Improvements in Mats.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1892--Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mats.
I JOHN MILLS, of Newark, County of Essex, State of New Jersey, Gentleman,
my post office address being 883 Broad Street, Newark New Jersey, United States
of America, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a mat for halls, stoops, cars and other
purposes adapted to be used upon either surface with interchangeable parts, simple
in construction, readily adjusted, and self cleaning.
The invention consists of a mat constructed of independent slats made of wood
or other material arranged parallel to each other and separated by a series of
separate elastic strips or bands projecting above and below the wooden slats, said
strips and slats being secured together by rods or bolts. It also consists in the
combination and arrangement of the various parts thereof, substantially as herein-
after more fully described and finally embodied in the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the top and bottom of a mat embodying my improvement,
both surfaces being the same when the mat is reversible.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line (2) showing a series of elastic strips as
secured to a slat.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on line (y) and
Fig. 4 is a cross section on line (<).
In said drawings (a a) represents slats made of wood or any desired material and
arranged parallel with each other and their top and bottom surfaces preferably in
the same plane, respectively. To the sides of the slats are secured by nails or
tacks (9) or any desired manner a series of separate elastic strips (bb) arranged
longitudinally and separated from each other by spaces or openings (cc). These
elastic strips are preferably rectangular and project a little beyond the surface of
the slats on the top and bottom, as shown at (d d). These slats with the elastic
strips are then arranged in series of parallel rows, as many as required, according
to the size of the mat, and the slats are secured in this position by bolts or rods (ee)
passing through them, with nuts (ff) for tightening up said slats or permit of a
slat being removed for readjustment or replacement of any elastic strip.
These slats can be rectangular or rounded in cross section, or of any form
preferred.
Mats constructed according to my invention are not only reversible and adapted
for use on either surface; but the lower surface of the mat when in position on a
floor will prevent the mat from slipping by reason of the frictional bearings of the.
edges of the elastic strips as will be manifest.
In muddy weather the shoe is cleaned without injury and the dirt or scrapings
fall through the openings to the floor beneath, the mat therefore being self cleaned.
When not desired for use the mat can be turned up on edge and laid away without
occupying much space. The elastic strips can be made of equal or varying lengths,
as may be preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
As a new article of manufacture, a reversible mat consisting of slats with serie,

page_text: of separate elastic strips secured to said slats and projecting above and below the
surface of said slats, said slats and strips being secured together by bolts or rods,
substantially as described.
"
1000
BONNE & Co.,
57 & 58, Chancery Lane, Authorised Patent and Trade Mark Agents.