Plate Infused Carpet

Abstract

A transparent plate infused carpet including a carpet backing with fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a first fiber length and fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a second fiber length. The carpet first fiber length is longer than the carpet second fiber length. The fiber with the first fiber length surrounds the fiber with the second fiber length to create a carpet void and a transparent plate that is dimensioned to fit within the carpet void is fitted therein.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to carpet protectors. In particular, the present invention relates to carpets protected with transparent plates.

BACKGROUND

In order to utilize traditional carpets, especially those with imprinted designs, a user must usually place a barrier on top of the carpet for effective use of a rolling chair thereon. This is problematic because the barrier may not fit the carpet perfectly, the barrier may obscure the design of the carpet, it may slip out of place, and it may be made of material that does not complement the carpet, to name a few reasons.

There exists a need for a carpet with a transparent and rigid barrier infused into the carpet that complements the design, shape, and functionality of the carpet. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a plate infused carpet and associated methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are related to a transparent plate infused carpet including a carpet backing with fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a first fiber length and fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a second fiber length. The carpet first fiber length is longer than the carpet second fiber length. The fiber with the first fiber length surrounds the fiber with the second fiber length to create a carpet void. The transparent plate is dimensioned to fit within the carpet void is fitted therein.

A carpet backing may be infused with a design utilizing both the first fiber length fibers and the second fiber length fibers that form a uniformly flat surface. The transparent plate and void may be structured to accommodate a chair thereon because the transparent plate has a depth equal to the difference in length between the end of the second fiber length and the end of the first fiber length.

Furthermore, the transparent plate may be removably engaged with the carpet fiber via friction fit because the transparent plate underside surface abuts carpet fiber with the second fiber length and the transparent plate at its edges abuts carpet fiber with the first fiber length. Additionally, the transparent plate and void may include a main segment and a tab extension. The tab extension may be configured to fit under a desk opening.

Another embodiment may include a transparent plate infused carpet with a carpet backing, fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a first fiber length, fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a second fiber length, and a transparent plate. The carpet first fiber length may be longer than the carpet second fiber length. The fiber with the first fiber length surrounds the fiber with the second fiber length to create a carpet void. The transparent plate is dimensioned to fit within the carpet void and is fitted therein. The carpet may be infused with a design utilizing both the first fiber length fibers and the second fiber length fibers. Furthermore, a design may be uniformly displayed across portions of the carpet that does not include the transparent plate with portions of the carpet that do include the transparent plate.

In this embodiment, the transparent plate may be made from at least one of glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate. In some embodiments, the design may be photoluminescent. Furthermore, the transparent plate width, transparent plate length, and transparent plate depth may correspond to a void width, void length and void depth. Likewise, the transparent plate may include a plate width, plate length, and plate depth structured to securely fit within the void so that a plate top surface and carpet form an even plane across a carpet top surface without gaps or a difference in elevation.

The carpet shape may be one of triangular, circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal and each carpet fiber may be individually colored in its entirety. The transparent plate and void may include a main segment and a tab extension and the tab extension may be structured to fit under a desk opening. Furthermore, the transparent plate and void may be structured to accommodate a chair thereon.

In another embodiment, the transparent plate infused carpet may include a carpet backing with fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a first fiber length, fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a second fiber length, and a transparent plate. The carpet first fiber length is longer than the carpet second fiber length and the fiber with the first fiber length surrounds the fiber with the second fiber length to create a carpet void. The transparent plate may be dimensioned to fit within the carpet void and fitted therein. The carpet may be infused with a design utilizing both the first fiber length fibers and the second fiber length fibers and the design may be uniformly displayed across portions of the carpet without the transparent plate as well as portions of the carpet with the transparent plate without interruption of the design.

The carpet may be of triangular, circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal shape and the transparent plate may be removably engaged with the carpet fiber via friction fit. The transparent plate may be made from at least one of glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the plate infused carpet according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a component of the plate infused carpet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of componentry of the plate infused carpet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the plate infused carpet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the plate infused carpet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is top side perspective view of an embodiment of the plate infused carpet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an environmental view of the plate infused carpet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an environmental view of a mold used with the plate infused carpet according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment descriptions are illustrative and not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to persons with ordinary skill in the art after having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the following embodiments are set forth without any loss of generality and without imposing limitation upon the claimed invention.

Directional terms such as “above” “below” “upper” “lower” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Additionally, the description may contain terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention. Such positional language should be taken in context of the represented drawings.

