U.S. patent application number 11/001661 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-01 for floating water mat.
Invention is credited to Charles G. JR. Detmar, Susan L. Detmar, Pamela S. Pole, Robert III Pole.
Application Number | 20060116039 11/001661 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36567939 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060116039 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pole; Robert III ; et
al. |
June 1, 2006 |
Floating water mat
Abstract
A floating mat is presented. The floating mat includes a core
having a top, a bottom and a plurality of sides. The core is
buoyant and non-inflatable. The core includes at least one
aperture, wherein the aperture accommodates removably connecting
and disconnecting the core to at least one additional floating
mat.
Inventors: |
Pole; Robert III; (Glen
Ellyn, IL) ; Detmar; Charles G. JR.; (Three Rivers,
MI) ; Pole; Pamela S.; (Glen Ellyn, IL) ;
Detmar; Susan L.; (Three Rivers, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
36567939 |
Appl. No.: |
11/001661 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 35/34 20130101;
B63B 34/00 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/129 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/58 20060101
B63B035/58 |
Claims
1. A floating mat for supporting a person to be able to run across
the mat while the mat floats on water, comprising: a core for
contacting the water, the core having a top, a bottom and a
plurality of sides, wherein the core is buoyant and non-inflatable,
and wherein the bottom includes a carpeted surface and the top
includes a slippery surface for running across while the mat floats
on water; and the core including at least one aperture, wherein the
aperture accommodates removably connecting and disconnecting the
core to at least one additional floating mat.
2. The floating mat of claim 1 further comprising a binding
positionable through the apertures.
3. The floating mat of claim 2 wherein the binding comprises a
rope.
4. The floating mat of claim 1 wherein the aperture is arranged to
secure an end of an anchor.
5. The floating mat of claim 1 wherein the core includes an
aperture that is sized such that a user is able to fit through the
aperture.
6. (canceled)
7. The floating mat of claim 1 wherein the aperture includes an
insert to prevent the core from being damaged.
8. A floating mat for supporting a person to be able to run across
the mat while the mat floats on water, comprising: a core for
contacting the water, the core having a top, a bottom and a
plurality of sides, wherein the core is buoyant and non-inflatable,
and wherein the top includes a slippery surface and the bottom
includes a carpeted surface for running across while the mat floats
on water; and a game indicia included on the top.
9. (canceled)
10. The floating mat of claim 8 wherein the core includes attaching
mechanisms.
11. The floating mat of claim 10 wherein the attaching mechanisms
comprise at least two apertures positioned through the
non-inflatable, core and at least one binding positionable through
the apertures.
12. The floating mat of claim 10 wherein the binding comprises a
rope.
13. The floating mat of claim 10 wherein the attaching mechanism
comprises a male portion of a snap and a corresponding female
portion of a snap.
14. The floating mat of claim 10 wherein the attaching mechanism
comprises a button and a corresponding loop hole.
15. The floating mat of claim 10 wherein the core includes an
aperture that is sized such that a user is able to fit through the
aperture.
16. (canceled)
17. The floating mat of claim 1 wherein the core comprises a width
of about six feet and a length of about eighteen feet when
unattached to any other cores.
18. The floating mat of claim 8 wherein the core comprises a width
of about six feet and a length of about eighteen feet when
unattached to any other cores.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] It is known to use rafts on water. Some rafts are used for
recreational purposes, such as with a pool, on ponds, on lakes and
on oceans. Rafts have also been known to be used as swim platforms
or as floating devices to escape the crowds. Many such rafts used
for recreational purposes require inflation or have sharp edges or
hard surfaces.
[0002] Known inflatable and hard edged rafts may require quite a
bit of maintenance to set them up and take them down. The
inflatable rafts require maintenance to fill the raft with air and
to maintain the air pressure in the raft. Such inflatable rafts
lose buoyancy when punctured. The air pressure may lessen with use
and over time and thus require periodic re-inflation. Inflatable
rafts also typically require to be deflated before being taken out
to the water and stored.
[0003] Rafts manufactured from wood or metal may also be difficult
to assemble and the size and weight of such rafts may make them
difficult to position in the water. While rafts that are
constructed out of wood or metal may be more durable than
inflatable rafts, the hard surfaces and edges of such rafts can
cause severe injury to people who fall while playing on them.
