Vehicle Floor Mat Watertight Capped Grommet Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle floor mats with fluid-impermeable layers can slip and create retention post holes that allow water to leak onto the carpet, especially in winter or muddy conditions, compromising the fluid barrier.
Innovation Solution
A mat with an elastically deformable, water-impermeable layer featuring through-holes sealed by compressible sealing members and grommets that include caps and bottom grommets, forming an impermeable barrier against fluids, while allowing for mat retention posts to keep the mat in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If retention post holes are created in the floor mat to secure the mat in place, then the mat retention is improved, but the fluid barrier is compromised allowing water to leak onto the carpet
Solution Approach 1:
The through-hole is segmented into multiple functional zones: an upper sealed portion that maintains the fluid barrier, a middle transition zone with the sealing member, and a lower open portion that accommodates the retention post. This segmentation allows the hole to simultaneously provide structural retention and fluid sealing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing member (such as an O-ring or grommet) is introduced as an intermediary element between the through-hole and the retention post. This sealing member bridges the gap between the conflicting requirements of hole openness for retention and hole closure for fluid barrier integrity, allowing the retention post to pass through while blocking fluid leakage.
2Reliability
If the mat is made fluid-impermeable to protect the carpet, then the carpet protection is improved, but the mat tends to slip about in the foot well
Solution Approach 1:
The mat is functionally segmented into a fluid barrier layer (the impermeable mat material) and a retention system (through-holes with sealing members). This segmentation allows each component to specialize: the mat material provides carpet protection while the through-hole retention system provides positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member acts as an intermediary that connects the mat to the retention post while maintaining the fluid barrier. It enables the retention mechanism to function without compromising the mat's fluid-impermeable property, thus allowing the mat to stay in place while continuing to protect the carpet.
3Ease of operation
If through-holes are formed in the mat layer to accommodate retention posts, then the mat can be secured to the foot well, but water can leak through the holes onto the carpet
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member serves as a mediator between the through-hole and the retention post, blocking the harmful effect of water leakage while allowing the beneficial function of mat retention to occur. It selectively permits the retention post to pass through while preventing water from following the same path.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is strategically positioned at the critical location where the retention post passes through the mat. This localized sealing solution addresses the water leakage problem specifically at the hole location without affecting the overall fluid barrier integrity of the mat elsewhere.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents water and other fluids from leaking through the mat, maintaining a dry vehicle floor surface and ensuring the mat remains securely positioned, even in wet conditions.
Implementation Method 1
One of the cap and the bottom grommet has an outer sealing surface that compresses the sealing member of the mat layer, such that the mat layer and the grommet form an impermeable barrier to fluid incident on the mat layer upper surface
Data Source
AI summary
A mat for removable installation on the floor surface of a vehicle foot well has at least one through-hole for receiving a mat retention device. At least one endless elastomeric sealing member extends radially inwardly from a general sidewall surface of the through-hole. A grommet for the through-hole includes a bottom grommet and a cap. An outer sealing surface of the grommet compresses the elastomeric sealing member of the through-hole, thereby creating an impermeable barrier to water incident on an upper surface of the mat body. The mat body may have an endless ridge on its upper surface that is radially outwardly spaced from the through-hole and that is compressibly engaged by a lower surface of a cap retention flange.