Patent Application
20210353085
N/A
The present invention relates generally to mats, but more particularly to an improved anti-fatigue mat.
As well known in the art, anti-fatigue mats are configured to help users working in standing positions for prolonged periods of time. The anti-fatigue mats help to stimulate blood flow in the legs and lower extremities resulting in improved blood circulation and less fatigue.
The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In one aspect of the invention, an improved anti-fatigue mat is provided, comprising a base member constructed from an elastomeric material, the base member having a top surface configured to receive a foot or shoe of a user; and, a disk configured to rotate, wherein a substantial portion of the disk is embedded into the base member.
In one embodiment, the elastomeric material is rubber, closed-cell foam, polypropylene, ploy-vinyl chloride, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, the disk has a flat top surface. In one embodiment, the flat top surface of the disk is approximate to at least a portion of the top surface of the base member. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of raised elements protruding from the top surface of the base member is provided. In one embodiment, at least one of the plurality or raised elements includes a textured surface. In another embodiment, the base member is rectangular. In yet another embodiment, the disk is configured to rotate 360 degrees in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction.
In another aspect of the invention, an improved anti-fatigue mat is provided, comprising a base member constructed from an elastomeric material, the base member having a base top surface configured to receive a foot or shoe of a user; and, a disk configured to rotate, the disk having a disk top surface, wherein the disk top surface is flush with at least a portion of the base top surface.
In one embodiment, a substantial portion of the disk is embedded into the base member. In another embodiment, the disk top surface is flat. In yet another embodiment, the disk is configured to rotate 360 degrees in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction. In one embodiment, the elastomeric material is rubber, closed-cell foam, polypropylene, ploy-vinyl chloride, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, a plurality of raised elements protruding from the top surface of the base member is provided. In one embodiment, wherein at least one of the plurality or raised elements includes a textured surface. In yet another embodiment, the base member is rectangular.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present disclosure so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood and so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide an improved anti-fatigue mat.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Any reference to “or” herein is intended to encompass “and/or” unless otherwise stated. As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of a specified number or positioning.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the base member 105 is constructed from an elastomeric material configured to provide relief to the user as well as help to stimulate blood flow in the legs and lower extremities resulting in improved blood circulation and less fatigue for the user. In some embodiments, the elastomeric material is rubber, closed-cell foam, polypropylene, ploy-vinyl chloride, or a combination thereof. However, it should be understood that other materials may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It is a particular advantage of the improved anti-fatigue mat 100 to provide a rotating disk 120. The rotating disk is configured to rotate 360 degrees in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction. The rotating disk enables the user to rotate the disk via their leg movements in either direction. In one embodiment, the disk is provided in the center of the improved anti-fatigue mat 100, however, it should be understood that the location of the disk may vary. In one embodiment, the disk has a flat top surface, however various textures may be provided. In one embodiment, a substantial portion of the disk is embedded into the base member. A substantial portion is defined as 75% or more of the height of the disk being embedded into the base member, which exposes 25% or less of the disk above the base member. Visually, this can be seen in the accompanying
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Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.
In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.
