Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a yoga mat which can be reduced in exterior surface area to promote easy handling, carrying, and storage.
Description of the Background Art
This section describes background subject matter related to the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. There is no intention, either express or implied, that the background art discussed in this section legally constitutes prior art.
Yoga has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past decade. Classes and practice groups outside the home are becoming more available and offer advantageous opportunities for enthusiasts. As a result, there is a need for a convenient manner for transport of the yoga mat.
There are a number of U.S. patents which relate to yoga mats, and a portion of these are briefly discussed below to illustrate concepts which, while different from the present invention, illustrate functional capabilities which are of interest to a yoga mat user. However, none of these patents relate to a yoga mat which has a structural configuration comparable with the present inventive yoga mat.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,381 to Woods et al., issued Dec. 17, 2013, relates to a yoga or exercise mat shape that allows instructors and students to see each other in all yoga poses without re-positioning mats. The mat shape also ensures that the participants maintain all body parts on the mat during all poses. The mat is further provided as a one-piece configuration to allow an easy and hassle-free set up and use experience. In particular, the mat is a one-piece integral yoga mat, comprising (a) an elongate yoga mat body portion; (b) first and second cross arm portions extending from the elongate yoga mat body portion and integrally formed with the elongate yoga mat body portion such that the cross arms are not removable therefrom, wherein the cross arms extend from the yoga mat body portion in such a way as to define a head portion and a lower portion, . . . further comprising a score line formed where each cross arm extends from the elongate yoga mat body portion, wherein each score line defines a line where the thickness of the yoga mat is decreased in order to ease inward folding of the first and second cross arm portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,765,253 to Smaldone et al., issued Jul. 1, 2014, describes an exercise mat which includes a knit spacer fabric having a first ground fabric spaced apart from a second ground fabric in an uncompressed state. The exercise mat can be can be configured to be rolled up and compressed for storage and to expand into a planar spaced apart arrangement between the first and second ground fabrics for use.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,769,742 to Thornton et al., issued Jul. 8, 2014, discloses a device that is comprised of a flexible material and a roll mechanism associated with the flexible material. A bistable resilient member maintains the flexible material flat due to a tension force within the body of the bistable resilient member in a first stable state, and maintains the flexible material to a rolled-up, bundled closed position after the tension force within the body of the bistable resilient member is fully released (the second stable state). Further, the bistable resilient member compels the flexible material to a self-roll-up motion (during the transition state) while a tension force within the body of the bistable resilient member is released.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,822,012 to Franks et al., issued Sep. 2, 2041, discloses a mat including a compressible first layer, openings formed through one or more first portions and columns disposed in/proximate to the openings. One or more second portions, or at least one column, or both may be configured to be depressed to provide support and traction. The disclosure further provides a towel including an absorption layer and a compressible region of flexible fiber disposed on one or more first portions of a top surface of the absorption layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,966,681 to Burch, issued Mar. 3, 2015, describes a mat which comprises an origin that is positioned along one of a first axis and a second axis; a first indicia that is positioned symmetrically relative to the origin; and a second indicia that is positioned symmetrically relative to only one of the axes. The first indicia can include a plurality of longitudinal lines that are substantially parallel to one another. The plurality of longitudinal lines can include (I) a longitudinal centerline, (ii) a pair of second longitudinal lines that are equally spaced on either side of the longitudinal centerline, (iii) a pair of second longitudinal lines that are equally spaced on either side of the longitudinal centerline, and (iv) a pair of third longitudinal lines that are equally spaced on either side of the longitudinal centerline.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,004,967 to Yeh, issued Apr. 14, 2015, relates to a skid-proof sports mat. The sports mat includes a foam sheet, an adhesive bonding film, a patterned layer, and a skid proof layer. The foam sheet is made of polyethylene foam. The adhesive bonding film applied to a top surface of the foam sheet. The patterned layer has a plastic film and a pattern printed in a bottom surface of the plastic film, The plastic film together with the pattern is joined on top of the adhesive bonding film. The skid proof layer, made of thermal plastic rubber, is coated over a top surface of the plastic film. Additionally, the skid proof layer together with the patterned layer, the adhesive bonding film and the foam sheet defines a plurality of indentations and protrusions over a top surface of the skid proof layer so as to strengthen connection thereby.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,028,383, issued May 12, 2015 relates to corable containers and accessories. A core provides a form for rolling an accessory around it. The accessory wrapped around the core may include a mat. The core includes a bottle and a container, utilizing what would otherwise be a void at the center of a rolled up mat for storage. The bottle and container may have twist-off lids which form resealable closures. The bottle and container may also couple with one another via opposing reverse threads at the bottom of each of the bottle and container. The twist-off lids may also include connection points for a carry-strap, the carry-strap including a buckle for adjusting the length of the carry-strap to make it a yoga stretching-strap. The mat includes elastic bands through grommets at an end of the mat. The bands are tensioned to secure the core when it is rolled inside the mat via the bands being wrapped around the rolled-up mat and core.
