MAT LOCKING STRIP AND MAT SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of interconnecting mats. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mat locking strip for interconnecting a plurality of mats and a system of mats comprising such mat locking strips.

BACKGROUND

Mats are frequently placed in large pluralities at retail or workplace environments for a number of reasons, such as cleanliness or comfort. Such mats may be very large to cover large surfaces and to ensure the weight of the mats keep them in place. However, such large mats are heavy and cumbersome to handle e.g. during regular exchanges and therefore may be difficult to lay and clean.

In order to alleviate the problems associated with such large mats, there have been prior art attempts to create mechanisms for connecting smaller, less cumbersome mats into a mat system once the mats have been laid.

However, such prior art attempts may require exceptional effort when and if exchanging the mats, in order to connect and disconnect adjacent mats of the mat system, which prolongs the laying and cleaning process. Furthermore, a robust and flexible connection mechanism should be employed to ensure that the mats of the mat system are interconnected despite external pressure, e.g. exerted by high traffic of walking people, shopping carts, or other wheeled traffic on them.

SUMMARY

Thusly, the present invention strives to solve at least some of the above problems and to eliminate or at least mitigate some of the drawbacks of prior-art systems. This object has now been achieved in accordance with the invention by the novel technique set forth in the appended independent claims; preferred embodiments being defined in the related dependent claims.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mat locking strip that is easy to use and manufacture.

According to a first aspect, the above and other objects of the invention are achieved, in full or in part, by a mat locking strip for being attached to an edge portion of a mat and for interconnecting a plurality of mats. The locking strip comprises: a longitudinally extending body having a top side and a bottom side, each side comprising a plurality of protruding ridges defining intermediate trenches, the ridges having a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of the body; the body having a first end configured to be arranged closest to the mat and a second end configured to be arranged farthest away from the mat; wherein the ridges of the top side of the body are arranged opposite the trenches of the bottom side of the body, and the trenches of the top side of the body are arranged opposite the ridges of the bottom side of the body.

By the term “mat” is understood an independent or free-standing piece of cloth and/or plastics for being placed on a floor. This is different from e.g. carpeting, which is cloth and/or plastics for completely covering a floor.

Two mat locking strips may interconnect by aligning them such that the ridges of a first mat locking strip faces the trenches of a second mat locking strip and then pressing them together such that the ridges of the first mat locking strip are inserted into the trenches of the second mat locking strip and vice versa.

The two mat locking strips thereby form a connecting pair, with one mat locking strip lockingly overlapping the other.

The mat locking strips may interconnect anywhere along the continuous extension of the ridges. Thus, a first and a second mat locking strip may be longitudinally displaced in view of each other while still allowing a locking engagement. Hence, ridges with a continuous extension are simple to connect to an opposite trench of another mat locking strip.

By the ridges being arranged opposite the trenches, a greater stability of the body may be achieved. Furthermore, two mat locking strips may thereby interconnect at the same horizontal (i.e. along the plane of the mat) position regardless of which mat locking strip is on top of the other, which further simplifies connection.

The mat locking strip comprises ridges and trenches that alternate along the lateral extension of the body, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the body, ridges and trenches.

The protruding ridges protrude from the mat locking strip perpendicular to the (horizontal) extension of the mat. The mat locking strip itself longitudinally extends away from the mat parallel with the (horizontal) extension of the mat.

Each trench is defined by adjacent ridges that form the sidewalls of the trench. The bottom wall of each trench is defined by the top- or bottom side of the body of the mat locking strip.

The ridges and the trenches preferably have a straight linear extension. It is however understood that the ridges with remained function may be curved as seen along the longitudinal extension of the body.

For example, two complementary curved sets of ridges may be configured to interconnect in a similar manner as two straight linear sets.

Furthermore, if the edge of the mat is curved and the ridges and trenches have a straight linear extension as seen from above, the ridges and trenches are curved as seen along the longitudinal extension of the body, which follows the edge of the mat, while still being able to connect to another mat locking strip with non-curved ridges and trenches.

According to one embodiment, the ridges and trenches on the top side of the body is complementary with the ridges and trenches on the bottom side of the body.

The term “complementary” is used herein to refer to the ridges having the same shape as the trenches of the other side and vice versa. The ridges and trenches are thereby inversions of each other.

The complimentary shapes enable a high friction between the ridges and trenches, which allows for the mat locking strips to stay connected despite external forces.

According to one embodiment, the top side of the body further comprises a top stopping member having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body; the top stopping member being arranged along the first end of the body and having a height exceeding a combined thickness of the body and a ridge of the bottom side of the body as seen at the second end of the body.

The top stopping member of a lowermost mat locking strip of a connecting pair prevents the topmost mat locking strip of the connecting pair from slipping as a result of external forces.

The height of the top stopping member further prevents the second end of the body of the topmost mat locking strip abutting the top stopping member of the lowermost mat locking strip from bending upwards and disconnecting the connecting pair as a result of external forces.

According to one embodiment, the bottom side of the body further comprises a bottom stopping member having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body; the bottom stopping member being arranged along the first end of the body and extending beyond the height of a ridge on the bottom side of the body.

The bottom stopping member of a topmost mat locking strip of a connecting pair prevents the lowermost mat locking strip of the connecting pair from slipping as a result of external forces.

