Ion-generating floor covering and method for forming same

Abstract

The present invention provides a floor covering having a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment, and that includes a structure comprising an effective quantity of electrically polarizable, pyroelectric particles disposed substantially below that surface. A method for generating negative ions is also provided that includes positioning a flooring cover within a building, where the floor covering includes a surface that forms a boundary with the ambient environment of the building. The floor covering comprises an effective quantity of pyroelectrically polarizable material disposed no more than one millimeter from the surface, so that when a person or thing travels across that surface so as to frictionally heat the pyroelectrically polarizable material, negative ions are generated. Such generation of negative ions neutralizes or reduces odor, airborne bacteria, mold spores, pollens, and other harmful particles in the air.

1 . A floor covering comprising a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment and an effective quantity of electrically polarizable particles disposed substantially below said surface.  
   
   
       2 . A floor covering according to  claim 1  wherein a portion of said effective quantity of said electrically polarizable particles is exposed to said ambient environment.  
   
   
       3 . A floor covering according to  claim 2  including a wear layer positioned atop said surface so as to be located over said exposed portion of said electrically polarizable particles.  
   
   
       4 . A floor covering according to  claim 3  wherein said wear layer is less than one millimeter thick.  
   
   
       5 . A floor covering according to  claim 1  wherein said electrically polarizable particles are selected from the group consisting of tourmaline, serpentine and zeolite.  
   
   
       6 . A floor covering according to  claim 1  wherein said electrically polarizable particles exhibit pyroelectric characteristics.  
   
   
       7 . A floor covering according to  claim 1  wherein said electrically polarizable particles comprise a size in the range from about 0.25 to about 0.35 microns on average.  
   
   
       8 . A floor covering comprising an effective quantity of electrically polarizable particles disposed within a wear layer having a surface that forms a boundary with the ambient environment wherein said electrically polarizable particles are disbursed throughout said wear layer.  
   
   
       9 . A floor covering according to  claim 3  wherein said electrically polarizable particles comprise a size in the range from about 0.60 millimeters to about 0.8 millimeters on average.  
   
   
       10 . A floor covering according to  claim 8  wherein said electrically polarizable particles comprise a size in the range from about  0 . 25  to about  0 . 35  microns on average.  
   
   
       11 . A floor covering comprising: 
 a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment; and    an effective quantity of electrically polarizable particles disposed no more than one millimeter from said surface.    
   
   
       12 . A floor covering comprising an effective quantity of tourmaline particles disposed within a wear layer having a surface that forms a boundary with the ambient environment wherein said tourmaline particles are disbursed throughout said wear layer.  
   
   
       13 . A floor covering comprising: 
 a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment; and    an effective quantity of pyroelectric material disposed no more than one millimeter from said surface.    
   
   
       14 . A floor covering according to  claim 13  wherein a portion of said effective quantity of said pyroelectric material is exposed to said ambient environment.  
   
   
       15 . A floor covering according to  claim 14  including a wear layer positioned atop said surface so as to be located between said ambient environment and said surface so as to be disposed over said exposed portion of said pyroelectric material.  
   
   
       16 . A floor covering according to  claim 15  wherein said wear layer is less than one millimeter thick.  
   
   
       17 . A floor covering according to  claim 13  wherein said pyroelectric material is selected from the group consisting of tourmaline, serpentine and zeolite.  
   
   
       18 . A floor covering according to  claim 13  wherein said pyroelectric material comprises particles having a size in the range from about  0 . 25  to about  0 . 35  microns on average.  
   
   
       19 . A floor covering according to  claim 15  wherein said pyroelectric material is disbursed throughout said wear layer.  
   
   
       20 . A floor covering according to  claim 15  wherein said pyroelectric material comprises particles having a size in the range from about  0 . 60  millimeters to about . 8  millimeters on average.  
   
   
       21 . A floor covering according to  claim 15  wherein said pyroelectric material comprises particles having a size in the range from about  0 . 25  to about  0 . 35  microns on average.  
   
   
       22 . A floor covering comprising a surface that forms a boundary with air having a layer of tourmaline particles disposed no more than one millimeter from said surface.  
   
   
       23 . A floor covering comprising a surface that forms a boundary with air having a layer of tourmaline particles disposed substantially below said surface so that a portion of said tourmaline particles is exposed to said ambient environment.  
   
   
       24 . A floor covering comprising a layer having a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment and an effective quantity of electrically polarizable particles distributed throughout said layer.  
   
   
       25 . A floor covering according to  claim 24  comprising a wear layer positioned atop said surface so as to be located over an exposed portion of said electrically polarizable particles.  
   
   
       26 . A floor covering comprising a first layer having a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment and an effective quantity of electrically polarizable particles distributed throughout said first layer.  
   
   
       27 . A method for generating negative ions comprising the steps of: 
 (A) positioning within a building a flooring cover having; 
 (i) a surface that forms a boundary with the ambient environment of said building, and  
 (ii) including an effective quantity of pyroelectrically polarizable material disposed no more than one millimeter from said surface; and  
   (B) traveling across said surface so as to frictionally heat said pyroelectrically polarizable material.    
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein movement across said surface is at a rate of about one hundred and fifty centimeters per minute, at a pressure of about nine hundred and ninety-five mPa.  
   
   
       29 . A method for generating-negative ions comprising the steps of: 
 (A) traversing a flooring cover so as to frictionally engage a surface that forms a boundary with the ambient environment; and    (B) frictionally heating a pyroelectrically polarizable material located substantially below said surface.    
   
   
       30 . A floor covering comprising an effective quantity of pyroelectric particles selected from the group consisting of tourmaline, serpentine and zeolite, disposed within a wear layer having a surface that forms a boundary with the ambient environment and is no more than one millimeter thick, wherein said pyroelectric particles are disbursed throughout said wear layer and comprise an average size in the range from about 0.60 millimeters to about 0.8 millimeters.  
   
   
       31 . A floor covering according to  claim 30  wherein said pyroelectric particles comprise an average size in the range from about 0.25 to about 0.35 microns.  
   
   
       32 . A floor covering comprising: 
 at least two laminated layers;    a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment; and    an effective quantity of pyroelectric material disposed adjacent to said surface.    
   
   
       33 . A floor covering comprising: 
 at least two layers that are laminated together;    a surface that forms a boundary with an ambient environment; and    an effective quantity of pyroelectric material disposed throughout at least one of said layers.