Vehicle Floor Tray

Abstract

A vehicle floor tray has a base, upstanding side walls, a forward panel, and an aft wall that define a basin. An array of spaced apart treads project upwardly from the base. The treads are arranged in adjacent rows and the treads in each row are oriented in a direction opposite from the direction of orientation of the treads in adjacent rows. Some rows may be shifted or staggered with respect to adjacent rows. This forms a convolutely shaped network of channels within which liquid may collect. The shape of the channel inhibits the mass flow of liquid to the front, back, or sides of the floor tray during acceleration, deceleration, and up or down hill traverses. This inhibits puddling of liquid during off-road operation of a vehicle.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A vehicle floor tray comprising:
 a base;   upturned peripheral panels surrounding the base, the base and upturned peripheral panels forming a basin;   a plurality of upstanding spaced apart non-linear treads on the base within the basin;   the treads being arrayed in rows with the treads of at least one row being oriented oppositely from treads of an adjacent row;   each tread having a plurality of sides extending upwardly from the base;   at least some of the sides of each tread being substantially parallel to a corresponding side of an adjacent one of the treads;   the sides of the treads forming non-linear channels that resist the free flow of liquid across the base.   
     
     
         29 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 28  wherein at least some of the treads comprise an arcuate side. 
     
     
         30 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 28  and further comprising a logo feature projecting upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         31 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the logo feature is located among the plurality of upstanding treads. 
     
     
         32 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the logo feature is substantially oval in shape. 
     
     
         33 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the logo feature has a curved side extending upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         34 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the logo feature is located among the plurality of upstanding treads, at least some of the upstanding treads adjacent the logo feature having a curved side. 
     
     
         35 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the curved sides of the upstanding treads adjacent the logo feature are spaced from and substantially follow the curve of the curved side of the logo feature. 
     
     
         36 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the logo feature comprises sides that extend upwardly from the base and that define a substantially oval shape, and a recessed floor bounded by the upstanding sides, the recessed floor for receiving a logo. 
     
     
         37 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising a retention feature on the base positioned to receive an anchor hook when the floor tray is disposed in a floor well of a vehicle, the retention feature comprising an outer wall that extends upwardly from the base to an annular rim, a recessed land inside the annular rim, and an opening in the recessed land for receiving the anchor hook. 
     
     
         38 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the outer wall of the retention feature is substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         39 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the retention feature is located among the upstanding treads and wherein the outer wall of the retention feature is curved, at least some of the upstanding treads adjacent the retention feature having a curved side facing the retention feature that substantially follows the curve of the outer wall of the retention feature. 
     
     
         40 . A vehicle floor tray as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the outer wall of the retention feature is substantially circular. 
     
     
         41 . A floor tray shaped to fit within the floor well of a vehicle, the floor tray comprising:
 a base;   upturned panels surrounding the base, the base and upturned panels forming a basin;   an array of upstanding spaced apart non-linear treads on the base within the basin;   the treads of the array being arranged in lines with the treads of at least one line of treads being rotationally oriented differently from treads of an adjacent line of treads;   each tread having a plurality of sides extending upwardly from the base;   at least some of the sides of each tread being substantially parallel to a corresponding side of an adjacent one of the treads;   the treads forming between them a network of convolutedly shaped channels that impedes the free flow of liquid across the base.   
     
     
         42 . A floor tray as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising a logo feature extending upwardly from the base amid the treads, the logo feature comprising a curved outer wall and a recessed central portion configured to receive a logo, at least some of the treads adjacent the logo feature having a curved side facing the logo feature. 
     
     
         43 . A floor tray as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the outer wall of the logo feature is substantially oval in shape and the curved sides of the adjacent treads are spaced from and generally follow the oval shape of the outer wall of the logo feature. 
     
     
         44 . A floor tray as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising a retention feature on the base for receiving an anchor hook when the floor tray is disposed in a floor well of a vehicle, the retention feature comprising an outer wall that projects upwardly from the base to an annular rim, a recessed land surrounded by the outer wall, and an opening in the recessed land for receiving an anchor hook. 
     
     
         45 . A floor tray as claimed in  claim 44  wherein the retention feature is located amidst and spaced from the upstanding treads, and wherein the outer wall of the retention feature is curved, at least some of the upstanding treads adjacent the retention feature having a curved side facing the retention feature that substantially follows the curve of the outer wall of the retention feature. 
     
     
         46 . A floor tray as claimed in  claim 45  wherein the outer wall of the retention feature is substantially circular in shape.