US 6,146,588 A · Shoe sanitizer

Abstract

A shoe sanitizer and method for sanitizing shoes are disclosed. The shoe sanitizer includes a platform having a raised central portion and two lowered side portions which are on opposite sides of and adjacent to the central portion. The central portion and the two side portions have respective reservoirs with open upper ends. Absorbent pads are placed in each of the reservoirs. A sanitizing solution is placed in the reservoir of the central portion and saturates the respective absorbent pad. The absorbent pads located in the reservoirs of the side portions of the platform are dry. A person sanitizes the bottom of a pair of shoes he is wearing by first placing a lower portion of one shoe in the reservoir of the central portion and wetting the bottom of the shoe with the sanitizing solution. Then, the shoe is removed from the sanitizing solution and placed into the one of the reservoirs of the two side portions which corresponds to the foot on which the shoe being treated is worn. The bottom of the shoe is pressed against an absorbent pad to transfer the sanitizing solution from the shoe to the absorbent pad, drying the shoe. This process is repeated for the shoe being worn on the other foot of the user, utilizing the central reservoir to apply the sanitizing solution and the reservoir of the other of the two side portions to absorb the sanitizing solution and dry the second shoe.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for sanitizing shoes, comprising:

a platform having a central portion and two side portions, said central portion being disposed between and adjacent to said two side portions;
said central portion having a first reservoir which includes an open upper end which is sized for receiving at least lower portions of the shoes and a sanitizing solution for application to the lower portions of the shoes;
said two side portions of said platform having a second reservoir and a third reservoir, respectively, and said second and third reservoirs each having upwardly disposed openings which are sized for receiving the shoes;
a plurality of absorbent pads, with respective ones of said absorbent pads disposed in each of said first, second and third reservoirs, a first one of said absorbent pads being disposed in said first reservoir for saturating with said sanitizing solution and engaging with the lower portions of the shoes for application of said sanitizing solution to the lower portions of the shoes, and second and third ones of said absorbent pads being disposed in said second and third reservoirs, respectively, for engaging with the lower portion of the shoes for removal of said sanitizing solution from said shoes;
and
said sanitizing solution being disposed in said first reservoir of said central portion and saturating said first one of said absorbent pads.

3 more elements

An apparatus for sanitizing shoes, comprising:

a platform having a raised central portion and an adjacent side portion, said raised central portion being disposed at an elevation which is above said adjacent side portion;
said raised central portion having a first reservoir which includes a first reservoir open upper end which is sized for receiving at least lower portions of the shoes and a sanitizing solution for application to the lower portions of the shoes;
said adjacent side portion of said platform being disposed adjacent to said raised central portion, and having a second reservoir with an upwardly disposed opening which is sized for receiving the shoes;
a plurality of absorbent pads, with respective ones of said absorbent pads disposed in each of said first and second reservoirs, a first one of said absorbent pads being disposed in said first reservoir for saturating with said sanitizing solution and engaging with the lower portions of the shoes for application of said sanitizing solution to the lower portions of the shoes, and a second one of said absorbent pads being disposed in said second reservoir for engaging with the lower portion of the shoes for removal of said sanitizing solution from said shoes;
and
said sanitizing solution being disposed in said first reservoir of said central portion and saturating said first one of said absorbent pads.

3 more elements

A method for sanitizing a shoe, comprising the steps of:

providing a platform having a central portion and an adjacent side portion, the adjacent side portion being disposed adjacent to the central portion, the central portion and the adjacent side portion having first and second reservoirs, respectively, wherein the first and second reservoirs have respective first and second absorbent pads, and have first and second open upper ends which are sized for receiving at least a lower portion of the shoe, wherein the first and second open upper ends are spaced apart at first and second elevations, respectively;
placing a sanitizing solution onto a first one of the absorbent pads which is disposed within the first reservoir, and wetting the first one of the absorbent pads with the sanitizing solution;
placing the lower portion of the shoe through the open upper end of the first reservoir and disposing the lower portion at the first elevation, such that the lower portion of the shoe is pressed against the first absorbent pad and wetted with the sanitizing solution;
removing the lower portion of the shoe from within the first reservoir, and then disposing the lower portion of the shoe at the second elevation within the second reservoir, wherein the second elevation is spaced apart from the first elevation;
pressing the lower portion of the shoe against the second absorbent pad to transfer the sanitizing solution from the lower portion of the shoe to the second absorbent pad;
and then,
removing the lower portion of the shoes from within the second reservoir.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shoe sanitizer

Life of this patent

Shoe sanitizer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20