GB2154447A - Improved mat - Google Patents

Abstract

Bath mats, shower mats and so forth are frequently made of a foam material, and suction cups (3) are attached in rows by welding on the underside for safety of the user. In accordance with the invention, the suction cups (3) are formed with individual backing panels (6) applied to the underside of the mat, the backing panels (6) being manufactured in strips with the adjacent panels held together by frangible connections, for example frangible links or lines of weakness to facilitate tearing, whereby the suction cups (3) may be readily applied in rows or individually. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved Mat This invention relates to mats, and particularly to bath or shower mats which have suckers, usually in the form of suction cups, on the underside.

With certain types of mat material, particularly foamed plastics, the suckers are normally applied to the underside of the mat and permanently secured by welding or otherwise bonding to the mat material. The suckers in such cases are separately manufactured and are normally made in strips, e.g.

of seven suckers, of a determinate length. This arrangement introduces a design constraint on such mats since the lines of suckers are of a predetermined length and are straight. This constraint can be overcome by cutting the sucker strips, but this results in an extra step, which is labour-intensive, and in waste of the unused part of the strip.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mat having suckers in the form of suction cups permanently applied on the underside, in which the suction cups are formed with individual backing panels applied to the underside of the mat, the backing panels being manufactured in strips with the adjacent panels held together by frangible connections, for example frangible connecting links or lines of weakness for ease of tearing, whereby the suckers may be readily applied in rows or individually.

The mat is thus made without the necessity for the suckers or suction cups to be in rectilinear rows of predetermined length, since individual suckers may readily be pulled from the strips to form shorter rows or indivual suckers as required.

The suckers are preferably produced by conventional injection moulding and could be manufactured in various weldable materials.

By comparison with the conventional method, the operation of cutting sucker strips into various lengths, is no longer required, thus reducing the work content of the mat and reducing cutting scrap.

Also, the appearance of the mat is improved because material flow is aliowed to take place between the suckers, when these are spaced and joined by links, resulting in reduced air entrapment and a more upright sucker form. Further, the improvement in the condition of the sucker form leads to improved suction performarice in use.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a strip of suckers and suction cups integrally moulded with backing panels and having the individual backing panels joined by integrally moulded frangible connections, such as connecting links or lines of tearing weakness.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical form of mat in accordance with the invention, showing one end rolled back to reveal the suckers; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a row of suckers separable in accordance with one form of the invention; and Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views showing alternative modes of providing separable suckers.

The mat shown in figure 1 is of a foamed plastic material and is in the form of a rectangular bath mat.

During manufacture the material is compressed, welded and pierced to form rows of holes 2, and it is also compressed and welded at the periphery and where required for the application of strips of suckers 3. This welding of compressed foam material results in a localised reduction of thickness.

The welding is necessary to prevent water entry into the interior of the mat after in use via the exposed edges of the mat at the holes and periphery of the mat. It also facilitates the attachment of the suckers and serves to improve the aesthetic appeal of the mat.

The suckers 3 are visible at the turned back end of the mat illustrated, and it will also be seen that the reduction in thickness of the mat along the rows of suckers gives rise to a grid pattern of longitudinal and transverse lines 4 and 5 respectively.

The mat illustrated in figure 1 is of a generally conventional type with the difference that the suckers are formed in separable strips with individual backing pads which are applied to the mat.

Turning now to figure 2, it can be seen that the suckers or suction cups 3 are mounted on individual backing pads 6, and the individual backing pads 6 in the row are joined by pairs of frangible links 7, so that the backing pads 6 may be readily separated from each other and the suction cups thus applied to the mat individual or in short rows or strips. In particular, individual application of fairly closely spaced suction cups will enable arcuate lines to be readily formed.

Figure 3 shows an alternative construction, in which adjacent pads 6 are joined by a line 8 of reduced thickness material to provide a line of weakness to facilitate tearing.

In figure 4, the adjacent pads 6 are linked by three frangible links 7, rather than two as shown in figure 2.

The suckers are preferably produced by conventional injection moulding and could be manufactured in various weldable materials.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. A mat having suckers in the form of suction cups permanently applied on the underside, in which the suction cups are formed with individual backing panels applied to the underside of the mat, the backing panels being manufactured in strips with the adjacent panels held together by frangible connections, whereby the suction cups may be readily applied in rows or individually.

