Absorption, signaling and picking up of a potentially hazardous product

Abstract

A device for absorbing, signaling and picking up a product on a floor, the device including: a slender hollow body whose inner walls define a storage volume in which is stored a powder able to absorb the product, where the storage volume opens through an opening for pouring the powder by gravity; a stand on which one end of the body is mounted for forming a signaling marker, where the stand includes a substantially flat base projecting radially relative to the body in order to place the device stably on the floor; and wherein the base includes at least two detachable parts which can be used for picking up a residue formed by the powder and the product.

Claims

1. A device for absorbing, signaling and picking up a product on a floor, said device comprising: a slender hollow body whose inner walls define an enclosed storage volume in which is stored a powder able to absorb said product, where said enclosed storage volume comprises an opening for pouring said powder by gravity; and a stand on which one end of said body is mounted for forming a signaling marker, where said stand comprises a substantially flat base projecting radially relative to said body in order to place said device stably on the floor, wherein the base comprises at least two detachable parts which can be used for picking up a residue formed by said powder and said product.

2. The device for absorbing, signaling and picking up according to claim 1, wherein the base of the stand is formed of a polymer.

3. The device for absorbing, signaling and picking up according to claim 1, wherein the enclosed storage volume also contains a bag suitable for receiving the residue formed by said powder and said product and/or a pair of gloves.

4. The device for absorbing, signaling and picking up according to claim 1, wherein the base has a precut at each junction between a detachable part of the base and the base, suited for making the detachment of the detachable part from the base easier.

5. The device for absorbing, signaling and picking up according to claim 1, wherein the slender hollow body is substantially cylindrical and the radial extension of the base is larger than the diameter of the cylinder.

6. The device for absorbing, signaling and picking up according to claim 1, wherein each detachable part has a surface area greater than a third, preferably greater than a quarter of the surface area of the base.

7. A method for absorbing, signaling and picking up said product which is a potentially hazardous product on the floor using the device according to claim 1, comprising: pouring said powder by gravity through said opening of said slender hollow body whose inner walls define said enclosed storage volume in which is stored said powder able to absorb said product when said powder enters into contact with said product; signaling of said product, using the signaling marker formed by said stand on which the lower end of said body is mounted, where said stand comprises said substantially flat base projecting radially relative to said body in order to place said device stably on the floor and to signal the presence of said product on the floor; picking up said residue formed by said powder and said product using at least two detached parts from said base; and optionally, pouring said residue into a bag previously taken out of the slender hollow body, wherein the slender hollow body is substantially cylindrical and the radial extension of the base is larger than the diameter of the cylinder.

8. A method for absorbing and signaling the presence on the floor of said product which is a potentially hazardous product using at least one device according to claim 1, comprising: pouring said powder by gravity through said opening of said slender hollow body whose inner walls define said enclosed storage volume in which is stored the powder able to absorb said product when said powder enters into contact with said product; and signaling of said product, using the signaling marker formed by said stand on which the lower end of said body is mounted, where said stand comprises a substantially flat base projecting radially relative to said body in order to place said device stably on the floor and to signal the presence of said product on the floor.

9. The device for absorbing, signaling and picking up according to claim 1, wherein the base has a substantially square shape.

10. The device for absorbing, signaling and picking up according to claim 9, wherein each detachable part has a substantially triangular shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be seen from the following description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 attached which show it in an embodiment without any limiting nature and in which:

(2) FIG. 1a schematically shows a perspective view of a device for absorption, neutralization, signaling and picking up a potentially hazardous product according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 1b schematically shows a section view of a device for absorption, neutralization, signaling and picking up according to FIG. 1a;

(4) FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e schematically show the use of a device for absorption, neutralization, signaling and picking up according to FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 schematically shows several devices for absorption, signaling and picking up connected to each other by a safety rope for marking off a potentially hazardous area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) A device for absorption, neutralization, signaling and picking up of a potentially hazardous product according to a sample implementation of the present invention is now going to be described in the following referring jointly to FIGS. 1 to 3.

(7) Recall that one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a practical tool with which to at once absorb, neutralize, signal and pick up a potentially hazardous product.

(8) The example described here principally relates to an application in a home improvement store.

