Patent Document

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is directed to sectional floor matting, in particular, to edging for sectional floor matting. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Carpets and rugs have long been used to cover the ground, floor, and other surfaces. Floor coverings are not only functional in that they protect the floor, collect and retain dirt, mud and water, but they are also aesthetical. Depending on the material, the floor covering may also provide a cushion, softening the surface and thus easing stress on the user. 
         [0003]    Floor coverings have evolved to include modular systems that can be designed on the spot for the specific application. For example, twelve 1 foot by 1 foot (about 30.5 cm by 30.5 cm) interlocking mats can be combined to form a 12 square foot mat (about 1.1 m 2 ), either 2 foot by 6 foot (about 61 cm by 183 cm) or, 3 foot by 4 foot (about 91.5 cm by 122 cm). Such interlocking sectional matting is a popular system for customizing floor mats. Additionally, with such sectional matting systems, it is possible to replace only the worn or damaged mat sections when needed, rather than having to replace the entire mat. 
         [0004]    3M Company has a sectional matting product line that is well recognized. Various NOMAD™ floor mats are available, with a variety of physical properties, such as thickness, mat density, material, mat section size, etc. The mats are configured to interlock, providing various shapes and sizes of matting. In one installation design, the mats are placed into a recessed well in the floor, so that the top surface of the mats is approximately level with the ground. In another installation design, where there is no recessed well, tapered or ramped edging is placed around the perimeter of the mat, to reduce the chance a user may trip on the edge of the mat. The edging is generally glued to the mat, to inhibit the mat and edging from becoming separated. Typically, when either the mat or the edging is worn or damaged, both the edging and the mat section are replaced. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides a floor mat system that increases the benefits associated with using sectional matting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a sectional floor mat system to allows varying sizes of floor mats to be created from smaller floor mats. Edging sections or pieces are removably engaged with the floor mats to inhibit tripping on the edge of the mat. 
         [0007]    An exemplary embodiment of the floor mat system of the present disclosure is a sectional system that includes at least one mat and sufficient edging to border at least one of the side edges of the at least one mat. In many embodiments, there is sufficient edging to border all side edges of the at least one mat, when multiple mats, if present, and connected together. 
         [0008]    In one particular aspect, the disclosure is directed to a perimeter section for releasably attaching to a mat, the perimeter section having a transition portion with a variable thickness, and an engagement portion, the engagement portion comprising an engagement element configured to releasably engage with the mat. 
         [0009]    The disclosure is also directed to a mat having main section having at least one edge, and a perimeter section removably engaged adjacent to the at least one edge, the perimeter section having a variable thickness, wherein the thickness of the perimeter section is substantially the same as the mat thickness adjacent the at least one edge, and the perimeter section has a portion having a thickness that decreases as the perimeter section extends outwardly from the edge of the main section. 
         [0010]    A mat system is within this disclosure, the mat system being a combination of at least one mat and at least one perimeter or edging section that releasably attaches to the mat. In one more specific embodiment, the mat system has at least one floor mat having a side edge, the side edge having a first engagement element, and an edging section having a transition portion with a variable thickness and an engagement portion, the engagement portion comprising a second engagement element, the second engagement element configured to releasably engage with the first engagement element. The floor mat and the perimeter section may have the same or similar surface pattern. The mat system may have multiple mats, which preferably are interlockable. The mat system may also include at least one corner piece. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure is also directed to a combination of a mat having a side edge, the side edge having a first engagement element, and an edging section configured to abut the side edge of the floor mat, the edging section having a transition portion with a variable thickness, and an engagement portion, the engagement portion comprising a second engagement element configured to releasably engage with the first engagement element. Added to the combination could be a corner piece configured to abut an end edge of the edging piece, the corner piece having a transition portion and an engagement portion. 
         [0012]    A kit is also within the disclosure, the kit comprising a mat section having a thickness and at least one edge, and a perimeter section capable of being removably engaged adjacent to the at least one edge, the perimeter section having a variable thickness, wherein the thickness of the perimeter section is substantially the same as the mat thickness adjacent the at least one edge, and the perimeter section thickness decreases as the perimeter section extends outwardly from the edge of the mat section. 
         [0013]    A modular mat can be assembled by providing a mat section having a thickness and at least one edge, and removably attaching a perimeter section adjacent to the at least one edge, the perimeter section having a variable thickness, wherein the thickness of the perimeter section is substantially the same as the mat thickness adjacent the at least one edge, and the perimeter section thickness decreases as the perimeter section extends outwardly from the edge of the main section. 
