Patent Description:
Shoes are worn on the feet when walking or exercising, and the shoes may be contaminated by soil or dirt, and may also be contaminated by sweat. Therefore, it is required to periodically wash the shoes for the comfortable use. However, because shoes include a part that directly touches the floor, a degree of contamination is typically greater than that of clothes and thus it is difficult to wash the shoes and the clothes together.

In addition, unlike general clothes, shoes include various parts such as an upper, a midsole, an outsole, an insole, a tongue, a heel cup, and a heeltap. Further, according to the purpose of each part, various materials may be applied to each part. For example, a relatively hard material may be applied to a midsole, an outsole, and/or a heel cup, and a relatively soft material may be applied to an insole and a heel tab. Shoes have a relatively complex structure, and thus it is not easy to care for the shoes with a conventional clothes care apparatus.

In addition, as the size of the resell market for limited edition shoes has recently increased, consumers' interest in the limited-edition shoes is increased, and there is a growing need of a device for easy care for the limited-edition shoes.

<CIT> discloses a shoe care cabinet having a valve arrangement for opening and closing a supply port to supply air to shoes in the cabinet.

The present invention is directed to providing a shoe care apparatus capable of preventing foreign substances from entering a blow duct.

Further, the present invention is directed to providing a shoe care apparatus capable of having an increased usability.

According to the invention, there is provided a shoe care apparatus according to claim <NUM>. Preferred features are set out in the dependent claims.

A shoe care apparatus may open and close a blow duct depending on whether a supporter is mounted or not, thereby preventing foreign substances from entering the blow duct.

A shoe care apparatus may automatically open and close a blow duct depending on whether a supporter is mounted, and thus the convenience of use may be increased.

Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of the embodiments of the invention.

In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function. Shapes and sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clear description.

Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit and / or restrict the invention, which is defined by the claims. The singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, the terms "including", "having", and the like are used to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the invention, a first element may be termed as a second element, and a second element may be termed as a first element. The term of "and / or" includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items.

The invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of description, a shoe care apparatus for caring for shoes is described as an example, but the shoe care apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention may be used to care for clothes and/or miscellaneous goods other than shoes.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a shoe care apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a cabinet door of the shoe care apparatus shown in <FIG> is opened. <FIG> is a sectional view taken along line A-A' of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a direction along the X-axis may be defined as a left and right direction, a direction along the Y-axis may be defined as a front and rear direction, and a direction along the-Z axis may be defined as an up and down direction.

Referring to <FIG>, a shoe care apparatus <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet <NUM> forming an exterior and a cabinet door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the cabinet <NUM>.

The cabinet <NUM> may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open front surface. A cabinet opening 10a may be formed in an open front surface of the cabinet <NUM>. The cabinet door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet <NUM> to open and close a care chamber <NUM> formed inside the cabinet <NUM>. The cabinet door <NUM> may be coupled to the cabinet <NUM> through a hinge <NUM>.

The cabinet door <NUM> may include a hanger <NUM> arranged on one surface that faces the inside of the care chamber when the cabinet door <NUM> closes the care chamber <NUM>. At least one hanger <NUM> may be provided. The hanger <NUM> may be provided to allow a supporter <NUM>, which is described later, to be hung thereon, thereby easily storing the supporter <NUM>. The use of the hanger <NUM> is not limited thereto, and may be used to store other components.

The cabinet door <NUM> may further include an input device <NUM> arranged on a front surface of the shoe care apparatus <NUM>. A user can set various care courses through the input device <NUM> based on the type of shoes for which to be cared.

The cabinet <NUM> may include an outer case <NUM> and an inner case <NUM> disposed inside the outer case <NUM>. The inner case <NUM> may form the care chamber <NUM>. The care chamber <NUM> may be provided to accommodate a plurality of shoes.

A machine room <NUM>, in which a heat exchanger <NUM> for dehumidifying or heating air inside the care chamber <NUM> is arranged, may be provided in the cabinet <NUM>.

