Abstract:
A floor mat system for placement directly near an entryway to permit the disinfecting and cleaning of shoe soles and all other surfaces contacting directly with the fibers of the mat. The floor mat system consists of a frame structure either mechanical or rubberized in construction. The top portion being of a carpet type fiber construction, with a hollow center portion and rubberized non-skid backing against the floor and sides. The hollow center portion of the system may be enclosed and a microbicidal component introduced to the carpet fiber portion in a capillary action.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/214,394 filed Aug. 7, 2002, which claims the priority of Application No. 60/311,001 filed on Aug. 8, 2001. 
     
    
     BACKGROUN OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to cleaning, and more particularly to the disinfecting of ground contacting surfaces such as feet, shoe soles, wheels, and the like.  
         [0003]     Floor mats have long been used to clean the soles of a person&#39;s feet or shoes before entering a building or room. Typically these mats are placed on the ground in front of doors and entryways. These mats are often made of abrasive materials to promote the removal of debris when someone wipes his or her feet across the surface of the mat.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a floor mat system for placement near an entryway to permit the disinfecting and cleaning of shoe soles and all other surfaces contacting directly with the fibers of the mat. The floor mat system includes a frame having a top portion being of a carpet type fiber construction, a hollow center portion, a floor portion, and sidewalls. The hollow center portion contains a microbicidal component such that the component may be communicated to the top portion of the mat.  
         [0005]     The hollow center portion of the system may be completely enclosed and a microbicidal component may be introduced to the carpet fiber portion by capillary action. Alternatively, a separate enclosed package containing the microbicidal component may be used such that the liquid is introduced to the carpet fiber portion in a pressure action through spray heads that may be activated by weight on the top carpet layer. The floor mat system may also be integrated into other floor or carpet. The floor mat system may also include a moisture absorbing component, a cushioning component, customized graphics, anti-fungal composition, or a fragrance. Anti-slip features may be associated with the top surface of the mat to prevent a person or animal from slipping on the mat. Anti-slip features may also be associated with the bottom and side surfaces of the mat to prevent the mat itself from slipping along the floor or ground. Additionally, a sensor may be included in the floor mat to indicate that the floor mat system may require refill of the microbicidal component.  
         [0006]     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the anti-microbial mat of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the anti-microbial mat of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the anti-microbial mat shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the anti-microbial mat shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the anti-microbial mat of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the anti-microbial mat of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0013]     Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an anti-microbial floor mat  10  of the present invention. The mat  10  includes a frame  12 , a membrane  14  configured to contain a cleaning solutions such as, for example, an anti-microbial liquid, a mesh backing  18 , and an absorbent carpet fiber portion  22 . The frame  12  is configured to support the membrane  14  such that the membrane  14  generally conforms to the shape of the frame  12 . The frame  12  may be of any suitable construction that will rigidly support the membrane  14  and other components of the mat  10 . The membrane  14  includes an upper surface  26  having a plurality of sprayheads  30  defined therein. The sprayheads  30  are characterized by a plurality of holes  34  in the upper surface  26  of the membrane  14 . The sprayheads  30  may be arranged into rows and columns extending between the edges of the upper surface  26  or may be randomly spaced along the upper surface  26 . The mesh backing  18  is coupled to the upper surface  26  of the membrane  14  and provides a fluid permeable layer between the sprayheads  30  and the carpet fiber portion  22 . The carpet fiber portion  22  includes a plurality of individual carpet fibers  24  coupled to the mesh backing  18 . Both the mesh backing  18  and the carpet fiber portion  22  extend across substantially the entire length and width of the frame  12  to cover the membrane  14  and form a single, continuous mat  10 .  
         [0015]     When an object (e.g. the foot of a person or animal) is placed onto the anti-microbial mat  10  including the membrane  14  filled with anti-microbial fluid, the weight of the object on the mat  10  causes the internal pressure in the membrane  14  to increase. The increase in pressure causes the anti-microbial liquid to be expelled from the membrane  14  through the sprayheads  30  in the upper surface  16 . The liquid flows through the mesh backing  18  and is absorbed by the carpet fiber portion  22 . The liquid is absorbed by the fibers  24  of the carpet fiber portion  22  and the upper surface of the carpet fiber portion  22  becomes moist with anti-microbial liquid. As the object moves across the anti-microbial mat  10 , anti-microbial liquid is transferred from the fibers  24  of the carpet fiber portion  22  to surfaces of the object that contact the mat  10 .  
         [0016]     Referring now also to  FIGS. 2-4 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The mat  38  includes a substantially rigid frame  42 , a sprayhead layer  46 , and a carpet fiber portion  50  including an integral mesh backing  54 . The base  42  includes a recessed area  58  configured to receive a disposable anti-microbial liquid-containing cartridge  62  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). The base  42  may also include a cartridge opening  60  defined in a side of the base  42  to facilitate the insertion and removal of the cartridge  62 . The sprayhead layer  46  includes a plurality of sprayheads  64  (not shown but similar to sprayheads  30 ) configured to puncture the cartridge  62  and provide fluid communication between the cartridge  62  and the carpet fiber portion  50 . The carpet fiber portion  50  and mesh backing  54  are of similar construction as the portion  22  and backing  18 .  
