MAT

Abstract: The invention relates to a mat for cleaning the soles of footwear. The mat comprises a number of mat elements joined together by wires, bars or the like. At least the upper portion of the mat elements, to which the soles of the footwear touch on stepping on the mat has a form like a tooth or crenellated. The mat elements are joined together only nearly their ends interlockedly.

Description: MAT The invention relates to a mat for cleaning footwear, especially for cleaning the soles of footwear, having a number of joined mat elements. It is conventional that there is arranged in the vicinity of the outer door of a building a mat or the like, to which persons going into the building may clean their footwear or at least step on it when going inside. It is quite usual that there is at least dust stuck on footwear, but commonly also mud, snow, slush or other impurities, track- ing of which on footwear into the building is usually felt quite harmful and increases cleaning work. Publication EP 955005 shows a mat structure including bundles of brushes upright on a base plate. As the base plate used is a special kind of profile structure, the ex- pense of the raw material is remarkably high in this solution. Publication US 4353944 shows a mar structure, into which there are arranged inside a frame in vertical direction tap like portions, made of rubber, which taps have a cleaning effect to the bottom of a footwear. This kind of mat will, however, very quickly become full of material loosened out of the soles of the footwear and this structure is therefore quite ineffective or at least, needs often cleaning. Publication EP 965300 shows a mat structure, in which tufted structure elements, made of several different raw materials staying almost vertically, are attached to a common base element nearby each other. Also this structure will be blocked very soon and needs cleaning and, additionally, it is quite expensive relating to its raw materials. Publication US 5227214 shows a mat structure, in which on a common base struc- ture there are joined essentially in upright position and raised and oblong pieces and, additionally, essentially in upright position, smaller than pieces mentioned, tap like pieces. Also this structure leaves the loosened material on the base plate and needs often cleaning. Publication FI 18783 shows a mat structure made of rubber strips from used tires of cars or the like. I there is in use other than footwear with smooth soles, the cleaning effect of this mat structure is apparently low. Publication GB 2241166 shows a mat structure with a complicated and obviously expensive frame structure made by extrusion molding, on which structure the single mat elements will be fixed. The frame structure also has the effect that the cleaning effect of the sole of the footwear is only on a partial portion of the upper surface of the mat structure, so, the cleaning effect will be poor and a person, cleaning the footwear has especially set the feet and thus the footwear exactly on the area with the cleaning effect, which is apparently difficult and needs self-motivation. The aim of the invention is to show a mat with no disadvantages shown above or at least decreased them. Additionally, the aim of the invention is to show a mat with extreme durability and for manufacturing such, the raw material will be cheap, preferably mainly recycling material. The aim of the invention will be achieved with a mat, which is shown by means of claim 1 and other claims. According to the invention, for cleaning the soles of foot- wear there in use a mat which comprises a number of mat elements joined together by wires, bars or the like. At least the upper portion of the mat elements, to which the soles of the footwear touch on stepping on the mat has a form like a tooth or crenellated. In this case the upper portion of the mat elements will also touch to a sole of a footwear having even strong figures and clean effectively for example the bottom figures of so called terrain shoes. In this case, also the surface pressure against the sole of footwear will be bigger than a smooth mat element with the upper surface of same size and the cleaning effect will further be more effective. If the mat elements are joined together nearby their ends interlockedly, the cleaning effect on a mat according to the invention is high, since the cleaning effect is almost on the upper surface of the mat structure without quite large longitudinal or crosswise structure based ineffective space areas. If the mat elements are joined together only nearby their ends interlockedly, the structure is simple to manufacture and also quite simple to assemble and difficulties in directioning in the assembly due to possible several fixing points of the same mat element may not arise. If the mat elements are manufactured from at least somewhat flexible material, preferably mainly of rubber, the mat element of at least its upper portion will slightly bend due to the force caused by the footwear. Because of the effect of the movement caused by the transformation, the cleaning effect of the footwear will further become more effective. If the lower portion of the mat element is fixed to the mat essentially upwardly, the assembly of a mat element is quite easy, since the lower portions mentioned form a structure, which support each other very well. If the most outermost elements of the mat elements assembled near by each other, are assembled in such a way symmetrically in respect to each other that the upper portions of the mat elements being close to each other more far away than the lower portions, by effect of the force, caused by a footwear, the outermost mat elements will move from one to another because of the force further away at their upper portions and further, the cleaning effect will be more effective. If the mat elements assembled close to each other, are situated to a mat in such a way that between the mat elements being inclined on their upper portions, will stay in the middle area a gap, into which at least a part of the dirt or the like being loosened from a footwear, will stay prior to its motion through the mat underneath the mat, the cleaning function will occur quite easily as long as the material, being loosened from the mat will have space in the gaps of the mat or under the mat. Since the mat has quite