Abstract: Portable vacuum systems are provided. In one embodiment, a portable vacuum system includes a tank, an engine, and a transportation system. The engine is configured to generate a vacuum within the tank. The transportation system illustratively has one or more wheels and is configured to tilt the tank about an axis that is between a front and a back of the tank. In other embodiments, a portable vacuum system may also include a swivel elbow that connects the tank to a vacuum wand, a ledge that supports the engine, a back door that forms a seal with the tank along a curved lip, and a filter that is accessible through a threaded cover on the tank. Additionally, one or more of the components of a system may be made utilizing rotational molding.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure describes a surface protector comprising a mat and a nib array. The mat includes a first material having a first hardness value. The nib array includes a second material having a second hardness value greater than the first hardness value. The nib array further includes a plurality of nibs connected by a lattice. In another aspect, the disclosure describes a method for making a surface protector. The method includes forming a nib array including a first material having a first hardness value. The nib array further includes a plurality of nibs connected by a lattice. The method includes attaching a mat to the nib array, the mat including a second material having a second hardness value less than the first hardness value.

Abstract: Vehicle floor mat or floor liner kits are provided. In one embodiment, a vehicle floor mat or floor liner kit includes one or more vehicle floor mats or liners, and a clip. Each vehicle floor mat or liner has at least one aperture. The clip has first and second portions. The first portion is configured to secure the clip to a floor of a vehicle. The second portion is configured to secure the floor mat or liner to the clip utilizing the at least one aperture. In another embodiment, a vehicle floor mat or liner clip includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a threaded aperture and an annular ring that surrounds the threaded aperture. The annular ring has a titled surface between an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The bottom portion has a threaded shaft, a disk, and a fastener section.

Abstract: Multi-piece vehicle bed rail covers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle bed rail cover includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has at least one end that includes a raised feature, and the second portion has at least one end that is free from raised features. The first and the second portions are illustratively joined together in such a manner that a seam is concealed at least in part by the raised feature. The vehicle bed rail cover can also include additional raised features that may be perpendicular or angled with respect to a length of the bed rail cover. Furthermore, the vehicle bed rail cover may include one or more locking mechanisms to join the different portions together, and the vehicle bed rail cover may be made in part by utilizing injection molding.

Abstract: Portable vacuum systems are provided. In one embodiment, a portable vacuum system includes a tank, an engine, and a transportation system. The engine is configured to generate a vacuum within the tank. The transportation system illustratively has one or more wheels and is configured to tilt the tank about an axis that is between a front and a back of the tank. In other embodiments, a portable vacuum system may also include a swivel elbow that connects the tank to a vacuum wand, a ledge that supports the engine, a back door that forms a seal with the tank along a curved lip, and a filter that is accessible through a threaded cover on the tank. Additionally, one or more of the components of a system may be made utilizing rotational molding.

Abstract: Vehicle floor mat or floor liner kits are provided. In one embodiment, a vehicle floor mat or floor liner kit includes one or more vehicle floor mats or liners, and a clip. Each vehicle floor mat or liner has at least one aperture. The clip has first and second portions. The first portion is configured to secure the clip to a floor of a vehicle. The second portion is configured to secure the floor mat or liner to the clip utilizing the at least one aperture. In another embodiment, a vehicle floor mat or liner clip includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a threaded aperture and an annular ring that surrounds the threaded aperture. The annular ring has a titled surface between an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The bottom portion has a threaded shaft, a disk, and a fastener section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a bottom major surface configured to lie over and conform to contours of a vehicle floor surface; a top major surface opposite the bottom major surface having a base; an upwardly sloping wall portion extending from the base, the upwardly sloping wall portion configured to lie over and conform to contours of a vehicle surface; and a double wall disposed on the base at a location that is not on a perimeter of the apparatus, wherein the double wall comprises a plurality of ribs on the bottom major surface. The disclosure also describes a method including molding a label; inserting the molded label into a cavity of a mold; injecting a thermoplastic elastomer into the cavity to overmold the thermoplastic elastomer over at least portions of the label; curing the thermoplastic elastomer to form a mat; and removing the mat from the mold.

Abstract: Multi-piece vehicle bed rail covers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle bed rail cover includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has at least one end that includes a raised feature, and the second portion has at least one end that is free from raised features. The first and the second portions are illustratively joined together in such a manner that a seam is concealed at least in part by the raised feature. The vehicle bed rail cover can also include additional raised features that may be perpendicular or angled with respect to a length of the bed rail cover. Furthermore, the vehicle bed rail cover may include one or more locking mechanisms to join the different portions together, and the vehicle bed rail cover may be made in part by utilizing injection molding.

Abstract: A method of producing contoured vehicle floor mats having integrally formed nibs. The sheet is formed by a nib forming roll in an extrusion roll stack having a plurality of indentions. The nibbed sheet is placed onto the thermoform mold with the nibs directed away from the mold. The sheet is heated to a plastic state and stretched over the mold to form a contoured mat shaped to vehicle within a vehicle compartment, trunk or cargo area. The nibs on the underside of the mat contacts the floor covering and prevents the mats from sliding on the interior surface of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mud flap of the type typically used on motor vehicles is constructed of thermoplastic material that defines a cavity therein. An opening in the front surface of the mud flap communicates with the cavity. A bottom surface of the cavity defines an area that is larger than an area defined by edges of the opening such that the front surface overhangs the bottom surface of the cavity. A mud flap weight is sized such that when the mud flap is located within the cavity, the front surface overhang secures the mud flap within the cavity. The resulting mud flap assembly has a clean, attractive appearance and eliminates potentially dangerous bolt protrusions typically found on other designs.

Abstract: A method for making a cargo liner or a floor mat using a plastic molding process wherein a male mold includes a steel rule about its perimeter or a female mold includes a groove about its perimeter creating a ridge in the molded article to allow trimming of surplus material from the article along the ridge such that the dimensions of the finished article are determined by the ridge. In a preferred embodiment, an article is molded in a thermoforming process, the article thus produced includes a channel edge which enhances the appearance of the finished article and improves its structural integrity.