Flexible floor mat incorporating LED lighting

An up-lighting floor mat comprising:

• floor matting formed from multiple mat portions by trimming at least one mat portion of the multiple mat portions, wherein:
• the at least one mat portion comprises a first flexible material that enables the up-lighting floor mat to be rolled up for transport or storage;
• the floor matting defines an upwardly-facing surface and an opposed downwardly-facing surface when supported atop an upwardly-facing support surface;
• and
• the floor matting defines a first elongate slot through the floor matting to receive a first elongate up-lighting assembly to emit light up from the first elongate slot;
• a first U-channel of elongate shape and upwardly-opening cross-section that defines an elongate edge of the first elongate up-lighting assembly, wherein:
• at least one upwardly-extending portion of the first U-channel is bonded to at least one edge of the floor matting that defines the first elongate slot;
• a horizontally-extending bottom portion of the first U-channel defines a portion of the downwardly-facing surface;
• and
• the first U-channel comprises a second flexible material that cooperates with the first flexible material of the floor matting to enable the up-lighting floor mat to be rolled up;
• at least one elongate cutting that is also formed by trimming the at least one mat portion, wherein:
• a surface of the elongate cutting is bonded to an upwardly facing surface of the horizontally-extending bottom portion of the first U-channel;
• and
• the elongate cutting has a wedge-shaped cross-section;
• and
• a first flexible LED strip that is sufficiently flexible as to not impede the rolling up of the up-lighting floor mat, wherein a mounting surface of the first flexible LED strip is bonded to another surface of the elongate cutting to orient the first flexible LED strip within the first U-channel to cause LEDs of the first flexible LED strip to emit light primarily in a first direction that is angled away from vertical;
• and
• a first diffuser of elongate shape and downwardly-opening cross-section, wherein:
• the first diffuser is installable over the upwardly-facing opening of the first U-channel to form a portion of the first elongate up-lighting assembly, with the downwardly-facing opening of the first diffuser opening into the first U-channel;
• at least one downwardly-extending portion of the first diffuser extends alongside and adjacent to the at least one upwardly-extending portion of the first U-channel to form at least a portion of a tube around the first flexible LED strip;
• the first diffuser comprises a rigid transparent or translucent material to enable light emitted by the LEDs of the first flexible LED strip to pass therethrough;
• and
• at least one outwardly-extending portion of a horizontally-extending top portion of the first diffuser extends over an uppermost end of the at least one upwardly-extending portion of the first U-channel to transfer downward pressure exerted on the horizontally-extending top portion of the first diffuser into the at least one upwardly-extending portion of the first U-channel and around the first flexible LED strip to protect the first flexible LED strip from the downward pressure.