AU2008207673B2

AU2008207673B2 - Cleaning device

Info

Publication number: AU2008207673B2
Application number: AU2008207673A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Leech
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-01
Filing date: 2008-09-01
Publication date: 2014-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-01
Also published as: AU2008207673A1; NZ571725A

Abstract

A cleaning device in the form of a brush mounted on an elongate member having mounting brackets for connection to 5 the lowermost rung of a ladder or other structure such as the step of a motor vehicle or similar in which the bristles of the cleaning brush are oriented upwards for contacting the sole of footwear worn by workmen climbing the ladder. 10 The cleaning device is mounted with respect to the ladder so that the cleaning surface of the brush is more or less aligned with the lower rung supporting the cleaning device so as to provide an increased area for supporting the weight of the workmen using the cleaning device when 15 climbing the ladder. Additionally, footrests are located one on either side of the device for standing upon when the footwear is cleaned so as to avoid contamination of the footwear prior to climbing the ladder. The advantage of the cleaning device is that it is portable and readily 20 mountable on a ladder for cleaning footwear prior to workmen using the ladder to gain access to an elevated worksite such as a roof which reduces the risk of slipping due to muddy footwear or the like thereby reducing the possibility of sustaining injury or damaging the roof. N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\Specis\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant(s): Mark Leech Invention Title: CLEANING DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: P78328.AU PatSet_Fdng AppIcation 2008-9.1 doc (M) - 2 CLEANING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cleaning devices for 5 removing unwanted materials from items to clean the items. In one form the present invention relates to cleaning devices for removing dirt, mud, debris and other similar unwanted materials from items of footwear, particularly 10 prior to the wearer of the footwear undergoing some other activity involving the use of footwear. In one form the present invention relates to portable cleaning devices which are demountably connectable to a 15 suitable support structure for use in cleaning footwear in the work environment prior to using the support structure. In one form the present invention relates to a demountably connectable cleaning device having a cleaning assembly 20 which device is readily connectable to a suitable support structure for use to clean footwear of persons using the support structure to gain access to a work site particularly a cleaning assembly for removing unwanted material from footwear of a person having to walk upon the 25 worksite. The present invention finds particular application as a demountable cleaning device for attaching to the lower part of a ladder to allow the footwear of workmen using 30 the ladder, particularly when using the ladder to gain access to the roof of a building, to clean their footwear prior to using the ladder and/or stepping onto the roof surface to perform some operation on the roof thereby N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\Specia\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 3 reducing the risk of slipping on the roof due to dirty footwear or the like. Although the present invention will be described with 5 particular reference to one form of the cleaning device having one form of the cleaning assembly or element, it is noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described device or to the described cleaning element but that the scope of the invention is 10 more extensive so as to include other forms and arrangements of the cleaning device, and of the components forming the cleaning device, as well as use of the various forms of the device and components for other purposes then specifically described. 15 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Workmen requiring access to the roof of a building often encounter slippery conditions when accessing the roof or when walking upon or around the roof surface, such as for 20 example, in wet or muddy conditions on a worksite or the like which contribute to the chance of slipping when climbing a ladder to gain access to the roof or when walking over the roof's surface, particularly on a pitched or inclined roof surface. 25 The adhesion of debris and other unwanted materials to the footwear, including the sole of the footwear, such as dirt, mud, soil, sand, and the like contributes to the chance of slipping when walking on an inclined roof 30 surface or when climbing a ladder to gain access to an elevated site such as a roof platform or the like. Often, mud and other accumulated materials adhere to the sole of the footwear which further adds to the risk of slipping N:\Melbourne\Case\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\Specia\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 4 when moving over the surface of the roof, particularly in wet conditions. Even if the adherence of mud to the sole does not contribute to slipping when on an inclined roof surface, the mud leaves dirty marks and footprints on the 5 surface of the roof which requires cleaning when work on the roof is finished. Thus, there is a need to clean footwear, particularly the soles of footwear, immediately prior to stepping onto the roof surface or similar and when climbing a ladder or similar. 