Abstract:
A self-erecting device which can serve as a signaling unit. An absorbent pad connected to a self-erecting device results in a combined signal and spill absorbing unit. The self-erecting and absorbing device is simple in construction and easy to operate. In an alternative embodiment, the self-erecting device can include a carpet cleaner in the absorbent pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     This invention relates to a self-erecting signal device. More particularly, it relates to a self-erecting signal device which is particularly suited for signaling spills or spots on floors so as to serve as a warning. 
     Inflatable signaling devices are well-known. These are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,762,327; 3,113,551; 3,250,241; 3,707,320; 3,720,181 and 3,892,081. 
     Self-inflatable enclosures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,929,214 and 5,941,752. 
     Fluid absorbing mats are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,270,089; 5,506,040; 5,549,945; 5,597,418 and 5,834,104. 
     The prior art does not provide a self-erecting signaling device. Neither does it provide a self-erecting signaling device which is adaptable for use with a liquid absorbing mat. 
     There is a need for a self-erecting signaling device to indicate spills on a floor. These occur frequently in stores and particularly those which provide products which when dropped on a floor result in a liquid or slippery substance. This is a hazardous condition for shoppers as falls can occur. Not only is a self-erecting signaling device beneficial, it is even more useful if it is combined with an absorbing material which can absorb the spilled material. 
     The objects of the invention therefore are: 
     a) Providing a self-erecting signaling device. 
     b) Providing a self-erecting signaling device which is easily activated. 
     c) Providing a self-erecting signaling device of the foregoing type which is simple in construction and economical to produce. 
     d) Providing a self-erecting signaling device of the foregoing type which includes a fluid absorbing feature. 
     e) Providing a self-erecting signaling device of the foregoing type which can also include a cleaning function. 
     f) Providing a self-erecting signaling device of the foregoing type which is compact in design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the self-erecting device of this invention which in one embodiment includes a signal member, and an inflatable member. The signal member is connected to the inflatable member. A self-contained expandable member is present within the inflatable member, the inflatable member constructed and arranged to be inflated by the self-contained expandable member. A base member is constructed and arranged to support the outer member. 
     In another embodiment, the self-erecting device includes a base member constructed to rest on a surface. There is a gas generating member and an inflatable member in fluid communication with the gas generating element. A signal element is erected by the inflatable member. 
     In another embodiment, the base member includes an absorbent member constructed and arranged to absorb liquid and spills on a surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment the inflatable member is gas impervious material and of a tubular configuration when inflated, and the expandable member includes a first material and second material which when reacted produce a gas, the materials being separated by a breachable member. 
     In still another embodiment, the expandable member includes an expandable system comprised of a liquid and an expandable member which expands when contacted with the liquid, the first and second members being separated by a breachable member to provide contact between the liquid and the expandable member. 
     In a most preferred embodiment, the self-erecting device includes a base member, a signal member, a self-contained expandable member, and a gas impervious inflatable member having opposing ends, the gas impervious inflatable member connected at opposing ends to the signal member and the base member. The expandable member is positioned in the gas impervious inflatable member whereby when the expandable member is activated, the gas impervious member expands to an elevated position, and in turn expands the signal member to an elevated position. 
     In yet another embodiment, there is a combined cleaning and self-erecting device which includes a cleaning member including a pad of absorbent materials. There is a cleaning material contained in a breachable container, the breachable container is connected to the pad. A self-erecting device is connected to the pad. 
     In still another embodiment, there is a self-erecting warning device which includes a first expandable member and a second expandable member for expanding the first expandable member. The second expandable member is the sole means for expanding the first expandable member and there is a liquid source constructed and arranged to provide a liquid to expand the second expandable member. 
     There is also provided a method of cleaning up a spill on a floor while signaling its location which includes placing an absorbent member on the spill. The absorbent member is connected to a self-erecting device. The self-erecting device is activated to signal the location of the spill. 
     In a preferred manner the method includes employing a self-erecting device composed of an inflatable member having an expandable member having a first member composed of a liquid and a second member composed of an expandable member which expands when contacted with the liquid, the first and second members being separated by a breachable member. The breachable member being broken by adequate force to provide contact between the liquid and the expandable member. 
     In yet another preferred manner, a method of cleaning up a stain on a surface while signaling its location is provided which includes placing a pad member connected to a self-erecting device, the pad member connected to a sachet containing a stain removing substance on a stain and activating the self-erecting device and releasing the stain removing substances from the sachet and allowing the pad member saturated with the stain removing substance and attached to the self-erecting device to remain on the surface and alternatively repeating the above steps until the stain is removed. 
