GB2171902A

GB2171902A - Floor mat

Info

Publication number: GB2171902A
Application number: GB08506114A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Atkin
Original assignee: Cannon Rubber Ltd
Current assignee: Avent Ltd
Priority date: 1985-03-08
Filing date: 1985-03-08
Publication date: 1986-09-10
Also published as: GB8506114D0; GB2171902B

Abstract

A floor mat comprising a base made from water impermeable material, the base comprising a shallow well, and a piece of carpet material disposed within the well in the base wherein the thickness of the carpet material is substantially equal to or less than the depth of the well. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Floor mat The present invention relates to a floor mat and particularly, but not exclusively, to a vehicle floor mat.

Vehicle floor mats made from a moulded rubberised material are well known. These mats are designed to be laid inthewell ofa vehiclefloorto protect the carpeting material in the vehicle from wear and to collect dirt, water etc. brought in on the driver or passenger's feet.

It is also known to provide carpet mats for vehicles which generally have a more pleasing appearance that rubber mats but which have the disadvantage that they tend to move around the vehicle floor and that they are not particularly good at retaining dirt or other material left on the mat bythe user.

It is also known to provide a vehicle mat which is made predominantly of moulded rubberised material and which has one or more sections of ca rpet adhered to the rubberised material. This mat is more pleasing in appearance than a rubber mat but is not effective in collecting dirt etc. left by the user's feet.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a matwhich is an improvement on the known mats mentioned above.

According to the present invention we provide a floor mat comprising a base made from relatively hardwearing water impermeable material, the base comprising a shallow well, and a piece of carpet material disposed within the well in the base wherein the thickness ofthe carpet material is substantially equal to or less than the depth ofthe well.

Disposition of the carpet piece within a well formed in the base ofthe mat renders the mat more effective in collecting dirt and other debris left by the user's feet whilst retaining the pleasing appearance of a carpet mat.

The base may comprise a plurality of carpetted wells and mayfurthercomprisea raised partwithin or adjacent the or each well and which is not covered by carpet material. For example, the raised part of the relatively hardwearing material ofthe base may be for the purpose of providing a heel pad forthe driver. In known manner, the raised part may be configured for collecting water and debris left by the user's feet.

The base may comprise a plurality of shallow wells divided by raised parts of the base, each well containing a piece of carpet material. Thus, various mat designs can be achieved.

Ion a particular embodiment, adjacent borders of a raised part ofthe base and the carpet material are shaped with complementary interlocking formations.

Thisfeature hasthe advantage of visually blending the marginal areas of carpet material and base material thereby improving the overall appearance of the mat.

Preferably, the base is made from rubber or plastics material. In particular, a moulded rubberised material may be used.

A particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the mat according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along lines ll-ll of figure 1.

Avehiclefloor mat is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a base 12 formed from a moulded rubberised material. The base 12 is formed with a rim 14 and two sunken areas forming shallowwells 16 and 18 which, together, cover a major part of the surface area ofthe base 12. The base also comprises a central patterned raised part20 provided with large gripping and strengthening ribs 22 on its underside. Small ribs 24 are provided on the underside ofthe wells 16 and 18 ofthe base 12to improve gripping ofthe mat lOon vehiclefloorcarpeting.

Disposed within the two wells 16 and 18 inthe base 12 are two pieces of carpet 26 and 28 respectively. The undersides ofthe carpet pieces 26 and 28 are adhesively attached to the base 12. The thickness of the carpet pieces 26 and 28 lies substantially within the depth ofthewells l6and 18 in the base 12 sothatthe mat 10 holds dirt and other debris left by the user's feet.

A recess is provided inthe carpetpiece 26to accommodate a second raised part 30 of the base bearingthe name orlogo ofthe manufacturerorthe vehicle model fox which the mat 10 is designed.

Alternatively,the carpet piece 26 could be embroidered with the vehicle manufacturer's name or logo.

It will be understood that various configurations for the base and the carpet pieces may be adopted. For example,the base may beconfigured so asto comprise a peripheral rim bordering a single shallow well extending overthe remainder of the surface of the base with a single piece of carpet disposed within and covering the well. The base of the mat may comprise a relativelywide upstanding rim defining the or each well and the rim may be spaced inwardly from the borderofthe mat.

In a case where the base is provided with one or more raised parts, these may be of any desired shape and pattern. Moreover, the or each raised part ofthe base may have castellated borders and the adjacent borders ofthe carpet pieces may also be castellated in a complementarymannerso asto interlockwiththe castellated borders on the raised part. Such an arrangement improves the overall appearance ofthe mat as it has the visual effect of softening the borderlines between the raised part and the carpet pieces. Of course, any suitable type of complementary interlocking formations can be used to achieve this effect.

Each carpet piece in awell in the base ofthe mat may lie flush with the rim of the well or may lie within the depth ofthewell.

The colours ofthe base and carpet pieces can be chosen to suit requirements and may be different to further enhance the appearance of the mat.