         [0014]    These and other embodiments and aspects are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a floor mat system assembled from multiple floor mats and edging sections; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a floor mat suitable for use with edging sections of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a first embodiment of an edging section configured for engagement with a first side of the floor mat; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a second embodiment of an edging section configured for engagement with a second side of the floor mat; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a corner edging section configured for engagement with the floor mat; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the edging section of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the figures, various embodiments of floor mat edging according to the present invention are provided. In  FIG. 1 , a floor mat system, composed of a plurality of floor mats and a plurality of edging, is illustrated generally at  10 . System  10  is composed of a plurality of floor mats  20  (specifically, four floor mats  20 ) and an edging system  15  that circumscribes the plurality of mats  20 . In this embodiment, edging system  15  has a plurality of side edging sections  50  (three of which are individually illustrated as  50 A,  50 B,  50 C), which will be described in detail below. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlargement of mat  20 . Mat  20  has a first side edge  22 , a second side edge  24 , a third side edge  26  and a fourth side edge  28 . Mat  20  has a bottom surface that contacts the ground, floor, or other surface on which mat  20  is placed, and top surface opposite the bottom surface for walking thereon. Mat  20  includes a pattern  25  on its top surface; pattern  25  may extend through mat  20  to the bottom surface. Pattern  25  is configured to facilitate retention of water, mud, dirt, and other material that should be retained rather than trekked around. In this particular embodiment, pattern  25  is composed of passages or voids that extend through mat  20  from the top surface to the bottom surface. One example of such mats  20  is shown in registered Community design No. 000050638, Applicant of which is 3M Innovative Properties Company. 
         [0023]    Mat  20  includes a plurality of engagement elements to facilitate connection of multiple mats  20  together. See  FIG. 1 , where four mats  20  are connected together. Side edges  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  of mat  20  include first and second engagement elements, which are adapted to releasably engage. The first and second engagement elements might be referred to as “books” and “receptacles”, “male” and “female”, or other engagement elements. Mat  20  includes hooking elements  30 ,  30 ′ that extend out from side edges  26  and  28 , and receivers  35 ,  35 ′ in side edges  22  and  24 . Hooking elements  30 ,  30 ′ engage with receivers  35 ,  35 ′. In particular, side edge  22  includes receivers  35 , side edge  24  includes receivers  35 ′, side edge  26  includes hooking elements  30  and side edge  28  includes hooking elements  30 ′. In alternate configurations, any or all side edges of the mat may include both hooking elements and receivers; for example, one side may include three hooking elements and two receivers, and another side may include two hooking elements and three receivers. 
         [0024]    Hooking elements  30 ′, in relation to side  28 , are orthogonal to hooking elements edge  30 , in relation to side edge  26 . That is, when viewing the length of side edge  28 , hooking elements  30 ′ extend from right to left as they extend out from side edge  28 , whereas hooking elements  30  extend from left to right as they extend out from side edge  26 . In a similar manner, receivers  35 ′, in relation to side edge  24 , are orthogonal to receivers  35 , in relation to side edge  22 . That is, when viewing the length of side edge  24 , receivers  35 ′ extend from right to left as they approach side edge  24  from the center of mat  20 , whereas receivers  35  extend from left to right as they approach side edge  22  from the center of mat  20 . Hooking elements  30 ,  30 ′ and receivers  35 ,  35 ′ are thus configured so that appropriately configured receivers  35 ,  35 ′ are available to engage with hooking elements  30 ,  30 ′. 