The height of the bottom stopping member may prevent the lowermost mat locking strip from slipping below the bottom stopping member of the topmost mat locking strip to move towards the mat. The height may further support the first end of the body of the lowermost mat locking strip of the connecting pair.

According to one embodiment, the ridges and/or the trenches have a rectangular cross-section as seen in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the body.

The term “rectangular cross-section” is used herein to refer to the ridges and/or the trenches having right-angled sides.

A rectangular cross-section is easy to manufacture and it enables the ridges and/or the trenches to easily be connectable without losing much potential friction in the event the ridges should not be fully inserted into the trenches. Further, if both the ridges and trenches have rectangular cross-sections, their surfaces interface with each other to a large extent and at an angle resistant to external forces.

Additionally, the mat locking strips may interconnect automatically without any additional applied pressure. This because of a combination of the weight of the mats and mat locking strips themselves and the rectangular cross-section as there is relatively little friction in the direction of connection preventing insertion of ridges into trenches.

Furthermore, the interconnection between the ridges and the trenches may be periodically reinforced by users walking on the mat locking strips, thereby applying pressure to the interconnection.

According to one embodiment, the mat locking strip further comprises a folding line having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body.

The folding line allows the mat locking strip to be folded at a specific position such that the top side of the body acts as the bottom side of the body, while being horizontally shifted by the folding. Thereby, the mat locking strip may be selectively configured to interlock with another mat locking strip at different positions. For example, the mat locking strip may be folded underneath the mat it is attached to, to allow for mats to be interconnected without visible mat locking strips. Furthermore, an unwanted mat locking strip may be hidden away below the mat using the folding line.

As an alternative to the folding line, the mat locking strip may be mounted to the bottom of the mat such that a bottom edge of the mat comprises a longitudinally extending body having a bottom side comprising a plurality of protruding ridges defining intermediate trenches, the ridges having a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of the body. In this manner, the folding line is “pre-folded” and is no longer used.

The mat locking strip may e.g. be mounted using welding, an adhesive such as glue or be integral with the bottom of the mat.

By the use of such a mat locking strip mounted to the bottom of the mat, two connecting mat locking strips may be hidden from view by being underneath the mat.

According to one embodiment, the mat locking strip further comprises a mounting member having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body and adjacent the first side of the locking strip, the mounting member being configured to extend towards the mat.

The mounting member allows the mat locking strip to be fixedly attached to any mat, e.g. by adhesively bonding the mounting member to the bottom side of an edge portion of a mat. Further, the mounting member may increase the stability of the mat locking strip.

According to one embodiment, a major geometrical plane extending across the longitudinal extension of a bottom side of the mounting member forms an angle to a major geometrical plane extending across a top surface of a ridge of the bottom side of the body.

By forming an angle between the mounting member and the body of the mat locking strip, the extension of the body may be biased downwardly to simplify connection and/or improve the resting position of the mat locking strip.

The angle formed may bias the body of the mat locking strip downwardly towards the floor. Thereby, the body is prevented from bending upwards, which may otherwise cause an tripping accident.

Additionally, the biasing may further enable two mat locking strips to interconnect automatically without any additional applied pressure. For example, by pulling a topmost mat over a bottommost mat without any additional effort or pressure, the locking strips may automatically interconnect when aligned.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a mat locking strip for being attached to an edge portion of a mat and for interconnecting a plurality of mats is provided. The locking strip comprises: a longitudinally extending body having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side comprises a plurality of protruding ridges defining intermediate trenches, the ridges having a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of the body; the body having a first end configured to be arranged closest to the mat, the first end comprising a folding line having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body.

The mat locking strip is configured to connect to another mat locking strip when a first of the two mat locking strips is folded along the folding line such that the top side of the body of the first mat locking strip faces the same direction as the bottom side of the body of the second mat locking strip and the ridges and trenches of the first and second mat locking strips face each other.

The mat locking strip is further configured to connect to the mat locking strip according to the first aspect.

This allows for single-sided mat locking strips to interconnect with each other and with double-sided mat locking strips. Thereby, a thinner total thickness of two connecting mat locking strips may be achieved.

Furthermore, two connecting mat locking strips may be connected underneath the mat comprising the folded mat locking strip without being visually noticeable.

The embodiments and advantages of the first aspect are generally applicable also to this mat locking strip.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a mat system is provided. The mat system comprises plurality of mats, each mat comprising a mat locking strip according to the first or second aspect arranged along a side edge portion of the mat; and wherein the plurality of mats is configured to be interconnected by the ridges of the top side of the body of the locking strip of a first mat lockingly engaging with the trenches of the bottom side of the body of the locking strip of a second mat.

Such a mat system with two or more interconnected smaller-sized mats is simple to handle and service compared to a single mat of comparable size. It is to be understood that the mats, with the remained function alternatively may be configured to be interconnected by the ridges of the bottom side of the body of the locking strip of the second mat engaging with the trenches of the top side of the body of the locking strip of the first mat.

The embodiments and advantages of the first aspect are generally applicable also to the mat system.

According to one embodiment, each side edge portion of each mat comprises a locking strip.