10 In the past existing methods of cleaning footwear have not been entirely satisfactory for one or other of a variety of reasons. In the past, the lowest rung of a ladder that is being used to gain access to the roof has been used as 15 a scraper for removing mud and the like from footwear. Clearly, the main purpose of the rung is different to the rung being used as a scraper, and accordingly the shape of the rung is not ideal for use in removing debris from the sole of footwear. Additionally, the use of the lowermost 20 rung as a scraper is not satisfactory as dirt and other debris accumulates on the rung making the rung slippery when using the ladder such as for example to gain access to an elevated work site. Furthermore mud and other debris accumulates on the lower rung which further reduces 25 the effectiveness of the rung for removing additional mud and debris owing to the build up of the debris. Another problem associated with using the lowermost rung of the ladder as a scraper to remove debris from the soles 30 of the footwear is that it is difficult to balance on one foot whilst on the rung when scraping the shoe on the other foot on the rung to clean the shoe on the other foot. Additionally, when one shoe sole has been cleaned, N:\Melbourne\Casea\Patent\76000-78999\P78328.AU\Specio\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 5 the sole must be placed on the rung whilst cleaning the other sole which has a tendency for dirt and other debris to reattach to the cleaned sole since it is necessary to stand on the rung upon which dirt has accumulated due to 5 using the rung as a scraper. Accordingly, it is one aim of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for cleaning footwear which device is more effective at cleaning footwear than are 10 previous available devices. Accordingly, one aim of the invention is to provide a more effective cleaning device for cleaning the footwear of a person climbing a ladder to gain access to a roof to 15 reduce the hazard of slipping on the ladder and/or roof. Accordingly, it is one aim of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for cleaning the footwear of a person using a ladder which allows the footwear to be 20 cleaned so that it is safer to use the ladder, particularly to reach an elevated site or platform. Accordingly, one aim of the present invention is to provide a shoe cleaning device mountable to a ladder 25 providing an increased area of support of the person using the cleaning device to clean the footwear. It is to be noted that not all embodiments of the invention satisfy all aims of the invention. One 30 embodiment will satisfy one aim whilst another embodiment will satisfy another aim and some embodiments will satisfy two or more aims. N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\SpeciS\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 6 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning device for cleaning an item by removing unwanted material from the item, the device comprising a body 5 member having at least one connecting element for connecting the device to a support member, and a cleaning assembly having a cleaning element mountable to or on the body member in a selected position for providing access to the cleaning element such that when the cleaning assembly 10 is mounted to the body member and the body member is connected to the support member by the at least one connecting element, the cleaning element is positioned with respect to the support member so that relative movement of the item to be cleaned and the cleaning 15 assembly removes at least some of the unwanted material from the item thereby cleaning the item. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of cleaning an item using a cleaning 20 device comprising the steps of mounting a cleaning assembly to or on a body member in a selected position having at least one connecting element in a selected position, connecting the body member to a support member using the at least one connecting element so that the 25 cleaning assembly can adopt a cleaning position with respect to the support member wherein when the cleaning assembly is mounted to the body in the selected cleaning position and the body is connected to the support member using the at least one connecting element the cleaning 30 element adopts the selected cleaning orientation with respect to the support member so that relative movement between the item to be cleaned and the cleaning assembly removes at least some of the unwanted material from the N:\Melbourne\CaeaC\Patent\76000-78999\P78326.AU\Specia\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 7 item thereby cleaning the item. In another aspect the invention provides a cleaning device for cleaning an item by removing unwanted material from 5 the item, the device comprising a body member having two spaced apart connecting elements extending from the body member, the connecting elements configured to connect the device to a support member configured to support the cleaning device in use and to support the weight of a 10 person when using the cleaning device, and a cleaning assembly having a cleaning element mountable to or on the body member