WO2006021011A1

WO2006021011A1 - Sneaker washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2006021011A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2005/000119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cheslyn Rhyn Bernard Swartz
Original assignee: Cheslyn Rhyn Bernard Swartz
Priority date: 2004-08-16
Filing date: 2005-08-11
Publication date: 2006-02-23
Also published as: ZA200702496B

Abstract

A machine for automatically cleaning footwear of the sports shoe type, like sneakers, plimsolls or takkies, which has a drum into which the footwear is placed, a solvent is sprayed into and onto the footwear under high pressure and air is then blown of the footwear to dry them. The cycle takes about ten minutes.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention lies in the field of washing machines, more particularly washing machines specially adapted for washing footwear, for example leisure or sports shoes, plimsolls, training shoes, soft soled canvas shoes, also described as sneakers or takkies. The invention is in its design and its suitability applicable to washing of any footwear, including slippers and other soft shoes.

BACKGROUND

There are many washing machines on the market and many proposals for washing machines and washing compositions, but none disclose a machine specifically designed for or suitable for cleaning footwear nor compositions specially adapted for and suitable for washing footwear.

Footwear requires a special approach, as placing footwear in ordinary washing machines with agitators results in them banging about and the effect of being immersed in water with typical detergent washing substances are to loosen the adhesives used in sneakers and similar footwear. The washing causes this effect and a general wear and tear on the footwear. Premature deterioration of the footwear tends to result from washing in this way and hand washing is unpopular and tedious. Another problem resulting from washing with water is that it takes a long time for the footwear to dry out, often the footwear is laid out in the sun to dry, which again exposes it to radiation that is harmful to polymers used typically in sneakers and like footwear. Alternatively placing footwear in tumble dryers is harmful both to the tumble dryer and the footwear.

THE INVENTION A machine for washing footwear in accordance with this invention includes a housing, a drum contained within the housing, a lid or door for the drum and/or housing, a reservoir of cleaning substance, a pump for pumping the substance to the interior of the drum, a means of filling the reservoir, characterized in that the drum contains structure for supporting footwear and a plurality of nozzles to which the substance is pumped, including nozzles located on the supporting structure for spraying jets inside the footwear and/or nozzles located on or near the drum walls for spraying jets onto the outsides of the footwear.

Preferably the means for supporting the footwear comprises upright pillars upon which the footwear can be placed, the pillars supporting nozzles, which are directed upwardly. The supporting means may alternatively comprise brackets or hooks or similar means.

Preferably the drum has a drain at its base, with a return means to the reservoir, which means includes a filter capable of filtering the substance to a degree permitting the substance to be re-used. The filter may have a cartridge that is replaced or cleaned regularly, during use of the machine. The return means may include a pump for pumping the substance out of the drum, through the filter and into the reservoir.

Preferably the machine further comprises a heater and fan, adapted to blow heated air over the footwear after it has been cleaned and/or to heat the interior of the drum and the footwear to a suitable temperature for the cleaning process and/or the cleaning solvent or substance used. Preferably the cleaning substance used is one well adapted to dry by evaporative process, under action of the heated air.

Preferably the machine is provided with a programmer, either as an electro¬ mechanical device or a solid state logic controller, adapted to control a washing, rinsing and/or drying cycle.

THE DRAWINGS The invention is more fully described by way of an example, with reference to the drawings, in which : -

Figure 1 is side elevation of the machine,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine,

Figure 4 is side elevation of the drum of the machine,

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the drum,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the drum,

Figure 7 is a plan view of a detail enlarged,

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the reservoir,

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the reservoir,

Figure 10 is a plan view of the reservoir,

Figure 11 is plan view of the housing,

Figure 12 is an oblique view of the housing,

Figure 13 is a front elevation of the housing,

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the housing, Figure 15 is a plan view of the lid, and

