Patent Application
20090280295
Over the years, flexible mats have been used for a variety of applications. For example, a mat formed of plastic, cotton, or some other material may be placed beneath the floor of a tent while camping to insulate the tent from the ground. Rubberized mats are also commonly used as floor liners in messy or damp situations, such as restaurants and food processing warehouses. Unfortunately, conventional mats may not be easily transportable, flexible, or configured to allow water or other fluids to pass or permeate through the mat. The size and shape of conventional mats are also typically fixed, limiting their potential application and usefulness.
As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure generally relates to flexible mats and modular mat systems. For example, a flexible mat may comprise a plurality of components pivotably attached to one another. In certain examples, one or more substantially vertical apertures may be defined through one or more of the components used to form the mat.
The size (i.e., width or length) of a mat may be increased by attaching additional components to the sides or ends of the components used to form the flexible mat. In addition, a connecting structure may be used to connect a first mat to a second mat to form a modular mat system.
In certain embodiments, the pivotal connection of each component used to form a flexible mat may enable the flexible mat to be rolled up for convenient storage or transport. In an additional embodiment, a hinge member may be disposed between and pivotably attached to a pair of components used to form a flexible mat to enable the components of the flexible mat to be stacked or disposed on top of one another for convenient storage or transport.
Features from any of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure generally relates to a flexible mat and a modular mat system.
Components 120 may be pivotably attached to one another in a variety of ways. For example, as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, male coupling structure 126A may be configured to “snap fit” into female coupling aperture 129B when connector 124A is inserted into recess 128B. For example, female coupling aperture 129B may be defined to have a shape that generally embodies the inverse of the shape of male coupling structure 126A. Accordingly, when connector 124A is inserted into recess 128B, male coupling structure 126A may engage or snap fit into female coupling aperture 129B to pivotably attach first component 120A to second component 120B. In certain embodiments, first component 120A may be removably attached to second component 120B.
Each component 120 of mat 100 may be formed of any material or combination of materials. Examples of suitable materials that may be used to form components 120 include, without limitation, plastic, rubber, UV-resistant material, or any other suitable material. Components 120 may also be formed in any suitable shape or size. For example, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In at least one embodiment, a substantially vertical aperture may be defined through one or more of components 120 used to form exemplary mat 100 in
In at least one embodiment, an end component may be pivotably attached to at least one component 120 used to form exemplary mat 100. For example, as illustrated in
Similarly, a second end component 110 may be pivotably attached to first component 120A in
In an additional embodiment, a hinge component may be interposed between and pivotably attached to first component 120A and second component 120B in
For example, as illustrated in
Similarly, first hinge component 240A may be pivotably attached to a second component 220B by inserting a connector 242A of first hinge component 240A into a recess 228B defined by second connector 220B. In certain embodiments, when connector 242A is inserted into recess 228B, a male coupling structure 246A provided on connector 242A may engage a female coupling aperture 229A defined within recess 228B to pivotably attach first hinge component 240A to second component 220B. As illustrated in
As with exemplary mat 100 in
In at least one embodiment, one or more cushion or traction members 330 may be affixed to the underside of a flexible mat, such as flexible mats 100 and 200 in
As detailed above, a flexible mat according to the instant disclosure may be formed in a variety of shapes and sized by removably attaching or removing one or more components. In certain embodiments, the size of a mat may be increased by attaching one or more components to the ends of an existing mat structure.
In certain embodiments, first mat 402 may be removably attached to second mat 404 using one or more connecting structures 450.
In certain embodiments, connecting structure 450 may enable the creation of a mat in any shape or size. Moreover, as detailed above, the size of the mat may be modified by varying the shape and size of each individual component used to form the mat. In certain embodiments, each component used to form a mat may be 22 inches in length and 14 inches in width. In an alternative embodiment, each component used to form a mat may be 22 inches in length and 34.75 inches in width.
The exemplary mat and modular mat systems described and/or illustrated herein may be utilized in a variety of ways. For example, these mats and mat systems may be used as a vestibule mat for a tent. Many conventional tents come with an optional fly that may cover all or a portion of the tent to protect the tent from weather. Some tent flies extend out over the tent door, providing a sort of porch roof and storage area. This semi-protected area is commonly referred to as the “vestibule.” In addition to representing a convenient location for storing footwear and other gear, the vestibule area of a tent may provides campers with some protection from the weather while entering and exiting the tent. When used as a vestibule mat for a tent, the mats and mat systems disclosed herein may provide an area for users to wipe off footwear before entering the tent and a cleaner area for users to stand or place footwear when exiting the tent. These mats and mat systems may also suspend users and their footwear and/or camping gear from the ground underneath, which may be sandy or muddy.
The mats and mat systems disclosed herein may also be used as a tent ground cloth by placing the mat or mat system beneath a tent. The mat may elevate the tent from the ground and any moisture underneath. The mats and mat systems disclosed herein may also be used as a portable camping shower mat to prevent a user's feet from touching the ground or floor of a public shower while showering. These mats may also be used as a locker liner to elevate a user's items from the floor of a public locker.
The mats disclosed herein may also be used to suspend items off of the floor of a boat or aquatic apparatus to prevent water splashed into the boat or apparatus from damaging items suspended by the mat. The mats disclosed herein may also be used when grooming or washing animals, as liners for animal kennels or portable carriers, as a liner or suspended floor for animal cages (such as rabbit and chicken cages), and/or as a shelf liner for green houses. The mats disclosed herein may also be used as a liner for storage sheds to keep boxes off of the ground or floor, as floor mats for messy or damp situations (such as food processing warehouses, fish markets, and the like), as a floor or shelf mat in restaurants, as a floor mat in walk-in freezers, as a submersible mat for underwater operations, and as a cargo-bay liner for airplanes.
The mats disclosed herein may also be used as a shelf liner or cooling mat for electronics, computers, or other equipment that require air flow and heat dissipation. In addition, the mats disclosed herein may be used as a door mat, as a non-conductive mat for working in areas where electrical shock is possible, and as an anti-fatigue mat. These mats may also be used as a trivet for hot pans, warming trays, pots, or the like.
The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the instant disclosure.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having,” as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”