in a selected position for providing access to the cleaning element when the cleaning device is connected to the support member by the two connecting elements, the 15 cleaning element being located intermediate the two spaced apart connecting elements, such that when the cleaning assembly is mounted to the body member and the body member is connected to the support member by the two connecting elements and provided with a footrest or footstand at 20 either end wherein the cleaning element is aligned with the support member so that the weight of a person can be supported on the support member by the person standing on one or both said footrests or footstands when using the cleaning device and the cleaning element is positioned 25 with respect to the support member so that relative movement of the item to be cleaned and the cleaning assembly, while the person is supported on the support, removes at least some of the unwanted material from the item to clean the item. 30 In another aspect the invention provides a method of cleaning an item using a cleaning device comprising the steps of mounting the cleaning device to a support member, 5088353_1 (GHMatters) P78328.AU - 7A said cleaning device including a body member having two spaced apart connecting elements extending from the body member and configured to connect to the support member said body member including a footrest or footstand at 5 either end, connecting the body member to the support member using the two spaced apart connecting elements such that when the cleaning device is mounted to the support member, the cleaning element, which is located intermediate the two spaced apart connecting elements, is 10 aligned with the support member so that the weight of a person can be supported on the support member by a person standing on one or both said footrests or footstands when using the cleaning device to clean the item and the cleaning device is positioned with respect to the support 15 member so that relative movement of the item to be cleaned with respect to the cleaning element cleans the item by removing unwanted material from the item, and the item when cleaned can be located on the support member to maintain the item in a clean condition. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Typically the item requiring cleaning is footwear. More typically, the footwear includes shoes, boots or other footwear used by workman, typically at a work site. Even 25 more typically, the item is the sole or under surface of a work boot or work shoe or similar footwear. Typically, the body member of the device is an elongate member. In one form the elongate member is made from 30 metal. In one form the metallic elongate member is a bar, rod, beam, or similar rigid member. Preferably, the bar is a flanged member, more preferably a length of angle iron, and most preferably, angle iron in which the two 5088353_1 (GHMatters) P78328.AU - 7B sides or flanges are arranged perpendicularly to one another. In one form the elongate body portion or bar, rod, beam 5 etc. is provided with a connecting element. Typically, there is at least one, preferably two connecting elements. More typically, the two connecting elements are located spaced apart from one another. 10 In one form the connecting element are in the form of brackets, more typically, the brackets include a generally curved portion. In one form the brackets are generally J shaped. Even more typically, the shank, shaft or straight portion of the J shaped bracket is connected to the bar, 15 beam, rod or the like, typically by welding. In one form the support element is a framework member or frame member. In one form the support member is a, or 5088353_1 (GHMatters) P78328.AU -8 part of, a ladder. Typically, the support member is the rung of a ladder, preferably the lowermost rung of the ladder. 5 In one form, the brackets are designed and/or shaped to cooperatively engage with a rung of a ladder or similar support structure. In one form the cleaning assembly is connectable to the 10 elongate body portion. Typically, the cleaning assembly is releasably securable to the body portion, preferably to the central part of the elongate body portion. In one form the cleaning element is a scraper. In one 15 form the cleaning element is provided with a multitude of scrapping elements or cleaning elements. Typically, the cleaning elements are filaments, preferably extending outwardly form the base of the cleaning assembly. Typically the cleaning assembly or element is a brush. In 20 one form the brush is provided with bristles of natural or synthetic materials. More preferably, the bristles are stiff so as to more effectively clean the unwanted material. 25 In one form the cleaning element, preferably the brush is locatable intermediate the two spaced apart connecting brackets located towards either side of the bar, rod, beam or the like. 30 In one form the selected position or orientation is of the cleaning element and/or cleaning assembly is with the bristles of the brush located outwardly of the brush support backing plate or the like allowing access to the N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\SpeciB\CLEANING DEVICE.dOC 01/09/08 - 9 bristles when standing on the cleaning device and/or lowermost rung of the ladder. In one form the selected position or orientation is the 5 surface of the bristles are aligned generally with the top surface of the lowermost rung to provide a stand for supporting the weight of a workman cleaning the soles of his footwear whilst standing on the ladder and/or on the cleaning device. 