AU5011699A - A mat - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 6 9 9 999.

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ORIGINAL

Applicant(s): ADVANCE FLOORING COMPANY Actual Inventor(s): Peter C Macintyre; John D Macintyre and Lincoln P Macintyre Address for Service: PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES 26 Ellingwor-th Parade Box Hill Victoria 3128 Australia Title: A MAT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- IP Australia Documents received on: 2 2 SEP 1999 Batch No: A Mat TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to mats, to be placed upon surfaces that are stood upon or :walked upon, 5 and more particularly applies to mats for use in removing dirt from feet or shoes such as beside doors.

BACKGROUND

Doormats have been known and used for many many years and commonly are made from a woven, wear-resistant coarse plant fibre material such as coconut fibre. The woven structure 10 provides a substantial base upon which an array of bristles pointing upwards is located. The bristles perform the task of removing dirt from shoes and the like; the dirt and moisture falls down between the bristles and is beaten out from time to time. There are a number of disadvantages to this type of mat, particularly in relation to mats of large size and to the effect of age and use on the appearance of the mat. We have produced an improved doormat comprising i a set of interlocking aluminium extrusions; each extrusion carrying a number: of strips of an artificial fibrous mat material; each strip being separated by visible areas of aluminium. This type has the advantages of pleasing appearance, ability to be cut to size, and the dirt tends to move sideways to lie upon the aluminium from where it can be picked up by a vacuum cleaner.

However this type of mat is relatively rigid and should the mat be damaged and bent during transit or during use, it is relatively difficult to flatten it. This is disadvantageous.

OBJECT

It is an object of this invention to provide a mat which will obviate or minimise the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION In a first aspect the invention provides a mat, having an upper and a lower surface; the mat being comprised of an array in one or two dimensions of a plurality of substantially flat panels; each .:.panel bearing on an upper surface a coating of durable material, and each panel being capable of being joined to the or each adjacent panel by means of a flexible separator.

10 Preferably each panel is substantially rigid.

Preferably each panel is rectangular.

Preferably each panel is attached at a lower surface to a separator; the separator being capable of flexibly holding any one border of a panel at a controlled separation or fixed distance from an adjacent border of a neighbouring panel, when the mat is in a substantially flat configuration.

15 Preferably the separators and the controlled separation allow the mat to be rolled up for transport or storage purposes.

Optionally each panel is attached at a side surface to a separator.

Preferably fastening means is provided for attaching each panel to a separator: the fastening means being reliant on the property of resilience of the flexible separator in order to permit reversible attachments to be made.

Optionally the fastening means comprises an adhesive.

Optionally the fastening means comprises a pin passing through the separator and into the panel.

Optionally the flexible separator comprises a substantially flat though flexible member capable of receiving and retaining one or more panels into prepared recesses upon the upper surface.

Preferably each panel has the form of a shallow tray so that at least some wear is applied to the upper borders of the tray before the durable material is worn away.

Preferably one or more edges of each tray can function as a scraper Optionally a mat of desired dimensions can be manufactured by using a selected number of rows and columns of panels.

In a second aspect the invention provides, optionally, a kit of parts capable of being assembled to form a mat according to any one of the above paragraphs, wherein the kit of parts includes at least one panel as set forth above, at least one flexible separator, and means for attaching the ai least one flexible separator to the at least one panel.

0o Optionally each of the panels provided in the kit of parts may be provided in one colour selected from a range of colours.

Optionally the kit of parts may comprise a plurality of separators, the panels for which are to be selected separately at the time of purchase.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 1 The preferred embodiments to be described and illustrated in this specification are provided S purely by way of example and are in no way intended to be limiting as to the spirit or the scope of the invention.

Fig 1: shows a panel for use in a mat made according to the invention.

Fig 2: shows a cross section through a part of a panel according to the invention.

Fig 3: shows an assembled mat as seen from above, including panels and portions of separators.

Fig.4: shows an assembled mat as seen from above, including the separators as if the panels were transparent.

Fig 5: shows a cross section of two panels and a separator (adhesive style).

Fig 6: shows- a cross section of a panel and a. separator (fastener style).

Fig 7: shows a surface view of a separator (fastener style).

Fig shows two alternative panel shapes.

Fiz 9: is a view as in Fig 6 of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Fig 10: is a plan view of an aternative separator.

