US3742545A

US3742545A - Shoe polishing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3742545A
Application number: US00168203A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Kravitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-08-02
Filing date: 1971-08-02
Publication date: 1973-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-03

Abstract

A shoe polishing apparatus having motor driven polishers and a reservoir from which polish is dispensed upon the shoe of the user through a foot-controlled valve.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,742,545

,[76] Inventor: Arthur I. Kravitz,4 Fenirnore Road,

Kravitz 1451 July 3,1973

[54] SHOE POLISHING APPARATUS 992,921 5/1965 Great Britain 15/31 996,045 6/1965 Great Britain Port Washington, NY. 11050 [22] Filed; Aug. 2, 1971 Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts [211 pp NOJ 168,203 Atiorney-Se1dman and Fisher [52] US. C1. 15/31, 15/34 [51] Int. Cl A'47l 23/02 ABSTRACT- [58] Field of Search ..15/3035,

97 A; 222/500, 505; 1 18/3; 401/173 A shoe polishing apparatus having motor driven polishers and a reservoir from which polish is dispensed upon [56] References Cited the shoe of the user through a foot-controlled valve.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I,495,4I'6 8/1967 France 15/31 I 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3 I915 3.742.545

INVENTOR ARTHUR |.KRAVITZ Al 1 (MN! Y";

SIIOE POLISHING APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to shoe polishing machines,'and more particularly to a shoe polishing apparatus having motor driven polisher elements and a reservoir from which polish is dispensed upon the shoe of the user through a foot-controlled valve.

In the prior art there are numerous shoe polishing machines such as described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,022,528 issued to R. R. Pagano and in U; S. Pat. No. 2,964,768 issued to A; Sirois. These priorart machines are rather complex and are economically better suited for commercial use rather than home use.

The invention provides a shoe polishing machine which is of simple enough design as to be suitable for home use, and yet readily adaptable for, commercial use if desired.

Basically, the shoe polishing apparatus of the invention has a base frame that supports at least one motor driven polisher wheel and a polish reservoir equipped with a foot-controlled valve that is operable to dispense a liquid polish by gravity flow through a hollow stem. An absorbent applicator element, such as a brush or sponge, is connected to the end of the dispenser stem and disposed for contact with the shoe of the user. The valve is resiliently biased into a normally closed configuration to prevent unintended leakage of polish, and can be shifted to an open configuration by an upward displacement of the stem. Under normal use, raising of the stem is effected by the user lifting the shoe against the applicator to wet it with polish in preparation for final polishing by contact with the rotating brush and- /or buffer wheels.

The reservoir and associated dispenser valve are installed and removable as a unit, for easier cleaning and refilling, and simplicity of construction. For such purposes, the base frame has guide parts disposed for sliding contact engagement with matching parts of the reservoir to releasably support the reservoir and valve unit.

For a better understanding of the invention and its several advantages, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and following detailed description pertaining to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe polishing appa' ratus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention as seen in an upright position for normal use.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the shoe polishing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view of the shoe polishing apparatus shown in FIGS. land 2, as taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the shoe polishing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of the shoe polishing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 showing in detail the polish dispensing valve installed in the reservoir and in an open configuration for applying polish upon a shoe.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT" OF THE INVENTION In FIGS. 1-4 there is exemplified a shoe polishing apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the invention and which is especially suited for home use, but can be readily adapted for coin-operated commercial use.

Apparatus 10 has a base frame 11 that supports an electric motor 12 which drives a. pair of polisher brushes 13, and a polish reservoir 14 equipped with a foot-controlled valve 15. The valve 15 serves for dispensing liquid polish 16 from reservoir 14 upon the shoe 17 of the user, as indicated in FIG. 5, to prepare such shoe 17 for polishing by contact with the revolving wheel brushes 13.

Reservoir 14 and valve 15 are constructed as units that can be easily installed upon and removed from base frame 11. For such purpose, base frame 1 1 is provided with a pair of channel-like guides 18 disposed for reservoir 14. The capacity of reservoir 14 is established by the contour of shroud 21 and a back wall 22 connected thereto in a liquid-tight fashion, as by welding.

The contour of shroud, 21 is essentially chosen to give a streamlined external appearance to the apparatus 10 and thus the polish capacity of reservoir 14 can be varied as desired by selecting the contour of wall 22.

Any suitable conventional cover (not shown) can be used to cover window 20 so as tq prevent dust and dirt from contaminating the polish 16.

To facilitate transporting the apparatus 10, there is provided a handle 23 connectedto base frame 11. Installed within handle 23 is a switch 24 that is electricallyv connected to motor 12 and operable to turn motor 12 on and off. Electrical power for running motor 12 is supplied via a conventional plug-in line cord 25. 1

Valve 15 is expediently located at the lowermost drainage point of reservoir 14 so as to dispense polish therefrom by gravity flow.

From the details of valve 15 shown in FIG. 5, it can be noted that the polish 16 is dispensed through a hollow stem 26 that is connected at one end to a seal member 27 within reservoir 14 and connected at the opposite end to an absorbent applicator brush 28 disposed for contact with the shoe 17 of the user. Whenever seal 27 is raised above seat 29, liquid polish enters stem 26 through a hole 30 therein and flows downwardly into applicator 28 to wet same and the surface of shoe 17 in contact therewith. To prevent unintended leakage of polish, valve 15 is resiliently biased into a normally closed configuration, as in FIG. 4, in which condition seal 27 bears against seat 29 to block flow through hole 30.

This resilient bias is provided by a spring 31 compressed between a fixed shoulder 32 and a collar 33 secured to stem 26. I

To apply polish 16 to the shoe 17, it is merely necessary to raise it against the applicator 28 and thereby displace stem 26 and seal 27.upwardly to open valve 15.

It will now be appreciated from the above description, that the present invention provides for an improved shoe polishing apparatus wherein the individual components are economical to manufacture and easy to assemble, and wherein the overall size of the apparatus is considerably smaller and more efficient to use than those in the prior art.

Apart from simplicity, the invention offers many other advantages which will become obvious to the artisan upon studying the drawing and foregoing description of a chosen embodiment.

What is claimed is:

l. A shoe polishing apparatus which comprises a base means, at least one motor driven polisher supported by said base means, a polish reservoir supported by said base means, and a foot-controlled valve associated with said reservoir and operable to dispense polish therefrom upon the shoe of the user to prepare such shoe for polishing by contact with said motor driven polisher,

said foot-controlled valve has having a hollow stem through which the polish is dispensed by gravity flow into an absorbent applicator element connected to the end of said stem and disposed for contact with the shoe of the user.

2. A shoe polishing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said foot-controlled valve has a seal member disposed within the reservoir and connected to said stem for movement thereby to open and close the valve.

3. A shoe polishing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said foot-controlled valve is resiliently biased into a normally closed configuration and can be shifted to an open configuration by an upward displacement of said stem.

Claims

1. A shoe polishing apparatus which comprises a base means, at least one motor driven polisher supported by said base means, a polish reservoir supported by said base means, and a footcontrolled valve associated with said reservoir and operable to dispense polish therefrom upon the shoe of the user to prepare such shoe for polishing by contact with said motor driven polisher, said foot-controlled valve has having a hollow stem through which the polish is dispensed by gravity flow into an absorbent applicator element connected to the end of said stem and disposed for contact with the shoe of the user.