Patent Application
20120227181
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
This invention is related to Yoga/Pilates mat covers including method of manufacture of same. In particular, an exercise mat cover for an exercise mat comprises a rectangular envelop made from a material with specific characteristics operative to easily receive the exercise mat. In an alternative embodiment, the exercise mat cover includes a carrying bag which may be used to conveniently transport the cover-mat combination.
The present invention relates to a cover for exercise mats. Such mats are generally used when practicing Yoga and Pilates in gyms, studios, outdoors, and private classrooms. Pilates and Yoga mats are the same size. The standard Yoga and Pilates mat is 24 inches wide×68 inches long. Some are 24 inches wide×72 inches long for taller practitioners. The cover of the present invention maybe tailored to fit all Yoga mats and Pilates mats regardless of their dimensions.
Yoga and Pilates requires mostly only two things. The participant and a Yoga/Pilates mat. Yoga and Pilates mats are essential for safety. They protect the user from slipping while providing cushioning. In general, Yoga and Pilates mats need to be durable, odorless, and comfortable. Currently most Yoga and Pilates mats do not fulfill these requirements. The disadvantages of the existing mat covers are several. For instance, they contain a chemical odor or PVC which has a chemical odor and has also been shown to have hazardous to individual's health. They are also hard to clean needing to be scrubbed down and left to dry. A few that are machine washable still have to be left out over night to dry. They also emanate strong rubbery smell and retain odors. The existing mat covers also suffer from being easily worn out. While exercising, the user's sweat also renders the cover slippery and undesirable due to the retained odor.
Due to the above deficiencies of the Yoga and Pilates mats on the market today, a participant will bring a towel to their Yoga or Pilates class. The towel is placed over the mat to stop from slipping and to help keep the mat clean. Bringing a heavy towel is inconvenient and can create more work in cleaning. A towel also bunches and retains water causing slippage and difficulty in balancing. Even with a towel on top of the mat it still leaves the bottom of the mat unprotected thereby exposing it to the unsanitary conditions of the floor.
The mat cover of the present invention protects the mat used during Yoga and Pilates. The invention is a removable Yoga and Pilates mat cover made of two fabric panels together on all four sides with the opening on the bottom of the fabric cover. The mat fits between the two fabric panels when inserted into the bottom opening. The bottom opening is secured closed with a zipper to prevent the mat cover from coming off the mat. The cover tautly encloses all sides of the mat to first protect the mats durability. The eco friendly cover is also water and odor resistant protecting the mat from becoming slippery and retaining an odor.
In addition to the safety and durability the mat cover of the present invention, it is completely user friendly in every aspect. Having slits on the bottom, a mat easily fits into the cover and is then zipped into it. According to one aspect of the invention, attached at the end of the mat cover is a carrying bag that the mat inside the mat cover can roll right into, making the roll-and-go transportation of the mat cover convenient and easy. What makes the mat cover of the present invention a must for today's Yoga participants are that it's ease in cleaning. It is machine washable and dryable and doesn't require special treatment. Generally, participants' Yoga mats are quite expensive which can cost upwards of $200. The mat cover allows the original mat to remain protected and able to be used for years. The material used for the mat cover is a lightweight eco friendly fabric that is strong, comfortable, and prevents odors and water from soaking into the yoga mat. The bottom material used on our cover keeps the yoga mat from moving around.
Although various covers have been proposed, they do not provide solutions to the existing limitations in providing a vehicle cover with a distinctive look. For example, the Wechsler patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,816 entitled “Exercise mat ensemble and method of use” discloses an exercise mat ensemble for use in exercise disciplines such as yoga that involve floor exercises and positions. A vinyl padded sticky mat is covered with a sheet of washable absorbent fabric that overlays the sticky mat on all four sides. The fabric sheet may be extended at one transverse end with sufficient fabric that when folded over more than once it forms a cushion to aid in certain exercises and positions. When the fabric sheet is placed on top of the mat and the two are rolled together the fabric extension encloses the mat within the roll. The extension may also be stitched to form an envelope or stitched on each side to form channels into which drawstrings are placed, both capable of forming a case around the rolled mat and fabric sheet. A strap may be added to the ensemble to assist in certain exercises and positions and also to be incorporated into the rolled mat and fabric sheet for use as a carrying strap. The fabric extension may also be separate from the main fabric sheet to increase the number of fold possibilities, to provide added assistance for specific exercises and positions, and to serve as a meditation blanket. A sheath may be used to cushion the strap for ease of carrying. However, the Wechsler invention does not provide for a cover that is made from the specific properties as described below, it does not provide for an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat, and it may not be used in various environmental temperatures.
