Abstract:
A slip resistant floor mat includes a number of upstanding projections in the form of blades or teeth arranged on an upper surface thereof. The blades or teeth deflect under a load and dissipate the force of the load so that the tendency of the mat to slip on the underlying floor is reduced.

Description:
[0001]    This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/209,379, filed Aug. 25, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to floor mats and, more particularly, to a floor mat which resists slipping relative to the underlying floor when a force is applied to the top of the mat such as a foot step, rolling cart or similar interaction. 
         [0003]    In the past, floor mats were often made with either a smooth back, primarily for solid or non carpeted floors, or with a variety of “grippers” or “cleats” arranged on a bottom surface of the mat to reduce movement of the mat on carpeted floors. However, both of these approaches resulted in floor mats that were not skid resistant on smooth floors, especially those floors with high traffic areas or loads being moved over them. The movement of the mat in the gripper/cleat mat design results from the force of foot, vehicle and other traffic on the mat which causes a deformation around the compressed area of the mat and then upon removal of such force the mat returns to a different position on the floor. For the smooth back mats, movement of the mat results from similar forces and the lack of any device or feature intended to secure the mat in place. 
         [0004]    A number of approaches have been attempted to reduce the movement or slippage of mats relative to an underlying floor. One known approach to the problem is to fasten the mat to the intended floor surface by various devices, such as that suggested by Kessler in U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,908. The invention of that patent utilizes a system by which a mat is fastened to the surface using a clip system. While this approach is well-developed, it results in floor mats that are difficult or impossible to move from place to place and the structures required to attach the mat add cost to the mat and difficulty during the installation. Also, attached mats are typically more rigid. 
         [0005]    Another approach involves the use of a frame into which the mat is placed, such as the frames used by Moffitt, Jr. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,614 and Kessler in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,915. The frame can be located upon the flooring surface or inlaid to be flush with the flooring surface. In either circumstance, unless the frame is fastened as mentioned above or embedded in the surface, the frame still has a tendency to shift relative to the floor surface. If the frame is fastened or embedded, the other problems mentioned above still remain including particularly the ability to relocate the mat to a different location on the floor. 
         [0006]    Another approach involves the use of suction cups, such as those commonly found on shower and bath mats, examples of which can be found by Lindholm in U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,779 in which the corners of a rectangular mat are held by four suction cups and by Gavlak in U.S. Pat. No. 2,081,992 in which a plurality of suctions cups holds the bathtub mat to the surface. While this approach often provides acceptable slip-resistance for light shower and bath mat applications, traditional suctions cups are not sufficient to provide sufficient anti-skidding forces to prevent slipping and movement in high traffic and high load areas particularly on smooth floors such as tile, marble or wood floors. Traditional suction cups also result in a wavy mat surface which is more difficult for individuals and loads to traverse. 
         [0007]    As mentioned, existing approaches to reducing movement of mats include significant limitations. Further, the known approaches require additional space, components, installation effort and cost, often at the expense of functionality. As a result, significant improvement can still be made relative to reducing the movement of mats. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    These and other shortcomings with prior mats have been addressed with this invention which in various embodiments utilizes projections formed on the top surface of the mat to reduce movement of the mat on the underlying surface, typically floors. This invention utilizes a number of projections to reduce the movement of the mat. The projections are formed on the top surface of the mat. Upon an initial force being applied to the mat, such as a footstep or vehicular traffic, the projections are deformed or deflected, thereby providing a force that acts to adhere the mat to the surface and assist in retaining the mat in its original position. As the force over a particular area of the mat increases, if the force is sufficiently large, the projections will deform or bend to dissipate the force of the traffic on the mat so that movement of the mat relative to the floor is reduced, minimized or eliminated. The projections accept and dissipate the forces that act to oppose the lateral motion of the mat on the floor that would otherwise result from the applied forces. 
         [0009]    The size, shape and specifications of the projections can be varied and the projections can be positioned in a variety of arrangements on the mat. The projections can be any shape that is formed on the top surface of the mat, provided that they bend or deflect upon contact. In one embodiment, the projections are spaced blades or teeth with a rectangular cross-section and are arranged in rows with the projections in each row being of the same height and the projections in alternating rows are of different heights. In various embodiments, the projections are positioned in evenly spaced parallel rows resulting in an evenly spaced grid arrangement, although they can be spaced in varied combinations. In one embodiment, the pattern does not extend to the edge of the mat in order to prevent tearing and permit the edge of the mat to include a ramp. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the projections are different sizes and shapes. The existence of multiple sizes and shapes of projections permits improved performance on a variety of floor surfaces since larger projections perform better on some surfaces and smaller projections perform better on others. 
         [0011]    While the mat can be made from different materials, it is typically rubber. The rubber can be a soft, low durometer rubber compound, such as LD-35, by being plied to a T6 aluminum mold to form the projections. Also, if desired, additives can be introduced to the mat to make it anti-bacterial. 
