Adapter and fixing system for attaching a floor mat in a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adapter and a fixing system for securing a floor mat (2) in a vehicle. The adapter and fixing system has an elongated hole (22) which is arranged in a fixing section (21) of the floor mat (2) and is designed such that a correspondingly shaped, vehicle-side rotating element (121) of a rotary fastener (12) can extend through the elongated hole (22) and be rotatable. Furthermore, the fixing system includes an adapter (3) according to the invention with a body (31) which is designed to be arranged in the fixing section (21) of the floor mat (2). The adapter (3) further includes a pressure element receptacle (33) which is designed to connect with a vehicle-side pressure element (13) and thus form the snap fastener (13).The pressure element receptacle (33) is formed in a connecting section (32) which has a shape corresponding to the elongated hole (22) arranged in the floor mat (2) and is designed to be inserted into the elongated hole (22).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter and a fixing system with an adapter according to the invention for fixing a floor mat in a motor vehicle.

[0002] Motor vehicles, especially passenger cars, typically have floor mats in the foot area of ​​the occupants. This creates a comfortable environment for many people, and also provides a replacement part that can be easily and inexpensively replaced if excessive wear or dirt occurs. The floor mats are typically made of carpet, rubber, or hard plastic. Rubber or hard plastics have the advantage of being easier to clean and more durable, while carpets or fabric solutions are perceived as higher quality and more comfortable. Both solutions are subsumed under the term "floor mats" for the purposes of the application.

[0003] Regardless of the material, various options exist in the state of the art to prevent floor mats from slipping around in the footwell and to secure them to the vehicle floor in the foot area. For example, document DE 102007027525 A1 discloses a fastening device for a vehicle floor mat that includes a specially designed hook-and-loop fastener plate, thus revealing a hook-and-loop solution for securing the floor mat.

[0004] Patent document EP 2223637 B1 describes a fastening arrangement for attaching a motor vehicle floor mat to a carpet, which comprises a plurality of fastening elements for fastening to a fastening hole and a button for fastening to a button carrier. Document US 2022227278 A1 deals with a connecting structure for attaching two overlapping mats to a connecting rod present on the floor of the vehicle. Document US 7546661 B2 describes a floor mat fastening arrangement comprising a clip attached to the carpet with an elongated hole and a clip attached to the floor mat, which form a twist lock. Document US 2009004429 A1 describes various other positive-locking floor mat fastening systems.

[0005] By far the most commonly used fastening elements for floor mats in vehicles are snap fasteners. A snap fastener is located on the floor of the vehicle's footwell and has a snap fastener receptacle in the floor mat. The snap fastener can be brought into a positive connection with the receptacle. Snap fasteners of this type are also widely used in other areas, for example, in the clothing sector.

[0006] Secondly, the use of twist locks as a fastening element for attaching floor mats to the vehicle floor is widespread. Twist locks, which are arranged on the vehicle floor, usually have an elongated rotating element that can be rotated through a specific angle. For fastening, the floor mats have a counter-section into which the twist lock can be inserted at an angled position of the rotating element. Once the rotating element is inserted into the counter-section, it is rotated through a specific angle, creating a positive connection between the vehicle floor and the floor mat.

[0007] Different vehicles have either a twist lock or a push button, although it's also possible that vehicles within a model series are produced with both the one and the other fastening element. This means that the manufacturer must offer both variants, which results in increased costs and potential customer dissatisfaction if the customer chooses a product with the wrong fastening element to replace the floor mats.

[0008] Against the background of the prior art described above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adapter for attaching a floor mat in a motor vehicle, which allows the floor mat to be attached to a twist lock or with a snap fastener. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fastening system for securing a floor mat in a vehicle.

[0009] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are contained in the subclaims.

[0010] The adapter according to the invention for attaching a floor mat in a motor vehicle comprises a body designed to be arranged in a fixing section of the floor mat, and a pressure element receptacle designed to connect to a pressure element arranged on the vehicle side, thus forming the snap fastener. The pressure element receptacle is formed in a connecting section that has a shape corresponding to an elongated hole arranged in the floor mat and is designed to be inserted into the elongated hole.

[0011] The adapter can be used to create a fastening system with a snap fastener for a doormat that has a slotted hole and is therefore actually designed for connection with a twist lock.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the adapter according to the invention, the connecting section is formed from two connecting wings, which form the pressure element receptacle between them and are designed to briefly deform reversibly in opposite directions when the pressure element is received in the pressure element receptacle. A pressure element typically has a section with a thickened portion. Upon insertion of the pressure element into the pressure element receptacle, a reversible deformation of a section or element of the pressure element receptacle must therefore take place in order to press the thickened portion completely into the pressure element receptacle and overcome the threshold caused by the thickened portion. This is preferably achieved by the reversible deformation of the connecting wings.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the adapter according to the invention, the body is flat and, in particular, has a round shape. The flat design of the body allows for a high degree of integration of the adapter into the floor mat when installed, so that the adapter protrudes as little as possible from the floor mat. The preferred round shape minimizes the possibility of objects placed and moved near the adapter getting caught on the adapter, thus risking damage to the adapter or the attachment of the floor mat to the vehicle floor.

