Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02706400 2012-09-28
FLOOR MAT CLIP ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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[0002] The present invention relates to a floor mat clip assembly, and more
specifically to a pair of cooperating clips adapted to attach a floor mat to
the
interior carpeting of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Floor mats are a typical accessory for vehicles. Floor mats serve to
protect
the more permanently Installed carpet or other flooring material of the
vehicle.
The floor mats are typically arranged so that the feet of the occupants of the
vehicle rest on the floor mat rather than the installed flooring material Dirt
and
moisture that may have accumulated on the shoes of the occupants is received
by the floor mat rather than the Installed flooring material, thus
facilitating the
preservation of the installed flooring. The floor mats may be removed from the
vehicle as desired to vacuum or wash in an effort to remove any dirt that
accumulates thereon.
[0004] The purpose of the floor mat is to protect the installed flooring from
dirt
and moisture, but often times this purpose is not achieved. If the floor mat
is
displaced from its intended position, it will no longer be situated in a
position for
the feet of an occupant to rest thereon. The feet of the occupants will
instead rest
on the installed flooring material causing any dirt or moisture on the shoes
of the
occupants to be transferred to the installed flooring. Accordingly, it is
desirable to
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maintain the floor mat at its intended position. However, the method used to
maintain the desired position of the floor mat must allow for the floor mat to
be
easily removed for cleaning or the purpose of the floor mat will be defeated.
[0005] Various fasteners have been employed to facilitate maintaining a
floor mat
at its intended position. For example U.S. Patent No. 6,735,819 to Iverson et.
al.
discloses a hand mountable device for affixing a carpet mat to the carpeting
of an
automobile. Additionally, U.S. Patent No. 4,878,792 to Frano discloses a
removable floor mat fastener. These and other fasteners typically have not
achieved a maximized balancing of the two competing objectives for such
fasteners, namely to secure the mat at its intended location and allow for the
easy removal of the mat for cleaning. The current fasteners typically do not
adequately secure the floor mat to the underlying flooring or, alternatively,
secure
the floor mat semi-permanently making it necessary to use tools or other
cumbersome procedures to disengage the fastener from the floor mat and
remove the floor mat.
[0006] Vehicle manufactures often include such fasteners for the floor mats
of a
new vehicle. The vehicle manufacturer has a need for the fasteners to
facilitate
an efficient installation thereof to minimize the overall assembly cost of the
automobile. Additionally, the vehicle manufacturer typically requires the cost
of
the fastener be minimized while maintaining the functions of securing the
floor
mat at the desired location and allowing easy removal and reattachment of the
floor mat.
[0007] It would be desirable to provide a floor mat clip that secures a
floor mat to
an underlying flooring material at an intended location; facilitates the
removal and
reattachment of the floor mat to the underlying flooring material; facilitates
the
installation thereof into the floor mat and the underlying flooring material;
and
may be economically manufactured.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Compatible and attuned with the present invention, a floor mat clip
that
secures a floor mat to an underlying flooring material at an intended
location;
facilitates the removal and reattachment of the floor mat to the underlying
flooring
material; facilitates the installation thereof into the floor mat and the
underlying
flooring material, and may be economically manufactured, has surprisingly been
discovered.
[0009] In one embodiment, a floor mat clip assembly for attaching a floor
mat to
an underlying flooring material comprises a floor clip having a base member
and
a cooperating top member, the base member including an opening formed
therein, the top member including a lower surface with a boss depending
therefrom and an upper surface having an upstanding boss with a locking
member attached thereto, wherein the boss depending from the top member is
received in the opening in the base member to join the top member to the base
member and secure the underlying flooring material therebetween; and a mat
clip
having a base member and a cooperating top member, the base member
including an aperture having at least one detent extending upwardly therefrom,
the top member including an upper surface having a recessed portion with an
aperture formed therein, and a lower surface having at least one detent
depending therefrom adjacent a periphery of the aperture of the top member,
wherein the detent of the base member and the detent of the top member
cooperate to join the top member to the base member and secure the floor mat
therebetween, the upstanding boss and the locking member of the floor clip
adapted to be received by the apertures in the mat clip and facilitate a
manipulation of the locking member to secure the mat clip to the floor clip.
