Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improved composition of floor coverings, utilizing bio-renewable materials, is disclosed. Floor coverings, or tacky mats, may be used in cleanroom environments to capture particulate matter from foot and equipment traffic. Bio-renewable materials may include thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends made from sustainable raw materials such as corn, tapioca, or the like. These bio-renewable materials may be blended and coextruded with synthetic or petro-based polymers. This reduces the environmental impact on production and disposal of the floor mat, while maintaining the physical and mechanical properties demonstrated by pure synthetic polymers.

Abstract: A support and storage device (10) for a plumber's plunger (100) wherein the device (10) includes a base unit (11) having a floor panel (21) connected to truncated cylindrical sidewalls (24) by a skirt element (25) to form a base housing member (20) wherein the bottom surface (22) of the floor panel (21) is provided with a plurality of support legs (23) and the top surface (28) of the floor panel (21) is provided with a plurality of drying ribs (40). In addition, the device (10) includes a front cover unit (12) adapted to cover one half of the base unit (11) and including a contoured front cover member (30) having a semi-cylindrical lower portion (31) and a semi-frustro conical upper portion (32) which covers almost the entire plunger (100) with the exception of the plunger handle (101).