GB2176392A

GB2176392A - Method of, and apparatus for cleaning feet or footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2176392A
Application number: GB08612716A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard George Beesley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-24
Filing date: 1986-05-23
Publication date: 1986-12-31
Also published as: GB8612716D0; GB8513225D0

Abstract

Feet or footwear e.g. Wellington boots are cleaned by movement through passages 10, each of which is provided with brushes which engage the sides of the feet or footwear. The base of each passage may be provided with rubber cleaning elements 13. A scraper or blade may be located at an end of a passage, and water may be sprayed through nozzles 14 extending along each side of a passage. Handles 12 may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of, and apparatus for cleaning feet or footwear The present invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for cleaning or cleansing feet or footwear and in particular, although not exclusively, to cleaning or cleansing waterproof footwear such as wellington boots.

According to one aspect of the present invention, cleaning apparatus comprises at least one cleaning passage arranged to receive an article of footwear or a foot therein and adapted to clean an article of footwear or foot within the passage upon to and fro movement of the article of footwear or foot through the passage. Such an apparatus may be simple in construction and may enable a person to ciean their footwear or feet by moving their leg to and fro to cause the necessary movement of the footwear. In this specification where the term "footwear" is used, it will be appreciated that this term is to include feet.

The length of the cleaning passage may be greater than the length of an article of footwear which it is arranged to clean which may permit the whole sides of an article of footwear to be cleaned as it moves through the passage at more than one location in the passage.

The depth of the passage may vary along its length which may allow footwear of varying heights to be cleaned by the apparatus. This is of particular use in cleaning the upper portions of boots.

Preferably at least one end of the passage is open whereby footwear may be received into, or removed from, the passage from that end.

The apparatus may comprise two cleaning passages located side by side which may permit a person to clean a pair of articles of footwear simultaneously.

The apparatus may include at least one, and preferably two handles located above the cleaning passage or passages which a user may grip while moving their footwear to and fro.

The or each cleaning passage may be defined by a pair of opposed brushes.

The apparatus may also include liquid supply means arranged to be applied to an article of footwear in the cleaning passage which may assist in the cleaning of the footwear. The liquid supply means may be arranged to supply liquid to the footwear in the passage from the upper portion of the passage, and is preferably arranged to supply liquid directly to an article of footwear located in the passage. The liquid supply means may be arranged to supply liquid to the footwear from either side of the passage.

Control means may be provided for controlling the liquid supply means, which control means may be operable by a person whilst cleaning his footwear using the apparatus.

The apparatus may be movable, for instance it may be mounted on wheels, to enable it to be conveniently relocated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of cleaning footwear comprises moving an article of footwear to and fro through a cleaning passage. The present invention also includes a method of cleaning footwear using an apparatus as herein defined.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a front view of a footwear cleaning apparatus; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing the outline of the cleaning passages; Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 1 with the cleaning passages omitted; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment.

As shown in Figure 1, the cleaning apparatus comprises a pair of side by side cleaning passages 10 into which a users feet may be placed. A pair of handles 12 are provided at the top and at either side of the apparatus for a user to grip. Each passage comprises a pair of opposed inwardly directed brushes which engage with the sides of a foot located in the passage. The brushes may be of rubber and may be cut from the walls of tyres.

In use, a user inserts their feet into the passage from the end thereof or from the top. The handles are gripped to at least partially support the weight of the user, or steady the user and the feet are moved successively or simultaneously to and fro through the passages. The movement of the feet past the brushes causes the footwear to be cleaned. Two rows of inverted rubber "V"s 13 are provided on the base of the passageto-comb-out any soil or manure clinging to the tread of the boot or Wellington boot sole. If desired, a scraper blade (not show ired, a scraper blade (not shown) may be provided at the end of one or both passages in order to clean the soles of the footwear.

In order to assist in the cleaning operation, water is supplied at the top of either side of the passages through a row of fine jets 14 extending along the passages. The jets direct the water downwardly onto the sides of the footwear in the passage.

