Patent Abstract:
Each mat of a plurality of mats has an electrical resistance heater embedded therein between a layer of vinyl and a layer of cloth-like material. The mats are located in a motor vehicle and are connected to the power system of the motor vehicle via a cigarette lighter-type attachment and are controlled by a control element. Each mat has a crown and a gutter so water generated by melting snow or ice is controlled and prevented from running off the mat.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the general art of land vehicles, and to the particular field of mats and covers for land vehicles. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Many people must work outside during cold or inclement weather. Many people may also have to drive in such weather for long periods of time. These people often suffer from the cold or inclement weather. One part of a person&#39;s body that is especially susceptible to such weather is the feet. A person&#39;s feet often are the main portion of the body that is in contact with the coldest elements, such as the ground. 
   People often have special boots, or special socks for such conditions. However, even such special clothing may not be sufficient if the exposure is long enough. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a system that can maintain a person&#39;s feet warm even under severe conditions. 
   Many people have access to an automobile during inclement weather, either as a driver or as a passenger or simply as a temporary shelter. Operating the heating system of the automobile may provide some relief, however, this may not be sufficient if the exposure is long enough or the weather severe enough. This is especially true for the person&#39;s feet, which may not receive sufficient warm air from a vehicle heating system to efficiently and quickly warm the person. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a system that can maintain a person&#39;s feet warm and which can be efficiently used in a motor vehicle, such as an automobile. 
   Furthermore, if a land vehicle is used as a shelter for such purposes, it is often used by a plurality of people. Some of the people will be located in the front seat of the vehicle and some of the people will be located in the rear seat of the vehicle. It is more efficient if all of these people can be warmed at once and in an efficient manner. Some present vehicle heating systems do not warm the passengers in the rear of the vehicle as efficiently as the passengers in the front of the vehicle. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people located in both the front and rear of the vehicle. 
   Still further, some conditions may require maximum heating while other conditions may require minimum heating. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people located in both the front and rear of the vehicle and which can be adjusted to accommodate various conditions. 
   In many inclement situations, a person&#39;s feet are covered with snow or ice. As the feet are warmed, this snow or ice will melt and may become a problem if the water is not properly conducted away to a proper area. The floor mats of a motor vehicle can become soaked and may mildew under some conditions. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people and which can also conduct water into desired collection areas. 
   Still further, it is desirable to isolate any heating elements from both the feet of the users and the mats of the vehicle to avoid discomfort or damage. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people but which has the heating elements protected from contact with either the feet of the users or the support elements in a vehicle. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a system that can maintain a person&#39;s feet warm even under severe conditions. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that can maintain a person&#39;s feet warm and which can be efficiently used in a motor vehicle, such as an automobile. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people located in both the front and rear of the vehicle. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people located in both the front and rear of the vehicle and which can be adjusted to accommodate various conditions. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provided a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people and which can also conduct water into desired collection areas. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that can efficiently warm the feet of people but which has the heating elements protected from contact with either the feet of the users or the support elements in a vehicle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a foot warming system that includes a plurality of mats that can be heated by electrical resistance heaters embedded in the mats and which are powered from a power system of a vehicle. The mats include crowns and gutters so water generated by the heat from the mats can be collected and disposed of in a desired manner. A plurality of mats are included so that mats can be located at a plurality of locations in the vehicle whereby a plurality of people can be warmed at one time. 
   Using the foot warming system embodying the present invention will permit a person to use a motor vehicle to maintain his or her feet warm even if special clothing is insufficient for this purpose no matter whether the person is located in the front of the vehicle or in the rear of the vehicle. The system can be easily connected to the power is system of the vehicle and can be easily adjusted to accommodate various conditions. Any water generated by melting snow or ice will be conducted into gutters or the like which can be dumped when necessary. The water generated by melting snow or ice from a person&#39;s feet can thus be disposed of in a desired manner and in a desired location and will not interfere with conditions inside the vehicle. The heating elements are embedded in the mats and a layer of carpet-like material is interposed between the heating elements and the feet of the user and a vinyl layer is interposed between the heating elements and any floor mat that might support the heated mat so that the heating elements will not come directly in contact with either the feet of the user or the vehicle whereby discomfort or damage will be avoided due to contact with the heating elements. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a foot heating system embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a mat as seen along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a power connection and a control element used in the foot heating system embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a mat taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the layers of the mat as well as the crown and the gutter of the mat. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a foot heating system  10 . 
   System  10  comprises a motor vehicle  12 , such as a car, a truck or the like, and which has a front seat  14 , a rear seat  16 , a driver&#39;s seat  18 , a power system  20 , a cigarette lighter type power outlet  22  electrically connected to the power system  20 , and a floor, such as floor  24 , associated with each seat. The elements of the vehicle are not shown in detail since those skilled in the land vehicle art will understand what these elements are based on the teaching of the present disclosure. 
