IMPROVED FLOOR MAT AND METHODS FOR USING SAME

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to improved floor mats, apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods for cleaning and/or capturing dirt and microbes from various surfaces and articles, for example, footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Currently, people use carpeted, woven, and/or rubber floor mats to wipe footwear when entering a building since footwear can track countless germs, mold, dirt, and microbes into an individual's home, office, or dwelling. Thus, the conventional strategy is to use a floor or door mat to wipe off the bottom of an individual's footwear prior to entering a dwelling. However, currently available floor mats leave lots of dirt and potential germs on the bottom of footwear, and, depending on how dirty the floor mats are, can actually make footwear dirtier than before being introduced to the floor mat. In the current world environment where we are all more aware of germs such as COVID-19, it is even more important to help families stay healthier by taking measures to bring in less germs and dirt into their homes that can cause illness. Further, high traffic businesses want to give their customers peace of mind that they are taking extra precautions to keep store floors cleaner, particularly in case you potentially drop keys, phone, or other items on the floor while shopping.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improved floor mats, devices, systems and methods for securely capturing and containing dirt and microbes from footwear, such as prior to entering a dwelling. Further, it would be advantageous for the improved floor mat have disposable sheets to securely capture dirt and germs and to have minimal opportunity for contamination when discarding the sheet. This need and other needs are satisfied by the various aspects of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with the purposes of the disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to an improved floor mat and peelable sheet, device, system and method for safely capturing and contain dirt and microbes from various surfaces and articles, for example, the bottom of footwear. In further aspects, the present disclosure relates to a floor mat system and method of capturing and removing dirt and microbes from footwear configured such that it captures and removes dirt, debris and microbes from the surface of an article of footwear while a user is standing on a peelable adhesive sheet in the floor mat. The peelable adhesive sheet can be folded together to securely contain the removed dirt, debris, and microbes within the sheet before discarding.

In another exemplary aspect, the disclosure relates to a floor mat apparatus, system and method of sanitizing objects, such as footwear, configured such that it utilizes a sanitizing agent to clean and sanitize a surface, such as the underside of an article of footwear while a user is standing on a peelable adhesive sheet of the floor mat. The peelable adhesive sheet containing the sanitizing agent can be folded together to securely contain the removed dirt, debris, and microbes within the sheet and discarded.

In further aspects, the disclosed floor mats, apparatuses, devices, and systems may comprise a display area configured to display a design, illustration, logo, picture or the like, for example, visible through the peelable sheets.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a floor mat system including a mat base including a recessed portion configured to replaceably receive a pad of adhesive sheets and a border surrounding the recessed portion, the border being configured to protect edges of the adhesive sheets from wear. In some aspects, the floor mat system further includes the pad of adhesive sheets, each of the adhesive sheets including an adhesive first surface and an opposed non-adhesive second surface. In some aspects, each of the adhesive sheets further includes a first tab located at a first corner of the adhesive sheet, a second tab located at a second corner of the adhesive sheet, the second corner being diagonally opposed to the first corner. The first and second tabs may be effective to allow the first and second opposed corners of the adhesive sheet to be simultaneously peeled away from an adjacent or lower sheet of the pad of adhesive sheets.

In some aspects, the recessed portion may be shaped and dimensioned slightly larger or substantially identical to the shape and dimensions of the pad. Embodiments may also include recessed portion having a shallow, hollow structure sized to contain the pad disposed therein. In some aspects, the recessed portion may be defined by raised walls on a surface of the mat base.

In some aspects, the first and second opposed corners of the recessed portion each may include a notch configured to allow a user to lift up the adhesive sheet using the first and second tabs of the adhesive sheet. The first and second tabs of the adhesive sheet may be disposed within the first and second corners of the recessed portion, respectively.

In some aspects, each of the adhesive sheets may include a third tab located at a third corner of the adhesive sheet and a fourth tab located at a fourth corner of the adhesive sheet, the fourth corner being diagonally opposed to the third corner. The first, second, third, and fourth corners of the recessed portion each may include a notch configured to allow a user to lift up the adhesive sheet using the first, second, third, and fourth tabs of the adhesive sheet, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth tabs of the adhesive sheet may be disposed within the first, second, third, and fourth corners of the recessed portion, respectively.

