subject: Mechanism Of Door Mats [print this page] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, door mats comprise a heavy plastic base member and an inexpensive soft absorbant fabric which overlies the base member forming a panel thereon. Strips of hooked fabric which are commercially available under a trade name of "Velcro" are attached to the under sides of opposite edges of the base member, and the soft fabric of the panel may be placed across the base member and wrapped or curled under the edges to be releasably secured to the strips of hooked fabric. If a more positive bond is desired between the base member and the panel, a complementary strip of matted fabric may be so used together with the hooked fabric. One type of strips may be attached to the base member, and the complementary strips may be attached to the soft fabric forming the panel.
As shown in the drawing, the door mats of this invention comprises a base member 11 and a panel of soft fabric 12. The base member 11 is preferably formed as a heavy gage plastic sheet which may be molded into a generally flat rectangular section. Both the top and bottom surfaces may be textured to provide a non-skid and non-slip features such that the door mats will not skid upon the underlying floor surface; and such that persons stepping upon the exposed parts thereof will have no tendency to slip.
This invention provides door mats that is economical to make and maintain with a toweling panel 12 that can be easily and quickly replaced when it becomes wet and dirty. The means for securing the toweling panel is simple and economical. The panel will remain properly in place while being used since the hooked fabric strips will be greatly resistive to the sheer forces created by normal use. On the other hand, the panel can be easily removed by peeling back the toweling or matted fabric material and pulling the Velcro bond apart by forces perpendicular thereto.
