Shoe cover removal apparatus

Abstract

A shoe cover removal vacuuming system for removing a shoe cover from a user's shoe. The system includes a shoe cover removal apparatus and a central vacuuming system. The shoe cover removal apparatus includes a trough for receiving a user's shoe, the trough including a removal portal. The central vacuuming system includes a central vacuum unit having a suction motor, a collection container disposed in a room remote from the at least one shoe cover removal apparatus for collecting shoe covers removed by the shoe cover removal apparatus, and tubing for connecting the removal portal of the shoe cover removal apparatus to the central vacuum unit and the collection container.

1 . A shoe cover removal vacuuming system for removing a shoe cover from a user's shoe, the system comprising:
 a shoe cover removal apparatus having a trough for receiving a user's shoe, the trough including a removal portal; and   a central vacuuming system including:
 a central vacuum unit having a suction motor; 
 a collection container disposed in a room remote from the shoe cover removal apparatus for collecting shoe covers removed by the shoe cover removal apparatus; and 
 tubing for connecting the removal portal of the shoe cover removal apparatus to the central vacuum unit and the collection container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shoe cover removal apparatus includes an actuator for triggering a signal causing the central vacuum unit to activate, the activation of the vacuum unit being capable of causing a shoe cover to be removed from the shoe of a user when a user places a shoe covered by a shoe cover into the trough. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the shoe cover removal apparatus includes a transmitter for wirelessly sending the signal to the central vacuum unit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the central vacuum unit includes a vacuum unit suction portal operably connected to the suction motor and the collection container includes a first suction portal and a second suction portal, the tubing including a first hose for connecting the vacuum unit suction portal to the first suction portal of the collection container, a second hose for connecting the second suction portal of the collection container to a wall inlet portal, and in wall tubing connecting the shoe cover removal apparatus to the wall inlet portal. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the collection container includes a first section having the first suction portal and a second section having the second suction portal, the division between the first section and second section being porous so that air is able to flow through the container while removed shoe covers are prevented from being sucked into the first section. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the collection container is operable to be disposed adjacent the central vacuum unit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the collection container and central vacuum unit are a single unit. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe cover removal vacuuming system for removing a shoe cover from a user's shoe, the system comprising:
 a plurality of shoe cover removal apparatuses each having a trough for receiving a user's shoe, each trough including a removal portal; and   a central vacuuming system including:
 a central vacuum unit having a suction motor; 
 a collection container disposed in a room remote from the plurality of shoe cover removal apparatuses for collecting shoe covers removed by the plurality of shoe cover removal apparatuses; and 
 tubing for connecting the removal portals of the plurality of shoe cover removal apparatuses to the central vacuum unit and the collection container. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of shoe cover removal apparatuses each include an actuator for triggering a signal causing the central vacuum unit to activate, the activation of the vacuum unit being capable of causing a shoe cover to be removed from the shoe of a user when a user places a shoe covered by a shoe cover into one of the troughs. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the shoe cover removal apparatuses each include a transmitter for wirelessly sending the signal to the central vacuum unit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the central vacuum unit includes a vacuum unit suction portal operably connected to the suction motor and the collection container includes a first suction portal and a second suction portal, the tubing including a first hose for connecting the vacuum unit suction portal to the first suction portal of the collection container, a second hose for connecting the second suction portal of the collection container to a wall inlet portal, and in wall tubing connecting the plurality of shoe cover removal apparatuses to the wall inlet portal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the collection container includes a first section having the first suction portal and a second section having the second suction portal, the division between the first section and second section being porous so that air is able to flow through the container while removed shoe covers are prevented from being sucked into the first section. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of shoe cover removal apparatuses are operable to be disposed in a plurality of rooms of a building and the central vacuum unit is operable to be disposed in a central location of the building. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the collection container is operable to be disposed adjacent the central vacuum unit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the collection container and central vacuum unit are a single unit. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for removing a shoe cover from a user's shoe, the apparatus comprising:
 a trough for receiving a user's shoe, the trough including a removal portal;   a hose having a first end for connecting to a wall inlet portal of a central vacuuming system and a second end for connecting to the removal portal; and   an actuator triggered by the placement of an object in the trough, the triggering of the actuator causing the central vacuuming system to activate, wherein the activation of the central vacuuming system is capable of causing a shoe cover to be removed from the shoe of a user when a user places a shoe covered by a shoe cover into the trough, whereby the shoe cover is sucked through the removal portal and the flexible hose into the wall inlet portal of the central vacuuming system.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the actuator further comprises a motion detection system including a motion detecting sensor, wherein power delivered to the apparatus from the central vacuuming system is controlled by the motion detection system. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the motion detection system includes a transmitter for sending a wireless signal to the central vacuuming system causing the central vacuuming system to activate. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a manual override switch for cutting power to the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a secondary collection container connected to in-wall tubing of the central vacuuming system, the collection container for collecting removed shoe covers and preventing removed shoe covers from being deposited in a main collection container of the central vacuuming system.