(9) It will be understood here that it involves a sample application among others and obviously the present invention could find other applications and other fields like hazard prevention in particular chemical in industrial environment or in a public place like for example a train or Metro station.

(10) In the example described here, there is a situation in which a paint can has accidentally fallen in an aisle of the home improvement store.

(11) Paint P spilled on the floor S of the aisle of the store constitutes a hazard both for the customers and for the staff of the store.

(12) In fact it is possible to slide when walking on the paint P spilled on the floor S. Here it essentially represents a bodily hazard, even if ingestion of paint can also represent a health hazard.

(13) Here the paint P is therefore seen as a potentially hazardous product in the meaning of the present invention.

(14) The person responsible for safety, here for example the department head, is therefore immediately notified.

(15) As reviewed above the objective for the department head is, as a first step, to absorb the paint P on the floor S, then signal to third parties the presence of this paint P on the floor S and finally to pick up the product.

(16) The object of the absorption phase is to avoid a bodily accident if, for example, a customer or staff member walks on the paint on the floor and slips.

(17) Here absorption consists in bringing the paint (liquid) to a solid or granular state.

(18) Conventionally, sawdust is used, which is not very effective and not very practical for the reasons previously raised.

(19) A powder 20 of the “POLYCAPTOR®” type sold by the Prevor company is therefore preferably provided for the absorption of this paint P.

(20) Such a powder 20 is intended to combat any type of accidental spreading of liquid product. Upon contact with the potentially hazardous products such as paint, the composition of this powder 20 allows it to absorb any type of product by using a minimum quantity and at a lower cost than that of absorbent powders currently on the market.

(21) Further, the composition of this powder 20 is not hazardous (e.g. nontoxic, nonirritating, hypoallergenic and non-ecotoxic), unlike some other products currently sold.

(22) This “POLYCAPTOR®” type product is therefore particularly appropriate for the use that we want to make of it in the sample application.

(23) Obviously, the person skilled in the art will understand here that the use of other types of absorbing powder could be considered in the context of the present invention.

(24) As another example one can anticipate another situation in which the contents of a bottle of hydrochloric acid is spilled on the floor.

(25) Such bottles are generally solid in home improvement stores, in particular for unclogging drains.

(26) It is understood here that hydrochloric acid constitutes here a potentially hazardous product P in the meaning of the present invention.

(27) There is in fact a health hazard which could occur if, for example, the acid P came into contact with the skin of a customer.

(28) One can also imagine an accidental inhalation or ingestion of this acid P.

(29) In this specific case, the department head therefore needs to absorb and neutralize potential harmful and toxic chemical effects of the acid P on the floor S.

(30) Here, neutralize is understood to mean limiting or even eliminating all the potentially hazardous effects or reactions of the product. In particular, for an acid, it involves returning the pH to a value included between 5 and 10, even the value of the pH to 7.

(31) Here, for absorbing and neutralizing the acid P on the floor, the use of a powder 20 of “TRIVOREX®” type sold by the PREVOR company is therefore preferably intended.

(32) Obviously, the person skilled in the art will understand here that the use of other types of absorbing and neutralizing powder could be considered in the context of the present invention.

(33) This powder 20 mixed with the product on which it is poured forms a solid residue.

(34) To spread this powder 20 on the product P (paint or acid) in order to absorb and potentially neutralize this product and for finally picking up the residue, a device 100 is provided in the scope of the present invention.

(35) As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the device 100 according to the present invention comprises a slender hollow body 10 with cylindrical shape mounted on a stand 30. The stand 30 and the body 10 together form a signaling marker.

(36) In this example, the inner walls 10a of the cylinder define a storage volume V1 in which to store the powder 20.

(37) The cylinder could be made of cardboard. The cylinder may of course be of any other material, in particular a polymer such as polyethylene. The inner walls 10a of the cylinder can be covered with a protective film to separate the powder from the rest.

(38) This film can also be made fire resistant.

(39) In the context of use with “POLYCAPTOR®” or “TRIVOREX®” such a film is not necessary.

(40) In the example described here and shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, this volume V1 opens out near the top end of the body 10 when in vertical position, therefore opposite the stand 30 through an opening 12 closed by closure means such as for example a removable cap 13 or detachable seal 13′.

