Patent Abstract:
A three piece fastener is provided for attaching two layers, e.g. a floor mat for a vehicle to a floor carpet which may then stabilize the mat relative to the carpeting. The three components may connect together through a combination of mechanical connections to provide a relatively simple and cost effective solution to floor mat retention.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/271,148 filed Nov. 14, 2008, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to vehicle floor coverings, and more particularly to a three piece system for retaining a floor mat to a floor carpet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is often desirable to place a floor mat on top of the carpet within a vehicle in order to keep the vehicle carpet clean and to reduce wear and tear thereof. Unfortunately, floor mats may be subjected to twisting motions from the entrance and exit of vehicle occupants which can cause slippage. Such slippage may lead to injury of an occupant when entering or exiting from a vehicle. In addition, a floor mat may slip over a vehicle carpet so as to become jammed under the accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals of the vehicle preventing proper operation thereof which may present a possibly dangerous condition. 
     A number of solutions have been proposed in the prior art to solve the problem of mat or rug slippage along a surface. These solutions can generally be divided among devices which hold the rug, mat, or carpet relative to an underlying floor and those which hold a rug or mat relative to an underlying carpet. In one instance, the floor mat may be sewn to the floor carpet, making it non-removable for cleaning. In another instance, a fastener was attached to the floor pan of the car and passed through holes in the carpet and mat to locate them. Attaching fasteners to the floor pan generally may cause problems with moisture leakage where the fastener is attached. Such fasteners may include an escutcheon to cover the end of the fastener which protrudes through the carpet. 
     Further, the floors of some vehicles, such as pick-up trucks, may be flat so that contoured mats may not be used. In some cases, two-sided tape may be used to secure a floor mat from slipping or the mat may include a retention system which is connected to the door sill. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed at a fastening system for attaching two layers together, comprising a first component including a base portion, a foldable arm, and a receiving portion to mechanically engage the foldable arm, and a projection to engage a second component. The second component includes a platform portion having a protrusion configured to mechanically engage with a third component. The third component includes a platform having a central opening, the opening configured to mechanically engage with the protrusion of the second component. 
     In a second aspect, the present disclosure is directed at a method of attaching two layers together comprising providing a fastener having three components, a first component including a base portion, a foldable arm, and a receiving portion to mechanically engage said foldable arm, and a projection to engage a second component. The second component includes a platform portion having a protrusion having an opening to engage the first component and the protrusion is configured to mechanically engage with a third component. The third component includes a platform having a central opening, the opening configured to mechanically engage with the protrusion of the second component. A first and a second layer may be provided, wherein the first layer includes openings to accommodate both the foldable arm as well as the receiving portion configured to ultimately mechanically engage with the foldable arm, wherein the second layer includes an opening for the protrusion. 
     One may then insert the foldable arm and the receiving portion through the openings in the first layer followed by folding of the arm such that it is mechanically engages with the receiving portion. This may then be followed by engaging the second component to the first component by inserting the projection into the opening in the second component and inserting the protrusion through the opening in the second layer and mechanically engaging the opening of the third component to the protrusion of the second component and securing the second layer to the first layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the three piece floor mat retention system in an exploded configuration showing the individual components; and 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the three piece floor mat retention system in an installed position attaching a floor mat to a carpet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the snap retention system  10  of the present disclosure comprises three components, a first component  20  which includes a base portion  21 , a foldable arm  22  and a receiving portion  26 . The foldable arm  22  further may include a serrated portion  28  for engaging the backside of the carpet, a living hinge  29  and a connector portion  24  including an opening  25 . In addition, the first component includes a projection  27  for engaging a second component  30  in mechanical engagement, such as a snap fit. 
     A second component  30  provides a platform  31 , such as in the form of a round disc, having a protrusion  32  which may include a loop  33  and a plurality of molded detents  34  which extend into an opening and are spaced apart to interface with projection  27  in a mechanical type relationship (e.g. a snap-fit relationship) to engage the first component  20  and the second component  30  together. That is, the loop  33  may extend between the detents and is ultimately configured to be under tension when engaged with the edges of the projection  27 . It may therefore be appreciated that any form of mechanical engagement of the second component with the first component is contemplated herein, such as a friction and/or threaded type engagement. 
     The connection of the first component to the second component may then allow for retaining a floor mat between the second component  30  and a third component  40  (see  FIG. 2 ) while the third component  40  provides retention of the mat to the carpet. The second component  30  may also include an external threaded portion on the protrusion  32  which may engage an internal threaded portion  42  of the third component  40 . The third component may therefore provide a platform  41  which may also be in the shape of a round disc. It may also be appreciated that any form of mechanical engagement of the second component to the third component is contemplated herein, such as the above described threaded engagement and/or snap-fitting methods. 
     To install the retention system  10 , two slots, not shown, may be cut into a carpet  50  and the receiving portion  26  and foldable arm  22  may be passed through the slots and the arm folded beneath the carpet around living hinge  29 , such that the opening  25  in the connector portion  24  engages the receiving portion  26  and retains the first component  20  to the carpet  50 . See  FIG. 2 . The receiving portion may therefore be understood as any feature (e.g. a hook) that may provide mechanical engagement to a foldable arm, which mechanical engagement may proceed via use of a connector portion  24  configured on the end of the foldable arm. 
     This then secures the first component  20  to the carpet  50 . The serrated portion  28  of the foldable arm  22  may be designed, according to the thickness of the carpet and the length of the portion of the foldable arm above its hinge point, to penetrate a desired amount into the backside of the carpet. This may then provide additional stability for the connector when attached to a floor mat. 
     Next, the second component  30  may be snap-fit to the first component  20  by pressing the second component  30  over the projection  27  and engaging the projection with the molded detents  34  and loop  33  inside the opening in the second component  30 . 
     Next, a floor mat  60  having a hole (not shown) to accommodate the protrusion  32  may be provided and slipped over the protrusion. This may be followed by threading the third component  40  via the internal threads  42  and external threads  36  on to the second component  30  securing the floor mat to the carpet. The third component  40  may include designs, logos, etc. on the top surface to provide aesthetics, as it is exposed to view. 
     The three components  20 ,  30  and  40  may generally be molded of a thermoplastic or thermoset (crosslinked) material. For example, suitable thermoplastics may include polyethylene and/or polypropylene. In the case of polypropylene, such may provide for the preferred formation of the living hinge noted above, but it may be appreciated that the hinge may be made of materials other than polypropylene. Reference to living hinge may be understood as a hinge that may be repeatedly flexed without failure. Continuing, other suitable thermoplastics may include polyamides (e.g., nylon-6,6 or nylon-6), ABS, polystyrene, high-impact polystyrene, thermoplastic olefins (TPO), polycarbonate (PC), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), polysulfones, etc. One may also utilize elastomeric materials, e.g., thermoplastic polyester elastomers and/or polyurethane elastomers, etc. With respect to thermosets, one may consider the use of epoxy resins, phenolic resins, and/or crosslinked polyurethane systems. 
     While the connector described herein may be of nearly any practical size, generally it may be about 1 inch in diameter. It is also contemplated that the connector may have a diameter (largest cross-sectional linear dimension) of about 1.0 inch to 6.0 inches. The three piece floor mat snap retention system  10  as described herein may therefore provide a relatively simple and cost effective solution to stabilize a floor mat on a selected surface, such as a carpeted surface in a vehicle. 
     The description and drawings illustratively set forth the presently preferred invention embodiments. The description and drawings are intended to describe these embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that still other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teaching while remaining within the scope of the following claims. Therefore, within the scope of the claims, one may practice the invention otherwise than as the description and drawings specifically show and describe.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8