[0010] In another embodiment, a floor mat clip assembly for attaching a
floor mat
to an underlying flooring material comprises a floor clip having a base member
and a cooperating top member, the base member including a generally circular
opening formed therein, the top member including a lower surface with a
generally annular hollow boss depending therefrom, and an upper surface having
an upstanding oblong boss with an aperture formed therein for rotatably
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attaching a locking member thereto, wherein the annular boss depending from
the top member is received in the circular opening in the base member to join
the
top member to the base member and secure the underlying flooring material
therebetween; and a mat clip having a base member and a cooperating top
member, the base member including an oblong aperture having a plurality of
detents extending upwardly therefrom, the top member including an upper
surface having an annular recessed portion with an oblong aperture formed
therein and a lower surface having a plurality of detents depending therefrom
adjacent a periphery of the oblong aperture of the top member, wherein the
detents of the top member are received within the detents of the base member
to
join the top member to the base member and secure the floor mat therebetween,
the upstanding boss and the locking member of the floor clip adapted to be
received by the oblong apertures in the mat clip and facilitate a manipulation
of
the locking member to secure the mat clip to the floor clip.
[0011] In another embodiment, a flooring system comprises an underlying
flooring material and an overlying floor mat removably attached thereto; a
floor
clip secured to the underlying flooring material having a base member and a
cooperating top member, the base member including an opening formed therein,
the top member including a lower surface with a hollow boss depending
therefrom and an upper surface having an upstanding boss with a locking
member attached thereto, wherein the boss depending from the top member is
received in the opening in the base member to join the top member to the base
member and secure the underlying flooring material therebetween; and a mat
clip
secured to the overlying floor mat having a base member and a cooperating top
member, the base member including an aperture formed therein having a
plurality of detents extending upwardly therefrom, the top member including an
upper surface having a recessed portion with an aperture formed therein and a
lower surface having a plurality of detents depending therefrom adjacent a
periphery of the aperture, wherein the detents of the top member and the
detents
of the base member cooperate to join the top member to the base member and
secure the floor mat therebetween, the upstanding boss and the locking member
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of the floor clip adapted to be received by the aperture in the mat clip and
facilitate a manipulation of the locking member to removably attach the
overlying
mat to the underlying flooring material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above, as well as other advantages of the invention, will
become
readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description
of an embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the
accompanying drawings, in which;
[0013] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a floor mat clip
assembly
according to an embodiment of the invention with an associated flooring
material
and an overlying flcior mat shown in phantom;
[0014] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view in partial section of
the floor mat
clip assembly with the associated flooring material and the overlying floor
mat;
[0015] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the floor mat clip assembly
showing the
overlying floor mat attached to the flooring material;
[0016] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a base member of the floor mat
clip
assembly illustrated in Figs. 1-3 according to another embodiment of the
invention;
[0017] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a floor clip of the
floor mat clip
assembly illustrated in Figs. 1-3 according to another embodiment of the
invention; and
= [0018] Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view partially in
section of the floor clip
illustrated in Fig. 5 with an associated flooring material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] The following detailed description and appended drawings
describe and
illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and
drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention,
and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
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[0020] A floor mat clip assembly for securing a floor mat 4 to a flooring
material 2
of a vehicle such as carpeting, for example, is illustrated in Figs. 1-3. The
assembled floor mat clip includes a floor clip, generally indicated by
reference
numeral 10, and a mat clip, generally indicated by reference numeral 40.
[0021] The floor clip 10 includes a base member 12 and a top member 20. The
base member 12 of the floor clip 10 includes an upwardly extending hollow boss
14 terminating at a cutting edge 16. An annular detent 18 is formed on an
inner
surface of the boss 14.
[0022] The top member 20 includes a lower surface 22 with a downwardly
depending hollow boss 24 terminating at a cutting edge 26. Annular detents 28
are formed on an outer surface of the boss 24. Protuberances 30 may be
provided that depend from the lower surface 22 of the top member 20 to
militate
against relative rotation of the floor clip 10 in respect of the flooring
material 2.
Favorable results have been obtained employing a height of between about 2 to
millimeters in respect of the lower surface 22 for the protuberances 30:
[0023] The upper surface 32 of the top member 20 has a centrally located
upstanding oblong boss 34 including an aperture 36 therein. The aperture 36 is
adapted to rotatably receive an oblong locking member 38. It should be
understood that other shapes may be employed for the boss 34 and the locking
member 38 as desired.
[0024] In assembling the floor clip 10 to the flooring material 2, the top
member
20 is positioned with the lower surface 22 facing an upper surface of the
flooring
material 2. The base member 12 is positioned on an underside of the flooring
material 2 with the boss 14 in substantial alignment with the boss 24 of the
top
member 20 at a desired location in respect of the flooring material 2. The
base
member 12 and the top member 20 and are urged together causing the cutting
edges 16, 26 of the base member 12 and the top member 20, respectively, to cut
through the flooring material 2. The boss 24 of the top member 20 is received
within the boss 14 of the base member 12. The detents 18,28 of the base
member 12 and the top member 20, respectively, interlock to snap fit the top
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CA 02706400 2010-05-27
member 20 to the base member 12 and sandwich the flooring material 2
therebetween.
