Automotive Floor Mat Pocket Structure for Spill-Free Debris Collection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive floor mats fail to effectively contain water and debris, leading to spillage during removal and cumbersome cleaning, and lack an integrated collection system.
Innovation Solution
An automotive floor mat with a flexible body and a pocket at one end that extends underneath the seat, allowing for the containment and directed collection of water and debris, preventing spillage and simplifying cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flat floor mats are used, then the mat structure is simple, but water and debris cannot be effectively contained and spill during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The floor mat is segmented into distinct functional zones: a flat mat body for general protection and a raised pocket structure for containment. This segmentation allows the mat to simultaneously provide broad coverage and targeted containment without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat mat to a three-dimensional structure by adding a raised pocket with vertical walls. This dimensional change creates enclosed volume for containing liquids and debris, preventing spillage during removal while maintaining overall mat simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional rigid floor mats are used, then the mat provides structural stability, but cleaning is cumbersome and requires careful handling to prevent spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The contained water and debris are effectively extracted from the mat surface and isolated within the pocket structure. This allows the mat body to be cleaned separately from the contained contaminants, simplifying the cleaning process and eliminating the need for careful balancing during removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised pocket acts as an intermediary containment structure between the mat surface and the external environment. It temporarily holds water and debris, serving as a buffer that prevents direct contact between contaminants and the cleaning process, thereby simplifying handling.
3Reliability
If conventional floor mats without collection systems are used, then the mat design is simple, but accumulated water and dirt must be carefully maneuvered out, resulting in spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The raised pocket structure is pre-configured on the mat body before use, creating a ready-made containment system. This preliminary action ensures that water and debris are automatically directed into the pocket as they accumulate, preventing spillage during removal without requiring additional collection equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the floor mat protection function with a containment collection system into a single integrated structure. The raised pocket is formed as part of the mat body itself, combining coverage and containment functions without requiring separate collection devices or complex assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive floor mat with a pocket to catch water and debris is disclosed. The mat includes a flexible mat body and an integrated pocket that creates a collection chamber for containing accumulated water and debris. The flexible construction allows users to roll debris and water toward the pocket where it can be contained until the mat is removed for cleaning. The pocket extends underneath (or to the side) of a vehicle seat to maximize collection capacity while utilizing otherwise unused space. This design prevents spillage during mat removal and provides enhanced containment compared to conventional automotive floor mats.