The supporter <NUM> configured to support shoes may be provided inside the care chamber <NUM>. The supporter <NUM> may be installed on one side of the care chamber <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate that the supporter <NUM> is located on the right side of the care chamber <NUM>, but the position of the supporter <NUM> is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the supporter <NUM> may be located on the left side or on the rear inner side of the care chamber <NUM>. The supporter <NUM> may be detachably provided in the cabinet <NUM>. At least one supporter <NUM> may be provided. The supporter <NUM> may be formed in a shape that may be inserted into a shoe.

A drain pan <NUM> detachably provided to the cabinet <NUM> may be installed at a lower portion of the cabinet <NUM>. The drain pan <NUM> may be disposed under the care chamber <NUM>. The drain pan <NUM> may be provided to easily collect condensed water generated by the heat exchanger <NUM>.

The drain pan <NUM> may be provided under the machine room <NUM>. The machine room <NUM> may be located at the lower end of the cabinet <NUM>. The machine room <NUM> may be provided under the care chamber <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> may be configured to dehumidify and/or heat the air inside the care chamber <NUM> as needed.

The heat exchanger <NUM> may be configured to supply hot dry air to the inside of the care chamber <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> may include an evaporator <NUM> and a condenser <NUM> through which a refrigerant circulates. The heat exchanger <NUM> may be configured to dehumidify and/or heat the air.

As the refrigerant passing through the evaporator <NUM> absorbs latent heat from the surrounding air, the evaporator <NUM> may condense and remove moisture from the surrounding air. The refrigerant passing through the evaporator <NUM> becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure state while passing through the compressor <NUM>. As the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is condensed by passing through the condenser <NUM>, the condenser <NUM> may heat the surrounding air by releasing latent heat toward the surrounding air. Air introduced into the machine room <NUM> through a fan <NUM> may be dehumidified and heated by passing through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>.

The fan <NUM> may be provided as a centrifugal fan that sucks air in a rotation axis direction and discharges air in a radial direction. However, the type of fan <NUM> is not limited thereto, and may be provided as an axial flow fan or a mixed flow fan.

A connection flow path 46a, through which air passing through the evaporator <NUM>, the condenser <NUM>, and the blower fan <NUM> flows, may be formed in the machine room <NUM>. The connection flow path 46a may be formed by a connection duct <NUM>. The connection duct <NUM> may communicate with the care chamber <NUM>.

The shoe care apparatus <NUM> may further include a water tank (not shown), a steam generator (not shown) configured to generate steam by receiving water from the water tank, and a steam spraying device (not shown) configured to receive steam from the steam generator and spray the steam.

The water tank may be disposed under the care chamber <NUM>. Water in the water tank may be supplied to the steam generator and used to form steam. The water tank may be installed to be detached from the cabinet <NUM> to facilitate water replenishment.

The steam generator may be disposed in the machine room <NUM>. The steam generator may generate steam and guide the steam to the steam spraying device. The steam generator may be connected to the steam spraying device through a steam supply pipe (not shown).

The shoe care apparatus <NUM> may further include a deodorizer <NUM>. The deodorizer <NUM> may be disposed within the machine room <NUM>. The deodorizer <NUM> may be disposed in the connection duct <NUM> to remove odors from the air passing through the care chamber <NUM>. In <FIG>, the deodorizer <NUM> is illustrated as being located on the left side of the blower fan <NUM>, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the deodorizer <NUM> may be located on the right side of the blower fan <NUM>.

The deodorizer <NUM> may include a deodorizing filter 45a and a germicidal lamp 45b. The deodorizing filter 45a may include a ceramic filter. The germicidal lamp 45b may include an ultraviolet lamp. However, the deodorizing filter is not limited thereto, and the deodorizing filter 45a may include various filters as long as a filter is configured to remove odors from the air, and the germicidal lamp 45b may also include various devices as long as a device is configured to sterilize germs.

At least one plate <NUM> may be provided in the care chamber <NUM>. The plate <NUM> may be provided to hold shoes. A supply port <NUM> and the supporter <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to the plate <NUM>.

