Patent ID: 6224962
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A cover for a floor mat of a vehicle, comprising:top and bottom panels each having an outer perimeter comprising a front, a back, and a pair of sides, said outer perimeters of a bottom panels being shaped to conform to an outer perimeter of a floor mat to be covered by said top and bottom panels;outer perimeters of said top and bottom panels being coupled together to define a pocket between said top and bottom panels adapted for receiving a floor mat therein;said bottom panel having a longitudinal slit therethrough extending between said front and back of said bottom panel, said longitudinal slit defining an opening into said pocket for permitting insertion and removal of the floor mat from said pocket;said longitudinal slit dividing said bottom panel into a spaced apart pair of panel portions;each of said panel portions of said bottom panel having a generally straight side edge defining a portion of a periphery of said longitudinal slit;said side edges of said panel portions of said bottom panel being extended substantially parallel to one another;said top and bottom panels each comprising a flexible material for permitting said top and bottom panels to conform to the contours of the floor of the vehicle, said top and bottom panels each comprising a translucent material;said panel portions of said bottom panel each having a frictionally enhanced region, each of said frictionally enhanced regions having a plurality of raised nibs protruding therefrom for creating frictional resistance with a pile of a carpet of a vehicle, each of said nibs having a rounded tip for resisting puncture of a backing material of the carpet of the vehicle by said rounded tip of said nibs;said raised nibs being adapted for being placed in contact with the floor of the vehicle and holding said panel portions against sliding on the floor of the vehicle;wherein said raised nibs of each frictionally enhanced region are provided on a pad coupled to the respective frictionally enhcanced region, said pads being substantially coextensive with the respective frictionally enhanced region;said raised nibs and said pads each comprising a resiliently deformable material for increasing the coefficient of friction of the frictionally enhanced regions;said top panel having a raised lip upwardly extending around said outer perimeter of said top panel, said raised lip being adapted for holding water, snow and ice on the top panel so that water, snow and ice do not spill onto the floor of the vehicle;said top panel having a foot rest region, said foot rest region being generally rectangular;said foot rest region of said top panel being positioned closer towards said front of said top panel than to said back of said top panel, said foot rest region of said top panel being positioned closer towards one of said sides of said top panel than to the other of said sides of said top panel;said font rest region of said top panel being frictionally enhanced with respect to said top panel to help hold a foot of a user resting on said foot rest region from sliding on said top panel, wherein said foot rest region comprises carpet for frictionally enhancing said foot rest region with respect to said top panel; andsaid foot rest region of said top panel occupying an area less than about one-fourth of a total area bounded by said outer perimeter of said top panel.