Patent Application
20140130247
This disclosure relates to implementations of a full-body bath mat.
Existing bath mats are typically designed to be centered on the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping. These mats provide no body or back support. Other bath mats may be designed to cover a back wall of a tub but these mats are simply surface mats and provide no support. Still further, existing bath mats do not have a flexible design to fit any tub shape (e.g., oval, square, etc.).
Implementations of a full body mat are provided. In some implementations, the full body mat comprises a plurality of circular-shaped cushions, wherein each of the plurality of circular-shaped cushions has one or more suction cups on the back to secure the cushion to a surface. Each of the plurality of circular-shaped cushions can be =sized based on the location of the cushion. Furthermore, each of the plurality of circular-shaped cushions is filed with a material to provide support.
In some implementations, the circular-shaped cushions may be connected by circular shaped tabs 120. In some implementations, the tabs may be configured to connect to other tabs on other cushions. In some implementation, the tabs may have suctions on their back or may not.
The circular-shaped cushions can be filled with any material that provides support or comfort such as, but not limited to, gel, foam, beads, water, or air.
The outer surface of the circular-shaped cushions may be made of any material including, but not limited to, any water-proof or water-resistant material, or natural or synthetic fabrics that are laminated to or coated with a waterproofing material such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer, fluoropolymers, and wax.
In some implementations, the tabs are made out of the same surface material as the circular-shaped cushions. In some implementations, the tabs may be filled with the same or different material as the filling in the circular-shaped cushions. In some implementations, the tabs may have elasticity to provide some flexibility in the positioning of the circular-shaped cushions.
In some implementations, at least some of the circular-shaped cushions are positioned to support particular body parts. For example, cushions 1 and 2 may be positioned and used to support a user's neck; cushion 3 may be positioned and used to support a user's upper back; cushions 4 and 5 may be positioned and used to support a user's shoulders; cushion 6 may be positioned and used to support a user's mid-back; cushions 7 and 8 may be positioned and used to provide support for a user's lower back; cushion 9-11 may be positioned and used to support a user's buttock and hips; cushion 12 may be positioned and used to provide support for a user's knees (e.g., when the user is kneeling to position him/herself on the mat or when exiting the bathtub). In some implementations, cushions 1 and 2 may be positioned closer to the top edge of the bathtub and some implementation, some portion of cushions 1 and 2 may be position higher than the top edge of the bathtub.
In some implementations, the cushions can have a different thickness. In some implementation, the thickness is based on the location of the cushion. For example, cushion 12 may be thicker than any of the other cushions to provide additional support of the knees.
In some implementations, the full-body bath mat of
In some implementations, the full-body bath mat can include a greater or lesser number of cushions. In some implementations, the circular-shaped cushions are removably attached to the connector cushions. In some implementations, stand-alone circular-shaped cushions may be provided for additional support to extend the bath mat.
In some implementations, the circular-shaped cushions can be different sizes. In some implementations, one or more or all of the circular-shaped cushions can be the same size. In some implementation, the circular-shaped cushions are sized based on the location of the cushion. For example,
The implementations of a full-body bath mat according to the principles of this disclosure may fit different tub shapes and provide body and back support.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in an embodiment” or “an implementation” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.
The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/726,772, which was filed on Nov. 15, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61726772 | Nov 2012 | US |
