FLOOR MAT

• US 20140076358A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impact Products, LLC (Genuine Parts Company), NEW PIG CORPORATION
• Original Assignee: Impact Products, LLC (Genuine Parts Company)
• Inventors: Irwin, John T., Dukes, Stephen A., Hayes, Robert James, Staufenberg, Donald James, Gayer, Jeffrey C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,309,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• 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: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/264 Separate sieves or similar object-catching inserts
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/00 Urinals without flushing devices A47K11/00 ; Means for connecting the urinal to the flushing pipe and the wastepipe; Splashing shields for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/005 Accessories specially adapted for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/007 Devices for eliminating smells by diffusing deodorants in lavatories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23 Sheet including cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/237 Noninterengaged fibered material encased [e.g., mat, batt, etc.]

Abstract

A moppable floor mat is disclosed comprising a plurality of layers sharing a common peripheral boundary, the layers including an adhesive layer, a liquid impermeable layer, a high-traction layer, and a liquid absorbent layer. The adhesive layer is configured to be releaseably adhered to a floor and capable of being mopped over without causing a movement of the moppable floor mat relative to a surface of the floor. The moppable floor mat further comprises a seal formed adjacent the peripheral boundary of the plurality of layers, wherein the seal is configured to form a fluid-tight barrier preventing liquids from exiting through the seal from the moppable floor mat.

Claims

1. A moppable floor mat, comprising:

a plurality of layers sharing a common peripheral boundary, the layers including at least an adhesive layer and a liquid absorbent layer, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to be releaseably adhered to a floor and capable of being mopped over without causing a movement of the moppable floor mat relative to the floor; and

a seal formed adjacent the peripheral boundary of the plurality of layers, wherein the seal is configured to form a substantially fluid-tight barrier preventing liquids from exiting through the seal from the moppable floor mat.

2. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, wherein the seal is formed by radio frequency welding of the peripheral boundary of the plurality of layers.

3. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, wherein the seal is formed by at least one of heat sealing, bonding, and stitching.

4. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, further including a traction layer, wherein the traction layer is configured to provide traction when wet.

5. The moppable floor mat of claim 4, wherein the traction material is a porous spunbond polymer configured to transport moisture to the liquid absorbent layer.

6. The moppable floor mat of claim 4, wherein the traction layer and the liquid absorbent layer are stitched together.

7. The moppable floor mat of claim 6, wherein the traction layer and the liquid absorbent layer are stitched together using a stitching material formed from polyester.

8. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbent layer is configured to wick fluid from a traction layer disposed adjacent the liquid absorbent layer.

9. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbent layer is formed from a fine fiber polypropylene.

10. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed adjacent a liquid impermeable layer.

11. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, wherein the peripheral boundary of the plurality of layers has the shape of a truncated elongate ellipse including a substantially straight edge formed at a truncated longitudinal end of the body and an elongate elliptical edge.

12. The moppable floor mat of claim 11, wherein the straight edge is configured to align the floor mat flush with a wall adjacent a urinal and the elongate elliptical edge is configured to align feet of a user in a comfortable position adjacent the elongate elliptical edge during use of a urinal.

13. The moppable floor mat of claim 1, wherein the peripheral boundary of the plurality of layers has the shape of a rectangle having rounded corners.

14. A method of cleaning a moppable floor mat, comprising:

providing a floor mat comprised of a plurality of layers sharing a common peripheral boundary and including at least an adhesive layer and a liquid absorbent layer, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to be releaseably adhered to a floor and capable of being mopped over without causing a movement of the floor mat relative to the floor;

the floor mat further including a seal formed adjacent the peripheral boundary of the plurality of layers, wherein the seal is configured to form a substantially fluid-tight barrier preventing liquids from exiting through the seal;

locating the floor mat in a desired position on a surface of the floor with the adhesive layer in facing relationship with the surface of the floor;

applying pressure to the floor mat in order to releaseably adhere the adhesive layer to the surface of the floor;

providing a mop at least partially saturated with at least one of water and a liquid cleaning solution;

applying the mop to contact the floor mat; and

moving the mop in a direction parallel to the surface of the floor while the mop is applied to the floor mat to remove any undesired materials from the floor mat.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of cleaning the surface of the floor prior to locating the floor mat to remove any undesired materials from the surface of the floor to ensure proper adhesion between the surface of the floor and the adhesive layer of the floor mat.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of locating the floor mat further comprises aligning a straight peripheral edge of the floor mat parallel to a wall extending from the surface of the floor.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein prior to applying the mop to the floor mat the floor mat is removed from the surface of the floor and relocated to a desired position.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the floor mat is removed from the floor by gripping the seal and pulling the floor mat in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the floor to peel the adhesive surface from the surface of the floor.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein prior to locating the floor mat a user pulls the floor mat to be taught to eliminate any curls, folds, or peeled edges formed thereon.