US2068029A - Mat - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19, 1937. KLAFF 2,068,029

MAT

Filed Nov. 24, 1936 wwwa/145 Patented Jan. 19, 1937 PATENT OFFICE wir Isaac Klaif, Norfolk, Va., assignor to Louis Klan, Norfolk, Va.

Application November 24, 1938, Serial No. 112,592

BCIaIms.

The present invention relates generally to mats and more. particularly to that type of flexible mat formed of strips of rubber or rubberized fabric cut from salvaged automobile tire casings, although other suitable wear-resistant material may be advantageously employed.

One of the objects of the invention is the construction of a mat of the character specified employing a plurality of strips of rubber or rubberized fabric which strips fall into two groups of varying original length; the original length of a strip of one group being approximately that of the length of the nished mat and the original length of a strip of the other group being materially greater than the length of the finished mat.

A further aim is the making of a flexible mat of the type indicated in which no separate spacing elements are requiredrbetween adjacent strips, the spacing being accomplished by transversely slitting and longitudinally folding spaced portions of each of the longer strips.

Still another purpose of the invention is to make a mat of the kind above identified with a` minimum of material and with a minimum of eiiort; which mat will be strong and durable in use and of a novel design and appearance.

Other aims and objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter appearing when taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part hereof to winch reference is now made and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the mat.

Fig. 2 is a. side elevational view of the mat shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of a pl rality of similar strips used in the construction of the mat.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the strip of Fig. 3 showing the manner of folding same for use in constructing the mat.

Fig. 5 is a. .sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The first step in the construction of the mat A herein disclosed is the cutting of preferably sal-- vaged automobile tire casings into a' plurality of narrow longitudinal strips which fall into two groups primarily classied as to original length. Each of the similar flexible strips I0 forming group one is of an original length approximately equal to the length of the mat to be fabricated, and each of the similar flexible strips I I forming group two is of somewhat less thickness than the strips III comprising group one and of an original length materially greater than each of these strips, and therefore, of the length of the finished flexible mat. However, the length of each of strips Ii after folding and mounting, that is, in the finished mat, is approximately 5 equal to the length of the mat as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.,

Referring for the moment to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the strips III of group one are arranged in spaced parallel rows, two of these strips designated as III* and |01' are marginal strips between which are located the other strips I0 and the strips II of group two. Each of the strips III, I3* and I0h is provided with a plurality of longitudinally-spaced and transversely-extending apertures I2.

By referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that each strip II is provided with a plurality of transverse apertures I3, arranged in groups of three, and with a series of transversely extend- 20 ing slits I4 and I5; and it will further be noted that the slits I4 and I5 are located intermediate the end apertures and the central aperture of each group of apertures I3. The slit I4 is made by cutting transversely through the strip I I from one side face thereof with the slit terminating short of the opposite side face of the strip. The slit I5 is, however, madev in a reverse manner from that of slit I 4 that is, by slitting transf versely through the face designated above as the 30 opposite face up to but short of the face-of the strip from which slit I4 originated.

A plurality of apertured bearing plates I6 are arranged in spaced relation along the outside face of the marginal strip Ilia. A piece of wire I'I is bent into rectangular shape to form rod elements I8 and I 3, there being one wire I 1 for each bearing plate I6. The rod elements I8 and I3 are inserted through the apertured bearing plate I6 and through apertures I2 in mar- 40 ginal strip Iii.. A strip I I is exed longitudinally in one direction on the slit I4 as an axis to form abutting spacer members 20, 2| and then exed in the opposite direction using the slit I5 as an axis to form a connecting portion 22, the ends of which form spacer members 23 and 24, see Fig. 4. This results in bringing the three adjacentv apertures I3 into alignment. y Similarly, the rest of the strip II is flexed using the other slits I4 and I5 as axes to form 50 additional intermediate spacer members 2| and connecting portions 22. :From the above, it will be clearly seen that when the folded strip II is positioned in contact with the marginal strip II)l and the next .strip Ill brought into contact with 55 strip II, the connecting portions 22 will be curved, due to the flexible nature 'of the strip,

to the shape shown in Fig. 1i.l The mat A is built up by alternating strips I -and II, all of which are held in position by means of the rod elements I8 and I9 which pass through the apertures I2 in strips I0 and the aligned apertures I3 in the folded strips II. Apertured bearing plates I6 are arranged in spaced relation along the outside face of marginal strip I. The rod elements I8 and I8 are passed thru the apertures in these plates and the ends thereof are inwardly bent as at 25 and 28, said ends being inserted in a sleeve 21.

From the above description it will be appreciated that the mat is built up by ilrst providing a marginal strip III, then a strip II folded. as described to form the spacer members 20, 2i

and the connecting portion 22, the ends of which form additional spacer members 23, 24. The connecting portions 22 assume a curved shape due to the flexible nature of the strips II and the fact that the. strips III are forced against the strips II and held in this condition by the rod kelements I8 and I9 which pass through apertures I2 in each of the strips I Il and marginal strips I- and II)b and through aligned apertures I3 in each of the slit and folded'strips II.

A mat constructed as described above has been found to be very durable and to have a wide field of usefulness. It may be made up in various sizes depending on whether it is to be used as a door mat, as a runner on stairs and the like. Further, it is not essential to the principle of the invention that there be provided alternate straight and folded strips, as a mat may be constructed using only the slit and folded 1 strips.

lVarious other changes and modifications may be made to embody the spirit and purpose of the invention and it is contemplated to cover such variations and to be limited in this respect only as may be necessary by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mat comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending strips, certain of said strips being transversely slit and folded to form spacer members therealong. and means securing all of said strips together.

2. A mat comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending strips, certain of said strips being straight, other of said strips being transversely slit and folded to form spacer members therea-long, and means securing all of said strips together.

3. A mat comprising aplurality of longitudinallyxtending strips, certain of said strips being straight, other of said strips being transversely slit and folded to form spacer members therealong, said straight and folded strips being alternated, and means securing all of said strips together.

4. A mat comprising a plurality of longitu- I dinally-extending strips, certain of said strips being transversely slit and folded to form spacer members therealong, said slit and folded strips being of an original length greater than the length of the finished mat, and means securing all of said strips together.

5. A mat comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending strips, certain of said strips being straight and of a length equal to that of the finished mat, other of said strips being transversely slit and folded to form spacer members therealong, said slit and folded strips being of an original length greater than that of the nished mat, and means securing all of said strips together.

6. A mat comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending strips, certain of said strips being straight and of a length equal to that of the finished mat, other of said strips being transversely slit and folded to form spacer members therealong, said slit and folded strips being of an original length greater than that of the iinished mat, said straight and folded strips being alternated, and means of securing al1 of said strips together. f 7. In a mat having a plurality of strips secured together, means for holding said strips in spaced relation to each other'I said means comprising a transversely slit and folded flexible strip forming superposed spacer members.

8. A mat comprising a plurality of separate strips of flexible material, certain of said strips being straight, other of said strips being transversely slit and folded to form spacer members therealong, said folded 'strips and its spacer members being' interposed between said straight strips to uniformly space the latter, and means securing all of said strips together.

ISAAC KLAFF.

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