Quantitative terms such as “generally” “substantially” “mostly” and other like terms are used to mean that the referred object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the referenced subject. Likewise, use of the terms such as first and second do not necessarily designate a limitation of quantity. Such terms may be used as a method of describing the presence of at least one of the referenced elements or may provide a means of differentiating orientation. The meaning of any term within this description is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plate infused carpet 100, hereinafter carpet 100, will be described in more detail. As shown, the carpet 100 may include a top surface 101 and in some embodiments a carpet design 103. The carpet 100 may be dimensioned to include an extra-large depth 104 to accommodate a transparent plate 102 therein. In some embodiments, the transparent plate 102 may cover the main portion of the carpet design 103. Furthermore, in some embodiments the transparent plate 102 may be made from glass, plastic, polycarbonate, or the like. Additionally, the carpet design 103 may be formed from specifically colored strands or fibers 105. The carpet 100 may include a carpet backing 150 with the fiber 105 affixed to the carpet backing 150 extending to a first fiber length 211. It may also have fiber 105 affixed to the carpet backing 150 extending to a second fiber length 212. The carpet first fiber length 211 is longer than the carpet second fiber length 212. The fiber 105 with the first fiber length 211 surrounds the fiber 105 with the second fiber length 212 to create a carpet void 201. The transparent plate 102 is dimensioned to fit, and is fitted, within the carpet void 201.

Because the carpet fibers 105 are colored throughout each individual fiber 105 in their respective entirety, at any height or length, the fiber 105 may display the carpet design 103. Therefore, the design 103 may be uniformly displayed across portions of the carpet 100 that do not include the transparent plate 102 with portions of the carpet that do include the transparent plate 102 so that the carpet design 103 may be displayed without interruption. In some embodiments, the carpet design 103 may be infused into the carpet backing 150 and the fibers 105 with a first and second length 211, 212 may be attached according to the carpet design 103. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the carpet design 103 may be outlined or colored with fibers 105 that are photoluminescent.

FIG. 2 illustrates the carpet 100 with a hollowed interior void 201 within the extra-large carpet depth 104. The interior void 201 may extend from the carpet top surface 101 within the extra-large carpet depth 104 to a medium void depth 204. The interior void 201 may include a void width 202 and a void length 203 that may extend the majority of the carpet width 206 and carpet length 207, but may leave a distance between the interior void 201 and the exterior edge of the carpet 100. Hence, the interior void 201 may be congruent in shape, but smaller than the carpet 100. Furthermore, the interior void bottom 208 may include a short carpet depth 205 that may still display the carpet design 103. In some embodiments, the interior void 201 may be created by trimming the extra-large carpet depth 104 after it has been created with the carpet design 103 so that the carpet design 103 may still be displayed.

FIG. 3 illustrates how the transparent plate 102 may fit within the hollowed interior void 201 of the carpet 100. As shown, the transparent plate 102 may include a plate width 302, a plate length 303, and a medium plate depth 304 that may correspond to, or be nominally smaller than, the void width 202, void length 203 and medium void depth 204 of the hollowed interior void 201. Therefore, the transparent plate 102 may fit securely within the interior void 201 without prolapsing therein. Furthermore, the dimensions of the transparent plate 102 in relation to the interior void 201 may be so close in nature that there may be no need for epoxy, glue, or any other fastening device to secure the transparent plate 102 within the interior void 201.

In other words, the transparent plate 102 may have a depth equal to the difference in length between the end of the second fiber length 212 and the end of the first fiber length 211. The transparent plate 102 may removably engage with the carpet fiber 105 via friction fit. Therefore, the underside surface of the transparent plate 102 abuts the carpet fiber with the second fiber length 212 and the edges of the transparent plate 102 abuts carpet fiber 105 with a first fiber length 211.

FIG. 4 illustrates the flush fit 401 between the interior void 201 and the transparent plate 102 when fitted together. The plate width 302, plate length 303, and medium plate depth 304 are securely fitted within the interior void 201 so that the plate top surface 301 and carpet 100 form an even plane across the carpet top surface 101 without gaps or a difference in elevation. In other words, the transparent plate 102 includes a design facing surface whereby the first fiber length fiber 211 and the transparent plate form a uniformly flat surface.

FIG. 5 shows that when fitted together the flush fit 401 of the transparent plate 102 and the carpet 100 may still display the carpet design 103 with uninterrupted flow between the carpet 100, the interior void 201, and the transparent plate 102 thereby providing a hard protective surface for the carpet 100 over the carpet design 103.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the carpet 100 that may include a carpet tab 601 and a plate tab 601 that may extend distally from the longitudinal length of one side of both. This extended tab feature may allow for the carpet 100 to fit underneath a table or desk 603 more easily. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the carpet 100 and corresponding transparent plate 102 may be any number of shapes and sizes including triangular, circular, oval, square, rectangular, polygonal, and the like.