The supply of water to the jets is controlled by one of the handles 12 which is pivotally mounted at 16.

That handle is able to be moved outwardly, against the action of a spring 18, to cause a valve 20 to be opened and allow water to pass through the jets.

Thus a user of the apparatus is able to control the flow of water.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may have many alternative uses. One such use may be for cleaning the Wellington boots of farmers.

Accordingly the water from the mains may be supplied to the jets, or disinfectant liquid may be supplied. Alternatively, golfers may be able to clean their shoes using the apparatus. In a further alternative use, persons using a swimming bath may walk through a pair of side by side passages with chlorinated water either being sprayed through jets or lying on the floor in the passages, in which case the to and fro movement of the feet may be caused by the feet passing into and being removed from the passages.

As shown in Figure 2, each cleaning passage includes three sections 22,24 and 26 of increasing depth. A user can select in which section he wishes to clean his feet in dependence upon the height of the boot or the extent of the soiled portion.

As shown in Figure 3, each handle 12 extends along the length of the apparatus so that it is available for gripping when any of the sections 22, 24 and 26 are being used. The handles 12 include struts 28 extending downwardly adjacent to either end of the handles the lower ends of which rest on the ground. A reinforcing strut 30 extends between the base of one strut and a location towards the top of the other strut.

The lower ends of the struts at one end of the apparatus can be lifted clear of the ground by moving a pair of parallel spaced levers 32 at one end of the apparatus upwards from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in chain lines to cause the levers to pivot about an axis 34 to bring a pair of spaced wheels 36 into contact with the ground. The levers can then be locked in the raised position shown in chain lines and the ends of the levers can be lifted to allow the apparatus to be transported by rolling on the wheels 36.

In Figure 4, like parts to those shown in Figures 1 to 3 have been given the same reference numeral ~prAed by the nurnbe The two cleaning passages 110 are only 9 inches long, and each passages includes the opposed inwardly directed brushes and opposed jets 114 located centrally in the upper central region.

Only a single handle 112 is shown at one side, and a slidably mounted knob 138 is depressed downwardly in order to open a watervalve at the lower end thereof.

Cleaning of the footwear is as described in relation to Figures 1 to 3.

Claims

1. Cleaning apparatus comprising at least one cleaning passage arranged to receive an article of footwear or a foot therein and adapted to clean an article of footwear or a foot upon to and fro movement of the article of footwear or foot through the passage.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the length of the cleaning passage is greater than the length of an article of footwear or foot which it is arranged to clean.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the depth of the passage varies along its length.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the length of the passage is substantially the same as the length of an article of footwear.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one end of the passage is open.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including two cleaning passages located side by side.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including at least one handle located above the cleaning passage.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 including a single handle located to the side of the cleaning passage.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 including a pair of handles located on opposite sides of the cleaning passage.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the passage is defined by a pair of opposed brushes.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including liquid supply means.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 in which the liquid supply means are arranged to supply liquid to the cleaning passage.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 in which the liquid supply means are arranged to supply liquid to footwear in the passage from the upper portion of the passage.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13 in which the liquid supply means are arranged to supply liquid directly to footwear located in the passage.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14 in which the liquid supply means are arranged to supply liquid to footwear from either side of the passage.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14 including control means arranged to control the supply of liquid from the liquid supply means.

17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 16 in which the control means are operable by a person using the cleaning apparatus.

18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 in which the control means are operable upon pivotal movement of a control member.

19. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 in which the control means are operable upon translational movement of a control member.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is movable.

21. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 20 including a pair of wheels arranged to engage with a surface supporting the apparatus when the apparatus is being moved.

22. Cleaning apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of cleaning a foot or footwear comprising moving a foot or footwear to and fro through a cleaning passage.

24. A method of cleaning a foot or footwear substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of cleaning a foot or footwear as claimed in Claim 23 or 24 using cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 22.