Integrated Heel Blocker Floor Mat for Vehicle Pedal Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional floor mats in motor vehicles cannot extend forward enough to catch dirt and debris under control pedals due to the presence of a heel blocker underneath the carpet, leading to carpet staining and soiling in inclement weather, while still needing to provide safety benefits.

Innovation Solution

A floor mat with an integrated heel blocker and debris pan, secured by a clip system, that allows the mat to extend forward and catch debris without compromising safety, featuring a resilient and waterproof heel blocker integrated with the debris pan and retaining walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a heel blocker is provided underneath the carpet sandwiched between the insulation layer and the floor, then lower leg safety is improved, but the floor mat cannot extend forward underneath the control pedals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelower leg safetyVSAvoidfloor mat extension length

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the heel blocker and floor mat into a single integrated unit. The heel blocker is formed as an integral part of the floor mat structure, allowing the mat to extend forward underneath the control pedals while maintaining the safety function of the heel blocker. This merging eliminates the need for separate installation of both components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated floor mat performs multiple functions simultaneously: it protects against debris and stains on the carpet, extends forward to catch debris under control pedals, and provides lower leg safety through the integrated heel blocker. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the floor mat system capable of both extended coverage and safety protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the floor mat extends forward underneath the control pedals, then debris collection is improved, but the heel blocker safety function is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris and dirt collectionVSAvoidheel blocker safety function

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heel blocker is merged with the floor mat structure, forming a single integrated component. This allows the floor mat to extend forward for debris collection while the integrated heel blocker maintains its safety function underneath the control pedals. The merging ensures both functions coexist without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heel blocker is nested within the overall floor mat structure. The floor mat extends forward to collect debris while the heel blocker portion is positioned underneath the control pedals area. This nesting arrangement allows the smaller heel blocker function to be contained within the larger floor mat system, enabling both debris collection and safety protection simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9994140B2Floor mat with integral heel blocker

Publication Date: 2018.06.12 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A floor mat is provided for a motor vehicle. The floor mat includes a debris pan and a debris retaining wall encompassing the debris pan. In addition, the floor mat includes an integral heel blocker within the debris retaining wall that is adapted to protect the feet, heels and lower legs of an operator of a motor vehicle in the event of a frontal collision.