Absorbent Containment Mat With Sealed Peripheral Edge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbent mats for floors are not designed to remain in place during cleaning operations and often fail to contain spilled liquids effectively, allowing them to escape through the bottom and side edges.
Innovation Solution
An absorbent containment mat with a hydrophilic absorbent layer and a liquid impermeable barrier layer, featuring a peripheral containment edge with reduced porosity and a pressure-sensitive adhesive, designed to be durable and resistant to mechanical stress, with the edge sealed using thermal, ultrasonic, or radio frequency energy to prevent fluid escape and maintain integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional absorbent mats are used, then they can absorb spilled liquids, but they cannot contain liquids effectively as liquids escape through bottom and side edges
Solution Approach 1:
The mat is segmented into distinct functional layers: an absorbent layer for liquid absorption, a barrier layer for containment, and peripheral containment edges with reduced porosity. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, preventing liquid escape through different pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mat have different porosity characteristics. The central absorbent layer maintains high porosity for effective liquid absorption, while the peripheral containment edges have reduced porosity to prevent liquid escape. This local variation in quality resolves the contradiction between absorption and containment.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional absorbent mats are used, then they can absorb liquids, but they must be disposed of after limited use and cannot remain in place during cleaning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The mat combines multiple materials with different properties: an absorbent layer for liquid uptake, a substantially liquid impermeable barrier layer for containment and chemical resistance, and peripheral edges with intermediate porosity. This composite structure provides both durability for repeated use and resistance to cleaning chemicals, enabling the mat to remain in place during cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier layer is incorporated into the mat structure beforehand to provide preliminary protection against chemical degradation. This preliminary action ensures the mat can withstand cleaning operations without requiring replacement, extending its service life.
3Loss of time
If the absorbent layer is made highly porous for quick drying, then drying speed increases, but liquid may escape through the porous structure
Solution Approach 1:
The mat employs local quality variation where the central absorbent layer maintains high porosity for rapid liquid absorption and quick drying, while the peripheral containment edges have reduced porosity to prevent liquid escape. The barrier layer provides complete impermeability as a containment boundary.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid containment function is segmented from the absorption function. The absorbent layer handles absorption with high porosity, while the barrier layer and peripheral edges handle containment with reduced or zero porosity, eliminating the trade-off between drying speed and containment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mat effectively contains liquids, resists degradation from cleaning chemicals, and reduces bacterial growth, allowing it to be left in place during mopping while preventing damage to floors and surrounding areas, and maintaining porosity for quicker drying.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent layer, a peripheral containment edge surrounding at least a portion of a periphery of the absorbent layer
Implementation Method 2
a pressure-sensitive adhesive
Implementation Method 3
a peripheral containment edge surrounding at least a portion of a periphery of the absorbent layer having a liquid permeability less than a liquid permeability of the absorbent layer
Implementation Method 4
a substantially liquid impermeable barrier layer under the absorbent layer
Implementation Method 5
with the edge sealed using thermal, ultrasonic, or radio frequency energy
Implementation Method 6
with the edge sealed using thermal, ultrasonic, or radio frequency energy
Implementation Method 7
with the edge sealed using thermal, ultrasonic, or radio frequency energy
Data Source
AI summary
Absorbent containment mats are disclosed. The mats include an upper absorbent layer, a lower liquid impermeable barrier layer, and a peripheral containment edge. The peripheral containment edge may have a lower profile than the absorbent layer. A pressure sensitive adhesive may be applied to the underside of the barrier layer. A durable porous layer may be provided over the absorbent layer.