After Treatment System Comprising a Cleaning Device, an Impregnation Device and Refilling Means

Abstract

After treatment system for re-applying an impregnation treatment onto a previously treated item such as a shoe, glove, handbag, coat or the like, where said after treatment system comprises: A cleaning device having a body and integrating or having access to a reservoir containing a cleaning liquid, said reservoir being in connection with an application surface; An impregnating device having a body integrating or having access to a reservoir containing an impregnating balm, said reservoir being in connection with an application surface, where both reservoirs comprise means for refilling said reservoirs, and where the application surface is inter-changeable with another application surface.

Claims

1. After treatment system for re-applying an impregnation treatment onto a previously treated item such as a shoe, glove, handbag, coat or the like, where said after treatment system comprises: A cleaning device (1) having a body and integrating or having access to a reservoir (5) containing a cleaning liquid, said reservoir (5) being in connection with an application surface (9); An impregnating device (2) having a body integrating or having access to a reservoir (6) containing an impregnating balm, said reservoir (6) being in connection with an application surface (10), where both reservoirs (5,6) comprise means (7,8) for refilling said reservoirs (5,6), and where the application surface (9,10) is inter-changeable with another application surface, and further that the reservoirs (5,6) of the cleaning device (1) and the impregnating device (2) each are provided with one-way valves (7,8), and where the reservoirs (5,6) may be refilled by connecting the one-way valves (7,8) to sources of impregnating balm and cleaning liquid respectively.

2. After treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the application surfaces (9,10) of one or both the cleaning device (1) and impregnating device (2) are resilient and/or soft sponge.

3. After treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the reservoirs (5,6) each are provided with a permeable and resilient surface such that when the cleaning device (1) and/or the impregnating device (2) is forced against the permeable and resilient surface, cleaning liquid or impregnating balm is transferred to the respective application surfaces (9,10).

4. After treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device (1) and/or the impregnating device (2) is provided with a resilient body portion (30) or a button device (31), such that when the resilient body portion (30) is deformed or the button device (31) activated, the reservoir volume is affected.

5. After treatment system according to claim 1, wherein a refill station (53) containing a reservoir (56) containing cleaning liquid, and a reservoir (57) containing impregnating balm, is integrated in a impregnating apparatus (50), said impregnating apparatus (50) comprising a closed treatment chamber in which chamber one or more nozzles are provided for injecting a mist of impregnating liquid towards an item to be treated, and where the active ingredients in the impregnating agent used for treating the item in the apparatus is the same as the active ingredient in the impregnating balm, and where the refill station of said impregnating apparatus (50) comprises a docking station (53) for direct or indirect connection to the cleaning device (1) and the impregnating device (2).

6. After treatment system according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning device (1) and impregnating device (2) are provided with a common housing (40), such that the cleaning device (1) and the impregnating device (2) may be removed from the housing (40) and reinserted, where the housing (40) optionally comprises reservoirs for storing cleaning liquid and impregnating balm, and where means (41,42) are provided for refilling the cleaning liquid and impregnating balm to the cleaning device (1) and the impregnating device (2) respectively, and means for refilling the reservoirs with cleaning liquid and impregnating balm respectively, where said housing (40) is connectable to the refill station (53), such that the reservoirs in the housing may be replenished.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0031] The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a cleaning device and an impregnating device

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a refill station provided with two docking stations

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a device where the body of the device is provided with a soft section

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment where a bottom is used to pressurize the internal reservoir

[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates an apparatus, for example as disclosed in the same applicant's prior patent EP2964051

[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates a housing

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] In FIG. 1 is schematically illustrated a cleaning device 1 and an impregnating device 2. In the illustrated embodiment both the cleaning device and the impregnating device 2 are illustrated as rectangular closed boxes each with an under-surface 3, 4 suitable to apply cleaning liquid and impregnating balm respectively.

[0039] The shape may of course vary considerably, but in order to disclose the concept of the present invention reference will be made to the cleaning device and impregnating device as illustrated with reference to FIG. 1. It should, however, be understood that the devices may have any suitable and desirable shape such as oval, square, round, spherical and so on. The devices 1, 2 are provided with internal reservoirs 5, 6 indicated by the dashed lines.

[0040] In order to refill the reservoirs 5, 6 both devices 1, 2 are provided with means for refilling the reservoirs 5, 6 where the means in this embodiment is illustrated by extending connection valves 7, 8. By connecting the valves 7, 8 to respective reservoirs containing cleaning liquid and impregnating balm it is possible to refill the reservoirs 5, 6.

[0041] Both devices 1, 2 are provided with application surfaces 9, 10 where the application surfaces typically will vary. For the cleaning device 1 the application surface 10 shall have a surface suitable to remove dust and debris from the object to be treated and at the same time be permeable to such an extent that the cleaning liquid contained in the reservoir 5 may seep into the application member 10 and thereby to the application surface of the application member in an amount sufficiently to thoroughly clean the surface, but also limited to an amount so that it will not spill or drip from the application surface 10. As the viscosity between the cleaning liquid and the impregnating balm is different, the application surface 9 of the impregnating device 2 will have a different character. Typically, the impregnating balm will have a higher viscosity comparable to a thick oil or soft cream and as such the balm will be less likely to drip and spill from the application surface 9.