In some aspects, a bottom surface of the recessed portion may include a display area configured to display a design, illustration, logo, picture or the like. In still further aspects, the display area may include an electronic or illuminated display. In other aspects, the system may include a decorative pad configured to sit within the recessed portion, below the pad of adhesive sheets.

In some aspects, the mat base may include a weight and mass effective to maintain the mat base position on the floor surface when stepped on by a user. In some aspects, the mat base may include a non-slip surface treatment on a bottom surface of the mat base, the non-slip surface treatment being effective to maintain the mat base position on the floor surface when stepped on by a user.

In some aspects, the mat base may include plastic, metal, plastic composites, and combinations thereof. In still further aspects, each of the adhesive sheets may be recyclable and/or may include a sanitizing agent. In some aspects, the pad may include between 15 and 60 adhesive sheets. In still further aspects, each of the adhesive sheets may have a number thereon, the numbers ranging from high to low from a top adhesive sheet to a bottom adhesive sheet and being effective to inform the user when they may be getting low on layers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may also include a method for capturing and collecting debris and microbes from footwear, the method including the steps of inserting a pad of adhesive sheets in a recessed portion of a mat base, each adhesive sheet having an adhesive first surface, an opposed non-adhesive second surface, and at least a first and a second tab located at diagonally opposed corners of the sheet effective to allow both corners of a top sheet to be simultaneously peeled away from an adjacent or lower sheet of the pad of adhesive sheets.

In some aspects, the method may also include stepping on or placing an article of footwear onto a top adhesive sheet of the pad, thereby capturing debris and microbes using the adhesive first surface of the top adhesive sheet. Embodiments may also include simultaneously pulling the first and second tabs up and folding the top adhesive sheet together, thereby securely collecting the debris and microbes within the top adhesive sheet.

In some aspects of the method, the pad of adhesive sheets may have an alternating sheet configuration including a first sheet having a first tab and a second tab located at a first corner and a second diagonally opposed corner, and a subsequent (i.e., lower) or adjacent sheet having a third tab located at a third corner and a fourth tab located at a diagonally opposed fourth corner of the subsequent sheet. In still further aspects of the method, the mat base may include notches in corners of the mat base that allow the user to access at least one of the first tab and the second tab to peel off the adhesive sheet.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practice of the disclosure. The advantages of the disclosure will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of an example embodiment of a floor mat system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of another example embodiment of a floor mat system;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base mat of a floor mat system as described herein;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the base mat of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another example embodiment of a base mat of a floor mat system as described herein;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective, partial views of example embodiments of base mats of floor mat systems as described herein;

FIGS. 7a and 7b are partial perspective views of base mats of floor mat systems as described herein;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bottom of a base mat of a floor mat system as described herein;

FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view of a modular floor mat system as described herein; and

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method of capturing dirt and microbes using a floor mat system as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure and the examples included therein.

Before the present articles, systems, devices, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that they are not limited to specific manufacturing methods unless otherwise specified, or to particular materials unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present disclosure, example methods and materials are now described.

All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.

Definitions

It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” can include the aspects “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. In this specification and in the claims, which follow, reference will be made to a number of terms which shall be defined herein.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an opening” can include two or more openings.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from one particular value, and/or to another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent ‘about,’ it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. It is also understood that there are a number of values disclosed herein, and that each value is also herein disclosed as “about” that particular value in addition to the value itself. For example, if the value “10” is disclosed, then “about 10” is also disclosed. It is also understood that each unit between two particular units are also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

As used herein, the terms “about” and “at or about” mean that the amount or value in question can be the value designated some other value approximately or about the same. It is generally understood, as used herein, that it is the nominal value indicated ±10% variation unless otherwise indicated or inferred. The term is intended to convey that similar values promote equivalent results or effects recited in the claims. That is, it is understood that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but can be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art. In general, an amount, size, formulation, parameter or other quantity or characteristic is “about” or “approximate” whether or not expressly stated to be such. It is understood that where “about” is used before a quantitative value, the parameter also includes the specific quantitative value itself, unless specifically stated otherwise.

The terms “first,” “second,” “first part,” “second part,” and the like, where used herein, do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, and are used to distinguish one element from another, unless specifically stated otherwise.

