MXPA99008784A - Floor mat system - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor mat system (1) and clip (10) for use therewith can be insalled to any floor (4) and includes a floor mat (8) formed from a series of first (14) and second (17) cris-crossed ribs which form rectangular-shaped openings (20) therebetween, and clip (10) having a rectangular-shaped base (28) and four outwardly extending raised projections (48). Certain of the second ribs (18a) have an enlarged bottom (21) which forms a latching shoulder (24) on each side thereof. The projections (48) of the clip (10) have a generally triangular-shaped end (52) which snap-fits with the latching shoulder (24) of the certain second ribs (18a) and which aligns with certain of the openings (20) of the floor mat (8). A pair of holes (40) are formed in the clip (8) which align with other of the openings (20) of the floor mat (8) when attached thereto.

Description

STONE FLOOR SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field In general, the invention relates to a floor mat system and a fastener for use with it. Particularly, the invention relates to a floor mat system that includes a fastener that is mounted on the floor and that engages the floor mat to hold the mat on the floor. Specifically, the invention relates to a floor mat formed with a locking shoulder and a fastener held on the floor and formed with a plurality of interlocking projections that engage the locking shoulder to retain the floor mat adjacent to the floor. floor. Background Information Floor mats are often used at business entrances for customers to clean water and snow from the soles of their shoes. Conventional floor mats that are constructed of a flexible rubber and are formed with a plurality of spaced orthogonal ribs that constitute rectangular shaped openings. These conventional floor mats require that a recessed area be formed on the floor, where the floor mats are located with the edges of the recessed area preventing the floor mats from slipping when a customer walks on them. Water and snow from customers' shoes circulate through the openings keeping the top surface of the floor mat free from standing water. _ Although these mats for floor technique "Prior are suitable for the purpose for which they are intended, the business owner must plan the installation of these floor mats and build the recessed floor area during the construction of the building. If these floor mats of the prior art are simply placed on the floor without a recessed area, the floor mats slip when a horizontal pressure of a client's shoes or a strong wind is applied to the mats. Alternatively, the recessed area can be dug out of the floor after the construction has been carried out, at great cost to the business owner. Additionally, even if a recess area has been provided to receive the floor mat, if large mats are used, or a number of mats are used adjacent to each other, the mats may still move within the recessed area, possibly causing an unsafe condition. . Therefore, there is a need for an improved floor mat system and fastener for use with it, which can easily be subjected to retroactive modification on any floor without modification to the floor, wherein the floor mat includes a plurality of openings to allow water and snow circulate through, maintaining an upper surface of the floor mat free of standing water, which is easily removed to allow the water under the mat to be cleaned and easily attached by quick action back onto the fasteners after cleaning. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the invention include providing a floor mat and fastener system for use with it, which is easily installed on any floor without substantial modification to the floor. Another objective is to provide this floor mat and fastener system where the floor mat is constructed of a durable and flexible material that will withstand an inclement environment. A further objective is to provide this system and fastener wherein the floor mat can be easily removed from the fasteners to allow any dirt, debris or water to be cleaned under the mat and which can be "attached by quick action on the fasteners after cleaning. Another object is to provide such a system wherein the frame members can be easily installed in resilient recessed areas to replace old mat systems.A still further objective is to provide such a floor wax system which is of simple construction, that achieves the established objectives in a simple, effective and economic way and that solves problems and satisfies the existing needs in the technique. These objects and advantages are obtained by the improved floor mat system of the present invention, the general nature of which can be established to include a floor mat adapted for use on a floor, the floor mat is formed with a plurality of openings and at least one interlocking shoulder, a fastener removably held on the floor mat, to hold the floor mat adjacent to the floor having a base and a locking device formed in the base to engage the interlocking shoulder, to retain the floor mat in the bra; and retaining means for holding the fastener on the floor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best way in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is established in the following description and is illustrated in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly stated and set forth in the claims annexes. Figure 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the floor mat and fastener system for use with it before installing in a recessed area that forms on a floor; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the system