an open structure, the cleaning of the mat from time to time is simple, since the material, being loosened may fall through the mat when the mat is being lifted up from its place. Also water, for example rainwater may rinse the mat effectively. Water does not stay in the mat but it may, without any obstacles run through the mat and partially rinses and cleans at least the upper portion of the mat. If the raw material of the mat is used tires, being not any more in use in vehicles, one may obtain tire junk, being usually thought as problem waste as a really useful recycling material, in which case raw material will be saved compared to that if the mat would be manufactured from new raw materials. If as the raw material of the mat element is used a transportation belt not in use any more, also this kind of raw material used will be in recycled use. If there is a frame structure surrounding the joined mat elements with an auxiliary bush device or the like, being added if desired, there will be achieved a really effective mat structure, by which also on sides of a footwear one may remove dirt or other equivalent material. The brush structure will make the cleaning of the mat more easier since one may catch the mat structure for lifting the mat for cleaning the lower portion and the under space of the mat. The invention will be described more in detail referring to the enclosed drawing, in which - Fig. 1 shows schematically an element of the mat structure according to the invention, - Fig. 2 shows schematically another embodiment of the invention including in the mat structure seen approximately from one end, - Fig. 3 shows schematically a placement figure, according to which mat elements will be set for manufacturing of a mat, - Fig. 4 shows schematically a pair of mat elements according to Fig. 2 seen from an end and - Fig. 5 shows a mat with an additional brush device set on a frame being sur- rounded to a frame of mat elements. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the reference numeral 1 shows a mat element with fixing apertures 2a and 2b and a number of crenellated or tooth like projections 3a, 3b, 3c and so on. The size and amount of projections may vary in large limits. For example in a mat element 1 with a length of 7 - 15 cm, there may be for example 3 - 12 pieces of projections 3a, 3b, 3c and so on, the upper portion of which may be slightly on much more broader than the lower portion. The thickness of mat element may be for example 2 - 10 mm, though the most effective cleaning result will be reached with mat elements wit the thickness of 3 - 7 mm, if the material is of fabric reinforced rubber. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a mat element 1 with projections 3a, 3b, 3c and so on being projecting to a side. This kind of embodiment will be achieved especially by selecting the raw material of the mat element 1 a used tire of a vehicle and by us- ing precisely the curve area between the wear area and the side of the tire of the vehicle. Fig. 3 shows a structure with mat elements 1 being fixed to each other for forming a mat. Mat elements la and lb form a pair as well as mat elements lc and Id and so on ever to the last pair lo and lp shown in Fig. 3. In practice, it is necessary to use in conventional applications several tens, even hundreds of mat elements. Wires, bars or the like structure parts keeping the mat together, being shown in Fig. 3 by reference numerals 4, 5 and 6, join the mat elements 1 to their places. In practice, wires, bars or the like mentioned will be needed in conventional applications several, even more than ten. The structure parts 4, 5 and 6, keeping the structure together, are made by bending or by some other manner, as for example by a locking piece made such that the mat elements may not come apart to a broader space in the longitudinal direction of the structure parts 4, 5 and 6. It is necessary to use a sufficiently big amount of pairs of mat elements la+lb, lc+ld and so on for achieving the size of the mat structure desired, for example approximately Vz m x I m, which is enough as a single mat to most needs and uses. It is usual that an efficient cleaning effect will be reached by a mat with size of approximately 0,4 m x 0,5 m. The total amount of mat elements 1 needed will, of course, depend on the fact, which size the mat elements have of their length. The structure shown will leave, however, empty spaces 7 and 8 in the mat structure in the gap areas of the mat elements 1, through which gap areas the material loosened from the footwear in cleaning may fall downwards. It is recommended that the height of the mat elements, that is, the thickness of the mat would be at least 3 cm, but preferably more, for example 4 - 6 cm, even still more. The thicker a mat is, the more there will be space in its lower portion for material loosened from footwear, so the cleaning interval will be increased. If the binding wires or bars 4, 5, 6 etc. keeping the mat elements 1 together, do not keep the mat elements 1 very tightly together, the material, loosened from footwear may go down also through the gap between pairs of mat elements la + lb etc. under the mat. Even for example a gap with a size of 1...2 mm allows dirt and sand or the like to go downwards, since the size of the gap will usually change once in a while bigger by the effect of the movement and the force caused by a footwear. Because the mat elements are of rubber, the gap may be in the center area of a mat element 1 easily become slightly bigger because of the flexibility of rubber. Fig. 4 shows as an end figure a pair of mat elements according to Fig. 2 with upper portions bending far from each other. Because of the weight of a persons foot, the sole of a footwear will bend the projections 3a' and 3a' ' still further from each other and so these projections will clean because of their movement the sole of a footwear especially effectively, even without special cleaning movements done by a footwear. It is of course clear that the actual cleaning movements done will further make more effective the cleaning of the sole of a footwear and even, with a remarkable amount. Fig. 5 shows in a framework 9 around a mat an auxiliary device 10 with a brash, in which device among other things the material being at the edges of the footwear may be cleaned. According to an