As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. For example, the phrase “optionally affixed to the surface” means that it can or cannot be fixed to a surface.

Moreover, it is to be understood that unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; and the number or type of aspects described in the specification.

Disclosed are the components to be used to manufacture the disclosed devices, systems, and articles of the disclosure as well as the devices themselves to be used within the methods disclosed herein. These and other materials are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these materials are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutation of these materials cannot be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. For example, if a particular material is disclosed and discussed and a number of modifications that can be made to the materials are discussed, specifically contemplated is each and every combination and permutation of the material and the modifications that are possible unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Thus, if a class of materials A, B, and C are disclosed as well as a class of materials D, E, and F and an example of a combination material, A-D is disclosed, then even if each is not individually recited each is individually and collectively contemplated meaning combinations, A-E, A-F, B-D, B-E, B-F, C-D, C-E, and C-F are considered disclosed. Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also disclosed. Thus, for example, the sub-group of A-E, B-F, and C-E would be considered disclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of this application including, but not limited to, steps in methods of making and using the articles and devices of the disclosure. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific aspect or combination of aspects of the methods of the disclosure.

It is understood that the devices and systems disclosed herein have certain functions. Disclosed herein are certain structural requirements for performing the disclosed functions, and it is understood that there are a variety of structures that can perform the same function that are related to the disclosed structures, and that these structures will typically achieve the same result.

Floor Mat, Device and System Overview

As briefly described above, the present disclosure relates, in various aspects, to a floor mat, device, system (which may also collectively herein be referred to as the “platform”) and method of capturing and contain dirt and microbes, such as, for example, from the underside of an article of footwear, when a user stands on peelable, adhesive sheets contained in the floor mat.

In an illustrative aspect, the disclosure relates to a floor mat system comprising a mat base including a recessed portion configured to removably receive a pad of peelable sheets or layers; and the pad being configured to be inserted in the recessed portion. In further aspects, each sheet of the pad may have an adhesive first surface and an opposed non-adhesive second surface. In still further aspects, each sheet may have a first and a second tab located at opposed corners of the sheet, effective to allow both edges of an uppermost or top sheet to be simultaneously peeled away from an adjacent or lower sheet. In some aspects, the recessed portion may comprise a display area configured to display a design, illustration, logo, picture or the like. In other aspects, each sheet may further comprise a sanitizing agent configures to sanitize or disinfect microbes.

Floor Mat and System Configuration

According to various aspects of the invention, the floor mats, devices and systems of the present disclosure can comprise multiple configurations. FIGS. 1-10 illustrate non-limiting examples of embodiments of operating environments, mechanisms, and components for the disclosed floor mats, devices and systems. Although the operating environments, mechanisms, and components are disclosed with specific functionality, it should be understood that functionality may be shared between mechanisms and/or components, with some functions split between mechanisms and/or components, while other functions duplicated by the mechanisms and/or components. Furthermore, the name of the mechanisms and/or components should not be construed as limiting upon the functionality of the mechanisms and/or components. Moreover, each stage in the claim language can be considered independently without the context of the other stages. Each stage may contain language defined in other portions of this specifications. Each stage disclosed for one mechanism and/or component may be mixed with the operational stages of another mechanism and/or component. Each stage can be claimed on its own and/or interchangeably with other stages of other mechanisms and/or components.

In one aspect, FIGS. 1-9 depict various views floor mat systems in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. An example the floor mat system 10, illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a mat base 100 and a replaceable pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210 that are configured to remove dirt, debris, and/or microbes from an object, such as footwear, that is temporarily placed thereon. The mat base 100 may have a recessed portion 120 configured to receive the pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210 and/or a border 130 surrounding the recessed portion 120, which may protect edges of the adhesive sheets 210 from wear. In some aspects, the mat base 100 may have sufficient weight such that when the adhesive sheets 210 are stepped on and/or removed, the floor mat system 10 does not rise off the floor. The recessed portion 120 may include a display area that can be customized with an aesthetically pleasing design, which, in some aspects, may be visible through the adhesive sheets 200. Once a first adhesive sheet 210 has been sufficiently sullied, it can be removed to reveal a second, or subsequent, adhesive sheet 210 below it. To assist with removal of the adhesive sheets 210, one or more notches 140 may be formed in corners of the mat border 130 to facilitate gripping of one or more tabs on the corners of the sheets 210. In some aspects, the adhesive sheets 210 have a double tabbed configuration that provides an easier method for maintaining a clean floor mat or entry area may reduce the amount of dust and germs that get brought into the building.

