A footwear cleaning device for a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle, and a method

Abstract

A footwear cleaning device 12 for a motor vehicle (Figure 1, 10), comprising a mounting device (14), via which the footwear cleaning device is capable of being attached to an exterior of the motor veh

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a footwear cleaning device for a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding motor vehicle and a method for operating a footwear cleaning device. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] When a motor vehicle is driven on rainy days, on snow, to the beach, or off-road, a driver or passengers of the motor vehicle may dirty their footwear when disembarking from the motor vehicle. The vehicle user’s footwear might be soiled with mud, sand, snow, or dirt that may be carried into the motor vehicle, when re-entering the motor vehicle, which will spoil a carpet or floors (mat) of the motor vehicle. A footwear cleaning device may be utilized before entering the motor vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a footwear cleaning device for a motor vehicle, a corresponding motor vehicle, as well as a method for operating a footwear cleaning device by which an interior of the motor vehicle may be kept particularly clean.

[0004] This object is solved by a footwear cleaning device for a motor vehicle, a corresponding motor vehicle, as well as a method for operating a footwear cleaning device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention relates to a footwear cleaning device for a motor vehicle. The said footwear cleaning device may be referred to as shoe cleaning device. Preferably, the motor vehicle is designed as a passenger car.

[0006] The footwear cleaning device comprises at least one mounting device, via which the footwear cleaning device is capable of being attached or is attached, in particular directly, to an exterior, in particular to an outer surface, of the motor vehicle. In other words, the footwear cleaning device is capable of being mounted or is mounted on the exterior of the motor vehicle via the said mounting device. The mounting device may be referred to as attachment device of fastening element. The said exterior of the motor vehicle may be understood as outside of the motor vehicle.

[0007] In particular, to keep an interior of the motor vehicle clean, the footwear cleaning device comprises at least one cleaning element, which comprises at least one brush. Preferably, the brush comprises several bristles. The said footwear cleaning element may be referred to as shoe cleaner. The footwear cleaning element, in particular the said brush, is capable of cleaning or cleans footwear of a person located outside the motor vehicle. This means that the footwear cleaning element or the brush, respectively, is designed for removing dirt from the footwear of the person while the person is in an environment surrounding the motor vehicle, in particular in the vicinity of the motor vehicle.

[0008] In the present invention, it may be possible that motor vehicle users may use the footwear cleaning device, in particular the footwear cleaning element, before getting into the vehicle to clean their shoes to keep the inside of the motor vehicle clean. This may solve the problems mentioned at the beginning. Therefore, the interior of the motor vehicle may be kept free of mud, sand, snow, or dirt. Example scenarios for using the present invention are in winter season to clean snow off the shoes before entering the motor vehicle or when going to the beach and not bringing sand into the motor vehicle or when driving off-road on wet and muddy roads.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the footwear cleaning device comprises an electric motor by which the brush is capable of being operated or is operated to clean the said footwear.

[0010] In another embodiment, the footwear cleaning device comprises at least one footwear detection device, which is capable of detecting or detects the footwear arranged, in particular directly, on the footwear cleaning device, in particular on the brush, and an electronic computing device, which is capable of controlling or controls the electric motor as a function of the detected footwear in order to operate the brush. In another embodiment, the footwear detection device may be located on the underside of the motor vehicle.

[0011] In another embodiment, the brush is firmly fixed, in particular immovably fixed in position, during cleaning the footwear.

[0012] In another embodiment, the footwear cleaning device is capable of being detachably attached or is detachably attached to the exterior of the motor vehicle via the mounting device.

[0013] In another embodiment, the footwear cleaning device is to be mounted on an underside of the motor vehicle via the mounting device.

[0014] In another embodiment, the footwear cleaning device is to be mounted, in particular directly, on a side sill of the motor vehicle via the mounting device.

