Electrostatically charged porous water-impermeable absorbent laminate for protecting work surfaces from contamination

• US 7,785,699 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calvin B. Ward
• Original Assignee: Calvin B. Ward
• Inventors: Ward, Calvin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruthkosky; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICUS, TAMRA
• Application Number:
  US09/655,987
• Time in Patent Office: 3,646 Days
• Field of Search: 428/304.4, 428/308.8, 428/311.51, 428/311.11, 428/311.71, 428/320.2, 428/188, 428/327, 428/195.1, 428/195, 428/315.9, 604/1, 604/358, 604/374, 264/41, 442/234, 442/370, 442/381, 426/129, 574/02, 239/44, 239/45, 239/53, 239/56, 239/145, 239/326, 222/187
• US Class Current: 428/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/02 Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/16 Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2205/04 Foam
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2209/142 Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0043 characterised by their foraminous structure; Characteristics of the foamed layer or of cellular layers foraminous structure obtained by stretching D06N3/0029
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/12 by absorption; by adsorption; by ion-exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24256 Abutted or lapped seam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24744 Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249959 Void-containing component is wood or paper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249962 Void-containing component has a continuous matrix of fibers only [e.g., porous paper, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249964 Fibers of defined composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249965 Cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24998 Composite has more than two layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249987 With nonvoid component of specified composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249994 Composite having a component wherein a constituent is liquid or is contained within preformed walls [e.g., impregnant-filled, previously void containing component, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2924 Composite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2944 : Free metal in coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/647 : Including a foamed layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/659 : Including an additional nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/664 : Including a wood fiber containing layer

Abstract

A protective covering constructed from an electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface and an absorbent layer. The absorbent layer has top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface of the absorbent layer being bonded to the top surface of the electrostatically charged sheet. The absorbent layer is divided into a plurality of cells for containing liquid spilled on the absorbent layer. The absorbent layer can be constructed from paper, open cell foam, fibrous mat, or any other absorbent material. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cells are constructed by providing hydrophobic barriers in the absorbent layer. The barriers can be constructed from paraffin, plastic, or any other material that can penetrate the absorbent layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, a hydrophobic layer is bonded to the top surface of the absorbent layer. The hydrophobic layer has a plurality of pores that allow liquid spilled on the hydrophobic layer to penetrate the hydrophobic layer and be absorbed by the absorbent layer.

Claims

1. A protective covering comprising:

a water-impermeable electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface; and

an absorbent layer having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said absorbent layer being bonded to said top surface of said electrostatically charged sheet, said absorbent layer being divided into a plurality of cells for containing liquid within the boundaries of said cells, said liquid being prevented from moving between said cells.

2. The protective covering of claim 1, wherein said absorbent layer comprises paper.

3. The protective covering of claim 1, wherein said absorbent layer comprises an open cell foam.

4. The protective covering of claim 3, wherein said foam is electrostatically charged.

5. The protective covering of claim 1, wherein said absorbent layer comprises a fibrous mat.

6. The protective covering of claim 5, wherein said fibrous mat is electrostatically charged.

7. The protective covering of claim 1, wherein said absorbent layer comprises a plurality of hydrophobic barriers, said hydrophobic barriers defining said cells.

8. The protective covering of claim 1 further comprising a hydrophobic layer bonded to said top surface of said absorbent layer, said hydrophobic layer having a plurality of pores therethrough, said pores allowing liquid to penetrate said hydrophobic layer and be absorbed by said absorbent layer.

9. A protective covering for protecting an exposed surface:

a water-impermeable electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface; and

an absorbent layer having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said absorbent layer being in contact with said top surface of said electrostatically charged sheet,

wherein said absorbent layer comprises an open cell foam.

10. The protective covering of claim 9, wherein said foam is electrostatically charged.

11. A protective covering for protecting an exposed surface:

a water-impermeable electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface; and

an absorbent layer having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said absorbent layer being in contact with said top surface of said electrostatically charged sheet, wherein said absorbent layer comprises a fibrous mat.

12. The protective covering of claim 11, wherein said fibrous mat is electrostatically charged.

13. A protective covering for protecting an exposed surface:

a water-impermeable electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface; and

an absorbent layer having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said absorbent layer being in contact with said top surface of said electrostatically charged sheet, wherein said absorbent layer comprises a plurality of hydrophobic barriers, said hydrophobic barriers defining a plurality of cells for containing liquid within the boundaries of said cells, said liquid being prevented from moving between said cells by said barriers.

14. A protective covering for protecting an exposed surface:

a water-impermeable electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface; and

an absorbent layer having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said absorbent layer being in contact with said top surface of said electrostatically charged sheet, wherein said absorbent layer further comprises a hydrophobic layer bonded to said top surface of said absorbent layer, said hydrophobic layer having a plurality of pores therethrough, said pores allowing liquid to penetrate said hydrophobic layer and be absorbed by said absorbent layer.

15. A protective covering for protecting an exposed surface:

a water-impermeable electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface; and

an absorbent layer having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said absorbent layer being in contact with said top surface of said electrostatically charged sheet, wherein said electrostatically charged layer is bonded to said absorbent layer.

16. A protective covering for protecting an exposed surface:

a water-impermeable electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface; and

an absorbent layer having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said absorbent layer being in contact with said top surface of said electrostatically charged sheet, wherein said absorbent layer is divided into a plurality of cells for containing liquid by liquid impermeable barriers that prevent liquid from moving from one cell to another.