and fastener of Figure 1 showing the fastener held on the floor and showing the adjustment by quick coupling of the floor mat with the fastener; Figure 3 is a reduced fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the mat exploded; Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the alignment of the holes of the fastener with certain of the openings of the floor mat when the fastener is engaged by rapid actuation; Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to the Figure 4, showing the alignment of the holes of the fastener with certain of the openings of the floor mat during installation on the floor of the floor mat; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 6 showing the fastener held on the floor. Similar numbers refer to similar parts _ through the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The floor mat system of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1, and is generally indicated at 1. System 1 is illustrated in Figure 1, broken away from the interior of a recessed area 3 formed in a floor 4. However, the system 1 can be mounted directly on a free floor 4 of the recessed area 3, without departing from the spirit of the present invention (Figs 2 and 3). The floor 4 can be constructed of various materials such as wood or tar and is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, constructed of cement. System 1 includes a floor mat, generally indicated at 8, and a fastener indicated generally at 10 (Figure 1). The floor mat 8 includes a series of first parallel rectangular ribs 14, which are spaced apart by a distance A (Figure 5), substantially equal to its width, or approximately 635 cm (1/4 in). A series of second rectangular ribs, parallel and spaced 17, extend perpendicular to and between the first ribs 14, forming rectangular openings 20 therebetween. According to one of the features of the invention, the second ribs 17 consist of a pair of mid ribs 18 extending between a pair of interlocking ribs 18a. The mid ribs 18 are approximately .3175 cm (1/8") wide and are spaced apart by a distance that is approximately .794 cm (5/16"). The interlocking ribs 18a have an enlarged bottom 21 that forms an upwardly locking shoulder 24 on each side of the interlocking ribs 18a. The interlocking ribs 18a are spaced apart from adjacent mid ribs 18 by a distance C (Figure 5) which is approximately 953 cm (3/8") Additionally, the second ribs 17 are slightly shorter than the first ribs 14, creating in this way a sculpted upper surface of the floor mat 8. Additionally, the enlarged bottom 21 extends substantially below the bottom surface of the first ribs 14 and the mid ribs 18, thereby suspending most of the mat for floor 8 on floor 4, thus creating discharge channels 26 for water and scraped waste from customers' shoes.

The fastener 10 includes a rectangular-shaped base 28 (Fig. 1) having top and bottom surfaces 30 and 32 (Fig. 4) respectively, sides 34 and ends 36. A pair of countersunk circular holes 40 are formed in the base 28. Each countersunk orifice 40 receives a through screw 42 that holds the fastener 10 to the floor 4 and further extends into a hole 43 formed in the floor 4, when the system 1 is installed within the recessed area 3 (Fig. 1). ) or directly on the 4th floor (Fig. 3). A small cutting area 44 (Fig. 1) is formed adjacent each end 36 of the base 28 to assist in quick coupling the floor mat 8 to the fastener 10 as described below. According to another feature of the invention, a pair of raised projections 48 extend outwardly from each side 34 adjacent to each end 36. The projections 48 extend angularly upwardly from the cutting area 44 and include an upper portion. flat 50 and a generally triangular end 52 extending beyond the sides 34 and on the upper surface 30 of the base 28. According to a further feature of the invention, the base 28 of the fastener 10 has a width D measured between the sides 34, substantially equal to the distance between the enlarged bottoms 21 of the ribs 18a or within the wide range of 1,905 to 4,128 cm (3/4 to 1 5/8 inch) within the specific range of 2.54 _ to 3,493 cm (1 to 1 3/8 of an inch) and in the preferred embodiment is approximately 3.016 cm (1 3/16 of an inch). The fastener 10 has a center line C / L (Figure 5) that aligns with the center of the openings 20 formed between the "middle" ribs. The holes 40 are formed in the base 28 on the center line C / L and in the preferred embodiment are spaced apart by a distance E which is approximately 6.35 cm (2 1/2 inches) eh where the holes 40 are coaxial and align with certain of the openings 20. The base 28 has a length F measured between the ends 36 that is substantially equal to the distance separating certain from the ribs 14, which in the modality - preferred is about 4,128 cm (4 1/8 inches). The projections 48 have a width G that is slightly smaller than the distance separating two adjacent ribs 14, or approximately .476 cm (3/16 inch), and extend beyond the sides 34 by approximately .159 cm ( 1/16 inch). An additional countersunk hole 54 (Figure 1) is formed adjacent to each projection 48 to receive additional screws 42 in the event that the fastener 10 requires greater fastening to the floor 4. The holes 54 align with certain of the first ribs 14 when the fastener 10 is held in the floor mat 8. The floor mat system 1 of the present invention can be installed at the entrance of a store, for example to prevent customers from dragging water or snow on the floors of the store. When the system 1 is installed, the fastener 10 rapidly engages the floor mat 8 by placing the fastener 10 on the bottom surface of the floor mat 8 between