The mat base 100 or casing may be generally configured for housing or otherwise containing the replaceable pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210 within the recessed portion 120. The mat base 100 and the recessed portion 120 may have any shape or size, and preferably shapes and sizes conforming to most feet. By way of non-limiting example, a width and/or a length of the mat base 100 may be at least about 16 inches. In some aspects, various areas of the mat base 100, such as the recessed portion 120, may be flat, substantially flat or only slightly convex so to conform to footwear and feet to which it may be in contact with, while other areas, such as the border 130 of the mat base 100 may be tapered or sloped away from the recessed portion such that the border 130 directs water or debris away from the recessed portion.

In further aspects, the mat base 100 and recessed portion 120 may be a different shape or the same shape, and preferably both the mat base 100 and the recessed portion 120 are in the shape of a polygon. Any other shape (as used herein, the term shape is also used in the broad sense of three-dimensional works) may be employed, so long as the shape is large enough and structured so as to be able to contain the various working components of the invention as more fully disclosed herein. In some aspects, the recessed portion 120 may be a generally hollow open volume structure sized to contain the pad 200 of sheets 210. In yet further aspects, the pad 200 of sheets 210 may be housed within the recessed portion 120 such that the sheets 210 are protected from, for example, inadvertent damage or the environmental elements and/or foot traffic. In even further aspects, the mat base 100 may be comprised of plastic, plastic composite, reinforced plastic, metal, metal composite, wood or combinations thereof. In still further aspects, the plastic may comprise rubber, polypropylene, impact resistant plastic, or the like.

In further aspects, the recessed portion 120 may be located within the outermost edges of the mat base 100. The recessed portion 120 may be shaped and dimensioned slightly larger or substantially identical to the shape and dimensions of the pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210. In some aspects, the recessed portion 120 may have a length, width, and/or depth that is slightly larger or substantially identical to a length, width, and/or depth of the pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210. In other aspects, the dimensions may be identical, where flex in the material of the mat base 100 allows a friction fit installation of the pad 200 of sheets 210 within the recessed portion 120. As used herein, the term “substantially identical” is defined to mean having dimensions so similar that they cannot be perceived with the naked eye.

In various aspects, the recessed portion 120 may comprise a shallow, hollow structure sized to contain the pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210 disposed therein, such as a shallow open container having an interior volume. In some aspects, the recessed portion 120 may be formed from or defined by raised walls 150 on a surface of the mat base 100. The raised walls 150 may define the recessed portion 120. As illustrated herein, the recessed portion 120 comprises a rectangular shape, where straight-line segments of the rectangle connect to form at least four corners. The recessed portion 120 may be a tetragon, pentagon, or hexagon. In some aspects the recessed portion 120 comprises a square.

In various further aspects, the floor mat system 10 comprises the pad 200 comprising a plurality of peelable sheets or layers 210. The pad 200 of sheets 210 may be replaceable, and configured to be removably inserted in the recessed portion 120. The pad 200 of sheets 210 may comprise from greater that 2 sheets or layers to about 100 sheets or layers, for example, from about 15 sheets or layers to about 60 sheets or layers. In further aspects, the pad 200 of sheets 210 may be shaped and dimensioned slightly smaller, identical, or substantially identical to the shape and dimensions of the recessed portion 120. The pad 200 of sheets 210 may have a length, width, and/or depth that is slightly smaller, identical, or substantially identical to a length, width, and/or depth of the recessed portion 120. In still further aspects, the pad 200 of sheets 210 may be configured to friction fit within a shallow, hollow structure on the mat base 100 corresponding to the recessed portion 120. The pad 200 of sheets 210 may be configured to fit within an interior volume of the recessed portion 120, for example, to fit against the inside surface of raised walls 150 defining the recessed portion 120 of the mat base 100.