The Swanger et al. patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,164 entitled “Nap Mat Cover” discloses a removable nap mat cover which is made of two fabric panels and has one end closed with an end fastener. The nap mat slips between the fabric panels. The end fastener secures the fabric panels together for about ⅔ of their width defining openings large enough for a person's hand to fit through. The end fastener prevents the nap mat cover from coming off the mat. The end fastener may be hook and loop fastener. However, the Swanger et al. invention does not provide for a cover that is made from the specific properties as described below, it does not provide for an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat, and it may not be used in various environmental temperatures.
The Pond patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,300 entitled “Mat Cover With Self Encased Pillow” discloses a mat cover which is constructed of an upper and lower panel having a mat therebetween, and a pillow containing pouch overlaying the upper panel, with the pillow containing pouch defined by a folded flap attached to the top edge and side portions of the lower panel. However, the Pond invention does not provide for a cover that is made from the specific properties as described below, it does not provide for an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat, and it may not be used in various environmental temperatures.
The Scott patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,530 entitled “Cover for Exercise Pad” discloses a washable fabric cover which fits over a folding exercise or rest mat or pad and can be folded with the pad inside into a compact package for carrying. The cover is a generally rectangular envelope having a head portion and a foot portion and is enclosed at the end of the head portion and along its opposed longitudinal sides and open at the end of the foot portion to form a top layer and a bottom layer of material. A pocket on the top layer at the head portion removably receives a pillow or other articles. A length of material extends outwardly from the open end to be folded over and substantially cover the top layer to serve as a blanket to cover a person laying on the covered pad and can be folded and received within the open end in a stored condition. A pair of flexible loops secured to the bottom layer form carrying straps when the cover and the enclosed pad is in the compact package for carrying. The cover with the enclosed pad is foldable accordion style such that the pocket is disposed on an outer side of the folded configuration or can be folded inwardly upon itself from each end such that the pocket is disposed on the inside of the folded configuration. Alternatively, the sheet portion may be removable and a second pocket may be provided on the bottom layer at the foot portion for storing the sheet portion or other articles. However, the Scott invention does not provide for a cover that is made from the specific properties as described below, it does not provide for an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat, and it may not be used in various environmental temperatures.
The Westgor patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,545 entitled “Combined Mat and Carrying Bag Unit” discloses a combination mat and carry bag unit which includes a sheet of pliable material defining a mat of size to accommodate a person thereon for use as an exercise mat, beach mat or the like. The sheet has a drawstring casing extending about its periphery. The casing has two openings therein on opposite sides of the mat and a drawstring is received in the drawstring casing and is of size to extend continuously about the periphery of the sheet when it defines a mat. The drawstring is slidably received in the drawstring casing so that when portions of the drawstring are pulled out of the drawstring casing through the two openings, the periphery of the sheet forms gathers adjacent the casing to permit the periphery to reduce in size whereby the unit forms a carrying bag. Those portions of the drawstring which are pulled out of the casing are secured together adjacent the openings to form a handle for the carrying bag. However, the Westgor invention does not provide for a cover that is made from the specific properties as described below, it does not provide for an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat, and it may not be used in various environmental temperatures.
The Crowne patent application, PCT Pat. App. No. PCT/US2010/040544 entitled “Exercise Mat” discloses an inventive mats system is provided in which a towel can be removed and changed when desired. The mat system can be manipulated into a rolled configuration. When rolled, a logo on the bottom of the base mat is visible. Elastic straps are used to keep the mat in the rolled configuration for easy toting and storage. However, the Crowne invention does not provide for a cover that is made from the specific properties as described below, it does not provide for an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat, and it may not be used in various environmental temperatures.
In brief, the above mentioned references disclose covers or variations thereof for mats that formed envelopes into which the mats had to be inserted at the end of the mat. The insertions cannot be accomplished quickly during the course of an exercise period. Other systems described secured mat covers which also cannot be quickly and easily removed and replaced. None of these references provide a mat with a water and odor resistant cover. A cover that is absorbent means that a person standing on their mat cover would be able to feel their perspiration under their feet and smell it. Also the person would be exposing themselves to bacteria and discomfort when lying down on the mat cover. The mat cover of the present invention is the only water and odor resistant cover. None also provide a simple mat and a cover which enables the cover to be easily removed and replaced during the exercise session. None of the above references can be used in all types of environments. Specifically, none can be used outdoor or inside a 105 degrees room. Furthermore, there is no need for solvents, sprays, or wipes because the mat cover of the present invention is machine washable and dryable.
