COVER SHEET FOR A DOOR MAT

Abstract: The invention concerns a cover sheet (2, 4) for use as a cover of a walking surface, in particular a door mat (1). The cover (2, 4) according to the invention has sufficient capacity for absorption of dirt and/or water and is provided with attachments to enable the cover sheet (2, 4) to be arranged in a rather tight and smooth manner around the walking surface to keep it in place. The cover sheet (2, 4) is made washable; it can also be impregnated with an agent. The cover sheet (2, 4) has application possibilities for homes, garden and kitchen, but also for industrial purposes. The invention also concerns a combination of door mat (1) and a cover sheet (2, 4) according to the invention.

Description: Cover sheet for a door mat The invention concerns a cover sheet for use as a cover of a walking surface, in particular for a door mat. Mats are being used to wipe off or absorb respectively dirt and/or moist attached to footwear. As a disadvantage relatively a great amount of dirt and under humid circumstances a lot of water is still being taken in. Using the expression of a mat or a door mat also meant are all such objects, e.g. footplanks, brushes, punched out sheets and the like with which one can wipe off dirt sticking to one's footwear or feet. The purpose of the invention is to neutralize this disadvantage and thereby provides for a usable put on top "mat" , in particular a complete or partial cover sheet, which has such characteristics as a walking surface that after using it few or no dirt and/or moist at all is being taken in. To that purpose the cover sheet according to the invention is provided with first means enabling attachment of the cover sheet to and circumferentially around the walking surface in a rather tight and smooth manner with the purpose to keep it in place in relation to the walking surface while even if it is intensively used. By using these characteristics of the cover sheet according to the invention after walking on the walking surface the wiped off sole becomes clean and dry. The second attachment means on the cover sheet by means of which it rather tightly fits around the door mat to remain in place while being used, can of course be of various types. The cover sheet can e.g. be provided with cord or tape, whether or not elasticiy attached around its circumference in a hem. After pulling it tight there will be no folds or wrinkles on the upper walking surface that could affect optimal wiping off of the soles. Also the cover sheet may e.g. for fixing with respect to the mat be provided with cut outs at least nearby two corners of the mat. Other possible attachment means can exist of protrusions, caps, buckles, "Velcro" tape and the like. On the cover sheet may e.g. also be attached stiffening edges, which may be pressed around at least two opposite edges of the mat. The web material of the cover sheet couid also be of elastic characteristics so as to assure that the cover sheet can be pulled tight automatically. All means by which the cover sheet can be pulled relatively tight around the mat may be provided with reinforcing elements, e.g. against tearing. The material of which the cover sheet according to the invention is made, has an operation comparable to a sponge. That is to say, it must quickly be able to absorb dirt and/or moist. So the cover/sheet must have sufficient capacity for absorption and/or adsorption. Preferably the material of the cover sheet is made of any kind of towel material or non woven material that is suitable for domestic use, for instance material of which so called kitchen towels are made. It can be either from natural or synthetic material. Examples of this material are kitchen towels which are sold under brandnames like Sorbo and Dubro- Ballerina. Preferably the material of the cover sheet, consisting of approximately 85% viscose and approximately 1 5% polypropylene, has such characteristics that the ability to absorb dirt and/or moist increases during its use. If desired the cover sheet may be provided with a stylish printed design. In doing so the cover sheet can serve an aesthetic and/or indicative function. According to the invention a thus printed cover sheet could serve as a stylish element; e.g. depending on the applicable season it could be provided with a printed wish such like Happy Easter, Happy New Year etc. or it could be decorated in accordance to the interior (e.g. denims, checks, stripes, paisleys etc.) . According to the invention a printed cover sheet could also serve as an instructive element, e.g. with an instruction to step on the cover sheet (with the accompanying mat) when entering or leaving specific room spaces (quarantine) . If a cover sheet is not only meant for disposal use but also for reuse, than it should at least be washable, e.g. in a washing machine or under a hot water tap such as is with a kitchen towel. A cover sheet according to the invention once fitted around the mat should also be suitable for sprinkling and/or impregnating, e.g. with a suitable cleaning or disinfecting agent. A cover sheet according