The plate <NUM> may include a duct plate <NUM>. The duct plate <NUM> may include an internal flow path <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The heated air passing through the internal flow path <NUM> may be sprayed toward shoes from a spray port 95a of the duct plate <NUM> and a spray port 97a of a circular duct <NUM>, respectively. In addition, the heated air may pass through the internal flow path <NUM> and be discharged to the care chamber <NUM> through a plate outlet <NUM>.

The supply port <NUM> and a return port <NUM> may be provided in the care chamber <NUM>.

The supply port <NUM> may be located on a side wall of the inner case <NUM>. Particularly, the supply port <NUM> may be formed on the left surface, in which the supporter <NUM> is located, of the care chamber <NUM>. However, the position of the supply port <NUM> is not limited thereto, and may be formed on the right side of the care chamber <NUM> as long as the position corresponds to the position of the supporter <NUM>. At least one supply port <NUM> may be formed, and shoes may be dried by supplying heated air into the care chamber <NUM>. The shape of the supply port <NUM> may be approximately circular. However, the shape of the supply port <NUM> is not limited thereto, and as long as the supply port is provided to supply heated air into the care chamber <NUM> so as to dry shoes, the support port <NUM> may have various shapes such as squares and polygons.

The return port <NUM> may be disposed at the front end of the bottom surface of the care chamber <NUM>. However, the position of the return port <NUM> is not limited thereto, and may also be disposed at the rear end and/or the side end of the bottom surface of the care chamber <NUM>. Air drying shoes in the care chamber <NUM> may be returned to the connection duct <NUM> to be described later through the return port <NUM>. A return hole 31a and a return grille 31b may be provided in the return port <NUM>.

The connection duct <NUM> may be provided to communicate with a supply duct <NUM> and the return port <NUM> of the care chamber <NUM>. One end of the connection duct <NUM> may communicate with the supply duct <NUM> and the other end may communicate with the return port <NUM>. The air introduced through the return port <NUM> may be dehumidified and/or heated while passing through the connection duct <NUM>, and then the dehumidified and/or heated air may be discharged back to the care chamber <NUM> through the supply duct <NUM> and the supply port <NUM>.

The supply duct <NUM> may be provided to extend vertically between the outer case <NUM> and the inner case <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. The supply duct <NUM> may be located on one side, to which the supporter <NUM> is mounted, of the cabinet <NUM>. One end of the supply duct <NUM> may communicate with the connection duct <NUM>. The supply duct <NUM> may be provided to communicate with the supply port <NUM>. The supply duct <NUM> may form a guide flow path <NUM> provided to guide heated air to the supply port <NUM>.

A supporter rail <NUM> detachably supporting the supporter <NUM> may be provided in the care chamber <NUM>.

The supporter <NUM> may be detachably mounted on the supporter rail <NUM> provided on one side of the inner case <NUM>. Particularly, the supporter <NUM> and the supporter rail <NUM> may be located on the right side of the care chamber <NUM>.

The supporter <NUM> may be mounted on the supporter rail <NUM> along the front and rear direction. The supporter <NUM> may be disposed to allow a lateral side of the shoe, which is mounted thereon, to face the front of the shoe care apparatus <NUM>.

Because the supporter <NUM> is separated from the care chamber <NUM>, a space in the care chamber <NUM> may be secured for caring for relatively long shoes.

<FIG> is an enlarged view of part B of <FIG>. <FIG> is an exploded view of the supporter rail of <FIG>. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a supporter of <FIG> starts to be mounted on the supporter rail. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the supporter of <FIG> opens a supply door while being mounted on the supporter rail. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the supporter of <FIG> completely opens the supply door while being completely mounted on the supporter rail.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the supporter rail <NUM> may include a rail body <NUM> fixed to the inner case <NUM>. The rail body <NUM> may include a fixer <NUM> coupled to a fixing member (not shown) and fixed to the inner case <NUM>.

The rail body <NUM> may include a rail opening 101a formed to communicate with the supply port <NUM>. The rail opening 101a may be formed to pass through the rail body <NUM>. The rail opening 101a may be opened and closed by a supply door <NUM>.

The supporter rail <NUM> may include a supporter supporting member <NUM> formed to support the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is mounted. The supporter supporting member <NUM> may protrude from the rail body <NUM>.

