Absorption and marking of a potentially dangerous substance

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for absorbing and marking a potentially dangerous substance on the ground, the device including: an elongate hollow body, the inner walls of which define a storage space in which a powder is stored which is capable of absorbing the substance when the powder comes into contact with the substance, the storage space leading into an opening for pouring the powder onto the substance in order to neutralize the substance, a base on which the lower end of the body is directly or indirectly mounted, the base projecting laterally relative to the body so as to form a marker in order to position the device on the ground in a stable manner and to mark the presence of the absorbed substance on the ground.

Claims

1. A device for absorbing and indicating a potentially hazardous product on the floor, said device comprising: a longilinear hollow body the interior walls of which define a storage volume wherein a powder, able to limit or eliminate all the potentially hazardous effects or reactions of said product when said powder comes into contact with said product, is stored, said storage volume opening onto an opening for pouring out said powder out under gravity onto said product in order to absorb said product, a standing support on which the lower end of said body is directly or indirectly mounted, said standing support projecting out laterally with respect to said body to form a warning cone so that said device can be stood stably on the floor thus indicating the presence of said product on the floor.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening is closed by a removable cap.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening is closed by a detachable seal.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening is equipped with a pouring spout to make it easier for the powder to be poured out under gravity onto said product.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening opens onto the lower face of said standing support, said lower face facing said floor when the standing support is resting on said floor.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said standing support has: a wall extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said body, and peripheral rims extending substantially at right angles to said wall to serve as a support against the floor, said peripheral rims forming, with said wall, a closed volume when said standing support is resting on the floor through said rims.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising, on the periphery of said standing support, at least one housing wherein a protective film, able to be unwound to at least partially cover said product on the floor, is housed, notably when the surface area of product on the floor is greater than the surface area of said standing support.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the standing support comprises fold-out panels housed under the standing support, said panels being able to be folded out in order to at least partially cover the product on the floor.

9. The device as claimed in any claim 1, comprising a grip formed on an exterior wall of said body to make said device easier to grasp notably when pouring said powder out under gravity onto said product.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising an anchor formed on an exterior wall of said body to attach a link so that said device can be linked with at least one other absorption and signaling device so as to delimit on the floor a zone containing a potentially hazardous product.

11. A method comprising absorbing a potentially hazardous product and indicating the presence of the potentially hazardous product on the floor using a device for absorbing and indicating a potentially hazardous product on the floor, said device comprising: a longilinear hollow body the interior walls of which define a storage volume wherein a powder, able to limit or eliminate the potentially hazardous effects or reactions of said product when said powder comes into contact with said product, is stored, said storage volume opening onto an opening for pouring out said powder out under gravity onto said product in order to absorb said product, a standing support on which the lower end of said body is directly or indirectly mounted, said standing support projecting out laterally with respect to said body to form a warning cone so that said device can be stood stably on the floor thus indicating the presence of said product on the floor.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the device is used in a store.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the device is used in an industrial environment.

14. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said opening is equipped with a pouring spout to make it easier for the powder to be poured out under gravity onto said product.

15. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said opening is equipped with a pouring spout to make it easier for the powder to be poured out under gravity onto said product.

16. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said opening opens onto the lower face of said standing support, said lower face facing said floor when the standing support is resting on said floor.

17. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said opening opens onto the lower face of said standing support, said lower face facing said floor when the standing support is resting on said floor.

18. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said standing support has: a wall extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said body, and peripheral rims extending substantially at right angles to said wall to serve as a support against the floor, said peripheral rims forming, with said wall, a closed volume when said standing support is resting on the floor through said rims.

19. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said standing support has: a wall extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said body, and peripheral rims extending substantially at right angles to said wall to serve as a support against the floor, said peripheral rims forming, with said wall, a closed volume when said standing support is resting on the floor through said rims.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinbelow, with reference to the appended FIGS. 2 to 6, which illustrate an entirely nonlimiting embodiment and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art caution floor sign;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically depicts a perspective view of a device for absorbing, neutralizing and signaling a potentially hazardous product according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically depicts a view of an absorption, neutralizing and signaling device according to FIG. 2, from beneath;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically depicts a cross section of an absorption, neutralizing and signaling device according to FIG. 2;

(6) FIGS. 5a-5b-5c-5d-5e schematically depict the use of an absorption, neutralizing and signaling device according to FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically depicts several absorption, neutralizing and signaling devices joined together by a safety cord in order to delimit a potentially hazardous zone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) A device for absorbing, neutralizing and signaling a potentially hazardous product according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in what follows with reference jointly to FIGS. 2 to 6.

