DEBRIS AND LIQUID CATCH APPARATUS AND METHODS USING THE SAME

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for preventing the spread debris and collecting liquids from the surface of handheld tooling. The apparatus of the present invention is operable to provide a sanitation pad comprised of a plurality of peelable units which are capable of absorbing liquids (e.g., water, and oils) and collecting debris for preventing contamination to the immediate work environment. The units may be comprised of various layers and material thereby allowing for various handheld tooling applications.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting liquid and preventing the spread of debris comprising a plurality of absorbent and removable units, the apparatus comprising: a. a sanitation pad formed of said plurality of absorbent and removable units operable for supporting a utensil, said units each including i. an absorbent layer operable for collecting liquid from said tool or utensil; ii. a base layer capable of being impermeable to water adjacent to said absorbent layer; iii. an attachment mechanism operable to attach said base layer and said absorbent layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said absorbent layer may include a plurality of materials, including a liquid permeable top surface and an interior liquid absorbing material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid includes polar and nonpolar liquids.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base layer surrounds a perimeter of said absorbent layer and confines liquid within said perimeter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism includes an adhesive.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said adhesive is insoluble to polar liquids.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism includes textile stitching.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base layer and said absorbent layer comprise a biodegradable material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive operable to attach said plurality of units together to form said sanitation pad.

10. An apparatus operable to receive a sanitation pad, support a tool or utensil, and constructed to rest on a surface, comprising of: a. a base structure impermeable to water for placement on a surface; and b. a plurality of absorbent, disposable, and removable units connected together in a stack structure, wherein said units each comprise: i. an absorbent layer operable support said tool or utensil and absorb liquids and debris from said tool or utensil; ii. a structural layer impermeable to water; and iii. an adhesive operable to attach said plurality of units together to form a vertical stack of units.

11. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said rigid structure includes a cavity operable to nest said sanitation pad, wherein said cavity has an interior shape complementary to said sanitation pad.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said absorbent layer may include a composite of materials, wherein said composite is of a liquid permeable top surface layer and an underlying layer operable for absorbing said liquids.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said liquid includes polar and nonpolar liquids.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said base layer surrounds the perimeter of said absorbent layer and confines said liquid within the bounds of said perimeter.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said attachment mechanism may include an adhesive that is insoluble to polar liquids.

16. An apparatus for collecting liquid and preventing the spread of debris comprising a plurality of absorbent and disposable units, comprising: a. a sanitation pad formed of a plurality of absorbent and removable units operable for supporting an instrument, each unit including: i. a top layer operable for collecting debris and allowing the permeation of liquid; ii. an absorbent layer operable for collecting liquid from said instrument; iii. a base layer operable to nest said top layer and said absorbent layer; and iv. an adhesive operable to join said units to form said sanitation pad.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said instrument includes handheld tools, and utensils.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said absorbent layer may include a material operable to absorb liquids.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said liquid includes polar and nonpolar liquids.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein unit is comprised of a biodegradable material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows an environmental perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows an exploded side view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a trimetric perspective view with a cross-sectional view of a unit from an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of a unit of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows an environmental trimetric perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows an environmental and cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0029] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-8, it is seen that the present invention includes various embodiments of a debris and liquid catch apparatus, and methods of using the same.

[0030] Without limiting the invention, FIG. 1 shows an environmental perspective view of an apparatus operable for temporarily supporting a utensil 103 and an apparatus for preventing the spread of debris in a cooking or work area. The apparatus may be comprised of a plurality of units 100a which are stacked forming a sanitation pad 100. The sanitation pad 100 may be placed on a surface and is operable for supporting the sanitation pad 100 and the utensil 103. Each unit of the sanitation pad 100 may comprise a base layer 101 and an absorbent layer 102. The base layer 101 may further comprise two components: a basal layer 101a and an upper base layer 101b. The absorbent layer 102 may be operable to support a utensil 103 and collect excess debris and/or fluid from the utensil's usage. The basal layer 101a is further operable to corral liquids and prevent the spread from the surface of the utensil 103 and the absorbent layer 102. The plurality of units may be joined together using an adhesive applied, e.g., to the top surface of the upper base layer 101b. The adhesive may be sufficient strong to maintain the units of the sanitation pad 100 as a single cohesive unit, while still allowing a single unit to be peeled off the sanitation pad 100 by a human user.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of a single unit 100a of the sanitation pad 100, the apparatus comprised of two general units: a base layer 101 and an absorbent layer 102. The base layer 101 may comprise a basal layer 101a and an upper base layer 101b. The basal layer 101a and upper base layer 101b may be manufactured from materials that are rigid or semi-rigid, such that the base layer provided structure and shape to the unit 100a. In some embodiments, the basal 101a and/or the upper base layer 101b may be hydrophobic, and operable to contain any liquid collected from the instrument 103 within the absorbent layer 102.

