TRANSITION STRIPS FOR CHAIR MATS

Abstract

A transition strip for rigid mats is provided. The transition strips are dimensioned and adapted to engage the elevated, relative to the underlying supporting surface, cantilevered peripheries of such rigid mats so as to provide a generally continuous smooth transitional edge between the top working surface the rigid mat and the supporting surface it is laying on. The transition strip has a longitudinal connector joined to yet extending away from an opposing bridge structure. The longitudinal connector is adapted to attached to the elevated periphery so that the bridge structure provides the smooth transition between the mat and supporting surface, lessening the likelihood of people stubbing their toes or tripping on the peripheries of such floor coverings.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/751,981 filed 29 Oct. 2018, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to chair mats and, more particularly, a transition strip for floor mats to provide protective transitional edges thereto.

[0003] Wheeled chairs (or any wheeled object) can be a challenge to wheel over carpeting. As a result, it is not untypical for individuals to lay more rigid mats, sometimes referred to as chair mats, over the carpeting so that the wheeled object may more easily roll over that location.

[0004] Unfortunately, people walking over that same area can trip or stub their toes on the edge of such rigid mats because their peripheries tend to be discontinuously elevated above the supporting surface/carpeting because of the mat's rigidity, especially relative to the soft carpeting on which it lays. This unexpected discontinuity between the chair mat and the supporting surface it covers can catch the toes of people passing by, causing them to trip or painfully stub their toes. Such stubbing or tripping can be painful because many times these peripheral edges can not only be rigid but also squared off and sharp.

[0005] As can be seen, there is a need for transition strips dimensioned and adapted to engage the periphery of rigid carpet-covering mats so as to provide a protective transitional edge therebetween, replacing discontinuity or gap with a continuous smooth non-sharp surface so as to help prevent tripping and stubbing the toes of a person walking over such mats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, a transition strip for a floor covering includes the following: a bridge structure extending from a low point to a high point; a connector extending from the bridge structure; and the connector dimensioned to engage a peripheral edge of a floor covering so that the low point is below the peripheral edge and the high point is at or above an upper elevation of the peripheral edge.

[0007] In another aspect of the present invention, the transition strip for the floor covering includes the following: a bridge structure extending from a low point to a high point; a connector extending from the bridge structure; the bridge structure comprising an arcuate exterior surface between the low point and the high point; a bridge elevation defined by the high and low points is between a quarter inch and a half inch; the connector dimensioned to engage a peripheral edge of a floor covering so that the low point is below the peripheral edge and the high point is at or above an upper elevation of the peripheral edge; and the connector comprising two prongs spaced apart a thickness dimensioned to slidably receive the peripheral edge, wherein the two prongs extending a diametrically opposing direction relative to a bridge direction the bridge structure extends from the high point to the low point.

[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in an assembled condition;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use demonstrating how the present invention protects user's toes from a mat's sharp edges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0015] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a transition strip for rigid mats, wherein the transition strips are dimensioned and adapted to engage the elevated, relative to the underlying supporting surface, cantilevered peripheries of such rigid mats so as to provide a generally continuous smooth transitional edge between the top working surface the rigid mat and its supporting surface. The transition strip has a longitudinal connector joined to yet extending away from an opposing bridge structure. The longitudinal connector is adapted to attach to the elevated periphery so that the bridge structure provides the smooth transition between the mat and supporting surface, lessening the likelihood of people stubbing their toes or tripping on the peripheries of such floor coverings.

[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes one or more long and/or short transition strips 10 and 20, respectively, for floor coverings 30. Note that though the application references "floor coverings", it should be understood that the present invention may be used on various floor covers types as long as they are applicable to the functionality as disclosed herein. Particularly, chair mats that are placed over carpeting 70 so that a wheeled-chair may more easily roll over the chair mat covered areas as compared to the non-covered carpeting.

[0017] Floor coverings 30, such as chair mats, tend to have traction or grip elements 60 along a downward facing surface thereof so as to grip the supporting surface/filament of carpeting 70 they lay upon, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As a result, the portion of the floor covering 30 between the outer most traction element 60 and the periphery of the floor covering 30 is analogous to a discontinuous cantilever 50 with sharp squared off edges, as illustrated in FIG. 4, which people can trip or stub their toe on.

