EP4157056B1

EP4157056B1 - Antibacterial decontaminating mat and integrated kit

Info

Publication number: EP4157056B1
Application number: EP21725821.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca ZACCARO
Original assignee: Full Service Europe SpA
Current assignee: Full Service Europe SpA
Priority date: 2020-05-28
Filing date: 2021-05-03
Publication date: 2024-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2041-05-03
Also published as: EP4157056A1; WO2021240267A1; EP4157056C0; IT202000012646A1

Description

Field of the art

The present invention operates in the scope of hygienization and sanitization articles. More in detail, the object of this patent application comprises an antibacterial decontaminating mat adapted to allow a constant hygienization of the soles of shoes, for work or for home use, useful in a plurality of environments.

Prior art

Up to now, following the global pandemic caused by Covid-19, all workers must enter the company premises following rigid protocols of hygienization and individual protection: equipped with individual safety devices and with the soles of shoes cleansed of dust, dirt and potential pathogenic germs. For this, in most Italian companies, a mat soaked with hygienizing liquid has been positioned, which must be changed every eight hours, or decontaminating dry mats, "film-removable" or washable, still aimed to prevent the proliferation of bacteria.
Placed at the entrance areas of company premises, they allow managers, employees, suppliers, clients, who are necessarily equipped with mask and gloves, to hygienize the sole of shoes and to enter into industrial factories "cleansed", with full respect of the anti-Covid19 laws. Nevertheless, the request is so considerable that companies are often unable to satisfy it in quick time periods. Different types exist:

"liquid", which is that currently used most,
"dry".

For example, the decontaminating mat named "Perfecto", currently on the market, is a bacteriostatic and bactericide device comprising a plurality of adhesive PVC sheets; this appears in a blue color. The sheets that constitute it are removable and must be torn off and thrown away after each use. This device is easily adaptable in all the places that require high levels of sterilization and safety.
In order to effectively apply it, it is essential to perfectly wash and dry the floor rectangle where it is situated: the adherence of the mat to the ground is important, since the possible presence of creases and/or folds may bother the medical personnel during use.
With regard to patents, the Japanese patent JPH02142529 describes an antibacterial yarn doormat, whose purpose is to limit the generation of bacteria and prevent the emission of an offensive odor by using a fabric with chemical fiber yarn surface, produced by mixing ceramic powders formed by the absorption of an antibacterial agent with a polymer. The formation is possible so that when the ceramic powders, formed by the absorption of an antibacterial agent, are mixed with a polymer such as a chemical fiber spinning raw material, followed by spinning and ironing, one obtains a chemical fiber yarn containing ceramic powders having the antibacterial agent absorbed. When a flame retardant material is mixed with the polymer, the chemical fiber thread can be obtained having greater flame resistance. In addition, the opaque part of the doormat is formed by a fabric installed on an opaque base plate. When the antibacterial agent is absorbed by the ceramic powders, the propagation of the bacteria is retained by the antibacterial agent, preventing and retaining the generation of an offensive odor. Given that ceramic powders are high-temperature sintered materials, the opaque part is excellent in flame resistance, providing an excellent fire-resistant effect.
The above-described device lacks practicality in daily use, being provided with a system that is hard to wash daily; this also makes it difficult to transport.
US2004261209A1 discloses a mat for cleaning the underside of shoes or other objects, designed to be placed on floors.
US2002023308A1 claims an advanced mat including a cleanable portion. US2019/133414A1 discloses a system for sanitizing footwear, at low humidity, having a tray, two or more mats positioned in the tray and a nebulization system for spraying the disinfectant directly onto one of the mats.
At the present state of the art, mats do not appear to exist that are provided with devices for collecting the used - and hence dirty - sheets integrated in the same mat. Therefore, the object of the device described in detail hereinbelow is to solve the abovementioned problems.

Description of the invention

According to the present invention, an antibacterial decontaminating kit is attained which effectively solves the abovementioned problems. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of adhesive films, each of which glued on the other and torn from said mat, once contaminated. Each of said adhesive films is provided with:

an upper surface, which comprises an upper adhesive film;
a lower surface, which comprises a lower adhesive film, and an adhesive bottom, reversibly glueable on any one horizontal surface;
four sides which constitute the perimeter with rectangular shape of each film.

