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US 7,093,879 B2Granted
Load bearing vehicle floor mats
AssigneeCollins & Aikman Products Co.
InventorsMaureen R. Putt, Michael C. Jezewski, Steven G. Sehmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load bearing floor mat for vehicle cargo compartments includes a pliable layer configured to overlie a defined area of a vehicle floor and also includes a rigid member that is associated with a portion of the pliable layer. The rigid member has a width that is sufficient to span a gap or opening in the vehicle floor, such as a spare tire well or other storage compartment. The rigid member renders the pliable layer substantially non-pliable above the opening such that the floor mat can support a load placed thereon.
Claims39
A vehicle floor mat, comprising:
- a pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor;
- and
- a rigid member attached to a portion of the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such tat the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
A vehicle floor mat, comprising:
- a pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor;
- and
- a rigid member disposed within the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
A vehicle floor mat, comprising:
- a first pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor;
- a second pliable layer pivotally secured to the first pliable layer and movable between a stored position overlying the first pliable layer in face-to-face relationship therewith and an operative position substantially coplanar with the first pliable layer;
- a first rigid member disposed within the first pliable layer;
- and
- a second rigid member disposed within the second pliable layer;
- wherein the first and second rigid members each have a width less than a width and length of the first and second pliable layers, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the respective first and second pliable layers are rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
3 more elements
A vehicle floor mat, comprising:
- a pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor;
- and
- a plurality of adjacent, spaced-apart rigid members attached to the pliable layer, wherein each rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a floor having a recessed porton;
- and
- a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises:
- a pliable layer;
- and
- a rigid member attached to a portion of the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
3 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a floor having a recessed portion;
- and
- a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises:
- a pliable layer;
- and
- a rigid member disposed within the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
3 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a floor having a recessed portion;
- and
- a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises:
- a first pliable layer;
- a second pliable layer pivotally secured to the first pliable layer and movable between a stored position overlying the first pliable layer in face-to-face relationship therewith and an operative position substantially coplanar with the first pliable layer;
- a first rigid member disposed within the first pliable layer;
- and
- a second rigid member disposed within the second pliable layer;
- wherein the first and second rigid members each have a width less than a width and length of the first and second pliable layers, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the respective first and second pliable layers are rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
6 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a floor having a recessed portion;
- and
- a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises:
- a pliable layer;
- and
- a plurality of adjacent, spaced-apart rigid members attached to the pliable layer, wherein each rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the first and second pliable layer, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such tat the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.