Shoelace Cleaning Device

Abstract

A shoelace-cleaning device comprises a spherical housing having first and second halves. Each half has a plurality of apertures allowing for the ingress and egress of fluids. A plurality of tabs are positioned within the interior having a height extending towards the center of the sphere. The spherical housing is dimensioned to receive a plurality of shoelaces once the first half and second half are releasably engaged. Fasteners releasably engage fastener receivers to retain the two halves. The device may then be disposed in a washing machine or drying machine to clean the shoelaces retained within.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A shoelace cleaning device comprising:
 a. a housing defined by a first half and a second half, wherein the first half releasably engages the second half, and wherein the housing is dimensioned to receive a plurality of articles;   b. a plurality of apertures positioned on the first half and the second half; and   c. a plurality of tabs positioned in an interior of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is spherical, and wherein the first half and the second half are hemispherical. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first half rim and second half rim, wherein the first half rim sealingly engages the second half rim. (Changed from corresponding rims, to defining each half as having its own rim. This helped clarify the claim.) 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more fasteners extends vertically from the first half rim and the second half rim. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first half and the second half each have at least one fastener and at least one fastener receiver. (we moved these up and re-worded from previous  claims 6  and  7 ) 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of articles are one or more shoelaces. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more fasteners and one or more fastener receivers, wherein each of the one or more fasteners releasably engage one of the one or more fastener receivers. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures permit the ingress and egress of fluids. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the position of the plurality of apertures promotes a vortex of fluids within the housing.(Wording changed to vortex) 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of tabs agitate the shoelaces and fluids within the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs extend toward the center of the housing. (changed from having a height to extend) 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tabs are integrally molded to the housing. (removed spherical to be more broad) 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of a polymer plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer plastic is heat resistant and shock resistant. 
     
     
         15 . A method for cleaning articles comprising the steps of:
 a. disposing a plurality of articles in an interior of a housing;   b. releasably engaging a first half and a second half of the housing; and   c. disposing the housing in a washing apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of disposing the housing in a drying apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the housing is spherical, and wherein the first half and the second half are hemispherical. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising a first half rim and second half rim, wherein the first half rim sealingly engages the second half rim. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the housing is dimensioned to receive shoelaces. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising one or more fasteners and one or more fastener receivers, wherein each of the one or more fasteners releasably engage one of the one or more fastener receivers, and wherein engagement of the fasteners with the fastener receivers retains the first half and the second half of the device.