Abstract:
An advertising mat including a floor mat having a bottom surface for engaging a floor and an upper surface over which pedestrian traffic will pass. The mat upper surface includes a traffic section adapted for placement in a pedestrian path, and at least one side section having a plurality of hold down tabs. The side section is adjacent the traffic section. A panel including a top surface bearing advertising indicia is configured for placement in the side section. The plurality of hold down tabs releasably secures the panel in the side section.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an advertising mat of the type that is placed on the floor and can be used in high pedestrian traffic establishments, such as in stores, factories, office buildings, sports facilities, and apartment buildings where there is pedestrian traffic. More particularly, the invention relates to an advertising mat which can include easily replaceable advertising panels adjacent the predicted path of the customers of the store. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the environment of heavy pedestrian traffic, such as in a retail store, sports arena, factory, apartment building, etc., heavy customer traffic is predictable in certain areas of the building, particularly at the entrance and exit of the building, and along certain aisles and in front of certain counters. In many instances, the customer traffic pattern can be accurately predicted and mats are laid in the predicted paths. The mats have the function of cleaning the customer&#39;s feet and maintaining the floor of a store in clean condition. 
     Because of the accumulation of dirt, etc. on the typical mat, the store management requires that the mats be cleaned and/or replaced on a periodic basis, and the cost of the maintenance and replacement of the mats usually is paid for by the store as part of the store overhead. 
     In some instances, certain product manufacturers have developed floor mats that bear advertisements of goods offered for sale in the store. These advertising mats are a benefit to the store in that they perform the cleaning function described above, and the company advertising its goods typically will pay for some, if not all, of the expense in manufacturing and placing the mats. However, the customers typically walk on the face of the mat and the dirt, grime, etc. from the feet of the customers accumulates on the face of the mat. The advertising mats that display the advertising in the same area that is also used to remove and trap soil from the feet of the pedestrian have disadvantages. One is the advertising message is quickly soiled. Another is some graphic techniques, such as flocking, wear out quickly. This results in frequent replacement of the mats by the supplier. If the mats are not frequently replaced, the graphics of the mat will become so tarnished and undesirable in appearance and the customers viewing the mats will not receive a positive image of the advertised product, and the mats fail to provide the positive, upbeat image of the advertised product. 
     Accordingly, this invention addresses the above noted problem of deterioration of the image of floor mats in advertising goods of the store and providing a mat that has a changeable advertising surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, the present invention comprises an advertising mat for use in high traffic areas of retail stores and other sales facilities, whereby a rubberized mat is placed in the predicted traffic path of customers of the store for providing visual advertisements of products and services of the store or products and services offered elsewhere. Particularly, the floor mat can be formed of a rubberized material having a bottom surface for engaging a floor and an upper surface over which pedestrian traffic will pass. The floor mat upper surface includes a central section adapted for placement in a pedestrian path and for engagement by pedestrian traffic. Opposed side sections straddle the central section of the mat and are intended for placement adjacent pedestrian traffic where they are visible to the pedestrian walking on or near the floor mat. Each said opposed side section can have a substantially smooth upper surface compatible with supporting an advertising mat and/or a graphics sheet. Graphics sheets are mountable on the upper surfaces of the side sections of the floor mat. Each graphics sheet can have opposed upper and lower surfaces, the upper surfaces of the graphics sheets bearing advertising indicia and the lower surfaces of the graphics sheets bearing releasable adhesive. One graphics sheet is disposed in each of the side sections. 
     Another embodiment of the present floor mat provides a floor mat having a bottom surface for engaging a floor and an upper surface over which pedestrian traffic will pass. The floor mat upper surface includes a traffic section adapted for placement in a pedestrian path, and at least one side section having a plurality of hold down tabs. The side section is adjacent the traffic section. An advertising mat or panel including a top surface bearing advertising indicia is configured for placement in the side section. The plurality of hold down tabs releasably secures the panel in the side section. 
