DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a universal mat, in particular a universal mat for a motor vehicle. The mat can be used for protecting the internal floor surface of automobiles, vans, trucks, coaches, motor caravans and vehicles in general.

Mats for motor vehicles are known in the prior art.

The mats for the most common automobiles comprise a supporting layer, made, for example, from rubber, on which filaments are anchored. These filaments make a carpet effect on the upper surface of the mat. In detail, the supporting layer of the mat has edges along which the filaments are fixed to the support also by a strip of fabric having a pair of flaps, adjacent, respectively, to the upper surface and to the lower surface of the supporting layer and sewn together. In other words, the strip of fabric delimits the outer edge of the mat. Disadvantageously, the mat described above must be made to measure to cover a precise zone of a predetermined model of an automobile or motor vehicle. In other words, "n" different mats will be needed to cover the floor of a motor vehicle, because each is made to measure for the zone it must cover. For example, the mat designed for the zone of the front passenger seat cannot be used for the rear seats. For similar reasons, a mat made for a predetermined model of automobile cannot be used on a different model. Patent application FI2012A000093 describes a mat which can be adapted to different models of motor vehicle. More specifically, the patent application indicates that it is possible to make compacting zones having the shape of different zones of a floor of a motor vehicle. According to the patent application, cutting the mat along the compaction zones prevents the fraying or in any case the degradation of the filaments which give it the carpet effect, since it avoids the filaments being positioned adjacent to the edges.

In other words, the patent application FI20 2A000093 indicates that it is possible to make a mat for motor vehicles which can adapt to any model of motor vehicle for a different floor zone of the motor vehicle. It is therefore possible to make, for example, a mat for automobiles for the front passenger floor zone which can be adapted to any model of automobile for that floor zone, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the above-mentioned patent application; or it is possible to make, for example, a mat for automobiles for the rear passenger floor zone which can be adapted to any model of automobile for that area of floor, and so on.

The drawback of the prior art is that of not being able to make from a mat, such as that illustrated in patent application FI2012A000093, a mat which can be adapted to any floor zone of the motor vehicle of any model of motor vehicle.

In effect, to date, a user who wants to cover all the zones floor of their motor vehicle can act basically in two ways: purchase specific mats for the relative model, or purchase "generic" mats, of different types for each floor zone to be covered, and then shape them to adapt them to the relative model of motor vehicle, as indicated in patent application FI2012A000093. In the first case the main drawbacks are the lack of availability of the product (considering the large number of models of motor vehicles which exist), the high cost due to the specific nature of the product and, lastly, the poor interchangeability and poor versatility of the product. In the second case the drawbacks are less than the first, however the user must in any case purchase many mats, as many as there are zones in the motor vehicle which must covered, each relative to a different zone to be covered.

In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to provide a universal mat for a motor vehicle which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a single universal mat for a motor vehicle which can be adapted for covering any floor zone of any motor vehicle.

A further aim of this invention is to provide a universal mat for a motor vehicle which allows two independent universal maps to be obtained from the universal mat which are able to adapt to any rear floor zone of any motor vehicle.

The advantage of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the number of types of mats to be produced for motor vehicles, consequently reducing the production costs and optimising the storage and availability logistics, by providing the user with a single product which can be adapted for any situation.

Moreover, in the most common case of an automobile homologated for four or five passengers, the user can cover the floor zones of the relative automobile simply by using three universal maps according to this invention. In effect, one may be used to make a mat for the driver's floor zone, another may be used to make the mat for the floor zone of the front passenger and, lastly, another may be used to make both the mats for the floor zone of the rear passengers.

A further aim of this invention is to provide a universal mat for motor vehicles provided with at least an axis of symmetry which allows the mat to be adaptable both to motor vehicles with right-hand drive and motor vehicles with left-hand drive.

The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a universal mat for a motor vehicle comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims.

More specifically, the universal mat for a motor vehicle according to this invention comprises a supporting layer to which are anchored a plurality of filaments and at least one compaction zone made on the supporting layer by the filaments.