10 In one form the elongate body member in the form of the bar, beam, rod or the like is provided with a foot support. In one form there are two foot supports typically one located on either side of the cleaning 15 element or elongate body portion. In one form the foot support is an extension of the body portion. In one form the brush having the bristles for cleaning the sole of footwear is demountable from the body member using 20 releasably securable fasteners. In one form the brush is a replaceable brush. The unwanted material is typically, mud, grit, sand, dust, dirt, earth, concrete, rubble, clay, gravel, stones or 25 combinations of two of more such materials. In one form, the cleaning device is capable of being connected to a ladder. However, other forms of the cleaning device can be connected to suitable support 30 structures other than ladders. One example of another type of support structure is a vehicle, typically a motor vehicle, motorised vehicle, towable vehicle or the like. In one form, the cleaning device is connected to a motor N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\Specis\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 10 car, truck, sports utility vehicle, four wheel drive vehicle, trailer or similar, particularly the side step or running board or the like of a motor vehicle. One preferred application is as a mountable cleaning device 5 for attaching to a trailer, four wheel drive or similar for cleaning mud, dirt, snow, ice or similar from shoes, boots or similar after an activity such as trail bike riding, motor cycle riding, skiing, bush walking or the like. In such applications, the cleaning device is 10 attached to the vehicle by a suitable modified bracket or fixing arrangement allowing footwear to be cleaned before entering the vehicle, thereby keeping the interior of the vehicle clean of unwanted material, mud, ice or the like. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described and illustrated with respect to a non-limiting example of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 20 Figure 1 is a front perspective view of one form of the cleaning device of the present invention showing the manner of mounting of the cleaning element to the elongate body member; 25 Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing the cleaning element when mounted to the body member; 30 Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-28999\P78328.AU\Specia\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/06 - 11 Figure 2; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the cleaning element of the cleaning device of the present invention 5 located in situ upon the lowermost rung of a ladder; Figure 6 is a partial cross-section of the embodiment of Figure 5 showing the relationship of the position of the cleaning device to the position of the lowermost rung of 10 the ladder; Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the cleaning device of Figure 5 in use; and 15 Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the cleaning device of Figure 5 in use showing the weight of the workman being supported by a foot rest located towards the end of the body member. 20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings there is shown one form of the cleaning device, generally denoted as 2, of the present invention. Cleaning device 2 includes an elongate body member in the 25 form of a bar, rod, beam or other rigid member or the like. Bar 4 is typically a length of angle iron having two walls 4a, 4b joined to one another and arranged to extend perpendicularly to one another to provide a bar of increased stiffness, strength and rigidity. A pair of 30 connecting elements in the form of generally J-shaped brackets 12, 14; are provided at spaced apart locations, one on either side of bar 4; to facilitate connection of cleaning device 2 to a suitable support member to be N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\Specis\CEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 12 described in detail later. The generally J-shaped brackets 12, 14; are one form of the connecting elements. Other forms of the connecting element are possible. Bar 4 has three portions being a central portion 6 located to 5 extend between the two spaced apart brackets 12, 14; a first end portion 8 located to extend at one end of bar 4 forming a first footrest or footstand portion at this side of bar 4; and a second end portion 10 located to extend at the other end of bar 4 forming a second footrest or 10 footstand portion at this end of bar 4. A pair of spaced apart apertures 16, 18 are provided in the central portion 6 of bar 4 for receiving suitable fasteners therethrough to attach or mount the cleaning assembly to bar 4. The proximal ends of each bracket 12, 14 are connected to bar 15 4 by any suitable means or arrangement. In one form the distal ends 20 of brackets 12, 14 are each welded to the edges of the two side walls 4a, 4b forming the angle iron form of bar 4. 20 Thus, the shank or shaft of each bracket 12, 14 is welded to bar 4 in two places for increased strength and rigidity and to balance device 2 when connected to a suitable support. 