     These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in reference to the full scope of the invention. Rather, the invention may be employed in other embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the self-erecting device of this invention; 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of an inflatable member employed in the self-erecting device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 1B  is a view similar to  FIG. 1A  illustrating the activation of the inflatable member; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the self-erecting device of  FIG. 1  in the erected state; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  with a portion broken away to show the inflatable member; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing an alternative embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing another embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing the  FIG. 6  embodiment in an erected state; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing the  FIG. 8  embodiment in an erected state; 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  showing a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing a preferred inflatable and expandable member for the self-erecting device; and 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are side views of the preferred inflatable and expandable member shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the self-erecting device of this invention generally  10  includes a flexible signal element or member  12  attached to a base member  17 . Signal member  12  is composed of a plastic sheet which is preferably high density polyethylene. It is a flexible, expandable, pyramidal blanket which overlies the base member  17 . It is of a pyramidal configuration when inflated. An inflatable member  14  is connected to the signal member  12  as well as the base member  17 . Base member includes a lower fabric covering  18  and an upper fabric covering  18   a . The lower fabric covering  18  and upper fabric covering  18   a  are composed of a nonwoven fabric comprised of 75% PET and 25% cellulose, Grade 12124 from Ahlstrom Fiber Composites. An absorbent core layer  19  is composed of a cellulose/super absorbent polymer composite core material from Gelok International Corp. as Gelok(r) 500/50 composite. It is entrapped in the nonwoven matrix of the fabric coverings  18  and  18   a.    
     An expandable member  16  is placed inside the inflatable member  14 . This is seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The inflatable member  14  is of a tubular configuration and contains two sachets  20  and  22 . The inflatable member  14  is composed of a flexible polypropylene gas impervious plastic material as are the sachets  20  and  22 . In the instance of the sachets, they contain components which when mixed together produce a gas. For example, sachet  22  can contain a carbonate or bicarbonate powder and sachet  20  an acid solution such as citric. These sachets  20  and  22  are constructed so they are breachable when a force is imposed so as to result in a mixing of the acid with the powder and produce carbon dioxide gas and provide an expandable member  16 . This gas generating system is indicated in  FIG. 1B  with the carbon dioxide being indicated at  23 . 
     In the following embodiments of  FIGS. 4–9 , the same parts are indicated with the same numbers as indicated in  FIGS. 1–3 . 
     The  FIG. 4  embodiment generally  40  is similar to embodiment  10  except that it additionally includes a frangible pad  34  which contains a carpet stain remover or a remover of stains on hard floors such as stone or terrazzo. The preferred stain remover is specific for the type of stain, either water-borne or oily. For water-borne spots and stains, the preferred stain remover is a 1% solution of sodium lauryl sulfate in water. For oily stains, the preferred stain remover is mineral spirits. The pad would be composed of a material similar to the sachets  20  and  22 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates still another embodiment generally  50 . In place of the previously described tubular inflatable member  14 , there is a latex balloon  52  containing frangible sachets  54  and  55  which contain the previously described acid and powder. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show yet another embodiment generally  60 . In place of the previously described tubular inflatable member  14  and the balloon  52 , there is a sponge  62  with a frangible water sachet  64 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate another embodiment generally  78  with an inflatable member  80  and expandable member  81 . In this instance, there is an inner sachet  84  containing water  86  and the outer expandable member  81  providing a compartment or sachet  82  for a powder  88  composed of sodium bisulfate and sodium carbonate. A pin hole  91  is located at one end of the sachet  82  for the purpose as later explained in the Operation. A precut or preweakened portion  92  is provided in the inflatable member  80  the purpose of which will also be later explained. 
     The preferred material for fabricating the inflatable member  80  is polypropylene. The expandable member  81  or sachet  82  is composed of high density polyethylene and sachet  84  is composed of low density polyethylene. 
     In a preferred manner, sachet  84  is heat sealed along its edges such as at  83  and  85  as well as at  87  where it is in turn sealed to sachet  82 . It will be recognized that in the instance of seals  83  and  84 , they are designed so that sachet  84  can be broken with hand or foot force to allow water  86  to escape and mix with powder  88 . Sachet  82  is in a like manner sealed in a tubular manner along edges  89  and  90  as well as at  94  where it is sealed to sachet  84  as well as inflatable member  80 . It will be seen that the inflatable member  80  is in turn sealed in tubular manner along its edges  95 ,  96  and  97 . 