advantageous embodiment, the frame 9 will be formed of a partial frame in which there are only on the opposite sides of a mat bar like members, which form advantageously in the walking direction to the front portion of the mat and, respectively, to the back portion of the mat a bar. The bar may be of metal but it may be of some other material, for example of hard rubber or it may be manufactured of transport belt material or the like. In this case, the fixing of the auxiliary device with a brash to the framework cannot be performed by the manner described above but the fixing of the auxiliary device must be solved in some other way as for example at the connection with a metal plate set under the mat nearby its end (not shown). It must be understood that mats according to the invention may be united to larger entities by setting several mats side by side and or one after to another. If some kind of framework 9 is used, the mat structures will be locked to each other, if it is seen necessary for example for securing the staying the mat entity at its place (not shown). The invention is not restricted to the embodiment illustrated but several modifications are feasible within the scope of the enclosed claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A mat for cleaning the soles of footwear comprising a number of mat elements being joined together by wires, bars or the like, characterized by that at least the upper portion of the mat elements, to which the soles of the footwear touch on stepping on the mat, has a form like a tooth or crenellated and that the mat elements are joined together only nearby their ends interlockedly. 2. A mat according to claim 1, characterized in that the mat elements are manufactured from at least somewhat flexible material, preferably mainly of rubber. 3. A mat according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper portion of the mat element is inclined referring to the vertical level. 4. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the lower portion of a mat element is being assembled to the mat at an essentially vertical level. 5. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mat elements are joined together interlockedly. 6. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the most outermost elements of the mat elements assembled near by each other, are assembled in such a way symmetrically in respect to each other that the upper portions of the mat elements being close to each other more far away than the lower portions. 7. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mat elements assembled close to each other, are situated into the mat in such a way that between the mat elements being inclined on their upper portions, will stay in the middle area a gap, into which at least a part of the dirt or the like being loosened from a footwear, will stay prior to its motion through the mat underneath the mat. 8. A mat according to claim 7, characterized in that as the raw material of the mat is used tires, being not any more in use in vehicles. 9. A mat according to claim 7, characterized in that as the raw material of the mat elements is used a transportation belt not in use any more. 10. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is a frame structure surrounding the joined mat elements with an auxiliary bush device or the like, being added if desired. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 11 January 2002 (11.01.02); original claims 1-10 replaced by amended claims 1-9 (1 page)] 1. A mat for cleaning the soles of footwear comprising a number of mat elements being joined together by wires, bars or the like, and at least the upper portion of the mat elements, to which the soles of the footwear touch on stepping on the mat, having a form like a tooth or crenellated and the mat elements being joined together only nearby their ends interlockedly, characterized in that the upper portion of the mat element is inclined referring to the vertical level, 2. A mat according to claim 1, characterized in that the mat elements are manufactured from at least somewhat flexible material, preferably mainly of rubber. 3. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the lower portion of a mat element is being assembled to the mat at an essentially vertical level. 4. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mat elements are joined together interlockedly. 5. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the most outermost elements of the mat elements assembled near by each other, are assembled in such a way symmetrically in respect to each other that the upper portions of the mat elements being close to each other more far away than the lower portions. 6. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mat elements assembled close to each other, are situated into the mat in such a way that between the mat elements being inclined on their upper portions, will stay in the middle area a gap, into which at least a part of the dirt or the like being loosened from a footwear, will stay prior to its motion through the mat underneath the mat 7. A mat according to claim 7, characterized in that as the raw material of the mat is used tires, being not any more in use in vehicles. 8. A mat according to claim 7, characterized in that as the raw material of the mat elements is used a transportation belt not in use any more. 9. A mat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is a frame structure surrounding the joined mat elements with an auxiliary brush device or the like, being added if desired. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 According to our opinion, publications F 654,932 and FR 669.319 were relatively close to the original independent claim 1 of our invention, the rest publications shown were not very close to our invention, Therefore, the characterizing portion of claim 1 has now the feature taken from claim 3 and therefore the claim set is now from 1 to 9. We also found a typing error in claim 10. There in no auxiliary ush device but an auxiliary brush device. In Finnish brush is "harja", a cleaning device but __ in a small tree, "pensas". It is now correct on page 7a. No other changes were made.

Inventors: SAVILAAKSO PEKKA, SAVILAAKSO, PEKKA
Applicants: SAVILAAKSO PEKKA, SAVILAAKSO, PEKKA
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A47L23
IPC codes: A47L23