By each mat comprising a mat locking strip along each side edge portion of the mat, the mats may be freely rotated while assembling the mat system. This simplifies and speeds up assembly and allows for more freedom during assembly.

According to one embodiment, the locking strips are integral with the mats.

By integrating the mat locking strips with the mats, a more robust mat system may be provided. Furthermore, it may be efficient to manufacture the mat locking strips at the same time as the mats.

According to one embodiment, the locking strips are mounted to the mats.

By mounting the locking strips to the mats, the mat locking strips may be formed separately from the mats.

The mat locking strips may be mounted to the bottom of the mats. They may be mounted using welding, adhesive bonding or be mechanically attached using e.g. fastening means such as a nail or staple.

According to one embodiment, a major geometrical plane extends along a top surface of a ridge of the bottom side of the body of a locking strip and forms an angle to a major geometrical plane extending along the bottom side of the mats.

By forming an angle between the mats and the body of the mat locking strips, the extension of the body may be biased downwardly to simplify connection and/or improve the resting position of the mat locking strips.

The angle formed may bias the body of the mat locking strips downwardly towards the floor. Thereby, the body is prevented from bending upwards, which may otherwise cause an tripping accident. If the mat locking strips are flexible, the mat locking strips may still be parallel with the floor when connected. The weight of the mats will ensure that only the mat locking strips are affected by the biasing and will cause the biasing of the mat locking strips to partially flatten out once the mats are laid as the connection point to the mats will be close to the floor.

According to one embodiment, the locking strips are configured to interconnect the mats while protruding away from the side edge portions of the mats and while forming a connecting strip between the mats.

By connecting the mat locking strips while protruding away from the mats, it may be easier to align the respective mat locking strips with each other. Furthermore, the connecting strip formed may clearly delineate different types of mats within the same mat system.

According to one embodiment, the mat system further comprises a joining member comprising at least two locking strips arranged along at least two side edge portions of the joining member, the locking strips of the joining member being configured to interconnect two spatially separated mats by the ridges of the top side of the body of a locking strip of the mats engaging with trenches of a bottom side of a body of the locking strip of the joining member.

It is to be understood that the joining member, with the remained function, alternatively may be configured to comprise at least two locking strips configured to interconnect two spatially separated mats by the ridges of the bottom side of the body of a locking strip of the mats engaging with trenches of a top side of a body of the locking strip of the joining member.

Such a joining member may be used to interconnect mats of separate mat systems into a single mat system. If mats are not wanted along the entirety of a floor surface, separate mat surfaces may be interconnected for support using the joining member.

The joining member comprises at least two locking strips with ridges and trenches of a bottom side of a body of the locking strips. These locking strips of the joining member may be different from the locking strips according to the first and second aspect in that ridges and trenches may not be arranged on a top side or bottom side of a body of the locking strips.

The ridges and trenches of a bottom side of a body of the locking strips of the joining member are configured to engage with the ridges and trenches of the top side and/or bottom side of the body of the mat locking strip of the mats of the mat system. Thereby, the ridges and trenches of the joining member may be complementary with the ridges and trenches of the mat locking strip of the mats of the mat system.

According to one embodiment, the locking strips of the joining member are the locking strips according to the first or second aspect.

Thereby, the locking strips of the joining member have ridges and trenches arranged on a top side and/or a bottom side of a body of the locking strips. This enables two spatially separated mats to be interconnected by the ridges of the bottom side of the body of a locking strip of the mats engaging with trenches of a top side of a body of the locking strips of the joining member; or by the ridges of the top side of the body of a locking strip of the mats engaging with trenches of a bottom side of a body of the locking strips of the joining member.

Furthermore, it may be simpler to manufacture the same type of locking strips for both the mats and the joining member of the mat system.

According to one embodiment, the joining member further comprises an adhesive on a bottom surface of the joining member.

This adheres the joining member to a floor and enables the joining member to form an anchor point for the mat system.

The joining member may further comprise reinforcement such as a rigid plastic or metal.

This reinforcement strengthens the joining member and further enables the joining member to form an anchor point for the mat system.

According to one embodiment, at least one locking strip comprises a corner portion, the corner portion comprising ridges and trenches in a cross-pattern, wherein the ridges of the corner portion are non-continuous such that the corner portion may be connected to another locking strip of another mat in either direction of the cross-pattern.

Thereby, another locking strip may be connected to the corner portion in different directions. For example, another locking strip may be connected to the corner portion in the direction of each side forming the corner.

Further, another locking strip may be connected across the entire corner portion and extend beyond the corner portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a joining member is provided. The joining member comprises at least two locking strips arranged along at least two side edge portions of the joining member, the locking strips of the joining member being configured to interconnect two spatially separated mat locking strips according to the first or second aspect by the ridges of the top side of the body of each mat locking strip engaging with trenches of a bottom side of a body of the locking strips of the joining member; or by the ridges of the bottom side of the body of each mat locking strip engaging with trenches of a top side of a body of the locking strips of the joining member.

According to one embodiment, the joining member further comprises an adhesive on a bottom surface of the joining member.

This adheres the joining member to a floor and enables the joining member to form an anchor point for a mat system.

The joining member may further comprise reinforcement such as a rigid plastic or metal.

This reinforcement strengthens the joining member and further enables the joining member to form an anchor point for a mat system.

