CHANGEABLE PLACEMAT SYSTEM

Abstract

A changeable placemat system is provided. The changeable placemat system may have a rigid unit and at least one flexible unit wherein the flexible unit may be selectively and temporarily inserted over the rigid unit for display and protection. As a result, a user may select between flexible units having various ornamental designs. The present device allows for both easy cleaning of a placemat as well and allowing a user to select different patterns to display on the placemat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A changeable placemat system is provided. The changeable placemat system may have a rigid unit and at least one flexible unit wherein the flexible unit may be selectively and temporarily inserted over the rigid unit for display and protection. As a result, a user may select between flexible units having various ornamental designs. The present device allows for both easy cleaning of a placemat as well and allowing a user to select different patterns to display on the placemat.

Patents related to placemats have been granted in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,603 to Horton discloses a placemat having integrated adhesive stickers or labels constructed as a single sheet integrated placemat product. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is fabricated from a preprinted bond paper sheet having an underlying silicone coated kraft paper liner adhered to at least a portion of the rear side of the preprinted bond paper sheet. Portions of the preprinted bond paper sheet have die cuts which permit removal of preprinted designs on the integrated adhesive stickers or labels. Children or other interested patrons complete drawings on the placemats by placing or positioning the adhesive stickers or labels wherever the children or other interested patrons choose on the placemats. If desired, the adhered stickers and/or the remainder of the placemats may be further decorated or colored using various writing instruments, including pencils, pens, ink markers and crayons, to create a picture or artistic scene.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,428 to Phillips discloses a placemat related product having a built-in storage pocket for customer entertainment. The placemat product provides the multiple functions of a sanitary tabletop placemat or tray liner, an entertainment device to occupy customers and a storage pocket to hold related entertainment items such as crayons, treats, games, children's menus, disposable wipes, small compact toys, promotional reply cards and the like all in one comprehensive, integrated product.

Still further, U.S. Pat. No. D481,248 to Maxwell discloses an ornamental design for a roll of placemats.

However, these devices fail to disclose a changeable placemat which is easy to use, quick and inexpensive. Further, these devices fail to provide a changeable placemat which allows a user to select between various ornamental patterns to be displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A changeable placemat system is provided. The changeable placemat system may have a rigid unit and at least one flexible unit wherein the flexible unit may be selectively and temporarily inserted over the rigid unit for display and protection. As a result, a user may select between flexible units having various ornamental designs. The present device allows for both easy cleaning of a placemat as well and allowing a user to select different patterns to display on the placemat.

An advantage of the present changeable placemat system is that the present changeable placemat system may allow a user to easily wash a placemat in, for example, a standard washing machine.

And another advantage of the present changeable placemat system is that the present changeable placemat may allow a user to display various ornamental covers.

Still another advantage of the present changeable placemat system is that the present changeable placemat may allow a user to protect a table by utilizing a rigid unit which protects a table from, for example, watermarks and scratches.

Yet another advantage of the present changeable placemat system is that the present changeable placemat may allow a user to replace worn or damaged placemats covers.

For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the present changeable placemat system reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Further, additional features and advantages of the invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the top of the changeable placemat wherein the flexible unit is secured over the rigid unit.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the top of the changeable placemat wherein the flexible unit is secured over the rigid unit

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the bottom of the changeable placemat wherein a portion of the flexible unit is visible from the underside of the rigid unit and wherein the flexible unit is secured to the rigid unit.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the flexible unit secured to the rigid unit.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the rigid unit and the flexible unit wherein the flexible unit is not secured around the rigid unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A changeable placemat system is provided. The changeable placemat system may have a rigid unit and at least one flexible unit wherein the flexible unit may be selectively and temporarily inserted over the rigid unit for display and protection. As a result, a user may select between flexible units having various ornamental designs. The present device allows for both easy cleaning of a placemat as well and allowing a user to select different patterns to display on the placemat.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a changeable placemat system 1. The changeable placemat system 1 may have a rigid unit 20 (FIG. 3) and at least one flexible unit 30. In an embodiment, the rigid unit 20 may be made from, for example, metal, stone, marble, plastic or any other suitable material. In an embodiment, the flexible unit 30 may be made from, for example, a plastic, cloth, rubber or the like. Preferably, the flexible unit 30 is machine washable.

