(12) United States Patent
`Yang
`
`USOO626.1667B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,261,667 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 17, 2001
`
`(54) MAT USED IN CARS
`(75) Inventor: Ming-Shun Yang, Taipei (TW)
`(73) Assignee: Formosa Saint Jose Corp., Taipei
`(TW)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/354,067
`(22) Filed:
`Jul. 15, 1999
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Jul. 29, 1998
`(CN) ................................................ 87212432
`(51) Int. Cl. ............................. B32B 3/00; B62D 25/20;
`A47K 7/02
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................. 428/172; 428/85; 428/95;
`428/192; 296/97.23; 15/215
`(58) Field of Search ................................ 428/95, 85, 172,
`428/78, 167, 192,318.4; 296/97.23; 5/417,
`420; 15/215
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3/1998 Wang ..................................... 428/78
`5,725,926
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Donald J. Loney
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Erik M. Arnhem
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An improved mat used in cars includes an upper polyester
`fabric layer, a middle polyvinglehloride (PVC) layer, and a
`foam-coated under net layer. All three layers are placed
`together, and bound to form a laminated plate-shaped object.
`The plate-shaped mat is formed by multiple Symmetrical
`umbos that define multiple Symmetrical bevel grooves
`between these umbOS. The Sideways grooves can collect the
`muck from a person's Shoes. When convenient, a person can
`take the mat out to wash without dirtying the carpet. Foam
`particles on the under net layer of the mat prevent the mat
`from moving on the carpeted floor of the vehicle.
`
`2 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
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`MacNeil Exhibit 2012
`Yita v. MacNeil IP, IPR2020-01139
`Page 1
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`MacNeil Exhibit 2012
`Yita v. MacNeil IP, IPR2020-01139
`Page 2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 17, 2001
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`US 6,261,667 B1
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`MacNeil Exhibit 2012
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`Yita v. MacNeil IP, IPR2020-01139
`Page 3
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`MacNeil Exhibit 2012
`Yita v. MacNeil IP, IPR2020-01139
`Page 3
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 17, 2001
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`US 6,261,667 B1
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`MacNeil Exhibit 2012
`Yita v. MacNeil IP, IPR2020-01139
`Page 4
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 17, 2001
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`Sheet 4 of 4
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`US 6,261,667 B1
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`MacNeil Exhibit 2012
`Yita v. MacNeil IP, IPR2020-01139
`Page 5
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`US 6,261,667 B1
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`1
`MAT USED IN CARS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates to a floor mat used in cars. People
`often use floor mats the car carpet, because the mat prevents
`mud, dirt and gravel on the person's shoes from getting into
`the carpet. The floor mat of the present invention has
`multiple Symmetrical bevel grooves for collecting water
`tracked on the mat the mat can be washed to remove any
`collected dirt or residue.
`Usually, people have an ornamental carpet in a car for
`beautifying the interior of the car. However, in order to keep
`the carpet from becoming Soiled by dirt from a perSon's
`shoes, many people place a set of mats on the carpet (four
`pieces, two for the front Seats and two for the rear Seats).
`Conventional car mats are putted on the carpet without any
`design to fix the mat with the carpet, when people Step on the
`mat, the mat will be moved. It may influence the safety of
`driving and defeats the purpose of the mat of its intended
`covering area. It is therefore need to be improved.
`Additionally, the design of the conventional car mat is
`flat, therefore, after using for a while, the sludge, gravel, and
`rainwater on the Shoes will not only dirty the carpet, but also
`deface the inside of the car. It is the defect of the conven
`tional car mat.
`Due to the defect of the conventional car mats on practice,
`the inventor designs an improved Structure of car mat. The
`Structure of the car mat is not only to improve the function
`of avoiding slide, but also to collect the sludge and gravel on
`the shoes, and will not dirty the carpet. Therewith, these
`multiple Symmetrical bevel grooves formed in the plate
`shaped car mat can collect the Water tracked on the mat the
`mat is designed for easy cleaning or Washing.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An improved floor mat used in cars includes an upper
`polyester fabric layer, a middle polyvinglchloride (PVC)
`plate or layer, and an under net lining or layer. All three
`layers are laminated together, to form a unitary plate-shaped
`object. The plate-shaped mat is in bossed to form multiple
`Symmetrical umbos (or raised areas) that define multiple
`Symmetrical bevel dirt collection grooves. The grooves can
`collect the muck from a perSon's shoes. When necessary, the
`perSon can take the mat out for Washing or cleaning without
`dirtying the carpet. Multiple foam particles are created on
`the under net lining of the mat to prevent the mat from
`shifting on the carpeted floor of the vehicle.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved mat used in
`cars of this invention.