[0014] Furthermore, an embodiment of the invention is preferred in which at least one reversibly deformable element is arranged in the pressure element receptacle, which element is designed to undergo brief, reversible deformation when the pressure element is received in the pressure element receptacle, thus enabling the movement of the pressure element out of or into the pressure element receptacle. Such an element can be provided, for example, as a spring element or the like.

[0015] The fixing system according to the invention for fixing a floor mat by means of a fixing element in a motor vehicle has a slotted hole which is arranged in a fixing section of the floor mat and is designed such that a correspondingly shaped rotating element of a twist lock arranged on the vehicle side can extend through the slotted hole and is rotatable. The floor mat and in particular the slotted hole are therefore designed such that the floor mat can be fixed to the vehicle floor by means of a twist lock known from the prior art. Furthermore, the fixing system has an adapter according to the invention with a body which is designed to be arranged in the fixing section of the floor mat. The adapter further has a pressure element receptacle which is designed to connect to a pressure element arranged on the vehicle side and thus form the snap fastener.The pressure element receptacle is formed in a connecting section which has a shape corresponding to the elongated hole arranged in the floor mat and is designed to be inserted into the elongated hole.

[0016] The fixing system is thus designed to connect a floor mat, which is suitable for being fastened to the vehicle floor by means of a twist lock via the elongated hole, to the vehicle floor using the adapter via a corresponding snap fastener as a fastening element. If a fastening means in the form of a twist lock is provided in the footwell of the vehicle floor, the floor mat can be connected to the vehicle floor via the interaction of the twist lock with the elongated hole in a manner known from the prior art. If a fastening means in the form of a snap fastener is provided in the footwell of the vehicle floor, the floor mat can also be fastened to the footwell by using the adapter according to the invention and thus the design of the fixing system according to the invention.This means that only floor mats designed for the use of twist locks need to be manufactured, as these are also suitable for fastening with snap fasteners thanks to the adapter.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the fastening system according to the invention, the adapter is not attached to the floor mat itself. Thus, there is no connection between the floor mat and the adapter, and the adapter can be removed from the floor mat when the floor mat is not secured to the vehicle floor. Thus, even after use in a vehicle with a snap fastener, the floor mat can be used in other vehicles that have a twist lock for securing the floor mat.

[0018] Advantageous aspects and embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1a shows a schematic representation of a fastening means 1 in the form of a twist lock 12 according to the prior art Fig. 1b shows a schematic representation of a doormat 2 fixed by means of a twist lock 12 according to the prior art Fig. 2a shows a schematic representation of a fastening means 1 in the form of a push button 13 according to the prior art Fig. 2b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a fixing system of a floor mat 2 according to the invention Fig. 2c shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the adapter 3 according to the invention

[0019] Fig. 1a shows a schematic representation of a fastening means 1 in the form of a rotary closure 12 according to the prior art for fixing a Fig. 1a floor mat, not shown. The fastening means 1 is shown in plan view. The twist lock 12 is attached to the vehicle floor and has a stabilizing section 11, which is usually screwed or glued to the vehicle floor and is thus arranged immovably. Furthermore, the twist lock 12 has a rotating element 121, which can be rotated relative to the stabilizing section 11 by at least a certain angle. Furthermore, the rotating element 121 is usually spaced from the stabilizing section 11 by a spacer element, which is firmly connected to the stabilizing section 11 and preferably has the same shape as the rotating element 121. The spacer element is not shown in the plan view of the schematic representation shown here.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1b shows a prior art method for securing a floor mat 2 to the vehicle floor using a twist lock 12. The floor mat 2 has a securing portion 21 with an elongated hole 22. The elongated hole 22 has the same shape as the rotating element 121, which extends through the elongated hole 22. The stabilizing portion 11 is arranged on the underside of the floor mat 2.

[0021] To fix the floor mat 2, the floor mat 2 is arranged on the rotating element 121 in such a way that it protrudes through the slot 22. The rotating element 121 is then rotated by 90 degrees, as shown in the illustration from Fig. 1b. Thus, the spacer element 111 is visible, which has a shape such that it protrudes into the elongated hole 22. By rotating the rotating element 121, a positive connection between the vehicle floor and the floor mat 2 is realized by means of the rotary closure 12, as is already known in the prior art.