The embodiments and advantages of the first aspect are generally applicable also to the joining member.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. All terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a shows a vertical cross-section of a mat locking strip according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1b shows a vertical cross-section of two connecting mat locking strips according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2a shows a vertical cross-section of a mat locking strip with a top stopping member and a bottom stopping member according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2b shows a vertical cross-section of two connecting mat locking strips, each with a top stopping member and a bottom stopping member, to an embodiment;

FIG. 3a shows a vertical cross-section of a mat locking strip with a folding line according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3b shows a vertical cross-section of two connecting mat locking strips where one is folded according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4a shows a vertical cross-section of a mat locking strip with a mounting member that forms an angle to ridges of the mat locking strip according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4b shows a vertical cross-section of mat locking strip integral with a mat that forms an angle to ridges of the mat locking strip according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5a is a top-down view of a mat comprising a mat locking strip according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5b is a zoomed-in view of the corner of the mat of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 6 is a top-down view of a mat system comprising a joining member according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7a shows a vertical cross-section of two mat locking strips connecting with a joining member according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7b shows a vertical cross-section of two mat locking strips connecting with a joining member according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8a shows a vertical cross-section of a mat locking strip with a folding line according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8b shows a vertical cross-section of two connecting mat locking strips where one is folded according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9a shows a vertical cross-section of a mat locking strip mounted on the bottom of a mat according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9b shows a vertical cross-section of two connecting mat locking strips where one is mounted on the bottom of a mat according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10a shows a vertical cross-section of two mat locking strips connecting with a joining member according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 10b shows a vertical cross-section of a joining member according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Starting in FIG. 1a, a vertical cross-section of a longitudinally extending mat locking strip 20 is shown. The mat locking strip 20 has an inherent, non-disclosed length as a direct consequence of its longitudinal extension, but also a width W and a thickness T. Unless nothing else is explicitly given below, the geometry of the mat locking strip 20 will be described based on its cross section as seen transverse to the longitudinal extension. It is however to be understood that the mat locking strip 20 with remained function may be rotated freely during use.

The mat locking strip 20 is suitable for being attached to an edge portion of a mat and for interconnecting a plurality of mats into a mat system.

The mat locking strip 20 comprises a horizontally extending body 30 with a top side 31 and a bottom side 32. The body 30 may be formed from an elastic material such nitrile rubber and other types of rubber, however other elastic materials such as soft plastics, e.g. PVC are also possible. In other words, the elastic modulus (Young's modulus) of the material is relatively low, such as 1-5000 MPa. Thereby, the elasticity of the body 30 allows for the mat locking strip 20 to remain flexibly attached to another mat locking strip 20 despite external forces.

As another example, the material used may have a hardness of 50-70 shore A, such as 60 shore A, which may e.g. be achieved by mixing rubber and caulk. Such a hardness is suitable for withstanding pressure while not being too brittle. The hardness may be measured using standard durometer methods.

The top side 31 of the body 30 is disclosed as comprising seven ridges 34, however any number of ridges 34 are possible. A relatively larger number of ridges 34 makes the mat locking strip 20 wider, which may make the mat locking strip 20 simpler to handle and thereby make it easier to interlock two mat locking strips 20.

It is preferred that the number of ridges 34 is five to ten, and more preferably five to seven.

The seven of ridges 34 of the top side 31 of the body 30 defines six intermediate trenches 36. The trenches 36 are defined by the sidewalls of the adjacent ridges 34 and the top side 31 of the body 30. The top side 31 thereby comprises an alternating plurality of ridges 34 and trenches 36.

The bottom side 32 of the body 30 comprises eight ridges 34, however any number of ridges 34 are possible. The eight of ridges 34 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30 defines seven intermediate trenches 36. The trenches 36 are defined by the sidewalls of the adjacent ridges 34 and the bottom side 32 of the body 30. The bottom side 32 thereby comprises an alternating plurality of ridges 34 and trenches 36 in a similar manner as on the top side 31 of the body 30.

In the embodiment shown, the top side 31 of the body 30 has a different number of ridges 34 and trenches 36 than the bottom side 32 of the body 30. However, the top side 31 and bottom side 32 of the body 30 may have the same number of ridges 34 and trenches 36.

The mat locking strip 20 may be freely rotated during use such that the top side 31 of the body 30 as shown instead faces downwards and thereby becomes the bottom side 32.

The ridges 34 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 of the body 30 have a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 30, i.e. in a direction normal to the cross-section of FIG. 1a. As the trenches 36 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 respectively are defined by the ridges 34, the trenches 36 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 of the body 30 also have a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 30.

The ridges 34 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 of the body 30 may have a straight and linear extension. As the trenches 36 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 are defined by the ridges 34, the trenches 36 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 of the body 30 may also have a straight and linear extension.

All of the ridges 34 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 of the body 30 may further be identical, i.e. having the same size, shape and longitudinal extension. The trenches 36 of the top side 31 and the bottom side 32 of the body 30 may also be identical.

