Patent Publication Number: US-2005129916-A1

Title: Decorative chairmat

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/309,089, filed Jul. 31, 2001, entitled “Decorative Chairmat” and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/208,085, now abandoned, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates generally to chairmats, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for making decorative chairmats.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Chairmats are generally a mundane part of office decor. Typically, chairmats are formed from a plastic material that is clear or a solid color. Chairmats are used to provide a rolling surface on which office chairs more easily move. This helps reduce wear on the carpeting.  
      Typical chairmats are unappealing due to the thick plastics used, whether they are colored or uncolored. This is particularly noticeable in a home office environment or in a professional office environment outside the home.  
      It would therefore be desirable to provide an aesthetically pleasing chairmat to add a variety of interest and decoration to an office environment while protecting the floor from the wear and tear from a chair.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an improved chairmat that is aesthetically pleasing by allowing various designs to be incorporated therein.  
      In one aspect of the invention, a chairmat for a floor includes a planar substrate layer having a front side adjacent to the floor and a second side opposite the floor. The chairmat further includes a decorative material that is directly disposed on the second side of the substrate layer. A transparent seal layer is disposed on the decorative layer material opposite the substrate layer.  
      In yet another aspect of the invention, the decorative material may be placed on top of the substrate layer or beneath the substrate layer.  
      In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for making a chairmat comprises applying a decorative material to a substrate; and applying a sealing layer to the decorative material so that the decorative material is between the sealing layer and the substrate. If the decorative material is included in the seal layer, the layers are formed simultaneously.  
      Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a chairmat according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of an edge of the chairmat of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      In the following description the same reference numerals will be used to identify the same components in the various views. Although specific materials and designs are provided in this description, these are not meant to be limiting.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a top view of a chairmat  10  formed according to the present invention is illustrated disposed on a floor  11 . The chairmat  10  has a generally planar structure. Chairmat  10  has a design portion  12  in the middle thereof. A second design portion  14  such as a border is also illustrated. First design portion  12  may extend completely to the edges of chairmat  10  on some or part of the sides. Second design portion  14  may be eliminated.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of a chairmat  10  formed according to the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment a continuous planar substrate  16  is provided. Substrate  16  is disposed upon the floor  11 . That is, the substrate has a first side  16   a  adjacent to the floor  11  and a second side  16   b  disposed opposite or away from the floor  11 . Because of the planar nature the sides  16   a  and  16   b  are parallel. Substrate  16  may be formed of various types of non-conductive, non-electrical plastic-type materials such as polyvinylchloride or polypropylene. The substrate  16  is rigid.  
      A decorative material  18  is disposed directly on the second side  16   b  of the substrate  16 . thereon. Decorative material  18  may be various types of decorative materials such as, but not limited to, paint, pencil, plastic, ink, paper, charcoal, polyurethane, crayon, glue, in-laid objects, and combinations thereof. The decorative material  18  forms a decorative layer that is generally disposed in a plane. The decorative material  18  may be discontinuous or continuous, may extend to the edge or leave a border therebetween, or may be formed of different types of materials for different portions such as an edge or border portion being formed of a different decorative material than a central portion.  
      A protective coating or sealing layer  20  is disposed directly upon the decorative material  18 . The sealing layer  20  is also generally planar. Of course, if the decorative material  18  is discontinuous, a portion of the sealing layer  20  may also contact the substrate layer  16 . For example, if no decorative material is placed around a border portion, the sealing layer  20  and substrate layer  16  may contact there. Also, in parts of the first design portion  12  shown in  FIG. 1 , portions of the sealing layer  20  without decorative material  18  may also contact the second side  16   b  of the substrate layer  16 . The sealing layer  20  may be formed of various types of materials. Preferably, a durable polymeric material is employed. For example, the application of several coats of polyurethane material may be employed. Such a material becomes rigid when cured. The sealing layer may be relatively thinner than the substrate. The sealing layer  20  may also be a non-electrical plastic non-conductive material. Other types of material such as a laminated type material may also be used. The sealing layer  20  has an upper surface  20   a  that is preferably smooth to highlight the design therebeneath. However, textured surfaces may also be employed. When smooth, surface  20   a  is parallel to the floor  11  and thus parallel to the sides  16   a ,  16   b  of the substrate.  
      By directly applying the decorative material to the substrate layer  16  and the seal layer  20  to the decorative layer, adhesives are avoided. The seal layer  20  is a conforming layer in the sense that it conforms to the shape of the decorative material on its lowermost side.  
      It should be noted that the decorative material can be pigment in a polymer layer that is applied to the substrate. That is, the seal layer  20  and the decorative material may be integral. One example of such an integral material may be pigmented polyurethane.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an edge  22  of a chairmat is illustrated. In this embodiment, substrate  16  is shown contacting the sealing layer  20 . That is, decorative material  18  does not extend entirely to the edge. The edge also has an angle θ to facilitate the rolling of wheels thereover. In addition, nubs  24  may be positioned along the bottom of substrate  18 . Nubs  24  help keep the chairmat in place. Nubs  24  may be made out a material that digs into the carpeting to maintain the chairmat  10  secure thereto. If chairmat  10  is to be employed on a tile surface a non-skid type nub  24  such as a rubberized nub may be employed.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a second embodiment of a chairmat  10 ′ is illustrated. In this embodiment, substrate  16 ′ has decorative material  18 ′ disposed on a bottom or lower surface thereof. The sealing layer  20 ′ is disposed on the decorative material  18 ′. In this embodiment, substrate  16 ′ is preferably transparent so that the decorative material  18  shows therebeneath. Substrate  16  may also be partially transparent so that only portions of the decorative material  18 ′ show therethrough. This may be useful for creating a design pattern using both the substrate  16 ′ and the decorative material  18 ′.  
      In operation, the chairmat may be assembled by shaping the chairmat into a desired shape. This may be performed using cutting tools. Preformed substrates may also be used. Decorative materials are added to the substrate. The decorative material may use various mediums described above. The application of the various mediums depends on the type of medium.  
      A seal layer is applied to the decorative material to protect the decorative material and maintain contact with the decorative material on the substrate  16 . One suitable application is the use of a polyurethane material over the design material. Of course, other types of materials may be used for the sealing layer. Therefore, the application and curing of such sealing layer depends upon the material of the sealing layer.  
      It should be noted that the application of the decorative material  18  to the substrate  16  depends on which embodiment is desired. For example, the decorative material  18  is used on the bottom surface of substrate  16  for that of  FIG. 4 , while the decorative material  18  is placed upon the upper surface of substrate  16  for the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
      While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.