Abstract:
An improved floor mat with inlays made out of wood, aluminum, carbon fiber or other decorative materials for automobiles. The floor mat has strategically placed inlays in order to increase durability, while also complimenting the decorative nature of the mats.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an improved automobile floor mat. The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/002,560. Standard floor mats are primarily made of carpeting or rubber. Usually, standard factory supplied floor mats are not aesthetically pleasing. Nor do standard, factory supplied floor mats match or coordinate with the various interior trims used in modern vehicles, such as wood, aluminum or carbon fiber to name a few. Furthermore, certain areas of the mats are prone to accelerated wear. 
         [0003]    It would be desirable to have an aftermarket automobile floor mat that provides better aesthetics and coordination with different vehicle trims, such as wood, aluminum or carbon fiber to name a few, but also improved wear and longer life. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Automobile floor mats, whether factory installed or acquired in the after market, are either single pieces of carpeting or single pieces of rubber or plastic. They are made to increase comfort, and, in the case of after market mats, protect the floor from dirt and wear and for aesthetics. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a piece of wood, faux wood, aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, or any other aesthetically pleasing material is affixed to a floor mat otherwise made of carpet. The material can be affixed to a mat substrate by either screws, adhesive, grommets or a combination of such. 
         [0007]    The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, both as to structure and method of operation thereof, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and they are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a floor mat of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a floor mat; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of another alternative embodiment of a floor mat; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view of yet another alternative embodiment of a floor mat; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a section view of the floor mat of  FIG. 1  along line  6 - 6  in the direction of the appended arrows; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a section view of the floor mat of  FIG. 2  along line  7 - 7  in the direction of the appended arrows; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of yet another alternative embodiment of a floor mat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    A preferred embodiment of a floor mat  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The floor mat  100  is shaped in a way to not add extra material or bulk to any of the side panels, pillars, drive shaft or any interior panels present and protruding in the seating/floor area in the automobile. This specific embodiment in  FIG. 1  is made in a shape so that it does not intrude or interfere with the driver&#39;s side pedals or foot placement. It is specifically tailored to the shape of the area in the automobile in which it is to be placed. Most automobiles have carpeting in the floor area and this floor mat is intended to be placed on top of that carpeting. The floor mat  100  can have various shapes and/or tapers depending on the automobile application in which it is used. A matching mat could be supplied for the passenger side, as well. Also matching mats could be supplied for the rear seats. As well, a matching mat could be supplied for the trunk. 
         [0017]    This floor mat  100  includes a substrate layer  101  to which is affixed a carpet layer  106 . The carpet layer  106  contains a cut away or cut out section  108  in which a single inlay  102  is placed. The substrate  101  has a non slip surface in contact with the factory supplied carpeting (not shown). The inlay  102  is then also fastened to the substrate layer  101 . 
         [0018]    An alternative embodiment of floor mat  200  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The floor mat  200  can contain various shapes and/or tapers depending on the automobile application. This floor mat  200  includes a substrate layer  201  to which is affixed a carpet layer  206 . The carpet layer of the floor mat  200  contains a cut away section  208  in to which a single inlay  202  is placed. The carpet portion of the floor mat sits flush or reasonably flush with the inlay  202 . The floor mat  200  contains an outer border  204  or edging that is comprised of the same or substantially similar material to the single inlay  202 . The outer border  204  is comprised of a strip of material that is folded and affixed with an adhesive and/or screws, brats or other fasteners or a deformable brat clip in order to press the border closed. 
         [0019]    Alternatively, the outer border  204  can be a single piece of material molded in a “c” shape or a piece of material that is excavated out to form a “c” shape that clips on or is put into place with an adhesive and/or screws, brats, or other fasteners. The outer border  204  is either affixed to the substrate layer  201  to sit flush with the carpet layer or both the substrate layer  201  and the carpet layer  206 . 
