United States Patent [19J
`Morawski
`
`[54] FLOOR MAT
`Janusz Morawski, P.O. Box 562,
`[76]
`Inventor:
`Station P, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
`[21] Appl. No.: 72,113
`Sep. 4, 1979
`[22] Filed:
`
`[63]
`
`[51]
`[52]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 904,772, May 11,
`1978, abandoned.
`Int. Cl.3 ................... ...... .......... ............ B60N 3/04
`U.S. CI •....................................... 296/1 F; 15/215
`Field of Search ........................ 428/167; 296/1 F;
`52/660; 15/215, 238; 4/185 R, 185 F; D12/203
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1/1954 Kravitz .................................. 15/215
`9/1930 Keys et al. ........................... 296/1 F
`2/1955 Moor, Jr ................................ 15/215
`8/1959 Byers, Jr .............................. 296/1 F
`9/1965 Heil ........................................ 15/215
`
`D. 171,301
`1,776;510
`2,701;890
`2,897,963
`3,206,785
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`4,280,729
`Jul. 28, 1981
`
`3,312,498
`3,387,315
`3,390,912
`3,488,081
`3,605,166
`3,856,610
`
`4/1967
`6/1968
`7/1968
`1/1970
`9/1971
`12/1974
`
`Stata ..................................... 296/1 F
`Stata ..................................... 296/1 F
`Stata ..................................... 296/1 F
`Nolen ...................... : ............ 296/1 F
`Chen .................................... 296/1 F
`Bruneel ................................. 296/1 F
`
`Primary Examiner-Henry F. Epstein
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A floor mat having an upper and an underside, and a
`forward and rear end, and in which the upper side is
`provided with a tread portion, having a multiplicity of
`water flow guide-ways or channels or grooves, commu(cid:173)
`nicating with the rear end of the mat, and guiding water
`flow from the front towards the rear of the mat, and
`further having water collectors at the rear end of the
`mat, below the plane of the water guide-ways, in which
`water may collect, and having hinge formations by
`means of which it can be folded for ease of handling,
`when carrying water in the water collectors.
`
`10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures
`
`EX1020
`Yita v. MacNeil
`IPR2020-01139
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 28, 1981
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
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`4,280,729
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`FIG 1
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`28
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`26a 28a
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`32
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`26b
`
`FIG 3
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 28, 1981
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
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`4,280,729
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`20
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`21
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`2q
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`10
`
`f
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`14
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`24
`
`FIG 5
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`FIG 6
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 28, 1981
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`4,280,729
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`14a
`
`I
`
`~~<::=.- -
`
`:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`- - - -
`
`-=-; :.
`
`FIG 8
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`\
`
`>
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 28, 1981
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`4,280,729
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`46
`
`140
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`120 140
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`1201
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`120
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`120
`
`1401
`
`46
`
`FIG 10
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`2401.
`
`FIG 11
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`44
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`FIG 12
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`44
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`FIG 13
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`2401
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`2401
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`

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`4,280,729
`
`1
`
`FLOOR MAT
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 904,772, entitled "Floor Mat" filed May 5
`11th, 1978 and now abandoned.
`The invention relates to a floor mat especially for use
`in automobiles and other vehicles.
`In bad weather, water, snow, mud and the like accu(cid:173)
`mulate on the floor of an automobile. In many cases the 10
`water or melted snow will then simply rot the carpet,
`and corrode the floor of the vehicle. Various rubber and
`plastic floor mats' are available. However, in the great
`majority of cases, the volumes of water and melted
`snow are such that the water simply flows off the mat 15
`into the carpet. This is particularly true when it is con(cid:173)
`sidered that the vehicle is subjected to acceleration, or
`deacceleration which will cause the water to flow back(cid:173)
`wardly or forwardly off the mat.
`For all of these reasons it is therefore desirable to 20
`provide a floor mat for vehicles which both controls the
`flow of water on the mat, and guides it in a particular
`direction, and in addition, which also provides water
`collectors or recesses, in which the water may be col-
`Iected, and from which it may readily be removed.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`With these general objectives in mind, the invention
`provides a floor mat having an upper and an underside,
`and a forward and rear end, and in which the upper side
`is provided with a tread portion, having a multiplicity
`of water flow guide-ways or channels.or grooves, com(cid:173)
`municating with the rear end of the mat, and guiding
`water flow from the front towards the rear of the mat, 35
`and further having water collectors at the rear end of
`the mat, below the plane of the water guide-ways, in
`which water may collect.