The ridges 34 of the top side 31 of the body 30 are arranged opposite the trenches 36 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30 and the trenches 36 of the top side 31 of the body 30 are arranged opposite the ridges 34 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30. Thereby, two mat locking strips 20 arranged on top of each other may be interconnected by the ridges 34 of the top side 31 of a lowermost mat locking strip 20 entering the trenches 36 of the bottom side 32 of a topmost mat locking strip 20, and the ridges 34 of the bottom side 32 of the topmost mat locking strip 20 entering the trenches 36 of the top side 31 of the lowermost mat locking strip 20, as shown in FIG. 1b.

The ridges 34 and trenches 36 on the top side 31 of the body 30 are complementary with the ridges 34 and trenches 36 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30. Thereby, the ridges 34 may easily be inserted into the trenches 36 and once inserted may abut each other such that a relatively large amount of friction is generated so that the ridges 34 are not accidentally extracted from the trenches 36.

The connecting pair of mat locking strips 20 may completely overlap, or a connection may be made by only inserting a subset of the available ridges into opposing trenches, as shown in FIG. 1b.

By all of the ridges 34 and trenches being identical, any ridge 34 may be inserted into any trench 36 such that a greater freedom is available when forming a connecting pair of mat locking strips 20.

The ridges and trenches have a rectangular cross-section as seen in the cross-section of FIGS. 1a-b. Thereby, complementary shapes are easily achieved, and all interface surfaces are separated by 90 degrees and may be perpendicular to the horizontal floor surface. External forces may usually be exerted perpendicular to the floor surface, thereby interface surfaces in this direction may be more impactful.

The plurality of ridges 34 may be formed from the same material as the body 30. Thereby, the elasticity of the ridges 34, and thereby also the trenches 36, allows for a connecting pair of mat locking strips 20 to remain connected despite external forces.

The material of the ridges 34 may further have a relatively high friction coefficient against the floor, i.e. above 0.3 or above 0.5. Thereby, the ridges 34 on the bottom side 32 of the body 30 may prevent the mat locking strip 20 from sliding along the floor surface as a result from external forces. Additionally, a high friction between the ridges 34 and trenches 36 may allow for a connecting pair of mat locking strips 20 to remain unmoved despite an external force in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the ridges 34.

The body 30 may be formed e.g. using injection molding or extrusion. The ridges 34, and thereby also the trenches 36, may be formed simultaneous with the body 30 or be shaped from a precursor of the body 30 after it has been formed. In the latter case, the body 30 may be formed with a thickness of roughly three times its intended size and then pressed to the intended shape of the mat locking strip 20. Alternatively, the body 30 may be formed with a similar thickness as intended and excess material as a result of the pressing may be removed.

FIG. 2a shows a cross-section of a mat locking strip 20 according to an embodiment as seen transverse to the longitudinal extension of the mat locking strip 20. The mat locking strip 20 is attached to an edge portion of a mat 10 comprising a rubber bottom portion and a mat surface comprising rubber, textiles e.g. cotton and/or synthetic fibre e.g. nylon or polyester. The body 30 of the mat locking strip 20 extends longitudinally along the edge of the mat 10.

The rubber bottom portion of the mat 10 may be formed by the same material as the body 30 of the mat locking strip 20 and may be formed in the same process as the body 30 of the mat locking strip 20.

The figures are schematically drawn and the mat locking strip 20 in FIG. 2a may thereby have a much thinner thickness than shown, e.g. having a total thickness roughly similar to the rubber bottom portion of the mat 10, which in itself may have a much thinner vertical extension (e.g. less than half as thick) than the mat surface of the mat 10. For example, a mat may have a total height of 11-15 mm wherein the rubber bottom portion is 1.5-1.7 mm thick.

The thickness of the mat locking strip may be 3-5 mm thick, or more preferably 4 mm. The total thickness of a connecting pair of mat locking strips 20 may be thinner than the mat 10, which reduces a risk of tripping on the mat locking strips 20. The total height of a connecting pair of mat locking strips 20 may be 5-10 mm or more preferably 7 mm and the height of the mat 10 may be 10-16 mm. The mat locking strip 20 may extend 20-25 mm from the edge of the mat 10.

The top side 31 of the body 30 comprises a top stopping member 37 having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 30. The top stopping member 37 is arranged along a first end of the body 30, i.e. the end arranged closest to the mat 10.

In a connecting pair as shown in FIG. 2b, the top stopping member 37 of the bottom mat locking strip 20 is configured to keep the second end of the body 30, i.e. the end arranged farthest away from the mat 10, of the top mat locking strip 20 from slipping.

As shown in FIG. 2b, a connecting pair of mat locking strips 20 comprising the top stopping member 37 enables the top mat locking strip 20 to be prevented from slipping to the right as a result of external forces.

The top stopping member 37 has a height 110 exceeding a combined thickness 120 of the body 30 and a ridge 34 on the bottom side 32 of the body 30.

As shown in FIG. 2b, the height of the top stopping member 37 allows a sidewall of the top stopping member 37 to extend along adjacent sidewalls of both the ridge 34 and the body 30 of the top mat locking strip 20. Thereby, an interface between the top stopping member 37 of the bottom mat locking strip 20 and the top mat locking strip 20 may be maximized. Furthermore, no end surface of the top mat locking strip 20 is left uncovered by the top stopping member 37 of the bottom mat locking strip 20.

