# US 12,213,639 B2 · Footwear cleaning device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,639 B2 - Document ID: US12213639B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/469,417 - Filed: 2017-03-24 - Published: 2017-07-13 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-18 - Assignees: Oscar Cruz - Applicants: Oscar Cruz - Inventors: Oscar Cruz; Leo Bravo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213639B2 ## CPC - A47L 23/02: Shoe-cleaning machines, with or without applicators for shoe polish - A46B 13/001: {Cylindrical or annular brush bodies} - A46B 13/04: with reservoir or other means for supplying substances - A46B 2200/306: Shoe cleaning or polishing brush - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) ## Abstract Various apparatus for cleaning footwear are described. One footwear cleaning apparatus includes a box having an open top surface for receiving a piece of footwear; and a plurality of brushes arrayed within the box and positioned substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the box, wherein the plurality of brushes includes at least one first brush configured to contact a first side surface of the piece of footwear, at least one second brush configured to contact a different, second side surface of the piece of footwear, and at least one third brush configured to contact a bottom surface of the piece of footwear, and wherein the at least one first brush and the at least one second brush are configured to, when actuated, rotate towards a center of the box about an axis that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the box. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for removing debris from footwear, the apparatus comprising: a motor; a box having an open top surface for receiving a piece of footwear; at least one brush (i) residing within the box and (ii) configured to contact a surface of the piece of footwear, wherein the at least one brush is configured to be rotated by the motor in response to actuating of an actuator; and a first set of nozzles and a second set of nozzles within the box, wherein the first set of nozzles is located on a first side of the box, wherein the second set of nozzles is located on a second side of the box, and wherein the first set of nozzles and the second set of nozzles are configured to emit a pressurized spray of liquid at the surface of the piece of footwear in response to actuating of the actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one brush is configured to, when actuated, be rotated by the motor about an axis that is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the box. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one brush is configured to, when actuated, be rotated by the motor about the axis towards a center of the box. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a speed toggling unit, wherein the speed toggling unit is configured to change a rotation speed that the motor uses to rotate the at least one brush from a first rotation speed to a second rotation speed, wherein the first rotation speed is faster than the second rotation speed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a handle that is configurable to a particular position of multiple different positions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the handle includes the actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid includes water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the box includes a drain mechanism. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for removing debris from footwear, the apparatus comprising: a motor; a box having an open top surface for receiving a piece of footwear; a plurality of brushes arrayed within the box and positioned substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the box, wherein each brush of the plurality of brushes is configured to (i) contact a surface of the piece of footwear and (ii) be rotated by the motor in response to actuating an actuator, wherein the plurality of brushes includes at least one brush configured to contact a first side surface of the piece of footwear, at least one second brush configured to contact a different, second side surface of the piece of footwear, at least one third brush configured to contact a bottom surface of the piece of footwear; and a first set of nozzles and a second set of nozzles within the box, wherein the first set of nozzles is located on a first side of the box, wherein the second set of nozzles is located on a second side of the box, and wherein the first set of nozzles and the second set of nozzles are configured to emit a pressurized spray of liquid at a surface of the piece of footwear in response to actuating of the actuator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one brush of the plurality of brushes is configured to, when actuated, be rotated by the motor about an axis that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the box. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one brush of the plurality of brushes is configured to, when actuated, be rotated by the motor about the axis towards a center of the box. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one brush of the plurality of brushes is configured to, when actuated, be rotated by the motor about the axis away from a center of the box. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, the apparatus further comprising: a speed toggling unit, wherein the speed toggling unit is configured to change a rotation speed that the motor uses to rotate the plurality of brushes from a first rotation speed to a second rotation speed, wherein the first rotation speed is faster than the second rotation speed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a handle that is configurable to a particular position of multiple different positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the handle includes the actuator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the liquid includes water. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the box includes a drain mechanism.