A guide rail <NUM> may be formed on the supporter rail <NUM> to guide the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is mounted on or separated from the supporter rail <NUM>. The guide rail <NUM> may protrude from the supporter supporting member <NUM>. The guide rail <NUM> may extend along a direction in which the supporter <NUM> is mounted on the supporter rail <NUM> or a direction in which the supporter <NUM> is separated from the supporter rail <NUM>.

The supporter rail <NUM> may include the supply door <NUM>. The supply door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the rail body <NUM>. The supply door <NUM> may include a door shaft <NUM> rotatably coupled to the rail body <NUM>. The supply door <NUM> may be configured to open and close the rail opening 101a.

The supporter rail <NUM> may include an elastic body <NUM> provided to elastically bias the supply door <NUM> to a direction of closing the rail opening 101a. The elastic body <NUM> may press the supply door <NUM> to the direction of closing the rail opening 101a. The elastic body <NUM> may be provided as a spring.

The supply door <NUM> may include a trigger <NUM> formed to interfere with the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is mounted on the supporter rail <NUM>. The trigger <NUM> may be pressed by the supporter <NUM> to a direction in which the supply door <NUM> is opened when the supporter <NUM> is mounted. The trigger <NUM> may extend along a direction in which air is discharged from the supply door <NUM>.

The trigger <NUM> may include a first member 107a in which a pressure by the supporter <NUM> starts when the supporter <NUM> is mounted. The first member 107a may be more inclined, with respect to a direction away from the supply door <NUM>, as the supporter is along a direction of being mounted to the supporter rail. Accordingly, when the supporter <NUM> is mounted on the supporter rail <NUM>, the supply door <NUM> may be gradually opened as the supporter <NUM> presses the first member 107a of the trigger <NUM> and moves.

The trigger <NUM> may include a second member 107b that extends further from the supply door <NUM> than the first member 107a. The second member 107b may be disposed to be pressed by the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is completely mounted to the supporter rail <NUM>. The second member 107b of the trigger <NUM> may be provided to further open the supply door <NUM> than when the supporter <NUM> presses the first member 107a.

An operation of the supply door <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the supporter <NUM> may include a guide <NUM> into which the guide rail <NUM> is inserted. The guide <NUM> may include a member extending along a direction in which the supporter <NUM> is mounted on the supporter rail <NUM>. The supporter <NUM> may include a pressing member <NUM> provided to press the trigger <NUM>. The pressing member <NUM> may be inserted into the supporter supporting member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, as the supporter <NUM> is inserted into the supporter rail <NUM>, the pressing member <NUM> presses the first member 107a of the trigger <NUM>. Accordingly, the supply door <NUM> is rotated by a predetermined angle and opens the rail opening 101a.

Referring to <FIG>, as the supporter <NUM> is completely mounted on the supporter rail <NUM>, the pressing member <NUM> presses the second member 107b of the trigger <NUM>. Accordingly, the supply door <NUM> is further rotated by a predetermined angle and completely opens the rail opening 101a. Accordingly, the supply port <NUM> may be opened.

When the supporter <NUM> is separated from the supporter rail <NUM>, the pressing member <NUM> releases the pressure of the trigger <NUM>. The elastic body <NUM> applies an elastic force to the supply door <NUM> to the direction in which the supply door <NUM> closes the rail opening 101a. Accordingly, the supply door <NUM> is rotated to a position to close the rail opening 101a as the supporter <NUM> is separated from the supporter rail <NUM>. Therefore, the supply port <NUM> may be closed.

With this configuration, the supporter rail <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention may discharge the air, which is guided through the guide flow path <NUM>, to the care chamber <NUM> through the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is mounted. Further, the supporter rail <NUM> may prevent foreign substances from entering the guide flow path <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is separated.

<FIG> is an exploded view of a supporter rail according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A supporter rail <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. However, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those of the supporter rail <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and detailed descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, the supporter rail <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a supply door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the rail body <NUM>. The supply door <NUM> may include a door shaft <NUM> rotatably coupled to the rail body <NUM>. The supply door <NUM> may include a trigger <NUM> provided to be pressed by the supporter <NUM> so as to gradually open the supply door <NUM>. The trigger <NUM> may include a first member 207a primarily opening the supply door <NUM> and a second member 207b secondarily opening the supply door <NUM>.

