Patent Publication Number: US-11375876-B2

Title: Cleaning system for footwear outer soles

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a nonprovisional of and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 62/771,058 filed 24 Nov. 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to a footwear cleaning apparatus, and, more particularly, to a footwear cleaning apparatus with a housing containing a roller on which disinfecting cleaning pads are mounted. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An easy-to-use device for reliably cleaning and disinfecting the outer soles (“outsoles”) of footwear is needed to allow individuals to enter a structure, such as a residence, without contaminating the floors of the structure. 
     The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a cleaning system for outsoles includes a lid, a base, a support structure, a roller contained in the base covered by the lid. A disinfectant pad is provided on the roller. Opening the lid exposes the roller. Outsoles wiped against the disinfectant pad on the roller are disinfected. Optionally, a reservoir in the support structure may contain disinfectant for delivery to the disinfectant pad on the roller as needed. A foot pedal is provided for opening the lid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary cleaning system for outsoles in a closed configuration according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a front top perspective view of an exemplary cleaning system for outsoles in a closed configuration according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an exemplary cleaning system for outsoles in an open configuration according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a front top perspective view of an exemplary cleaning system for outsoles in an open configuration according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front top perspective view of a stack of exemplary disinfectant pads attachable to a roller of an exemplary cleaning system for outsoles according to principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the specific components, configurations, shapes, relative sizes, ornamental aspects or proportions as shown in the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An exemplary cleaning system for outsoles according to principles of the invention includes a lid, a base, a roller contained in the covered base and a disinfectant pad on the roller. Opening the lid exposes the roller. Outsoles wiped against the disinfectant pad on the roller are disinfected. Optionally, a reservoir in the support structure may contain additional disinfectant for delivery to the disinfectant pad on the roller as needed. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  conceptually illustrate an exemplary cleaning system  100  for outsoles in a closed configuration according to principles of the invention. The cleaning system includes a housing. The housing includes a bottom  110  and a cover or lid  105 . The bottom  110  is supported by a support structure, such as pedestals  115 ,  120  and base  145 . A plurality of feet  150  may be provided at the bottom of the assembly to prevent slipping and scratching of a floor surface. Optionally, the pedestals  115 ,  120  may contain a reservoir  125  of disinfectant, a spray control  130  and a battery compartment  135 . The lid  105  is movable from a closed position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to an open position as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Such movement may be achieved by stepping on a pedal  140  operably coupled to the lid  105 , by manually moving the lid  105 , such as by using the handle  108 , or automatically with a motor coupled to a motion sensor. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  conceptually illustrate the exemplary cleaning system for outsoles in an open configuration according to principles of the invention. The lid  105  is nested in the bottom  110 . A removable disinfectant pad  200  is applied to the exterior surface of the roller  205 . The roller  205  is supported by supports  210 ,  215 . The roller may lock in position or roll slightly in the direction of applied moderate force. Optionally, a sprayer  220  is configured to supply additional disinfectant to the pad  200 . 
     With the lid  105  in an open configuration, the roller  205  and pad  200  are accessible. A user may wipe outsoles against the pad  200  to disinfect the bottoms of the footwear before entering a residence or other building or room. Any debris from the cleaning process is contained in the housing. 
       FIG. 5  conceptually illustrates a stack  300  of disinfectant pads  305 . Each pad is an absorbent cleaning pad. The pad may be pre-moistened (e.g., soaked) with disinfectant and/or moistened with disinfectant before cleaning use. A pad  305  adheres to the roller  205 , such as using a hook and loop fastener. 
     While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the components and steps of the invention, including variations in order, form, content, function and manner of operation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. The above description and drawings are illustrative of modifications that can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is to be limited only by the following claims. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.