Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to floor mats and more particularly to a non-skid floor mat design for use in a golf car. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Traditionally, the passenger compartment of a golf car includes a floor mat designed to provide a comfortable non-skid surface of the floor for occupants wearing hard spiked golf shoes (steel, ceramic, etc.). Typical designs include a moderately hard rubber compound with a rough surface texture similar to indoor/outdoor carpeting. The majority of the non-skid function results from the hard spikes of the golf shoes embedding into the mat material. Thus, the properties of the material are focused on wear resistance to provide adequate service life of the mat. The surface texture of traditional mats must remain shallow to preclude a tripping hazard with aggressive hard spikes. The shallow surface texture also limits the entrapment of dirt in the mat surface, facilitating easy cleaning. 
   In recent years, there has been a dramatic shift from hard spiked golf shoes to shoes incorporating soft spikes. Soft spikes are typically made from a plastic compound, are significantly more pliable and less abusive than hard spikes. The benefit of soft spikes to a course operator is reduced damage to both the playing surface, putting greens in particular, and the course facilities, floors, steps, sidewalks and the like. The benefits of soft spikes to the golfer include comfortable walking and more consistent putting as a result of the reduced damage to the putting greens. 
   The shift to using soft spiked golf shoes has created a heightened need for the floor mat of the golf car to provide an improved non-skid surface. Additionally, the plastics from which the soft spikes are molded, are typically slippery when contacting the floor mat material, especially when wet. Further, hard spikes and soft spikes are used contemporaneously, as not all players have switched to soft spikes. Thus, the floor mat must provide additional non-skid capability for soft spikes, without being overly aggressive for hard spikes, while still providing adequate service life and cleaning characteristics. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides a non-skid floor mat for use in a golf car to enable traction with one of a hard spike and a soft spike of a golf shoe. The non-skid floor mat includes a sheet having a first section and a second section, and a plurality of nibs protruding from the second section. The nibs are sufficiently spaced from one another to enable one of direct contact of the hard spike with the sheet and contact of the soft spike with both the nibs and the sheet. Optionally, either the first or second section can include a textured surface. The textured surface of the second section lies between each of the plurality of nibs. 
   The nibs have a height within the range of 0.12 to 0.19 inches and are separated by a center-to-center distance of at least 0.5 inches. 
   Further, the floor mat is comprised of an elastomeric material. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger compartment of a golf car including a non-skid floor mat in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the non-skid floor mat; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the non-skid floor mat along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is a detailed view of a portion of the cross-section of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a typical soft spike; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of a typical soft spike engaging the non-skid floor mat; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a typical soft spike engaging the non-skid floor mat. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   Referencing  FIG. 1 , a passenger compartment  10  of a golf car  12  is shown. The passenger compartment  10  includes a seat  14 , a floor  16 , and a dash panel  18 , steering wheel  20 , a brake pedal  22 , and an accelerator pedal  24 . A non-skid floor mat  30 , designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, covers the floor  16  of the passenger compartment  10 . 
   With particular reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  3 A, the non-skid floor mat  30  will be discussed in detail. The non-skid floor mat  30  is formed of an elastomeric material  32  having an outer perimeter  34  shaped to conform with the floor  16  of the passenger compartment  10 . The floor mate  30  has the advantages of which are discussed in further detail herein below, but may also be formed of alternate materials. The non-skid floor mat  30  may include a steering wheel aperture  36 , a brake pedal aperture  38 , and an accelerator pedal aperture  40 . A series of attachment apertures  42  are positioned about the perimeter  34  for enabling fixed attachment of the non-skid floor mat  30  to the floor  16 . 
   The non-skid floor mat  30  further includes a first section  44  having a flat surface  46  and a second section  48  having a flat surface  50  with a plurality of protrusions, or nibs  52 , extending upward therefrom. It is anticipated, however, that the flat surfaces  46 ,  50  are textured of either or both of the first and second sections  44 ,  48  may be rough, or otherwise textured. As best seen in  FIG. 3A , the nibs  52  are generally semi-spherical in form with a sufficient radius. However, it is anticipated that the nibs  52  may take any one of a number of forms including, but not limited to, conical, frusto-conical, pyramid, truncated, cylindrical and the like at the bottom. As discussed in further detail below, each nib  52  is formed to fit within recesses of a soft spike. 