   System  10  comprises a first mat  30  which includes a first surface  32 , that is a top surface when first mat  30  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12  as indicated in  FIG. 1 , and a second surface  34 , that is a bottom surface when first mat  30  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12 . Mat  30  further includes a first end edge  36 , a second end edge  38 , a first side edge  40 , a second side edge  42 , a first transverse axis  44  which extends between first side edge  40  and second side edge  42 , a third end edge  46  located between first end edge  36  and second end edge  38 , a third side edge  50  which extends between third end edge  46  and second end edge  38 , and a second transverse axis  54  which extends between first side edge  40  and third side edge  50 . Second transverse axis  54  is longer than first transverse axis  44 . 
   First mat  30  includes a vinyl layer  60  which will be interposed between first mat  30  and the floor  24  of the vehicle  12 . Vinyl layer  60  has a crown  64  near the middle thereof. Vinyl layer  60  further includes a gutter  66  defined adjacent to the side edges of first mat  30 . 
   Water associated with melting snow or ice will flow into the gutter  66  and be collected therein. The crown  64  will create a flow of the water to the gutter  66 . The collected water will be prevented from flowing onto the floor  24  of the vehicle  12  and can be disposed of as suitable. 
   First mat  30  further includes a cloth-like layer  70  on vinyl layer  60  and an electrical resistance heater element  80  having coils  82  and  84  is embedded in vinyl layer  60 . An electrical plug  86  is located in one edge of first mat  30 . 
   System  10  further comprises a second mat  100  which includes a first surface  102  that is a top surface when second mat  100  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12 , a second surface  104  that is a bottom surface when second mat  100  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12 , a first end edge  106 , a second end edge  108 , a first side edge  110 , and a second side edge  112 . Second side edge  112  extends at an oblique angle, θ, with respect to second end edge  108 . A first transverse axis  114  extends between first side edge  110  and second side edge  112 . Mat  100  further includes a third side edge  120  which extends between second side edge  112  and second end edge  108 . A second transverse axis  122  extends between first side edge  110  and third side edge  120 . Second transverse axis  122  is longer than first transverse axis  114 . 
   Second mat  100  further includes a vinyl layer  130  which has a crown  132  located near the middle thereof. Vinyl layer  130  further includes a gutter  134  defined adjacent to the side edges of second mat  100  and which circumnavigates second mat  100 , as does the gutters of the other mats included in system  10 . 
   A cloth-like layer  136  is located on vinyl layer  130 , and an electrical resistance heater element  138  is embedded in vinyl layer  130 . All of the electrical resistance heater elements of the mats of system  10  are identical. Element  138  has an electrical plug  140  located in one edge of second mat  100 . 
   System  10  further comprises a third mat  150  which includes a first surface  152  that is a top surface when third mat  150  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12 , a second surface  154  that is a bottom surface when third mat  150  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12 , a first end edge  156 , a second end edge  158 , a first side edge  160 , a second side edge  162 , and a transverse axis  163  which extends between first side edge  160  and second side edge  162 . Third mat  150  further includes a vinyl layer  164  which includes a crown  166  near the middle thereof and a gutter  168  defined adjacent to the side edges of third mat  150  to circumnavigate that mat in a manner similar to the other mats included in system  10 . 
   A cloth-like layer  170  is located on vinyl layer  160  and an electrical resistance heater element  172  is embedded in vinyl layer  160 . An electrical plug  174  is located in one edge of third mat  150 . 
   System  10  further includes a fourth mat  180  which is similar to third mat  150  and which includes a first surface  182  that is a top surface when fourth mat  180  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12 , a second surface  184  that is a bottom surface when fourth mat  180  is resting on the floor  24  of motor vehicle  12 , a first end edge  186 , a second end edge  188 , a first side edge  190 , a second side edge  192 , and a transverse axis  194  which extends between first side edge  190  and second side edge  192 . Mats  150  and  180  are rectangular in outer peripheral shape. 
   Mat  180  further includes a vinyl layer  196  which includes a crown  198  near the middle thereof. Vinyl layer  196  further includes a gutter  200  defined adjacent to the side edges thereof. 
   Fourth mat  180  further includes a cloth-like layer  201  on vinyl layer  196 . An electrical resistance heater element  202  is embedded in vinyl layer  196  of fourth mat  180  and has an electrical plug  204  located in one edge thereof. 
   A power connection element  210  is shaped and adapted to be accommodated in cigarette lighter-type power outlet  22  of motor vehicle  12 . A power level control  212  is electrically connected to power connection element  210  and is used to adjust the power level in system  10  between a high level  214 , a low level  216 , and a medium level  218 . Power level control  212  can be a rheostat element or the like. 
   An electrical connection  220  electrically connects the electrical resistance heater of each of the mats to power level control  212  to receive power from power system  20  of motor vehicle  12  via power level control  212 . 
   As can be understood from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure, mats can be located throughout a motor vehicle for warming the feet of anyone sitting in the vehicle. If snow or lice is melted during the warming process, water is guided to gutters where it can be collected and disposed of at a later time in a suitable location. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1