US 12,419,490 B2
Fasteners for washing footwear in a washing machine
Aleksej Vladimirovich Nesmeyanov, Dusseldorf (DE)
Appl. No. 17/919,272
Filed by Aleksej Vladimirovich Nesmeyanov, Dusseldorf (DE)
PCT Filed Jun. 24, 2021, PCT No. PCT/RU2021/000266
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 16, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/005327, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 6, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. RU2020121516 (RU), filed on Jun. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0148833 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. A47L 23/18 (2006.01); D06F 39/00 (2024.01); D06F 95/00 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 23/18 (2013.01) [D06F 39/00 (2013.01); D06F 95/008 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retainer for washing footwear in a washing machine, comprising:
a housing including a retaining latch-lock, and T-shaped spacer-holders with movable jaws and located on rails with each movable jaw having a comb of protrusions spaced by grooves, while folded for storage or transportation,
wherein the T-shaped spacer-holders are recessed in the housing, and
wherein the movable jaws are located at a distance from the rails, and
wherein, when the retainer is located inside a washing machine drum, the footwear are tightly fixed with soles of the footwear in the movable jaws, such that the soles are oriented to a center of the washing machine drum, with upper part of the soles oriented to an inner surface of the washing machine drum,
wherein the soles are tightly pressed against the inner surface of the washing machine drum by a part of the footwear opposite to the soles, the part of the footwear being any of toe, vamp, tongue, flap, lacing, quarter, soft edging, and heel,
wherein tight clamping is provided by maximum possible drawing out of the spacer-holders from the retainer, and reverse movement of the spacer-holders is blocked by engagement of the latch-lock with the combs,
wherein the retainer housing includes a sprocket gear to ensure symmetry of the spacer-holders upon opening, wherein the sprocket gear engages the protrusions and the grooves, and wherein the sprocket gear includes a ratchet mechanism to prevent slippage and a common reset button of the ratchet mechanism.