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Publication Number
US-9321242-B1
Publication Date
2016-04-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Fluids are handled with a discardable floormat stacked with an absorbent sheet that extends beyond the floormat. The floormat is compressible and resilient, and may be a single or multiple sections. Atop the floormat are trip-avoiding channels feeding a gutter on a side whose height equals or exceeds the opposite side. The floormat has a border region, and a greater central region that is flat except for the channels. The border region has a height not exceeding that of the gutter, which has a draining outlet. In some cases the gutter is mostly free to fill fully and form a single exposed stream. In other cases, tubing occupies most of the gutter length, and has some intake apertures. Fluid entering the tubing can be sucked out, while fluid arriving at the absorbent sheet will be absorbed.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a device for handling fluids that includes a disposable, compressible and resilient floormat with opposing pair of surfaces, including a topside and an underside. The topside has a central region and a border region, where the central region occupies most of the topside and is substantially flat throughout except for channels. The border region lies along a plurality of edges and encircles the central region while having a height no greater than that of at least one gutter.
The topside includes a spaced plurality of channels that feed at least one gutter on a side of the gutter, and the channels are sized to avoid a risk of tripping. The gutter runs alongside a first one of the plurality of edges and has at least one outlet for draining fluid from the gutter. Portions of the border region spaced from the first one of the plurality of edges have an outwardly tapered perimeter, and the geometry supports draining away from the central flat region.
Further refinements include a largely unobstructed gutter region that enables a single exposed fluid stream, and drainage structures that include optional drainage tubing and/or perforated intake apertures cooperating with suction. The disclosed arrangements also include porous sleeves for debris filtration and noise suppression associated with suction-related components, while maintaining an absorbent-sheet layer structure that can extend peripherally beyond the floormat with specified face and impermeable/surface properties.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is clm-00001. It contains multiple inventive features that define the floormat geometry, the trip-avoiding channel sizing, the height-controlled border and gutter arrangement, and the gutter outlet-based fluid draining configuration, with dependent claim refinements adding specific drainage/collection and absorbent-sheet layering.
Trip-avoiding floormat channel-to-gutter geometry
A floormat formed, at least in part, of compressible and resilient material, with a topside having a spaced plurality of channels feeding at least one gutter, the channels being sized to avoid a risk of tripping, and the topside having a central region and a border region with the central region substantially flat throughout except for the channels.
Height-controlled border region encircling central region with tapered perimeter
A border region occupying a plurality of edges that encircles the central region, the border region having a height no greater than that of the at least one gutter, and portions of the border region spaced from a first edge having an outwardly tapered perimeter.
Side gutter with outlet for draining fluids
At least one gutter alongside a first one of the plurality of edges having at least one outlet for draining fluid from the gutter, with channels feeding the gutter on a side of the gutter.
Absorbent sheet stacked to extend peripherally beyond the floormat
An absorbent sheet attached to one of the opposing surfaces of the floormat, with at least part of the absorbent sheet stacked such that it extends peripherally beyond the floormat.
Overall, claim coverage centers on a compressible and resilient floormat with a substantially flat central region, trip-avoiding channels feeding a side gutter, a border region whose height is controlled relative to the gutter and includes an outwardly tapered perimeter, and gutter outlet(s) for draining. Additional coverage includes an absorbent sheet layer structure that can extend peripherally beyond the floormat.
Stated Advantages
Reduced slipping risk.
Reduced contamination exposure and reduced cleaning time.
Improved comfort and anti-fatigue.
Discardability for biohazard handling.
Documented Applications
Handling fluids in medical and biohazard waste contexts, including use cases where discardability for biohazard handling is relevant.
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