Shoe storage device and system

Abstract

A device for storing footwear comprising: a body defining an internal space for storing the footwear and having an opening for accessing the internal space; a drawer member configured to be slidingly received within the opening, the drawer member configured to support at least one pair of footwear thereon; wherein the drawer member has a front face and at least one support member removably attached thereto, the front face being configured such that when the drawer member is inserted into the internal space of the body the front face closes the opening and the at least one support member being adjustable to separate the footwear of the at least one pair of footwear supported thereon.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . A device for storing footwear comprising:
 a body defining an internal space for storing the footwear and having an opening for accessing the internal space;   a drawer member configured to be slidingly received within the opening, the drawer member configured to support at least one pair of footwear thereon;   wherein the drawer member has a front face and at least one support member removably attached thereto, the front face being configured such that when the drawer member is inserted into the internal space of the body the front face closes the opening and the at least one support member being adjustable to separate the footwear of the at least one pair of footwear supported thereon.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to support one item of footwear of a pair of items of footwear in an elevated manner above the other item of footwear in the pair of items of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drawer member has two support members removably attached thereto to define four storage compartments in the drawer member, each storage compartment configured to receive one item of footwear of two pairs of items of footwear. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has a roof and a base and wherein the roof is configured to be complimentary to the base to facilitate vertical stacking of devices. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the roof is configured to have a convex configuration and the base is configured to have a concave configuration such that when one device is stacked atop another device the concave base of the upper device mates with the convex roof of the lower device. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the roof or base has at least one rail extending longitudinally therealong and the other of the roof or base has at least one channel extending longitudinally therealong such that when the devices are stacked in a vertical manner, the at least one rail in the roof or base of one of the devices is received within the at least one channel in the roof or base of the other of the devices. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 2 or claim 3 , wherein the front face of the drawer member comprises a panel that is configured to be snugly received within the opening of the body. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the panel is substantially planar and has perforations formed therein to facilitate air flow into and out of the body when the drawer member is in a closed position. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 7 or claim 8 , wherein the drawer member comprises a base plate extending from the front face thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the base plate is attached to a front plate that is attached to an inner surface of the front face. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the base plate projects rearwardly from a lower end of the front plate and terminates in a rear plate that extends substantially perpendicular to the base plate so as to be substantially parallel with the front face and front plate. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11 , wherein front plate, base plate and rear plate are integrally formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one support member is removably attached to extend between the front plate and the rear plate. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein a vertical position of the at least one support member with respect to the front plate and rear plate is adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal space includes a camera to provide a user with a visual indication of the contents of the device. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal space comprises a disinfection system to provide disinfection of the footwear stored therein. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the disinfection system comprises one or more LEDs mounted to an internal surface of the body. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the LEDs emit short-wavelength ultraviolet light in the UC (UV-C) spectrum to irradiate the internal space of the main body when the drawer member is inserted therein.