Abstract
A shoe sole cleaning apparatus comprises a housing containing a continuous sheet of towelettes that extends through an opening in the housing and may be positioned atop a supporting front panel. Individual towelettes may be infused with a cleaning solvent. When a shoe sole is pressed upon the towelette, the front panel provides support to hold the towelette against the sole and the shoe sole may be cleaned of debris and bacteria or germs that may have become attached to the sole. The towelette may be torn off the sheet and discarded after use.
Claims
1. A towelette dispensing device comprising a housing, a lid, and a front panel, said housing and said lid enclosing an interior space configured to receive a sheet of towelettes, said lid being openable to permit the insertion of a sheet of towelettes into said interior space, said front panel extending outwardly from said housing and forming a surface for receiving one or more towelettes, an elongated opening adjacent said front panel and configured to allow the passage of one or more towelettes from said interior space to said front panel.
2. The towelette dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said elongated opening extends through said housing.
3. The towelette dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said elongated opening is formed between said housing and said lid.
4. The towelette dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said elongated opening comprises a flexible barrier that retards the exchange of moisture from said interior space and ambient air surrounding said dispensing device while permitting the passage of one or more towelettes from said housing to said front panel.
5. The towelette dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said front panel extends from the lower portion of said housing and may be folded upwardly to reduce the dimensions of said dispensing device.
6. The towelette dispensing device of claim 5, said front panel being upwardly foldable around said dispensing device.
7. The towelette dispensing device of claim 1, said front panel having a slip-resistant bottom surface.
8. The towelette dispensing device of claim 1, said housing being dimensioned to fit beneath a front portion of a seat of a vehicle.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser with a towelette extending through the dispensing slot.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser similar to FIG. 1 but without a towelette extending through the slot and showing the front and top faces of the dispenser.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a right elevational view showing inner detail of an embodiment of the invention in which the lid hinge is located forward of the rear of the dispenser housing.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a partial right elevational view showing detail of a towelette extending through the slot including flexible lips that retain moisture in the dispenser.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a right elevational view of an embodiment in which the hinge is located at the rear of the dispenser housing.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a right elevational view depicting an embodiment in which there is no lid, and the hinge is located at the rear base of the dispenser housing.
[0019] FIG. 7 depicts the dispenser of FIG. 6 with the housing open for receiving a fresh roll of dispensing towelettes.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a right elevational view depicting an embodiment in which the front extension of the base has been curled around the housing to facilitate transport and minimize the size of the unit when not being used.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a right elevational view depicting an embodiment in which the front extension of the base comprises articulated segments and which is wrapped up and around the housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser 10 of the invention. A housing 14 has a lid 12 attached by two hinges 18. The lid opens when necessary to refill the dispenser. A plain, moist, or solvent-infused paper towelette 22 is extending through the dispensing slot. The dispenser is sealed to create a moisturized environment that will maintain damp towelettes in a moistened condition for periods of time that may extend for weeks or months. An extended base, 16 provides a stable platform to support a towelette when the apparatus is in use.
[0023] In FIG. 2, a dispensing slot 20 is visible. In operation, lid 12 will be opened to expose the interior of the housing which will hold a roll of wet or dry towelettes. As shown in FIG. 3, a roll of towelettes 22 is maintained within the housing, and one end of the roll is threaded through slot 20 where it may be grasped and extracted. A continuous roll having perforations for each towelette is used, and when one towelette is extracted, an adjacent towelette is pulled to and through the slot and is immediately ready for use.
[0024] A slip-resistant mechanism 24 is applied to the bottom of the dispenser. It may comprise a hook and loop system, such as Velcro, where the automobile floorboard in front of the passenger seat is covered with a carpet. In other embodiments, the slip resistant surface may be a rough surface that will resist slippage, or may consist of a light adhesive, such as double-sided tape, to hold the dispensing unit in place. In some embodiments, elastic cords such as bungee cords may hold the dispensing unit securely against the lower front part of the passenger seat. As shown in FIG. 3, a hinge 18 is located at the top of the housing, slightly forward of the vertical rear housing wall, and an openable lid 12 extends partially over the top of the housing. This configuration may be suitable for automobiles in which the passenger seat extends forward over the dispenser such that a full-sized lid may be difficult to open.
[0025] FIG. 4 depicts a moisture-conserving mechanism situated immediately behind the dispensing slot. Flexible lips 26 are in contact with both sides of the towelette being dispensed, thereby preventing the free flow of air into the dispensing unit. In this manner, a moisturized environment can be maintained within the housing and moisture infused towelettes will retain the moisture for an indefinite length of time.
[0026] FIG. 5 depicts a dispensing container in which a hinge 18 is situated at the rear of the housing and the lid 12 will open to uncover substantially all of the housing interior. In an embodiment, the housing may be sized to hold a roll with a minimal clearance whereby the unit will take up less space at the passenger's feet within the automobile.
[0027] FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an embodiment in which there is no separate lid, and the entire housing is lifted to allow the insertion of a new roll. A hinge 18 is located at the base of the housing at the rear of the dispenser, and the entire housing is raised to create the necessary opening. In this embodiment, a dispensing slot is situated near the top of the housing so that a passenger can grasp a towelette without having to reach farther than the top of the dispenser.
[0028] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment in which the extended base 16 may be folded or curled up, around the housing, thereby freeing up floor space at a passenger's feet. This may be beneficial when a passenger enters or exits the vehicle and will minimize the space needed for the dispenser when it is being stored outside of the vehicle or when there is no need to have it available.
[0029] FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment in which the front panel 16 consists of articulated sections which may be rigid, and which have been sized to fold upwardly and rearwardly about the housing. A folded articulated section rests against the dispensing slot 20 and may assist in retaining moisture within the housing by sealing the slot and preventing dry, ambient air from freely entering the housing.
[0030] Although the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