two interlocking ribs 18a (Figure 4). Each projection 48 aligns with some of the openings 20 formed between the interlocking ribs, 18a and the mid ribs 18 extending between them. When the mat 8 is installed on the fastener 10, the fastener 10 is angled on one side and the projections 48 on one side 34 are inserted into respective aligned openings 20. The projections 48 on this side extend over the shoulders of interlock 24 of the enlarged bottom 21 of a locking rib 18a. The bottom surface 32 of the other side 34 of the base 28 is pressed against the adjacent projections 48 towards the bottom surface of the floor mat 8. The resilient material of the floor mat 8 allows the projections 48 on the other side to be deviate from the enlarged bottom 21 and engage by quick actuation on the locking shoulder 24 of the other locking rib 18a. The interlocking shoulders 24 of the interlocking ribs 18a, in this manner. they retain the fastener 10 adjacent to the bottom surface of the floor mat 8. A plurality of fasteners 10 are coupled by quick actuation to the floor mat 8 as described above before the floor mat system 1 is mounted on the floor mat. the floor 4. The floor mat 8 with the fasteners 10 coupled by quick actuation are placed within the recessed area 3 of the "floor 4" or alternatively placed directly on the floor 4. The enlarged backgrounds 21 of the interlocking ribs 18a contact the floor 4 forming a space 56 (Figure 4) between the floor 4 and the bottom surface of the ribs 14 and 18. The holes 40 of the base 28 align with certain of the openings 20 and a drill bit 58 (Figure 6) A drill 60 is inserted into the openings 20 and the aligned holes 40 for drilling holes 43 in the floor 4. The screws 42 are then inserted through openings 20 and holes 40 and tightened with a screwdriver bit 62 (Figure 7) of the bore 60 in the holes 43 to hold the fasteners 10 in the floor 4 (Figure 4). You can walk on the floor mat 8 for business customers and the fasteners hold the floor mat 8 on site, to prevent its sliding movement. Water from the clients' shoes circulates through the openings 20 and is sedimented within the space 56 between the floor mat 8 and the floor 4. If the floor mat system 1 is installed within the recessed area 3 (Figure 1) ) or on a flat floor 4 that is relatively flat, the floor mat 8 of the fasteners 10 must be removed to clean any dirt, debris or standing water that may accumulate in the space 56. Additionally, if the floor mat system 1 is installed within the recessed area 3, a discharge can be provided to remove standing water, so that the floor mat 8 can be removed less often and only for the purpose of removing accumulated debris. The floor mat 8 is removed by lifting and curving the floor mat 8 upwards at its edge parallel to the second ribs 17. The buckling and resilience to the floor mat 8 causes the projections 48 to jump out of engagement with the interlocking shoulder 24 of the interlocking ribs 18a, allowing the floor mat 8 to detach from the recessed area 3 or from its position on the floor 4. After the dirt, debris or water is cleaned, the floor mat 8 is returned to its original position on floor 4 , wherein the certain of the openings 20 align with the projections 48. The floor mat 8 is pressed down directly on each cutting area 44 ^ causing the floor mat 8 to curve slightly upwardly on the fastener 10. curved and resilience to the material of the floor mat 8 allows the projections 48 to engage by quick actuation back in engagement with the interlocking shoulders 24 of the interlocking ribs 18a by reattaching the floor mat 8 on the floor 4. Any number of fasteners 10 can be coupled by quick actuation to the floor mat 8 and the holes 40 align with openings 20 regardless of where the fasteners are placed on the floor mat. SW. The holes 54 of the fasteners 10 can be employed with additional screws 42 to additionally hold the fasteners 10 in the floor 4. The holes 54 align with first ribs 14 requiring the floor mat to be removed from the fasteners as described above, to allow access to the holes 54 for drilling holes in the floor 4 and inserting the screws there.The screws 42 can be of any convenient type for use with the floor 4_ and are illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 as cement screws for use on the cement floor 4. Also, the floor mat 8 can be made of any size necessary to cover the floor facing the entrance of the business or of a size complementary to that of a recessed area 3 formed on the floor 4. Additionally It is noted that the mat material can be made of any resilient material such as rubber or plastic without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the floor mat system 1 of the present invention is easily installed by quick coupling of a plurality of fasteners 10 to the bottom of the floor mat 8 prior to installing the floor mat system 1. In addition, the alignment of the holes 40 with the openings 20 eliminates the time-consuming task of measuring precisely where the fasteners 10 should be mounted on the floor 4 to ensure alignment of the projections 48 and the fasteners 10 with the openings 20 of the mat for floor 8. Additionally, the floor mat system 1 and particularly its fasteners 10, allow the floor mat 8 to be installed on any floor 4 with or without a recessed area 3. Also, the quick-action coupling of the projections 48 with interlocking shoulders 24, allows the floor mat B to be removed from the floor 4 to clean any dirt, debris or water that is accumulated within the space 56 and they allow the floor mat 8 to be snap-fitted easily back onto the fasteners 10, retaining the floor mat 8 in a stationary