The rigid unit 20 may have a top surface 21 (FIG. 5), a bottom surface 22 (FIG. 4) and a side 23 and wherein the top surface 21 is generally identical to the bottom surface 22. In an embodiment, the rigid unit 20 may have a diameter 25 and a height 26 wherein the height 26 is the measurement of the side 23. Although the pictures illustrate both the rigid unit 20 and flexible units 30 as circular, the rigid unit 20 and flexible units 30 may also be square in shape, rectangular in shape, oval in shape or any other suitable shape.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the flexible unit 30 may have a top surface (or “first surface”) 31 and a bottom surface (or “second surface”) 32. In an embodiment, the bottom surface 32 of the flexible unit 30 has a second pattern (illustrated as partial dots and partial plain in the drawings). The flexible unit 30 may be reversed/inverted so that the bottom surface 32 is now the exposed surface over the rigid unit 20. As a result, a user may select which or two patterns to use in display of the placemat 1.

Preferably, the flexible unit 30 is machine washable. The top surface 31 of the flexible unit 30 may have an ornamental design 35 (in the illustrations, a design of rope is utilized; however any ornamental design may be used). The flexible unit 30 may also have a diameter 37 (FIG. 2). The diameter 37 of the flexible unit 30 is generally slightly smaller than the diameter 25 of the rigid unit 20 so that the flexible unit 30 may be pulled over the rigid unit 20 and held in place by, for example, friction.

In an embodiment, the flexible unit 30 may have an elastic band 33 (FIG. 4) which (nearly) surrounds the diameter 37 of the flexible unit 30. Starting from the top 21, the elastic band 33 may therein be pulled over the side 23 and then partly onto the bottom surface 22 of the rigid unit 20 so that the flexible unit 30 remains temporarily secured to the rigid unit 20 as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. To remove the flexible unit 30 from the rigid unit 20 a user simply pulls a portion of the elastic band 33 outward so as to stretch a diameter 70 of the elastic band 33 to increase the diameter 70 so as to remove the flexible unit 30 from the rigid unit 20. Once removed, the flexible unit 30 may be cleaned or replaced with an alternative flexible unit 30 having an alternative ornamental design. Alternatively, the flexible unit 30 may be inverted to display a second ornamental pattern.

As stated above, the elastic band 33 may have a diameter 70 wherein the diameter 70 is less than the diameter 25 of the rigid unit 20 so that the flexible unit 30 may be held in place on the rigid unit 20 by friction. Once the flexible unit 30 is secured over the rigid unit 20 a portion 60 of the flexible unit 30 may cover the edge 23 of the bottom surface 22 of the rigid unit 20 and a portion of the bottom surface 22 of the rigid unit 20. Further, in an embodiment, a folded portion 61 of the flexible unit 30 may be folded back upon itself and attached to a surface 62 of the flexible unit 30 wherein the folded portion 61 contains a pocket which stores the elastic band 33. The folded portion 61 provides a smooth surface when the flexible unit 30 is inserted over the rigid unit 20 in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages

Claims

1) A changeable placemat system comprising: a first unit which is rigid the first unit having a top, a bottom and a side;a second unit which is flexible the second unit having a first surface and a second surface; andwherein the second unit is selectively and temporarily secured to the first unit.

2) The changeable placemat system of claim 1 further comprising: an elastic band secured to the second unit wherein the elastic band is capable of securing the second unit to the first unit by friction.

3) The changeable placemat system of claim 1 further comprising: an ornamental pattern located on the first surface of the second unit.

4) The changeable placemat system of claim 1an ornamental pattern located on the second surface of the second unit.

5) The changeable placemat system of claim 2 further comprising: a diameter of the elastic band wherein the diameter of the elastic band is less than a diameter of the rigid unit.