US20080216271A1

US20080216271A1 - Floor care device

Info

Publication number: US20080216271A1
Application number: US12/074,636
Authority: US
Inventors: Cathy M. Marler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-05
Filing date: 2008-03-05
Publication date: 2008-09-11

Abstract

A floor care device is provided. Such floor care device includes a foot covering member for covering a predetermined portion of at least one of a user's foot and such user's shoe and protecting said predetermined portion of such user's foot and such user's shoe from at least one of liquids, dirt, cleaning agents, dust and debris. A securing mechanism is operably connected to such foot covering member for removably securing such foot covering member to a predetermined portion of such at least one of such user's foot and such user's shoe. A floor care member is removably and operably connectable to such foot covering member at a predetermined location thereon for at least one of cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, dusting, drying, wiping, applying wax to and removing wax from a surface of a floor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/892,901 filed Mar. 5, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to floor care and, more particularly, this invention relates to floor care devices for mopping, scrubbing and waxing floors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, mops, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to clean floors.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: DeMoya, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,856 provides a floor cleaning system that includes a mop assembly that is attachable to the user's foot. The mop assembly is constructed to be worn over the foot or the shoe of the user and includes a number of absorbent inserts that can absorb fluid from the floor and that are not compressed by the weight of the user when the user walks. Detachable scrubbing pads are also included that are attachable to the mop assembly.
Ahern, U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,771 discloses a slipper that the user wears on the feet while cleaning the floor. The bottom of the slipper device has a section at the heel and/or toe that is of an abrasive, scrubbing material which is attached to or attached over a section of absorbent material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a floor care device. Such floor care device includes a foot covering member for covering a predetermined portion of at least one of a user's foot and such user's shoe and protecting such predetermined portion of such user's foot and such user's shoe from at least one of liquids, dirt, cleaning agents, dust and debris. Such foot covering member is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. A securing means is operably connected to such foot covering member for removably securing such foot covering member to such predetermined portion of such at least one of such user's foot and such user's shoe. A floor care member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. Such floor care member is removably and operably connectable to such foot covering member at a predetermined location thereon for at least one of cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, dusting, drying, wiping, applying wax to and removing wax from a surface of a floor.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a washable foot and shoe covering that can be used to mop, scrub, dust, and wax a floor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that will enable a user to mop, scrub, dust, and wax a floor without having to strain a user's back or arms.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fun to use means to care for a floor.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reusable device for caring for flooring.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and easy to use device which fits over a user's foot or shoe and includes various interchangeable attachments for dusting, cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, and waxing a floor.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in which a user is placing the device over such user's foot.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in which a user is placing the device over such user's shoe and a hook and loop type fastening means is used to secure such device to such user's foot.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention illustrating a hook and loop type fastening system for removably attaching the floor care member to the foot covering member.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in which a tongue and groove type fastener is depicted for use in attaching the floor care member to the foot covering member.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in which a user is depicted using the floor care device to care for a floor.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-6.
A floor care device, generally designated 10, is provided. Such floor care device 10 includes a foot covering member 12 for covering a predetermined portion of at least one of a user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16 and protecting such predetermined portion of such user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16 from at least one of liquids, dirt, cleaning agents, dust and debris.
Such foot covering member 12 is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that such foot covering member 12 is at least partially water resistant. It is presently preferred that such foot covering member 12 is washable.
It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of terrycloth, spandex, nylon, cotton, plastic, and felt. It is presently most preferred that such first predetermined material is terrycloth. Such first predetermined material may be elastomeric.
A securing means 18 is operably connected to such foot covering member 12 for removably securing such foot covering member 12 to such predetermined portion of such at least one of such user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16. It is presently preferred that such securing means 18 may be at least one of ribbon, elastic bands 26, and string. Such securing means 18 may be a hook and loop type securing means 22. Such foot covering member may also be secured by the fit of such foot covering means. Such foot covering member may also be secured by snugly fitting to such user's foot.
A floor care member 28 is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. Such floor care member 28 is removably and operably connectable to such foot covering member 12 at a predetermined location thereon for at least one of cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, dusting, drying, wiping, applying wax to and removing wax from a surface of a floor.
It is presently preferred that such floor care member 28 is washable. It is presently preferred that such second predetermined material is at least one of cellulose, foam, cotton, micro fiber, and yarn.
It is presently preferred that such floor care device 10 further includes a waterproof layer 32 operably connected to such foot covering member 12 at a predetermined location thereon for protecting such at least one of such user's foot 14 and such user's shoe 16 from liquids.
It is presently preferred that a fastening means 34 is disposed on at least one of such foot covering member 12 and such floor care member 28 at a predetermined location thereon for fastening such floor care member 28 to such foot covering member 12.
It is further presently preferred that such fastening means 34 is a hook and loop type fastening means 36 having a first portion 38 thereof disposed on a predetermined location on a bottom portion 42 of such foot covering member 12 and a second portion 44 of such hook and loop type fastening means 36 being disposed on a predetermined location of such floor care member 28 such that such first portion 38 and such second portion 44 may be joined thereby removably fastening such floor care member 12 to such foot covering member 28. Once the desired floor care member has been attached to such foot covering member, such user may slide across the floor thereby cleaning, dusting, waxing, mopping, scrubbing, or the like depending on which floor care member is in use.
Such fastening means 36 may also be a tongue and groove type fastening means.
It is presently preferred that such floor care device is washable.
It is presently preferred that such floor care device includes a shoe horn member 46 disposed at a predetermined location thereon. Such shoe horn member 46 may be disposed on such foot covering member 12 on a rear upper portion thereof.
It is presently preferred that such floor care member is at least one of a sponge, a duster, a scrubber, a waxer, and a wax remover. Such floor care member may include mop wipers operably connected to such floor care member at a predetermined location thereon. It is presently preferred that such floor care member is absorbent.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A floor care device comprising:

