Floor mat having antimicrobial characteristics

Details Floor mat having antimicrobial characteristics Floor mat having antimicrobial characteristics

1998-02-24

2001-12-25

Horton, Yvonne M. (Department: 3635)

Static structures (e.g., buildings)

Specified wear or friction-type traffic-carrying surface

C428S082000, C428S095000, C428S096000, C008S464000, C008S495000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06332293

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to flexible launderable floor mats of the type which have a pile surface on one side and a rubber or rubber-like material on the other side which are suitable to undergo multiple spin washing and drying operations and which have antimicrobial character. More particularly, the invention relates to floor mats wherein an antimicrobial agent has been incorporated into at least one of either the pile surface or backing and is preferably present in both.
BACKGROUND
Dust control mats and other floor coverings having a pile side and a polymeric backing are generally used in access ways where people tend to brush or scrape their feet in order to prevent carrying moisture and/or dirt into other areas of the premises. Normally these mats are located in areas of high pedestrian traffic such as doorways.
The art includes a number of configurations and features for various floor mats. Some patents which are believed to be illustrative of known floor coverings include U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,808 to Thompson, et al. issued Feb. 28, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,065 to Parkins issued May 3, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,692 to Kerr et al. issued Dec. 12, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,214 to Kerr et al. issued Jul. 13, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,530 to Fink issued Aug. 31, 1993; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,565 to Nagahama et al. issued Apr. 26, 1994; the teaching of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, floor mats have conventionally consisted of a plurality of tufts in a primary backing adhered to a vulcanized thermoset rubber backing. Such a backing gives dimensional stability to the fabric surface while maintaining the mat's integrity during industrial wash processing which may involve high speed centrifugal action. The production of launderable floor mats has relied on the use of thermoset rubber backings based on nitrile polymer formulas. While these mats perform very adequately for dirt and moisture removal, it is now recognized that further improvement may be forthcoming in the form of components having antimicrobial properties which are able to retain these antimicrobial characteristics through multiple washings. It is believed that by incorporating the antimicrobial agents within the pile forming yarn and/or the backing, extended activity of the antimicrobial properties of these products may be achieved.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY
In light of the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a dust control mat possessing antimicrobial characteristics.
In that regard, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dust control mat including pile forming yams including antimicrobial constituents disposed therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dust control mat having a polymeric backing including antimicrobial constituents disposed therein.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a pile faced floor mat wherein the pile consists essentially of nylon wherein during the melt polymerization of the nylon a metal based antimicrobial compound has been added so as to result in substantial impregnation of the antimicrobial compound within the nylon fiber structure.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a polymer-backed floor mat wherein an antimicrobial compound is added to the backing composition during compounding so as to result in substantial incapsulation of the antimicrobial compound within the polymer backing structure.
It is yet a further feature of the present invention to provide a pile-faced floor mat wherein the pile consists essentially of solution dyed nylon which is sculpted through contact with a fiber degrading composition without causing discoloration of the non-sculpted portions.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3306808 (1967-02-01), Thompson
patent: 3901014 (1975-08-01), Hiroi et al.
patent: 4084615 (1978-04-01), Klein et al.
patent: 4353706 (1982-10-01), Burns, Jr. et al.
patent: 4415331 (1983-11-01), Dusenbury et al.
patent: 4435451 (1984-03-01), Neubert
patent: 4447201 (1984-05-01), Knudsen
patent: 4482593 (1984-11-01), Sagel et al.
patent: 4679859 (1987-07-01), Wilson
patent: 4701518 (1987-10-01), Osborn et al.
patent: 4723960 (1988-02-01), Shirasawa et al.
patent: 4741065 (1988-05-01), Parkins
patent: 4846845 (1989-07-01), McBride et al.
patent: 4886692 (1989-12-01), Kerr et al.
patent: 5227214 (1993-07-01), Kerr et al.
patent: 5240530 (1993-08-01), Fink
patent: 5305565 (1994-04-01), Nagahama et al.
patent: 5358537 (1994-10-01), Kelley et al.
patent: 5680826 (1997-10-01), Nagahama et al.
patent: 5702992 (1997-12-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5725705 (1998-03-01), Nagahama et al.
Yasuhiro Washino,Functional Fibers In Japan, 1993, Chapters 5, 6, and 7.

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