In further aspects, each of the plurality of adhesive sheets 210 in the pad 200 may have one or more tabs 220 located at one or more corners of each of the adhesive sheets 210. The tabs 220 may enable a user to lift each sheet 210 off of the pad 200. For example, each sheet 210 may have pairs of tabs 220a, 220d and/or 220b, 220c, each pair of tabs being located at diagonally opposed corners and being effective to allow said corners of an uppermost or top sheet 210 to be used to simultaneously peel away from an adjacent or lower sheet 210. In still further aspects, the pad 200 may have sheets 210 with an alternating tab configuration. For example, the pad 200 may have a top sheet 210 having a first tab 220a and a second tab 220d located at a first corner and a second diagonally opposed corner, and a subsequent (i.e., lower) or adjacent sheet 210 having a third tab 220c located at a third corner and a fourth tab 220b located at a diagonally opposed fourth corner of the subsequent sheet.

In some aspects, each layer or sheet 210 may have a number thereon, which may indicate its order among the plurality of sheets 210 within the pad 200. For example, each of the sheets 210 may be sequentially numbered, e.g., on one or more of the tabs 220. In other aspects, the sheets 210 may be numbered highest to lowest to inform the user when they are getting low on sheets 210.

In further aspects, the sheets or layers 210 may be formed from a transparent material such as hydrophilic aliphatic acrylic polymers and copolymers incorporating acrylic acid, hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, and glycerin monomethacrylate, which would allow a user to view the display area within the recessed portion 120, as described herein. In some aspects, the sheets 210 may be opaque or comprise any desired color. In other aspects, the sheets 210 may be recyclable.

In further aspects, a first (or top) side 230 of each sheet 210 may comprise and adhesive or tacky surface, opposed to a non-adhesive surface 240. The adhesive surface 230 may comprise adhesive properties effective to capture dirt, debris, and microbes from the underside of an article of footwear. When the adhesive surface 230 of the top sheet 210 is soiled, the user can remove the top sheet 210 using at least two tabs 220 and folding the adhesive surface 230 against itself to securely collect the accumulated dirt, debris, and microbes within the sheet 210. The adhesive surface 230 may be comprised of any desired adhesive material, and is not limited to any particular material.

In various aspects, the sheets or layers 210 may further comprise a sanitizing agent. In further aspects, the sanitizing agent may comprise one or more of: a disinfecting composition, antimicrobial composition, antibacterial composition, bactericidal composition, bacteriostatic composition or the like. In some aspects, the sanitizing agent may be all natural, biodegradable, and/or non-toxic. In other aspects, the sheets 210 may further comprise one or more scenting agents or fragrances. In further aspects, the sanitizing agent may be configured to kill at least 99% of microbes, viruses, mold, and bacteria, for example, at least 99.9 or 99.99%.

In some aspects, the pad 200 of sheets 210 may be held in place within the mat base 100 by a bracket, friction, adhesives, fasteners, fitting, or a closure. For example, the pad 200 of sheets 210 may be positioned directly over the display area of the recessed portion 120. In further aspects, the pad 200 of sheets 210 may be shaped to provide an application area (or adhesive surface) that is in contact with a surface so that substantially all of the application area contacts the surface. When an article of footwear is placed on the application area of the pad 200 of sheets 210, substantially all of the surface of the application area contacts the footwear to interact with the adhesive and/or sanitizing agent therethrough (the application area).

The floor mat system 10 may have various features designed for aesthetic enhancement. For example, a top-facing surface of the recessed portion 120 may comprise a display area configured to display a design, illustration, logo, picture or the like. The display area may comprise a static display, or an electronic or illuminated display. In other aspects, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the floor mat system 10 may further include a decorative pad 300 configured to sit within the recessed portion 120 of the base 100, beneath the pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210. The decorative pad 300 may have any design printed thereon, to enhance the aesthetics of the mat system 10. Where the adhesive sheets 210 are transparent, the design printed on the decorative pad 300 may be visible through the adhesive sheets 210. The pad 300 may be replaceable, such that a user can choose between multiple designs. In some aspects, one or more designs may be printed directly on the adhesive sheets 210. According to any of the aforementioned aspects, the floor mat system 10 may provide an image for a more welcoming appeal for homes and business. It may provide the means for the invention to be personalized and customized. This feature may even be used for advertising or notices to customers at businesses, wherein a design or text may be seen through the adhesive layers and be customized and personalized.