[0018] The transition strips 10/20 provides two portions: a longitudinal connector 80 joined to a bridge structure 40. The longitudinal connector 80 extends along an edge of the transition strip 10/20. The longitudinal connector 80 may be a clip or two spaced apart members that engage the cantilever portion 50, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The bridge structure 40 is dimensioned and adapted to, in effect, close off the area between the supporting surface/carpet 70 and the peripheral cantilever portion 50 of the floor covering 30, providing a continuous transition between the two through the bridge structure 40 acting as a bridge. Thereby the transition strips 10/20 provide a rounded, curved edge (via the arcuate surface of the bridge structure 40) along the associated edge of the floor covering 30, thus there will be less tripping or stubbing of a user's foot 90. In certain embodiments, the bridge structure 40 may not be arcuate but more planar and/or beveled, even though this is not shown in the FIGS. The beveled transitional surface is still more continuous and less jarring that of the periphery of an unadorned chair mat/floor covering.

[0019] The bridge structure extends from a low point 42 to a high point 44, wherein the elevational difference between the low point 42 and the high point 44 may be between a quarter inch and a half inch. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as upper, lower, upward, downwardly, top and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward direction (or upper or top) being toward the top of the corresponding FIGS., and a downward (or lower or bottom) direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding FIGS.

[0020] The longitudinal connector 80 may include two spaced-apart prongs or protrusions extending away from the bridge structure 40. The space between the prongs may be dimensioned and adapted to operatively engage the peripheral cantilevered portions 50 of the floor covering, as illustrated in the FIGS., through slidable receipt thereof.

[0021] The transition strip 10/20 may be made of various plasticized materials or other materials that provide the requisite strength and are amendable to injection molding, additive manufacture and other forms of inexpensive manufacture.

[0022] A method of using the present invention may include the following. The transition strips 10/20 disclosed above may be provided. A user would slide the longitudinal connector 80 over the peripheral cantilever portion 50 of the floor covering 30 as illustrated in FIG. 4 so as to bridge the area between a top, operable planar portion of the floor covering 30 and the supporting surface 70 with the rounded bridge structure 40. As a result, the feet 90 of users are less likely to stub or trip over the periphery of the floor covering/transition strip 30/10/20 compared to the periphery of just the floor covering 30.

[0023] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A transition strip for a floor covering, comprising: a bridge structure extending from a low point to a high point; a connector extending from the bridge structure; and the connector dimensioned to engage a peripheral edge of a floor covering so that the low point is below the peripheral edge and the high point is at or above an upper elevation of the peripheral edge.

2. The transition strip of a floor covering of claim 1, the bridge structure comprising an arcuate exterior surface between the low point and the high point.

3. The transition strip of a floor covering of claim 1, the bridge structure comprising a beveled exterior surface between the low point and the high point.

4. The transition strip of a floor covering of claim 1, the connector comprising two prongs spaced apart a thickness dimensioned to slidably receive the peripheral edge.

5. The transition strip of a floor covering of claim 1, the peripheral edge is rigid.

6. The transition strip of a floor covering of claim 5, the two prongs extending a diametrically opposing direction relative to a bridge direction the bridge structure extends from the high point to the low point.

7. The transition strip of a floor covering of claim 1, a bridge elevation defined by the high and low points is between a quarter inch and a half inch.

8. A transition strip for a floor covering, comprising: a bridge structure extending from a low point to a high point; a connector extending from the bridge structure; the bridge structure comprising an arcuate exterior surface between the low point and the high point; a bridge elevation defined by the high and low points is between a quarter inch and a half inch; the connector dimensioned to engage a rigid peripheral edge of a floor covering so that the low point is below the rigid peripheral edge and the high point is at or above an upper elevation of the rigid peripheral edge; and the connector comprising two prongs spaced apart a thickness dimensioned to slidably receive the rigid peripheral edge, wherein the two prongs extending a diametrically opposing direction relative to a bridge direction the bridge structure extends from the high point to the low point.

9. A method of decreasing tripping over a peripheral edge of a rigid chair mat laying on carpeting, comprising: providing at least one transition strip of claim 8; and relatively sliding said peripheral edge between the two prongs.