[0015] In another embodiment, the footwear cleaning device comprises an actuator by which the footwear cleaning device, in particular the footwear cleaning element and / or the brush, is capable of being moved between a stowed position and a position of use via the mounting device. In the stowed position, in which the cleaning of the footwear is omitted, the footwear cleaning element, in particular the brush, is arranged in a storage area, and in the position of use the footwear cleaning element, in particular the brush, is arranged outside the storage area for cleaning the footwear.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising at least the footwear cleaning device according to the first aspect of the invention. It is possible that the motor vehicle comprises several ones of the footwear cleaning device according to the first aspect of the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the motor vehicle are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the footwear cleaning device and vice versa.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for operating a footwear cleaning device. Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the footwear cleaning device and vice versa.

[0018] The footwear cleaning device comprises a mounting device, via which the footwear cleaning device is attached to an exterior of a motor vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle according to a second aspect of the invention. Furthermore, the footwear cleaning device comprises at least one footwear cleaning element, which comprises at least one brush by which a footwear of a person located outside the motor vehicle is cleaned.

[0019] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The novel features and characteristic of the present disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0021] The drawings show in:

[0022] Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of a footwear cleaning device,

[0023] Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe cleaning device,

[0024] Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a footwear cleaning device.

[0025] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0027] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0028] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0029] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 comprising at least one footwear cleaning device 12. The footwear cleaning device comprises a mounting device 14, via which the footwear cleaning device 12 is attached to an exterior of the motor vehicle, in particular to a component of the motor vehicle 10 located on an outer side of the motor vehicle 10. For example, the said component is a body component of the motor vehicle 10.

[0031] The body component may be the sill 36 or another location on the underside 34 of the motor vehicle 10. Additionally, the footwear cleaning device 12 may include a footwear detection device 30 (Fig. 2) that may also be attached to the underside 34 of the motor vehicle 10 to initiate the footwear cleaning process.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the footwear cleaning device 12 in a schematic perspective view. The footwear cleaning device 12 comprises at least one footwear cleaning element 18, which comprises at least one brush 20. The said footwear cleaning element 18 or the said brush 20, respectively, is capable of cleaning a footwear of a person located outside the motor vehicle 10. The vehicle users might have mud, sand, snow and / or dirt on their footwear, which might be carried into the motor vehicle 10. This issue can be solved by the footwear cleaning device 12 because the footwear cleaning device 12 provides vehicle users with an option to clean their footwear before entering the motor vehicle 10. In other words, users can clean their footwear before entering the vehicle using the footwear cleaning device 12. As a result, users may clean their footwear after a beach day, after a hike in an off-road scenario, or after getting out in the snow, et cetera. For example, the said footwear is a shoe.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the footwear cleaning device 12 comprises an electric motor 24 by which the said cleaning element 18 or the said brush 20, respectively, is capable of being operated to clean the said footwear. In other words, the said cleaning element 18 or the said brush 20, respectively, is capable of being moved or is moved, in particular relative to a housing element of the footwear cleaning device 12 and / or the said body component of the motor vehicle 10 in order to clean the footwear. This means that there is a movement of the brush 20 during the cleaning of the footwear. In particular, the said movement causes the cleaning of the footwear, in particular a removal of dirt, at least partially. For example, the said movement is a movement about a pivot axis 28. This means that a solution may be to fit the exterior of the motor vehicle 10 with the electrically operated footwear cleaning device 12. The electric footwear cleaner may be operated by using energy from a vehicle battery of the motor vehicle 10. This means that the cleaning element 18 or the brush 20, respectively, is run by the electric motor 24, which may take its power from a 48-volt battery or another comparable power source in the motor vehicle 10.

