US 6,635,331 B2 · Universal mat with removable strips

Abstract

A rubber or plastic floor mat has a series of parallel upper ribs on its upper surface which define slots in which respective strips or carpeting or the like are removably held. The strips are retained along their lengths by retaining means which run continually or continuously along the slots. The strip retainers include hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO), and/or overhanging edges above the strip edges, preferably formed in one-piece fashion along the side of the upper ribs adjacent the slots. The overhangs may be interrupted, e.g., crenelated as seen from above, and may include bevels.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a floor mat system having:

a plurality of adjacent mat sections;
a first portion of the mat sections including a mat having an upper surface and a plurality of strips removably and re-attachably connected to the mat;
the strips being substantially parallel when connected to the mat;
a section of hook fasteners connected to one of the mat and the strip and a section of loop fasteners connected to the other of the mat and the strip;
the hook and loop fasteners providing the removable and re-attachable connection between the strip and the mat;
one of the mat sections including a base having an upper surface;
the base having a width and a length;
the improvement comprising:
a display section removably and re-attachably connected to the mat;
the display section having a width and a length substantially equal to the width and length of the base;
and
a section of hook fasteners connected to one of the base and the display section and a section of loop fasteners connected to the other of the base and the display section;
the hook and loop fasteners providing the removable and re-attachable connection between the base and the display section.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,164 words

Summary1,066 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention generally relates to floor mats and, more particularly, the present invention relates to floor mats having removable and replaceable elements. Specifically, the present invention relates to a floor mat having at least one of a selectively removable strip and at least one selectively removable display section that may be used to display graphics.

#2. Background Information

Brief description of the drawings7 figures

#The objects, nature, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment taken in conjunction with drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description2,977 words

#Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

#The reference numerals follow those of provisional application serial No. 60/079,120.

#FIG. 1 shows a carpet strip 10 with a rigid or semi-rigid backing strip 12 made of plastic or rubber. The strip 10 has two opposed edges 14 and a central area 16 with embedded carpet fibers 18.

Facts

Application

09/898,304Filed 3 Jul 2001 · continuation in part

Priority

23 Mar 1998

Published

US 2002/0086129 A14 Jul 2002

Granted

21 Oct 2003

Term ended

23 Mar 2019

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification11 codes

A47L 23/26
Devices or implements resting on the floor for removing mud, dirt, or dust from footwear: mats or gratings combined with brushes ; Mats
Y10T 428/16
Stock material or miscellaneous articles: two dimensionally sectional layer
Y10T 428/161
Two dimensionally sectional layer: with frame, casing, or perimeter structure
Y10T 428/18
Stock material or miscellaneous articles: longitudinally sectional layer of three or more sections

Family

Application60/079,120Us provisional application · filed 23 Mar 1998

Application09/274,360Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Mar 1999

US 2002/0086129 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Jul 2002

US 6,635,331 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

23 Mar 1998Priority claimedParent application 60/079,120
3 Jul 2001Application filedUS 09/898,304
4 Jul 2002PublishedUS 2002/0086129 A1
21 Oct 2003GrantedUS 6,635,331 B2
26 Jul 2004Assigned to R&L Marketing & Sales, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
23 Mar 2019Term endedEstimated

Universal mat with removable strips

Life of this patent

Universal mat with removable strips

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims8

Description4,164 words

Drawings

Classification11 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,164 words