In one aspect, a cover for an exercise mat is disclosed which comprises a substantially rectangular envelope made from a material that is nonabsorbent, water resistant, odor resistant, recyclable, and easily rolled onto itself. Specifically, the rectangular envelope includes an upper and a lower panel that are stitched along their perimeters but having a rectangular cut along two longitudinal sides and one transverse side which creates an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat within the cover. The flap includes one or more fastener to secure the mat inside the cover tightly so as to prevent unwanted movements. The cover and mat so assembled can be used in various environmental temperatures.
According to one preferred embodiment, the material is made from a washable fabric and maybe also dryable via a household drying machine.
According to one preferred embodiment, the rectangular cut is substantially long such that a total surface area of the opening flap is between 50% and 98% of the lower panel total surface area.
According to one preferred embodiment, the one or more fastener comprises at least one of a snap fastener, button fastener, zipper fastener, and hook and loop fastener.
According to one preferred embodiment, the exercise mat is one of a Yoga mat and Pilates mat.
According to one preferred embodiment, the cover further comprises a plurality of surface grippers operable to maintain the combination of the cover and mat in position and to resist movement.
According to one preferred embodiment, the cover further comprises an extended lip attachable to a carrying bag via one or more fasteners. Preferably, the carrying bag comprises a receiving port operable to receive the combination of the cover and mat when rolled. Preferably, the receiving port comprises one or more fastener operable to close the receiving port following placement of the rolled combination of the cover and mat inside the carrying bag.
In another aspect, a combination of a carrying bag and cover for an exercise mat is disclosed wherein the cover comprises a substantially rectangular envelope made from a material that is nonabsorbent, water resistant, odor resistant, recyclable, and easily rolled onto itself Specifically, the rectangular envelope includes an upper and a lower panel that are stitched along their perimeters but having a rectangular cut along two longitudinal sides and one transverse side which creates an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat within the cover. The flap includes one or more fastener to secure the mat inside the cover tightly so as to prevent unwanted movements. The cover further comprises an extended lip attachable to the carrying bag via one or more fasteners, the carrying bag includes a receiving port operable to receive a cover-mat combination of the cover and mat when rolled; and the receiving port comprises one or more fastener operable to close the receiving port following placement of the rolled cover-mat combination inside the carrying bag. The combination of the carrying bag and cover provides for convenient transportation of the cover-mat combination.
In another aspect, a method of making a cover for an exercise mat is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a substantially rectangular envelope made from a material that is nonabsorbent, water resistant, odor resistant, recyclable, and easily rolled onto itself and the rectangular envelop comprising an upper and lower panel. The method further includes stitching together the upper panel and lower panel along their entire perimeters and cutting the lower panel along two longitudinal sides and one transverse side to create an opening flap for easy placing and removal of the mat within the cover. The flap includes one or more fastener to secure the mat inside the cover tightly so as to prevent unwanted movements. The cover and mat so assembled can be used in various environmental temperatures.
According to one preferred embodiment, the method further includes the step of providing a plurality of surface grippers operable to maintain the combination of the cover and mat in position and to resist movement.
According to one preferred embodiment, the method further includes the step of providing an extended lip attachable to a carrying bag via one or more fasteners.
In one preferred embodiment, the mat 102 is a Yoga mat known to artisans of ordinary skill. Depending on the ratio of the surface area of the opening flap 104 to the surface area of the lower panel 109, there are two pocket inserts 103 to enable fast placement and removal of the mat 102 within the cover 101. The ratio between the two surface areas may range between 50% and 98% providing for different size pocket inserts 103 for different types of mat 102. The opening flap 104 includes two zippers along the two longitudinal sides 105 and Velcro along the transverse side 106.
The opening flap 404 comprises one or more fasteners along its two longitudinal sides 405 and transverse side 406, similar to that discussed above in relation with
The foregoing discloses an eco-friendly exercise mat cover for an exercise mat. The cover is made from a material with specific characteristics which is lightweight fabric that is strong, comfortable, and prevents odors and water from soaking into the mat. The cover-mat combination is useable in various environmental temperatures. The cover comprises an opening flap for easy placement and removal of the mat. In one instance, the exercise mat cover includes a carrying bag which may be used to conveniently transport the cover-mat combination.
The foregoing explanations, descriptions, illustrations, examples, and discussions have been set forth to assist the reader with understanding this invention and further to demonstrate the utility and novelty of it and are by no means restrictive of the scope of the invention. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which are intended to define the scope of this invention.