`A further feature ·Of the invention is the provision of
`partition walls in the water collectors to restrain the 40
`water from surging to and fro during driving of the
`vehicle.
`The invention further provides, on the underside of
`the tread portion of the floor mat, any suitable form of
`padding raising the level of the water guide-ways above 45
`that of the water collectors, so that water flowing down
`the water guide-ways and accumulating in the collec(cid:173)
`tors will not flow in the reverse direction.
`Preferably, the structure of the water collectors will
`be of flexible rubber material. In this way any water 50
`collecting therein, which may freeze, can still be readily
`removed as ice cubes.
`A further feature is the provision of one or more
`transverse hinge formations along which the mat can be
`folded. This facilitates the handling of the mat when the 55
`water collectors are full of water. Handles may also be
`provided for lifting the mat.
`A stop bar or ridge can also be attached on the mat to
`provide a heel rest for the driver.
`The various features of novelty which characterize 60
`the invention are pointed out with particularity in the
`claims annexed .to and forming a part of this disclosure.
`For a better understanding of the invention, its operat(cid:173)
`ing advantages and specific objects attained by its use,
`reference should be had to the accompanying drawings 65
`and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and
`described preferred embodiments of the invention.
`IN THE DRAWINGS
`
`2
`FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration showing the inte(cid:173)
`rior of an automobile, with the lfloor mat according to
`the invention shown in position in the passengers com(cid:173)
`partment;
`FIG. 2 isa perspective illustration showing the upper
`side of the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a lower perspective illustration;
`FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 7 is a perspective of a further embodiment;
`FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the mat of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 10 is a section along the line 10-10 of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 11 is a section along the line 11-11 of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 12 is a section along the line 12-12 of FIG. 7;
`and,
`FIG. 13 is a section along the line 13-13 of FIG. 7.
`As shown iri the drawings, the floor mat according to
`the invention is provided with a tread portion having an
`upper surface 10 having a series of alternate longitudi(cid:173)
`nal ridges or ribs 12 and intervening grooves or chan(cid:173)
`nels 14 constituting water guide-ways, running from the
`front or forward edge 16 of the mat, towards the rear(cid:173)
`ward end 18.
`The ridges or ribs 12 are carried on a generally hori(cid:173)
`zontal web portion 20. A perimeter wall 21 is raised
`above the ribs 12 and closes off the front end of the
`grooves 14.
`On the underside 22 of the tread portion of the mat,
`there is provided a honeycomb pad formation consist(cid:173)
`ing of spacer walls 24, the function of which is to hold
`the web 20 at a predetermined elevation.
`At the rearward end 18, a pair of side walls 26, and
`intermediate partition walls 26a, cooperate with end
`walls 28, and intermediate wall 30, and a bottom wall
`32, tC> provide a group of water collectors or recesses.
`Bottom wall 32 is located below the plane of web 20,
`and is generally co-planar with the lower edges of the
`spacer walls 24. The open rear ends of the grooves 14
`will permit water to flow downwardly over the inter(cid:173)
`mediate wall 30 into these collectors, where such water
`will collect, and be unable to flow back again onto the
`upper surface of the mat 10.
`The walls 26, 28, 30 and 32 are generally speaking of
`flexible material so that if the water freezes, the walls
`may expand, and at the same time cubes of ice may
`simply be snapped out.
`The use of the floor mat is self-evident. Water will
`simply collect in the grooves 14, and as the vehicle
`accelerates it will flow back into the water recesses
`defined by the walls 26, 28, 30 and 32. At the end of the
`day, the water collected there may simply be dumped·
`out. Alternatively, if it freezes, then the ice may simply
`·
`be snapped out.
`The ease of removal of water is a particular advan(cid:173)
`tage. Removal of water from a conventional rubber mat
`has to be carried out with great care. The mat flexes
`when it is lifted. Water will then run off the mat. In the
`invention however, the collectors can easily be held
`steady while lifting so that the water will not escape.
`In this way a substantial portion of the water, snow,
`etc., entering the car on the shoes of the driver or pas(cid:173)
`senger will be retained and discarded so that it does not
`simply soak into the mat, or corrode the metal of the
`vehicle.