The references discussed above may be a small portion of the references which exist in the art. Applicant is providing these references because the technology of the kind described below could be used in combination with other technology to implement features of yoga mats which can benefit from applicant's invention.
The invention relates to a yoga mat which comprises at least one folding depression, which is generally located within the upper portion of the yoga mat, which extends downward from the surface on which the user of the yoga mat stands during practice. The depth of the depression depends upon the thickness of the yoga mat. When the yoga mat is a thicker mat, where the overall thickness ranges from about 0.25 inch to about 0.35 inch, for example and not by way of limitation, it may be desirable to place an additional folding depression in the lower, floor-contacting surface of the yoga mat which is aligned with the folding depression located within the upper portion of the yoga mat.
Typically folding depression(s) are not placed solely on the lower, floor-contacting surface area, because the upper surface of the yoga mat needs to be kept clean, and folding the upper surface together keeps that surface clean while the mat is handled. When the mat is sufficiently thick, depressions may be placed on the lower, floor-contacting surface area of the mat at a location which directly opposes the depressions on the upper surface of the mat. The lower depressions are used to reduce the stress created on the lower surface of the mat when the upper surface of the mat is folded together. The at least one depression in the upper surface of the mat enables the easy and flat folding of the mat, in a manner such that the upper surface portion of the mat, which contacts a user's body during use of the mat, is not in contact with any other mat surface (than the upper surface portion of the mat) when the folded yoga mat is rolled up.
The folding depressions of the yoga mat are designed to permit folding of the mat in a manner which provides a smaller dimension across the width of the folded mat, so that when the mat is rolled up, the mat can be carried on the user's back more easily, without bumping. The folded mat can be rolled up and carried more easily because the edges of the folded mat are designed not extend past the shoulder width of most users of the mat. This reduces problems when the mat is carried on public transportation, in elevators, into cafes/restaurants, on camping expeditions, and within automobiles having limited trunk space.
The depressions which permit easier folding of the mat are formed using techniques which reduce the probability that, upon repeated folding of the mat, the upper surface of the mat and/or the interior material of the mat which lies beneath the upper surface, will crack or deteriorate over time. For example, depending on the material used to form the mat, the mat may be extruded with the depressions in place. In an alternative, heat and pressure may be applied to the upper surface of a mat to permanently deform the upper surface into the desired depressions. The purpose is not to cut or slice the mat surface, as this creates stress points within the mat which may fracture upon use of the mat and aging of the mat materials.
The folded mat rolls up evenly due to the folding depression design, and fits easily into a washing machine used to clean the mat. The folded mat may be strapped to the back of the user; may be carried in a carry bag with strap, purse, motorcycle saddle bags, a scooter top box, bicycle basket or rack; and may be easily stored in a gym locker, and in other confined spaces, for example and not by way of limitation.
