SURFACE PROTECTION MAT

• US 20080280095A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rickie J. Wright
• Original Assignee: Rickie J. Wright
• Inventors: Wright, Rickie J.
• Application Number:
  US12/175,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/118
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 27/0206 to protect the underlying surface, e.g. temporary covers, disposable carpets, absorbent pads, wheelchair pads, hearth rugs
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 27/0225 for bathrooms A47G27/0218 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 23/266 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/10 characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. formed of separate pieces of material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/02 Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24165 Hexagonally shaped cavities

Abstract

A mat for protecting surfaces from the accumulation of liquids is provided. The mat comprises a molded polymeric grid layer made of an elastomeric material having several openings and an absorbent core. The absorbent core comprises a moisture absorbent layer and a moisture barrier layer. The grid layer has a surface engaging perimeter, and the moisture barrier comprises a skid resistant material. The mat is foldable from an unfolded configuration to a first folded configuration and from the first folded configuration to a second folded configuration.

Claims

1. A surface protection mat, comprising:

an elastomeric grid layer having a plurality of openings and a surface engaging perimeter; and

an absorbent core layer mated to the elastomeric grid, wherein the absorbent core comprises a moisture absorbing layer in fluid communication with the openings and a moisture barrier layer.

2. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the openings are hexagonal shaped.

3. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the mat is flexible.

4. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the mat has an unfolded configuration and a first folded configuration, and the mat is foldable from the unfolded configuration into the first folded configuration.

5. The surface protection mat of claim 4, wherein the mat has a second folded configuration, and the mat is foldable from the first folded configuration to the second folded configuration.

6. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the moisture barrier comprises a skid resistant material.

7. The surface protection mat of claim 6, wherein the moisture barrier layer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

8. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric grid layer comprises a thermoplastic olefin.

9. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric grid layer has a shore A hardness of less than about 50.

10. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric grid layer has a shore A hardness of from about 10 to about 30.

11. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric grid layer has a shore A hardness of from about 15 to about 25.

12. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core is adhered to the elastomeric grid layer by overmolding.

13. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric grid layer defines a recess bounded by the surface engaging perimeter, and the absorbent core is disposed in the recess.

14. The surface protection mat of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core further comprises a deformable support layer between the moisture absorbent layer and the moisture barrier layer.

15. A method of preventing the accumulation of liquid on a restroom floor comprising placing the mat of claim 1 on the restroom floor proximate one selected from a commode and a urinal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of placing the mat on the restroom floor comprises placing the mat on the restroom floor such that the surface engaging perimeter of the elastomeric grid layer contacts the floor and the moisture barrier layer contacts the floor when no external force is applied to the mat.

17. A method of preventing the accumulation of liquid on the floor of a vehicle, comprising placing the mat of claim 1 on the floor of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of placing the mat on the vehicle floor comprises placing the mat on the vehicle floor such that the perimeter of the elastomeric grid layer contacts the floor and the moisture barrier layer contacts the floor when no external force is applied to the mat.

19. A surface protection mat, comprising:

a molded polymeric grid layer having a plurality of openings; and

an absorbent core,

wherein the absorbent core comprises a moisture absorbent layer in fluid communication with the openings, and a moisture barrier layer, and the mat has an unfolded configuration and a first folded configuration, and the mat is foldable from the unfolded configuration to the first folded configuration.

20. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the moisture barrier layer comprises a skid resistant material.

21. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the moisture barrier layer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

22. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the molded polymeric grid layer is elastomeric.

23. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the mat is flexible.

24. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the molded polymeric grid layer comprises a thermoplastic olefin.

25. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the molded polymeric grid layer has a shore A hardness of less than about 50.

26. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the molded polymeric grid layer has a shore A hardness of from about 10 to about 30.

27. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the molded polymeric grid layer has a surface engaging perimeter.

28. The surface protection mat of claim 27, wherein the molded polymeric grid has a recess bounded by the surface engaging perimeter, and the absorbent core is disposed in the recess.

29. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the absorbent core is adhered to the molded polymeric grid layer by overmolding.

30. The surface protection mat of claim 19, wherein the absorbent core further comprises a deformable support layer between the moisture absorbent layer and the moisture barrier layer.

31. A method of preventing the accumulation of liquid on a restroom floor comprising placing the mat of claim 19 on the restroom floor proximate one selected from a commode and a urinal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of placing the mat on the restroom floor comprises placing the mat on the restroom floor such that the perimeter of the elastomeric grid layer contacts the floor and the moisture barrier layer contacts the floor when no external force is applied to the mat.

33. A method of preventing the accumulation of liquid on the floor of a vehicle, comprising placing the mat of claim 19 on the floor of the vehicle.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of placing the mat on the vehicle floor comprises placing the mat on the vehicle floor such that the surface engaging perimeter of the elastomeric grid layer contacts the floor and the moisture barrier layer contacts the floor when no external force is applied to the mat.