Absorbent floor mat
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Solution Overview
Problem
High traffic areas face challenges with one-piece washable floor mats, which are difficult to launder and can create slip hazards due to their large size and weight, requiring significant water, energy, and labor for maintenance, and misalignment can lead to tripping hazards and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component absorbent floor mat comprising a textile component with tufted pile carpet, an absorbent component, and a base component, where the textile and base components are attached via magnetic attraction, allowing for easy removal and replacement of soiled parts, reducing maintenance needs and preventing slip hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-piece washable floor mat is used, then the mat can be laundered, but it requires significant water, energy, and labor for maintenance due to its large size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The floor mat is divided into separate components: a reusable base component and a removable textile component. This segmentation allows the textile component to be washed separately, reducing the energy, water, and labor required compared to laundering an entire one-piece mat.
2Reliability
If a one-piece floor mat is used, then the mat provides continuous coverage, but misalignment creates trip hazards and aesthetic issues
Solution Approach 1:
The floor mat is divided into a base component and a textile component that can be independently positioned. The base component remains fixed on the floor providing stable coverage, while the textile component can be easily removed, washed, and repositioned to maintain proper alignment, eliminating trip hazards and aesthetic issues.
3Ease of operation
If magnetic attraction is used to attach components, then the textile and base components can be easily attached and detached, but the initial alignment and deployment present challenges due to high attachment force
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment marks are provided on the base component to guide the positioning of the textile component during initial deployment. These marks enable proper alignment before the magnetic attachment force fully engages, simplifying the deployment process despite the strong magnetic attraction between components.
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 multi-component design reduces maintenance costs and labor by allowing the textile component to be washed and reused, while the absorbent component can be easily replaced, minimizing slip hazards and improving alignment and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
The textile component and the base component are attached to one another by a variety of mechanisms, including magnetic attraction. The magnetic attraction is provided by incorporation of magnetic particles in both the textile and base components.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a multi-component absorbent floor mat. The floor mat contains a textile component, an absorbent component, and a base component. The textile component and the base component are attached to one another by a variety of mechanisms, including magnetic attraction. The magnetic attraction is provided by incorporation of magnetic particles in both the textile and base components. The textile component is designed to be soiled, washed, and re-used, thereby providing ideal end-use applications in areas such as building entryways. The absorbent component is designed to be soiled and recycled or otherwise discarded and replaced.