     In practice, the mats will be supplied to a retail store, etc. for use at the entrance and other high pedestrian traffic areas of the store, with the central section of the mat placed in the anticipated pedestrian path and the wings of the mats straddling the pedestrian path, with the advertisements in the wings of the mat. This straddling relationship of the advertisements with respect to the predicted pedestrian path across the mat typically removes the graphics sheets from most of the pedestrian travel, so that the graphics sheets will have a longer life span than if placed directly in the pedestrian path, and will be subject to less soiling. 
     Another feature of the invention is the releasable adhesive utilized to apply the graphics sheets to the side sections of the mat. This allows the advertisers to frequently replace the graphics sheets on the mat, by peeling the previously used graphics sheets from the mat and then applying new graphics sheets to the side sections of the mat. 
     The top surface of the mat is configured so as to provide a border that protects the graphics sheets from accidental engagement at their edges by the feet of pedestrians, thereby tending to avoid inadvertent peeling away of the graphics sheets from the mat and tripping of the pedestrians. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is a process for fabricating an advertising floor mat. The process includes the steps of providing a rubberized mat having a bottom surface for placing on the floor of a building structure and an opposed upwardly facing surface; disposing a plate on the upper surface, the plate having a top surface; elevating the temperature that the mat and the plate are exposed to; exerting force on the plate such that the plate is forced into the mat; removing the plate from the mat, thereby forming a recess having a raised border in the upper surface of the mat; and placing a panel bearing advertising indicia in the recess. 
     Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved advertising mat for use in high traffic retail stores and other commercial locations for the purpose of advertising goods that can be purchased in the establishment. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an advertising mat that can be utilized in predicted pedestrian paths, with graphics sheets straddling the pedestrian paths. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such additional objects, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advertising mat can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principle of the advertising mat. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the advertising mat, showing the predicted path of the pedestrians across the mat at the entrance of a retail establishment. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial, expanded perspective illustration of the advertising mat shown in FIG. 1, showing a graphics sheet expanded away from its position on the mat. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of one of the graphics sheets, with a corner of the adhesive protective sheet pulled away from the bottom surface of the graphics sheet, and illustrating the adhesive applied to the bottom surface of the graphics sheet. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of another preferred embodiment of the advertising mat. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial, expanded perspective illustration of the advertising mat shown in FIG. 4, showing a graphics sheet expanded away from its position on the mat. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the process of fabricating a preferred embodiment of the advertising mat. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial, expanded illustration of the elements used to form a hold down tab for the preferred embodiment of the mat shown in FIGS.  4  and  5 . 
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the advertising mat as illustrated in the drawings. While the advertising mat will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the advertising mat to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the advertising mat as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an advertising mat  10  that is to be applied to the floor surface of a retail establishment in an anticipated pedestrian path. The pedestrian path is indicated by the footprints  11  extending toward and away from the mat and possibly through doors  12 . 
     The mat is formed of a rubberized material having a substantially flat bottom surface (not shown) that can be textured for avoiding slipping or skidding on the surface of the floor of the establishment. The mat material can be rubber, vinyl, or a combination of materials such as rubber and vinyl, for presenting a friendly, safe pedestrian surface and providing durability for the user. 
     While other dimensions can be used, a typical floor mat can be 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, and have a central section  14  and opposed side sections  15  and  16  that straddle the central section  14 . Typically the central section  14  will be approximately 3 feet in length and 3 feet in width, whereas the opposed side sections each will be 1-½ feet in length and 3 feet in width. Also, the mat will be placed with its length extending transverse to the anticipated pedestrian path  11 , so that only the central section  14  is expected to be heavily traveled by the pedestrian traffic. The opposed side sections  15  and  16  will be placed adjacent, in straddling relationship, with respect to both the central section  14  and the anticipated pedestrian path  11 . The central section can be made of a permanent material, usually of the same material of the entire floor mat. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mat  10  has a raised border  18 , including a shallow ledge  19  that projects vertically upwardly from the central portion  20  of each side section  15  and  16 , and also upwardly from the central portion  21  of the central section  14 . 
