EP1129660B1 - An applicator for footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

An applicator for footwear, comprising a deposit (1) containing the cleaning product and/or polish, longitudinally having a flat face to which a part (2) is adapted, the support for at least one product delivery valve (8), fitted in a protruding cylindrical shape (21), introduced in a hole located in a protruding knob (11) of the package base (1), in this way establishing the joint between both parts; whilst on the outside, said part (2) has at least one sponge plate or block (3-4) with a suitable texture and stiffness. <IMAGE>

Description

• The present invention refers to an applicator for cleaning and/or polishing footwear, comprising a deposit containing the product, and some cleaning means attached to said deposit on a flat surface, consisting of sponges or equivalent products which, on passing over the footwear cleans it and optionally impregnates the cleaning or polishing product contained in the deposit.
• Applicators of similar characteristics are common in the market. Generally, in all cases it is necessary to squeeze the flexible deposit to empty part of its contents in the cleaning component. Also, another component is known which includes a sponge generally impregnated with a polishing product and lacking an attached deposit, which is used only for occasional cleaning since the duration of the polish is very limited.
• Document US 4 993 859 discloses an applicator according to the preamble of claim 1.
• The applicator of the present invention has a deposit defining a flat surface to which a cover is coupled across protruding cylindrical shapes incorporating valves which fit in holes with equivalent shapes defined in the deposit. Said valves have a pin which emerges through the product exit hole which on being pressed matches with the applicator over the footwear, simultaneously permitting product exit.
• When sports footwear is considered, the cleaning means have an internal spongy surface and outside, a harder and rougher surface like a swab allowing deeper cleaning to be made.
• Likewise, on the outside this applicator has a cover which in turn has a sponge similarly applicable to the cleaning and polishing of the footwear. In turn, this cover is also provided with a lid which covers the mentioned complementary sponge.
• The object of the present invention will be understood better by means of the following specification based on a practical example of an embodiment. This description is made on the basis of the attached plan drawings, where:
• Figure 1 shows two side views of the applicator for footwear, object of this model.
• Figure 2 shows sectioned elevation, profile and plan views.
• This applicator comprises a product containing deposit (1) which longitudinally has a flat face to which a cover (2) is adapted, supporting several product delivery valves (8) fitted in corresponding protruding cylindrical shapes (21) which are introduced in corresponding holes located in matching protruding knobs (11) of the deposit (1) base, in this way establishing the joint between both parts.
• Said cover (2) has on its outside face some cleaning means (3) and (4) consisting of, especially when used for cleaning sports footwear, a spongy internal surface (3) and others (4) above the latter, which are harder, with a constitution similar to a swab.
• The applicator has a cover (5) which in turn has, on the opposite surface of that of closing, a sponge (6) likewise applicable to the cleaning and polishing of footwear. In this case, it in turn has a lid (7) which covers the complementary sponge (6).
• Regarding the means permitting the controlled emptying of the deposit (1) contents in the cleaning components (3) and (4), these are observed in greater detail in the sectioned views of figure 3, consistinq of some valves (8) fitted in the protruding cylindrical shapes (21) in the cover (2), which due to their shape close towards the inside of the deposit (1) forming a kind of spring tending to keep the valve head blocking the exit conduit through which a pin (9) emerges. On pressing the applicator over the surface to be cleaned, said pin (9) is pushed upwards permitting the exit of the product through the corresponding conduit.

Claims (4)

1. An applicator for footwear, comprising a deposit (1) containing a cleaning and/or polishing product, and cleaning means (3) and/or (4) provided with a cover (5), wherein the said deposit (1) containing the product has in a longitudinal direction a flat face on which a cover (2) adapts, and wherein said cover (2) has on the outside at least one sponge plate or block (3,4) with a suitable texture and stiffness,
      characterized in that said part (2) supports several product delivery valves (8), fitted in corresponding protruding cylindrical shapes (21), which are introduced in corresponding holes located in corresponding protruding knobs (11) of the deposit (1) base, in this way establishing the joint between both parts (1), (2).
2. An applicator according to the previous claim, characterised in that said valves (8) consist of a pin (9) emerging outside the cover (2), being integrated in the sponge (3-4), incorporating an internal head to the shape (21) which surrounds it tending to maintain the exit conduit located around said pin (9) blocked, except when the latter is pressed inwards when applying the applicator against the footwear.
3. An applicator according to the previous claim, characterised in that said cleaning means, when dealing with sports footwear, have an internal spongy surface (3) and beyond the latter a harder and rougher surface (4) like a swab.
4. An applicator according to the previous claims, characterised in that the cover (5) of the applicator itself externally has a sponge (6) likewise applicable to the cleaning and/or polishing of footwear and in that, in turn, this cover (5) is provided with a lid (7) which covers this complementary sponge (6).

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