Unlike the supply door <NUM> according to the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the supply door <NUM> according to the embodiment shown in <FIG> may include a weight member <NUM>. The weight member <NUM> may be located at a lower end of the supply door <NUM>.

The weight member <NUM> may be provided to rotate the supply door <NUM> to a direction of closing the rail opening 101a when the supporter <NUM> is separated from the supporter rail <NUM>. Accordingly, the supply port <NUM> may be closed. The weight member <NUM> may be provided to have a heavier weight than other parts of the supply door <NUM>.

With this configuration, the supporter rail <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention may discharge the air, which is guided through the guide flow path <NUM>, to the care chamber <NUM> through the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is mounted. Further, the supporter rail <NUM> may prevent foreign substances from entering the guide flow path <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is separated.

<FIG> is a view of a supporter rail according to still another embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is an exploded view of the supporter rail of <FIG>. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the supporter of <FIG> starts to be mounted on the supporter rail. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the supporter of <FIG> opens a first shutter of a supply door while being mounted on the supporter rail. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the supporter of <FIG> completely opens a second shutter of the supply door while being completely mounted on the supporter rail. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the supporter of <FIG> is moved to a direction, in which the first shutter of the supporter rail is closed, while being separated from the supporter rail. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the supporter of <FIG> is moved to a direction, in which the second shutter is closed, as being moved to the direction, in which the first shutter of the supporter rail is closed while being separated from the supporter rail.

A supporter rail <NUM> according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. The same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those of the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and detailed descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the supporter rail <NUM> according to still another embodiment of the present invention may include a supply door <NUM> configured to open and close the rail opening 101a of the rail body <NUM>. The supply door <NUM> may be slidably coupled to the rail body <NUM>. The rail body <NUM> may include a door supporting member <NUM> provided to slidably support the supply door <NUM>. The supply door <NUM> may include a first shutter <NUM> and a second shutter <NUM>.

The first shutter <NUM> may be slidably coupled to the second shutter <NUM>. The first shutter <NUM> may include a first shutter body <NUM> and a lever <NUM> protruding from the first shutter body <NUM> to interfere with the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is coupled. The lever <NUM> may penetrate the rail opening 101a and extend to a space between the supporter supporting member <NUM>.

A magnetic material <NUM> may be provided on the lever <NUM>. The magnetic material <NUM> may have magnetism capable of sticking to a magnet <NUM> provided on the supporter <NUM>. Alternatively, a magnet may be provided on the lever <NUM> and a magnetic material may be provided on the supporter <NUM>.

The first shutter body <NUM> may include a first insertion member <NUM>, a first hook <NUM>, and a guide slit <NUM>.

The first insertion member <NUM> may be slidably inserted into an insertion space <NUM> of a second shutter body <NUM>. The first hook <NUM> may be provided to interfere with a second hook <NUM> of the second shutter body <NUM>. As the first hook <NUM> interferes with the second hook <NUM>, the first shutter <NUM> may be prevented from being separated from the second shutter <NUM>. A second insertion member <NUM> of the second shutter body <NUM> may be slidably inserted into the guide slit <NUM>.

The second shutter <NUM> may be slidably coupled to the first shutter <NUM>. The second shutter <NUM> may include the second shutter body <NUM>.

The second shutter body <NUM> may include the insertion space <NUM>, the second hook <NUM>, and the second insertion member <NUM>.

The first insertion member <NUM> of the first shutter body <NUM> may be slidably inserted into the insertion space <NUM>. One side of the insertion space <NUM> into which the first insertion member <NUM> is inserted may be opened and the other side of the insertion space <NUM> may be closed. Accordingly, the insertion space <NUM> may be provided to prevent the first shutter body <NUM> from being separated from the second shutter body <NUM>. When the first shutter body <NUM> moves in the direction of being separated from the second shutter body <NUM>, the second hook <NUM> may support the first hook <NUM> so as to prevent the first shutter body <NUM> from being separated from the second shutter body <NUM>. The second insertion member <NUM> may be slidably inserted into the guide slit <NUM> of the first shutter body <NUM>.