(9) Remember that one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a practical tool that allows a potentially hazardous product to be simultaneously absorbed, neutralized and signaled.

(10) The example described here relates mainly to an application in a DIY store.

(11) It will be appreciated here that this is one example of one application from among many and that quite obviously the present invention can find other applications in other fields such as the prevention of risks, notably chemical risks, in an industrial environment or in a public place, such as, for example, in a railway station or underground station.

(12) In the example described here, we consider the situation in which a pot of paint has fallen by accident into an aisle of a DIY store.

(13) A paint P spilled on the floor S of the aisle of the store constitutes a risk both to the customers and to the staff of the store.

(14) Specifically, it is possible to slip if walking on the paint P that is spilled on the floor S. In this case, it is essentially a bodily risk, even though ingestion of a paint may also represent a health risk.

(15) The paint P therefore takes the form of a potentially hazardous product within the meaning of the present invention.

(16) The person responsible for safety, for example in this instance the head of department, is therefore immediately alerted.

(17) As recalled hereinabove, the objective for the head of department is first of all to absorb the paint P on the floor S and then to signal to third parties the presence of this paint P on the floor S.

(18) The purpose of the absorption phase is to avoid a bodily accident if, for example, a customer or a staff member steps on the paint P on the floor and slips.

(19) Absorption here consists in bringing the (liquid) paint into solid or granular form.

(20) Conventionally, use is made of sawdust, which is not effective and is not very practical for the reasons mentioned hereinabove.

(21) Here, absorption of this paint P using a powder 20 of the POLYCAPTOR type is preferably contemplated.

(22) Such a powder 20 is intended to combat any type of accidental spreading of the liquid product. On contact with a potentially hazardous product such as paint, the composition of this powder 20 makes it possible to absorb any type of product using a minimum quantity and at a cost that is lower than that of the absorbent powders currently marketed.

(23) Moreover, the composition of this powder 20 is not hazardous (it is non-toxic, non-irritant, non-allergenic, and not eco toxic), unlike certain products currently marketed.

(24) This powder of the POLYCAPTOR type is therefore particularly suited to the use we wish to make of it in our exemplary application.

(25) Quite obviously, a person skilled in the art will understand here that the use of other types of absorbent powder may be envisioned in the context of the present invention.

(26) It is also possible by way of example to envision another situation in which the content of a bottle of hydrochloric acid has been spilled on the floor.

(27) Such bottles are generally sold in DIY stores, notably for unblocking sinks.

(28) It will be appreciated here that hydrochloric acid here constitutes a potentially hazardous product P within the meaning of the present invention.

(29) Specifically, there is a health risk which could arise if, for example, the acid P were to come into contact with a customer's skin.

(30) It is also possible to imagine an accidental inhalation or ingestion of this acid P.

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

(32) What is meant here by neutralize is limit or even eliminate all the potentially hazardous effects or reactions of the product. For example, in the case of an acid, it involves bringing the pH up to a value of between 5 and 10, or even bringing the pH value up to 7.

(33) Here, in order to absorb and neutralize the acid P on the floor, the use of a powder 20 of the TRIVOREX type is therefore preferably contemplated.

(34) Quite obviously, a person skilled in the art will understand here that the use of other types of absorbent and neutralizing powder may be envisioned within the context of the present invention.

(35) Thus, in order to spread this powder 20 onto the product P (paint or acid) to absorb and possibly neutralize this product, a device 100 is provided in the context of the present invention.

(36) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the device 100 according to the present invention comprises a longilinear hollow body 10 of cylindrical shape.

(37) In this example, the interior walls 10a of the cylinder define a storage volume V1 enabling storage of the powder 20.

(38) Provision may be made for this cylinder to be made of cardboard and for the interior walls 10a of the cylinder to be covered with a protective film to isolate the powder from the rest.

(39) Provision may also be made for this film to be fire retardant.

(40) In the context of a use with POLYCAPTOR or TRIVOREX, such a film is not necessary.

(41) In the example described here and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, this volume V1 opens onto an opening 12 closed by closure such as, for example, a removable cap 13 or a detachable seal 13.

