Patent Publication Number: US-2005121449-A1

Title: Portable chemical spill control device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/502,997, filed Sep. 15, 2003, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. ______, filed Sep. 13, 2004 and entitled “Portable Chemical Spill Control Device.” 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not applicable  
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
      Not applicable  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to portable chemical spill control devices in the form of a foldable mat that can be positioned under a selected vehicle such as a truck, van, forklift or the like. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved foldable portable chemical spill control device that features a central absorbent cushion having an extended position periphery that contains a spring (preferably a spring steel rod) wherein the spring steel rod enables the device to be folded into a smaller package that is defined by multiple circular wraps of the spring steel rods.  
      2. General Background of the Invention  
      Many vehicles carry fluid that can inadvertently leak with the vehicle is parked. Common examples include trucks, vans, automobiles, motorcycles, forklifts, construction equipment, earth movers and other equipment. Such devices can leak materials that are hazardous to the environment such as oil, gasoline, power steering fluid, grease, gear oil, brake fluid and the like.  
      Patents have been issued for spill control devices in the form of a mat that can be positioned under a selected vehicle, truck, van, forklift or the like.  
      Examples of such patents are listed in the following table:  
                                       PATENT NUMBER   TITLE   ISSUE DATE                  3,722,626   CAR PORT OIL DRIP   Mar. 27, 1973           MAT       4,801,005   OIL DRIPPING   Jan. 31, 1989           ABSORPTION AND           CONTAINMENT KIT       5,080,956   OIL ABSORBENT MAT   Jan. 14, 1992           WITH SPILL           CHANNELING MEANS       5,597,418   METHOD OF MAKING   Jan. 28, 1997           FOLDABLE MAT FOR           ABSORBING LIQUIDS       5,834,104   FLUID ABSORPTION MAT   Nov. 10, 1998       RE37,295 E   WATER AND/OR OIL   Jul. 24, 2001           IMPERMEABLE SEALING           MAT CONSISTING           SUBSTANTIALLY OF A           SUBSTRATE LAYER, A           LAYER OF SWELLABLE           CLAY AND A COVER           LAYER       6,439,492   VEHICULAR FLUID   Aug. 27, 2002           ABSORBENT PAD       6,451,405   OIL TARP ASSEMBLY   Sep. 17, 2002           FOR HEAVY MACHINERY       6,475,594   SORBENT MAT ASSEMBLY   Nov. 5, 2002                  
 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an improved portable chemical spill control device that includes an expansive sheet of material having upper and lower surfaces and a periphery. The sheet of material is resistant to chemical fluid attack so that spills deposited upon the surface are contained on the upper surface. The sheet of material can be of multiple layers, preferably an absorbent layer and a fluid impervious layer (such layers are commercially available, for example from Dupont).  
      A peripheral bead can include a foldable portion that extends around the expansive sheet of material at its periphery, the bead including an elongated tensile member and a portion (e.g. folder portion) that holds or contains the elongated tensile member.  
      A connection joins the peripheral bead to the expansive sheet of material in a configuration that can envelop the tensile member with the foldable portion.  
      The elongated tensile member can be moved between open and folded positions, wherein the tensile member subjects the expansive sheet of material to tension in the open position and maximizes its circumference. In the folded position, the tensile member can be folded to provide multiple loops. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective, partially cut away view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken alone lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a cross section edge detail;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;  
      FIGS.  5  is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and  
       FIGS. 6-9  are sequential views illustrating a folding detail for the apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIGS. 1-5  show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 . Spill control apparatus  10  is shown in  FIG. 4  being positioned under a motor vehicle  11 . In  FIG. 5  it is shown positioned under a forklift  12 . The apparatus  10  of the present invention can be used to contain hazardous fluids that may leak or drip from any other vehicle such as a truck, van, ambulance or other emergency, work, passenger, or rescue vehicle.  
      The apparatus  10  includes a layered center  13  surrounded by edging material  15 . The layered center  13  is comprised of a porous, absorbent layer  14   a  and a fluid impervious layer  14   b . The absorbent material  14   a  is preferably a sheet of material that absorbs substances that fall upon its upper surface  28 . Examples of suitable absorbent material are polypropylene and polypropylene-universal. The layer  14   a  can be any material that can absorb and hold fluids that typically drip or leak from a motor vehicle. Other examples include an absorbent polymeric material, one or more layers of a fabric material that is not flammable, or any other material that will safely absorb and hold fluids such as gasoline, motor oil, transmission oil, gear oil or any fluid used in a motor vehicle. The layer  14   b  is preferably a liquid impervious layer that is substantially impervious to the fluids that typically drip or leak from a motor vehicle, such as for example, a several mil thick polymeric layer (for example, a polypropylene layer).  
      Edging material  15  envelops spring steel rod or strip  16 . Rod  16  can be an elongated rod that is joined at joint  17  using butt connector  19  (see  FIG. 3 ). Butt connector  19  can be provided with sockets  20  that receive an end portion of spring steel rod  16  in each of the sockets  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Stitching  18  can be used to attach edging material  15  to layered center  13  while enveloping spring steel rod  16  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . A space  26  is surrounded by edging material  15  and stitching  18 . Rod or strip  16  occupies a part of space  26 . Stitching  18  extends through both layers  14   a ,  14   b  and a pair of opposed flaps  35 ,  36  of edging material  15  (see  FIG. 2 ).  
      In  FIG. 1 , an expanded position of the apparatus  10  is shown wherein the layered center  13  is at its maximum length  29  and maximum width  30 . In  FIG. 1 , the numeral  22  indicates schematically the extended periphery of spill control apparatus  10 . One or more lanyards  21  can be attached to edging material  15  for enabling a user to withdraw spill control apparatus  10  from its operating position under a vehicle  11  or  12 .  
       FIGS. 6-9  show a folding detail for folding apparatus  10  beginning at the extended or expanded position in  FIG. 6  and continuing until a folded position of  FIGS. 8-9  is achieved having folded diameter  27  and folded outer periphery  31 . In order to fold the apparatus, the end portion  32  is rotated relative to the end portion  33  as indicated by the arrow  23  in  FIG. 6 . End portions  32 ,  33  are then folded upon one another as shown in  FIGS. 7-8  and as indicated by arrow  24 . In  FIG. 8 , arrow  25  indicates that the apparatus  10  with end portions  32 ,  33  folded upon one another can be stored in bag  34 . The finished folded rounded shape is comprised of a plurality of loops of spring steel rod or strip  16  as shown in  FIGS. 8-9  having a periphery  31 , of reduced diameter  27 .  
     Parts List:  
      The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:  
      Parts Number Description 
           10  spill control apparatus      11  vehicle      12  forklift      13  layered center      14   a  layer      14   b  layer      15  edging material      16  spring steel rod      17  joint      18  stitching      19  butt connector      20  socket      21  lanyard      22  periphery extended      23  arrow      24  arrow      25  arrow      26  space      27  folded diameter      28  upper surface      29  length      30  width      31  periphery      32  end      33  end      34  storage bag      35  flap      36  flap        

      The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.