Floor mat and integrated foot rest

• US 6,502,905 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanford LP (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Berol Corp (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Ford, John, Cheris, Albert B., Goluszka, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US09/836,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20020150719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 428/99, 428/136, 296/75, 296/97.23, 297/423.1, 297/423.14, 297/423.41, 297/423.39, 297/423.46
• US Class Current: 297/423.46
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 16/02 Footstools; Foot-rests; Leg-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/04 of floor mats or carpets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/063 with adjustment systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24314 Slit or elongated

Abstract

A plastic floor mat and foot rest unit is disclosed in which a front edge of the support surface of the foot rest is inserted through a slotted opening in the floor mat to the underside of the floor mat, and a latching projection is also inserted through the opening to latch the front edge of the support surface in the opening, yet permit its ready removal if desired. The rear edge of the support surface is also supported by a support plate to permit the incline angle of the foot rest support surface to be adjusted and to support the rear edge by the pile of the carpet upon which the floor mat and foot rest unit is to be used.

Claims

1. A floor mat and foot rest unit, comprising

a substantially planar floor mat having an underside and a topside and having a slotted opening extending between the underside and topside and spaced from an edge of the mat;

a foot rest comprising a plate having front and rear edges and adapted to receive a foot of a user in a supporting and resting position, said front edge of said plate being removably positioned through said slotted opening with said front edge at the underside of the floor mat, and a major portion of the remainder of the plate and the rear edge being positioned at or above the topside of the floor mat; and

a support for supporting said plate adjacent its rear edge.

2. The unit of claim 1, including cleats on said underside of said floor mat for engaging a carpet upon which the floor mat may rest, said underside of said floor mat being devoid of said cleats adjacent said slotted opening and front edge of said plate.

3. The unit of claim 2, wherein said cleats are of a given length, and said plate has a thickness which is not substantially greater than said given length.

4. The unit of claim 2, wherein said plate includes a flange which defines the front edge of said plate, a hinge for hinging said flange to said major portion of said plate, and wherein said flange is positioned through said slotted opening at the underside of said floor mat which is devoid of said cleats.

5. The unit of claim 1, wherein said plate includes a flange which defines said front edge of said plate, a hinge for hinging said flange to said major portion of said plate, and wherein said flange is positioned through said slotted opening at the underside of said floor mat.

6. The unit of claim 5, wherein said hinge is an elongate living hinge.

7. The unit of claim 5, including a latching projection an said plate adjacent to said slotted opening, at said underside of said floor mat and adjacent to said hinge to removably latch said plate to said floor mat.

8. The unit of claim 1, including a latching projection on said plate adjacent to said slotted opening and at said underside of said floor mat to removably latch said plate to said floor mat.

9. The unit of claim 1, wherein said support supports said plate at an inclined angle to the topside of said floor mat.

10. The unit of claim 9, wherein said support is mounted to and extends from said plate, said support includes a hinge adjacent said plate to permit said support to be adjusted to extend from said plate at differing angles, said support supports said plate on a surface other than said floor mat, and said support is also a plate.

11. The unit of claim 10, wherein said support includes cleats on an edge opposite said plate of said foot rest to engage a carpet to support said plate of said foot rest.

12. The unit of claim 11, including cleats on said underside of said floor mat for engaging a carpet upon which the floor mat may rest, said underside of said floor mat being devoid of said cleats adjacent said slotted opening and front edge of said plate;

said cleats are of a given length, and said plate has a thickness which is not substantially greater than said given length;

said plate includes a flange which defines said front edge of said plate, a hinge for hinging said flange to said major portion of said plate, and wherein said flange is positioned at the underside of said floor mat which is devoid of said cleats; and

a latching projection on said plate adjacent to said slotted opening at said underside of said floor mat and adjacent to said hinge to removably latch said plate to said floor mat.

13. The unit of claim 1, wherein said support is mounted to and extends from said plate, and said support includes a hinge adjacent said plate to permit said support to be adjusted to extend from said plate at differing angles.

14. The unit of claim 13, wherein said hinge is a living hinge.

15. The unit of claim 1, wherein said support is a plate.

16. The unit of claim 1, wherein said support supports said plate on a surface other than said floor mat.

17. The unit of claim 16, wherein said support includes cleats on an edge opposite said plate to engage a carpet to support said plate.

18. The unit of claim 1, wherein said plate is bowed upwardly from the topside of said floor mat.