     As shown, the central section  14  can include vertically raised designs  23  arranged in closely spaced relationship so as to form a walking surface for pedestrians and to also form lowered spaces or relief between the designs for the accumulation of dirt, etc. The central section  14  can also include track control media, such as tufted nylon, polypropylene, rayon, etc., that functions to remove dirt and debris from the feet of pedestrians. Embodiments are also envisioned wherein the central section  14  is removable from the mat  10  so as to facilitate cleaning the mat  10 . 
     Graphics sheets  25  are removably placed in the recessed central portion  20  of the side sections  15  and  16 . The graphics sheets are of a length and width that correspond to the length and width of the recessed portions  20 , so as to substantially fill the recessed portions at opposed ends of the mat, outside of the anticipated pedestrian path  11 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, each of the graphics sheets  25  may be polystyrene sheet  26  or vinyl sheet or a sheet of other material that is durable and user safe and friendly, typically of white or off-white color or of other color that forms a proper background for the graphics to be applied thereto. The graphics sheets have a releasable adhesive  28  applied thereto on the bottom surface and a peel off cover sheet  29  is temporarily applied to the releasable adhesive so as to protect the adhesive prior to the time when the graphics sheets will be applied to the mat. 
     The upper surface of the graphics sheet has printed thereon the graphics  30  desired by the producer, usually the name and image of the product or service to be sold at the site of the retail establishment. Typically, the graphics have been applied to the graphics sheet and a laminate  31  of clear vinyl is applied to the graphics sheet, over the graphics, so as to protect the graphics from wear and discoloration, and to form a non-skid and scuff resistant surface. 
     When the advertising floor mat  10  is to be placed in a retail store, etc., the graphics sheets  25  will be applied to the opposed side sections  15  and  16  of the mat by peeling away the protective peel off cover sheet  29  from the bottom surface of the graphics sheet, and then accurately placing the graphics sheet in the recessed central portion  20  of the opposed side sections of the mat. The borders  18  of the mat protects the edges of the graphics sheets  25  from inadvertent detachment from the mat. In that the graphics sheets  25  are releaseably adhesively attached to the advertising mat  10 , the graphics sheets  25  can be removed from the advertising floor mat and replaced so as to change the ad carried by the mat and/or refresh the ads with a replacement ad from time to time so as to avoid extended use of advertisements that have become worn, discolored, obsolete or otherwise undesirable. 
     FIG. 4 discloses another preferred embodiment of the advertising mat  10 . In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the graphics sheets  25  that are to be placed in the opposed recessed side sections  15  and  16  are first adhesively attached to panels  27  (FIG. 5) that have substantially the same length and width as the opposed recessed side sections  15  and  16 . Once the graphics sheets  25  have been adhesively connected to their respective panels  27 , the panels  27  are inserted into their respective opposed recessed side section  15  and  16 . 
     Although the panels  27  can be simply placed in their respective opposed recessed side sections  15  and  16 , it is desirable to utilize some positive means of retaining the panels  27  within the side sections  15  and  16 . Adhesive can be used. As shown in FIG. 5, another method of retaining the panels  27  within the opposed recessed side sections  15  and  16  is the utilization of hold down tabs  22  disposed in the corners of each of the opposed side sections  15  and  16 . Preferably, each opposed recessed side section  15  and  16  will have a hold down tab  22  at each of its corners for its respective panel  27 . As shown, each hold down tab  22  extends over a corner of a side section and defines an approximately triangular slot or recess  23  between the hold down tab  22  and the corner of the associated recessed side sections  15  and  16 , the recess being disposed in the shallow ledge  19  formed by the raised border  18 . Preferably, the combined thickness of the panel  27  and its associated graphics sheets  25  is less than the height of the shallow ledge  19 , thereby permitting the raised border  18  to afford protection to the panel  27  and graphics sheets  25 . 
