Mat configuration

Abstract

A mat configuration is configured of a substrate and a cover. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a peripheral portion that includes an array of fasteners made from substrate material and acting as “buttons” with respect to slits formed in an underlying portion of the cover to hold the cover in place on the substrate. The fasteners can be achieved through various embodiments of indented or protruded elements on the substrate. The cover can be repeatedly attached and detached, and preferably, is made of material that is hand washable, washable in a standard washing machine or dry cleanable. The substrate is washable with soap and water.

1 . A mat configuration having use as a rug comprising:
 a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a central area, the central area being surrounded by a peripheral area;   an indentation or protrusion area within the peripheral area of the bottom surface, if an indentation area, the area having ceilings positional above the bottom surface of the substrate;   a fastener arrangement positioned in the indentation or protrusion area, the fastener arrangement comprising a head arrangement in the indentation area of the substrate and a stem arrangement connecting the head arrangement to the ceiling of the indentation area, the head arrangement having a bottom surface area that is substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of the substrate; and,   a cover overlying the top surface of the substrate, the cover having a central portion and a peripheral portion with an underturned area positioned under the indentation area of the substrate when the mat configuration is in place on a floor, and   an attaching arrangement on the cover cooperating with the fastening arrangement in the indentation area to hold the cover in place on the substrate.   
   
   
       2 . The mat configuration of  claim 1  wherein the fastener arrangement comprises a plurality of heads and the attaching arrangement of the cover comprises a plurality of slits aligned with the heads when the cover is in place on the substrate, the heads being received through the slits and underlying the underturned area of the cover when the mat is in place on a floor. 
   
   
       3 . The mat configuration of  claim 2  wherein indentation area comprises a plurality of indentations each having a portion of the fastening arrangement therein, the portion comprising a head and a stem with the stem having a smaller cross section than the head, thus facilitating buttoning of the cover to the fastening arrangement. 
   
   
       4 . The mat configuration of  claim 2  wherein the indentation area is at least one continuous groove in the peripheral area of the substrate. 
   
   
       5 . The mat configuration of  claim 4  wherein the indentation area comprises separate continuous grooves disposed in the peripheral area of the substrate. 
   
   
       6 . The mat configuration of  claim 5  wherein the mat configuration is rectangular having a rectangular substrate with a rectangular substrate and a rectangular cover, each having four edges, the separate grooves being adjacent the edges of the substrate. 
   
   
       7 . The mat configuration of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is flexible and made of a tacky material. 
   
   
       8 . The mat configuration of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is made of flexible material. 
   
   
       9 . The mat configuration of  claim 1  wherein the fasteners are integral with the ceilings of the indentations. 
   
   
       10 . The mat configuration of  claim 1  wherein the substrate has a relieved area adjacent to the indentation area to accommodate the thickness of the underturned portion of the cover, wherein the underturned portion of the cover, bottom surfaces of the heads and central area of the substrate lie in substantially the same plane. 
   
   
       11 . The mat configuration of  claim 1  wherein the peripheral portion of the cover has a border area which is underlain by the underturned area to form a lamination without the substrate therebetween, the underturned area forming a pocket for receiving the peripheral area of the substrate. 
   
   
       12 . The mat configuration of  claim 11  wherein the underturned area is attached by stitches. 
   
   
       13 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein the stems and heads of the fasteners are made of the same material as the substrate, the material of the stem being unitary with the material of the substrate. 
   
   
       14 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein the indentations are elongated and the stems are configured as ribs which are coextensive with the slits and indentations. 
   
   
       15 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein the cover is made of machine washable or dry cleanable material. 
   
   
       16 . A mat configuration comprising:
 a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a central area, the central area being surrounded by a peripheral area;   a plurality of indentations within the peripheral area of the bottom surface, the indentations having ceilings positioned above the bottom surface of the substrate;   fasteners positioned in the indentations, the fasteners each comprising a head disposed completely in the indentation area of the substrate and a stem connecting the head arrangement to the ceiling of the indentation area, the head having a bottom surface area that is substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of the substrate; and,   a cover overlying the top surface of the substrate, the cover having a central portion and a peripheral portion with an underturned area positioned under the indentation area of the substrate when the mat configuration is in place on a floor, and   slits in the underturned area of the cover cooperating with the fasteners in the indentations to hold the cover in place on the substrate.   
   
   
       17 . The mat configuration of  claim 16  wherein the peripheral portion of the cover has a border area which is underlain by the underturned area to form a lamination without the substrate therebetween, the underturned forming a pocket for receiving the peripheral area of the substrate. 
   
   
       18 . The mat configuration of  claim 17  wherein the underturned area is attached by stitches. 
   
   
       19 . The mat configuration of  claim 16  wherein the substrate has a relieved area adjacent to the indentation area to accommodate the thickness of the underturned portion of the cover, wherein the underturned portion of the cover, bottom surfaces of the heads and central area of the substrate lie substantially in the same plane. 
   
   
       20 . A mat configuration comprising:
 a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a central area, the central area being surrounded by a peripheral area;   a plurality of indentations within the peripheral area of the bottom surface, the indentations having ceilings positioned above the bottom surface of the substrate;   fasteners positioned in the indentations, the fasteners each comprising a frustoconical projection disposed completely in the indentation area of the substrate and connected to the ceiling of the indentation area, the frustoconical projection having a bottom surface area that is substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of the substrate and having at least one rib; and,   a cover overlying the top surface of the substrate, the cover having a central portion and a peripheral portion with an underturned area positioned under the indentation area of the substrate when the mat configuration is in place on a floor, and   slits in the underturned area of the cover cooperating with the at least one rib on each of the frustoconical projections in the indentations to hold the cover in place on the substrate.   
   
   
       21 . The mat configuration of  claim 20  wherein there are a plurality of ribs on the frustoconnical projection. 
   
   
       22 . The configuration of  claim 21  wherein the at least one rib has a downwardly converging side surface and a flat top surface which surfaces facilitate both sliding the associated slit in the cover over the projection and holding the cover on the projection.