Typical wood or metal rafts may also require people to be somewhat
agile to play on them. Since wood or metal rafts are often raised
out of the water, they often include ladders to climb to reach a
platform and it may be difficult or impossible for obese or
handicapped individuals to enjoy such rafts. Some manufacturers
have tried to soften the traditional wood and metal rafts by
placing padding on the corners or rounding the sharp corners of the
raft. This still leave much of the wood and metal exposed on the
other parts of the raft. Other rafts offer a lower profile which
requires less of a ladder. But such rafts still require a ladder
and may be difficult to maintain as described above.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] A floating mat includes a core having a top, a bottom and a
plurality of sides. The core is buoyant and non-inflatable. The
core includes at least one aperture, wherein the aperture
accommodates removably connecting and disconnecting the core to at
least one additional floating mat.
[0005] Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the
invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in
the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed
description. It is intended that all such additional systems,
methods, features and advantages be included within this
description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected
by the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The invention can be better understood with reference to the
following drawings and description. The components in the figures
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the
figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the different views.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a water mat in a playing
environment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of two mats connected side by side.
[0009] FIG. 3 is partial diagram of the mat including an exemplary
attaching mechanism.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating two mats connected end to
end.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a diagram of the mat including one or more dive
holes.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the mat including game indicia or
markings.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating objects held to the
mat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a mat 100 in a playing environment
110. The playing environment 110 may include a body of water 120
such as a lake. The mat 100 may also be used on land 130, for
example, as a water slide or gymnastic mat. The mat 100 includes a
buoyant core 140. The buoyant core 140 may include a floatable
foam, such as a polyurethane foam. The buoyant core 140 may include
other materials such as polyethylene. The buoyant core 140 is
non-inflatable. A thickness of the buoyant core 140 includes about
a 3/4 to about 2 inches. A gymnastics or cheerleading mat may be
suitable for the buoyant core 140.
[0015] The mat 100 may be constructed of one layer or multiple
layers. A top 150 of the mat 100 may by manufactured of the same
material as the buoyant core 140 or other materials such as a
polyurethane, to give a soft feel to a user 160. A bottom 170 and
the sides 180 of the mat 100 may be constructed from the same
material as the buoyant core 140 and may include other materials
such as a durable polyethylene material to protect the foam from
being punctured. The top 150, bottom 170 and/or sides 180 may also
be constructed of other material such as vinyl and/or a combination
of heavy vinyl and high weave count polyester to provide for
puncture and tear resistance. At least an outer layer of the mat
100 may be weather proof, to withstand heat, cold, wind, rain and
snow.
[0016] The mat 100, whether constructed of one or multiple layers,
may include a total thickness of about 3/4 of an inch to 2 inches,
and more particularly about 11/4 inches thick. The mat 100 may
include various shapes such as a generally rectangular shape. The
mat 100 may also include other shapes such as generally circular,
generally triangular, and generally elliptical, or other shapes
such as a trapezoid. The mat 100 may also include an abstract shape
that is not generally defined. A rectangular shaped mat 100 may be
about six feet wide by eighteen feet long. Other sizes may also be
used. Even though the mat 100 may include multiple layers, the
finished product may include a substantially uniform structure such
that there are no bend or gaps in the map 100.
[0017] The playing environment 110 may also include other users 190
that can interact with and/or observe the users 160 of the mat 110.
The other users 190 may be located near the mat 100 such as on a
dock 192, inflatable water raft 194 or another mat 110. The users
160 and 190 may include users of all ages and sizes.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a top view of two mats 100 and 100' connected side
by side. To accommodate the easy connection and separation of mats,
the mats 100 and 100' include a plurality of attaching mechanisms
200. The attaching mechanisms 200 may also be used to connect the
mats 100 and 100' to other objects, such as the dock 192 (FIG. 1).
The attaching mechanism 200 may also be used to secure other
objects, such as by fixing one end of a rope to the attaching
mechanism 200 and the other end to an anchor.
[0019] FIG. 3 is partial diagram of the mat including one of the
attaching mechanisms 200. The attaching mechanisms 200 may include
a grommet hole 300 or other type of aperture positioned through the
mats 100 and 100', such as from the top 150 to the bottom 170 of
the mats 100 and 100', and through the buoyant core 140. The
grommet hole 300 is positioned generally perpendicular to the water
120 when the mat 100 is laying on the water 120. Multiple grommet
holes 300 may be positioned around the periphery of the mat 100.
