GB2299503A

GB2299503A - Mat assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2299503A
Application number: GB9506785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Grainger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-01
Filing date: 1995-04-01
Publication date: 1996-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-01
Also published as: GB2299503B; GB9506785D0

Abstract

A mat assembly 1 for use as a baby changing station has an oval mat which has peripheral engaging means 10 for securely engaging the mat to an oval track 3. The track 3 is first screwed to a surface and then the mat is fixed to the track 3 by the engaging means to conceal the screws, and in such a way that removal of the mat from the track is hindered without disrupting the mat. The mat has a plastic material surface with raised and padded end sections 5.

Description

Mat Assembly The present invention relates to mat assemblies, and in particular to an assembly for mounting a mat securely to a surface.

It is becoming increasingly common for baby changing mats to be provided in washrooms in stores, restaurants, and other public facilities. Mats need to be secured against theft and must also be easy to keep clean.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a secure and hygienic mat assembly suitable for baby changing stations.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a mat assembly for mounting a mat on a surface, the assembly comprising a fixing member to be secured to a surface and a mat with engagement means for engaging with the fixing member in such a way that removal of the mat from the fixing member is hindered without disrupting the mat.

In one preferred embodiment, the fixing member is a track which extends around the periphery of the mat, in which case, the engagement means may be a peripheral edge grip which engages with the track. The mat assembly may, for example, be oval or rectangular in outline.

It is advantageous if the track is fixed to the surface by securing means which are concealed by the mat when the engagement means are engaged by the track.

The track may include a channel for receiving the engagement means, and with at least one inwardly projecting retaining feature for retaining the engagement means. The securing means may be also provided within the channel and be concealed by the engagement means.

In order to help prevent ingress of dirt, liquid or other contamination, it is advantageous if the mat has a lip to cover the join between the engagement means and the fixing member. The lip may also serve the function of restricting access through the join to the engagement means and hindering removal of the engagement means from the fixing member without disrupting the mat.

In order to form a water tight barrier around the mat assembly, the track may mount flushly with the surface and also be provided with a recess which forms a cavity between the track and surface, which may be filled with a sealant or a closed cell foam prior to securing the track to the surface to form a water tight barrier.

The track may advantageously be formed from an extrusion of aluminium or an alloy thereof.

The surface of the mat needs to be waterproof, and is preferably formed from a plastics material, such as a PVC compound, which may readily be kept clean. The mat should also include padding for the baby's safety and comfort.

The padding may be provided by a foam material, which is bonded to the surface of the mat in order to increase the durability of the mat.

In a preferred embodiment, the padding is shaped or sculpted with a raised rim to provide additional protection around the perimeter of the mat. The rim is preferably provided with gaps at mid-points to aid cleaning, and also help with getting hands under the baby when lifting the baby from the mat.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of mounting a mat assembly on a surface in which the assembly comprises a mat with engagement means and a fixing member with securing means. The method comprises the steps of first securing the fixing member to the surface with the securing means and then attaching the mat to the fixing member with the engagement means in such a way that removal of the mat from the fixing member is hindered without disrupting the mat.

The method may further comprise the step of concealing the securing means by way of attaching the mat to the fixing member with the engagement means.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mat assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the mat assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of Figure 2 through line A-A'; Figure 4 is a top view of the track used in the mat assembly of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of a Figure 4 through line B-B'; Figure 6 is a cross section through a mat edge grip according to the invention; and Figure 7 is a cross section through a track according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a mat assembly 1 comprising an oval padded baby changing mat 2 and a peripheral track 3 which is secured to a horizontal surface 4. The track 3 extends around the full circumference of the mat. The surface 4 will normally be at adult waist height.

The mat 2 has two raised padded portions 5 at the ends of the mat, with two gaps 6 between these portions.

Referring now to Figure 2 and 3, the mat assembly 1 is illustrated, respectively, in a top view and in a cross section view taken through the mat assembly along line A A' . The mat 2 has a top surface 7 and a bottom surface 8, formed from a polyester-cotton material that has been laminated with a 300 Hm thick layer of PVC. This supported PVC composition results in a flexible yet very resilient material. The internal padding 9 is a polyurethane foam, which may either be sculpted or built up from pieces to form the raised portions 5 and gaps 6.

The mat 2 has an edge grip 10, which extends around the full periphery of the mat, and which is held and retained by the track 3. This edge grip is formed from an extruded nitrile blended PVC compound, conventionally known as Grade 150/75. This has better shape memory than an unblended PVC.

The PVC material surfaces 7,8 are backed with an adhesive, and bonded to the internal foam 9. This produces a much more durable padded mat than if the foam were not bonded to the skin. The edge grip 10 is then bonded to the surfaces 7,8 by radio frequency welding.

Figures 4 and 5 show, respectively, a top view of the track 3 used in the mat assembly, and a cross section view through the track taken along line B-B'. The track has a channel 11 with a base 12 through which are provided around the periphery spaced clearance holes 13 for track securing means such as screws or bolts (not shown), used to secure the track to the surface.

Figures 6 and 7 show, respectively, the edge grip 10 and the track 3 in cross section. The track 3 is initially formed as an aluminium alloy extrusion, and then cut, shaped and welded into an oval shape.

The edge grip 10 is initially formed as an extrusion of nitrile blended PVC compound. The edge grip has a flange 14 and a lip 15 which project to either side at the top of the extrusion 16, and two ribs 17 which project upwardly and to the sides of the extrusion and are connected to the top of the extrusion by two flexible sections 18, and to each other by a flexible section 19.

The flexible sections 18,19, ribs 17 and top 16 together enclose a hollow space 20.

The lip 15 provides a wide seal over the edge of the track 3 to prevent moisture ingress into the channel 11.

The track 3 has a channel 11 formed by two walls 21 which extend perpendicularly from the base 12. The base has a central V-groove 22 which is used as a guide to drill the clearance holes 13 for securing screws. The base also has extending downwardly two short legs 23 which in use seat against the surface. The gap between the short legs 23, the base 12 and the surface may be filled with a silicone sealant or a closed cell foam before the track is screwed down to form a waterproof seal around the edge of the mat assembly.

Edge retaining features 24 project from the inside surfaces of the walls 21 downwardly and towards the middle of the channel 11.

In order to assemble the mat to the track, the ribs 17 of the edge grip 10 are pushed into the channel 11. The ribs 17 and flexible sections 18 flex in towards the hollow space 20, allowing the ribs to insert past the edge retaining features 24 into the channel 11. Once the ribs 17 are past the edge retaining features 24 they are retained by these features, and so the edge grip 10 is held and securely retained by the track 3.

The edge grip 10 when so inserted then conceals any securing means such as screws or bolts in the channel 11, used to secure the track 3 the surface 4.

The top edges of the walls 21 are rounded in order to stop the aluminium track 3 from cutting into the nitrile blended PVC edge grip 10.

When the edge grip 10 is engaged with the track 3, the lip 15 extends to cover the top and outer edges of the track.

This helps to prevent liquids or other contamination entering the channel 11, and also makes it difficult to insert a tool into the channel to try to disengage or prise out the ribs 17 from the edge retaining features 24.

If a force is applied to the mat 2 or the lip 15 to pull the edge grip 10 from the channel 11, then the ribs 17 engage with the matching edge retaining features 24. This force will cause the ribs 17 and flexible sections 18 to flex outwards from the hollow space 20 until the flexible sections are taut. The ribs 17 however, will still grip and be retained by the edge retaining features 24.

If excessive force is applied to pull the lip 15, this will eventually tear away from the body of the edge grip around the sharp corner 25. The edge grip 10 will, however, remain seated in the channel 11. In this case, an attempt to steal the mat will have been prevented. Such a secure mat assembly will deter any attempt to steal the mat.

If excessive force is applied to the mat 2, then either the mat itself or the seam between the surface 7,8 of the mat and the edge grip flange 14 will tear before the edge grip is removed from the channel 11. In this case, while the mat may be substantially removed, the seam between the upper and lower surfaces of the mat will have been disrupted, exposing the inner foam padding. This seriously limits the appeal and usefulness of the mat, because it is very difficult to stop the mat and foam structure from degrading in use once its mechanical integrity has been ruined.

When a mat has reached the end of its service life, and needs to be changed by an operator, the mat may be cut through with a sharp knife, first to separate the body of the mat from the edge grip and then to cut through the edge grip at one point. A cut end of the edge grip may then be exposed to allow a tool to disengage the ribs from the channel, whereupon the exposed end of the edge grip may be held firmly and pulled out of the track.

Whatever means may a thief may used to separate the mat from its track - brute force or a sharp knife - the secure mat assembly will deter theft owing to the greatly increased time and effort needed to steal the mat, which will itself also inevitably be seriously damaged in the process.

With the mat in use as a baby changing station, the baby is placed with its body along the elongated axis of the mat in the hollow formed by the raised portions 5. The raised portions help prevent young babies from accidentally rolling off the mat, and help protect the baby's head from bumps with the edges of the mat or the track. The gaps 6 may be used to get hands under the baby, and are also useful when the mat is cleaned by making it easier to wipe away any pools of liquid in the hollow formed by the raised portions 5.

Claims

1. A mat assembly for mounting a mat on a surface, the assembly comprising a fixing member to be secured to a surface and a mat with engagement means for engaging with the fixing member in such a way that removal of the mat from the fixing member is hindered without disrupting the mat.

2. A mat assembly according to Claim 1, in which the fixing member is a track extending around the periphery of the mat.

3. A mat assembly according to Claim 2, in which the engagement means is a peripheral edge grip which engages with the track.

4. A mat assembly according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the track is fixed to the surface by securing means which are concealed by the mat when the engagement means are engaged by the track.

5. A mat assembly according to any preceding Claim, in which the track includes a channel for receiving the engagement means.

6. A mat assembly according to Claim 5, in which the channel has at least one inwardly projecting retaining feature for retaining the engagement means.

7. A mat assembly according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, in which the securing means are provided within the channel.

8. A mat assembly according to any preceding Claim, in which the mat has a lip to cover the join between the engagement means and the fixing member.

9. A mat assembly according to any one of Claims 2 to 8, in which the track encloses between the track and surface a cavity which contains a sealant to form a water tight barrier.

10. A mat assembly according to any preceding Claim, in which the track is formed from an extrusion of aluminium or an alloy thereof.

11. A mat assembly according to any preceding Claim, in which the mat is padded and the surface of the mat is plastic covered and bonded to the padding.

12. A mat assembly according to any preceding Claim, in which peripheral parts of the mat are raised.

13. A method of mounting a mat assembly on a surface in which the assembly comprises a mat with engagement means and a fixing member with securing means, the method comprising the steps of first securing the fixing member to the surface with the securing means and then attaching the mat to the fixing member with the engagement means in such a way that removal of the mat from the fixing member is hindered without disrupting the mat.

14. A method according to Claim 13, comprising further the step of concealing the securing means by way of attaching the mat to the fixing member with the engagement means.

15. A mat assembly for mounting a mat on a surface substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of mounting a mat assembly on a surface substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.