The filaments are compacted and bonded to each other to form the compaction zones. The compaction zones mark the outlines of possible appropriate shapes of mats defining a plurality of cut lines.

The universal mat for motor vehicles comprises at least a further compaction zone which defines at least a main cutting line.

The main cutting line splits the universal mat in at least a first portion and a second portion each designed to make an independent mat designed for adapting to at least one floor zone of at least one model of motor vehicle. The dependent claims correspond to different embodiments of the invention.

Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment of a universal mat for a motor vehicle, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a universal mat for a motor vehicle according to this invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic cross section along the line 11-11 of the universal mat for a motor vehicle of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a universal mat according to a possible embodiment of this invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a universal mat for a motor vehicle according to a possible embodiment.

The universal mat 1 for a motor vehicle comprises a supporting layer 2 having an upper surface 2a and a lower surface 2b opposite the upper surface 2a. In detail, the upper surface 2a means the exposed surface, and therefore treadable by the user. The lower surface 2b can face the floor of the vehicle, and can be directly in contact with it.

The universal mat 1 for a motor vehicle also comprises a plurality of filaments 3, which are anchored to the supporting layer 2, in particular at the upper surface 2a. These filaments 3 make a "carpet effect" on the upper surface 2a of the supporting layer 2. The filaments 3 are distributed evenly on the covering zones 4 of the supporting layer 2.

The universal mat 1 for a motor vehicle has at least one compaction zone 5 of the above-mentioned filaments 3. The compaction zone 5 is in particular superposed over the supporting layer 2.

The universal mat 1 for a motor vehicle according to this invention comprises a supporting layer 2 to which are anchored a plurality of filaments 3 and at least one compaction zone 5 made on the supporting layer 2 by the filaments 3.

It should be noted that Figure 1 denotes by way of example only some of the covering zones 4 and compaction zones 5.

The filaments 3 are compacted and bonded to each other to form the compaction zones 5. The compaction zones 5 mark the outlines of possible appropriate shapes of mats defining a plurality of cut lines. In other words, the cutting lines define the possible plan shapes of the mats for motor vehicles.

The universal mat 1 according to this invention also comprises at least a further compaction zone 5a made like the compaction zones 5 and which defines at least a main cutting line. The main cutting line splits the universal mat 1 in at least a first portion 6 and a second portion 7 each designed to make an independent mat designed for adapting to at least one floor zone of at least one model of motor vehicle.

Preferably, the main cutting line defines at least one axis of symmetry X of the universal mat 1.

The universal mat 1 preferably comprises a further axis of symmetry Y perpendicular to the axis of symmetry X previously defined by the main cutting line.

The axis of symmetry X and the further axis of symmetry Y splits the universal mat 1 according to this invention into quadrants so that the two quadrants diagonally opposite are identical to each other.

Preferably, the universal mat 1 has at least one main cutting line which is substantially straight along the plane in which the universal mat 1 lies. The compaction zones 5 and preferably also the further compaction zone 5a of the universal mat 1 also intersect each other. This allows the production of various cut lines which on the basis of their positioning and combination may allow the generation of a range of combinations of plan shapes.

Advantageously, the universal mat 1 for a motor vehicle may be used for adapting, using a method described below, to a larger floor zone, for example the front driver's side or front passenger side, or for making two independent mats which are able to adapt to a narrower floor zone, for example the rear ones.

The covering zones 4 and the compaction zones 5 (and the further compaction zone 5a) cover substantially the entire upper surface 2a of the supporting layer 2. In other words, the compaction zones 5 and the further compaction zone 5a are made on a portion of the covering zone 4. More specifically, the compaction zones 5 and the further compaction zone 5 are defined by bonding the filaments 3 together. Consequently, in the compaction zones 5 and in the further compaction zone 5a the individual filaments 3 can no longer be identified.