         [0025]    The present invention provides edging system  15  that at least partially circumscribes mat(s)  20 . Individual edging sections  50  correspond with the engagement elements of mat  20  to releasably retain edging sections  50  to mat  20 . Edging sections  50  include a transition portion  60 , which has a beveled or angled surface that facilitates the progression from the ground, floor or other surface on which edging section  50  is placed and the top of mat  20 ; transition portion  60  is a ramp from a surface below the top of mat  20  (e.g., the floor) to the top of mat  20 . Transition portion  60  is that portion of edging sections  50  that circumscribes mat  20  and is visible in  FIG. 1 . Transition portion  60  has first end  62  and second end  64  opposite first end  62 . The length of edging section  50  is the distance between end  62  and end  64 . Transition portion  60  also has an outer edge  66 . Edging section  50  also includes an attachment portion  52 , which preferably includes a surface having pattern  25 . Attachment portion  52  includes appropriate engagement elements to non-adhesively engage mat  20 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3  in particular, a first embodiment of an edging section  50  is illustrated as edging section  50 A. Edging section  50 A is configured to engage with side edge  22  of mat  20 . Side edge  22  includes receivers  35 . Attachment portion  52  of edging section  50 A has at least one, and preferably an equal number of hooking elements  40  as receivers  35  on side edge  22 , to engage edging section  50 A to side edge  22 . In this particular embodiment side edge  22  has three receivers  35  and edging section  50 A includes three hooking elements  40  configured to releasably engage with receivers  35 ; it is understood that more or less receivers  35  and hooking elements  40  could be present. Edging section  50 A is also shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0027]    Now referring to  FIG. 4 , a second embodiment of an edging section  50  is illustrated as edging section SOB. Edging section SOB is configured to engage with side edge  26  of mat  20 . Side edge  26  includes hooking elements  30 . Attachment portion  56  of edging section  50 B has at least one, and preferably an equal number of receivers  45  as equal to the number of hooking elements  30  on side edge  26 , to engage edging section  50 B to side edge  26 . In this particular embodiment side edge  26  has three hooking elements  30  and edging section  50 B includes three receivers  45  configured to releasably engage with hooking elements  30 ; it is understood that more or less receivers  45  and hooking elements  30  could be present. 
         [0028]    Although not illustrated, two additional embodiments of edging section  50  would be used for engagement with side edge  24  and side edge  28  of mat  20 . An edging section similar to edging section  50 A, but with hooking elements turned orthogonal to hooking elements  40 , would engage side edge  24 , which has receivers  35 ′. Similarly, an edging section similar to edging section SOB, but with receivers turned orthogonal to receivers  45 , would engage side edge  28 , which has hooking elements  30 ′. 
         [0029]    Edging sections  50 A,  50 B each have three engagement elements for engaging with the appropriate side edge of mat  20 . There should be at least one, preferably at least two, and more preferably the number of engagement elements between edging section  50  and mat  20  is the same. Generally, the number of hooking elements  30 ,  30 ′ mat  20  should not exceed the number of receivers  45  on edging section  50 , nor should the number of hooking elements  40  on edging section  50  exceed the number of receivers  35 ,  35 ′ on mat  20 . 
         [0030]    Edging sections  50 , such as edging sections  50 A, SOB, include engagement elements at ends  62 ,  64  to connect adjacent edging sections  50  together. For example, edging section  50 A, at side edge  64 , is configured to releasably attached to edging section  50 B at side edge  62 . For both edging sections  50 A, SOB, first side  62  includes a receiver  35 ″ and second side  64  includes a hooking element  30 ″. More than one receiver  35 ″ or hooking element  30 ″ may be present in sides  62 ,  64 . 
         [0031]    Edging sections  50  form a portion of perimeter  15  around mat(s)  20 . Edging sections  50 , however, are configured for placement against side edges  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  of mats  20 . Each of edging sections  50 , such as edging sections  50 A,  50 B, has a length from side edge  62  to side edge  64  that is generally the same as the width of mat  20 , particularly, the length of the side edge to which that edging section engages. Edging sections  50  generally do not extend passed the width of mat  20 . To provide perimeter  15  around mat(s)  20 , corner pieces  17  are provided. 
         [0032]    Corner pieces  17  are a 90 degree, angle piece that fill in the perimeter around mat(s)  20  where edging sections  50  do not extend. Corner piece  17  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0033]    Corner pieces  17  include a transition portion  60 ′, similar to transition portion  60  of edging sections  50 , which has a beveled or angled surface that facilitates the progression from the ground or floor on which corner pieces  17  is placed and the top of mat  20 . Transition portion  60 ′ has first end  62 ′ and second end  64 ′ opposite first end  62 ′. First end  62 ′ is configured for abutment and attachment to second end  64  of edging sections  50 , and second end  64 ; is configured for abutment and attachment to first end  62  of edging sections  50 . Transition portion  60 ′ also has an outer edge  66 ′. Corner pieces  17  preferably include a surface having pattern  25 . 
         [0034]    Corner pieces  17  include engagement elements thereon to connect corner pieces  17  to adjacent edging sections  50 . Corner piece  17  includes appropriate engagement elements to engage mat  20 . In this embodiment, proximate first end  62 ′ is a receiver  3511  for releasable engagement with hooking element  30 ″ on second end  64  of edging section  50 , and proximate second end  64 ′ is a hooking element  30 ″ for releasable engagement with receiver  35 ″ on first end  62  of edging section  50 . More than one receiver  35 ″ or hooking element  30 ″ may be present on ends  62 ′,  64 ′. 