[0042] For this purpose it is necessary to ensure that the flow of balm from the reservoir to the application surface is sufficient and that the application of balm from the application surface 9 to the object to be treated is such that a sufficient layer of impregnating agent will be transferred to the object to be treated.

[0043] In FIG. 2 is schematically illustrated a refill station 20 provided with two docking stations 21, 22. The docking stations are designed to receive and accommodate the valves 7, 8 of the devices 1, 2 such that when the valves 7, 8 are inserted into the docking stations 21, 22 it will be possible to have liquid communication between the reservoirs 5, 6 of the devices 1, 2 and somewhat larger reservoirs 23, 24 in the refill station. It is clear that the reservoir 24 shall be provided with impregnating balm such that the reservoir 6 of the impregnating device 2 is refilled with the appropriate liquid and vice versa with respect to the cleaning device 1, it shall be connectable to the reservoir 23 containing the cleaning liquid.

[0044] In order to make this fool proof the connection valves 7, 8 may have different dimensions or shapes such that it is only possible to insert the correct device 1, 2 in the correct docking station 21, 22. The liquids contained in the reservoirs 23, 24 of the refill station 20 may be under pressure such that as the valves 7, 8 are inserted into the docking station 21, 22 liquid will flow from the reservoirs 23, 24 of the docking station 20 into the reservoirs 5, 6 of the cleaning device and impregnating device 1, 2 respectively.

[0045] It is also foreseen that the reservoirs 23, 24 are dimensioned such that the cleaning liquid and the impregnating balm will be provided in batch sizes such that as the cleaning device and impregnating device 1, 2 are inserted into the docking station 21, 22 only the correct amount of cleaning liquid and impregnating agent respectively will be transferred from the reservoirs 23, 24 of the refill station 20 into the devices 1, 2. With the devices as illustrated and described with reference to FIG. 1 it is foreseen that application of cleaning liquid and impregnating balm is created by urging the device 1, 2 against the surface to be impregnated whereby the application surfaces 9, 10 will release sufficient cleaning liquid or impregnating balm in order to carry out the process sufficiently.

[0046] In other instances the device may be provided with means for issuing a determined amount of cleaning agent or impregnating agent. For example, in FIG. 3 is illustrated a device 1′ where the body of the device is provided with a soft section 30 such that the device may be deformed. In this context it should mentioned that the soft section may have many shapes and constructions, but for illustrative purposes it is only illustrated as a soft section in a central part of the device 1′, 2′. By deforming the soft sections 30 the internal reservoirs 5, 6 will be squeezed whereby a cleaning liquid or impregnating balm is transferred to the application surface 9, 10 such that correct cleaning and impregnating may be instigated.

[0047] In FIG. 4 is illustrated a further embodiment where a bottom 31 is used to pressurize the internal reservoir whereby cleaning liquid or impregnating balm may be transferred to the application surface 9, 10.

[0048] In FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematically illustrated a system where the cleaning device 1 and the impregnating device 2 is provided with a housing 40. The devices 1, 2 may be inserted into the housing 40 and be connected by docking means 41, 42 either to reservoirs incorporated in the housing 40 (which are not illustrated), or where the docking stations 41, 42 on an outside face of the housing 40 may be connected to external reservoirs.

[0049] In FIG. 5 is illustrated an apparatus, for example as disclosed in the same applicant's prior patent EP2964051. The apparatus 50 incorporates a treatment chamber which is accessible through an openable door 51 where items to be treated may be placed in the treatment chamber after which the door 51 is closed. The inner parts of the device 50 comprises nozzles for ejecting a mist of impregnating agent towards the items to be impregnated as well as evacuation means for evacuating any surplus impregnating mist such that as the door is reopened after treatment such impregnating mist is not released to the ambient environment. The device 50 is further provided with a control panel 52 such that appropriate routines for operating the device 50 may be selected.

[0050] In this embodiment the device 50 is furthermore provided with a docking station 53 such that a housing as explained with reference to FIG. 6 may be positioned and connected to the valves 54, 55. In this manner the devices 1, 2 positioned inside the housing 40 as explained above will be in liquid communication through the valves 54, 55 to reservoirs 56, 57 indicated by dashed lines inside the device 50.

[0051] As it will typically be the same personnel servicing the apparatus 50 that will supply the correct impregnating liquids to the device 50, it is foreseen that as the impregnating agent will be based on the same constituents as the impregnating balm used with the present invention in order to ensure that the after treatment will be compatible with the original treatment it is a great assurance that the same personnel will replace and refill the reservoirs, such that the liquids and balm are supplied from the same source with impregnating liquid and impregnating balm such that the compatibility of the after treatment system is ensured.

[0052] Furthermore, as the same distributor delivering the liquids to the device 50 also will be delivering the cleaning liquid for use with the after treatment system it is ensured that a cleaning liquid compatible with the impregnating liquid and balm will be supplied also to the after treatment system according to the present invention.