WO1999053811A1

WO1999053811A1 - Mat for use at entrances and the like for wiping shoes or other soiled objects

Info

Publication number: WO1999053811A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/000607
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rudolf Nordin
Original assignee: Act - Advanced Cleaning Technics Ab
Priority date: 1998-04-16
Filing date: 1999-04-16
Publication date: 1999-10-28
Also published as: AU4177699A; SE9801307D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a mat for use at entrances and the like for drying off shoes or other dirty objects. It is characterised in that it consists of a lower layer in thick material such as rubber with small projections (4) on the top surface and slide-in flanges (3) along at least one of the side edges. An upper detachable textile layer (5) with good water and dirt absorption capacity is arranged on top of the lower layer and is held fast by means of the small projections (4) and slide-in flanges (3).

Description

Mat for use at entrances and the like for wiping shoes or other soiled objects.

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to a mat for use at entrances and the like for drying off shoes or other dirty objects. Although the mat is especially well suited to this purpose, its range of use is not restricted to this, and it can be used in other circumstances where it is suitable, such as in sports halls or the like.

BACKGROUND:

Mats of different types have been known since time immemorial. Most commonly, the older varieties consist of a single material which may be woven, twined or joined together by some means. In more recent decades, however, a transition has to a large extent occurred to the use of a textile layer below which a rubber layer is firmly vulcanised. The rubber layer gives the mat strength and the textile layer adheres securely to this layer. The upper textile layer, on which shoes or other dirty objects will be dried is made from fibres which are of natural origin or artificial, and which are woven, knitted, or joined together in some fashion.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM :

The above-mentioned entrance mats fulfil their function well from the technical aspect, and form a good aid for drying off shoes and the like so that the floor can be kept clean. After some time in use, however, the mat needs to have the dried off matter cleaned off and this cleaning process is often problematical and unsatisfactory. The mat will generally only be struck in upward and downward position or thrown against a wall or suchlike so that the grit and larger particles are removed. The adhesive dirt cannot, however, be removed by this means, nor can it be removed by washing the mat in a washing machine, as mats are damaged by such treatment. The only means, then, is to scrub the mat with a suitable soap solution and then dry it. This cleaning is thus only superficial.

THE SOLUTION :

For decades, therefore, it has been a firm aim to be able to clean entrance mats and the like by an effective and simple means, and a mat has been produced according to the invention for use at entrances and the like for drying off shoes or other dirty objects, characterized in that it consists of a lower layer in thick material such as rubber, with small protrusions on its top surface and slide-in flanges along at least one of its side edges plus an upper detachable textile layer with good absorption capacity for water and dirt.

According to the invention, the lower layer may be composed of module units, whereby slide-in flanges are provided on opposite long sides.

According to the invention, the textile layer preferably consists of a fabric with loops projecting on one or both sides.

According to the invention, the loops may be of different length and the shorter loops are preferably made of microfilament yarn. According to the invention it is advantageous for the loops on the textile layer side which faces towards the lower layer to be made only of short loops of microfilament yarn.

According to the invention, the textile layer can also be knitted or consist of non-woven textile material. A suitable textile material may be the cleaning fabric described in the Swedish patent 503 414.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings, where

fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the lower layer in its disassembled state, and

fig. 2 shows an assembled mat according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS :

Fig. 1 shows the top of the bottom layer 1 , disassembled and consisting of different modules. These can be suitably assembled by means of notches and lugs in the form of the salmon pink design 2. As the figure shows, the outermost modules are provided with a slide-in flange 3. In fig. 1 , these slide-in flanges are provided on both long sides of a rectangular bottom section 1 , but these slide-in flanges may also be provided on only one side or placed on opposing short sides. The intention of these flanges 3 is that the upper layer shall be slid in below them, so that it does not become kicked free through carelessness. On the top of this lower layer 1 there are small protrusions 4 in the form of cones. The aim of these is that they will hook into the upper textile layer seated on top of the lower layer 1 , so that the latter does not move on its bedding. The slide-in flanges 3 are arranged on two opposite sides of the lower layer 1 , and an outer part 6 of the textile layer 5 stretches beyond at least one of the two other sides of the mat, where the said outer part 6 is arranged so as to be inserted beneath the lower layer 1.

Fig. 2 shows a mat according to the invention in the assembled state. As the figure shows, the upper textile layer 5 has been inserted beneath the flanges 3, while the outer part 6 of the textile material protrudes beyond the lower rubber layer and this part 6 is intended to be folded in beneath the lower layer. This can be performed on one or both of the short sides where there is no flange 3. The material in the textile layer 5 must thereby be somewhat thin and foldable and is consequently not formed from any independent mat.

According to the present invention, a mat was consequently produced which is especially serviceable for entrances and the like, the said mat being adjustable both in terms of length and breadth and which has been provided with the important characteristic that the textile part can be washed in a washing machine and then re-assembled in a clean condition in the lower stiffer layer.

According to the present invention, the options also exist of selecting the textile material best suited to a specific purpose. The washing process is considerably facilitated both for private customers and professional users in that washing can be carried out in existing washing machines.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments illustrated, but can be varied by different means within the framework of the patent claim.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Mat for use at entrances and the like for drying off shoes or other dirty objects, characterized in that it consists of a lower layer (1 ) in thick material such as rubber with small protrusions (4) on the top and slide- in flanges (3) along at least one of the side edges plus an upper detachable textile layer (5) with good absorption capacity for water and dirt.

2. Mat according to claim 1 , characterised in that the lower layer (1 ) is composed of modular units and that the slide-in flanges (3) are arranged on opposing long sides.

3. Mat according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the textile layer (5) is made from a fabric with projecting loops on one or both sides.

4. Mat according to claim 3, characterised in that the loops are the same length and that the shorter loops are made from microfilament yarn.

5. Mat according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that on the side of the textile layer which faces towards the lower layer the loops consist of only short loops of microfilament yarn.

6. Mat according to one of claims 1-2, characterised in that the textile layer is knitted or consists of non-woven textile material.