Advertising panel and electronic timing device for floor mats

Abstract

A floor mat with a recess therein for matably receiving and frictionally retaining a block with a top surface for advertising, branding, or other messages. An electrical circuit in the block includes a timer, a battery and an LED light, and is configured to illuminate the light after the timer times out, thus indicating when the absorbent sheet on top of the mat or the mat itself needs to be replaced.

1 . A floor mat construction comprising: 
 a floor mat; and    a replaceable block positioned in the mat and having indicia visible on a top surface thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 1 , wherein the block is configured to frictionally fit into a recess in the floor mat.  
   
   
       3 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 1 , including a sticker adhered to the top surface of the block and including the indicia.  
   
   
       4 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 1 , including an electrical circuit in the block, the electrical circuit including a timer, a battery and a light; the circuit being configured to illuminate the light after the timer times out, thus indicating when the floor mat needs maintenance, such as cleaning or replacement.  
   
   
       5 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 4 , including an absorbent sheet on the floor mat, and wherein timing out of the timer indicates a need to replace the absorbent sheet.  
   
   
       6 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the block includes a three-dimensional object formed thereon for advertising and interest-catching purposes.  
   
   
       7 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 1 , including a battery and lighted display in the block.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a floor mat including absorbent material; and    an electrical circuit connected to the floor mat, the electrical circuit including a timer, a battery and a display; the circuit being configured to activate the display after the timer times out, thus indicating when the absorbent material or floor mat need maintenance.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus defined in  claim 8 , wherein the timer is adjustable.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus defined in  claim 8 , wherein the display includes a light that operates to indicate the need for maintenance.  
   
   
       11 . A floor mat construction comprising: 
 a non-slip floor-engaging base defining a shallow recess on a top surface thereof; and    a block shaped to fit into the shallow recess, the block including side walls that frictionally engage sides of the shallow recess for retaining the block to the rubber base.    
   
   
       12 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 11 , wherein the block includes a top surface angled relative to a top of the base to improve a viewing angle of the top surface.  
   
   
       13 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 11 , wherein the block includes a lens forming a part of the top surface, the lens including indicia.  
   
   
       14 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 11 , including an absorbent sheet on the base.  
   
   
       15 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 14 , including a timer indicating when the absorbent sheet requires maintenance.  
   
   
       16 . The floor mat construction defined in  claim 11 , including a battery and lighted display on the block.