초록 ▼

A load bearing floor mat for vehicle cargo compartments includes a pliable layer configured to overlie a defined area of a vehicle floor and also includes a rigid member that is associated with a portion of the pliable layer. The rigid member has a width that is sufficient to span a gap or opening i

A load bearing floor mat for vehicle cargo compartments includes a pliable layer configured to overlie a defined area of a vehicle floor and also includes a rigid member that is associated with a portion of the pliable layer. The rigid member has a width that is sufficient to span a gap or opening in the vehicle floor, such as a spare tire well or other storage compartment. The rigid member renders the pliable layer substantially non-pliable above the opening such that the floor mat can support a load placed thereon.

대표청구항 ▼

That which is claimed is: 1. A vehicle floor mat, comprising: a pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor; and a rigid member attached to a portion of the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to sp

That which is claimed is: 1. A vehicle floor mat, comprising: a pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor; and a rigid member attached to a portion of the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such tat the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion. 2. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, wherein the rigid member is at least partially disposed within the pliable layer. 3. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, wherein the rigid member comprises material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, glass reinforced thermoset rubber, glass reinforced polypropylene, wood, and metal. 4. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, wherein the pliable layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers. 5. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, wherein the pliable layer comprises rubber. 6. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, wherein the pliable layer has opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein carpeting is disposed on the pliable layer first surface. 7. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, wherein the rigid member comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough. 8. The vehicle floor mat of claim 1, further comprising a second pliable layer pivotally secured to a peripheral edge portion of the pliable layer, wherein the second pliable layer is movable between a stored position overlying the pliable layer in face-to-face relationship therewith and an operative position substantially coplanar with the pliable layer. 9. The vehicle floor mat of claim 8, wherein a second rigid member is attached to the second pliable layer, and wherein the second rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the second pliable layer, but configured to span a second recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the second recessed portion, without any external support from within the second recessed portion. 10. The vehicle floor mat of claim 9, wherein the second rigid member is at least partially disposed within the second pliable layer. 11. The vehicle floor mat of claim 9, wherein the second rigid member comprises material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic and therniosetting polymers, glass reinforced thermoset rubber, glass reinforced polypropylene, wood, and metal. 12. The vehicle floor mat of claim 9, wherein the second pliable layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers. 13. The vehicle floor mat of claim 8, wherein the second pliable layer comprises rubber. 14. The vehicle floor mat of claim 8, wherein the second pliable layer has opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein carpeting is disposed on the second flexible member first surface. 15. The vehicle floor mat of claim 9, wherein the second rigid member comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough. 16. The vehicle floor mat of claim 8, wherein the second pliable layer is pivotally secured to the peripheral edge via a hinge. 17. The vehicle floor mat of claim 16, wherein the hinge comprises carpeting disposed on the first and second pliable layers. 18. A vehicle floor mat, comprising: a pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor; and a rigid member disposed within the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion. 19. The vehicle floor mat of claim 18, wherein the rigid member comprises material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, glass reinforced thermoset rubber, glass reinforced polypropylene, wood, and metal. 20. The vehicle floor mat of claim 18, wherein the pliable layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers. 21. The vehicle floor mat of claim 18, wherein the pliable layer comprises rubber. 22. The vehicle floor mat of Claim 18, wherein the pliable layer has opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein carpeting is disposed on the pliable layer first surface. 23. A vehicle floor mat, comprising: a first pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor; a second pliable layer pivotally secured to the first pliable layer and movable between a stored position overlying the first pliable layer in face-to-face relationship therewith and an operative position substantially coplanar with the first pliable layer; a first rigid member disposed within the first pliable layer; and a second rigid member disposed within the second pliable layer; wherein the first and second rigid members each have a width less than a width and length of the first and second pliable layers, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the respective first and second pliable layers are rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion. 24. The vehicle floor mat of claim 23, wherein the first and second rigid members each comprise material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic and therinosetting polymers, glass reinforced thermoset rubber, glass reinforced polypropylene, wood, and metal. 25. The vehicle floor mat of claim 23, wherein the first and second pliable layers each comprise material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers. 26. The vehicle floor mat of claim 23, wherein the first and second pliable layers each comprise rubber. 27. The vehicle floor mat of claim 23, wherein the first and second pliable layers each have opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein carpeting is disposed on the each pliable layer first surface. 28. The vehicle floor mat of claim 23, wherein the first and second rigid members each comprise a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough. 29. A vehicle floor mat, comprising: a pliable layer configured to overlie an area of a vehicle floor; and a plurality of adjacent, spaced-apart rigid members attached to the pliable layer, wherein each rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span a recessed portion in the vehicle floor area such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion. 30. The vehicle floor mat of claim 29, wherein the rigid members are at least partially disposed within the pliable layer. 31. The vehicle floor mat of claim 29, wherein each rigid member comprises material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, glass reinforced thermoset rubber, glass reinforced polypropylene, wood, and metal. 32. The vehicle floor mat of claim 29, wherein each pliable layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers. 33. The vehicle floor mat of claim 29, wherein the pliable layer comprises rubber. 34. The vehicle floor mat of claim 29, wherein the pliable layer has opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein carpeting is disposed on the pliable layer first surface. 35. The vehicle floor mat of claim 29, wherein each rigid member comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough. 36. A vehicle, comprising: a floor having a recessed porton; and a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises: a pliable layer; and a rigid member attached to a portion of the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion. 37. A vehicle, comprising: a floor having a recessed portion; and a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises: a pliable layer; and a rigid member disposed within the pliable layer, wherein the rigid member comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures formed therethrough, wherein the rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the pliable layer, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion. 38. A vehicle, comprising: a floor having a recessed portion; and a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises: a first pliable layer; a second pliable layer pivotally secured to the first pliable layer and movable between a stored position overlying the first pliable layer in face-to-face relationship therewith and an operative position substantially coplanar with the first pliable layer; a first rigid member disposed within the first pliable layer; and a second rigid member disposed within the second pliable layer; wherein the first and second rigid members each have a width less than a width and length of the first and second pliable layers, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the respective first and second pliable layers are rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such that the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion. 39. A vehicle, comprising: a floor having a recessed portion; and a floor mat overlying the recessed portion in the vehicle floor, wherein the floor mat comprises: a pliable layer; and a plurality of adjacent, spaced-apart rigid members attached to the pliable layer, wherein each rigid member has a width less than a width and length of the first and second pliable layer, but sufficient to span the recessed portion such that the pliable layer is rendered substantially non-pliable above the recessed portion, and such tat the floor mat is self-supporting and can independently support a load placed thereon above the recessed portion, without any external support from within the recessed portion.