[0032] The absorbent layer 102 may be attached to the basal layer 101a using an adhesive that is not water-soluble. The basal layer 101a and upper base layer 101b may be joined together using an adhesive; the adhesive type may vary as a dependent on the specific materials used. The absorbent layer 102 may be of a material operable for absorbing liquids, particularly polar liquids. In some embodiments, the base layer 101 may be of a biodegradable material, such as a cardstock, pasteboard, or other wood pulp based material or a biodegradable plastic (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactic acid, cellulose-based plastics, or other biodegradable plastic materials). In some embodiments, the basal layer 101a may be attached to the absorbent layer 102 using stitching.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows an environmental side view of a single unit of the sanitation pad 100. A portion of the utensil 103 (e.g., a handle) may rest on the surface supporting the sanitation pad 100. A surface, as an example, without limitation, may be a kitchen countertop, workbench, and eating area.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows an exploded side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, the basal surface 101a and the absorbent layer 102 may be bonded together with an adhesive. The upper base layer 101b may be positioned over the absorbent layer 102 and may be adhered to both the outer edge of the absorbent layer 102 and the basal layer 101a to sandwich the absorbent layer 102 between the basal layer 101a and upper base layer 101b to secure it in place. In some embodiments, and without limitation, the absorbent layer 102 and the upper base layer 101b may have about the same thickness, which may allow the top surface of the absorbent layer 102 and the upper base layer 101b to be flush when the structures are bonded. In other embodiments, the absorbent layer may have a thickness which is greater than the upper base layer.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of an apparatus operable for temporarily supporting a utensil and preventing the spread of debris in a work area, apparatus. The apparatus may be comprised of a plurality of units forming a sanitation pad 200. A single unit 200a may comprise a base layer 201a, absorbent layer 203, and a top layer 202. The base layer 201a may have a geometry operable for nesting both the absorbent layer 203 and the top layer 204 with the body itself. The absorbent layer 203 may be operable for absorbing liquids and may have a material that swells in volume when collecting the liquid. The top layer 202 may include a porous material operable for catching dirt and allowing the permeation of liquids through the medium of the material. The base layer 201a material may include a flexible biodegradable material (e.g., a bio-degradable plant-based material, such as a wood-pulp based product, or a bio-degradable polymeric material). The base layer 201a may also be hydrophobic and impermeable to fluids. The rim of the base layer 201a may have an adhesive applied on the lower surface to attach to the rim of the underlying base layer 201b in the stack of units 200a.

[0036] In some embodiments, the absorbent layer 203 may include a material of the hydrophilic type for absorbing polar fluids. In other embodiments, the absorbent layer 203 may include a hydrophilic material, such as wood pulp composite, cotton, bamboo, hemp, and a hydrophobic material, such as polyester, polyurethane, fibers coated in a hydrophobic material (e.g., silica nano-coatingalcohol suspensions of SiO.sub.2 nanoparticles) for absorbing hydrocarbons (e.g., automotive oils) which may drip from tooling.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a single unit of the pad of the apparatus of FIG. 5, the single unit 200a may be peeled off the pad and is operable to be used without being attached to the pad. The individual unit may include a base layer 201, absorbent layer 203, and a top layer 202. The materials and material properties are in the same as that of FIG. 5. The base layers 201, absorbent layer 203, and top layer 202 are attached using an adhesive. The adhesive may be insoluble to liquids. In some embodiments, the layers may be attached using stitching.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows an environmental perspective view of sanitation pad 200 nested in a housing or dispensing structure 205. The structure 205 may be operable for supporting a tool 206, and may be capable of receiving the sanitation pad 200. The structure 205 may have a geometry complementary to that of the sanitation pad 200. The structure 205 may be constructed of various materials (e.g., ceramic, plastics, wood, etc.) and may further be operable for supporting the tool 206 in an upright position allowing for gravity to assist the fluid from the surface of tool 206 to travel to the top layer 202 of the first unit of the sanitation pad 200.

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of the housing or dispensing structure 205 and showing the structure 205 supporting a utensil 204. Each of the units 200a in pad 200 may comprise of a base layer 201, top layer 202, and absorbent layer 203. The location 207 indicates the location of the adhesive applied to the rim of each of units in the pad 200. The adhesive utilized for joining each unit of the pad 200 may have sufficient strength to hold the units 200a together in the sanitation pad 200, while still allowing human user to peel the units 200a apart.

[0040] The figures provide an apparatus comprising of a plurality of units for preventing the spread of liquids and collecting debris, as well as providing a temporary support for utensils and tooling that include utilizing such apparatus. It should also be understood that the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.