CA1333730C

CA1333730C - Mat

Info

Publication number: CA1333730C
Application number: CA 613683
Authority: CA
Inventors: Sheldon Schwitek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-27
Filing date: 1989-09-27
Publication date: 1994-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-27

Abstract

A mat especially intended for use in child care institutions as a sleeping mat. The mat has a rectangu-lar shell of waterproof nylon fabric lined with a polyes-ter, fire resistant batting. Within the batting liner is wadded cotton, providing the mat with the desired lift.
The mat is tufted with buttons on opposite sides and stitching through the batting and stuffing. Ties are spaced around the edge of the shell and are used to fasten on a cover sheet of cotton or cotton/polyester.

Description

MAT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to mats and has particular application to mats of the type used as sleep-ing mats in child care institutions.
BACKGROUND
In child care institutions, it is common to have small children rest periodically on mats or cots.
The prior art cots are difficult for a small child to handle and may be difficult to store if the appropriate space is not available. The mats previously used are generally stiff foam pads covered with a plastic material. These may be hard and uncomfortable. Both the cots and the mats of the prior art are expensive.
The health requirements for mats or cots used in the child care environment prohibit the use of some kinds of materials, for example some foams that release harmful gases. The safety requirements usually require fire retardancy.
It is therefore an object of the present inven-tion to provide a novel mat that substantially meets the requirements for child care uses.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is 1 33373~

provided a mat comprising:
a shell of waterproof textile fabric;
a layer of fire retardant batting within the shell;
a soft stuffing material within the batting;
and means for detachably securing a sheet over one side of the shell.
The mat is preferably made from waterproof nylon material lined with a polyester batting and stuffed with cotton wadding. Kapok is another suitable stuffing material. The mat may be tufted using buttons on both sides and stitching through the mat.
The mat is used with a cotton or cotton/polyes-ter cover sheet for comfort and cleanliness. The sheet is secured to the mat, for example with ties on the sheet and on the mat. The cover sheet can then be removed easily for washing.
The shell of the mat, being waterproof, makes cleaning and, if necessary, disinfecting quite simple.
The mat is comfortable. It can be folded, rolled, stacked or hung for storage, making almost any storage space suitable. It can readily be handled by small children. Because of the materials used, the preferred 1 3~3730 mat is as a whole washable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is an isometric representation of a mat according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-section along line II-II of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a rectangular mat 10. The mat has an outer shell 12 of waterproof nylon material. The shell includes a rectangular top sheet 14 and a rectangular bottom sheet 16 joined along a peripheral edge 18.
Spaced along the edge and secured to the shell are ties 20.
The mat is tufted using large buttons 22 on opposite sides of the mat and stitching through the body of the mat.
The mat is used in conjunction with a cover sheet 24 that is of the same rectangular shape and size as the top and bottom sheets 14 and 16. The cover sheet is made from a cotton or cotton/polyester blend and has ties 26 fixed to it around its peripheral edge. The tie locations match the locations of the ties 20 on the mat.
At the ends of the mat, it may be provided with loops 28 that may be used for handling the mat or for hanging it if desired.
The internal construction of the mat is illus-trated in Figure 2. The shell 12 is lined with a layer of fire retardant polyester batting 30. This is a fire retardant batting sufficient to meet the applicable safety requirements. Within the batting is a mass of wadded cotton stuffing 32.
The mat is comfortable, easy to handle and fully washable.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be under-stood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, materials other than nylon may be used for the waterproof outer shell. Fire retard-ant materials other than polyester may be used for the batting lining the shell. The stuffing material, which provides the mat with lift, may be, as mentioned above, cotton or kapok or any other suitable material that meets the applicable health, safety and comfort requirements.
It is therefore to be understood that the invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended Claims .

Claims

1. A mat comprising:
a shell of waterproof textile fabric;
a layer of fire retardant batting within the shell;
a soft stuffing material within the batting;
and means for detachably securing a sheet over one side of the shell.

2. A mat comprising:
a shell of waterproof nylon textile fabric with rectangular top and bottom sheets meeting at a rectangu-lar peripheral edge;
polyester batting lining the inside of the shell;
wadded cotton inside the polyester batting;
buttons secured on the top and bottom sheets of the mat by stitching extending through the shell, the batting and the wadded cotton;
ties spaced around the peripheral edge of the shell;
a cover sheet substantially the same size and shape as the top and bottom sheets of the shell; and ties secured to the cover sheet around a peri-pheral edge thereof for releasable attachment to the ties on the shell.