1. Afloor mat comprising a base made from water impermeable material,the base comprising a shallow The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Floor mat The present invention relates to a floor mat and particularly, but not exclusively, to a vehicle floor mat. Vehicle floor mats made from a moulded rubberised material are well known. These mats are designed to be laid inthewell ofa vehiclefloorto protect the carpeting material in the vehicle from wear and to collect dirt, water etc. brought in on the driver or passenger's feet. It is also known to provide carpet mats for vehicles which generally have a more pleasing appearance that rubber mats but which have the disadvantage that they tend to move around the vehicle floor and that they are not particularly good at retaining dirt or other material left on the mat bythe user. It is also known to provide a vehicle mat which is made predominantly of moulded rubberised material and which has one or more sections of ca rpet adhered to the rubberised material. This mat is more pleasing in appearance than a rubber mat but is not effective in collecting dirt etc. left by the user's feet. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a matwhich is an improvement on the known mats mentioned above. According to the present invention we provide a floor mat comprising a base made from relatively hardwearing water impermeable material, the base comprising a shallow well, and a piece of carpet material disposed within the well in the base wherein the thickness ofthe carpet material is substantially equal to or less than the depth ofthe well. Disposition of the carpet piece within a well formed in the base ofthe mat renders the mat more effective in collecting dirt and other debris left by the user's feet whilst retaining the pleasing appearance of a carpet mat. The base may comprise a plurality of carpetted wells and mayfurthercomprisea raised partwithin or adjacent the or each well and which is not covered by carpet material. For example, the raised part of the relatively hardwearing material ofthe base may be for the purpose of providing a heel pad forthe driver. In known manner, the raised part may be configured for collecting water and debris left by the user's feet. The base may comprise a plurality of shallow wells divided by raised parts of the base, each well containing a piece of carpet material. Thus, various mat designs can be achieved. Ion a particular embodiment, adjacent borders of a raised part ofthe base and the carpet material are shaped with complementary interlocking formations. Thisfeature hasthe advantage of visually blending the marginal areas of carpet material and base material thereby improving the overall appearance of the mat. Preferably, the base is made from rubber or plastics material. In particular, a moulded rubberised material may be used. A particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the mat according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along lines ll-ll of figure 1. Avehiclefloor mat is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a base 12 formed from a moulded rubberised material. The base 12 is formed with a rim 14 and two sunken areas forming shallowwells 16 and 18 which, together, cover a major part of the surface area ofthe base 12. The base also comprises a central patterned raised part20 provided with large gripping and strengthening ribs 22 on its underside. Small ribs 24 are provided on the underside ofthe wells 16 and 18 ofthe base 12to improve gripping ofthe mat lOon vehiclefloorcarpeting. Disposed within the two wells 16 and 18 inthe base 12 are two pieces of carpet 26 and 28 respectively. The undersides ofthe carpet pieces 26 and 28 are adhesively attached to the base 12. The thickness of the carpet pieces 26 and 28 lies substantially within the depth ofthewells l6and 18 in the base 12 sothatthe mat 10 holds dirt and other debris left by the user's feet. A recess is provided inthe carpetpiece 26to accommodate a second raised part 30 of the base bearingthe name orlogo ofthe manufacturerorthe vehicle model fox which the mat 10 is designed. Alternatively,the carpet piece 26 could be embroidered with the vehicle manufacturer's name or logo. It will be understood that various configurations for the base and the carpet pieces may be adopted. For example,the base may beconfigured so asto comprise a peripheral rim bordering a single shallow well extending overthe remainder of the surface of the base with a single piece of carpet disposed within and covering the well. The base of the mat may comprise a relativelywide upstanding rim defining the or each well and the rim may be spaced inwardly from the borderofthe mat. In a case where the base is provided with one or more raised parts, these may be of any desired shape and pattern. Moreover, the or each raised part ofthe base may have castellated borders and the adjacent borders ofthe carpet pieces may also be castellated in a complementarymannerso asto interlockwiththe castellated borders on the raised part. Such an arrangement improves the overall appearance ofthe mat as it has the visual effect of softening the borderlines between the raised part and the carpet pieces. Of course, any suitable type of complementary interlocking formations can be used to achieve this effect. Each carpet piece in awell in the base ofthe mat may lie flush with the rim of the well or may lie within the depth ofthewell. The colours ofthe base and carpet pieces can be chosen to suit requirements and may be different to further enhance the appearance of the mat. CLAIMS

well, and a piece of carpet material disposed within the well in the base wherein the thickness ofthe carpet material is substantially equal to or less than the depth ofthe well.

2. A mat according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises a plurality of wells and a piece of carpet material is disposed within each ofthe wells.

3. A mat according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base comprises a raised partwithin or adjacent the or each well and which is not covered by carpet material.

4. A mat according to claim 3wherein adjacent borders of a raised part ofthe base and the carpet material are shaped with complementary interlocking formations.

5. A mat according to any preceding claim wherein the base is made from rubber or plastics material.

6. A mat substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.