     Inflatable member  80  is heat sealed to the outer member  12  and base member  17  at its opposing ends such as along seals  96  and  97 . 
     It will be recognized that inflatable member  14  as well as sachets  20  and  22  are sealed in a tubular manner such as previously described for inflatable member  80  and sachets  82  and  84 . It is not necessary for the sachets  20  and  22  to be connected to the inflatable member  14 . 
       FIGS. 12–14  illustrate a preferred embodiment generally  120  of an inflatable member  100  and  101  and an expandable member. In both instances, sachets  102  and  103  are similar to previously described sachet  82  and are heat sealed along edges  104 ,  105  and  106 . Sachets  102  and  103  are in turn sealed to inflatable members  100  and  101  in conjunction with seals  106 . Unlike inflatable member  80 , inflatable members  100  and  101  are blown in a tubular manner and sealed along edges  107  and  108 . The preferred material for producing inflatable members  100  and  101  is polypropylene, whereas the preferred material for producing sachets  102  and  103  is a polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene laminate. 
     Sachet  102  of inflatable member  100  is filled with an acid solution  109  composed of citric acid and water. A carbonate base material  110  such as sodium carbonate is loosely placed in inflatable member  100 . Inflatable member  101  is similar to inflatable member  100  except for the materials in the sachet  103  and in the inflatable member  101 . In place of the acid solution  109 , water  111  is sealed in sachet  103  and an acid/carbonate powder blend  112  such as sodium bisulfate and sodium carbonate is placed in inflatable member  101 . The acid solution  109  and base material  110 , as well as the water  111  in combination with the acid/carbonate powder blend  112  provide expandable members for the inflatable members  100  and  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , inflatable member  100  is heat sealed to and centrally positioned with respect to the base member  17 . At the opposite end inflatable member  100  and sachet  102  are heat sealed to the outer or signal member  12  by heat sealing a portion of the edge  107  or tag to the signal member  12 . Inflatable member  100  is centrally positioned with respect to signal element  12 . Inflatable member  101  is connected to base member  17  and signal element  12  in a similar manner. 
     Operation 
     A better understanding of the self-erecting devices of the invention will be had by a description of their operation. Referring to embodiment  10 , it will be supplied in a collapsed condition as shown in  FIG. 1 . When a liquid spill is detected as indicated at  26  in  FIG. 2 , self-erecting device  10  is placed over the spill  26  and a force exerted on it such as by a foot. The force should be sufficient to fracture the sachets  20  and  22  and cause the citric acid solution and the carbonate powder to react. This is depicted in  FIG. 1B  with the carbon dioxide gas  23  evolving. As the gas evolves, it fills tubular inflatable member  14  causing it to rise and assume a pyramidal position as shown in  FIG. 3 . The inflatable member  14  functions in a manner similar to the center pole in a tent. It is connected centrally to base member  17  such as at  66  and at the inside of peak or apex  68  of the erected outer member  12 . When placed over spill  26  in the erected position as seen in  FIG. 2 , it will serve as a warning device with the indicia  24 . At the same time, the absorbent layer  19  in base member  17  absorbs the liquid spill  26 . The absorbent layer  19  can be saturated with the spill. 
     Embodiment  40  functions in a similar manner as described for embodiment  110  except that this device  40  is designed for use on carpet spills or spills on stone or terrazo floors. In this instance, device  40  is placed over the spill and activated by the force of one&#39;s foot. This simultaneously activates the sachets  20  and  22  as well as sachet  34  which contains the stain remover. 
     Embodiments  50  and  60  function in a similar manner as previously described for embodiment  10 . In embodiment  50 , the two sachets  54  and  55  are similar to sachets  20  and  22  and when fractured result in carbon dioxide gas which fills balloon  52 . This inflated balloon  52  assumes a position indicated in  FIG. 7 . Balloon  52  is connected to base member  17  such as at  70 . It is also preferably connected to outer member  12  such as at  71  and  72 , but such connections are not necessary. 
     Embodiment  60  is activated by fracturing the water sachet  64  which is composed of beachable polypropylene. The water causes the sponge  62  to expand to the position shown in  FIG. 9 . In this instance, the sponge  62  is connected to the sachet  64  which in turn is connected to the base member  17 . The sponge  62  is preferably an open cell compressed cellulose material. 
     Embodiment  78  with inflatable member  80  and expandable member  81 , function in the same manner as previously described for inflatable member  14  and expandable member  16 . When the inner sachet  84  is breached, the water mixes with the powder  88  to form a gas and fill sachet  82  or expandable member  81 . The gas escapes through pin hole  91  and fills inflatable member  80  to thereby cause the outer member  12  to erect. In order to deflate the inflatable member  80 , it is torn open along the precut or weakened portion  92 . 