`Additional partition walls 28a and 26b of reduced
`height in relation to walls 26a may usefully be provided
`
`

`

`20
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`25
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`4,280,729
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`3
`to sub~divide the collectors into smaller compartments.
`In this way, surging of water during driving of the
`vehicle is restrained. Such walls 28a and 26b may if
`desired be removable but for simplicity are preferably
`integral with the mat 10. The entire mat 10 is usefully
`molded as a one-piece integral structure of for example
`rubber, thermo-plastic or the like.
`Where a lighter weight mat, or a mat having a larger
`surface area is required, the mat becomes too flexible.
`As a result, when it is lifted up some of the water runs 10
`off.
`In order to overcome this, a modified mat is shown in
`FIGS. 7 to 13.
`Such a mat has an upper surface 10a having ridges
`12a and grooves 14a, similar to the mat of FIG. 1. It is, 15
`however, traversed by one or more hinge formations
`40, 42 (two such formations being selected as a matter of
`convenience only, without limitation) the ridges 12a
`being discontinuous at hinges 40, 42 to permit folding of
`the web 20a.
`The mat also incorporates water collectors formed by
`walls 26a-b and 28a-b.
`On the underside, spacer walls 24a are also inter(cid:173)
`rupted at hinges 40, 42, for the same purpose to permit
`folding along such hinge lines.
`The front portion of the modified mat, ie., from front
`edge 16 to hinge formation 42, on its underside is free of
`spacer walls 24 so that it can be flexed and tilted up to
`lie against and conform to the fire wall of a vehicle
`without obstructing use of the pedals. It may however 30
`be provided with small, pointed formations 44 on its
`underside for gripping the carpet of a vehicle.
`Handles 46 can be provided on either side of the mat,
`near the rear end 18 for lifting it.
`In use, when the collectors or recesses contain water, 35
`the mat is folded over along hinges 40 and 42. The
`handles 46 are then grasped and the mat can be lifted
`out of the vehicle and the water poured off. The mat,
`when folded up is much less likely to flex unexpectedly
`and dump the water before it is removed from the vehi- 40
`cle.
`Such a mat can thus be made larger in surface area,
`and of thinner material while still functioning to effec(cid:173)
`tively collect and remove water, etc., from the vehicle.
`In addition to these advantages, it is found that by the 45
`use of this modified form of the invention, it is possible
`to provide a water collector type of mat in accordance
`with the invention, having a front end portion which
`may fold up or lie at an upward angle against the fire
`wall of the vehicle, without unduly distorting the shape 50
`of the mat.
`This arises because of the fact that, whereas a rela(cid:173)
`tively thin flexible type of mat such as has been used in
`the past, may fairly readily flex upwardly and lie against
`the fire wall of the vehicle, when thicker material is 55
`used, such as is in the case of the present invention, to
`provide a true water collecting type function, the up(cid:173)
`ward flexing of a mat against the fire wall produces
`various undesirable results. In particular, the mat does
`not lie flat against the floor of the vehicle, and conse- 60
`quently the use of the control pedals and the like is
`subject to interference from the mat.
`In addition, the mat when flexed upwardly, tends to
`have a relatively substantial degree of inherent resil(cid:173)
`ience, ;md is consequently sliding backwardly down the 65
`fire wall.
`By the use of the present invention, incorporating
`hinge formations transversely across the mat, it is possi-
`
`4
`ble to overcome this problem so that notwithstanding
`the greater thickness of the mat, it will still lie flat both
`on the floor and the fire wall of the vehicle without
`either interfering with the use of the vehicles, and with-
`s out exhibiting a tendency to slide rearwardly.
`Having described what is believed to be the best
`mode by which the invention may be performed, it will
`be seen that the invention may be particularly defined as
`follows:
`A two-level floor mat for horizontal floors such as
`floors in motor vehicles, and comprising a tread portion
`having a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of
`longitudinal grooves therein parallel to such axis such
`grooves defining a predetermined water level for flow
`of water therealong, pad means under said tread portion
`having a lower surface adapted to lie horizontal on said
`horizontal floor and locating said tread portion and said
`grooves at a predetermined level raised above the hori(cid:173)
`zontal floor, water collector means located at one end
`of said tread portion with said grooves in water flow
`communication therewith, said collector means having
`a bottom wall portion lying at a second predetermined
`level below the level of said tread portion and said
`grooves whereby water flowing along said grooves will
`flow downwardly into said collector means and collect
`therein, and will not subsequently readily flow for-
`wardly into said grooves, and, an undersurface forming
`part of said bottom wall portion and lying on said floor
`co-planar with said lower surface of said pad means
`whereby in use on said horizontal floor, said tread por(cid:173)
`tion, and said collector means both are supported hori-
`zontal, but in different planes.
