Plastic decorative inlay in a floor mat

Claim 2

AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A RUBBER BASE HAVING A TOP SURFACE, A FLEXIBLE AND FOLDABLE PLASTIC INLAY HAVING A DECORATIVE SURFACE, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE INLAY TO THE RUBBER BASE IN A RELEASABLE, INTERLOCKING FIT IN A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE BASE WITH THE DECORATIVE SURFACE OF THE INLAY BEING DISPLAYED IN THE TOP SURFACE OF THE BASE, THE SECURING MEANS INCLUDING A RAISED SECTION FORMED IN THE TOP SURFACE OF THE RUBBER BASE, A RECESS FORMED IN THE RAISED SECTION OF THE BASE, AND A PERIPHERAL UNDERCUT BELOW THE TOP SURFACE OF THE BASE FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING AN OUTER EDGE PORTION OF THE PLASTIC INLAY UNDER A PROJECTING PORTION OF THE BASE WHICH OVERLAPS THE UNDERCUT.

Claim 3

An article of manufacture according to claim 1 including detent means formed in the undercut for interlocking with the plastic inlay to prevent the inlay from rotating relative to the base.

Claim 4

An article of manufacture according to claim 2 including one or more notches formed in the outer edge portion of the inlay for interlocking with the detent means.

Claim 5

An article of manufacture according to claim 1 in which the projecting portion of the base is a flexible lip extending around the recess.

Claim 6

An article of manufacture according to claim 1 including a ridge extending above the decorative surface of the plastic inlay, the ridge being shaped to abut against the edge of the projecting portion of the base when the inlay is held in the recess.

Claim 7

An article of manufacture according to claim 1 in which the base comprises a generally flat rubber floor mat having a top traction surface, and in which the decorative plastic inlay occupies a minor portion of the floor mat traction surface.

Claim 8

An article of manufacture according to claim 5 in which the projecting portion of the base is a flexible lip extending around the recess, the decorative inlay having a peripheral outer portion spanning the ridge on the inlay, the portion of the inlay overlapping the peripheral outer edge portion of the flexible inlay.

Claim 9

An article of manufacture comprising: a rubber base having a top surface; a flexible and foldable plastic inlay having a decorative surface, and a ridge extending above the decorative surface, and a peripheral portion spanning the outside of the ridge; and means securing the inlay to the rubber base in a releasable, interlocking fit so the inlay is held in a fixed position relative to the base with the decorative surface of the inlay being displayed in the top surface of the base; the securing means including a recess formed in the top surface of the rubber base, the recess having a peripheral undercut below the top surface of the base for releasably holding the peripheral edge portion of the plastic inlay under a projecting portion of the base which overlaps the undercut, the projecting portion of the base being a flexible lip extending around the recess and overlapping the peripheral edge portion of the flexible inlay so the ridge abuts against the edge of the projecting portion of the base when the inlay is held in the recess.

Claim 10

An article of manufacture comprising: a rubber base having a top surface; a flexible and foldable plastic inlay having a decorative surface, and a ridge extending above the decorative surface, and a peripheral portion spanning the outside of the ridge; and means securing the inlay to the rubber base in a releasable, interlocking fit so the inlay is held in a fixed position relative to the base with the decorative surface of the inlay being displayed in the top surface of the base; the securing means including a recess formed in the top surface of the rubber base, the recess having a peripheral undercut below the top surface of the base for releasably holding the peripheral edge portion of the plastic inlay under a projecting portion of the base which overlaps the undercut, the projecting portion of the base being a flexible lip extending around the recess and overlapping the peripheral edge portion of the flexible inlay so the ridge abuts against the edge of the projecting portion of the base when the inlay is held in the recess.

Claim 11

An article of manufacture according to claim 8 including detent means in the undercut for interlocking with the plastic inlay, and one oR more notches formed in the outer peripheral portion of the inlay for interlocking with the detent means to prevent the inlay from rotating relative to the base.

Claim 12

An article of manufacture according to claim 9 in which the base comprises a generally flat rubber floor mat having a top traction surface, and in which the decorative inlay occupies a minor portion of the area of the traction surface of the mat.

Claim 13

A floor mat comprising: a rubber base having a top surface constructed and defined with a traction surface area covering a major portion thereof; a plastic inlay constructed and defined with a decorative surface over an area occupying a minor portion of the area of the traction surface; and means constructed integrally with the rubber base for releasably securing the plastic inlay to the rubber base so the decorative surface of the inlay is displayed in the traction surface of the base; the securing means including a recess formed in the traction surface to receive the inlay, a peripheral undercut extending around the recess below the top surface of the base for receiving an outer edge portion of the inlay under a projecting portion of the base which overlaps the undercut, and means in the undercut portion of the recess for releasably interlocking with the outer edge portion of the inlay to releasably hold the inlay in a fixed position relative to the base.

Claim 14

A floor mat comprising: a rubber base having a top surface constructed and defined with a traction surface area covering a major portion thereof; a plastic inlay constructed and defined with a decorative surface over an area occupying a minor portion of the area of the traction surface; and means constructed integrally with the rubber base for releasably securing the plastic inlay to the rubber base so the decorative surface of the inlay is displayed in the traction surface of the base; the securing means including a recess formed in the traction surface to receive the inlay, a peripheral undercut extending around the recess below the top surface of the base for receiving an outer edge portion of the inlay under a projecting portion of the base which overlaps the undercut, and means in the undercut portion of the recess for releasably interlocking with the outer edge portion of the inlay to releasably hold the inlay in a fixed position relative to the base.

Claim 15

A floor mat according to claim 11 including detent means formed in the undercut portion of the recess, and one or more notches formed in the outer edge portion of the inlay for interlocking with the detent means to prevent the inlay from rotating relative to the base.

Claim 16

A floor mat according to claim 12 in which the projecting portion of the base is a flexible lip extending around the recess.

Claim 17

A floor mat according to claim 13 in which the inlay is a flexible and foldable plastic piece.

Claim 18

A floor mat according to claim 11 including means constructed integrally with the bottom surface of the rubber base to prevent slippage between the floor mat and its mounting surface.

Claim 19

A floor mat according to claim 11 wherein the plastic inlay is constructed of polyvinyl chloride.