         [0012]    One advantage of the invention is that the mat resists slipping to a much greater extent than existing mat designs. Another advantage of the invention is that the edges of the mat are more stable and therefore it is less of a tripping hazard or obstacle than traditional mats in which the edge of the mat easily rolls up onto or under the mat. Another advantage is that the mat of this invention provides the enhanced slip-resistance without adding any weight or installation complexity. Another advantage is that the invention does not require any permanent fastening means and is therefore easy to move to different locations. Another advantage is that the projections provide some additional cushioning for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Another advantage is that the cushioning of the projections yields an anti-fatigue effect, thereby resulting in reduced wear and tear and routine maintenance and increased user comfort, especially for locally stationed employees spending long period of time on the mat. Another advantage of the invention is that the slip-resistance is effective on a wide variety of surfaces because of the use variable spaced, sized and shaped projections. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a slip resistant mat according this invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion  2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top plan and enlarged view of the mat of  FIGS. 1-2 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the mat of  FIG. 2  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a slip-resistant mat  10  with stabilizing projections  12  according to this invention is shown. The mat  10  includes a mat body  14  having an upper surface  16 . A number of projections  12  extend upwardly from the upper surface  16  of the mat body  14 . The projections  12 , according to various embodiments of this invention, are arranged in multiple-spaced rows  18 , and are similarly oriented in one embodiment of this invention. In various embodiments of this invention, the projections  12  may be arranged in an orderly consistent uniform arrangement, at least in portions of the mat  10 . In alternative embodiments of this invention, the projections  12  are arranged in sections, or quadrants  20 , with the orientation of the projections  12  and the rows  18  being generally perpendicular to the orientation of the projections  12  and rows  18  in adjacent quadrants  20  or sections of the mat  10 . This arrangement is readily seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    The mat  10  includes a peripheral ramp edge  22  extending around a perimeter of the mat body  14 . The ramp edge  22  provides an angled transition from the mat body  14  to a floor  24  upon which the mat  10  is positioned. As such, in various embodiments of this invention, the mat  10  may be considered a scraper mat. A channel  26  is formed at the juncture between two portions of the ramp edge  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The channel  26  provides an avenue for the discharge of any accumulated water, fluids, or other materials, from the upper surface  16  of the mat body  14  toward the surrounding floor  24  or other surfaces. 
         [0020]    The projections  12  extending upwardly from the mat body  14  may be in any arrangement, configuration, shape, or size, according to this invention. The projections  12  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  are each rectangular in cross-sectional configuration and the height of the projections  12  in alternating rows varies, for example. The projections  12  in one row  18  may be less than the height of the projections  12  in an adjacent row  18 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the height A of the lower projections  12  may be 0.125 inches, and the height B of the taller projections  12  may be 0.1875 inches, according to one embodiment of this invention. Similarly, the width of each projection  12 , as indicated by C in  FIG. 3 , may be 0.09375 inches, and the length of each projection  12 , indicated by D in  FIG. 3 , may be 0.375. The spacing between the adjacent rows  18  of projections  12  is indicated by E in  FIG. 3 , and may be 0.125 inches in one embodiment of this invention. The projections  12  in each row  18  are spaced longitudinally from one another as indicated by F in  FIG. 3  and this dimension may be 0.125 inches in one embodiment. 
         [0021]    Additionally, as is readily evident from  FIG. 3 , the projections  12  in one row  18  are staggered, or offset, from the projections in an adjacent row, such that the gap between the projections in a given row is centered on the projections in each of the adjacent rows. 
         [0022]    In various embodiments of this invention, the projections  12  may be considered upstanding teeth or blades; however, the configuration of the projections  12  and their arrangement and spacing may be any of a wide variety of designs within the scope of this invention, with only one such embodiment of this invention being shown and described herein. 
         [0023]    In use, when vehicular or foot traffic passes over and atop the mat  10  situated on the floor  24 , the projections  12  are able to deflect or bend, relative to the upper surface  16  of the mat body  14 . As such, the projections  12  may bend to such a degree as they impact the projections  12  in an adjacent row  18 . The interaction of the projections  12  during such loads serves to cushion the user&#39;s impact with the mat  10 , and likewise, dissipate the lateral and other forces resulting from the interaction with the mat  10  that might otherwise tend to shift, translate, or move the mat  10  relative to the floor  24 . It is believed that the ability for the projections  12  to bend relative to a remainder of the mat  10  and the interaction between the bending projections  12  increases the resistance of the mat  10  to slipping relative to the floor  24 . Once the load is removed from the mat  10 , the projections return to their upright orientation, as shown generally in  FIG. 4 . A lower surface  28  of the mat  10 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , may have additional friction coating or features to further minimize the slippage of the mat  10  relative to the floor  24 . The projections  12  in combination with the exposed upper surface i 6  of the mat body  14  contribute to form an upper surface of the mat  10  as shown generally in  FIGS. 3-4 . 
         [0024]    From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, we desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.