ROLL-UP MODULAR DOORMAT

Abstract

A roll-up modular doormat that has a plurality of slats (1) that can be attached to one another, wherein each slat (1) is formed by a body (1.1) having an upper covering surface (2) that has a cleaning surface (3), and wherein the slats are coupled such that they can be detached from one another by rotating one slat relative to the adjoining slat at a predetermined minimum detachment angle (8).

Claims

1. A roll-up modular doormat comprising a plurality of slats (1) coupled to one another by coupling means (4, 5) located on sides of the plurality of slats (1), wherein each slat (1) of the plurality of slats is formed by a body (1.1) comprising an upper covering surface (2) that has a cleaning surface (3), wherein the coupling means (4, 5) allow the plurality of slats (1) to be detached from one another by rotating the each slat (1) of the plurality of slats relative to an adjoining slat according to a predetermined minimum detachment angle (8).

2. The roll-up modular doormat according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined minimum detachment angle (8) between the slats (1) is greater than or equal to 90.

3. The roll-up modular doormat according to claims 1, wherein the coupling means (4, 5) are configured to allow an inward roll-up of the doormat with the cleaning surface (3) facing the outside.

4. The roll-up modular doormat according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means (4, 5) are in the form of two hooks (4.1, 5.1) complementary to one another between one side of a slat (1) and the side of the adjoining slat (1).

5. The modular doormat according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slats (1) located at the ends of the doormat in the usage position have terminations (6) configured to be adapted to the surface on which they are placed.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a modular doormat having a profile with four slats coupled to one another and in the usage position on a flat surface.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the profile of a slat of the modular doormat with the coupling means on both sides of the body.

[0021] FIGS. 3 and 4 show two profiles of slats according to the way of detaching by means of rotation, at an angle smaller than the detachment angle that allows a certain degree of freedom without the slats being detached.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows two profiles of slats that have been released after exceeding the detachment angles of the preceding figure.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a section view of the modular rolled-up doormat with all the slats coupled to one another, according to a practical embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The figures correspond to non-limiting examples of practical embodiments, and variants in the structure of the system are possible provided that the essence thereof, i.e., the provision of a roll-up modular doormat with coupling means (4, 5) that allow the slats (1) to be detached from one another upon reaching or exceeding a pre-established minimum detachment angle (8), is not altered. Each slat (1) of the doormat is formed by a body (1.1) with an upper surface (2) and a cleaning surface (3), coupling means (4, 5) on the sides of the body (1.1), with side being considered as the longer lateral parts of the body (1.1) which allow the slats (1) to be detached from one another at a predetermined minimum detachment angle (8).

[0025] The slats (1) have an upper surface (2) on which there is located a cleaning surface (3) in the form of fabric or the like which performs the functions of cleaning the soles of shoes stepping on same. This fabric can be adhered to the body (1.1) or introduced laterally by means of sliding to form part of the slat (1). In the opposite part, i.e., on the inner or lower surface (2.1) of the body (1.1), at least one flat section will be arranged as the lower support (2.1) of the slat (1). Optionally, this lower support (2.1) can be adhered to the surface on which it is located and thereby prevent the movement thereof.

[0026] The cleaning surface (3) arranged in the upper part (2) of the body (1.1) is preferably made of an elastic material with a finish such as a rough surface or protuberances of any type. One embodiment would be a surface with rectangular strips of a semirigid plastic, which would be arranged perpendicular to the upper surface (2) of the body (1.1).

[0027] The roll-up modular doormat is made up of a plurality of slats (1), which are attached to one another by coupling means (4, 5). An embodiment of the modular doormat with four slats (1) in its usage position, arranged in a parallel manner one after another, can be seen in FIG. 1. Said figure shows the doormat such that the upper surface (2) of all the slats (1) form a coplanar surface parallel to the floor on which the cleaning surfaces (3), arranged in or on the upper surface (2), have a texture and shape allowing the cleaning of shoes when one walks or shuffles their feet on same.

[0028] An embodiment of a single slat (1) where the coupling means (4, 5) are complementary to one another, particularly, in the form of a hook, can be seen in FIG. 2. The coupling means (5) on one side of a first slat (1) is in the form of a coupling hook (5.1) projecting towards the outside of the body (1.1) from the side thereof, whereas the coupling means (4) are in the form of a cavity in the body (1) itself with a termination in the form of a coupling hook (4.1).