In some aspects, the border 130 of the base 100 may have various patterns, shapes, designs, and or textures. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the border 130 may be tapered or sloped away from the recessed portion such that it directs water or debris away from the recessed portion. Another exemplary mat base 1000, illustrated in FIG. 5, may have a border 1030 comprising a basket-weave structure, in which perpendicular strips are woven alternatively above and below one another. FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate further example embodiments of base mat borders 2030, 3030, 4030, 5030, and 6030, each having unique shapes and/or designs. For example, FIG. 5a illustrates varies shapes of an edge of the mat border and/or a corresponding notch formed in an inner surface thereof. The edges may be pointed, curved, beveled, etc., to varying degrees as required for aesthetics and/or to fit within a particular space. FIG. 5b illustrates yet another example of a base mat border 7030 having a plurality of alternating projections 7031, 7034 and recesses 7032, 7033. In addition to providing a pleasing design, the projections and recesses may help to remove dirt from a shoe when the user scrapes their shoe against an edge of one or more of the projections. It will be appreciated that any embodiments of base mat borders as disclosed herein may serve protect edges of the adhesive sheets 210 when the pad 200 is housed within the recessed portion 120, for example, to ensure that the sheets 210 are not damaged by foot traffic and/or accidentally pulled off of the pad 200.

In some aspects, the floor mat system 10 may be configured to facilitate easy and clean removal of one of the adhesive sheets 210 from the system 10. For example, as best illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, one or more corners of the recessed portion 120 may comprise a notch or opening 140 configured to allow a user to lift up a single peelable sheet 210 using a corner of said peelable sheet 210; wherein said corner of peelable sheet 210 is disposed within said notch 140. In still further aspects, a plurality of corners of the recessed portion 120 may comprise a notch or opening 140 configured to allow a user to lift up a single peelable sheet 210 using one or more corners of said peelable sheet 210; wherein said corners of peelable sheet 210 are disposed within said notches 140. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, four notches 140a, 140b, 140c, and 140d are formed, one within each corner of the recessed surface 120 of the mat base 100. In other aspects, there may only be two notches, formed in diagonally opposed corners of the recessed surface 120. In some embodiments, each corner of the recessed portion 120 comprises a notch or opening 140 configured to allow a user to lift up a single peelable sheet 210 using a corner of said peelable sheet 210; wherein said corner of peelable sheet 210 is disposed within said notch 140. In other embodiments, the recessed portion 120 is a square, each corner of the recessed portion 120 comprising a notch or opening 140 configured to allow a user to lift up a single peelable sheet 210 using a corner of said peelable sheet 210; wherein at least a portion of said corner of peelable sheet 210 is disposed within said notch 140.

The base 100 may be configured to facilitate secure placement on a floor and/or to prevent slipping or rising up. In some aspects, a bottom surface 160 of the mat base 100 may have a non-slip surface treatment effective to maintain a position of the mat base 100 with respect to the floor when stepped on by a user. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the non-slip surface treatment may comprise one or more raised surfaces 170 that are effective to increase the coefficient of friction and help prevent slipping with respect to the floor. The raised surfaces 170 may be of any shape effective to increase friction, and, in some aspects, may comprise a logo or other appealing design. In some aspects, the base 100 may have a weight and mass effective to support the pad 200 of peelable sheets 210 and maintain a position of the base 100 on the floor surface when stepped on by a user and/or when a sheet 210 is removed from the pad 200. It will be appreciated that the bottom surface 160 of the mat base 100 may be appropriate for use with a variety of floor surfaces, including carpet, tile, wood, concrete, and the like.

In some aspects, one or more portions of the floor mat system 10 may be modular. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the border 130 of the mat base 100 may comprise four separable edge sections 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d. Each of edge sections 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d may be configured to removably attach to one another and/or to a base surface 121 of the recessed portion 120 to form the mat base 100. The various components of the mat base 100 may be connected to one another via any appropriate removable fixation mechanism, e.g., screw with nut, rivet, fitting, insert, threading, friction fit, or snap-fit or a combination thereof. Such configurations may help to facilitate transfer and/or storage of the floor mat system 100 when not in use.

