A void mat for stopping gaps around floor penetrations

Abstract

A specialised void mat is designed to effectively seal gaps around service penetrations within floors. The mat consists of two main components: a sleeve and a base that interfaces with the sleeve. The base is generally planar and features a central aperture to connect with the sleeve's edges. The sleeve extends from one side of the base and can be made by stitching together separate material sheets. The mat is designed to address gaps around penetrations, like pipes or conduits, on construction sites. The mat's functionality involves a side closure to accommodate the penetration into the sleeve and a distal closure to securely enclose the penetration. To use the mat, the side closure is opened, the penetration is inserted sideways into the sleeve, and then the side closure is closed. Subsequently, the distal closure is also closed around the penetration, sealing the gap effectively.

1 . A void mat for stopping gaps around floor penetrations, the mat comprising a sleeve and a base interfacing the sleeve, wherein the mat comprises a side closure configured for receipt of a penetration into the sleeve and the sleeve having a distal closure comprising a pair of distal strips configured to fasten together for closing around the penetration, wherein the edges of the side closure comprise the base having base strips that fasten together and the sleeve comprises side strips which fasten together and continue from the base strips respectively, wherein the base strips overlap flat and wherein the side strips have an outer strip and an inner strip, the outer strip having greater width than the inner strip and the outer strip configured to fold around the inner strip. 
     
     
         2 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein distal portions of the sleeve are configured to fasten together around penetrations of various diameters. 
     
     
         3 . The mat as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the strips define a closed end away from the side closure and an open end interfacing the side closure. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The mat as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the pair of strips are configured so that respective distal ends thereof fasten together either side of the penetration. 
     
     
         6 . The mat as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the strips have fasteners which allow the strips to fasten together anywhere along facing surfaces thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The mat as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the strips comprise hook and loop fasteners respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The mat as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the strips have sufficient length to fasten together around penetrations having a diameter of up to approximately 325 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The mat as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the strips have a length of greater than 500 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side closure is configurable in an open configuration to receive the penetration therethrough and a closed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The mat as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein edges of the side closure are configured to fasten together. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base strips comprise hook and loop fasteners respectively. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer and inner strips comprise hook and loop fasteners respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mat comprises a mesh material. 
     
     
         18 . The mat as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the mesh material is fire rated. 
     
     
         19 . The mat as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the mesh material is semitransparent. 
     
     
         20 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strips have high visibility colouring. 
     
     
         21 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises edge fastener apertures. 
     
     
         22 . The mat as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the base comprises edge strips, the strips having the fastener apertures therethrough. 
     
     
         23 . The mat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises edge strips, the edge strips having high visibility colouring. 
     
     
         24 . A method of stopping a gap around a floor penetration using the void mat as claimed in  claim 1 , the method comprising opening the side closure, inserting the penetration sideways therethrough into the sleeve, closing the side closure and closing the distal closure.