The aforesaid films are printed on paper plasticized on both the aforesaid surfaces; in turn, these are printed removable and/or permanent glue on the lower surface.
In addition, a non-adhesive portion, placed in any one of the corners of said upper surface, allows the removal of each film from the present mat. On each film, a progressive numbering is present, starting from said upper film to said lower film, by means of which the entire film pack is counted, generally including a number of replacements comprised between a minimum of 10 up to 31, thus allowing a replacement of the entire mat that is staggered monthly. The kit is provided with a plurality of film replacements, depending on the request of each user. The aforesaid decontaminating kit is treated with active principle with bactericide, fungicide action and/or with liquid alcohol base, made of gel, solid, gaseous in order to maintain a protection of long duration.
Preferably the mat comprised in said kit has size comprised between 50 cm length x 40 cm height and a thickness of 1 cm about and a maximum dimension of 500 cm length x 300 cm height and a thickness of about 10 cm.
In addition, the aforesaid mat, in a version further, is advantageously made of materials such as paper, plastic materials and derivatives thereof, natural and artificial fabrics, biodegradable materials, green materials, recyclable materials and wood upon request of each user, in addition to being of any regular and/or irregular shape or of any size, always upon request of each user.
The mat, still in a further version, can be made of a plurality of colors and prints, that can be personalized.
Each film is, in a further version, knurled: this for allowing a removal of the residues present on the soles of shoes.
The present antibacterial decontaminating kit comprises at least a pair of collection trays, laterally positioned with respect to the aforesaid films and designed for containing the films once used. Each film is divided in half, forming two equal portions, each of which dedicated to only one sole. When a user treads on the small mat, he/she must slide his/her feet from the interior towards the exterior of the small mat, thus determining the separation of the two portions and the rolling of each of these towards one side. The arrangement of the aforesaid lateral collection trays ensures that the user never has to touch the film - by now tread upon and contaminated - with his/her hands, and that the latter is rolled on its own towards the dedicated collection tray where it remains up to disposal, without ever coming into contact with the underlying film, which remains clean up to use by the user.
The aforesaid kit, still in a further version, comprises at least a hygienizing tray, positioned below the mat and comprising a vesicle containing hygienizing liquid which is emitted towards said upper surface of said mat by means of at least a pair of nozzles: these, by drawing the hygienizing liquid from said vesicle, allow making the hygienizing liquid flow out above each of said films. In the presently-described configuration, the mat is lowered, once the pressure of the weight of a user who is using it has been received, determining the crushing of the vesicle and hence the flowing out of hygienizing liquid from the nozzles.
Finally, the kit can comprise at least a rigid package, adapted for a hygienic transport of the mat, a plurality of gloves to be used for the removal of the used and contaminated films and a plurality of reloads of the hygienizing liquid contained in said vesicle.
The present kit absorbs the residues such as bacteria, pollen, mites and other contaminating substances which, generally, are deposited under the sole of shoes or on the tread of bicycles, cars, motorcycles and any other surface which comes into contact with said soles of shoes.
In addition, advantageously, the aforesaid kit and the aforesaid mat are reversibly engageable at the floor of the entrance of an apartment, of a store, of an office, of an airport or of a station; they are usable in environments such as a clean room, an electronics factory, food plant and any other premises included in the health field and/or any other environment where maximum hygiene and sanitization are necessary, and employable for mixed transport means such as buses, metro, trams, trains and airplanes.
The advantages offered by the present invention are evident in light of the description set forth up to now and will be even clearer due to the enclosed figures and to the relative detailed description.