FIG. 7 makes it clear that because there is uninterrupted flow between the carpet 100, the interior void 201, and the transparent plate 102, a chair 701 such as a rollable desk chair 701 may rest atop the transparent plate 102 and may roll thereon without unnecessary friction with the carpet 100 and without destroying the carpet design 103 or carpet 100 itself.

FIG. 8 illustrates that the transparent plate 102 may be formed with standard dimensions made from a plate mold 801. The plate mold 801 may be formed by creating a hollowed cast with standard void dimensions 802 in order to pour transparent plate materials therein to create a transparent plate 102 that can be interchanged or combined with carpets 100 having a similarly dimensioned interior void 201. In some embodiments, whereby the transparent plate 102 may be made from glass or the like and the mold may be used to size, shape and cut the transparent plate 102 to fit the standard void dimensions 802.

Claims

1. A transparent plate infused carpet comprising: a carpet backing;fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a first fiber length;fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a second fiber length;a transparent plate;wherein the carpet first fiber length is longer than the carpet second fiber length;wherein the fiber with the first fiber length surrounds the fiber with the second fiber length to create a carpet void;wherein the transparent plate is dimensioned to fit within the carpet void and is fitted therein.

2. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 1 wherein the carpet backing is infused with a design utilizing both the first fiber length fibers and the second fiber length fibers.

3. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 1 further including a design facing surface whereby the first fiber length fiber and the transparent plate form a uniformly flat surface.

4. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 1 wherein the transparent plate and void are structured to accommodate a chair thereon.

5. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 1 wherein the transparent plate has a depth equal to the difference in length between the end of the second fiber length and the end of the first fiber length.

6. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 1 wherein the transparent plate and void include a main segment and a tab extension; and wherein the tab extension is configured to fit under a desk opening.

7. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 1 wherein the transparent plate is removably engaged with the carpet fiber via friction fit.

8. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 1 wherein the transparent plate underside surface abuts carpet fiber with the second fiber length; and wherein the transparent plate at its edges abuts carpet fiber with the first fiber length.

9. A transparent plate infused carpet comprising: a carpet backing;fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a first fiber length;fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a second fiber length;a transparent plate;wherein the carpet first fiber length is longer than the carpet second fiber length;wherein the fiber with the first fiber length surrounds the fiber with the second fiber length to create a carpet void;wherein the transparent plate is dimensioned to fit within the carpet void, and is fitted therein;wherein the carpet is infused with a design utilizing both the first fiber length fibers and the second fiber length fibers; andwherein the design is uniformly displayed across portions of the carpet that do not include the transparent plate and portions of the carpet that do include the transparent plate.

10. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein the transparent plate is made from at least one of glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate.

11. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein the carpet includes a design that is photoluminescent.

12. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein a transparent plate width, a transparent plate length, and a transparent plate depth correspond to a void width, void length and void depth.

13. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein the transparent plate includes a plate width, plate length, and plate depth structured to securely fit within the void so that a transparent plate top surface and the carpet form an even plane across a carpet top surface without gaps or a difference in elevation.

14. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein the transparent plate infused carpet is one of triangular, circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal.

15. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein each carpet fiber is individually colored in its entirety.

16. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein the transparent plate and void include a main segment and a tab extension; and wherein the tab extension is configured to fit under a desk opening.

17. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 9 wherein the transparent plate and void are structured to accommodate a chair thereon.

18. A transparent plate infused carpet comprising: a carpet backing;fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a first fiber length;fiber affixed to the carpet backing extending to a second fiber length;a transparent plate;wherein the carpet first fiber length is longer than the carpet second fiber length;wherein the fiber with the first fiber length surrounds the fiber with the second fiber length to create a carpet void;wherein the transparent plate is dimensioned to fit within the carpet void and fitted therein;wherein the carpet is infused with a design utilizing both the first fiber length fibers and the second fiber length fibers; andwherein a design is uniformly displayed across portions of the carpet without the transparent plate and portions of the carpet with the transparent plate without interruption of the design;wherein the transparent plate infused carpet is comprised of at least one of a triangular, circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal shape.

19. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 18 wherein the transparent plate is removably engaged with the carpet fiber via friction fit.

20. The transparent plate infused carpet of claim 18 wherein transparent plate is made from at least one of glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate.