GB2478982A - Car mat with customised insert and transparent layer - Google Patents

Abstract

A car mat comprises two matching plastic layers 1a, 1b. The matching parts 1a, 1b are sealed together forming a flat pocket, trimmed with seatbelt material part 2 with an opening sealed with a zip part 3, and a stiff plastic insert part 4 carrying a design. This enables an individual to customise the design of the interior of their car. The mat typically comprises durable transparent plastic with non-slip ridges. The insert 4 is replaceable and typically carries a pattern chosen by a customer.

Description

Specification

Customised Car Mat This invention relates to optional interior design in cars.

Car mats are located ahead of the seats of a car, intended to receive dirt, water, snow and the like that loosen from the shoes of the driver or passengers. The mats are loose and may be taken out for cleaning. The mats usually consist of rubber or plastic for durability.

At the moment there is nothing on the market which allows an individual to custom ise the interior of their car, with the exception of car toys' such as nodding head dogs and fluffy dice. While the exterior of a car can be custom ised, either when it is initially ordered to spec or in respraying a second hand model, there are limited options when considering the interior of the car.

As with interior home designing, a car can form part of a person's identity, and being able to alter the interior design of the car to taste would be appealing to those wishing to express themselves in this manner. As an added advantage, the materials used in the making of the car mat are intended to be recycled and recyclable.

Figure 1 demonstrates the component parts of the mat. Part Ia and lb on the accompanying diagram show the exterior of the car mat. It will consist of a durable, transparent plastic, with non-slip ridges. They will be sealed together around the edges by melting, forming a waterproof barrier and then trimmed with re-used seatbelts, shown as part 2. Part 3 shows the waterproof zip at one end. The details of this part are unspecified, as a suitable method for sealing has yet to be decided upon. Part 4 shows a stiff, plastic pad, which is inserted through part 3, providing support for the plastic covering and also acting as a canvas carrying a pattern, enabling the customer to vary the design whenever they choose. The initial purchase would include a complete set including plastic coverings and plastic inserts, with the extra inserts being available individually or in sets, without the plastic covering.

They are intended to vary in size, depending on the type of car for which they are purchased. They are for both front and rear footwells, and are intended to be reversible as the covering is transparent on both sides. When reversed, they will sit in the opposite footwell.

The variety of design will develop over time, as there is a wide scope for individualised taste. It could include things like basic patterns i.e. jellybeans, or a potential market for brands, advertising, or government warnings about drink driving, for example. There could be a market for design requests, like photographs on tablemats. Additionally, the seatbelt trim could be replaced with coloured edging, for example to match the exterior colour of the car.

Claims (2)

1. Claims 1. A car mat comprising of two non-slip plastic layers sealed together, with a slit at one end which can be opened and sealed, containing a removable and replaceable plastic insert bearing a pattern, image or design.
2. 2. A car mat according to claim 1, in which the plastic layers are welded together, then trimmed with a material such as a used seatbelt.