Modular Vehicle Floor Mat Assembly with Interlocking Segments
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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 modular floor mat assembly comprising an extended floor mat and a connecting floor mat that interlock via apertures and tabs, with a drain system that secures to the vehicle floor to prevent spills during installation and removal, allowing for easy disconnection and separate removal of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single unitary floor mat is used to cover the vehicle floor, then fluid collection and debris containment are improved, but installation and removal difficulty increase
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 installed and removed. Each floor mat has its own fluid collection capabilities through integrated drains, maintaining reliability while improving ease of operation through modular installation.
2Reliability
If a single unitary floor mat is used to cover the vehicle floor, then fluid collection is improved, but accidental spills during removal increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the floor mat into multiple separate mats, each mat can be removed independently without the risk of the entire assembly becoming unbalanced or spilling contents. The modular design allows controlled removal of individual mats while maintaining fluid containment through integrated drain systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain systems are extracted as separate functional components (drain tube, drain cap, collection chamber) that can operate independently. This allows the floor mat to be removed while the drain system remains in place or is separately managed, preventing accidental spills during the removal process.
3Ease of operation
If a modular floor mat assembly with interlocking components is used, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor mat assembly is segmented into independent modular units that can be installed and removed separately without complex interlocking mechanisms. Each segment is a complete functional unit with its own drain system, simplifying the overall design while maintaining ease of installation and removal.
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 extension portion. The extension portion includes a plurality of apertures and a plurality of tabs. The connecting floor mat includes a floor portion, an extension portion, and an adaptor member. The extension portion of the connecting floor mat extends from the floor portion. The adaptor member extends from the extension portion and includes a plurality of apertures and protrusions. The extended floor mat and the connecting floor mat interlock when the plurality of tabs of the extended floor mat extend through the plurality of apertures of the adaptor member and the protrusions of the adaptor member extend through the plurality of apertures of the extended floor mat to restrict vertical and lateral movement of the extended floor mat and connecting floor mat relative to each other.