In still further aspects, certain components can be integrally or mechanically attached to other components. In a yet further aspect, the disclosed components can be connected, attached, or mounted using a connecting means, the connecting means comprising a fitting, insert, adhesive, brazing, soldering, welding, spot weld, screw with nut, rivet, fitting, insert, threading, friction fit, or snap-fit or a combination thereof In further aspects, the device components can be attached using a connecting means. In still further aspects, the connecting means can comprise a fitting, insert, adhesive, brazing, soldering, welding, spot weld, screw with nut, rivet, threading, friction fit, snap-fit, twist-lock, or interlocking mechanism or a combination thereof. In yet further aspects, the connection can be achieved using a snap, friction fitting, snap ring, O-ring, pressure fitting, clip, clasp, and the like. The snap ring or O-ring can be retained within a groove to accommodate the snap ring or O-ring. In a further aspect, the device can comprise an engagement means for coupling and holding components together. In a further aspect, the engagement means can be a screwing mechanism, a click-lock mechanism, or friction mechanism, or the like.

Floor Mat and System Operation and Methods for Using Same

Also disclosed herein are methods of making and using the disclosed floor mats, devices, apparatuses and systems. For example, in another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for capturing and containing dirt and microbes from an article of footwear. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram setting forth various stages involved in a method 8000 consistent with an embodiment of the disclosure for using the disclosed floor mats and systems. Method 8000 may begin at starting block 8005 and proceed to stage 8010 where the user may install or insert the pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210 into the recessed portion 120 of the mat base 100. From stage 6010, where the user of the floor mat system 10 has securely inserted the pad 200 of adhesive sheets 210 into the recessed portion 120, method 8000 may advance to stage 8020 where a user may step on or place an object, such as footwear, onto the top sheet 210 of the pad 200. Once the user steps on or places an object onto the top sheet 210 in stage 8020, method 8000 may continue to stage 8030 where the capture process can take place, where adhesive properties of the sheet 210 operate to capture and collect dirt, debris, and microbes. In some aspects, the sheet 210 may comprise a sanitizing agent where a sanitization process takes place simultaneously with the captures process.

After the capture process in stage 8030, method 8000 may proceed to stage 8040 where the captured dirt, debris, and microbes can be securely contained within the sheet 210. For example, tabs located at diagonally opposed corners of the sheet 210 may be used to simultaneously peel away the layer 210 and fold the adhesive surface 230 against itself. The inventive double tabbed sheet configuration provides an easy way to clean and contain debris and germs, while reduces the amount of dust and germs that may become dislodged from sheets when using a single tabbed to pull up. Furthermore, the tabs 220 may be numbered tabs (on opposite corners) on the adhesive layers 210 to direct the user to which corners should be pulled up at the same time, keeping dirt and debris in the center of the adhesive layer 210 that is being removed. In some embodiments, the mat base 100 may have cut-out notches 140 in the corners that allow the user to access the tabs to peel of one layer 210 at a time. In other embodiments, the mat base 100 may have a raised logo surface treatment on the underside 170 to help adhere to the floor and it is heavy enough so that it holds the adhesive layers 210 down when someone steps off the mat. Once the sheet 210 is discarded in stage 8040, method 0800 may then end at stage 8050.

While aspects of the present disclosure can be described and claimed in a particular statutory class, such as the system statutory class, this is for convenience only and one of skill in the art will understand that each aspect of the present disclosure can be described and claimed in any statutory class. Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method or aspect set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not specifically state in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way appreciably intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow, plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation, or the number or type of aspects described in the specification.

Throughout this application, various publications can be referenced. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this pertains. The references disclosed are also individually and specifically incorporated by reference herein for the material contained in them that is discussed in the sentence in which the reference is relied upon. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present disclosure is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior disclosure. Further, the dates of publication provided herein can be different from the actual publication dates, which can require independent confirmation.

The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and can include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

While the specification includes examples, the disclosure's scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example for embodiments of the disclosure.

Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the disclosures are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claims such additional disclosures is reserved.

Although very narrow claims are presented herein, it should be recognized the scope of this disclosure is much broader than presented by the claims. It is intended that broader claims will be submitted in an application that claims the benefit of priority from this application.

IMPROVED FLOOR MAT AND METHODS FOR USING SAME

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