`FIG. 2 is a structure view of the unformed mat of this
`invention.
`FIG. 3 is an Y-Y section view of the improved mat used
`in cars of this invention.
`FIG. 4 is an X-X section view of the improved mat used
`in cars of this invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`AS FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 show a car floor mat 100 of this
`invention consisting of an upper polyester fabric layer (10),
`a middle polyvinglehloride (PVC) plate or layer (20), and an
`under net lining or layer (30).
`The material of the above mentioned middle polyv
`inglehloride (PVC) plate (20) is a flexible, light weight, and
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`15
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`25
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`2
`waterproof Polyethylene (PE) or Polyethylene Ethylene
`VinylAcetate (EVA) foam. The above mentioned net lining
`(30) is composed of multiple yarns or threads (31) woven or
`knotted in a combination of both transverse and longitudinal
`ways to form a net fabric. This net fabric is dipped and
`coated with plastic (PVC etc.) resins, which are formulated
`with foaming agent. This coated fabric after being treated by
`a heat foaming process, will have a continuous Sponge foam
`covering 32 formed on the thread or yarn 31 surface in a
`Suitable thickneSS and on each knot at the thread crossing
`points. The improved car floor mat (100) of this invention is
`formed by placing the net lining (30) with multiple foam
`particle (32), aforesaid middle polyvinglehloride (PVC)
`plastic layer (20), and the upper polyester fabric layer (10)
`together, and binding or gluing the three layers together to
`form a whole mat as shown in FIG. 1.
`The plate-shaped object of the above mentioned mat (100)
`is formed by multiple symmetrical umbos(A) which can be
`designed as rectangle, quarry, or figure etc. There are mul
`tiple symmetrical bevel grooves (B) formed between these
`umbos (A) So as to be depressed below the matupper Surface
`to thereby receive the Sludge, gravel, and rainwater that is
`tracked on the mat (100), by the person's shoes. The
`person's shoe can be Scraped on the umbos (A), to move dirt
`into grooves (B) for collection. When convenient, the person
`can take the mat out for Washing or cleaning. At the same
`time, the muck will not dirty the carpet because of the design
`of the plate-shaped mat. The mat will keep the carpet clean,
`and will not deface the inside of the car. As shown in FIGS.
`1, 3 and 4, the mat has a peripheral upstanding rim for
`containment of water Sludge and debris. The rim has an
`inverted V cross-section for Strengthening purposes.
`There are multiple foam particles (32) on the under net
`lining (30) of the mat (100) of this invention. The multiple
`foam particles (32) of the mat (100) will cling to the fibers
`of the carpet under the mat (100), and create a desired drag
`between the mat and carpet, So that the mat will not move
`on the carpet.
`From the above description, it will be seen that the
`structure of the mat (100) is simple, but novel in design,
`through the use of three different kinds of material, i.e. a
`polyester fabric (10), a polyvinglehloride (PVC) plate (20),
`and a foam-coated net lining (30).
`What is claimed is:
`1. A one piece floor mat for use in automotive vehicles,
`comprising:
`a three layer laminated mat body that includes a middle
`layer, upper layer, and lower layer bonded together at
`the interfaces between Said layers,
`Said middle layer comprising a flexible impermeable
`plastic sheet that is impervious to liquid flow there
`through;
`Said upper layer comprising a woven plastic sheet bonded
`to the upper Surface of Said middle layer;
`Said lower layer comprising a woven net fabric coated
`with a plastic foam, Said lower layer being bonded to
`the lower surface of said middle layer;
`Said laminated mat body being embossed to form multiple
`water collection grooves on the mat body upper Sur
`face.
`2. The floor mat of claim 1, wherein said laminated mat
`body has a peripheral upstanding rim for containment of
`water Sludge and debris collected on the mat body, Said rim
`having an inverted V croSS-Section.
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`MacNeil Exhibit 2012
`Yita v. MacNeil IP, IPR2020-01139
`Page 6
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