The top of the top stopping member 37 may be slanted. This may prevent feet of users from getting stuck while still maintaining a desired height of the top stopping member 37. Furthermore, such a slant may allow a wheeled load, such as a shopping cart, to be easily moved along the mat locking strip 20.

The top stopping member 37 may further guide a user to align two mat locking strips 20 such that they connect together.

The bottom side 32 of the body 30 comprises a bottom stopping member 38 having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 30. The bottom stopping member 38 is arranged along the first end of the body 30.

In a connecting pair as shown in FIG. 2b, the bottom stopping member 38 of the top mat locking strip 20 is configured to keep the second end of the body 30 of the bottom mat locking strip 20 from slipping.

As shown in FIG. 2b, a connecting pair of mat locking strips 20 comprising the bottom stopping member 38 enables the bottom mat locking strip 20 to be prevented from slipping to the left as a result of external forces.

The bottom stopping member 38 has a height 130 extending beyond the height 140 of a ridge 34 on the bottom side 32 of the body 30.

As shown in FIG. 2b, the height of the bottom stopping member 38 allows it to extend beyond the adjacent ridge 34 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30 to provide an abutting surface for the body 30 of the bottom mat locking strip 20 to prevent external forces from causing it to slip.

The bottom stopping member 38 may have a greater height 130, e.g. extending along the entire adjacent sidewalls of both the ridge 34 and the body 30 of the bottom mat locking strip 20 as shown in FIG. 2b. However, a smaller interface between the bottom stopping member 38 and the bottom mat locking strip 20 may be preferred compared to at the interface between the top stopping member 37 and the top mat locking strip 20 as the bottom mat locking strip 20 may further be supported by the floor.

FIG. 3a shows a cross-section of a mat locking strip 20 as seen transverse to the longitudinal extension of the mat locking strip 20. The mat locking strip 20 comprises a folding line having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 30. The folding line is shown in the figures as a dashed line, with the folding point noted as a cog in the figures.

The folding line allows the mat locking strip 20 to be folded along itself, e.g. as shown as the topmost mat locking strip 20 in FIG. 3b. The folding line allows the mat locking strip 20 to be selectably connected with another mat locking strip 20 such that the connected mat locking strips 20 are below the mat 10 and thereby not visible.

The bottom side may have much smaller ridges 34 than the top side, as they are not used when the folding line is used as in FIG. 3b. Thereby, the total height of the connecting mat locking strips 20 may be reduced. It may be worth to reiterate that the figures are merely schematic and the height difference between the mats of FIG. 3b may not be as large in reality.

The mat locking strip 20 of FIG. 4a comprises a mounting member 39 having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 30. The mounting member 39 is adjacent the first side of the locking strip 20 and configured to extend towards the mat 10.

The mounting member 39 allows the mat locking strip 20 to be selectively and optionally removably attachable to the mat 10. The mounting member 39 may be integrally formed with the mat locking strip 20 and may be attached to the mat 10 using fastening means such as adhesive bonding, welding, cold vulcanization, snap fasteners, or staples. The mounting member 39 may further be attached during the bonding of the mat 10 itself as the rubber bottom of the mat 10 is attached to the surface fabric of the mat 10.

The mounting member 39 allows the mat locking strip 20 to be retro-fitted to any mat 10 to simply incorporate the teachings and advantages of the present disclosure to an existing mat 10 and allow such a mat 10 to be connectable to a mat 10 formed integral with the mat locking strip 20. Furthermore, a damaged mat locking strip 20 may be replaced by a mat locking strip 20 comprising a mounting member 39 by attaching the mounting member 39 to the damaged portion of the mat 10.

The mounting member 39 may be formed by the same material as the body 30 of the mat locking strip 20. The mounting member 39 may be formed e.g. using injection molding or extrusion.

A major geometrical plane extending across the longitudinal extension of a bottom side of the mounting member 39 forms an angle α to a major geometrical plane extending across a top surface of a ridge 34 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30. These major geometrical planes are shown in FIG. 4a as dotted lines. The angling may be achieved by forming the mounting member 39 at an angle α compared to the body 30, with a slant for connecting to the mat 10 or by biasing the elastic material of the mounting member 39 and/or the body 30.

The angle formed, as shown in FIG. 4a, may be 2-15°, more preferably 3-10°, or even more preferably 5°.

The mat locking strip 20 of FIG. 4b is formed integral with the mat 10. A major geometrical plane extending along a top surface of a ridge 34 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30 forms an angle β to a major geometrical plane extending along the bottom side 32 of the mat 10.

These major geometrical planes are shown in FIG. 4b as dotted lines. The angling may be achieved by forming the body 30 of the mat locking strip 20 at an angle compared to the mat 10 or by biasing the elastic material of the base of the mat 10 and/or the body 30.

The angle formed, as shown in FIG. 4b, may be 2-30°, or more preferably 5-15°.

FIG. 5a shows a top-down view of a mat 10 comprising mat locking strips 20 of the type described above. Each side edge portion of the mat 10 comprises a mat locking strip 20.

Prior art mats may be formed with rubber edge portions. The mat 10 as shown has instead replaced these rubber edge portions with mat locking strips 20 with additional functionality.

The mat locking strips 20 are configured to interconnect a plurality of such mats 10 while protruding away from the side edge portions of the mats 10 and forming a connecting strip between the mats 10.