     Embodiment  120  functions in essentially the same manner as previously described for inflatable member  14  and expandable member  16 . The difference is in the manner of activation. With inflatable member  100  positioned in outer signal member  12  as shown on  FIG. 12  and inflatable member  100  and signal member  12  essentially collapsed on base member  17 , all that is required to activate embodiment  120  is to fracture sachet  102  to allow the acid solution to mix with the base materials  110 . As indicated with the previous embodiment, this mixing causes a reaction of the acid solution and the base materials to produce carbon dioxide, causing the inflatable member  100  to assume an erected position as shown in conjunction with  FIG. 3 . Inflatable member  101  operates in the same manner. 
     The advantages of embodiment  120  over the previously described embodiments is with the sachet  102  positioned centrally near the top of the collapsed signal member  12 , it is easily located form outside the signal member  12  and fractured. 
     The self-erecting devices  10 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60  and  120  have all been described with an absorbent base member  17 . If desired, this can be eliminated so the self-erecting feature is provided for a warning device as shown in  FIG. 5  with embodiment  30 . In place of base member  17 , there is provided two cross members  31  and  32  which are connected at their centers such as at  72 . Outer member  12  is in turn connected at four positions  75  to the cross members  31  and  32 . The preferred material for composing cross members  31  and  32  is rigid paperboard. Although not shown in embodiment  30 , it will include the same inflatable member  14  which will be connected to the cross members  31  and  32  such as at  72  as well as inside peak  68 . 
     It will thus be seen that there is now provided a self-erecting device which is simple in construction as well as fast and efficient to operate. The self-erecting device provides a combined cleaning and signal apparatus which is adaptable to a wide variety of spill conditions. The absorbent layer  19  can be customized to particular facilities to accommodate the particular products being handled. 
     The preferred system for creating carbon dioxide gas for inflating the inflatable member  14  in embodiment  10  is water and sodium bisulfate and sodium carbonate powder. Alternatively, other systems could be employed such as the following acids: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, citric phosphoric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, sulfamic acid, formic acid or other water soluble organic or inorganic acids, as well as sodium bisulfite, or mixtures thereof which react with one or more of the following: lithium carbonate, lithium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate or other bicarbonates or carbonates, or mixtures thereof. 
     Certain preferred plastic materials for fabricating the outer member  12 , inflatable member  14 , sachets  20 ,  22 ,  54 ,  55 ,  64  and pad  34  have been previously indicated. However, other materials could be employed such as the outer member  12  could be low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, woven or nonwoven cotton or synthetic fabric, paper, foil, or other materials capable of being formed into flexible sheets. The inflatable members  14 ,  80 ,  100  and  101  could be low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, vinyl, nylon (polyamide), natural or synthetic rubber or other materials capable of being formed into a flexible, sealable tube which can then hold pressure upon inflation. The breakable sachets  20 ,  22 ,  54 ,  55 ,  64  and pad  34  could be low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, vinyl, nylon (polyamide), and foil or foil laminates thereof or other materials capable of holding liquids with minimal permeation through the film. Sachets  82 ,  84 ,  102  and  103  could also be composed of the previously indicated materials other than polyethylene or the polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene laminate. A certain preferred nonwoven fabric has been previously indicated for covering  18 . Other fabrics such as a nonwoven fabric comprised of cellulose and/or polypropylene or polyethylene, heavyweight paper, or polymer reinforced paper can be used. In the instance of covering  18   a , other materials such as a nonwoven or woven fabric or a liquid impervious layer such as aluminum foil, sheet polyethylene or propylene, could be employed. While a preferred material has been indicated for absorbent layer  19 , other materials could be employed such as polypropylene or polyethylene fibers, cellulosic fibers, wood flour, sawdust, ground dried corncob, diatomaceous earth, ground pumice, dried clay, cat litter, vermiculite, synthetic clay, fumed silica, fuller&#39;s earth, or similar functional materials. Cross members  31  and  32  are composed of rigid paperboard. However, other materials could be employed such as wood, metal, corrugated paperboard, or any moldable plastic or plastic composites with sufficient thickness and strength to form a semi-rigid base. While certain preferred stain removers having been previously indicated for certain stains, others can be used such as combinations of detergents, builders, chelating agents, or solvents. 
     The unique self-erecting device has been described for use with spills. If desired, it can be employed in conjunction with any slippery condition such as wet mopped floors to signal a slippery condition.