Description of the figures

The invention will be described hereinbelow in at least a preferred embodiment by way of a non-limiting example with the aid of the enclosed figures, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the films 10 which constitute said mat, each of which being provided with a non-adhesive portion 40 adapted to allow the removal of the relative film 10 from one of the sides 20 and 20' of said mat.
FIGURE 2 shows in a) an upper surface 15 comprising an upper film 10', in b) a lower surface 15' comprising a lower film 10" provided with an adhesive bottom 30.
FIGURE 3 shows several of the components of the kit being assembled: one notes the positioning of said collection trays 50, 50', the two film portions 55, 55', a hygienizing tray, adapted to contain the entire mat and the nozzles 65 connected to said vesicle 70.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will now be illustrated as a merely exemplifying but non-limiting or non-constraining example, with reference to the figures which illustrate several embodiments relative to the present inventive concept.
With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, all the components of the antibacterial decontaminating mat comprised in the kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes are shown. Said mat absorbs the residues such as bacteria, pollen, mites and other contaminating substances which, generally, are deposited under the sole of shoes or on the tread of bicycles, cars, motorcycles and any other surface which comes into contact with said soles of shoes.
The aforesaid kit is reversibly engageable at the entrance of an apartment, of a store, of an office, of an airport or of a station. It is also usable in environments such as a clean room, an electronics factory, food plant, and any other premises included in the health field and/or any other environment where maximum hygiene and sanitization are necessary; in addition, the aforesaid device is employable in mixed transport means such as buses, metro, trams, trains and airplanes.
The present kit comprises:

a mat with a plurality of adhesive films 10, each of which glued on the underlying film; these are torn from said mat, once contaminated by the tread of a user; each of said adhesive films 10 is provided with an upper surface 15, a lower surface 15' and four sides 20, 20';
an upper adhesive film 10' positioned above the further said films 10;
a lower adhesive film 10", positioned below all the other said adhesive films 10 comprising an adhesive bottom 30 adapted to be reversibly glued on any one horizontal surface or flooring.

Each of said adhesive films 10 is printed on paper, plasticized on both the aforesaid surfaces 15 - 15' in turn printed with removable and/or permanent glue on the said lower surface 15' excluding 2 cm on both said sides 20, 20', thus allowing the removal of said upper adhesive film 10' when contaminated and the possibility to use a new film 10.
The aforesaid films 10 are also provided with a non-adhesive portion 40, placed in any one of the corners of said upper surface 15, designed for gripping each film 10 and removing it from the present mat. Each film 10 is counted by means of progressive numbering, starting from said upper film 10' to said lower film 10", and the entire pack films 10 includes a number of replacements comprised between a minimum of 10 up to 31, thus allowing a replacement of the entire mat that is staggered monthly.
The aforesaid decontaminating mat is treated with active principle with bactericide, fungicide action and/or with liquid alcohol base, made of gel, solid, gaseous, and it maintains a protection that lasts over time.
The mat of the present kit has size comprised between 50 cm length x 40 cm height and a thickness of 1 cm about and a maximum dimension of 500 cm length x 300 cm height and a thickness of about 10 cm and is provided with a plurality of film replacements 10, depending on the request of each user.
In addition, the aforesaid mat:

can be made of materials such as paper, plastic materials and derivatives thereof, natural and artificial fabrics, biodegradable materials, green materials, recyclable materials and wood upon request of each user;
can have a regular and/or irregular shape or any size upon request of each user;
can be made of a plurality of colors and prints that can be personalized, and, upon request of each user, each film 10 can also be printed with subjects that are different from the others;
is knurled, allowing an improved adherence and hence removal of the residues present on the soles of shoes;
comprises at least a pair of collection trays 50, laterally positioned with respect to the aforesaid films 10 and designed for containing such films once used;
a pair of film portions 55, 55', which divide in half each of said films 10; each portion 55, 55' is configured for being tread by only one sole and is rolled on itself due to the movement of a user who slides each sole from the interior towards the exterior of the mat up to the ungluing of each portion 55-55' from the underlying film 10.

In a further version the present kit comprises:

at least a hygienizing tray 60, positioned below the mat, and comprising a vesicle 70 containing hygienizing liquid;
at least a pair of nozzles 65, directed towards the upper surface 15 of said mat which, by drawing hygienizing liquid from said vesicle 70, allow the flowing out of the hygienizing liquid above each of said films 10.