to the invention is suitable for all kinds of purposes, in and around the house, in the office and in industrial buildings, when there is a desire to clean one's footwear or feet. Conceivable is the use as a bath mat, as a car mat, as a mat behind a hatch where an animal needs to walk over. In the last example one needs not only think of domestic animals, but also of animals, cattle, pigs etc. moving in to a space that needs to remain clean. The cover sheet according to the invention may have more than one side to be used . The cover sheet may be used double sided or inside out. Also the cover sheet could consist of several (removable) layers, which may be used one by one without having to remove the basic cover sheet (partially) of the mat. The invention is exemplified more in detail in two embodiments of a cover sheet. Fig. 1 is a perspective upper view of a mat; Fig. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the mat in fig. 1 now provided with a cover sheet according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective upper view of the mat in fig. 1 now provided with a cover sheet according to fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mat in fig. 1 provided with another design of a cover sheet according to the invention. A well known mat 1 , see fig. 1 , can be any kind of applied mat, e.g. a door mat or a bath mat and it can be made out of any kind of material, e.g. out of coconut fibre or out of rubber. The mat 1 may have any shape; fig. 1 shows a rectangular mat. Mat 1 may have any desired dimension. Furthermore the surface of the mat 1 may be smooth or rough, or it may be provided with ornamental or useful profiles. Circumferentially around the mat 1 , see fig. 2, the edges of a cover sheet 2 are pulled tight. The cover sheet 2 is made out of material as is being used for kitchen towels. In this embodiment the edge of the cover sheet is provided with an elastic tape, sewn in. In fig. 3 the mat 1 in fig. 1 is provided with a cover sheet 2 according to the invention. In this embodiment the cover sheet 2 is provided on and around the mat in a rather tight and smooth manner. The combination in fig. 4 shows the mat 1 in fig 1 , now provided with a second embodiment of the cover sheet 4 according to the invention. The cover sheet 4 is provided with four triangular cut outs 5 located at the corners 6 of the mat 1 . Here the cover sheet 4 may be placed on the mat 1 loose on top of it, whereafter the cover sheet 4 can be pulled tight around the edges 6 of the mat 1 . For all embodiments it applies that after the cover sheet 1 , 4 becomes dirty, it can be taken off the mat and if necessary be washed for reuse. The invention also concerns the combination of a cover sheet according to the invention provided with a mat. Included hereby also is a cover sheet according to the invention which can be applied all around a door mat, as well as a cover sheet according to the invention, which forms part of a door mat.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . Cover sheet used for covering a walking surface, in particular a door mat, characterized in that the cover sheet is provided with first means to attach the cover sheet to and circumferentially around the walking surface in a rather tight and smooth manner with the purpose to keep it in its place in relation to the walking surface while it is in use. 2. Cover sheet according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is made from a (web) material that has sufficient capacity for absorption- and/or adsorption. 3. Cover sheet according to claim 2, characterized in that the material moreover has a strong capacity for attaching dirt and/or absorption of water. 4. Cover sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the cover sheet is provided with a printed design. 5. Cover sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover sheet is made washable for its reuse. 6. Cover sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover sheet, having been accommodated around the walking surface, thereafter is provided with an impregnating agent. 7. Cover sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of which the cover sheet is made, is impregnated with an agent to further cleaning or disinfection. 8. Cover sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover sheet can be used on one or both sides. 9. Cover sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover sheet consists of several layers, particularly removable layers. 1 0. Cover sheet according to any one of claims 1 -9, characterized in that the cover sheet is made of kitchen towel material whereas the door mat is provided with second means by which its edge, e.g. by means of an elastic strip, is fixed, in particular pulled tight along the edge of the door mat. 1 1 . A combination of a door mat and a cover sheet according to any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: BURKI HARMEN ALEXANDER, BURKI, HARMEN, ALEXANDER
Applicants: BURKI HARMEN ALEXANDER, BURKI, HARMEN, ALEXANDER
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A47L23
IPC codes: A47L23