Self-Cleaning Entry Mat

Abstract

A self-cleaning entry mat is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the self-cleaning entry mat includes a mat housing, a grate opening provided in the mat housing, a grate seated in the grate opening and at least one collecting drawer extendable from the mat housing and positional between closed and opened positions. The collecting drawer is positioned beneath the grate opening when in the closed position.

1 . A self-cleaning entry mat, comprising:
 a mat housing;   a grate opening provided in said mat housing;   a grate seated in said grate opening; and   at least one collecting drawer extendable from said mat housing and positional between closed and opened positions, wherein said collecting drawer is positioned beneath said grate opening when in said closed position.   
   
   
       2 . The self-cleaning entry mat of  claim 1  wherein said collecting drawer is either a front collecting drawer or a side collecting drawer. 
   
   
       3 . The self-cleaning entry mat of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of bristles provided on said grate. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The self-cleaning entry mat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of drawer rails carried by said mat housing and;   a plurality of drawer slides carried by said at least one collecting drawer and slidably engaging said plurality of drawer rails, respectively.   
   
   
       6 . The self-cleaning entry mat of  claim 1  wherein said mat housing comprises:
 a pair of housing sides;   a housing front and a housing rear extending between said pair of housing sides; and   a housing bottom and a housing top carried by said pair of housing sides, said housing front and said housing rear, and
 wherein said one collecting drawer comprises 
   a front collecting drawer extendable from said housing front or a side collecting drawer extendable from one of said pair of housing sides.   
   
   
       7 . The self-cleaning entry mat of  claim 1  further comprising a vacuum device interfacing with said collecting drawer. 
   
   
       8 . A self-cleaning entry mat, comprising:
 a mat housing having a pair of housing sides, a housing front and a housing rear extending between said pair of housing sides and a housing bottom and a housing top carried by said pair of housing sides, said housing front and said housing rear;   a grate opening provided in said housing top of said mat housing;   a grate seated in said grate opening;   a drawer opening provided in said housing front or side of said mat housing;   a collecting drawer extendable from said drawer opening and positional between closed and opened positions, said collecting drawer positioned beneath said grate opening when in said closed position;   a filter screen provided on said drawer; and   a vacuum device provided in said mat housing and having an inlet interfacing with said filter screen when said collecting drawer is in said closed position.