         [0020]    Alternatively, the outer border  204  can be a single piece of material that is affixed in place by an adhesive and/or screws, brats or other fasteners. The outer border  204  is either affixed to the substrate layer  201  to sit flush with the carpet layer or both the substrate layer  201  and the carpet layer  206 . 
         [0021]    Yet another alternative embodiment of floor mat  200  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The floor mat  300  can contain various shapes and/or tapers depending on the automobile application in which it is used. 
         [0022]    This floor mat  300  also contains a cut away section  308  in the carpet portion in which a single inlay  302  is placed. The floor mat  300  is also comprised of carpet layer  306  and substrate layer  301 . The inlay  302  sits flush or reasonably flush with the carpet layer  306 . 
         [0023]    The floor mat  300  contains an outer border  304  or edging that is comprised of the same or substantially similar material to the single inlay  302 . The outer border  304  is comprised of a strip of material that is folded and affixed with an adhesives and/or screws, brats or other fasteners or deformable brat clip in order to press the border closed. 
         [0024]    Alternatively, the outer border  304  can be a single piece of material molded in a “c” shape or a single piece of material excavated out to form a “c” shape that clips on or is put into place with an adhesive and/or screws, brats or other fasteners. The outer border  304  is either affixed to the substrate layer  301  to sit flush with the carpet layer or both the substrate layer  301  and the carpet layer  306 . The border  304  is comprised of cut strips formed in the manner above or the strip of material as described above is cut to show the perforations so as to form a flexible outline. 
         [0025]    Alternatively, the outer border  304  can be a strip of material that is affixed in place by an adhesive and/or screws or other fasteners. The outer border  304  is either affixed to the substrate layer  301  to sit flush with the carpet layer or both the substrate layer  301  and the carpet layer  306 . The border  304  is comprised of cut strips formed in the manner above or the strip of material as described above is cut to show the perforations so as to form a flexible outline. 
         [0026]    An alternative embodiment of floor mat  200  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The floor mat  400  can contain various shapes and/or tapers depending on the automobile application in which it is used. 
         [0027]    This floor mat  400  contains a plurality of cutaways or cutout sections  403  in which multiple slats of inlay  402  are placed on top of a substrate layer  401 . The floor mat  400  is also comprised of carpet layer  406  or some other material that sits flush or reasonably flush with the multiple inlays  402 . The carpet layer  406  can be a single piece with a plurality of cut aways or cutout sections, or multiple pieces of carpeting. The floor mat  400  contains an outer border  404  or edging that is comprised of the same or substantially similar material to the multiple inlays  402 . 
         [0028]    An exploded view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1  of floor mat  100  is shown in  FIG. 5 . This floor mat  100  contains a cut away or cut out section  108  in which a single inlay  102  is placed. The single inlay  102  is affixed to the substrate layer  101  with either an adhesive  109  or screws  107 . The single inlay  102  sits flush with the carpet layer  106 . 
         [0029]    A section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 6 . It shows the floor mat  100  with a cut away or cut out section  108  in which an inlay  102  is affixed to the substrate layer  101  of the floor mat with screws  107 . The floor mat  100  contains a carpet layer  106  that sits flush or reasonably flush to the inlay  102 . 
         [0030]    A section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  is shown in  FIG. 7 . It shows the floor mat  200  with a cutaway section  208  in the carpet layer  206  in which an inlay  202  is affixed to the substrate layer  201  of the floor mat  200  with an adhesive  209 . The floor mat  200  also contains carpeting  206  that sits flush or reasonably flush to the inlay  102 . The floor mat  200  also contains a border  204 . 
         [0031]    An alternative embodiment of floor mat  800  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The floor mat  800  can contain various shapes and/or tapers depending on the automobile application in which it is used. 
         [0032]    This floor mat  800  contains a single carpet layer  806  that has a cutout  808  for an inlay  802 . The inlay is comprised of a raised portion that allows it to fit in the cutout yet have a bordering region so that it do stays in place on the mat. The region can be either affixed with adhesive and/or screws, brats or other fasteners or remain in place through friction.