position on the floor 4. Accordingly, the improved floor mat system is simplified, provides an effective, safe, economical and efficient device, which achieves all the objectives listed, allows to eliminate difficulties encountered with the devices of the prior art, and solves problems and obtains new results in the technique. In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and comprehension, but no unnecessary limitations shall be implied beyond the requirement of the prior art, because those terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be considered. widely. Still further, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the way in which the improved floor mat system is constructed "" and employs, the characteristics of the construction and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, assemblies, parts and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS 1. A floor mat system, characterized in that it comprises: a floor mat adapted for use on a floor, the floor mat is formed with a plurality of openings and at least one interlocking shoulder; a fastener held removably on the floor mat to retain the floor mat adjacent to the floor having a base and an interlocking device formed in the base to engage the locking shoulder to retain the floor mat in the fastener; and retaining means for holding the fastener on the floor. The floor mat system according to claim 1, characterized in that the interlocking shoulder and the interlocking device have complementary shaped surfaces that engage with each other to hold the floor mat in the fastener. 3. The floor mat system according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking shoulder is formed with a substantially flat upper surface. 4. The floor mat system according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking shoulder and the interlocking device are fastened together with a quick-acting coupling. 5. The floor mat system according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking means include at least two projections extending from the fastener engaging the flat upper surface of the locking shoulder. 6. The floor mat system according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastener includes top and bottom surfaces, a pair of spaced sides and a pair of spaced ends that extend between the sides, sides and ends they form a corner between it. The floor mat system according to claim 6, characterized in that each projection includes an outer end of generally triangular shape. The floor mat system according to claim 7, characterized in that four projections are raised on the upper surface of the fastener and extend outward from each corner of the fastener. The floor mat system according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means includes a plurality of holes formed in the fastener and a fastener that extends through the holes adapted to retain the fastener in the floor. 10. The floor mat system according to claim 9, characterized in that the holes of the fastener align with certain of the openings in the floor mat. 11. The floor mat system according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor mat includes first and second sets of spaced apart and parallel ribs, the first set of ribs extends perpendicular to the second set of ribs. 10 ribs The floor mat system according to claim 11, characterized in that the interlocking shoulders are formed in certain of the first parallel ribs, the interlocking shoulders 15 are spaced from and parallel to each other. 13. The floor mat system according to claim 12, characterized in that the interlocking shoulders are spaced by an instance in the range of 1905 to 4128 cm (3/4 to 1 5/8 of 20 inches). The floor mat system according to claim 13, characterized in that the base of the fastener has a width substantially equal to the distance separating the interlocking shoulders. 15. The method for using a floor mat system, characterized in that it includes the steps of: installing the floor mat system on a floor, the floor mat system includes at least one fastener that connects to the floor and a floor mat that connects to the bra; walk on the floor mat; raise the floor mat while the floor mat of the fastener is peeled off; clean under the mat for raised floor; Place the floor mat back on the floor and connect the floor mat back to the fastener. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the installation step further includes the step of connecting the fastener to the floor mat before placing the floor mat system on the floor. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastener includes a plurality of holes and the floor mat includes a plurality of openings with which the holes in the fastener align with certain of the holes in the floor mat when the bra connects you. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the installation step further includes the step of forming a hole in the floor through the holes of the fastener and certain of the holes in the floor mat. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the installation step further includes the step of inserting a fastener through the holes of the fastener, certain and the holes of the floor and the floor to hold the fastener on the floor . The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the step of lifting further includes the step of detaching a locking shoulder of the floor mat from a projection extending outwardly of the fastener. - 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the step of connecting further includes the step of coupling the projections of the fastener with the interlocking shoulders of the floor mat.