Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Stationary implement with material supply
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-05
2003-07-01
Warden, Sr.., Robert J. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Stationary implement with material supply
C015S030000, C015S031000, C015S032000, C015S036000, C015S310000, C015S311000, C015S021100, C015S112000, C015S111000, C015S088100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06584636
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to footwear cleaning equipment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other shoe and boot cleaning devices designed to improve the cleaning of foot wear. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 640,920 issued to Kratofil et al on Jan. 9, 1900.
Another patent was issued to Zrnel on Nov. 3, 1931 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,830,455. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,094,727 was issued to Osteen on June 25, 1963 and still yet another was issued on Aug. 13, 1963 to Williams as U.S. Pat. No. 3,100,312.
Another patent was issued to Fresh on Feb. 16, 1988 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,564. Another patent was issued to Burns on Apr. 24, 1990 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,779. Another patent was issued to Burey et al. on Jun. 25, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,528. Another patent was issued to Willner on Nov. 24, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,144. Another patent was issued to Openshaw et al. on Sep. 14, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,269.
U.S. Pat. No. 640,920
Inventor: Johann Kratofil et al.
Issued: Jan. 9, 1900
A shoe-cleaning machine is provided having a casing, of oppositely-sliding side brushes therein, a driven shaft having cranks connected with said side brushes, and a toe brush mounted on said shaft; of a heel brush, a counter shaft, belts connecting the counter shaft with the heel brush and with the driven shaft, and a power shaft for rotating the driven shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,830,455
Inventor: John Zrnel
Issued: Nov. 3, 1931
A shoe cleaner is provided having a frame including a plurality of scraper bars and having front and back bars extending downwardly at their opposite ends to form feet, brushes having backs secured between the feet at each side of the frame with the lower faces of the back lying in the same plane as the lower ends of the feet and having bristles extending slightly above the frame, said frame also having side bars at the inner ends of said feet, the bristles at the inner sides of the brushes bearing against said side bars, bristle supporting angles fixed to the brush backs at their outer sides and bearing against the bristles at said sides, and brace bars connecting said scraper bars and having their upper edges of the scraper bars and their lower edges in the plane of the lower edges of the feet to provide an intermediate support for the scraper bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,094,727
Inventor: Emmett H. Osteen
Issued: Jun. 25, 1963
A cleaning device is provided comprising a rotatably mounted support member, a pair of motor driven brush assemblies, each having a circular shape, rotatably and coaxially fixed in axially spaced relation on said support member, said brush assemblies each including a sleeve having a flexible cleaning surface on its outer periphery, first and second cleaning disks larger in diameter than said sleeve, said first and second discs each having a flexible cleaning surface opposing one another and overlapping said first mentioned surface so as to form an annular groove adapted to receive and clean a piece of footwear, said first surface comprising a multitude of radially extending bristles and said other surfaces comprising a multitude of axially extending bristles, said device further comprising a fixed cleaning plate extending into and across said groove in positive rubbing contact with the outer ends of said bristles, a scraper plate fixed to said device so as to have a scraping edge generally parallel to and of the same elevation as said first mentioned flexible cleaning surface, said scraper plate extending substantially the full length of said support thus providing a scraping edge between the axially spaced brush assemblies so as to allow said piece of footwear to be scraped without interference from said brush assemblies while still maintaining the same relative position in relation to said device.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,100,312
Inventor: W. H. Williams
Issued: Aug. 13, 1963
A cleat cleaner is provided comprising a mat having an upper and lower surface, a plurality of projections fixed to said upper surface, each projection having a central axis, a top in a plane remote from said mat and a bottom adjacent the upper surface of said mat, said projections being spaced on said mat in staggered relationship to each other, the central axis of each projection being perpendicular to said mat and each of said projections having a plurality of outwardly directed flexible vane members evenly spaced around said central axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,564
Inventor: Elwyn M. Fresh
Issued: Feb. 16, 1988
A shoe cleaning apparatus for household use includes a horizontal rotary brush to clean a toe portion of the sole of a shoe, a reciprocating brush to clean a heel portion of the shoe, and a vertical oscillating brush to clean side portions of the shoe. All the brushes are driven by a single motor which, along with the brushes, is mounted in a housing. A shoe rest bar extends across the housing between the rotary brush and the reciprocating brush. A user of the apparatus places an instep of the shoe on his foot on the shoe rest bar and pivots about the bar to vary the degree of engagement between portions of the shoe and the rotary and reciprocating brushes. The rotary brush includes baffles which cooperate with the rotary brush to create an airflow to carry away material removed from the shoe to a filter bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,779
Inventor: Matt B. Burns
Issued: Apr. 24, 1990
Disclosed is an improved foot spraying and cleaning device which includes a pair of opposed facing brushes, each of which has embedded therein an elongated bar having a plurality of fluid outlets therein, with the outlets of the respective bars facing one another. Flow of fluid through the bars is controlled by a foot-actuated valve mechanism. Aesthetic housings may be provided for the brushes which may be made to resemble shells.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,528
Inventor: Bernard P. Burey et al.
Issued: Jun. 25, 1991
An apparatus for brushing and/or cleaning shoes and other footwear which includes a number of sequential stations. The apparatus includes a machine having a plurality of upstanding brushes mounted for rotation about respective generally vertical axes. The vertical axes of the upstanding brushes are sequentially spaced apart and each of the brushing stations is defined by a sequential pair of the upstanding brushes. Between sequential pairs of the upstanding brushes, a respective flat circular brush is mounted. Each of the brushes is driven by a single motor. Further, a casing is provided for housing the brushes and at least a portion of the driving transmission from the motor. The casing has a lateral opening at each of the brushing stations for introducing a shoe or boot for brushing or cleaning. A cleaning fluid for the brushing and/or cleaning stations can be merely water or water with an additive such as a detergent or disinfectant. In addition, heated air can be provided for drying the cleaned shoes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,144
Inventor: Byron J. Willner
Issued: Nov. 24, 1998
An automatic boot cleaning apparatus is provided. The apparatus has at least three brushes and a scraper. The brushes are positioned to apply scrubbing force to the underside of the sole of a boot or shoe, as well as the sides of the boot or shoe. The scraper is positioned behind the brushes and may be used to remove the excess mud or dirt from the boot or shoe. The apparatus is preferably powered by an AC motor which is connected to a source of AC power. The brushes may be rotated continuously in one direction, or oscillated thereby increasing the effectiveness of the cleaning operation. In an alternative embodiment, the device is connected to a source of fluid pressure and has a plurality of fluid outlet nozzles secured to the scraper. The nozzles are arranged to spray fluid directly onto the brushes and thus are capable of effecting a self cleaning operation. The entire housing, including the activation switch, is sealed against environmental effects allowing for outdoor use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,269
Inventor: D. E. Openshaw et al.
Issued: Sep. 14, 1999
A s
Balsis Shay L
Kroll Michael I.
Warden, Sr.. Robert J.
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