It should be noted that the compaction zones 5 and the further compaction zone 5a have the shape of strips. In other words, the compaction zones 5 and the further compaction zone 5a has, viewed from above, an elongate shape, wherein the main dimension is defined as the length in the context of this description, whilst the remaining dimension is defined as the width. According to the invention, the compaction zones 5 preferably have a width of at least 1 mm, even more preferably between 1 mm and 10 mm. The function of the compaction zones 5 is to provide the user with the markings along which to cut the mat 1 , according to the requirements, thus identifying the cutting lines.

The compaction zones 5 are arranged on the supporting layer 2 so as to define respective markings shaped so as to adapt to any floor zone of at least one motor vehicle model.

Advantageously, it should be noted that the universal mat 1 according to this invention is designed to be shaped along the cutting lines for making a mat configured for adapting to the front floor zones of the motor vehicles, driver's side and passenger side, both with right and left-hand drive.

Advantageously, the user may also adapt the relative universal mat 1 shaped along the cutting lines for a particular floor zone of a motor vehicle for using it if necessary in another (or in the same) floor zone of the same motor vehicle or of another motor vehicle.

For example, from a mat for the front floor zone it is possible to make a mat for the rear floor zone. Or, again, from a mat for one motor vehicle it is possible to make a mat for another, and so on.

It is possible to use the universal mat 1 for a motor vehicle also for being adapted to the floor zone of the trunk of the motor vehicles.

The compaction zones 5 can have a knurled surface defined by a plurality of small pits having, for example, a prismatic cavity shape with sides being perpendicular or inclined with respect to the compaction zone.

Advantageously the knurling of the exposed surface of the compaction zones 5 allows a greater cohesion of the compaction zones 5 to the supporting layer 2, easier production of the universal mat 1 since a smaller moulding pressure is needed, a reduction in the time and costs for pressing as the heating contact surface of the mould is larger and, lastly, it achieves a less reflective and more opaque surface.

The universal mat 1 according to this invention can, in an alternative embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, comprise grip means fixed to the supporting layer 2. Thee gripping means are opposite the filaments 3 and in particular are located on the lower surface 2b of the supporting layer 2 with the function of holding the layer 2 in position on the floor of a motor vehicle.

With reference to a possible embodiment for example illustrated in Figure 3, the numeral 8 denotes an edge compaction line designed to define an edge portion 9 at a compaction zone 5 defining a cut line. The universal mat 1 therefore comprises a plurality of edge compaction lines 8 each arranged parallel to main stretches of a respective compaction zone 5 defining a cut line. In this way, at whatever point the cut is made, there is an edge portion 9 delimited by the cutting line (compaction zone 5) and by the edge compaction line 8.

Preferably, an edge compaction line, not illustrated, is also provided at the further compaction zone 5a.

Also forming part of this invention, as mentioned above, is a method for making the above-mentioned universal mat 1.

Initially, a supporting layer 2 covered with filaments 3 is prepared on at least one upper surface 2a.

A pressure which is able to compact the filaments 3 is then exerted on them in predetermined zones. The filaments 3 compressed in this way are then heated until they are softened or melted, in such a way as to amalgamate the filaments 3 together and preferably with the underlying supporting layer 2. In this way, at least one compaction zone 5 is created and therefore the cutting lines described above. After definition of the compaction zones 5 on the universal mat 1 has been completed, there will be a covering zones 4 on the layer 2 in the zones in which no treatment has been performed.

More specifically, the method for making a universal mat 1 for a motor vehicle according to this invention comprises applying on the filaments 3 a pressure in order to compact them and heating the compacted filaments 3 in order to melt them and form at least a further compaction zone 5 which defines at least a main cutting line which splits the universal mat 1 in at least a first portion 6 and a second portion 7 each designed to make an independent mat configured for adapting to a floor zone of at least one model of motor vehicle.

This invention also comprises a method for making at least two independent mats for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of preparing a universal mat 1 and then cutting the universal mat 1 along the main cutting line separating the first portion 6 from the second portion 7.

It is then possible to cut the first portion 6 and the second portion 7 according to pre-chosen cutting lines along the compaction zones 5 for producing two mats each configured to be adapted to at least one floor area of at least one motor vehicle model.

The invention achieves the set aim by overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.