Patent Publication Number: US-4654245-A

Title: Roll up floor mat

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/645,245, filed 8/29/84 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a floor mat capable of being rolled up for storage and cleaning, and relates to co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 305,445, filed Sept. 25, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,587 and assigned to the assignee hereof, as well as to U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,324, filed Mar. 9, 1982. 
     In the floor mat of U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,324 it is stated that &#34;an underlying cushion effect may be achieved by having resilient rib members--partially embedded into corresponding grooves&#34;, there being two such grooves in each of the sections. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,587, each of a pair of lower passageways in each rail respectively slidaby receive an elongated cushion of &#34;durable, resilient material such as vinyl&#34;. 
     As an improvement thereon, we have eliminated the need for grooving the lower faces of the rail sections and the need for a multitude of separate cushions, separately installed, by flanging each hinge web and providing a flap on each flange disposed to flex into engagement with the rail section thereabove in response to laying of the mat on the floor. 
    
    
     IN THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a roll up floor mat made pursuant to our present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but still further enlarged; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view comparable to FIG. 4 but showing one pair of the rail sections and the corresponding hinge connection during roll up of the mat; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the mat when the same is in its rolled condition; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the same recessed into a support surface; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The roll up floor mat shown in FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings, designated by the numeral 10, is adapted for placement on a normally horizontal support surface 12 such as a floor or sidewalk, and includes a plurality of elongated, spaced apart, rectangular, rigid, metallic, plate-like rails or sections 14, such as extruded aluminum, each provided with a pair of opposed, longitudinal extremities 16. A number of elongated, flexible, elastomeric strips 18, e.g. vinyl, alternate with the rails 14, the rails 14 and the strips 18 being coextensive in length. T-joints 20 releasably interlock the strips 18 and the rails 14 along the extremities 16. 
     Each strip 18 includes a median, bendable web 22, together with a pair of spaced apart, opposed, transversely T-shaped connectors 24 integral with the webs 22. The extremities 16 are provided with undercut, inwardly opening, transversely C-shaped grooves 26 coextensive in length with the extremities 16. The connectors 24 conform in transverse cross-section with the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the grooves 26 and slidably extend into corresponding, proximal grooves 26. 
     The mat 10 is also provided with a series of elongated, relatively thin, resilient cushions underlying the joints 20, such cushions being coextensive in length with the rail sections 14, the webs 22 and the joints 20. To this end, each strip 18 includes a pair of horizontally spaced, transversely L-shaped members 30, presenting, in each instance, an upstanding flange 32 between the extremities 16, the flanges 32 being integral with the corresponding webs 22. Additionally each strip 18 has a cushioning flap 34 integral with its flange 32. 
     The flaps 34 extend laterally in opposite directions beneath the rail sections 14 and, more particularly, beneath the T-joints 20. It is to be preferred that the flaps 34 be relatively narrow and be disposed to flex into flat engagement with the rails 14 along the proximal lowermost margins of the rails 14 at the extremities 16 in response to laying of the mat 10 on a floor or other surface, as indicated at 12 in FIG. 2. 
     Each of the rails 14 is provided with a length of carpeting 38 or other fibrous material, releasably connected with the rails 14, as illustrated, or in any other suitable manner. Additionally, if desired, the mat 10 may be provided with a vinyl frame border 40 coupled therewith through use of a T-joint comparable in nature to the joints 20. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the way in which the webs 22 bend in hinge-like manner when the mat 10 is to be removed from the surface 12 and rolled up into a single coil for initial shipment and for subsequent storage and/or cleaning, the joints 20 all the while maintaining the rail sections 14 in interconnected relationship. 
     Except only for a slightly different type of border or vinyl filler 40&#39;, the floor mat 10&#39; may be identical with the mat 10 and the same numerals, suitably primed, designate identical components. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 the mat 10&#39; is adapted to be recessed below the floor or other surface and, to this end, a suitable extruded aluminum frame 42 surrounds the mat 10&#39;, there being a continuous, inwardly extending rib or lip 44 forming a part of the frame 42 and disposed to support proximal rail sections 14&#39;. In this instance, the flaps 34&#39; at both ends of all of the rails 14&#39; lie flatly on the proximal length of the rib 44. 
     Accordingly, when the rails are interconnected by the connectors 24 sliding into the grooves 26, the flanges 32 are automatically disposed between the proximal extremities 16, and the flaps 34 are automatically disposed beneath the sections 14 as is clear, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 8, making it unnecessary to groove or recess the lower surfaces of the rails and unnecessary to provide separate cushions, requiring separate installation, reducing the overall cost of the assembly and providing an even better cushioning effect than has heretofore been suggested.