Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Layer or component removable to expose adhesive – Protective layer
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-19
2004-09-07
Singh, Arti R. (Department: 1771)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
Protective layer
C004S251100, C004S251200, C004S254000, C004S256100, C604S317000, C604S318000, C604S322000, C604S358000, C604S359000, C604S360000, C604S365000, C604S366000, C604S367000, C604S378000, C604S384000, C604S385010, C604S386000, C428S040100, C428S042300, C428S047000, C428S051000, C428S052000, C428S058000, C428S077000, C428S080000, C428S317100, C428S317300, C428S332000, C428S343000, C428S354000, C428S542200, C132S333000, C442S059000, C442S096000, C442S123000, C442S125000, C442S171000, C442S333000, C442S396000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06787210
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rest room accessories, and more particularly to a floor mounted absorbent pad for use with a urinal fixture for absorbing fluids that would otherwise become deposited on the floor.
2. Description of the Background Art
The human urinary system filters waste products from the blood stream and removes them from the body by a filtering process which produces a watery fluid that leaves the kidney as urine (hereinafter “fluid”). Urinal fixtures in rest rooms for facilitating male urination are well known. A typical male urinal comprises a wall mounted receptacle elevated approximately thirty inches above the floor.
There are a number of problems associated with the use of urinals. For example, it is not uncommon for fluid to become accidentally or unintentionally deposited on the outside of the urinal fixture, and on surrounding surfaces such as the floor during urination. It has been found that the floor area directly below the front of urinal is an area most subject to exposure to fluid. The accumulation of fluid on the floor presents an unsightly appearance and may render the area unsanitary. In addition, floors wetted with fluid can become quite slippery thereby presenting a hazardous condition and accident potential, which, if not remedied, may subject the property owner to liability resulting from personal injuries caused by the hazard. As a result, substantial efforts must be dedicated to cleaning and sanitizing the urinal areas, particularly the floor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,656, issued to Creamer, discloses a disposable, absorbent pad adapted to be formed into an adjustable U-shaped configuration and to be placed around the base of a toilet to absorb moisture near the base. The pad may include a water-proof backing and an adhesive that bonds the pad to the floor. The device disclosed by Creamer, however, includes a U-shaped structure intended for use adjacent to the base of a toilet, and is not suitable for use with a wall mounted, urinal. Furthermore, Creamer does not disclose a sanitary method or structure to facilitate removal and/or disposal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An inexpensive and disposable, highly absorbent pad for placement on a floor surface, directly in front of a wall mounted urinal, for absorbing fluid not deposited within the confines of the urinal which would otherwise drip on the floor. Fluid absorbed by the pad is prevented from reaching the underlying floor thereby eliminating the problems associated with fluids being deposited on the floor.
The pad is fabricated from a first layer of fluid absorbing material bonded to a second layer of non-slip fluid impervious material. The first layer preferably includes an anti-bacterial agent and may further include an agent for eliminating odor and/or providing a pleasing fragrance. The pad is preferably shaped in the form of substantially flat, truncated annular sector, resembling a truncated pie-slice, and specifically sized and positioned so as to collect substantially all of the fluid not deposited within the confines of the urinal fixture that would otherwise become deposited onto the floor. The second layer of fluid impervious material prevents fluids from penetrating the pad and reaching the underlying floor, and includes a back surface having non-slip characteristics and/or at least one adhesive strip associated therewith for adhesively securing the pad in place on the floor, and preventing the pad from slipping.
In a preferred embodiment, the pad further incorporates a normally concealed, flexible, thin plastic disposal container connected to a pad removal member. The disposal container is stored in a normally concealed location, preferably beneath the pad, and automatically deploys and envelops the pad when a force is exerted on the removal member during the pad removal process. In the preferred embodiment, the removal member comprises a ring-like structure that is connected by a plurality of cords, or other suitable deployment mechanics, to the opening of the concealed disposal container. Removal of the pad may be facilitated by a removal tool having a suitable tip configuration for engaging and lifting the ring-like removal member, whereby applying a force to the removal member functions to deploy the thin plastic container thereby enveloping the fluid containing pad in a container suitable for disposal. Thus, the pad may be removed from its installed position on the floor and disposed of in a sanitary manner without requiring maintenance personnel to come in direct contact with the fluid laden pad.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable urinal drip pad for use with a wall mounted urinal fixture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable urinal drip pad capable of being adhesively secured to the floor area immediately in front of a wall mounted urinal fixture.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable urinal drip pad which is compact, yet specifically sized and placed for collecting fluid that is not deposited within the confines of a urinal fixture, and thus preventing the accumulation of fluid on the surrounding floor area.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable urinal drip pad having a readily deployable disposal container associated therewith.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2707352 (1955-05-01), Fischer
patent: 2897108 (1959-07-01), Harwood
patent: 4125656 (1978-11-01), Creamer
patent: 4285075 (1981-08-01), Nelson
patent: 4684562 (1987-08-01), Hartkemeyer
patent: 4813944 (1989-03-01), Haney et al.
patent: 4822669 (1989-04-01), Roga
patent: 4938957 (1990-07-01), Iwahashi
patent: 5156843 (1992-10-01), Leong et al.
patent: 5439458 (1995-08-01), Noel et al.
patent: 5506040 (1996-04-01), Cordani
patent: 6265084 (2001-07-01), Stickler
patent: 164094 (2000-06-01), None
patent: WO 9822280 (1998-05-01), None
Malin Haley & DiMaggio, P.A.
Singh Arti R.
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