NL2003018C2 - CLEANING MAT. - Google Patents

Description

Title: Cleaning mat.

The invention relates to a mat for cleaning a hand and/or a foot.

Such a mat is known from patent publication US 6,343,774. Herein, a mat is disclosed having a plurality of sponges. When a user places a foot on the mat of US 6,343,774, a bottom area of the foot will come into contact with 5 the sponges. However, the ability of such sponges for cleaning the foot is limited. Only a bottom area of a foot can be cleaned, while other areas of the foot are hard to reach. In addition, at least part of the sponges of the mat of US 6,343,774 can detach from the mat. This may cause the user to fall, which may lead to serious injury.

10 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved mat for cleaning a hand and/or a foot, which at least partly meets one or more problems of known mats for cleaning a hand and/or a foot.

Accordingly, the invention provides a mat for cleaning a hand and/or a foot, provided with a carrier having a first main surface and with a plurality 15 of flexible projections that are attached to the carrier, wherein the projections extend out of the first main surface of the carrier in a direction transverse to the first main surface, wherein the projections cover a part of the first main surface that is large enough for contacting the hand and/or the foot, and wherein the projections are adapted for, in use, reaching a space in between 20 fingers and/or toes of the hand and/or the foot, wherein the projections are woven in the carrier. When the hand and/or the foot is placed against the mat at the first main surface, some of the flexible projections will extend into the space in between the fingers and/or the toes. Thus, an area of the hand and/or the foot in between the fingers and/or the toes can be cleaned. By moving the 25 hand and/or the foot along the mat, further cleaning of the hand and/or the foot in between the fingers and/or the toes can be achieved. In this way, the mat enables improved cleaning. Not only the hand or the foot may be cleaned by using the mat, but also when placing the mat against a wall, a back of a 2 person may be cleaned by scrubbing the back against the projections of the mat.

The projections cover a part of the first main surface that is large enough for contacting the hand and/or the foot. Such a coverage offers a user 5 the advantage that she can place her hand and/or her foot in many different positions against the mat, while still achieving improved cleaning. Such an advantage cannot be reached with a known mat described in US 2007/0022527, where a separate toe brush is needed for cleaning the toes. Such a separate toe brush requires precise placement of the toes against the toe 10 brush.

The projections are woven in the carrier. Such a way of attaching the projections to the carrier is both robust and relatively easy to manufacture. Weaving reduces a risk of detachment of the flexible projections of the mat. Besides giving improved safety, weaving also increases durability of the mat.

15 For example, the mat may be washable in a washing machine, and still be normally usable after washing. Preferably, the carrier is provided with weaving openings that are suitable for weaving the projections in the carrier.

The mat is in particular suitable for people that are constrained in their movements, for example disabled people. Such users may have problems 20 with cleaning their hands and/or feet in conventional ways. However, the mat is also considered advantageous for other users.

Preferably, a length, thickness, and/or flexibility of the projections are adapted for, in use, reaching a space in between the fingers and/or the toes of the hand and/or the foot. Preferably, the length of the projections is such 25 that the projections completely reach through the space in between the fingers and/or the toes of the hand and/or the foot.

In an embodiment, the projections form a sponge-like material. It will be appreciated that the sponge-like material of this embodiment can reach parts of the hand and/or the foot that are normally hard to reach. In addition, 3 the sponge-like material is firmly attached to the carrier due to its woven structure.

In an embodiment, the plurality of flexible projections are formed by a plurality of threads. Preferably, a total number of the threads used for 5 forming the projections in the carrier is substantially smaller, for example 10 or 50 times smaller, than a number of the projections of the mat. The threads can be woven in the carrier. Preferably, the projections include a mesh that preferably contains polyethylene and/or polyacryl. Using a mesh may enhance a water-absorbing capacity of the mat. The mesh may enhance the sponge-like 10 character of the projections. Polyethylene and polyacryl are suitable materials for making projections that have a flexibility for, in use, reaching a space in between the fingers and/or the toes of the hand and/or the foot. However, other materials may be suitable as well.

Preferably, the projections extent over a distance of at least two 15 centimeter from the first main surface, measured in a direction perpendicular to the first main surface. In this way, efficient cleaning can be achieved. For many users, extending over a distance of at least two centimeter enables cleaning of a substantial part of the area between the fingers and/or the toes.

In an embodiment, the mat is provided with a, preferably liquid, 20 cleaning material, such as liquid soap. In this way, even better cleaning can be achieved than by the projections alone. In this embodiment, a user of the mat does not have to add cleaning material herself, so that cleaning can take place more quickly.

Preferably, the mat is provided with microcapsules, wherein the 25 cleaning material is contained within the microcapsules. Preferably, the microcapsules are arranged to release the cleaning material when the hand and/or the foot is placed against the mat. Such release can be the result of breaking of the microcapsules, as a result of mechanical force exerted by the hand and/or the foot when placed against the mat or when moved along the 30 mat. Alternatively or additionally, the microcapsules may be arranged to 4 release the cleaning fluid by dissolution of at least part of the microcapsules. Other ways of releasing the cleaning fluid may be possible as well.

