Patent · US Expired

Automotive floor mat having rigidifying sheet-form element

US4465720A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
3References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 5, 1982
Grant dateAug 14, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 5, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/2457
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A floor mat for an automotive vehicle is provided having a relatively thin, flexible sheet-form main body and a rigidifying sheet-form element formed with or secured thereto in fixed relationship. The rigidifying element is fabricated from or formed by sheets of material that are effectively rigid in thin sheet-form and thereby render the otherwise flexible main body essentially inflexible. The materials selected to form the rigidifying elements preferably have a resilient characteristic, such as spring steel wire rod or inherent resilient rubber or plastic materials to enhance the mat's ability to maintain itself in a desired smooth, flat configuration on a vehicle's floor. The rigidifying element is of a configuration to rigidify the main body throughout most of its vehicle floor contacting area to resist displacement in all directions through the essential, rigidified portion of the mat encountering of any obstructions associated with the vehicle floor and the resilient characteristic of the rigidifying element accommodating excessive displacing forces and tending to return the main body of the mat to its original configuration. The rigidifying elements may be rod-like elements …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.