Flocked three-dimensional network mat

Claim 1

A flocked mat especially suited for pedestrain traffic particularly to wipe wet and/or dirty feet, said mat comprising: (1) a web formed of a three-dimensional, lofty, open, porous, network comprising strands of water-resistant, organic polymer material generally defining connecting open spaces capable of receiving dirt, said web being at least 0.5 cm in thickness, having a void volume of at least about 75% and being resiliently compressible underfoot by about at least 10% of its thickness; (2) a continuous backing layer of organic polymeric material having a thickness on the order of 0.2 to 2.5 mm attached to one major surface of said web and forming one major surface of said mat; (3) a resinous water-resistant bonding adhesive substantially entirely coating the surfaces of said strands of said network without filling said open spaces substantially throughout said web; and (4) water-resistant, wear-resistant organic textile flocking material having a denier in the range of about 0.5 to 25 and a length in the range of about 0.25 to 2.5 mm and being uniformly distributed substantially throughout said web and adhesively bonded to said web by said resinous bonding adhesive substantially entirely covering the surfaces of each of said strands of said network substantially without filling said open spaces to provide a flocked web capable of providing a wiping surface for dirt and water, receiving, obscuring and holding dirt therein and facilitating the evaporation of water.