IP Library Granted Patent US 8,474,898
Granted Patent B1
US 8,474,898 · App. 13/336,686 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Vehicle floor mat

Inventors: Uri Bielawski (Commerce Township, MI); Martin Petersen (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,474,898
App. No.
13/336,686
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A floor mat is positionable in front of a vehicle seat on a vehicle floor of a vehicle having at least one structural member that contacts the vehicle floor and is disposed rearward of a front edge of the vehicle seat. The floor mat includes a main body and an engagement structure. The main body has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end that is longitudinally spaced from the first end. The engagement structure is defined at a peripheral edge of the main body between the upper and lower surfaces. The engagement structure has a first edge portion that extends in a longitudinal direction and a second edge portion that laterally extends from the first edge portion. The second edge portion is positionable to engage the at least one structural member to restrain horizontal movement of the main body in the longitudinal direction.

Claims (35)

1. A floor mat positionable in front of a vehicle seat on a vehicle floor of a vehicle having at least one structural member that contacts the vehicle floor and is disposed rearward of a front edge of the vehicle seat, the floor mat comprising:

a main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end that is spaced from the first end in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and

an engagement structure defined at a peripheral edge of the main body between the upper and lower surfaces, the engagement structure having a first edge portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and a second edge portion that extends from the first edge portion in a lateral direction of the vehicle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the second edge portion is positionable underneath the vehicle seat to engage the at least one structural member of the vehicle to restrain horizontal movement of the main body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2. The floor mat of claim 1 , wherein the first edge portion extends a majority of the distance between the first end and the second end.

3. The floor mat of claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a primary portion that is positionable at least partially forward of the vehicle seat and a secondary portion that is located rearward of the second edge portion.

4. The floor mat of claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a primary portion that is positionable at least partially forward of the vehicle seat and a secondary portion that is positionable at least partially rearward of the vehicle seat.

5. The floor mat of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the main body is bendable to allow installation and removal of the main body while the main body is horizontally situated.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle floor;

a vehicle seat connected to the vehicle floor;

at least one structural member that contacts the vehicle floor and is disposed rearward of a front edge of the vehicle seat; and

a floor mat positionable on the vehicle floor and selectively removable from the vehicle floor while the vehicle seat remains connected to the vehicle floor, the floor mat having:

a main body with an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end that is spaced from the first end in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the floor mat is positionable on the vehicle floor such that a first portion of the main body of the floor mat is disposed in front of the vehicle seat and a second portion of the main body of the floor mat is disposed underneath the vehicle seat; and

an engagement structure defined at a peripheral edge of the main body between the upper and lower surfaces, the engagement structure having a first edge portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and a second edge portion that extends from the first edge portion in a lateral direction of the vehicle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the second edge portion is positionable to engage the at least one structural member of the vehicle to restrain horizontal movement of the main body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the first edge portion extends a majority of the distance between the first end and the second end.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the second edge portion is disposed underneath the vehicle seat.

9. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the main body includes a primary portion that is positionable at least partially forward of the vehicle seat and a secondary portion that is located rearward of the second edge portion.

10. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein main body includes a primary portion that is disposed at least partially forward of the vehicle seat and a secondary portion that is disposed at least partially rearward of the vehicle seat.

11. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one structural member is disposed underneath the vehicle seat.

12. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one structural member is a frame portion of the vehicle seat.

13. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one structural member is a vehicle body member.

14. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one structural member is a vehicle trim panel.

15. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one structural member is a storage compartment that is supported by the vehicle floor.

16. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein at least part of the main body is bendable to allow installation and removal of the main body while the main body is horizontally situated.

17. The vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising:

an additional vehicle seat that is connected to the vehicle floor and is positioned adjacent to the vehicle seat, wherein a third portion of the main body of the floor mat is disposed underneath the additional vehicle seat and the floor mat is selectively removable from the vehicle floor while the additional vehicle seat remains connected to the vehicle floor.

18. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle floor;

a vehicle seat;

at least one frame portion that is connected to the vehicle floor and the vehicle seat to support the vehicle seat with respect to the vehicle floor; and

a floor mat positionable on the vehicle floor in front of the vehicle seat having:

a main body with an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end that is spaced from the first end in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and

an engagement structure defined at a peripheral edge of the main body between the upper and lower surfaces, the engagement structure having a first edge portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and a second edge portion that extends from the first edge portion in a lateral direction of the vehicle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the second edge portion is positionable to engage the at least one structural member of the vehicle to restrain horizontal movement of the main body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the first edge portion extends a majority of the distance between the first end and the second end and the second edge portion is disposed underneath the vehicle seat.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the main body includes a primary portion that is positionable at least partially forward of the vehicle seat and a secondary portion that is located rearward of the second edge portion.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein main body includes a primary portion that is disposed at least partially forward of the vehicle seat and a secondary portion that is disposed at least partially rearward of the vehicle seat.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2013
From: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 031173/0158 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2012
From: BIELAWSKI, URI; PETERSEN, MARTIN
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 027537/0274 →