The yoga mat lower surface which contacts a floor, for example, typically comprises a plastic, preferably elastomeric material. This material may have been chemically treated, texturized, or coated to provide a frictional contact with the flooring surface. By contrast, the upper contact surface is frequently formed from a fibrous material, such as a woven fabric, which is capable of resisting soiling, but simultaneously provides a good feeling on the feet of the user of the mat, while enabling traction by the user upon the upper surface of the mat.
In one preferred embodiment, the main body section of the yoga matt is consistent in composition throughout, down to a direct frictional contact with the floor, or down to a frictional coating which is in contact with the floor. The folding depressions formed into the upper portion of the main body section of the mat, may be formed into the mat, followed by a texturizing of the upper surface of the mat, or followed by application of the fibrous or woven layer to produce a desired feeling on the surface of the mat. In a second preferred embodiment, the depressions may be formed into the upper portion of the main body section of the mat after a fibrous or woven layer is applied, so that both the surface layer and the underlying main body are deformed simultaneously.
In some embodiments, where the mat is particularly thick, it may be advisable to have a folding depression both on the top surface and directly beneath on the bottom surface of the mat. This helps to reduce stress on both the top surface and the bottom surface of the yoga mat. The yoga mat then includes an upper contact surface with a folding depression, supported by a main body portion which typically also contains a folding depression directly beneath the upper contact surface, and a frictional floor-contacting layer on the bottom includes a folding depression directly in line with the folding depression pattern on the top surface of the mat.
Typical yoga mat overall thicknesses range from about 0.125 inches to about 0.35 inches, by way of example, and not by way of limitation. When desired for use on a hard surface, the mat overall thickness may exceed the 0.35 inch dimension, in which case, it is helpful if there is a folding depression both on the top and the bottom of the mat to reduce stress within the mat. The depth of an individual folding depression depends mainly on the overall thickness of the mat, but may also be influenced by the materials of construction of the mat (which affect ease of folding). Typical folding depression depth for a single depression on the upper surface of the yoga mat ranges from about 20% to about 50% of the overall thickness of the mat, for example and not by way of limitation.
As discussed above, for yoga mats which are thicker, in excess of about 0.35 inch, it is helpful to use a folding depression on each surface of the yoga mat. The folding depression on the lower surface of the yoga mat may be less deep than the folding depression on the upper surface of the yoga mat, with the idea of reducing stress at the lower surface in the folded mat, while the folding depression on the upper surface provides for flat folding of the mat. This is particularly helpful when the lower portion of the mat is a high density foam material which provides a padding effect to reduce the transfer of forces from the floor into the body of the user of the mat. The thick-layer high density foam materials are more stress sensitive upon stretching than the thin layer, typically low density upper mat surface materials, and therefore the thick-layer main body of the yoga mat benefits from at least a small depth folding depression (about 10% or less of the overall thickness) to reduce stress.
Since many polymeric materials are notch sensitive, it is recommended that the folding depression be a gradually sloping depression formed using heat and pressure when possible, and that use of a knife edged slit to form a depression should be avoided, to increase the lifetime of the yoga mat.
The shape of the depression is a gradual slope toward the bottom of the depression. One preferred embodiment is a slope such that the depression forms a circle when the mat is folded. A circle is a very strong shape and this helps prevent crushing of the mat material over time, extending the useful lifetime of the mat.
So that the manner in which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are attained is clear and can be understood in detail, with reference to the particular description provided above, and with reference to the detailed description of exemplary embodiments, applicants have provided illustrating drawings. It is to be appreciated that the drawing is provided only to assist in understanding of the invention, and that certain well known materials and processes are not illustrated herein in order not to obscure the inventive nature of the subject matter of the disclosure.