[0025] The mat clip 40 includes a base member 42 and a top member 52. The
base member 42 of the mat clip 40 includes a centrally located oblong shaped
aperture 44 formed therein. An upper surface 46 of the base member 42 includes
detents 48 which extend upwardly from a periphery of the oblong aperture 44.
Protuberances 50 may be provided that extend upwardly from the upper surface
46 of the base member 42 to militate against relative rotation of the mat clip
40 in
respect of the floor mat 4. Favorable results have been obtained employing a
height of about 2.5 millimeters in respect of the upper surface 46 for the
protuberances 50.
[0026] The top member 52 has an upper surface 54 including a recessed portion
56 having an oblong aperture 58 formed therein. It should be understood that
other shapes can be used for the apertures 44, 58 provided the shapes of the
apertures 44, 58 are adapted to cooperate with each other to receive the
upstanding boss 34 and the locking member 38 of the first clip 10. Detents 60
are
formed on a lower surface 62 of the top member 52 which depend therefrom
adjacent a periphery of the oblong aperture 58.
[0027] A base member 70 illustrated in Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment
of the base member 54 for the mat clip 40. Similar structural features of the
base
member 70 include the same reference numeral and a prime (') symbol. The
base member 70 of the mat includes a centrally located oblong shaped aperture
44' formed therein. An upper surface 46' of the base member 70 includes
detents
48' which extend upwardly from a periphery of the oblong aperture 44'.
Protuberances 50' may be provided that extend upwardly from the upper surface
46' of the base member 70 to militate against relative rotation of the mat
clip 40 in
respect of the floor mat 4. Favorable results have been obtained employing a
height of between about 2 to 6 millimeters for the protuberances 50'. Wall
sections 72 are formed on the upper surface 46' of the base member 70 and
extend upwardly therefrom to militate against relative rotation of the mat
clip 40 in
respect of the floor mat 4. It has been found that the wall sections 72 are
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especially effective to militate against a relative rotation of the mat clip
40 in
respect of a floor mat having a minimal thickness. Favorable results have been
obtained employing four wall sections 72 having a height of about 2.5
millimeters
in respect of the upper surface 46'. It should be understood that additional
or
fewer wall sections 72 may be provided, and that taller or shorter wall
sections
may be employed. Additionally, it has been found that employing the wall
sections 72 together with four protuberances 50' having a height of about 4.5
millimeters in respect of the upper surface 46' maximizes a resistance to
relative
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rotation of the mat clip 40 in respect of the floor mat 4. The remaining
structure
and function of the base member 70 is substantially the same as the base
member 42 described herein.
[0028] The assembly of the mat clip 40 is accomplished by initially cutting
an
opening in the floor mat 4. The opening is formed to substantially match the
outer
periphery of the apertures 44, 58 in the base member 42 and the top member 52,
respectively. The detents 48, 60 of the base member 42 and the top member 52,
respectively, are forced through the opening of the floor mat 4 from a top
side
and a bottom side of the floor mat 4, respectively. The detents 60 are thence
received by the detents 48 of the base member 42. The detents 48, 60 of the
interlock to snap fit the top member 52 to the base member 42 and sandwich the
floor mat 4 therebetween.
[0029] In the final assembly, the floor clip 10 and mat clip 40 are locked
together
to secure the floor mat 4 to the flooring material 2. The oblong apertures 44,
58
of the mat clip 40 attached to the floor mat 4 are positioned over the floor
clip 10
attached to the flooring material 2. The upstanding oblong boss 34 and locking
member 36 of the floor clip 10 extends through the oblong apertures 44, 58 of
the
mat clip 40. The locking member 38 is rotated through ninety degrees
effectively
locking the clips 10, 40 together and securing the floor mat 4 to the flooring
material 2 in the final assembled form shown in Fig. 3. It should be
understood
that a plurality of the floor mat clip assemblies may be employed to secure a
single floor mat 4, and typically at least two floor mat clip assemblies would
be
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employed to secure the floor mat 4 at its desired location in respect of the
flooring material 2.
[0030] Favorable results have been 'obtained by employing an injection
molding
process to form the members 12, 20, 42, 52 of the floor clip assembly. It
should
be understood that other methods now known or later discovered may be
employed to form the members 12, 20, 42, 52. Additionally it has been found
that
the material Polyamide 6, also known as PA6 or Nylon 6, provides desired
physical properties to the members 12, 20, 42, 52. However, it should be
understood that other materials having suitable physical properties may be
employed to form the members 12, 20, 42, 52.