In the aforesaid kit, said mat is lowered, once the pressure of the weight of a user who is using it is received, determining the outflow of hygienizing liquid from said nozzles 65.
Finally, said kit can comprise at least a rigid package, adapted for a hygienic transport of the mat, a plurality of gloves and a plurality of reloads of the hygienic liquid contained in said vesicle 70.
Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variants that are obvious for a man skilled in the art can be made to the invention described up to now, without departing from the protective scope that is provided by the enclosed claims.

Claims

Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, comprising at least a mat adapted to hygienizing the soles of shoes through the absorption of residues, bacteria, pollen, mites and any other contaminating substance present under the sole of the shoes of a user; said kit being reversibly engageable at an entrance of an apartment, of a store, of an office, of an airport, of a station, of a clean room, of an electronics factory, food plant and of any other premises comprised in the health field and/or any other environment where it is necessary to have maximum hygiene and sanitization, including mixed transport means such as buses, metro, trams, trains and airplanes; said decontaminating kit comprising a mat having plurality of adhesive films (10), one glued on top of the other and adapted to be torn from said mat, once contaminated by the tread of a user; each of said adhesive films (10) being provided with an upper surface (15) and a lower surface (15') and four sides (20, 20') forming a rectangle; each of said adhesive films (10) being printed on paper, plasticized on both said surfaces (15-15') and printed with removable and/or permanent glue on said lower surface (15'); said kit also comprising a lower adhesive film (10"), positioned below all the other said adhesive films (10), provided with an adhesive bottom (30) adapted to be reversibly glued on a horizontal surface or a floor; said films (10) being provided with at least one non-adhesive portion (40), placed in any one of the corners of said upper surface (15), adapted to allow a user to grasp the relative film (10) and remove it after use; each film (10) of said decontaminating kit being treated with active principle with bactericide, fungicide action and/or with liquid alcohol base, made of gel, solid, gaseous in order to ensure a protection of long duration; said decontaminating kit being characterized in that each film (10) is adapted to be counted and recognized by means of progressive numbering from said upper film (10') to said lower film (10"); the number of replacements of said adhesive films (10) comprised in said decontaminating mat varying from a minimum of 10 up to 31, allowing a replacement of the entire mat that is staggered monthly; said kit comprising at least one pair of collection trays (50), laterally positioned with respect to said films (10), adapted to contain said films (10) once used; each of said films being divided into at least one pair of portions (55, 55'), adapted to divide in half each of said films (10); each portion (55, 55') being adapted to be tread by only one sole and being adapted to be rolled on itself due to the movement of the foot of the user who makes each sole slide from the interior towards the exterior of the mat; each of said portions (55, 55') being adapted to be collected in each of said collection trays (50, 50') once used, contaminated and rolled on itself.
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that it has size comprised between 50 cm length x 40 cm height and a thickness of about 1 cm and a maximum dimension of 500 cm length x 300 cm height and a thickness of about 10 cm.
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to any one of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterized in that after the use of the last film (10), it is possible to reload the mat with a new pack of replacement films.
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be personalized with regard to size, upon request of each user.
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of materials such as paper, plastic materials and derivatives thereof, natural and artificial fabrics, biodegradable materials, green materials, recyclable materials, wood.
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said adhesive films (10) is knurled, allowing an improved adherence with the sole of the shoes of the user and hence an improved removal of the residues, present on said soles of the shoes.
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said films (10) can be made of a plurality of colors and prints, that can be personalized upon request of each user; each film (10) being printable with subjects different from the other further films (10).
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one hygienizing tray (60), positioned below said mat and comprising a vesicle (70) containing hygienizing liquid; said hygienizing tray (60) comprising at least one pair of nozzles (65), directed towards said upper surface (15) of the upper film (10') and adapted to draw hygienizing liquid from said vesicle (70) and to make said hygienizing liquid flow out above each of said films (10); said mat being adapted to be lowered, once a pressure of the weight of a user using it has been received, determining the outflow of hygienizing liquid from said nozzles (65).
Antibacterial decontaminating kit for hygienizing the soles of shoes, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one rigid package, adapted for a hygienic transport of said mat, a plurality of gloves and a plurality of reloads of said hygienic liquid adapted to be contained in said vesicle (70).