U.S. patent application number 15/084478 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-05 for floor mat.
The applicant listed for this patent is Chien-Lung Huang. Invention is credited to Chien-Lung Huang.
Application Number | 20170280908 15/084478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59958835 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170280908 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Chien-Lung |
October 5, 2017 |
FLOOR MAT
Abstract
The floor mat contains a main piece with a number of first
interlocking elements configured along a circumference of the main
piece at intervals. Each first interlocking element contains a
protrusion and a gap. The main piece also has a number of corner
elements, each configured at a corner of the circumference. A
hollow frame member is for the embedment of the main piece and has
a number second interlocking elements matching the first
interlocking elements along an inner circumference of the frame
member. Each corner of the frame member has two perpendicular cuts
end-to-end connected together and a slant cut running through a
joint of the perpendicular cuts. As such, the floor mat can be
pieced together in all directions, regardless of which side is up.
The frame members can have their corners adjusted and fit on the
main pieces to conceal their exposed interlocking elements.
Inventors: |
Huang; Chien-Lung; (New
Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Huang; Chien-Lung |
New Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
59958835 |
Appl. No.: |
15/084478 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 27/0293 20130101;
A47G 27/025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 27/02 20060101
A47G027/02 |
Claims
1. An integrally formed floor mat comprising: a main piece; a
plurality of interlocking elements configured along a circumference
of the main piece at intervals, each comprising a protrusion and a
gap; and a plurality of corner elements, each configured at a
corner of the circumference; wherein each gap connects a
neighboring interlocking element's protrusion or connecting a
neighboring corner element.
2. The floor mat according to claim 1, wherein each protrusion is
extended laterally from the circumference for a first distance.
3. The floor mat according to claim 2, wherein each corner element
is extended from the circumference of the main piece for a second
distance; and the second distance is one half of the first
distance.
4. The floor mat according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking
elements along two opposing edges of the main piece are staggered
so that one interlocking element's protrusion and gap on one edge
are aligned with another interlocking element's gap and protrusion
on an opposing edge, respectively.
5. An integrally formed floor mat comprising: a main piece; a
plurality of first interlocking elements configured along a
circumference of the main piece at intervals, each comprising a
protrusion and a gap; a plurality of corner elements, each
configured at a corner of the circumference; and a hollow frame
member for the embedment of the main piece having a plurality
second interlocking elements matching the first interlocking
elements along an inner circumference of the frame member; wherein
each gap connects a neighboring first interlocking element's
protrusion or connecting a neighboring corner element; and each
corner of the frame member has two perpendicular cuts end-to-end
connected together and a slant cut running through a joint of the
perpendicular cuts.
6. The floor mat according to claim 5, wherein the perpendicular
cuts at a corner of the frame member form an included right
angle.
7. The floor mat according to claim 6, wherein, at a corner of the
frame member, the slant cut forms an included acute angle against
each of the perpendicular cuts.
8. The floor mat according to claim 5, wherein each protrusion is
extended laterally from the circumference for a first distance.
9. The floor mat according to claim 8, wherein each corner element
is extended from the circumference of the main piece for a second
distance; and the second distance is one half of the first
distance.
10. The floor mat according to claim 5, wherein the first
interlocking elements along two opposing edges of the main piece
are staggered so that one first interlocking element's protrusion
and gap on one edge are aligned with another first interlocking
element's gap and protrusion on an opposing edge, respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention is generally related to floor mats,
and more particular to a floor mat that can be pieced together in
all directions and whose rugged edges can be appropriately
concealed.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
[0002] For babies or children to play in the house, parents usually
arrange floor mats on the floor to prevent injury. As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional floor mat mainly contains a main
piece 1 with consecutive interlocking elements 11 along the main
piece 1's circumference so that a number of conventional floor mats
can be pieced together. For these pieced-together conventional
floor mats, the interlocking elements 11 along the outer edges are
joined to frame pieces 2 (as shown in FIG. 8) so that these outer
edges are smooth.
[0003] However, the conventional floor mat has the following
disadvantages.
[0004] When these conventional floor mats are pieced together, if
some floor mats are of a wrong direction or upside down, these
pieced-together conventional floor mats may have bumps or sinks at
the corners, thereby causing bulges when joined to the frame pieces
2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore a novel floor mat is provided so that that the
floor mat can be pieced together in all directions and whose rugged
edges can be appropriately concealed.
[0006] The gist of the present invention lies in the specially
design and arranged interlocking elements so that the floor mat can
be pieced together in all directions, regardless of which side is
up. And perpendicular and slant cuts at the corners allow the
corners to have various shapes to fit joining corners of
neighboring floor mats, thereby preventing bulges.
[0007] The floor mat contains a main piece with a number of first
interlocking elements configured along a circumference of the main
piece at intervals. Each first interlocking element contains a
protrusion and a gap. The main piece also has a number of corner
elements, each configured at a corner of the circumference. A
hollow frame member is for the embedment of the main piece and has
a number second interlocking elements matching the first
interlocking elements along an inner circumference of the frame
member. Each gap connects a neighboring first interlocking
element's protrusion or connecting a neighboring corner element.