Figure 16 is a side elevation of a section on the lid.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawings, the machine for washing footwear in accordance with this invention includes a housing 15, a drum 1 contained within the housing, a lid 6 or door for the drum and/or housing, a reservoir 5 of cleaning substance, a pump 3 for pumping the substance to the interior of the drum, a means in the form of a filler cap 7 of filling the reservoir, the drum containing structure in the form of pillars 17 for supporting footwear and a plurality of nozzles 9, 10 to which the substance is pumped by a pump 4. The nozzles 10 are located on the pillars for spraying jets inside the footwear and the nozzles 9 are located on the drum walls for spraying jets onto the outsides of the footwear. The drum may contain pillars for one, two or three pairs of footwear, for example. Where the drum contains pillars for one pair of sports shoes, it has eight spray nozzles and the pump 4 provides the substance at high pressure. The lid 6 has a seal ring 14 that seals onto the housing when the lid is closed.

The drum has a drain 18 at its base, with a return pipe 19 to the reservoir 5, with a filter 2 capable of filtering the substance to a degree permitting the substance to be re¬ used. The return means includes a pump 3 for pumping the substance out of the drum, through the filter and into the reservoir.

The machine further comprises a heater and fan 8, adapted to blow heated air over the footwear after it has been cleaned. The air blower has a heater of 2 kW power rating able to blow hot and then cold air onto the shoes.

The cleaning substance used is a solvent commonly known as "Flashpoint" and is approved by CNERNA 1992. The solvent conforms to the specific requirements of FDA 21 and 227, CFRI 178-3570, CGR 172 and 884, USDSA Hl. The solvent is colorless and certified safe for use in the machine, it evaporates within five minutes and is fragranced; a key benefit is that it does not attack or loosen adhesives used in sneakers or takkies (sports shoes) nor discolor them.

The machine is provided with a programmer and control panel 11 for controlling the washing and drying cycle, in the form of a PLC programmer box that completes a full cycle within ten minutes. The cycle includes a wash of five minutes, a rinse of four minutes and a dry of one minute.

The machine is powered by mains electricity power, to run the pumps, heater and logic controller. The machine interior is heated up to twenty five degrees Celsius if necessary to bring it to the temperature at which the solvent used is effective. The nozzles have fine apertures, of the kind called micro-jets and they are directed to spray onto and into the footwear from various directions. The blower blows air onto the footwear and the air ends at 18 degrees Celsius. Hot air outlet from the drum is the pipe 12.

REFRENCE NUMERALS

1 DRUM

2 FILTER

3 PUMP

4 PUMP

5 RESERVOIR

6 LID

7 FILLER

8 HOT AIR BLOWER

9 SPRAY NOZZLE

10 SPRAY NOZZLE

11 CONTROL PANEL

12 HOT AIR OUTLET

13 SEAL RING HOUSING

Claims

1. A machine for washing footwear, which includes a housing, a drum contained within the housing, a lid or door for the drum and/or housing, a reservoir for cleaning substance, a pump for pumping the substance to the interior of the drum, a means of filling the reservoir, characterized in that the drum contains structure for supporting footwear and a plurality of nozzles to which the substance is pumped, including nozzles located on or near the supporting structure for spraying jets inside the footwear and/or nozzles located on the drum walls for spraying jets onto the outsides of the footwear.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for supporting the footwear comprises upright pillars upon which the footwear can be placed.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the pillars support nozzles, which are directed upwardly.

4. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the drum has a drain at its base, with a return means to the reservoir.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, in which the return means includes a filter capable of filtering the substance to a degree permitting the substance to be re-used.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, in which the filter has a cartridge that can be replaced or cleaned regularly.

7. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the return means includes a pump for pumping the substance out of the drum and into the reservoir.

8. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the machine further comprises a heater and fan, adapted to blow heated air into the drum.

9. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, which is provided with a programmer, either as an electro-mechanical device or a solid state logic controller, adapted to control a washing and drying cycle.

10. A machine for cleaning footwear as herein described and as illustrated in the drawings.

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