Apparatus for Sanitizing and Cleaning Soles of Feet and Footwear

• US 20150096597A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kamal R. Patel, Sonal Patel
• Original Assignee: Kamal R. Patel, Sonal Patel
• Inventors: Patel, Kamal R., Patel, Sonal
• Granted Patent: US 9,968,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 23/266 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/26 Textiles, e.g. towels, beds, cloths

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically cleaning and sanitizing soles of bare feet and footwear, said apparatus including a plurality of nozzle heads that spray cleaning and sanitizing fluid through a platform onto feet and footwear placed on the top surface of the platform. A sensor plate initiates the cleaning and sanitization process when activated, and a visual display and audible tones alert a user as to the current step being executed by the automated cleaning apparatus. A refillable or replaceable canister or aerosol can of cleaning and sanitizing fluid is housed within the automated cleaning apparatus for supplying said liquid via a tubing system to the plurality of nozzle heads that are directed onto the platform.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically cleaning soles of both feet and footwear, comprising:

a base;

a platform located above the base having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the platform enables liquid to pass therethrough;

a dock connected to the base for receiving a liquid storage container;

a first plurality of spray nozzles located below the platform and configured to direct liquid from the bottom surface to the top surface;

a piping network connecting the dock to the first plurality of spray nozzles;

a control circuit for controlling operation of the spray nozzles;

an optical sensor connected to the dock for reading an optical code on a storage container located with the dock to determine contents of the storage container within the dock.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage container includes an aerosol can.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a grate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration source connected to and for vibrating the platform.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rechargeable power source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a porous surface material located on top of the platform for absorbing liquid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a fan connected to and for circulating air through the platform.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a weight sensor connected to the control circuit for detecting when a person steps onto the platform.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an aerosol can housing for housing an aerosol can and securing the aerosol can with the dock.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising;

a sensor connected to the dock for scanning a visual code on an aerosol can within the dock to determine contents of an aerosol can.

11. A method for cleaning and sanitizing footwear and feet using an automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

detecting presence of a person on an automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus via a weight sensor;

activating the cleaning and sanitizing apparatus in response to the weight pressure of a person;

spraying a cleaning and sanitizing fluid onto an absorbent mat on a platform of the automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus; and

entering sleep mode when complete.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

sounding an audible tone when the automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus is activated.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

activating a visual display with the automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus is activated.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

tapping a sensor plate a first time to initiate activation of the automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus; and

tapping the sensor plate a second time within a predetermined time period of tapping the sensor plate the first time to confirm activation of the automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

vibrating the platform to facilitate removal of cleaning and sanitizing liquid from objects on a top surface of the platform.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the platform enables liquids to pass therethrough and the step of spraying the platform includes spraying a cleaning and sanitizing liquid from under the platform.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

blowing air onto the platform using an electrical fan to facilitate removal of cleaning and sanitizing liquid from objects on a top surface of the perforated planar surface.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

wiping objects on a bristle mat on a surface of the platform to facilitate cleaning of the objects.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

illuminating objects on a surface of the platform.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of;

reading via a visual sensor a label on a storage container connected to a spraying system of the automated cleaning and sanitizing apparatus to determine type of cleaning and sanitizing liquid contained within the stage container; and

visually signaling a user a type of liquid contained within the storage container.