Patent ID: 6905650

Claim:
A method of producing a molded floor covering for a vehicle floor, wherein the molded floor covering includes a drain tube integrally formed therewith, wherein the drain tube includes a threaded bore that is configured to receive a correspondingly-threaded plug, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a contour of the vehicle floor and an outwardly projecting threaded member, wherein the threaded member includes a head portion and an elongate threaded shank; vacuum forming a layer of thermoplastic polymer over the mold and around the threaded member such that the layer follows the contours of the mold and threaded member to produce a molded floor covering having opposite first and second surfaces, and a drain tube extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the drain tube includes a threaded bore with an open proximate end and a closed distal end, wherein the open proximate end is integrally formed with the molded floor covering, and wherein the open proximate end has a configuration of the head of the threaded member; rotating the threaded member to threadingly disengage the threaded member from the drain tube; and forming an opening through the drain tube distal end.