WO2007059598A1

WO2007059598A1 - Method for suppressing floor odour in trucks

Info

Publication number: WO2007059598A1
Application number: PCT/CA2005/001779
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dany Marquette
Original assignee: Dany Marquette
Priority date: 2005-11-23
Filing date: 2005-11-23
Publication date: 2007-05-31

Abstract

An improved flooring product for cargo carrying vehicles, the flooring product (22) comprising a plurality of rubber fragments bonded together, and an odour suppressing material added to said flooring product. A preferred odour suppressing material is vanilla, present in amount of between 0.5% and 2.5% by weight.

Description

METHOD FOR SUPPRESSING FLOOR ODOUR IN TRUCKS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and more particularly, relates to a method

for reducing odour in closed trucks and an improved flooring for the closed trucks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The floor structure of vehicles designed to carry cargo will vary depending upon the

end use thereof and the cargo which is to be transported. Generally, the vehicle will

include structural components forming a portion of a frame structure and which is

designed to carry or support a floor. The floor is conventionally formed of a metallic or

wood material which is supported by the structural components. It is also known in the art

to use various types of plastic and it is also known to provide inserts or liners which will sit

on the original floor provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle.

As aforementioned, the particular floor can vary depending upon the cargo which

will be carried. However, problems are universally encountered with the floors. In the

case of vehicles having a wood floor, the wood frequently breaks and must be replaced.

Metallic floors can deform and even fracture necessitating replacement.

A further problem associated with conventional floors and particularly in closed

bodies is some form of contamination of the floor.

Thus, many trucks are used to haul a wide variety of materials. Typically, a truck

will haul a first type of goods in one direction, and on the return trip will carry a different

type of cargo. When both types of cargo are "clean", problems generally do not arise.

However, frequently breakage or leakage or indeed, the very nature of the goods will cause

contamination of the vehicle. After delivery of such goods, the vehicle must be decontaminated by scrubbing the same. Naturally, with some types of flooring such as

wood, the decontamination is incomplete and an odour can remain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flooring material for trucks and

which flooring material is easily cleanable and resists odours.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flooring

material formed of rubber fragments bonded together, the layer of rubber fragments being

secured to a base structure, the layer of rubber fragments also containing an odour

suppressing material.

As used in herein, a vehicle is generally utilized to designated cargo carrying

vehicle. The vehicle may be a truck having a cargo carrying floor. It is also intended to

include trailers such as those forming a portion of a tractor trailer unit.

The term rubber fragment, as utilized herein, will generally include both natural and

synthetic rubbers and other suitable elastomeric materials having the desired physical

properties.

In the preferred embodiment, the vehicle will have a structure wherein there is

provided a frame which frame will usually include longitudinal extending frame members

as well as transversely extending frame members. The floor is placed on top of these

frame members and is suitably secured thereto.

The lower layer may be either formed of metallic or wood material. In the case of a

metallic material, aluminum is conventionally used although other materials and/or alloys

thereof may be employed. In the instance wherein wood is employed, it is generally a composite manufactured

wood product typically having a thickness of between 15 and 30 mm. The composite

wood product would normally consist of layers of a material such as oriented strand board

or plywood. Preferably, the underside is treated with a material to prevent moisture

penetration therethrough, and to this end, materials such as a fiberglass coating may be

employed.

The upper layer, is formed of the rubber material. A preferred rubber material is

that such as shown in published Canadian Patent Application S.N. 2,501,794.

The odour suppressing material may be selected from materials known to those

skilled in the art, such materials being widely used for different purposes. A preferred

material is vanilla, which may either be natural or synthetic. The vanilla would be

incorporated in the rubber mixture in an amount of between 0.5% and 2.5% by weight. It

has been found that the vanilla provides a neutral odour suppressing capability. The vanilla

is incorporated on a batch basis and may be either liquid or a powder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the

accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view , partially in cutaway, of a vehicle employing the

flooring of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partially in cutaway, of the floor of the cargo carrying

portion of the vehicle; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in Figure 1, there is illustrated a vehicle 6 which has a tractor 8 and a

trailer 10. The floor structure on the trailer is generally designated by reference

numeral 12.

Flooring structure 12 includes a plurality of transversally extending C-shaped frame

members 14 and which are enclosed by inverse L-shaped members 16 as is known in the

art.

Flooring structure 12 includes a bottom layer 20 which may be formed of any

suitable material such as a wood or metallic material. Secured to bottom layer 20 is a top

layer 22; top layer 22 is secured by means of an adhesive 24.

Top layer 22 has incorporated therein an odour suppressing material and which

odour suppressing material preferably comprises either a natural or synthetic vanilla

material present in an amount of between 0.5% to 2.5% by weight.

It will be understood that normally the flooring of the present invention is in a

closed van structure as this is the situation wherein odours are generally a problem. In a

preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flooring is supplied as rectangular

segments and typically, in a cargo carrying van, up to 10 or more segments may be fitted

together to form the surface forming layer of the flooring. Depending on the length of the

vehicle, anywhere between 8 to 12 such rectangular segments are employed. In such an

instance, generally only 2 of the segments will utilize the odour suppressing material with

the remainder being a conventional arrangement without the odour suppressing material. It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of

illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without

departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A flooring product suitable for use on a vehicle 10, the flooring product (22)

comprising:

a base 20 formed of a load bearing material, an upper layer (22) formed of rubber

fragments bonded together, said upper layer (22) being secured to said base, at least a

portion of said upper layer (22) having an odour suppressing material added thereto.

2. The flooring product of Claim 1 wherein said odour suppressing material is vanilla.

3. The flooring product of Claim 2 wherein said odour suppressing material is present

in an amount of between 0.5% and 2.5% by weight.

4. The flooring product of Claim 3 wherein said vanilla is present in only a portion of

said upper layer.

5. The flooring product of Claim 1 wherein said base (20) is formed of a material

selected from a metallic material and a wood material.

6. The flooring product of Claim 5 wherein said base is a wood material.

7. The flooring product of Claim 6 wherein said odour suppressing material is vanilla.

8. The flooring product of Claim 7 wherein said vanilla is present in an amount of

between 0.5% and 2.5% by weight.

9. In a vehicle having an enclosed cargo carrying section, the improvement wherein

said cargo carrying section (10) has a flooring which includes a upper layer (22) formed of

rubber fragments bonded together, at least a portion of said upper layer having an odour

suppressing material added thereto.

10. The improvement of Claim 9 wherein said odour suppressing material is vanilla,

said vanilla being present in an amount of between 0.5% and 2.5% by weight.

11. The improvement of Claim 10 wherein said flooring comprises a plurality of

segments, only a portion of said segments containing vanilla.

12. A method for suppressing the odour in an enclosed cargo carrying portion of a

vehicle, the method comprising the step of placing a layer of bonded rubber fragments on a

floor of said cargo carrying section, at least a portion of said layer of rubber fragments

having an odour suppressing material incorporated therein.

13. The method of Claim 12 wherein said odour suppressing material is vanilla.

14. The method of Claim 13 wherein said vanilla is present in an amount of between

0.5% and 2.5% by weight.

15. A flooring product suitable for use on a trailer, said flooring product comprising

rubber fragments bonded together, and an odour suppressing material incorporated in said

flooring product.

16. The flooring product of Claim 15 wherein said odour suppressing material is

vanilla, said vanilla being present in an amount of between 0.5% and 2.5% by weight.