`The invention further comprises such a floor mat
`wherein said tread portion comprises a web, a plurality
`of upstanding ridges defining grooves therebetween,
`and a perimeter wall around the front and two sides
`thereof higher than said ridges.
`The invention further comprises such a floor mat
`wherein said pad means comprises a plurality of wall
`formations formed on the underside of said web, and
`having lower edges forming said lower surface.
`The invention also comprises a mat formed with rib
`formations, and having transverse hinge formations
`formed across such rib formations, whereby the mat
`may be folded once or more for ease of handling.
`The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention which is given here by way of
`example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited
`to any of the specific features as described, but compre(cid:173)
`hends all such variations thereof as come within the
`scope of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A two-level floor mat for horizontal floors such as
`floors in motor vehicles, and comprising;
`a tread portion having a longitudinal axis and having
`a plurality of longitudinal grooves therein parallel
`to such axis such grooves defining a predetermined
`water level for flow of water therealong;
`pad means under said tread portion having a lower
`surface adapted to lie horizontal on said horizontal
`floor and locating said tread portion and said
`grooves at a predetermined level raised above the
`horizontal floor;
`water collector means located at one end of said tread
`portion with said grooves in water flow communi(cid:173)
`cation therewith, said collector means having a
`bottom wall portion lying at a second predeter(cid:173)
`mined level below the level of said tread portion
`
`

`

`4,280,729
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`5
`and said grooves whereby water flowing along said
`grooves will flow downwardly into said collector
`means and collect therein, and, will not subse(cid:173)
`quently readily flow forwardly into said grooves,
`and,
`an undersurface forming part of said bottom wall
`portion and lying on said floor co-planar with said
`lower surface of said pad means whereby in use on
`said horizontal floor, said tread portion, and said
`collector means both are supported horizontal, but 10
`in different planes.
`2. A floor mat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
`tread portion comprises a web, a plurality of upstanding
`ridges defining grooves therebetween, and a perimeter
`wall around the front and two sides thereof higher than 15
`said ridges.
`3. A floor mat as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pad
`means comprises a plurality of wall formations formed
`on the under side of said web and having lower edges
`forming said lower surface.
`4. A floor mat as claimed in claim 3 wherein said
`water collector means comprises a front wall, a back
`wall and two side walls, said front wall being in flow
`communication with said web, and including a plurality
`of partition walls dividing said collector means into a 25
`plurality of smaller spaces.
`5. A floor mat as claimed in claim 4, including a pe(cid:173)
`rimeter wall around said water co1lector means, said
`perimeter wall comprising an upward extension of said
`back wall and the said two side walls, and reaching the 30
`same height as the perimeter wall around said tread
`portion, said two perimeter walls being formed inte-
`
`6
`grally as a single structure, and substantially completely
`encircling said tread portion and said water collector
`means.
`6. A floor mat as claimed in claim 1, including hinge
`5 means extending transversely of the mat intermediate its
`ends, whereby the same may be folded over upon itself.
`7. A floor mat as claimed in claim 6, including a plu(cid:173)
`rality of upstanding ridges defining grooves therebe(cid:173)
`tween, in said tread portion of said web, and including
`a plurality of wall formations on the underside of said
`web, and wherein said ridges andl said wall formations
`are discontinued in the region of said hinge means,
`whereby to permit flexing of said web for folding of said
`mat.
`8. A floor mat as claimed in claim 7 wherein there are
`two hinge formations forming said hinge means, said
`hinge formations being arranged parallel to one another
`transversely across said mat, and being spaced apart
`whereby said mat may be folded !twice.
`9. A floor mat as claimed in claim 6 including handle
`means extending outwardly from the sides of said mat
`for lifting of same.
`10. A floor mat as claimed in claim 9 wherein said
`two hinge formations define a front portion and an
`intermediate portion and · a rearward portion of said
`mat, and wherein said front portion has an undersurface
`free of said wall formations whereby the same may flex
`upwardly and conform to the fire wall of the vehicle,
`and including handle means on the rearward portion of
`said mat, for lifting of same when folded.
`* * * * *
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