(42) From a practical standpoint, the head of department, responsible for keeping the zone safe, grasps hold of the device 100 and removes the cap 13 or detaches the seal 13 in order to open the opening 12 (see FIG. 5a).

(43) In the example described here, this opening 12 opens onto the lower face 30a of the standing support 30.

(44) The pouring out of the powder 20 under gravity onto the product P allows the product P to be absorbed and possibly neutralized almost immediately.

(45) In the example described here, the head of department holds the device 100 by grip 40 such as a grab handle 41 which is formed on the exterior wall 10b of the cylinder (see FIG. 5b).

(46) This handle 41 makes it easier to pour out the powder 20 under gravity onto the product P on the floor S.

(47) If need be, the standing support 30 of the device 100 which projects out laterally with respect to the body 10 may be used like a shovel to spread the powder 20 correctly over the paint P on the floor (see FIG. 5c).

(48) Next, all the head of department needs to do is place the standing support 10 on the paint P mixed with the powder 20 or next to it (see FIG. 5d).

(49) The standing support 30 and the body 10 together form a warning cone.

(50) All the operator needs to do is place the lower face 30a of the standing support 30 on the floor S.

(51) The standing support 30 gives the cone stability on the floor S, and the hollow body 10, the exterior wall 10b of which may comprise suitable signaling elements, signals the presence of the (neutralized and absorbed) product P on the floor S.

(52) In the example described here and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the standing support 30 has a wall 31 extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis A of the hollow body 10, and peripheral rims 32 which extend substantially at right angles to the wall 31.

(53) These rims 32 are used to rest the standing support 30 on the floor S.

(54) Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the peripheral rims 32 form, with the wall 31, a volume V2 which is closed when the standing support 30 is resting on the floor S.

(55) It is thus possible to render the potentially hazardous product inaccessible and to enclose it when the product is covered with the standing support 30.

(56) This is particularly advantageous when the surface area occupied by the product P on the floor S is smaller than the surface area occupied on the floor by the standing support 30 when the standing support 30 is placed on the floor S.

(57) However, when the surface area occupied by the product P on the floor S is greater than the surface area occupied on the floor by the standing support 30 when the standing support 30 is placed on the floor S (as is the case in FIG. 5d), provision is made within the context of the present invention for the device 100 to comprise a protective film 34 which can be deployed in order to cover the entirety of the remaining area protruding beyond the standing support 30.

(58) For preference, this film is extensible.

(59) In the example described here, this film 34 is housed in a housing 33 formed preferably on the periphery of the upper face of the standing support.

(60) Other alternatives to the extensible film 34 may be contemplated, such as, for example, deployment of foldable cardboard panels housed under the standing support 30 (and not depicted here).

(61) Finally, if the product P has spilled over too large an area, it is possible to use several devices 100.

(62) Anchor 50, such as hooks 51, are thus provided, these being formed on the exterior wall 10b of the body 10 of each device 100.

(63) The head of department may then physically link together several devices 100 using a cord 60 so as to delimit a danger zone on the floor S (FIG. 6).

(64) Preferably, the body 10 is made from a transparent or semitransparent material.

(65) Alternatively, the body 10 comprises a window along the entire length of said body, this window acting as a gauge.

(66) In either instance, it is possible for the head of department to see whether there is any powder 20 left.

(67) Thus, the device 100 that forms the subject of the invention takes the form of an indispensable tool for ensuring safety and preventing risks in stores.

(68) It meets both the safety and prevention standards and the requirements incumbent on those involved to ensure this safety and this prevention: it is practical, simple to use, a 2-in-1 object, takes up little space, etc.

(69) The presence of the product P on the floor S is therefore signaled up to the end of the day.

(70) The device can then be used to clear up the product on the floor (not depicted here).

(71) Given the qualities of this device, it will be readily appreciated that it will find other advantageous applications such as, for example, use in an industrial context for providing safety and prevention in an industry in which the employees regularly handle hazardous products (automotive industry, chemical industry, steel making industry, etc.).

(72) Other applications may also be contemplated such as, for example, with doctors or vets to absorb and signal liquids on the floor following, for example, discharges of urine.

(73) It should be pointed out that this detailed description relates to one particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention but that this description does not in any way constitute any form of limitation on the subject matter of the invention; quite the contrary, its objective is to set aside any potential inaccuracy or misinterpretation of the claims which follow.