Vehicle Floor Mat Assembly with Interlocking Segmented Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cumbersome size of traditional vehicle floor mats makes them difficult to install and remove, often resulting in accidental spills of fluids and debris onto the vehicle floor.
Innovation Solution
A floor mat assembly comprising an extended floor mat and a connecting floor mat that interlock via ribs and locking tabs, restricting lateral movement and allowing for easy installation and removal without spills, with the mats being designed to fit the vehicle floor and featuring elongated gripping members for secure placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a single unitary floor mat is used to cover the vehicle floor, then fluid and debris collection is improved, but installation and removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor mat assembly is divided into multiple separate floor mats (first floor mat, second floor mat, third floor mat) that can be independently handled. Each mat is smaller and lighter than a single unitary mat would be, making them easier to install and remove while collectively providing comprehensive floor coverage and fluid/debris collection capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a single unitary floor mat is used to cover the vehicle floor, then fluid and debris collection is improved, but accidental spills during removal increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the floor mat into multiple smaller mats, the weight and size of each individual mat is reduced. This allows users to handle and remove each mat more easily without the risk of spilling fluids or debris that would occur with a large, cumbersome unitary mat.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor mat assembly allows for dynamic removal where mats can be taken out individually rather than all at once. The interlocking mechanism enables selective removal of specific mats while keeping others in place, providing control during removal to prevent spills.
3Ease of operation
If multiple separate floor mats are used, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but structural stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate floor mats are combined through interlocking mechanisms (interlocking portions with locking tabs and receptacles) to form a unified assembly. This merging provides the structural stability of a single large mat while retaining the operational advantages of separate, manageable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor mats are designed with pre-formed interlocking portions, locking tabs, and receptacles that enable easy assembly and disassembly. The preliminary structural design allows users to quickly connect and disconnect mats without complex tools or procedures, maintaining both ease of operation and structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A floor mat assembly includes an extended floor mat and a connecting floor mat. The extended floor mat includes a floor portion and an interlocking portion. The interlocking portion extends from the floor portion and includes a body, at least one first rib and at least one second rib. The body defines a channel. The at least one first rib and the at least one second rib are disposed within the channel and cooperate to form a compartment. The connecting floor mat includes a floor portion and an adapter portion. The adapter portion extends from the floor portion and includes at least one locking tab. The extended floor mat and the connecting floor mat interlock when the at least one locking tab is received in the compartment, thereby restricting lateral movement of the extended floor mat and the connecting floor mat relative to each other.