[0031] Figs. 5-6 illustrate another embodiment of the floor clip 10.
Structure
similar to that of the floor clip 10 illustrated in Figs. 1-3 includes the
same
reference numeral and a prime (') symbol for clarity. The floor clip 10
includes a
base member 12' and a top member 20'. The base member 12' of the floor clip
10' includes a first surface 100 and a spaced apart second surface 102. A
circular opening 104 is formed in the base member 12'. Annular lips 106, 108
are
formed on and extend outwardly from the first surface 100 and the second
surfabe 102, respectively, circumscribe the opening 104.
[0032] The top member 20' includes a lower surface 22' with a downwardly
depending hollow boss 24' having four flexible fingers 110. It should be
understood that two or more flexible fingers 110 can be employed, as desired.
Each of the fingers 110 includes a detent 112 formed on a distal end thereof.
It
should be understood that the detent 112 can be formed on selected fingers
110,
as desired, wherein at least two of the fingers 110 include the detent 112.
Protuberances 30' may be provided that depend from the lower surface 22' of
the
top member 20' to militate against rotation of the floor clip 10' in respect
of the
flooring material 2'. Favorable results have been obtained employing
protuberances 30' having a length of between about 2 to 5 millimeters.
[0033] The upper surface 32' of the top member 20' has a centrally located
upstanding oblong boss 34' including an aperture 36' therein. The aperture 36'
is
adapted to rotatably receive an oblong locking member 38'. It should be
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understood that other shapes may be employed for the boss 34' and the locking
. member 38' as desired.
[0034] To assembe the floor clip 10' to the flooring material 2', an
aperture is
formed in the flooring material 2' at a desired location for the floor clip
10'. The
top member 20' is positioned with the lower surface 22' facing an upper
surface
of the flooring material 2'. The boss 24' of the top member 20' is inserted
through
the aperture formed in the flooring material 2'. The base member 12' is
positioned on an underside of the flooring material 2' with the opening 108 in
substantial alignment with the boss 24'. The base member 12' and the top.
member 20' and are urged together, wherein the boss 24' of the top member is
received within the opening 104 of the base member 12'. The detents 112 of the
fingers 110 contact the annular lip 106 causing the fingers 110 to flex
radially
inwardly, thus reducing an outer diameter of the boss 24' at the detents 112
to
allow the boss 24' to be received within the opening 108 of the base member
12'.
The base member 12' and the top member 20' and are urged together further,
causing the detents. 112 to emerge from the opening 108 on the second side 102
of the base member 12'. Upon the emergence of the detents 112 from the
opening 108, the outer diameter of the boss 24' substantially returns to an
original diameter, wherein the detents 112 and the annular lip 108 cooperate
to
snap fit the top member 20' to the base member 12' and sandwich the flooring =
material 2 therebetween. It should be understood that the base member 12' can
be oriented with either the first surface 100 or the second surface 102 facing
the ,
underside of the flooring material 2'. The final assembly of the floor clip
10' to the
mat clip 40 is substantially the same as previously described herein for the
floor
clip 10 illustrated in Figs. 1-3.
[0035] In use the floor mat clip assembly secures the floor mat 4 to the
flooring
material 2 of the vehicle in a location where the shoes of passengers therein
will
rest on the floor mat 4 rather than the underlying flooring material 2. Any
dirt,
moisture, and other contaminants that typically accumulate on the shoes will
not
contact the flooring material 2, but instead be collected by the floor mat 4,
thus
facilitating the preservation of the flooring material 2 in an unsoiled
condition. The
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floor mat clip assembly allows for an ease of removal of the floor mat 4 from
the
vehicle to clean, for example, by a rotation of the locking member 38 and
lifting of
the floor mat 4 to disengage the mat clip 40 from the floor clip 10. No tools
or
other cumbersome procedures are required to disengage the mat clip 40 from
the floor clip10 and remove the floor mat 4 from the vehicle.
[0036] The floor mat clip illustrated and described herein provides a low
cost
method of securing the floor mat 4 to the flooring material 2 of a vehicle.
Additionally, the cutting edges 16, 26 of the floor clip 10 facilitate the
installation
of the floor clip 10 to the flooring material 4; thus, reducing the costs
associated
with the installation of the floor clip 10 during the assembly process of a
new
vehicle.
[0037] From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art
can easily
ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without
departing
from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications
to
the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
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