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Car boot liners are mats for automobile boot or trunk to protect the surface against damage or dirt, and to pad cargo against abrasion or shock. The main purpose is for the boot liner to bear the brunt of wear and tear. Boot liners are usually removable so they may be cleaned or replaced.
Contents
Types
The standard PVC boot liner is universal in nature and then trimmed to fit by the end user. It is ideally developed for simple shaping but in essence flat in nature.
Alternatively there are boot liners made from rubber which have a raised internal area and are tailored to fit the flat space within the boot. These are usually non-slip for the top surface and the internal area designed to prevent spillages or liquid leakages across the rest of the vehicle boot space.
These can usually be rolled to then be portable and removed with ease and replaced if necessary.
There are also boot liners which are with a very high raised lip usually made from TPE or a form of thermoplastic material that is vacuum formed to offer protection right up to the sides. Whilst they offer good protection, they are much less flexible in terms of removal and cleaning.
Vehicle manufacturers have begun to offer products which are a mix of these two properties, whereby they have a raised outer edge, but are made from rubber. Therefore, they are easy to roll up and remove if necessary but also offer good protective properties and are still non-slip.
There are also highly tailored boot liners available often made from PVC or Cloth, These liners offer protection for the boot area (floor, sides and back of seats) and are often available in several configurations and colours as specified by the customer. These liners are usually specifically designed for individual car models.
Those wanting to protect all of the interior of the boot (floor, sides and back of seats including the roof lining and bumper bar) can use a heavy duty polyester boot liner. These are designed to be fitted when needed and stored under the seat or in the spare tyre area when not. This type of liner can withstand heavy domestic use and are water resistant (not waterproof). They are not tailored to a specific vehicle and are available in small and large sizes to suit most hatches, wagons, SUVs and 4WD vehicles.
Some boot liners are designed to overlap over the bumper edge to prevent damage during loading. This has been developed also by car manufacturers to offer all-around protection.
Materials
Boot liners are commonly made with several different types of synthetic or natural rubber.
Patent
A patent for a "motor vehicle boot insert" was approved in 1993.
A patent for an "Abstract Receptacle for vehicles" was granted in 2012.