiguous disposable sanitary wipes  290  positioned in the housing internal space  228 . The shoe cleaning device  200  comprises an opening  294  configured to receive and communicate a respective one of said plurality of wipes from inside the internal space  228  and allow extracting said one wipe  290 . The purpose of extracting the wipe  290  is normally to place the wipe  290  in a position overlaying the separation platform  250 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , to be able to mount the scrubber member  260  on said wipe  290 , to wrap the wipe  290  on the scrubber member  260  and to attach the wipe  290  to the retention members  270  as shown in  FIG. 9 . However, in the present embodiment, the opening  294  through which wipes  290  are extracted from the housing  220  is arranged on the separation platform  250 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     It is contemplated that the enclosure may be fabricated from various materials such as plastic, metal or other suitable material. The fabrication of the various elements and features of the enclosure may be performed by one or more well-known manufacturing processes that one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand. These materials and processes are not described in detail so as not to obscure the teachings of the present invention. It is further contemplated that the enclosure may be fabricated in various textures, colors or shapes, or combinations thereof, as fashionably and functionally desired. For instance, although the two depicted exemplary embodiments respectively include a rectangular and a cylindrical enclosure and scrubber member, other shapes and proportions are possible and are contemplated by the inventor such that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize suitable alternatives within the teachings of the present invention. 
     In alternative embodiments, it is also contemplated that the internal space contains sanitation wipes arranged in a different manner to that of  FIG. 1 . For instance, the internal space can contain several rolls of sanitary wipes, which can be either coupled to the housing to roll controllably, or can rotate freely within the internal space. In another example, the sanitary pads can be arranged as a stack of interconnected or overlapped wipes. 
     The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.