Surface protection system mat

• US 7,597,949 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rickie J. Wright
• Original Assignee: Rickie J. Wright
• Inventors: Wright, Rickie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): XU, LING X
• Application Number:
  US11/451,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 428/116
• 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 428/23 Sheet including cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24149 Honeycomb-like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves

Abstract

A surface protection mat, particularly for use in protecting floor surfaces from accidental liquid spills comprises a cartridge unit having an upper layer of moisture absorbing material and a lower moisture barrier, and a top layer of material impervious to liquid. The top layer includes a top side, upon which a person stands, and a bottom side, which includes a chamber for receiving the cartridge and which is set on the floor to be protected. The central portion of the top layer, in part, is formed by a honeycomb structure of specially configured hexagonal shaped cells, which cells funnel liquid downwardly from the top side to the cartridge unit. The cartridge unit is inserted into the chamber and the absorbent upper layer thereof adhered to the top layer. The mat is intended to be disposed of via routine trash collection during maintenance (usually weekly) and replaced by a fresh one.

Claims

1. A liquid absorbing mat for placement on a surface and protecting the surface from liquid spills, said mat comprising:

a generally planar cartridge, said cartridge comprising, at least in part, an upper layer of fluid absorbing material, and a lower layer of fluid impervious material that resists passage of fluid, and

a top layer including a bottom side adhered, at least in part, to said upper layer and adapted to be placed on said surface, and an array of hexagonal shaped funnels extending through the top layer for directing liquid from the topside downwardly and onto the upper layer of said fluid absorbing material, the bottom side of said top layer including a substantially continuous floor engaging surface, wherein the mat has a thickness, each hexagonal shaped funnel forms a throat that narrows from an inlet to an outlet opening proximate to the upper layer of fluid absorbing material, each outlet opening has a lateral dimension, and the lateral dimension of each outlet opening is substantially the same as the thickness of said mat.

2. The liquid absorbing mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein each funnel is defined by at least one V-shaped sidewall, the sidewall having opposite sides disposed at an angle of about 40°

to one another.

3. The liquid absorbing mat as claimed in claim 2 wherein each funnel is defined by a plurality of V-shaped sidewalls, each V shape terminating in a rounded apex to receive and direct fluid into the downwardly narrowing funnel.

4. The liquid absorbing mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat is capable of being folded.

5. The liquid absorbing mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat is capable of being rolled up.