Fig 11: is a cross-section of A A in Fig 10, and Fig 12: is a side elevation of a pin for use in Figs 9 to 11.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without 10 departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

The mat of the invention is generally intended for use as a doormat, although it may also be used as a kind of "industrial- level bathmat" such as in institutions, in public 3wimming- pools, or by invalids; and it may be used for safety purposes in factories such as beside machinery. It may be used in cars as a floor mat.

As is shown in Figs I and 2. the mat is composed of a number of individual substantially flat panels, each panel being held apart after- assembly at a controlled separation or fixed distance from a-aeighbouring panel by a separator when the mat is in a substantially flat configuration.

Flexi'bility of the separator permits -the mat as a whole to be flexible and so be capable of being rolled up for transport or storage. Flexibility also decreases the risk that the flatness of the mat may be damaged by heavy impact, perhaps during transport or use, and flexibility allows the mat to sit flat on a somewhat non-flat substrate.

The mat has an upper surface typically adapted for the removal of grime from feet (or possibly simply to provide a gripping surface which may or may not involve the use of fibrous material) and has a lower surface intended to be laid upon a flat foundation such as a floor or a recessed well beside a doorway.

The mat may be considered as an array in one or two dimensions of a plurality of flat substantially rigid panels; each panel (Fig 1) having the shared task of performing the functions Sof a door mat and hence, typically, bearing a coating of durable material 101 on an upper 10 surface. The durable material may be fibrous, or other material such as rubber. Each panel may be constructed as a flat tray having raised edges 102, and a central area 101 devoted to attachment means for the material 101. Figs 1 and 2 show a typical panel 100 from above and in section. Generally the raised edges 102 are not raised by much, as indicated by the proportions in the drawing. One or more edges of each tray can be shaped so as to function as a S 15 scraper, so that large lumps of dirt adherent to a foot can be scraped off into the channel between one panel and adjoining panels, and then smaller amounts of dirt can be rubbed away by the material 100.

We prefer to construct each panel by casting aluminium or an alloy of other metals suitable for casting, although other materials such as a selected plastics material may be used as a replacement Weight within each panel helps the mat to stay in place and if a plastics material was used to construct each panel, it might be useful to include within the plastics material a heavy filler such as titanium dioxide (white), or irons and (black). On the other hand a light mat has some advantages. The fibrous material 101 may be glued-down "Coral" or similar specialised carpeting.

Although square panels (Fig 1, Fig 3, Fig 4) are generally preferred, rectangular panels (see Fig 8) may be preferable in some applications such as for reasons of aesthetic appearance, or in order to enhance the rollability" of the panel into a cylinder having an axis along the longer axes of the rectangular panels 801. Possibly, triangular panels 802 (also in Fig 8) might be used to give three possible axes of rolling. For any design it is useful to maintain clear-lines such as are shown in the top view of a mat as Fig 3 at 301...301 right across the entire mat in order to give "potential crease lines". Any one mat might be composed of both square and rectangular panels; usually organised in a systematic way as rows of panels; some of which rows may be made of panels of different ratios of width to length. Mats intended for cars trucks or buses may include a variety of panel shapes.

Separators are used to hold each panel at a predetermined distance (when flat) from its neighbours. The predetermined distance is intended for providing a consistent appearance, and for providing channels 503) for dirt to fall into. Separators (Fig 4, Fig 5, Fig 7) may be 10 comprised of rubber, or may be cast or moulded from a plastics material. A material selected for use as a separator should have flexibility, and resilience is a further advantage because resilience lends itself to the development of attachment means such as buttons 601 and 603 engaging in recesses (Figs 6 and Rigid separators fitted with hinges are a further possible solution. However reliance on properties of a bulk material is simpler, more durable, and corrosion-resistant than hinges.

Each panel 100, 501 is attached, usually from the underneath surface, to a separator 402, 403, 502. 602 which for the most part comprises a flat layer beneath the individual panels. The attachment method may be an adhesive, (as in fig 5) useful for factory-configured mats in particular, or as shown in fig 6 the fastening method may rely on some form of interlocking connections such as buttons 601, 603; particularly for the user-configured series of mats. These connector buttons (shown in surface view on a single separator in Fig 7) may be shaped so as to fit securely into holes 605 in the panels. We have shown pairs of lugs (601, 603), the use of which should tend to restrain any tendency of panels to slide sideways in relation to other rows, although other arrangements involving single lugs may be adequate. Alternatively, nuts and bolts, self-tapping screws, or some other attachment means may be used. A single flexible separator may be made that comprises a flat though flexible surface capable of receiving and retaining one or more panels into prepared recesses upon the upper surface. Optionally, interlocking components may be provided.