Each corner of the frame member has two perpendicular cuts
end-to-end connected together and a slant cut running through a
joint of the perpendicular cuts. As such, the floor mat can be
pieced together in all directions, regardless of which side is up.
To conceal the exposed interlocking elements from a number of floor
mats pieced together, the frame members can have their corners
adjusted and fit on the main pieces to conceal their exposed
interlocking elements.
[0008] Therefore the problems of the conventional floor mats, such
as they have to follow a specific direction or have a specific side
up when pieced together, otherwise bulges at the corners would
occur. To conceal the interlocking elements, the frame pieces would
also cause overlaps and bulges.
[0009] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0010] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a floor mat
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top-view diagram showing a main piece of the
floor mat of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top-view diagram showing frame pieces of the
floor mat of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram showing the detachment of a
frame member from the floor mat of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing three floor mats of
FIG. 1 pieced together.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a top-view diagram showing a frame member of the
floor mat of FIG. 1 with its corners partially removed.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram showing three floor mats of
FIG. 1 pieced together with their exposed interlocking elements
concealed.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a top-view diagram showing a conventional floor
mat.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a top view diagram showing a main piece of the
conventional floor mat of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only,
and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a floor mat 3 according to an
embodiment of the present invention is integrally formed and
contains the following components.
[0022] There is a rectangular main piece 31.
[0023] Around a circumference of the main piece 31, there are a
number of first interlocking elements 32 configured at intervals.
Each first interlocking element 32 contains a protrusion 321 and a
gap 322 connecting a neighboring first interlocking element 32's
protrusion 321 or connecting a neighboring corner element 33 (see
below). Each protrusion 321 is extended laterally from the
circumference for a first distance.
[0024] There are a number of corner elements 33 at the main piece
31's corners, connecting gaps 322 or protrusions 321 of two first
interlocking elements 32 from neighboring edges of the main piece
31, respectively. Each corner element 33 is extended from the
circumference of the main piece 31 for a second distance. The
second distance is smaller than the first distance and,
specifically, the second distance is one half of the first
distance.
[0025] The floor mat 3 further contains a rectangular and hollow
frame member 4. There are a number of second interlocking elements
41 matching the first interlocking elements 32 along an inner
circumference of the frame member 4. At each corner of the frame
member 4, there are two perpendicular cuts 42 end-to-end connected
together and a slant cut 43 running through a joint of the
perpendicular cuts 42. The perpendicular cuts 42 form an included
right angle and the slant cut 43 forms an included acute angle
against each of the adjacent perpendicular cuts 42.
[0026] Please note the interlocking elements 11 along two opposing
edges of the main piece 31 are staggered, meaning that one
interlocking element 11's protrusion and gap 321 and 322 on one
edge are aligned with another interlocking elements 11's gap 322
and protrusion 321 on an opposing edge, respectively.
[0027] To piece a number of floor mats of the present embodiment
together, for reference's sake, one main piece is referred as 31a
and another one is referred as 31b. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the
main pieces 31a is first removed out of the corresponding frame
members 4a. Then, assuming that a bottom edge of the main piece 31a
is joined to a top edge of the main piece 31b. As shown in FIG. 5,
the protrusions 321a are embedded into the gaps 322b and the corner
elements 33a and 33b are matches against each other. Please note
that, each main piece has a diagonal line from an upper right
corner to a lower left corner, separating the main pieces into two
symmetric halves L and R. Therefore, when a main pieces 31b joins
to another main piece 31b, the main piece 31b can join to any edge
of the main piece 31a as long as one's L half matches another's R
half and vice versa. Please which side of the main piece is the top
side is of no significance either. As such, the main pieces can be
pieced together flexibly. Especially, where the main pieces are of
different colors, various colorful patterns can be achieved. Please
note that the corner elements 33a and 33b are extended from the
circumferences of the main pieces 31a and 31b for a distance that
is one half of the distance for which each protrusion (e.g. 321a)
is extended from the from the circumferences of the main pieces 31a
and 31b. The corner elements 33a and 33b exactly match each other
without causing bulges.
[0028] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the four corners
of the frame member 4 can be removed along the perpendicular cuts
42 and/or the slant cut 43 so as to form corners of various shapes.
Four edges 44 of the frame member 4 can also be removed
individually. As shown in FIG. 7, after the main pieces 31a and 31b
are pieced together, their corresponding frame members 4a and 4b
can have their corners adjusted and fit on the main pieces 31a and
31b to conceal their exposed interlocking elements. As shown in
FIG. 7, for frame member 4a and 4c, their joining corners are
adjusted to have slant corners and therefore match each other
exactly.
[0029] As described above, the floor mat of the present invention
overcomes the prior art's disadvantages as follows.
[0030] With specially designed corner elements, floor mats can be
pieced together regardless of which side is up. The floor mats can
be pieced together in all directions. The perpendicular and slant
cuts at the corners allow the corners to have various shapes to fit
joining corners of neighboring floor mats.
[0031] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.
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