Preferably, the microcapsules with contained therein the cleaning material, are positioned in or on the projections. This promotes the release of 5 the cleaning material, as the microcapsules can be better reached by the hand and/or the foot.

The inventor recognised the value of the option to, for at least a part of the microcapsules, replace the cleaning material by a refreshening material, such as a deodorant. Then, a refreshening effect can be obtained by placing the 10 hand and/or the foot against the mat.

In an embodiment, the carrier includes, and preferably is made of, a flexible material, such as rubber or a woven material. Such a mat can easily be placed against or at a non-flat surface. In this embodiment, a flexible mat can be obtained. This may enable washing the mat in a washing machine. For 15 example, the mat may be placed partly on a floor and may partly extend on a wall bordering the floor such that a side of a foot may be cleaned.

In an embodiment, the carrier is provided with drainage openings for draining of water from the first main surface. In this way, the mat itself can be more easily cleaned and will dry more quickly after use. In addition, 20 water from a user can easily drain off the first main surface so that it will not hinder a subsequent user.

Preferably, the carrier is provided with a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, wherein the second main surface is provided with attachment means for attaching the mat against a wall or a floor.

25 Preferably, the attachment means include at least one sucking cup and/or at least one strap. The attachments means can prevent slipping of the mat when the hand and/or the foot is moved along the mat.

According to a more general aspect of the invention, the invention provides a, preferably flexible, mat for cleaning a hand and/or a foot, provided 30 with a carrier having a first main surface and further provided with cleaning 5 elements that are attached to the carrier. Preferably, the cleaning elements are formed by the plurality of flexible projections that extend out of the first main surface of the carrier in a direction transverse to the first main surface. Preferably the projections cover the part of the first main surface that is large 5 enough for contacting the hand and/or the foot. Preferably, the projections are adapted for, in use, reaching the space in between the fingers and/or the toes of the hand and/or the foot. Preferably, the projections are woven in the carrier. According to this aspect, the mat is preferably provided with the microcapsules.

10 The invention will now be illustrated, in a non-limiting way, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a mat in a first embodiment according to the invention, with a foot placed there against; 15 Figure 2 shows a view of a second main surface of the mat;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a mat in a second embodiment according to the invention; and

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second main surface of the mat in the second embodiment according to the invention.

20

Unless stated otherwise, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawing.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a mat 2 in a first embodiment according to the invention. In figure 1, a foot 4 of a user is placed against the 25 mat 2. The mat 2 is provided with a carrier 6. The carrier has a first main surface 8. In this example, the carrier is made of a rubber material. In this way a flexible mat is obtained. There are other ways however to obtain flexibility of the carrier and the mat as well, for example by having the carrier made of a woven material.

6

The mat 2 is provided with cleaning elements 10. The cleaning elements are attached to the carrier 6. The mat 2 is arranged for cleaning the foot 4 of the user, by means of the cleaning elements 10. The cleaning elements 10 are formed by a plurality of flexible projections 10 that extend out of the 5 first main surface 8 of the carrier 6 in a direction transverse to the first main surface 8. In this example, the projections 10 form a sponge-like material. The projections 10 may have a mesh structure. Such a structure increase a surface of the projections, which increases cleaning efficiency.

Figure 1 shows that the projections 10 cover a substantial part of the 10 first main surface. This part is large enough for contacting the foot 4, as a whole bottom surface of the foot 4 can at once contact the projections 10. In the example of figure 1, the part of the first main surface is large enough for contacting two feet. It is clear from figure 1 that the feet can be placed in many different positions, while still similar cleaning of the feet is obtained.

15 From figure 1, it may be clear that when the foot 4 is placed against the mat 2 at the first main surface 8, some of the flexible projections 10 extend into a space in between the toes of the foot 4. As a result, the flexible projections 10 can reach part of the foot that are otherwise hard to reach. To achieve this, the projections may extent over a distance of at least two 20 centimeter, measured in a direction perpendicular to the first main surface.

Moving the foot 4 along the mat results in further cleaning of the foot 4. Such cleaning is preferably assisted by the presence of water. Such water may be added by the user itself, but can, alternatively or additionally, be already present on the foot 4. Such water being present on the foot 4 can result 25 from previous washing by the user, for example by taking a shower. It may be clear that by placing the foot 4 against the mat 2, and/or by moving the foot 4 along the mat 2, other parts of the foot 4 can be cleaned as well, for example a region near or under a toe nail or a region under a heel of the foot 4.

The carrier may be provided with attachment means, in this 30 example sucking cups 11, for attaching the mat against a wall or a floor. It is 7 appreciated that the mat 2 typically is placed in a bathroom. The mat 2 can for example be placed on the floor of the bathroom or against the wall of the bathroom. Alternatively, the mat 2 can be placed, in the bathroom, in a shower cabin or a bath. Also use of the mat 2 near a swimming pool is considered 5 advantageous.