[0034] Preferably, the footwear cleaning device 12 comprises a footwear detection device 30 which is capable of detecting or detects the footwear arranged on the footwear cleaning device 12, in particular on the brush 20, and an electronic computing device 32. The electronic computing device 32 is capable of controlling the electric motor 24 as a function of the detected footwear by the footwear detection device 30 in order to operate the footwear cleaning element 18 or the brush 20, respectively. This means that the footwear cleaning element 18 or the brush 20, respectively, is operated, in particular moved, for example rotated, by the electric motor 24, when the arrangement of the footwear on the footwear cleaning device 12, is detected by the footwear detection device 30. For example, the footwear detection device 30 is a motion sensor. This means that the footwear cleaning device 12 may have a motion sensor that will sense when the footwear is placed on the footwear cleaning device 12 and starts running the footwear cleaning element 18 or the brush 20, respectively, and preferably, is switched off when the footwear is taken off the footwear cleaning device 12 and is not detected by the footwear detection device 30.

[0035] The electronic computing device 32 may be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. Therefore, the electronic computing device 32 may be referred to as a computing unit. The electronic computing device 32 may, in particular, process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure.

[0036] In particular, the electronic computing device 32 may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The electronic computing device 32 may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The electronic computing device 32 may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0037] In various embodiments, the electronic computing device 32 includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units. A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 1, the footwear cleaning device 12 may be mounted on an underside 34 of the motor vehicle 10 via the mounting device 14. In other words, the footwear cleaning device 12 is capable of being mounted or is mounted on the underside 34 of the motor vehicle 10 via the mounting device 14. This means that the footwear cleaning device 12 may be mounted under the motor vehicle 10, laterally or at the rear of the motor vehicle 10, for example between exhausts of the motor vehicle 10. Both possibilities are illustrated in Fig. 1. It may be provided that the footwear cleaning device 12, in particular the footwear cleaning element 18 or the brush 20, respectively, can be accessed by the person or the footwear, respectively, without opening any doors of the motor vehicle 10.

[0039] In another embodiment also illustrated in Fig. 1, the footwear cleaning device 12 is to be mounted on a side sill 36 of the motor vehicle 10 via the said mounting device 14. In other words, the footwear cleaning device 12 is capable of being mounted or is mounted, in particular directly, on the said side sill 36 via the said mounting device 14. This means that the footwear cleaning device 12 may be mounted below a passenger seat (door sill) of the motor vehicle 10 and can be accessed only by opening a passenger door of the motor vehicle 10.

[0040] Preferably, the footwear cleaning device 12, comprises an actuator by which the footwear cleaning device 12, in particular the footwear cleaning element 18 and / or the brush 20, is capable of being moved or is moved between a stowed position and a position of use via the mounting device 14. The said actuator may be electrically or hydraulically operated. In the stowed position, in which the cleaning of the footwear is omitted, the footwear cleaning element 18, in particular the brush 20, is arranged in a storage area, for example under the motor vehicle 10, and in a position of use the footwear cleaning element 18, in particular the brush 20, is arranged outside the storage area, for example beside the motor vehicle 10, for cleaning the footwear. This means that there is a mechanism that will fit the footwear cleaning device 12 below the motor vehicle 10 when not in use and will only bring the footwear cleaning device 12 out when required by the vehicle user. This mechanism may be either electrically or hydraulically operated.

[0041] For example, the footwear cleaning device 12 may be operated according to the following steps. In a first step, the whole shoe cleaning rig or equipment, respectively, may be activated via a switch which can be located inside the motor vehicle 10, for example on a dashboard or on a door panel. As a result, the shoe cleaning device 12, in particular shoe cleaning element 18, may come out from a storage location. In a second step, when the user moves his shoe near the footwear cleaning device 12. In a third step, the footwear detection device 30 detects the shoe. In a fourth step, the electronic computing device 32 will turn on the electric motor 24 of the footwear cleaning device 12 based on the motion of the shoe detected by the footwear detection device 30. In a fifth step, the electronic computing device 32 will turn off the footwear cleaning device 12 when the shoe is moved away and is no longer detected by the footwear detection device 30.

[0042] Preferably, the footwear cleaning device 12 is detachably attached to the exterior 16, in particular to the underside 34, of the motor vehicle 10 via the said mounting device 14. This means that the footwear cleaning device 12 may be designed as a permanently fit option or may be designed as a detachable option. As a result, there might be a detachable application so that the footwear cleaning device 12 may be fitted only when required, removed, and stored in a desired location when not in use in order to reduce a weight of the motor vehicle 10.