As shown in
As shown in
One embodiment of the invention relates to a yoga mat which comprises at least one folding depression, which may be located on either side of the yoga mat. However, as illustrated in
The folding depression is typically a relatively shallow arc shape, which does not bother the user of the yoga mat, and which puts very little stress on the inside and outside surfaces of the mat when the mat is folded. In most instances a single fold in the mat is adequate to narrow the width of the matt sufficiently that a rolled up mat will not extend past the shoulders of the user. This permits the user to carry the folded and rolled mat easily strapped to his/her back, without bumping objects while carrying the mat. If the mat is particularly wide, it may be necessary to make two folds in the mat before rolling, as illustrated in
When the yoga mat is a thicker mat, having a thickness greater than about 0.25 inches, for example and not by way of limitation, it may be desirable to place an additional folding depression in the lower, floor-contacting surface of the yoga mat. Typically the depressions on the upper surface and lower surface of the mat are aligned with each other. An example of this is illustrated in
Typically, for thinner mats, having a thickness of about 0.30 inch or less, the folding depression(s) are placed on the upper, user-contacting surface of the yoga mat, because this surface is folded to the inside to keep it clean; and, since the stretched distance is smaller at the inside surface, the mat will last longer. It is possible to place the folding depression(s) on the exterior surface, but just not as desirable. A single folding depression is shown unfolded and folded in Figure sets 1 and 2; 4 and 5; and 6 and 7.
As shown in
The folding depressions of the yoga mat, as illustrated in
When the yoga mat is a wider mat of the kind shown in
In the mat embodiments where there are folding depressions in a mat surface, or in the embodiment where there are spacings between bottom sections of a mat surface layer, this permits easier folding of the mat, and reduces the probability that, upon repeated folding of the mat, the upper surface of the mat and/or the interior material of the mat which lies beneath the upper surface, will crack or deteriorate over time. When shaped folding depressions are used, the folding depressions may be easily formed by applying moderate heat and pressure to a number of synthetic, thermoplastic materials.
The yoga mat lower contact surface 105 and 106 in
When the main body section of the yoga matt has a consistent composition throughout, down to a direct frictional contact with the floor, or down to a frictional coating in contact with the floor, the folding depressions are typically formed into the upper portion of the main body section of the mat, to the depth desired, followed by texturizing of the upper surface of the mat, or followed by application of a fibrous layer of the kind previously described, to produce a desired amount of frictional contact on the upper surface. When the composition of the lower portion of the yoga mat is different from the composition desired on the upper surface of the mat, the folding depressions are typically formed in the within the upper 20% to 50% of the lower section of the mat material, preferably (but not by way of limitation) followed by application of a layer of upper surface frictional material over the surface of the depression-containing layer, so that the upper surface conforms with the depressions in the lower section of the mat material.
In some embodiments, where the mat is particularly thick, it may be advisable to have a folding depression both on the top surface and on the bottom surface of the mat, to reduce stress when the mat is folded. This is illustrated in
Typical yoga mat overall thicknesses range from about 0.125 inches to about 0.35 inches, by way of example, and not by way of limitation. When desired for use on a hard surface, the mat overall thickness may exceed the 0.35 inch dimension, in which case, it is particularly helpful if there is a folding depression both on the top and the bottom of the mat to reduce stress within the mat when the mat is folded. The depth of an individual folding depression depends mainly on the overall thickness of the mat, but may also be influenced by the materials of construction of the mat (which affect ease of folding). Typical folding depression depth for a single depression on the upper surface of the yoga mat ranges from about 20% to about 50% of the overall thickness of the mat, for example and not by way of limitation.
For yoga mats which are thicker, in excess of about 0.35 inch, it is helpful to use a folding depression on each surface of the yoga mat, and may be advantageous to have the folding depression on the lower surface of the yoga mat may be less deep than the folding depression on the upper surface of the yoga mat, with the idea of reducing stress at the lower surface in the folded mat, which has to stretch a greater distance when the mat is folded. This is particularly helpful when the lower portion of the mat is a high density foam material which provides a padding effect to reduce the transfer of forces from the floor into the body of the user of the mat. The thick-layer high density foam materials are more stress sensitive upon stretching. With this in mind, it is advantageous to provide at least a low depth folding depression (10% or lower of the high density foam material overall thickness) to reduce stress.
As an alternative for yoga mats which are thicker, as described above,
As shown in
The above described exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, as one skilled in the art can, in view of the present disclosure, expand such embodiments to correspond with the subject matter of the invention claimed below.