25 A pair of apertures 22, 24 is provided in the distal portions of each of brackets 12, 14 for receiving therethrough a suitable fastener to securely connect cleaning device 2 to a suitable support member or structure such as the lowermost rung of a ladder. One 30 form of the releasable securable fastener is pin 26. One form of the cleaning element will now be described. In one form the cleaning element is a brush 26 which N:\Melbourne\CaseB\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\Specis\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 13 comprises a back plate 28 or back support such as for example a wooden plate forming the spine or back of the brush. A multitude of flexible cleaning parts or elements in the form of bristles 30, hairs or the like extend 5 outwardly from the rear surface of plate 28. Although a multitude of flexible bristles are shown in the drawings the cleaning parts may take any suitable or convenient form. A pair of spaced apart retaining elements in the form of threaded studs 34 extend outwardly from the front 10 surface of back plate 28 of brush 26 for being received in the pair of spaced apart apertures 16, 18 located in the central portion 6 of bar 4 to mount brush 26 to bar 4 to form the cleaning device 2. The brush is securely fastened to bar 4 to mount brush 26 to bar 4 to form the 15 cleaning device 2. The brush is securely fastened to bar 4 to mount brush 26 to bar 4 to form the cleaning device 2. The brush is securely fastened to bar 4 by suitable fasteners, such as for example, nuts 36 and optionally spring washers (not shown) or the like. It is to be noted 20 that any suitable fastener may be used to mount brush 26 to bar 4. In use of the present invention, after mounting and fastening brush 26 onto bar 4, the cleaning device 2 is 25 connected to a suitable support such as the lowermost rung 42 extending transversely between a pair of uprights 44 of a ladder 40 by brackets 12, 14 being located over the top surface of the lowermost rung 42 near to the uprights 44 with brush 26 and bar 4 depending downwardly from brackets 30 12, 14 with the distal ends of bristles 28 being directed upwardly for contact with the undersurface or sole of footwear being cleaned by device 2. In this position the edges of side walls 4a, 4b are in contact with uprights 44 N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-28999\P78328.AU\Specia\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08 - 14 of ladder 40 to aid stability of the cleaning device against ladder 40. It is to be noted that cleaning device 2 is oriented with respect to ladder 40 so that the upper cleaning surface being the bristles 30 of the brush 26 5 located adjacent to the position of the lowermost rung 42 so that a person using cleaning device 2 can stand on the lowermost rung 42 whilst moving the sole of the footwear repeatedly backwards and forwards over the surface of bristles 30 to clean the sole of the footwear whilst 10 standing on rung 42 or at least being supported by lowermost rung 42. It is to be noted that it is highly desirable that the cleaning surface of the cleaning element be located in relation to the lowermost rung for increased safety when using the cleaning device and to 15 allow more efficient cleaning the soles of the footwear. When wearing the footwear item that requires cleaning by to an fro movement over and/or through bristles 30 the cleaned footwear, particularly the cleaned sole may be 20 located on footrest portion 8, 10 at the ends of bar 4 whilst the other footwear item is cleaned. If necessary the cleaned footwear of the person cleaning their footwear can be located on either foot rest 8, 10 after cleaning by the person standing on bar 4 before climbing the rungs of 25 the ladder to gain access to the elevated site, such as the roof of a building or the like. Further, it is to be noted that the cleaning device can be provided with a scraper or similar (not shown) for 30 removing excess unwanted material such as mud, dirt, sand, cement, rubble, gravel, stones, dust and the like form the shoes prior to cleaning the soles of the shoes with the brush. The scraper may be located at any convenient N:\Melbournc\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P78328.AU\SpeciS\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/0 - 15 location within the cleaning device including being located at or towards the ends of the footrest. In one form the scraper is located at the distal end or at or towards either extreme end of bar 4 at the footrest 5 portion at either end of bar 4 so as not to contaminate the footrest portion when in use by using the footrest as a scrapper of the like. ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 10 Advantages of the present invention include the following: The use of the cleaning device of the present invention can reduce the incidents of slipping when walking on a wood surface which increases safety by avoiding slipping on the roof surface. The use of the cleaning device 15 allows mud and dirt build up from the soles of footwear to be removed before climbing a ladder so as to make the ascent of the ladder safer. The cleaning device of the present invention being 20 connectable to the ladder and being readily demountable from the ladder allows the device to be moved from location to location. N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\78000-78999\P7S328.AU\Specis\CLEANING DEVICE.doc 01/09/08