The grommet hole 300 may include an insert, such as a plastic
insert, positioned to provide mechanical strength to help reduce
wear and tear to the hole. A binding 310, such as a rope, twine,
lock-tie, or other binding, can be fed through the apertures and
fastened to secure the mats 100 and 100' to each other and/or
another object. The attaching mechanism 200 may also include other
fasteners, such as a male portion of a snap and a corresponding
female portion of a snap. The snap may be integral to the mat 100
and/or attached by a tab thereto. Other attaching mechanisms 200
may also be used, such as a button and a corresponding loop hole.
The attaching mechanisms 200 may also be used during storage of the
mat 100, such as to maintain the mat 100 in a rolled up position,
or in other ways, such as to suspend the mat 100 off the ground in
a boat house or garage to dry the mat 100. VELCRO or other
fasteners may be used in conjunction with the attaching mechanisms
200 to secure the mat 100. The attaching mechanisms 200 may also be
used with stakes to anchor the mat 100 to the ground.
[0020] When unrolled, the mats 100 and 100' may be used as a
floating platform on which to run, jump, climb, sit, lie down and
swim under. Since the mats 100 and 100' may be less than about 2
inches thick, the tops 150 of the mats 100 and 100' are located
near the surface of the body of water 120 and does not require a
ladder or agility to mount. The mats 100 and 100' may be easily
accessed by anyone, such as users 160 and 190. The mat 100 may be
rolled up or folded for convenient moving and storage and may be
easily placed in and taken out of the water such as by one user
160, 190. The mats 100 and 100' may also be used on the water 120
in a rolled up or folded position, and multiple mats 100 and 100'
may be stacked one on top of another.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, it is noted that the mats 100 and 100'
may also be connected end to end. The top 150 and/or bottom 170 of
the mats 100 and 100' may be connected with a friction or
frictionless surface. The friction surface may include a carpet 400
fastened to the mat 100, such as to provide a slip resistant
running surface for the user 160, 190. The carpet 400 can include
an outdoor rated carpet that resists damage from the sun and water.
The frictionless surface may include a plastic coating 410, such as
to provide a slippery surface for the user 160, 190 to slide on.
Other surfaces may be used such as by adding a laminated film any
non-carpeted portions of the mat 100 to increase durability in the
water. Using such carpet 400 and coating may eliminate the need to
maintain the condition of the mat 100.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a diagram of the mat 100 including one or more
dive holes 500. The dive hole includes an aperture positioned
through the mat 100 and sized such that a user, such as users 160
or 190, can fit through it. The dive holes 500 allow a user to dive
through the mat 100 and swim up from underneath the mat 100. The
dive holes 500 may also be used for other activities such as to
train people or to allow a handicapped individual to snorkel while
having their body supported by the mat 100.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the mat 100 including game indicia or
markings 600. The game indicia 600 may be printed on the top 150
and/or bottom 170 of the mat 100. The game indicia 600 may also be
supplied to the mat 100 in other ways, such as by embossing the
indicia on the mat 100. The games may include checkers, tic tac
toe, hop scotch, twister and/or shuffleboard. Other games could be
played such as by providing ruler markers, such as in feet, for
determining a distance jumped or yardage gained, a wrestling circle
and/or jumping targets. A shape, size and color of the mat 100 may
be determined based on the particular game indicia 600 printed on
the mat 100. The game indicia may also be included with inflatable
mats.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating objects 700 held to the mat
100. The objects may include varying geometric shapes such as cubes
and squares. The objects may include a piece of fabric with small
hooks, such as is used with VELCRO, on at least one side to hold
the object to the carpet 400. The objects 700 may be used as an
object to jump off or over, or objects to run around, such as with
an obstacle course constructed from the objects 700. Other objects
could be used such as big, waterproof checkers with VELCRO on at
least one side to be used with checkerboard indicia marked on to
the carpet 400.
[0025] The mat 100 may be used in other ways such as by combining
the mat 100 with other foam pieces to form a climbing ramp. The mat
100 may be rolled to form a barrel. The mat 100 may include no
sharp edges or hard surfaces, such as wood or metal that could
injure the user 160 and 190. If no wood or metal is used, the mat
100 may require no maintenance, such as repairing rotting wood or
rusted metal. Since the mat may be non-inflatable, no punctures
need be repaired.
[0026] While various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible
within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is
not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *