GB2025234A

GB2025234A - Health promoting mat

Info

Publication number: GB2025234A
Application number: GB7920388A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: OMATA E
Current assignee: OMATA E
Priority date: 1978-06-19
Filing date: 1979-06-12
Publication date: 1980-01-23
Also published as: GB2025234B; FR2428999A1; JPS552320U

Abstract

A health-promoting mat comprises a resilient plastics or rubber core layer 1 of plate-like configuration with ventilating through holes 3 and having, on one or both sides, an array of spaced-apart projections 2, and an array of spaced-apart magnets 4. If desired, the projections 2 and magnets 4 may be provided on one side only of the core 1 and a further plate-like resilient layer 5 (Figs. 4, 5) may be bonded onto the other side of the core, so as to vary the softness or yielding capacity of the entire mat. A plurality of the mats may be joined together to form a mattress (Figs. 6, 7). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Health promoting mat The present invention relates to a health promoting mat and more specifically to a health promoting mat having very good air permeability and cable of producing digital compression and a magnetic effect good for health.

Recently, various kinds of medical apparatus designed for health promotion purpose have been receiving public attention. In the field of bedding, cushions and the like, there have been proposed various articles intended for use for similar purposes.

One known health-promoting mat is of a so-called composite type wherein a plurality of long, semicylindrical polyethylene pieces are integrally bonded to a plate-like member, of polyurethane foam material for example. Such a device has the disadvantages that its manufacture is complicated and that if it is roughly handled in daily use, the product is suscept isle to separation of the long, semi-cylindrical pieces from the plate member. Another disadvantage is that, because of its complex construction, the product is bound to be a high price item and can hardly be produced cheaply for a mass market.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device which avoids these difficulties.

Pursuant hereto, the present invention provides a health promoting mat comprising a flexible plateform core having a plurality of holes therethrough, a plurality of projections on one or both sides of said plate-form core, and a plurality of magnet pieces bonded to said one or both sides of said plate-form core.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the mat of the invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line B-B of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another embodiment of the mat of the invention; Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line C-C of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating how a plurality of the mats of the invention can be used together; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating another way of using a plurality of the mats together.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the first illustrated embodiment of health promoting mat of the invention comprises a plate-form core formed with projection 2 and through-holes 3 and provided with a magnet pieces 4.

The flexible plate-form core 1 may be made of plastic foam, foam rubber or the like, for example of polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam. In the case where good osteopathic effect is desired, particularly for straightening the backbone, a semi-rigid, flexible and resilient material may be used.

The projections 2 are preferably formed by integral moulding with the plate-form core; however, they may be formed of the same material as or of a material different from the plate-form cores, being bonded to the core 1 after the latter has been moulded.

The projections 2 are intended to impart a digital compression and/or ventilation effect and may be freely designed as to their shape, arrangement and number, there being no particular limitation in such respect. Although they have been shown on one side only of the core 1, they can, if desired, be provided on both sides thereof.

The through-holes 3 will usually be formed simultaneously with the forming of the plate-form core, but of course, they may be produced by boring after the plate-form core has been prepared. These holes 3 permit entry and exit of air when the user lies on his back or turns over on the mat, and serve to increase the air permeability of the mat. Accordingly, the through-holes 3 are effective particularly for preventing a sick user from having bedsores. There is no limitation as to shape, arrangement and number of the holes 3.

Each magnet piece 4 may be an ordinary type of magnet, being bonded to the plate-form core 1 with adhesive or the like. The shapes, arrangement and number of the magnet pieces 4 may be freely selected. As with the projections 2, these magnet pieces can, if desired, be provided on both sides of the core 1, instead of being on one side only as shown in the drawing. If the height of each magnet piece 4 is substantially the same as that of each projection 2, good digital compression and ventilation effect can be expected, as is the case with the projections 2. However, if it is desired to avoid the magnet pieces 4 contacting the user's body direct, their height may be made lower than that of the projections 2. Of course, the projections 2, the throughholes 3 and the magnet pieces 4 may be freely designed as to their respective arrangements, sizes and numbers.

Figs. 4 and 5 show another form of the mat, wherein a flexible, resilient plate 5 having a number of through-holes 6 is bonded to the under side of the core 1'. Bonding should be effected in such a way that the through-holes 3' of the core 1' and those 6 of the flexible, resilient plate 5 register and communicate with one another. Flexible urethane foam, rubber foam or the like is suitable for use as the material for the flexible, resilient plate 5. The flexible plate 5, constructed of such material, will contribute to minimising any non-yielding feel of the core 1', if a semi-rigid material is used for the core 1', and will impart a soft or yielding feel to the mat. By use of a homogeneous or heterogeneous (flexible/rigid) combination, it is possible to provide a complex, delicate feel.

Though very simple in construction, this mat will be effective for straightening the backbone and improving the circulation of the blood, and will provide a good digital compression effect. It willalso produce a magnetizing effect which is said to be good for curing stiff joints, e.g. stiff shoulders.

Further, because of the action of the projections 2' and through-holes 3', the device will prevent bed sores. It will serve as a sanitary, effective tool in daily health supervision and medical treatment.

The device may be utilized not only as a single mat, but also as a mattress or pad composed of two, three, four or any desired number of the mats. In the latter case, if the individual mats are joined together with detachable tape or the like so that they may be readily separable as desired, they may be individu ally utilized as cushions or floor mats or pads (Fig. 6).

As another possibility, they may be connected together by inserting them in connected pockets (Fig. 7).

The mat of the present invention may be laid direct on a bed or laid on top of a desired number of flexible plates, of polyurethane foam, for example, piled up on a floor or may be used as a Japanese style mat In the latter case, it is possible to enjoy a feeling of a Japanese style bed if the number of flexible plates is limited.

As will be apparent from above described examples, the mats of the invention may be readily and freely used in a wide range of applications including as bedding pads or mattresses, as seat or settee cushions or as floor cushions, by freely selecting any desired combination as to size, shape and width.

Claims

1. A health promoting mat comprising a flexible plate-form core having a plurality of holes therethrough, a plurality of projections provided on one or both sides of said plate-form core, and a plurality of magnet pieces bonded to said one or both sides of said platejorm core.

2. A health promoting mat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible plate-form core, having a plurality of holes therethrough, is provided on one of its sides with a plurality of the projections and a plurality of the magnet pieces bonded thereto, and wherein a flexible resilient plate having a plurality of holes therethrough is bonded to the other side of said flexible plate-form core so that thethroughholes in said flexible resilient plate register and communicate with those in said flexible plate-form core.

3. A health promoting mat as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the projections are integral with the core.

4. A bedding pad, pattress or cushion comprising a plurality of the mats of claim 1, 2 or 3 connected to one another.

5. A health promoting mat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to3 or Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing.

6. A bedding pad, mattress or cushion substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 6 or Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawing.