Patent Application
20230355018
The invention relates to exercise equipment, and in particular mats for exercise and activities such as yoga and Pilates.
Many different styles of exercise involve the use of personal, rollable fitness mats. For example, various forms of yoga, Pilates, and/or Barre typically involve the use of a personal size exercise mat. It is also common for people to bring their own personal mats to group classes where the mats are rolled for transportation, and people often roll them for storage purposes even when used in a home setting.
In use, these mats often become somewhat dirty, either from a person sweating during exercise, or simply because such mats are usually placed on a ground or floor surface.
Exercise mats such as these are easy to clean but are difficult to roll up without soiling. Many people resort to using the thinner mats specifically so that after they clean or use it, and they fold it in half before they roll it up. This is done so that dirt, cat hair, and other unpleasant things do not stick to the topside of the mat. This becomes more difficult to do as the thickness of the mat increases and can also causes creases in the mat and/or cause other damage or prematurely degrade the quality of the mat. What is needed, therefore, is a mat that may be rolled up in a manner that keeps at least one side clean without damaging or otherwise degrading the quality of the mat.
The present invention provides a unique way of cleaning and rolling up a yoga mat, Pilates mat or any other similar mat, in a manner that keeps at least one side of the mat clean. The invention includes 3 distinct components that are combined in a manner that allows it to be folded before being rolled tightly and efficiently, the fold keeping one side of the mat clean while it is rolled.
The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale.
The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
When the panels 10, 20, are connected and laid flat on a ground surface, the mat functions like any conventional exercise mat. However, when a user wishes to store or transport the mat, the mat has the two panels 10, 20, that may be folded together, approximately folded in half, with the interlocking member 12, 22, separating from one another and the top layer 30 pressing against itself. In this configuration, the top surface is largely protected from exterior elements while the bottom surfaces of the panels 10, 20 are exposed both above and below the mat 100. Now, the mat 100 may be rolled for storage and transport but while it is rolled, only the bottom surfaces of the panels 10, 20, are in contact with the ground/floor surface and, as it rolls, portions of the bottom surface only come into contact with other portions of the bottom surface such that the top surface remains clean.
More specifically,
The bottom two panels 10, 20 may be comprised of, but are not strictly limited to, foam, thermoplastic, or jute. Other similarly suitable materials are also acceptable. It is important that both bottom panels are approximately the same width. However, it is also important that each panel is not the exact same length. Ideal offsets have been found to be somewhere between 51%/49% and 55%/45%. For example, the lengths may be 37.5″ and 34.5″. The desired cuts vary in thickness and length based on the intended purpose and particular user, e.g. taller users may want a longer mat.
The rollable mat is much more desirable once the total thickness reaches upwards of 0.25 in-1 in, although the components come together and work together in the same manner at thinner and thicker dimensions.
The configuration of the two bottom panels and top layer allow the mat to first be folded together, as shown in
It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the rollable mat may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63339017 | May 2022 | US |