The interconnected adjacent mats 10 share an edge and the respective mat locking strips 20 of the shared edge form a connecting pair extending between the adjacent mats 10.

FIG. 5b shows a zoomed-in view of the corner of the mat 10 of FIG. 5a. The ridges 34 and trenches 36 of the two mat locking strips 20 of the two edges of the corner are shown. The ridges 34 and trenches 36 have a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of each edge of the mat 10.

The mat locking strips 20 of the two edges of the corner extend beyond the edge of the mat 10. Thereby, the ridges 34 and trenches 36 of the two mat locking strips 20 extend into each other and form a cross-pattern as shown.

By constructing the cross-pattern with non-continuous ridges, the corner portion of the mat locking strips 20 may be connected to another mat locking strip 20 in either direction.

Such a cross-pattern with non-continuous ridges may be formed on both the top side and bottom side of the corner portion of the mat locking strips 20.

Alternatively, the ridges 34 of the mat locking strip 20 of one edge may extend into the corner. This way, another mat locking strip 20 may only connect in one direction at the corner, however this may be easier to manufacture.

It is beneficial to have at least a body 30 of a mat locking strip 20 at all corners where two mat locking strips 20 meet. This is because otherwise an edge of the mat locking strip 20 may be accidentally accessible that may cause two connecting mat locking strips 20 to be dislodged from each other.

It is more likely to connect the short edges of rectangular mats 10, thereby any mat locking strip 20 on the short edges of a rectangular mat 10 that shares a corner with another mat locking strip 20 preferably extends into that corner. Thereby, more contact surface is available for the mat locking strip 20 of the short edges.

FIG. 6 is a top-down view of a mat system 100 comprising five mats 10. Each mat 10 of the mat system 100 comprises mat locking strips 20 as previously described in relation to FIG. 2a arranged along side edge portions of the mats 10. The plurality of mats 10 is configured to be interconnected by the ridges 34 of the top side 31 of the body 30 of the locking strip 20 of a first mat 10 engaging with the trenches 36 of the bottom side 32 of the body 30 of the locking strip 20 of a second mat 10.

The continuous extension of the ridges 34 of the mat locking strips 20 allow the mats 10 of the mat system 100 to be interconnected anywhere along the edge portion of a mat 10. For example, the mat 10 in the right middle of FIG. 6 is longitudinally aligned with another identical mat 10 above. The respective mat locking strips 20 connect with each other along the entire longitudinal extension of each mat locking strip 20. The mat 10 in the right middle of FIG. 6 is also being connected to a smaller mat 10 below, slightly longitudinally off-centered. Thereby, the respective mat locking strips connect with each other only along a sub-portion the entire longitudinal extension of each mat locking strip 20.

By connecting several individual mats 10 into a mat system 100 accordingly, the effect of a single large mat may be achieved using several smaller, more practical mats 10. Further, the connected mats 10 give each other stability against external forces that may otherwise cause them to move, e.g. by the weight and size of the connected mats 10 as compared to an individual mat 10.

By connecting several adjacent mats 10 along different edges of the same mat 10, that mat 10 may gain stability from these connections in different directions, further increasing the robustness of the mat system 100.

External forces focused in a single direction may be more common than others, for example near an entrance. These focused forces may cause extra strain on connections or cause the entire mat system 100 to move in a single direction. This may be compensated for by the mat system 100 comprising mats 10 connected along different directions. It may further be beneficial to extend the mat system 100 beyond where external forces are focused to introduce different forces.

The mat system 100 disclosed in FIG. 6 further comprises a joining member 40 connected to four of the mats 10 or the system 100. The joining member 40 connects the two otherwise separate mat systems 100 to the left and right in FIG. 6 into a single mat system 100.

The joining member 40 of FIG. 6 comprises two mat locking strips extending to the left and right, respectively. Each of the mat locking strips of the joining member 40 is connected to two mat locking strips 20, each belonging to different mats 10, which edges are aligned with each other.

In a similar manner, mat locking strips 20 of the mats 10 may also connect to two or more mat locking strips 20, each belonging to different mats 10, if their edges are aligned.

In the mat system 100 of FIG. 6, such alignment may for example be achieved by shifting the bottommost mat 10 of FIG. 6 to the left such that its top edge abuts two aligned mats 10. Of course, this connection would be interrupted if the then overlapped corners of the two aligned mats 10 comprise only vertical ridges in the direction of the figure as this would disallow connection at these positions and significantly weaken the connection of the two mat locking strips 20 adjacent to the corner.

For example, the overlapped corners of the two aligned mats 10 may instead be empty as shown, or more preferably the corners comprise horizontal ridges in the direction of the figure or even more preferably the corners comprise a cross-pattern that allows either connection direction.

Further details of the joining member 40 are discussed in relation to FIGS. 7a-b. FIGS. 7a-b are cross-sectional views of a mat system 100 comprising two mats 10 and a joining member 40.

FIGS. 7a-b show two different embodiments of the joining member 40. FIG. 7a shows an embodiment of the joining member 40 where two mat locking strips 20 may be connected to the joining member 40 such that the joining member 40 becomes hidden from view. In order to do so, the two mat locking strips 20 of the mats 10 abut in a designated middle trench of the joining member 40 with space for two adjacent ridges 34.