[0022] Fig. Figure 2a shows a schematic representation of a fastening means 1 in the form of a part of a snap fastener 13 according to the prior art for fixing a Fig. 2a, a floor mat not shown. The push button 13 also has a stabilizing section 11, which is immovably connected to the vehicle floor. The illustrated part of the push button 13 has a pressure element 131, which is preferably round, as in the embodiment shown, and has a thickened portion not visible in plan view.

[0023] Fig. 2b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a fixation system according to the invention which has already been described in Fig. 1b shown doormat 2 on the in Fig. 2a shown pressure element 131. In the fixing section 21 of the floor mat 2, an adapter 3 is provided, which in an isolated view also in Fig. 2c. A flat, round body 31 of the adapter 3 completely fills the fixing section 21 of the floor mat 2. Arranged in the center of the body 31 and thus of the adapter 3 is a pressure element receptacle 33 formed in a connecting section 32. The connecting section 32 consists of two opposing connecting wings 321 that form the pressure element receptacle 33. The two connecting wings 321 are not connected to one another. The connecting section 32 corresponds to the opposite shape of the elongated hole 22 provided in the floor mat 2 and is inserted into it accordingly.

[0024] As in Fig.As can be seen in Figure 2b, the pressure element receptacle 33 is designed to receive the pressure element 131 of the push button 13 and, together with the pressure element 131, to form the push button 13. The pressure element 131 is completely enclosed by the pressure element receptacle 33 and fixed in a form-fitting manner. The form-fitting arrangement is achieved by the thickened portion of the pressure element 131 being accommodated by a correspondingly provided recess (not shown) in the connecting section 32. To achieve this, when the pressure element 131 is pressed into the pressure element receptacle 33, the connecting wings 321 each deform reversibly in opposite directions, thus causing the pressure element 131 to "lock" into the connecting section 32.

[0025] The adapter 3 is not connected to the floor mat 2, for example, by an adhesive or other fastening means. When the floor mat is installed, the floor mat is clamped between the adapter 3 and the pressure element 131, and thus to the vehicle floor. When removing the adapter 3, it can be easily removed from the fixing section 21 of the floor mat 2.

[0026] In this way, with the adapter 3 according to the invention of the fixing system according to the invention, the doormat 2 with the elongated hole 22, which is actually intended for a twist lock 12, can also be used for a snap fastener connection. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 fastening element 2 doormats 3 adapters 11 Stabilization section 12 twist lock 121 Rotating element 13 push button 131 pressure element 21 Fixation section 22 slotted hole 31 bodies 32 connecting section 321 connecting wing 33 Printing element holder QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102007027525 A1

[0003] EP 2223637 B1

[0004] US 2022227278 A1

[0004] US 7546661 B2

[0004] US 2009004429 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Adapter for fastening a floor mat (2) in a motor vehicle by means of a push button (13), comprising A body (31) adapted to be arranged in a fixing section (21) of the floor mat (2), and a pressure element receptacle which is designed to connect to a pressure element (131) arranged on the vehicle side and thus to form the push button (13), wherein the pressure element receptacle (33) is formed in a connecting section (32) which has a shape corresponding to an elongated hole (22) arranged in the floor mat (2) and is designed to be inserted into the elongated hole (22). [2] Adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, wherein the connecting section (32) is formed from two connecting wings (321) which form the pressure element receptacle (33) between them and are designed to deform reversibly for a short time in opposite directions when the pressure element (131) is received in the pressure element receptacle (33). [3] Adapter (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (31) is flat and in particular has a round shape. [4] Adapter (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one reversibly deformable element, in particular in the form of a spring element, is arranged in the pressure element receptacle (33), which is designed to deform reversibly for a short time when the pressure element (131) is received in the pressure element receptacle (33). [5] Fixing system for fixing a floor mat (2) in a motor vehicle, comprising an elongated hole (22) which is arranged in a fixing section (21) of the floor mat (2) and is designed such that a correspondingly shaped rotating element (121) of a rotary closure (12) arranged on the vehicle side can reach through the elongated hole (22) and is rotatable, an adapter (3) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a body (31) which is designed to be arranged in the fixing section (21) of the floor mat (2), and a pressure element receptacle (33) which is designed to connect to a pressure element (13) arranged on the vehicle side and thus to form a push button (13), wherein the pressure element receptacle (33) is formed in a connecting section (32) which has a shape corresponding to the elongated hole (22) arranged in the floor mat (2) and is designed to be inserted into the elongated hole (22). [6] Fixing system according to the preceding claim, wherein the adapter (3) is not attached to the floor mat (2).

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