         [0017]     When an object (e.g. the foot of a person or animal) is placed onto the anti-microbial mat  38 , the weight of the object forces the sprayhead layer  46  against the cartridge  62 , thereby puncturing the cartridge. The weight of the object also increases the internal pressure in the cartridge  62  such that the anti-microbial liquid is expelled from the cartridge  62 . The liquid flows through the sprayhead layer  46  and mesh backing  54  and is absorbed by the carpet fiber portion  50 . The liquid is absorbed by the fibers of the carpet fiber portion  50  and the upper surface of the carpet fiber portion  50  becomes moist with anti-microbial liquid. As the object moves across the anti-microbial mat  10 , anti-microbial liquid is transferred from the fibers to surfaces of the object that contact the mat  10 . When all of the anti-microbial liquid has been expelled from the cartridge  62 , the spent cartridge  62  is removed from the base  42  and discarded. A new cartridge  62  is then inserted into the recessed area  58  of the base. In alternative embodiments, the cartridge  62  may take on the form of an anti-microbial liquid containing tray. In this form, the sprayhead layer  46  construction may be simplified due to the fact that it is no longer necessary to puncture the cartridge  62 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein the mat  66  takes on a “one-piece” construction and includes a substantially rigid base  70  that defines an anti-microbial liquid containing chamber  74 . The base  70  includes an upper wall  78 , sidewalls  80 , and a lower wall  82 . One sidewall  80  includes an aperture  86  defined therein communicating with the chamber  74 . The aperture  86  is configured to allow anti-microbial liquid to be injected or otherwise introduced into the chamber  74  as required while maintaining a substantially fluid tight seal when liquid is not being introduced into the chamber  74 . A carpet fiber portion  90  including an integral mesh backing  94  are placed in a recess  98  defined in the upper wall  78 . The lower wall  82  may include a plurality of ribs  100  to structurally stiffen the base  70 .  
         [0019]     The carpet fiber portion  90  includes a plurality of carpet fibers  102 . The carpet fibers  102  are arranged into a U-shape and include a fixed end  106  and a free end  110 . The fixed end  110  is generally fixed to the mesh backing  94 . The upper wall  78  includes a fluid conducting layer  112  that allows fluid to pass from the chamber  74  to the recess  98  where it may be absorbed by the carpet fiber portion  90  and conveyed to the free ends  110  of the carpet fibers by capillary action. The recess  98  and upper wall are  78  are configured such that the fixed ends  106  of the carpet fibers  102  are submerged in fluid when the chamber  74  is full. As such, the free ends  110  of the carpet fiber portion  90  are substantially continuously moist with anti-microbial fluid.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the present invention similar to that shown in  FIG. 5 . The mat  114  shown in  FIG. 6  eliminates the mesh backing and the fluid-conducting layer. The mat  114  also includes a base  118  having an upper wall  122 , a lower wall  126 , and sidewalls  130  defining a chamber  132 . Carpet fibers  134  of the mat  114  are coupled directly to the upper wall  122  such that fixed ends  138  of the fibers  134  extend below the upper wall  122  and free ends  142  of the fibers  134  extend above the upper wall  122 . Similar to the mat  66  of  FIG. 5 , the fixed ends  138  are submerged in fluid when the chamber  132  is full such that the free ends  142  are continually moist due to capillary action within the carpet fibers  134 . The mat  114  also includes an aperture  146  defined in one of the sidewalls  130 , similar to the aperture  86 , for introducing anti-microbial fluid into the chamber  132 .  
         [0021]     Although several specific embodiments of the invention are described above and illustrated in the figures, the invention is capable of being practiced in a variety of ways. Generally, the mat includes anti-microbial liquid that is contained within a chamber and is fluidly communicated with an absorbent upper surface. The liquid is then transferred to the soles of a persons feet, shoes, or to other objects that come into contact with the mat. The mat is reusable and refillable, either directly or by the insertion of anti-microbial containing cartridges or containers.  
         [0022]     Each above described embodiment may also include anti-skid construction on the side walls and lower walls to prevent excessive movement of the mat on the floor as well as anti-skid construction on the carpet portions to prevent a person from slipping on the mat. The embodiments may also each be integrally constructed with other portions of flooring or carpet surfaces. Cushioning material may also be utilized in each embodiment to provide a more comfortable surface upon which a person or animal may step. Each embodiment may also include anti-fungal liquid in replacement of or in combination with the anti-bacterial liquid, as well as a moisture absorbing portion of the mat for removing excess liquid transferred to the objects which previously came into contact with the carpet fiber portions. Each embodiment may include a viewing port or other sensor device to indicate when the chamber needs to be re-filled or when a cartridge needs to be replaced. Customized graphics may be applied to the mat to improve aesthetic appearance and various fragrances may also be used in conjunction with the other microbicidal components. Additionally, various aspects of each embodiment may be combined or interchanged with aspects found in other embodiments of the invention.  
         [0023]     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.