Claims

1. A cleaning device for cleaning an item by removing unwanted material from the item, the device 5 comprising a body member having two spaced apart connecting elements extending from the body member, the connecting elements configured to connect the device to a support member configured to support the cleaning device in use and to support the weight of a person when using 10 the cleaning device, and a cleaning assembly having a cleaning element mountable to or on the body member in a selected position for providing access to the cleaning element when the cleaning device is connected to the support member by the two connecting elements, the 15 cleaning element being located intermediate the two spaced apart connecting elements, such that when the cleaning assembly is mounted to the body member and the body member is connected to the support member by the two connecting elements and provided with a footrest or footstand at 20 either end wherein the cleaning element is aligned with the support member so that the weight of a person can be supported on the support member by the person standing on one or both said footrests or footstands when using the cleaning device and the cleaning element is positioned 25 with respect to the support member so that relative movement of the item to be cleaned and the cleaning assembly, while the person is supported on the support, removes at least some of the unwanted material from the item to clean the item. 30

2. A cleaning device according to claim 1 in which the cleaning element is aligned with both connecting elements so that when the cleaning device is attached to 50871041 (GHMatters) P78328.AU 05/02/14 - 17 the support element, the cleaning element, both spaced apart connecting elements and the support element are all aligned with one another to support the person using the cleaning device. 5

3. A device according to any preceding claim in which the item to be cleaned is footwear, including boots, shoes or other footwear worn by a person. 10

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the body member is an elongate member and the elongate member is an angle iron having two inclined side walls joined to one another along the entire length of the two side walls. 15

5. A device according to claim 4 in which the two side walls of the angle iron are arranged substantially perpendicularly to one another.

6. A device according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the 20 two side walls have edges and the edges of the side walls forming the angle iron contact the support member to assist in locating and supporting the device with respect to the support member, preferably the edges of the walls forming the angle iron contact the support member on 25 either side of the elongate member, and more preferably the edges of the side walls forming the angle iron contact the support member at two spaced apart locations.

7. A device according to any preceding claim in 30 which each connecting element is a bracket, preferably a generally curved bracket, and more preferably a generally J-shaped bracket. 5087104_1 (GHMatters) P78328.AU 05/02/14 - 18

8. A device according to claim 7 in which the J shaped bracket has a curved portion located at or towards one end and the curved portion of the J-shaped bracket engages with the support member to locate the cleaning S device on the support member in the orientation to position the cleaning element in alignment with the support member.

9. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 8 in 10 which the alignment of the cleaning element with the support member includes at least a part of the cleaning element being located at about the same level or about the same height as the support member or at least part of the support element so that a person can stand on the support 15 member when using the cleaning element to clean footwear worn by the person using the cleaning device.

10. A device according to any preceding claim in which the support member is a ladder or at least a part of 20 a ladder, preferably a rung of the ladder, more preferably the lowermost rung of the ladder.

11. A device according to claim 10 in which brackets co-operatively engage with the lowermost rung of the 25 ladder to support the cleaning device in use in which the cleaning element is located between two said brackets and is aligned with the lowermost rung of the ladder by being at the same level or height of the lowermost rung. 30

12. The device according to any preceding claim in which the body member has a central portion and two end portions, wherein the cleaning element is releaseably securable to the central portion of the body member. 5088353_1 (GHMatters) P78328.AU - 19

13. A device according to any preceding claim in which the cleaning element is a brush having a multitude of bristles extending collectively in one direction from 5 one part of the brush.

14. A device according to claim 13 in which the bristles of the brush are oriented upwards for contact with the sole of the footwear worn by the person using the 10 cleaning device to clean unwanted material from the footwear.

15. A device according to claim 13 or 14 in which the ends of the bristles of the brush collectively form a 15 cleaning surface and the cleaning surface is aligned with the top of the lowermost rung of the ladder wherein the lowermost rung of the ladder provides support for the weight of the person using the cleaning device to clean the soles of the footwear of unwanted debris whilst 20 standing on the lowermost rung of the ladder.

16. A device according to any preceding claim further comprising a scraper for removing excess unwanted material from the footwear prior to cleaning the footwear using the 25 cleaning element.

17. A method of cleaning an item using a cleaning device comprising the steps of mounting the cleaning device to a support member, said cleaning device including 30 a body member having two spaced apart connecting elements extending from the body member and configured to connect to the support member said body member including a footrest or footstand at either end, connecting the body 5088353_1 (GHMatters) P78328AU - 20 member to the support member using the two spaced apart connecting elements such that when the cleaning device is mounted to the support member, the cleaning element, which is located intermediate the two spaced apart connecting 5 elements, is aligned with the support member so that the weight of a person can be supported on the support member by a person standing on one or both said footrests or footstands when using the cleaning device to clean the item and the cleaning device is positioned with respect to 10 the support member so that relative movement of the item to be cleaned with respect to the cleaning element cleans the item by removing unwanted material from the item, and the item when cleaned can be located on the support member to maintain the item in a clean condition. 15

18. A cleaning device or method of cleaning an item using a cleaning device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5088353_1 (GHMatters) P78328.AU