(41) In practice, the department head, responsible for securing the area, grabs the device 100 and removes the cap 13 or breaks the seal 13′ to clear the opening 12. The opening 12 is equipped with a pouring spout to make it easier to pour the powder 20 on said product P by gravity. Such a spout is helpful for properly controlling the amount of the powder poured onto the product.

(42) By pouring the powder 20 by gravity on the product P, it can nearly immediately be absorbed and possibly neutralized. A solid residue is then formed and the residue can be recovered and thrown out.

(43) In the example described here, the department head holds the device 100 by gripping means 40 such as a handgrip 41 which is provided on the outer wall 10b of the cylinder (see FIG. 2a).

(44) This handle 41 makes it easier to hold said device (100) in particular when pouring the powder 20 by gravity onto the product P on the floor S (see FIG. 2b). The outside wall 10b of the hollow body 10 may comprise signage parts suited to signaling the presence of the product P on the floor S.

(45) The base 31 of the stand is substantially flat and projects radially from said body 10 in order to be able to place said device 100 on the floor stably. The slender hollow body is substantially cylindrical and the radial extension of the base 31 is larger than the diameter of the cylinder such that the device 100 is stable when placed on the floor.

(46) The base 31 comprises at least two detachable parts 31a and 31b (FIG. 2c) which can be used for picking up the residue formed by said powder and said product (FIG. 2d). The geometry and sizes of the detachable parts 31a, 31b, relative to the rest of the base 31 is such that after removal of the detachable parts 31a and 31b, the signaling marker still remains stable on the floor. Each detachable part typically has a surface area greater than one third, preferably one quarter of the surface area of the base 31.

(47) It is understood from the description that the base could comprise a larger number of detachable parts so long as the marker remains stable after detaching the detachable parts.

(48) Precuts 32 make it easier to separate a detachable part 31a, 31b from the base 31.

(49) In a preferred embodiment, the base 31 has a substantially square shape as shown in FIG. 1a. The base 31 for example comprises two triangular-shaped detachable parts 31a and 31b which have similar dimensions. After detachment of the detachable parts 31a and 31b, the base 31 has a shape in the base plane substantially longitudinal which provides for the stability thereof.

(50) When the powder is poured on the paint P, the department head just needs to place the signaling marker beside the paint P and pick up the residue with the scoops thus formed.

(51) The base 31 and possibly the hollow body 10 are formed of polymer, preferably a recyclable polymer. The recyclable polymer is polyethylene or polypropylene, for example. Thus, the base 31 will not be damaged by the spilt liquid product.

(52) The body 10 and the stand 30 are structurally independent of each other, and said body 10 and said stand 30 each comprise means of securely connecting able to engage together for assembling securely said body 10 and said stand 30. This assembly can be done for example by nesting the body 10 into said stand.

(53) It is thus easy to store the device 100 for minimizing its bulk: the body 10 and the stand 30 are two separate pieces which nest one in the other by the means for secure connection described above.

(54) The storage volume V1 can also contain a bag 70. The storage volume can also contain gloves 60.

(55) In this case, the bag and the gloves are taken out of the storage volume. The user puts the gloves on. The residue 20, P is picked by the user and poured in the bag 70 which is then thrown out.

(56) Means of anchoring 50 can also be provided, such as hooks 51 arranged on the top wall 10b of the body 10 of each device 100.

(57) The department head can then physically connect several devices 100 to each other using a cord 60 in order to mark off the floor S in a danger zone (FIG. 3).

(58) Thus, the device 100, the subject of the invention, is seen as an indispensable tool for providing for safety and hazard prevention in stores.

(59) It addresses both the standards for safety and prevention and the requirements of people involved in providing that safety and prevention: practical, simple to use, three-in-one object, small size, etc.

(60) Considering the qualities of this device 100, it is easily understood that it will find other advantageous applications such as for example use in an industrial context for providing security and prevention in an industry in which the employees regularly handle hazardous products (e.g. automobile industry, chemical industry, steel industry, etc.).

(61) Other applications can also be conceived, such as for example in physician and veterinary offices for absorbing and signaling liquids on the floor after for example urine leaks.

(62) It should be observed that this detailed description covers one specific sample embodiment of the present invention, but in no case does this description put any limiting nature whatsoever on the invention; quite the opposite, its purpose is to dispel any possible imprecision or any misinterpretation of the following claims.