a. a foot covering member for covering a predetermined portion of at least one of a user's foot and such user's shoe and protecting said predetermined portion of such user's foot and such user's shoe from at least one of liquids, dirt, cleaning agents, dust and debris, said foot covering member being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape;

b. a securing means operably connected to said foot covering member for removably securing said foot covering member to said predetermined portion of said at least one of such user's foot and such user's shoe; and

c. a floor care member manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size, such floor care member being removably and operably connectable to said foot covering member at a predetermined location thereon for at least one of cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, dusting, drying, wiping, applying wax to and removing wax from a surface of a floor.

2. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said floor care device further includes a waterproof layer operably connected to said foot covering member at a predetermined location thereon for protecting said at least one of such user's foot and such user's shoe from liquids.

3. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein a fastening means is disposed on at least one of said foot covering member and said floor care member at a predetermined location thereon for fastening said floor care member to said foot covering member.

4. A floor care device according to claim 3 wherein said fastening means is a hook and loop type fastening means having a first portion thereof disposed on a predetermined location on a bottom portion of said foot covering member and a second portion of said hook and loop type fastening means being disposed on a predetermined location of said floor care member such that said first portion and said second portion may be joined thereby removably fastening said floor care member to said foot covering member.

5. A floor care device according to claim 3 wherein said fastening means is a tongue and groove type fastening means.

6. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said floor care device is washable.

7. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said foot covering member is washable.

8. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said floor care member is washable.

9. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said foot covering member is at least partially water resistant.

10. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is at least one of terrycloth, spandex, nylon, cotton, plastic, and felt.

11. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is terrycloth.

12. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is elastomeric.

13. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said securing means is a hook and loop type securing means.

14. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said securing means is at least one of ribbon, elastic bands, and string.

15. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said second predetermined material is at least one of cellulose, foam, cotton, micro fiber, and yarn.

16. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said floor care member is at least one of a sponge, a duster, a scrubber, a waxer, and a wax remover.

17. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said floor care member includes mop wipers operably connected to said floor care member at a predetermined location thereon.

18. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said floor care member is absorbent.

19. A floor care device according to claim 1 wherein said floor care device includes a shoe horn member disposed at a predetermined location thereon.