Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Perimeter or corner structure of sheet
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-16
2001-08-28
Thomas, Alexander S. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Perimeter or corner structure of sheet
C428S156000, C428S157000, C428S192000, C016S04200T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280817
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a portable floor covering mat that protects floor surfaces from scratches and stains that can occur, for example, during appliance movement and repair.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heavy appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers, are occasionally moved outwardly from walls to make repairs and/or for cleaning. However, movement of these large appliances often results in unsightly scratches and marks on floor surfaces; such as linoleum, tile and hardwood. In addition, oil, grease or other materials can spill during appliance movement and repair, potentially staining floor surfaces.
Surprisingly few floor surface protectors have been developed to protect the floor surfaces when moving heavy appliances outwardly from a wall. It has been proposed to place protective strips under the feet or legs of the appliance. One such product, marketed as Glide Guard™ Floor Protectors, includes two narrow strips to be placed under the legs or wheels of the appliance at the time of installation of the appliance. When the appliance is to be moved, additional strips are attached to extend the protector forward from the front of the appliance. Once the strips are in place, the user pulls the appliance forward and away from the wall along these strips. Implementing prior known protectors like the Glide Guard™ Floor Protectors requires an owner to have sufficient foresight to place strips under the feet of the appliance at he time of installation in order to take advantage of these protectors in the future. otherwise the consumer must align the strips with the feet of the appliance and attempt to move/lift the appliance on to the strips.
In either case, pulling an appliance away from the wall often involves rocking he appliance side-to-side. The narrow width of products like the Glide Guard™ floor Protectors, provides little leeway for sideward movement of the appliance. arrow strips also do not protect the floor surface from spills or leaks that occasionally occur during repairs. Moreover such products are not robust for commercial use nor readily transportable. Thus, there remains a need for a portable structure that protects floor surfaces from scratches and spills during appliance movement and repair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the floor covering mat of the invention is to provide protection to floor surfaces from scratches and spills during appliance movement and repair.
An additional objective of this invention is to provide a floor covering mat that does not require prior installation of parts and that is readily portable to any location for immediate use.
A further objective of this invention is to provide a floor covering mat that may be easily cleaned after use.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are realized by providing a floor covering mat defined by first and second panels interconnected with a hinge so that the mat can be extended for disposition in front of an appliance to be serviced or folded for storage and transport. At least one side of each panel has a thickness transition section, such as a bevel, to facilitate sliding or rolling movement of the appliance onto the mat. Moreover, the panels are hingedly connected so that the thickness transition sections thereof form a substantially continuous longitudinal edge of the mat, to accommodate the full width of the appliance. When the floor covering mat is in an open, ready to use position, one surface of each panel is in substantial contact with the floor. Therefore, the hinge structure is preferably flush with or recessed from the floor contacting surface.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the ends of the panels remote from the hinge structure are provided with a handle structure to facilitate lifting and transport of the mat in its folded disposition.
Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures.
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McCrossin Louis F.
McCrossin Thomas K.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Thomas Alexander S.
LandOfFree
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