2. A mat as claimed in claim 1, in which the frangible connections are formed by frangible connecting links.

3. A mat as claimed in claim 1, in which the frangible connections are formed by lines of weakness to facilitate tearing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved Mat This invention relates to mats, and particularly to bath or shower mats which have suckers, usually in the form of suction cups, on the underside. With certain types of mat material, particularly foamed plastics, the suckers are normally applied to the underside of the mat and permanently secured by welding or otherwise bonding to the mat material. The suckers in such cases are separately manufactured and are normally made in strips, e.g. of seven suckers, of a determinate length. This arrangement introduces a design constraint on such mats since the lines of suckers are of a predetermined length and are straight. This constraint can be overcome by cutting the sucker strips, but this results in an extra step, which is labour-intensive, and in waste of the unused part of the strip. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mat having suckers in the form of suction cups permanently applied on the underside, in which the suction cups are formed with individual backing panels applied to the underside of the mat, the backing panels being manufactured in strips with the adjacent panels held together by frangible connections, for example frangible connecting links or lines of weakness for ease of tearing, whereby the suckers may be readily applied in rows or individually. The mat is thus made without the necessity for the suckers or suction cups to be in rectilinear rows of predetermined length, since individual suckers may readily be pulled from the strips to form shorter rows or indivual suckers as required. The suckers are preferably produced by conventional injection moulding and could be manufactured in various weldable materials. By comparison with the conventional method, the operation of cutting sucker strips into various lengths, is no longer required, thus reducing the work content of the mat and reducing cutting scrap. Also, the appearance of the mat is improved because material flow is aliowed to take place between the suckers, when these are spaced and joined by links, resulting in reduced air entrapment and a more upright sucker form. Further, the improvement in the condition of the sucker form leads to improved suction performarice in use. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a strip of suckers and suction cups integrally moulded with backing panels and having the individual backing panels joined by integrally moulded frangible connections, such as connecting links or lines of tearing weakness. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical form of mat in accordance with the invention, showing one end rolled back to reveal the suckers; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a row of suckers separable in accordance with one form of the invention; and Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views showing alternative modes of providing separable suckers. The mat shown in figure 1 is of a foamed plastic material and is in the form of a rectangular bath mat. During manufacture the material is compressed, welded and pierced to form rows of holes 2, and it is also compressed and welded at the periphery and where required for the application of strips of suckers 3. This welding of compressed foam material results in a localised reduction of thickness. The welding is necessary to prevent water entry into the interior of the mat after in use via the exposed edges of the mat at the holes and periphery of the mat. It also facilitates the attachment of the suckers and serves to improve the aesthetic appeal of the mat. The suckers 3 are visible at the turned back end of the mat illustrated, and it will also be seen that the reduction in thickness of the mat along the rows of suckers gives rise to a grid pattern of longitudinal and transverse lines 4 and 5 respectively. The mat illustrated in figure 1 is of a generally conventional type with the difference that the suckers are formed in separable strips with individual backing pads which are applied to the mat. Turning now to figure 2, it can be seen that the suckers or suction cups 3 are mounted on individual backing pads 6, and the individual backing pads 6 in the row are joined by pairs of frangible links 7, so that the backing pads 6 may be readily separated from each other and the suction cups thus applied to the mat individual or in short rows or strips. In particular, individual application of fairly closely spaced suction cups will enable arcuate lines to be readily formed. Figure 3 shows an alternative construction, in which adjacent pads 6 are joined by a line 8 of reduced thickness material to provide a line of weakness to facilitate tearing. In figure 4, the adjacent pads 6 are linked by three frangible links 7, rather than two as shown in figure 2. The suckers are preferably produced by conventional injection moulding and could be manufactured in various weldable materials. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A mat having suckers in the form of suction cups permanently applied on the underside, in which the suction cups are formed with individual backing panels applied to the underside of the mat, the backing panels being manufactured in strips with the adjacent panels held together by frangible connections, whereby the suction cups may be readily applied in rows or individually.

2. A mat as claimed in claim 1, in which the frangible connections are formed by frangible connecting links.

3. A mat as claimed in claim 1, in which the frangible connections are formed by lines of weakness to facilitate tearing.

4. A mat as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, in which the suckers are produced by injection moulding.

5. A mat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. A strip of suckers comprising suction cups integrally moulded with backing panels and having the individual backing panels joined by integrally moulded frangible connections.

7. A strip of suckers as claimed in claim 6, in which the frangible connections are formed by frangible connecting links.

8. A mat as claimed in claim 6, in which the frangible connections are formed by lines of weakness to facilitate tearing.

9. A strip of suckers as claimed in claim 6,7 or 8, in which the suckers are produced by injection moulding.

10. A strip of suckers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.