Remove tabs for tacky inserts of a floor mat

Abstract

Improved remove tabs for tacky inserts of a floor mat are disclosed. The remove tabs may have a non-smooth texture, be offset from adjacent tabs by separators, be differently sized, or otherwise be configured to enable easier handling and removal of an individual insert from a stack of inserts.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A floor mat insert comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area, a portion of the non-tacky area being formed as a tab for handling the insert, and a surface of the tab including a non-smooth texture.  
     
     
         2 . The floor mat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the non-smooth texture is formed by a plurality of protrusions of arbitrary shape.  
     
     
         3 . The floor mat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the non-smooth texture is formed by particles bonded to the tab surface.  
     
     
         4 . The floor mat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the non-smooth texture is formed such that, when a first tab is arranged over a second tab so as to be substantially aligned with the second tab, the non-smooth textures of the respective tabs are offset from each other.  
     
     
         5 . An insert configured to be received within a recess of a floor mat, a surface of the insert including a tacky area and a non-tacky area, a portion of the non-tacky area being formed as a tab for handling of the insert, and a surface of the tab including raised areas.  
     
     
         6 . The insert of  claim 5 , wherein the raised areas are bumps arranged in a regular pattern.  
     
     
         7 . The insert of  claim 6 , wherein the bumps are rectangular.  
     
     
         8 . The insert of  claim 6 , wherein the bumps are circular.  
     
     
         9 . The insert of  claim 5 , wherein the raised areas are randomly arranged.  
     
     
         10 . The insert of  claim 5 , wherein the raised areas are formed such that, when a first tab is arranged over a second tab so as to be substantially aligned with the second tab, the raised areas of the respective tabs are offset from each other.  
     
     
         11 . An insert configured to be received within a recess of a floor mat, a surface of the insert including a tacky area and a non-tacky area, a portion of the non-tacky area being formed as a tab for handling of the insert, and a first portion of the tab being thicker than a second portion of the tab such that when a first tab is arranged over a second tab so as to be substantially aligned with the second tab, the second portion of the first tab is separated from the second portion of the second tab.  
     
     
         12 . The insert of  claim 11 , wherein the first, thicker portion of the tab is formed from a tab material and a separator material added to the tab material.  
     
     
         13 . The insert of  claim 12 , wherein the separator material is one of a staple, grommet or rivet.  
     
     
         14 . The insert of  claim 11 , wherein the separator material includes a visual indicator for differentiating the tab from another tab.  
     
     
         15 . A method comprising: 
 (a) forming an insert for a floor mat, the insert comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area;    (b) forming a tab for handling the insert from a portion of the non-tacky area; and    (c) forming a non-smooth texture on a surface of the tab.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein (c) comprises applying heated textured rollers to a material of the tab.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein (c) comprises crimping a material of the tab.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the non-smooth texture is formed such that, when a first tab is arranged over a second tab so as to be substantially aligned with the second tab, the non-smooth textures of the respective tabs are offset from each other.  
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: 
 (a) forming an insert for a floor mat, the insert comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming a tab for handling the insert from a portion of the non-tacky area, a first portion of the tab being thicker than a second portion of the tab such that when a first tab is arranged over a second tab so as to be substantially aligned with the second tab, the second portion of the first tab is separated from the second portion of the second tab.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first, thicker portion of the tab is formed from a tab material and a separator layer of material added to the tab material.  
     
     
         21 . An insert configured to be received within a recess of a floor mat, a surface of the insert including a tacky area and a non-tacky area, a portion of the non-tacky area being formed as a tab for handling of the insert, the tab having an extension projecting beyond an outer edge of the tab.  
     
     
         22 . The insert of  claim 21 , wherein the extension is arranged such that, when a first tab is arranged over a second tab so as to be substantially aligned with the second tab, the extensions of the respective tabs are offset from each other.  
     
     
         23 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts from a portion of the respective non-tacky areas, the first and second tabs being formed from a like material and having substantially the same thickness; and    (c) applying heat of a first degree and duration to the first tab, and heat of a second degree and duration, different from the first, to the second tab.    
     
     
         24 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts from a portion of the respective non-tacky areas, the first and second tabs being formed from a like material, the first tab having a first thickness, and the second tab having a second thickness different from the first; and    (c) applying heat of the same degree and duration to the first and second tabs.    
     
     
         25 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts from a portion of the respective non-tacky areas, the first and second tabs being formed from a like material, the first tab having a first film orientation, and the second tab having a second film orientation different from the first; and    (c) applying heat of the same degree and duration to the first and second tabs.    
     
     
         26 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts, the first tab being formed from a first material, and the second tab being formed from a second material different from the first; and    (c) applying heat of the same degree and duration to the first and second tabs.    
     
     
         27 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts, the first and second tabs being formed from different materials but having substantially the same thickness; and    (c) applying heat of a first degree and duration to the first tab, and heat of a second degree and duration, different from the first, to the second tab.    
     
     
         28 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts from a portion of the respective non-tacky areas, the first and second tabs being formed from a like material, the first tab having a first thickness, and the second tab having a second thickness different from the first; and    (c) applying heat of a first degree and duration to the first tab, and heat of a second degree and duration, different from the first, to the second tab.    
     
     
         29 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts from a portion of the respective non-tacky areas, the first and second tabs being formed from a like material, the first tab having a first film orientation, and the second tab having a second film orientation different from the first; and    (c) applying heat of a first degree and duration to the first tab, and heat of a second degree and duration, different from the first, to the second tab.    
     
     
         30 . A method for forming variable-sized tabs for floor mat inserts, comprising: 
 (a) forming first and second inserts for a floor mat, the inserts each comprising a tacky area and a non-tacky area; and    (b) forming first and second tabs, respectively, for the first and second inserts, the first and second tabs being formed from different materials, the first tab having a first thickness, and the second tab having a second thickness different from the first; and    (c) applying heat of a first degree and duration to the first tab, and heat of a second degree and duration, different from the first, to the second tab.