Depending on the specific implementation of the mat locking strips 20, the two mat locking strips 20 of the mats 10 may instead abut at a designated middle ridge of the joining member 40 that requires the space of two adjacent trenches 36.

The joining member 40 allows both the mat locking strips 20 connected to the joining member 40 to have the same vertical alignment, i.e. neither being on top of the other. This may allow for a thinner connection with less sudden thickness differences, which may be simpler to walk or roll over.

FIG. 7b shows an embodiment of the joining member 40 where the joining member 40 may act as a mat in its own right. The middle portion of the joining member 40 comprises a mat surface on top of the body of the joining member 40, from which ridges and trenches extend to connect with the ridges 34 and trenches 36 of the mat locking strips 20. The mat locking strips 20 may be arranged to connect with the joining member 40 such that the second ends of each of the mat locking strips 20 abut the mat surface portion of the joining member 40 to act as a stopping member.

The joining members 40 shown in FIGS. 7a-b comprise locking strips with ridges and trenches along a top side arranged to connect with the bottom side of the bodies 30 of the mat locking strips 20.

In alternative embodiments, the joining members 40 comprise locking strips with ridges and trenches along a bottom side arranged to connect with the top side of the bodies 30 of the mat locking strips 20. This may allow for the connecting locking strips to be completely hidden from view. The joining member 40 may further have mat surface on top of the comprised body and locking strips to create a visual effect of all mats 10 of the mat system 100 being a single mat.

In further alternative embodiments, the joining members 40 comprise locking strips as the mat locking strips 20, i.e. comprising ridges and trenches on both the top side and bottom side of the body. This allows for more flexibility when connecting the different units of the mat system 100.

FIG. 8a shows a vertical cross-section of a mat locking strip 120 for being attached to an edge portion of a mat 10 and for interconnecting a plurality of mats 10 according to an embodiment.

The locking strip 120 comprises: a longitudinally extending body 130 having a top side 131 and a bottom side 132, wherein the top side 131 comprises a plurality of protruding ridges 134 defining intermediate trenches 136, the ridges 134 having a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 130; the body 130 having a first end configured to be arranged closest to the mat 10, the first end comprising a folding line having an extension along the longitudinal extension of the body 130; the mat locking strip 120 being configured to connect to another mat locking strip 120 when a first of the two mat locking strips 120 is folded such that the top side 131 of the body 130 of the first mat locking strip 120 faces the same direction of the bottom side 132 of the body 130 of the second mat locking strip 120 and the ridges 134 and trenches 136 of the first and second mat locking strips 120 face each other; and the mat locking strip 120 further being configured to connect to the mat locking strip 20 as previously disclosed.

FIG. 8b shows two mat locking strips 120 attaching to each other. A first of the mat locking strips 120 is folded along the folding line as shown and the other is not. The previous top side 131 of the body 130 of the first mat locking strip 120 is thereby now a bottom side 132. The first mat locking strip 120 therefore comprises ridges 134 and trenches 136 on a bottom side 132 of the body 130 and the second mat locking strip 120 therefore comprises ridges 134 and trenches 136 on a top side 131 of the body 130. Thereby, the two mat locking strips 120 may be selectably connected with one another.

The second mat locking strip 120 further comprises a top stopping member 137. This has corresponding advantages as the top stopping member 37 previously discussed in relation to FIGS. 2a-b.

FIG. 9a shows a mat locking strip 120 mounted on the bottom of a mat 10. This differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 8a in that the folding line is “pre-folded” and replaced by the mat locking strip 120 being mounted to the bottom of the mat 10.

Accordingly, a bottom edge of the mat 10 comprises a longitudinally extending body having a bottom side 132 comprising a plurality of protruding ridges defining intermediate trenches, the ridges having a continuous extension along the longitudinal extension of the body.

The mat locking strip 120 may e.g. be mounted using welding, an adhesive such as glue or be integral with the bottom of the mat 10.

FIG. 9b shows two connecting mat locking strips 120 where one mat locking strip 120 is mounted on the bottom of a mat 10. The connecting mat locking strips 120 are thereby hidden from view by being underneath the mat.

Two mounted mat locking strips 120 may be connected together using a joining member as discussed in relation to FIGS. 7a-b and a mounted mat locking strip 120 may also connect with a non-mounted mat locking strip 20 with ridges on the top 131 and bottom 132 sides of the body, similar to the connection shown in FIG. 3b.

FIG. 10a shows two mat locking strips connecting with a joining member 40. Compared to FIG. 7a, the joining member 40 functions similarly for facilitating connection but is shown attaching from the top. This top attachment may e.g. facilitate providing a different material or an advertisement on the bottom surface of the joining member 40, to further utilize a surface otherwise covered by the mat locking strips.

FIG. 10b shows a joining member 40 comprising an adhesive 42 on its bottom surface. Such an adhesive adheres the joining member 40 to a floor and enables the joining member 40 to form an anchor point for the mat system. Thereby, assembly of the mat system may be simplified and the mat system may stay more firmly in place as it is being used.

The joining member 40 may further comprise reinforcement such as a rigid plastic or metal to strengthen the joining member 40.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits and/or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

MAT LOCKING STRIP AND MAT SYSTEM

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