[0029] Both coupling means (4 and 5) and their corresponding coupling hooks (4.1, 5.1) are complementary in the usage position, such that the hooks (4.1, 5.1) are coupled to one another in a complementary manner to allow their correct coupling in the usage position.

[0030] Additionally, said configuration of the hooks (4.1, 5.1) allows detachment for disassembly by means of a relative rotation between one slat (1) and the adjoining slat, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. To that end, the starting point is a usage position in which the upper surface (2) of both slats form a coplanar surface parallel to the floor. For detachment, both slats must be rotated relative to one another, with respect to the coupling means (4, 5) coupling them as a point of rotation. When a detachment angle (8) is exceeded, both slats (1) are released by allowing a linear separation movement between both coupling hooks (4.1, 4.5) and both slats (1) are released accordingly, as can be seen in FIG. 5.

[0031] The inner or lower surface (2.1) can be completely flat and closed, which would facilitate manufacture, or it can have only a flat part and be open, which would lead to material savings and weight reduction. The figures show this second embodiment in the first figures. In both cases, it must have at least of one part that offers a flat support surface as the lower surface (2.1) of the modular doormat. The embodiment in which the inner surface (2.1) is open can be seen in FIGS. 1-5, whereas FIG. 6 shows the embodiment in which it is closed.

[0032] The degree of freedom of the coupling means (4, 5) can be seen in FIG. 3, where both slats (1) form an angle, but are not detached from one another since this angle is smaller than the predetermined detachment angle (8), depicted in FIG. 5. It can also be seen that these angles, which are those achieved when rolling up the doormat in FIG. 6, start from a maximum angle between the slats (1) in the centre of the spiral formed when rolling up the doormat.

[0033] Preferably, the detachment angle (8) between the upper surfaces (2) of both coupled slats (1) is 90, and more preferably more than 108.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a rolled-up doormat, once coupling between the slats (1) forming the doormat has been performed. The doormat is rolled up, leaving the upper surface (2) of the doormat facing the outside of the spiral which is formed when rolling up the doormat due to the position of the coupling means (4, 5). In other words, rolling up is performed on the inner or lower faces (2.1) of the body (1.1).

[0035] In this embodiment, the slats (1) arranged at the ends of the doormat have terminations (6) on their side, instead of the coupling means (4, 5) which would not be used. The purpose of these terminations (6) is to adapt to the surface on which the doormat is arranged, particularly in the case of FIG. 6, it would be for a doormat arranged in a recess, such that the flat extension formed by the termination (6) rests on the floor surrounding the doormat.

[0036] Alternatively, it could be a termination (6) with a hinge that will allow tilting and creating a ramp at the ends of the doormat to make it easier for wheeled objects to go up same.

[0037] In a rolled-up embodiment not shown in the figures, the termination (6) of the slat (1) may be fitted in the inner or lower surface (2.1) of another body (1.1) of a slat (1) forming the roll. An example of this embodiment, according to the roll shown in FIG. 6, the slat (1) having the termination (6) could be anchored to the lower surface (2.1) of the body (1.1) of the slat (1) which is five positions apart, if said body (1.1) had an open configuration, for example, similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0038] According to another embodiment, coupling means (4, 5) are formed by an extension projecting from the body (1.1) substantially parallel to the upper surface (2) of the body (1.1), and with a final shape substantially perpendicular to the straight front part, forming the coupling hook (4.1, 5.1). Optionally, the final shape can be in two sections slightly angled with respect to one another in a V shape, which would form the coupling hook (4.1, 5.1) in a more retentive manner.

[0039] The coupling means (4, 5) according to the preceding embodiment has a prolongation perpendicular to the body (1.1) that is long enough to allow the rotation of the slat (1) to the detachment angle (8) without obstruction. Additionally, a recess may be present on the lower surface (2.1) of the body (1.1) which facilitates the rotation of both bodies (1.1) to the prefixed detachment angle (8).

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, one of the coupling means (4, 5) can be an inner cavity in the body (1.1) formed by a coupling hook (4.1, 5.1) that emerges from the inside of the body (1.1) and the end of which is coplanar with the side wall of the body (1.1). Alternatively, the inner wall of the cavity or the end of the coupling hook (4.1, 5.1) can be slightly tilted towards the inside of the cavity in order to improve the complementary fixing of the coupling means.