In the embodiment of Fig 9, the separators 901 are provided with depressions 902 on the underside thereof. An aperture is provided through the separator 901 at 903 through which a pin 904 may be passed so that the head 905 thereof becomes positioned in the depression 902. The stem 906 of the pin passes through the separator and into a receiving depression 907 in the underside of the panel 100.

Depressions 908 may also be provided on the upper side of the separator which are provided with protuberances 909 which in use is positioned in the depressions 908 to aid stability.

q. Fig 12 shows a pin 904 which is provided with an enlarger head to provide a tight fit of The pin 10904 into the depression 907 which may be shaped in complementary fashion or the pin may pass part 102 if desired.

In Fig- 10 an enlarged separator 1000 is provided which can engage six panels 100 (as shown pecked) which helps to inhibit skewing of the finished mat.

According to this invention a kit of pars capable of being assembled to form a mat could be sold, wherein the kit of parts could be of predetermined numbers that will become a mat of a I certain area. Alternatively, a purchaser may be able to select individual panels from a range by colour, surface type, shape, or size and then also purchase a corresponding set of separators.

Although a glue-capable surface is simpler to manufacture, there may be advantages in providing a domestic purchaser with the capability to assemble mats of a desired size, shape, and colour arrangement, such as to include the street number, or the company logo. This approach also allows for the replacement of panels after wear. In particular, if a,'panel becomes permeated with tar (for example), it could be removed for cleaning and soaked in a tar solvent, or simply replaced. Furthermore, the "grade" or kind of surface in a given panel might be adjustable according to position or Likely kind of dirt. For example the panels closer to 'outside" might be metal dirt-scraper types and the panels closer to "'inside" might have fibrous or bristly surfaces.

Claims (18)

1. A mat, having an upper and a lower surface; the mat being comprised of an array in one or two dimensions of a plurality of substantially flat panels; each panel bearing on an upper surface a coating of durable material, and each panel being capable of being joined to the or each adjacent panel by means of a flexible separator.

2. A mat as claimed in claim 1 wherein each panel is substantially rigid.

3 A mat as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein each panel is rectangular.

4. A mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each panel is attached at a lower surface to a separator; the separator being capable of flexibly holding any one border lo of a panel at a controlled separation or fixed distance from an adjacent border of a neighbouring panel, when the mat is in a substantially flat configuration.

5. A mat as claimed in claim 4 wherein the separators and the controlled separation allow the mat to be rolled up for transport or storage purposes.

6. A mat as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 wherein each panel is attached at a side surface to a separator. i

7. A mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a fastening means is provided for attaching each panel to a separator; the fastening means being reliant on the property of resilience of the flexible separator in order to permit reversible attachments to be made.

8. A mat as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fastening means comprises an adhesive.

9. A mat as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fastening means comprises a pin passing through the separator and into the panel.

A mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible separator comprises a substantially flat though flexible member capable of receiving and retaining one or more panels into prepared recesses upon the upper surface.

11. A mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each panel has the form of a shallow tray so that at least some wear is applied to the upper borders of the tray before the durable material is worn away.

12. A mat as claimed in claim 11 wherein one or more edges of each tray can function as a scraper.

13. A mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a mat of desired dimensions can be manufactured by using a selected number of rows and columns of panels.

14. A mat substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A kit of pars capable of being assembled to form a mat according to any one of the above claims, wherein the kit of pans includes at least one panel as set forth above, at least one flexible separator, and means for attaching the at least one flexible separator to the at least one panel.

16. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 15 wherein each of the panels provided in the kit of parts may be provided in one colour selected from a range of colours.

17. A kit of parts as claimed in either one of claims 15 and 16 wherein the kit of parts may comprise a plurality of separators, the panels for which are to be selected separately at the time of purchase.

18. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 15 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 22nd day of September 1999 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for ADVANCE FLOORING COMPANY