   With particular reference to  FIGS. 4 through 6 , a typical soft spike  60  of a golf shoe is shown engaging the nibs  52  of the non-skid floor mat  30 . Soft spike  60  described herein is one of a number of soft spike configurations known in the art. The soft spike  60  generally includes a conical body  62  having a threaded post  64  extending upward therefrom, for threaded attachment with a golf shoe sole  66 . A series of ribs  68  extend downward from a conical face  70  of the soft spike  60 , thereby forming recesses  72 . As the soft spike  60  contacts the non-skid floor mat  30 , the nibs  52  are received into the recesses  72  of the soft spike  60 , as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and as shown in phantom in FIG.  4 . In this manner, the non-skid floor mat  30  provides traction for the soft spikes  60 , promoting passenger safety and comfort. It should further be noted that application of sufficient downward force through the soft spike  60  (e.g. when passenger is standing) enables the ribs  68  to contact the flat surface  50  between the nibs  52  concurrent to the nibs  52  engaging the recesses  72 . In this manner, improved traction is provided. 
   As discussed briefly above, the nibs  52  are preferably semi-spherical in form for efficiently fitting within the recesses  72 . However, it is anticipated that other forms of the nibs  52  would suffice to fit within the recesses  72  for providing traction. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , partially frusto-conical nibs  52  are one possibility. More importantly, however, the size and spacing of the nibs  52  must be appropriate for enabling sufficient engagement between the nibs  52  and soft spike  60 , provide clearance to prevent a tripping hazard, and providing clearance for cleanability. Additionally, spacing of the nibs  52  must be appropriate to enable hard spikes (not shown) to contact the flat surface  50 . In this manner, the non-skid floor mat  30  provides traction for both hard spike and soft spike golf shoes. 
   To that end, the nibs  52  have a center-to center distance no greater than 0.80 inches. The center-to-center distance ensures that at least two nibs  52 , and optionally four nibs  52 , engage the recesses  72  of the soft spike  60 . Additionally, the center-to-center distance ensures that a hard spike may pass between the nibs  52  for contacting the flat surface  50 , as well as enabling easy cleaning of the non-skid floor mat  30 . For example, if the nibs  52  were positioned too close together it would be difficult to remove dirt and debris deposited therebetween. 
   Further, the nibs  52  preferably have a height within the range of 0.12 to 0.19 inches. This height range ensures that there is adequate engagement between the soft spike recesses  72  and the nibs  52 . If the nibs  52  are too low, the non-skid floor mat  30  would fail to provide adequate traction. On the other hand, if the nibs  52  are too high, a soft spike may not move smoothly over the enon 0 skid floor mater  30 . Similarly to the center-to-center distance, the height of the nibs  52  influences the cleanability of the non-skid floor mat  30 . If the nibs  52  are too high, removal of dirt and debris from between the nibs  52  is hindered. Both the height and spacing of the nibs  52  are limited to prevent grabbing of the passenger&#39;s golf shoe. 
   As mentioned above, the non-skid floor mat  30  is formed using an elastomer component. The elastomeric material  32  provides toughness and wear resistance to extend the service life of the non-skid floor mat  30 . As an elastomer, the non-skid floor mat  30  is resilient and deformable for enabling improved traction. In the case of a hard spike, the tip of the hard spike may engage the flat surface  50  between the nibs, thereby gripping the non-skid floor mat  30  to provide traction for the passenger. If, however, the hard spike contacts a nib  52 , the hard spike can similarly project into the nib  52 , providing traction regardless of whether direct contact with the flat surface  50  is achieved. With regard to a typical soft spike  60 , as the recesses  72  engage the nibs  52 , the nibs  52  are able to slightly deform under the applied force of the passenger, thereby increasing the contact surface between the soft spikes  60  and the nibs  52 , thus increasing the traction. Additionally, nib deformation enables the soft spike  60  to engage the nibs  52  and concurrently contact the flat surface  50 . 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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