     Mounting the graphics sheets  25  to a panel  27  rather than directly to the mat  10  permits the graphics sheets  25  to be used with multiple mats  10 . Therefore, if it is desirable to clean the advertising mat  10  yet continue to use the same graphics sheets  25 , the panels  27  are simply removed from the opposed side sections  15  and  16  of the mat  10  to be removed for cleaning and placed in the opposed side sections  15  and  16  of the replacement advertising mat  10 . The panels  27  extend the service life of the graphics sheets  25 , thereby reducing the cost of utilizing the advertising mat  10 . Note, although not shown, embodiments are envisioned wherein the central section  14  of the advertising mat  10  also can bear advertising indicia. The ad in the central portion of the advertising floor mat can be permanent as by molding or tufting the information into the mat. However, a generic central portion  14  increases flexibility of use of the mats in that a stock pile of mats  10  with advertising specific to a given location does not need to be maintained. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the central section  14  of the advertising mat  10  includes a track control media such as nylon, polypropylene, rayon, etc., which can be tufted. Typically, the central section  14  of the advertising mat  10  is non-releasably attached to the advertising mat  10 . However, embodiments are envisioned wherein the track control media is secured to a substrate (not shown) which is in turn placed within a recessed portion of the mat  10 . The substrate is releasably connected to the mat  10  by mechanical means, such as the previously discussed hold down tabs  22 . This allows the central section  14  of the mat  10  to be periodically cleaned without having to lift and remove the entire advertising mat  10  from the premises on which it is being used. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the process of fabricating a preferred embodiment of the advertising mat  10 . First, as shown in block  40 , a rubberized mat  10  having a bottom surface and an upper surface  12  is provided. Next, as shown in block  42 , a plate  33  is disposed on the upper surface  12  of the mat. Typically, the plate  27  will have the dimensions and shape of the desired recess to be formed in the upper surface  12  of the mat  10 . Preferably, the plate  33  is formed from a metal, such as aluminum. Next, the temperature to which the mat  10  and plate  33  are exposed is elevated, as shown in block  44 , resulting in the plate and mat becoming heated. By elevating the temperature, the rubber of the mat  10  will flow more readily, thereby allowing the hot plate  33  to be received within the mat  10 . As shown in block  46 , force is exerted on the plate  33 , with the plate being urged into the mat, thereby forcing the plate  33  into the upper surface  12  of the mat  10 . As the plate  33  moves into the upper surface  12  of the mat  10 , the surrounding rubber is urged upwardly about the edges of the plate  33 , thereby forming the shallow ledge  19  of the opposed side sections  15  and  16 . Next, the mat  10  and embedded plate  33  are cooled such that the plate  33  can eventually be removed from the mat  10 , thereby leaving a recess in the mat  10 , as shown in block  48 . Once the mat  10  has adequately cooled, a graphics sheet  25 , either alone or adhesively attached to a panel  27 , can be placed in the recess, as shown in block  50 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, additional steps are required to form the hold down tabs  22  disclosed by the preferred embodiment of the advertising mat  10 , shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the preferred embodiment shown, the corners  34  of the plate  33  used to form the opposed side sections  15  and  16  are thinned to approximately half the thickness of the plate  33 . Typically, a plate  33  will be approximately 60 mils thick, meaning the corners  34  will be thinned to approximately 30 mils. After the plate  33  has been disposed on the upper surface  12  of the mat  10 , a piece of reinforcing fabric  38  is disposed to cross the thinned corner  34  of the plate  33  such that it extends beyond the edges of the plate  33 . Next, a rubber piece  36  is disposed on top of the reinforcing fabric  38 , and similarly extends beyond the edges of the plate  33 . The reinforcing fabric  38  and rubber piece  36  ideally extend beyond the edges of the plate  33  so that they will make sufficient contact with the upper surface  12  of the mat  10 . Therefore, as the rubber piece  36  is exposed to elevated temperatures and pressure, the rubber piece  36  will flow through the reinforcing fabric  38  and adequately bond with the rubber of the upper surface  12  of the mat  10 . Also, thinning the corners  34  of the plate  33  helps ensure that the hold down tabs  22  will be formed substantially within the plane of the upper surface  12  of the mat  10 . Therefore, the hold down tabs  22  will remain substantially flat rather than “bulging” upward. However, it is not necessary to thin the corners  34  of the plates  33  when forming all embodiments. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present advertising mat  10 , in particular, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations that set forth a clear understanding of the principles of the advertising mat  10 . Variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the advertising mat  10  without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the advertising mat  10 . All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure of the advertising mat  10  and protected by the following claims.