         [0035]    In use, edging sections  50  and corner pieces  17  are combined with mat  20 , often a plurality of mats  20 , to form a mat system. Together, outer edge  66  of edging sections  50  and outer edge  66 ′ of corner pieces  17  form the outermost edge of perimeter  15 , and transition portions  60 ,  60 ′ preferably provide a ramped or sloped surface up from perimeter  15  to the top surface of mat(s)  20 . Although transition portions  60 ,  60 ′ have been illustrated as a ramped portion with a beveled edge or chamfer, transition portions  60 ,  60 ′ could be curved or arced, such as a fillet, stepped, or ribbed. In  FIG. 6 , transition portion  60  includes a textured surface to increase slip resistance on the surface. 
         [0036]    The mat system includes mat(s)  20 , edging sections  50 , and corner pieces  17 . An appropriate number of edging sections  50  and four corners  17  form a rectangular perimeter  15  around mat(s)  20 . For example, in  FIG. 1 , four mats  20  are illustrated surrounded by 8 edging sections  50  and four corners  17 . If only one mat  20  were used, four edging sections  50  and four corners  17  would be used to encircle mat  20 . In some installations, it may be desired to not have all the sides of mat(s)  20  edged; for example, mat  20  may be positioned to abut a wall, so that only three side edges would have edging sections  50  thereon. In such an embodiment, probably only two corner pieces  17  would be used. 
         [0037]    A mat system, to encircle mat  20  of  FIG. 2  having the hooking elements  30 ,  30 ′ and receivers  35 ,  35 ′, would include five different pieces; edging section  50 A, edging section SOB, an edging section similar but orthogonal to piece  50 A, an edging section similar but orthogonal to piece  50 B, and four corners  17 . If the engagement elements (e.g., hooking elements  30 ,  30 ′ and receivers  35 ,  35 ′) on a mat differ, so will the edging sections. For example, a mat system could have three different pieces: edging section  50 A, edging section SOB, and four corners  17 . 
         [0038]    Although edging sections  50  have been illustrated as having the same length as the width of mat  20  to which they are attached, edging sections  50  could be longer, to engage more than one mat, or shorter, to engage less than one mat. For example, one edging section could be configured to engage three adjacent mats, for example, to extend the entire side edge of a mat system. 
         [0039]    Edging section  50 , corner piece  17 , and other embodiments, can be made from any suitable material, including polymers (plastics), metal, wood, composites, clay, and the like. The most preferred, however, are polymeric materials. It may be desirable to have two or more materials present in edging section  50  or corner piece  17 . 
         [0040]    Edging section  50  or corner piece  17  can be a unitary piece or assembled from multiple pieces. A polymeric unitary piece can readily be injection molded using conventional techniques. Other molding and extrusions techniques could also be used. 
         [0041]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous specific characteristics and elements of the mat system and edging sections of the present disclosure have been described, other embodiments are within the scope of the invention. For example, edging sections  50 A,  50 B described above have a single row of pattern  25 . Alternate embodiments could have more than one row of pattern, or, have an amount of pattern  25  that is equivalent to mat  20 . Such an embodiment could be described as mat  20  having transition portion  60  permanently attached thereto. 
         [0042]    Also for example, the description above has been made with square mats  20 . It should be understood that other shaped mats would also be in accordance with the present invention. Examples of shapes include rectangles, parallelograms, rhombus, hexagons, triangles, and other polygons, including irregular polygons such as bowties, L-shaped, or U-shaped. The mats could have curved surfaces. Additionally or alternatively, the resulting mat system could have any shape, such a square, rectangle, parallelogram, rhombus, hexagon, triangle, and other polygons including irregular polygons. Circular or arced shapes are possible. For mat systems that have corners, the ends of the edging sections would be appropriately angled or otherwise shaped to form the desired corner angle. Internal corners, of any angle, are foreseen. The height of transition portion  60 , which generally defines the height of edging section  50  may be the thickness of mat  20 , such as for installations where the mats are placed on the same surface as edging sections  50 . Alternately, the mats may be partially recessed into a well, or depression, so that edging sections  50  do not need to be the full thickness of the mat. The mat systems that can be created with mats  20 , and other embodiments, and edging sections  50 , and other embodiments, are countless. Various shapes, sizes, colors, textures, materials, etc. can be used in conjunction to create a mat system. These, and other variations, are within the scope of this invention. 
         [0043]    The foregoing disclosure, which includes the description and figures, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the fill extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Technology Category: 4