With this configuration, the supply door <NUM> may sequentially open the rail openings 101a.

An operation of the supporter rail <NUM> according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the supporter <NUM> may include the magnet <NUM> positioned adjacent to the pressing member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the supporter <NUM> is coupled to the rail body <NUM>, the pressing member <NUM> of the supporter <NUM> presses the lever <NUM> of the first shutter <NUM>, and moves the first shutter <NUM> to allow the rail opening 101a to be opened. The first shutter <NUM> slides relative to the second shutter <NUM>. The second shutter <NUM> maintains a stopped state.

Referring to <FIG>, as the supporter <NUM> is completely mounted on the rail body <NUM>, the first shutter <NUM> may move the second shutter <NUM> to completely open the rail opening 101a. Accordingly, the supply port <NUM> may be opened. As the first insertion member <NUM> of the first shutter body <NUM> presses the closed one end of the insertion space <NUM> of the second shutter body <NUM>, the second shutter <NUM> is moved together with the first shutter <NUM>. Because the first shutter <NUM> is provided to overlap the second shutter <NUM>, the supply door <NUM> according to still another embodiment of the present invention may reduce a space occupied when the rail opening 101a is opened.

Referring to <FIG>, when the supporter <NUM> starts to be separated from the rail body <NUM>, the first shutter <NUM> may be moved to the direction of closing the rail opening 101a as the magnetic material <NUM> is pulled by a magnetic force of the magnet <NUM> provided on the supporter <NUM>. That is, the first shutter <NUM> may be moved together with the supporter <NUM> by the attraction caused by the magnetic force generated between the pressing member <NUM> of the supporter <NUM> and the lever <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, as the supporter <NUM> is moved to be completely separated from the rail body <NUM>, the first shutter <NUM> may move the second shutter <NUM>, thereby completely closing the rail opening 101a. As the first hook <NUM> of the first shutter body <NUM> is hooked to the second hook <NUM> of the second shutter body <NUM>, the second shutter <NUM> may be moved together with the first shutter <NUM>, which is moved by the magnetic force of the magnet <NUM> of the supporter <NUM>, to the direction of closing the rail opening 101a. Accordingly, the supply port <NUM> may be closed.

With this configuration, the supporter rail <NUM> according to still another embodiment of the present invention may discharge the air, which is guided through the guide flow path <NUM>, to the care chamber <NUM> through the supporter <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is mounted. Further, the supporter rail <NUM> may prevent foreign substances from entering the guide flow path <NUM> when the supporter <NUM> is separated.

<FIG> is a view of a supporter rail according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a supporter rail <NUM> according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, the same references are assigned to the same components as those of the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and detailed descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, a supporter rail <NUM> according to still another embodiment of the present invention may include a mesh member <NUM> positioned in the rail opening 101a. The mesh member <NUM> may be provided to prevent foreign substances from entering the guide flow path <NUM> through the rail opening 101a and at the same time, provided to discharge the air, which is guided through the guide flow path <NUM>, to the care chamber through the supporter <NUM>. The mesh member <NUM> may be formed to prevent foreign substances having a predetermined size or larger from passing therethrough.

Claim 1:
A shoe care apparatus (<NUM>), comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) forming a care chamber (<NUM>) and including a supply port (<NUM>);
a supply duct (<NUM>) provided to supply air to the care chamber through the supply port (<NUM>);
a supporter rail (<NUM>) including a guide rail (<NUM>); and
a supporter (<NUM>) to support a shoe, and being detachably mountable to the supporter rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the care chamber,
wherein the supporter rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) and supporter (<NUM>) are configured so that:
the supply port (<NUM>) is opened in response to the supporter being guided by the guide rail (<NUM>) and mounted to the supporter rail, and the supporter (<NUM>) receives the air supplied through the supply port, and
the supply port (<NUM>) is closed in response to the supporter (<NUM>) being guided by the guide rail (<NUM>) and separated from the supporter rail (<NUM>).