[0043] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the footwear cleaning device 12 in a schematic perspective view. In this embodiment, the brush 20 is firmly fixed, in particular immovably fixed in position, during the cleaning of the footwear. In other words, the footwear cleaning device 12, in particular the footwear cleaning element 18, is designed as a fixed footwear scrubber. This fixed scrubber may not need any energy to be operated. The user can rub the footwear against the scrubber or the brush 20, respectively, to clean the footwear. The type and location of the footwear cleaning device 12 or other comparable devices may vary based on preferences and / or vehicle configurations.

[0044] It becomes clear that the footwear cleaning device 12 may be mounted below the motor vehicle 10, at the rear or on the side. The footwear cleaning device 12 may be initiated and be available to clean the footwear with a button either on the inside of the vehicle such as the door or there might be a separate remote button that may be separate or integrated into a key fob. The footwear cleaning device 12, in particular the footwear cleaning element 18, may comprise several brushes 20. The footwear cleaning device 12 may be fitted with custom brushes 20 that can work for different types of debris, such as snow, sand, or mud. Preferably, the footwear cleaning device 12 is securely fitted below the motor vehicle 10. Preferably, there is enough space between the cleaning device 12 and a road surface so that the footwear cleaning device 12 does not get damaged by the road or the ground, when driving the motor vehicle especially on bumpy roads. As a result, the footwear cleaning device 12 may be best used for motor vehicles 10 with high ground clearance, such as SUVs and / or pick-up trucks. Reference Signs 10 motor vehicle 12 footwear cleaning device 14 mounting device 16 exterior 18 footwear cleaning element 20 brush 24 electric motor 28 pivot axis 30 footwear detection device 32 electronic computing device 34 underside 36 sill

Claims

1. A footwear cleaning device (12) for a motor vehicle (10), comprising a mounting device (14), via which the footwear cleaning device (12) is capable of being attached to an exterior of the motor vehicle (10), and at least one footwear cleaning element (18), which comprises at least one brush (20) and is capable of cleaning footwear of a person located outside the motor vehicle (10).

2. The footwear cleaning device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in thatan electric motor (24) by which the brush (20) is capable of being operated to clean the footwear.

3. The footwear cleaning device (12) according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe footwear cleaning device (12) comprises a footwear detection device (30), which is capable of detecting the footwear arranged on the footwear cleaning device (12), and an electronic computing device (32), which is capable of controlling the electric motor (24) as a function of the detected footwear, in order to operate the brush (20).

4. The footwear cleaning device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe brush (20) is firmly fixed during cleaning the footwear.

5. The footwear cleaning device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe footwear cleaning device (12) is capable of being detachably attached to the exterior of the motor vehicle (10) via the mounting device (14).

6. The footwear cleaning device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe footwear cleaning device (12) is to be mounted on an underside (34) of the motor vehicle (10) via the mounting device (14).

7. The footwear cleaning device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in thatthe footwear cleaning device (12) is to be mounted on a side sill (36) of the motor vehicle (10) via the mounting device (14).

8. The footwear cleaning device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in thatthe footwear cleaning device (12) comprises an actuator which is capable of moving the footwear cleaning device (12) between a stowed position and a position of use via the mounting device (14), wherein in the stowed position, in which the cleaning of the footwear is omitted, the footwear cleaning element (18) is arranged in a storage area, and in the position of use the footwear cleaning element (18) is arranged outside the storage area for cleaning the footwear.

9. A motor vehicle (10), comprising at least the footwear cleaning device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method for operating a footwear cleaning device (12), wherein the footwear cleaning device (12) comprises a mounting device (14), via which the footwear cleaning device (12) is attached to an exterior of a motor vehicle (10), and at least one footwear cleaning element (18), which comprises at least one brush (20) by which a footwear of a person located outside the motor vehicle (10) is cleaned.s

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