Opposite to the first main surface 8, the carrier 6 has a second main surface 12, which in the example of figure 1 forms a bottom surface of the mat 2. Figure 2 shows a view of a second main surface 12 of the mat 2. The carrier 6 is provided with a plurality of openings 14. The openings 14 can be used as 10 weaving openings, through which the projections can be woven in the carrier. This yields a robust attachment of the projections to the carrier. In addition, weaving the projections in the carrier may enable reaching a suitable flexibility of the projections for, in use, reaching a space in between the toes of the foot 4. The projections may be made of polyethylene and/or polyacryl.

15 Alternatively or additionally to being used for weaving, the openings 14 may be used as drainage openings. Then, water can flow away from the first main surface through the openings 14. This will improve cleaning of the mat itself, and also drying of the mat after use. Also, if water is added to the foot when placed on the mat 2 (for example in a shower cabin), it is convenient that 20 the added water can easily flow away from the first surface 8 through the drainage openings.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the mat 2 in a second embodiment according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the second main surface 12 of the mat 2 in the second embodiment according to 25 the invention. Figures 3 and 4 show a plurality of threads 16 that are woven in the carrier 6. In this way, a sponge-like material can be obtained. In this example, each thread 16 forms more than one flexible projection 10. As a result, the projections 10 may be loop-shaped. In this example, the threads are formed by a meshed material. As a result, the projections include a mesh.

8

Using the mesh enhances the sponge-like character of the plurality of projections 10 of the mat of figures 3 and 4.

The mat 2 is provided with attachment means, in this example the sucking cups 11 and a strap 18. The strap 18 is especially useful for attaching 5 the mat against a wall, for example by hanging the mat on a hook that is attached to the wall. By means of the sucking cups 11, the mat 2 can be firmly held in place against the wall. In case the sucking cups detach, the strap can preventing falling down of the mat 2. It may be clear that in the second embodiment, the mat 2 can be used for cleaning of one or both hands of the 10 user.

In another embodiment according to the invention, the mat 2 is provided with a, preferably liquid, cleaning material, such as liquid soap. In this way, even better cleaning can be achieved than by the projections alone.

In this embodiment, a user of the mat does not have to add cleaning material 15 herself, so that cleaning can take place more quickly. The cleaning material may be contained within or near the projections, so that it can easily reach the hand and/or the foot of the user. One way to contain the cleaning material within or near the projections, is to provide the projections with microcapsules, wherein the cleaning material is contained by the microcapsules. When the 20 foot 4 is placed against the projections and is moved over and through the projections, mechanical forces are applied to the microcapsules. As a result, the microcapsules will break and release the cleaning material. Other ways of releasing the cleaning material may be possible as well.

A size and composition of a wall of the microcapsules is not 25 considered critical. The microcapsules for example have a spherical shape with a diameter in a range from 10 to 1000 micrometer. Various options known to the skilled person can be used for making the microcapsules, so that a further description is deemed superfluous. The microcapsules may be made of a similar material as contained by the projections.

9

The mat 2 may be provided for example in a washable variant or in a disposable variant. In case the mat is provided with the microcapsules, a disposable variant may be preferred.

The invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described 5 and, within the purview of the skilled person, modifications are possible which may be considered within the scope of the appended claims. It may be clear that the mat may be used for cleaning two feet, or two hands, at the same time. Also, the mat may be arranged for cleaning other body parts, such as a back of the user, in addition or as an alternative to cleaning hands and/or feet. 10 Equally all kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and to be within the scope of the present invention. The use of expressions like: “typically”, “preferably”, “in particular”, “especially”, etc. is not intended to limit the invention. The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Features which are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed 15 may be additionally included in the structure according to the present invention without deviating from its scope.

Claims (11)

A hand and / or foot cleaning mat provided with a support having a first main surface and a plurality of flexible protrusions connected to the support, the protrusions extending from the first main surface of the support in a direction transverse to the first main surface, wherein the protrusions cover a portion of the first main surface that is large enough to make contact with the hand and / or the foot, and wherein the protrusions are adapted to reach, in use, a space between fingers and / or toes of the hand and / or foot, the protrusions being woven into the carrier. Mat according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions comprise a spongy material. 3. Mat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusions comprise a mesh-shaped material, which material preferably contains polyethylene and / or polyacrylic. 4. Mat as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, wherein the protrusions extend at least over a distance of at least two centimeters from the first main surface, measured in a direction perpendicular to the first main surface. Mat according to any of claims 1-4, provided with a cleaning agent. 25 Mat according to claim 5, provided with microcapsules, wherein the cleaning agent is in the microcapsules. Mat according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the microcapsules with the cleaning agent therein are located in or on the protrusions. The mat of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the carrier is made of a flexible material, such as rubber or a woven material. 9. Mat according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the carrier is provided with drainage openings for draining water from the first main surface. 10. Mat as claimed in any of the claims 1-9, wherein the carrier has a second main surface which is opposite the first main surface, wherein the carrier on the second main surface is provided with fixing means for fixing the mat against a wall or a floor. 11. Mat as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fixing means comprise at least one suction cup and / or at least one suspension loop. 20