GB2600972A

GB2600972A - Portable prayer mat device

Info

Publication number: GB2600972A
Application number: GB2017914.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mohamed Mohamoud Ahmed; Jama Mohammed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-11-13
Filing date: 2020-11-13
Publication date: 2022-05-18
Also published as: GB202017914D0

Abstract

A portable prayer mat device 10 is provided which comprises a tubular housing 12 having a longitudinal axis, the tubular housing 12 having an access opening 14 which extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis. A prayer mat 16 is also provided which is receivable within the tubular housing 12 when in a furled condition, and a retraction mechanism 18 is connected to the tubular housing 12 and the prayer mat 16 and which is configured to retract the prayer mat 16 into the tubular housing 12 via the access opening 14.

Description

Portable Prayer Mat Device The present invention relates to a portable prayer mat device, which preferably but not necessarily has the dimensions of an ink pen or similar device, so as to be easily carried by a user on their person.

A prayer mat is a piece of material, used primarily during Islamic worship, as a barrier between the devotee and the ground. Typically a prayer mat will be formed from a woven fabric material, and will have an ornate design thereon, often with an indicated which should be used to align the prayer mat in the direction of Mecca, thus pointing the devotee in the qibla direction during prayer. Other religious cultures also utilise similar types of prayer rugs, such as Orthodox Christians.

Typically, the mosque would have a supply of communal prayer mats, which allowed users to utilise without needing to supply their own during prayer times. This is sensible as fabric and woven rugs are heavy and cumbersome to transport.

However, during the global pandemic, users have been required to provide their own 15 prayer mats when attending the mosque for prayer, and this has placed a significant burden onto the devotees.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of transporting a personal prayer mat in a straightforward and space-efficient manner.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable prayer mat device comprising: a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis, the tubular housing having an access opening which extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis; a prayer mat receivable within the tubular housing when in a furled condition; and a retraction mechanism connected to the tubular housing and the prayer mat and which is configured to retract the prayer mat into the tubular housing via the access opening.

A prayer mat which can be readily retracted into a tubular container using an automatic mechanism provides an easy way for a user to transport the prayer mat without adding significant weight or other burdens to the user.

Optionally, the tubular housing may be formed in the shape of a pen.

A pen has a convenient size and shape which is conducive to transport about a person, and therefore if a prayer mat can be concealed within, this would provide a suitable means of transporting a prayer mat which meets with the theological guidance.

Preferably, the prayer mat may be formed from a plastics material.

A plastics material will be waterproof and more resistant to tears or damage than a traditional silk or fabric material.

In one preferable embodiment, the plastics material may comprise nylon.

A nylon material has the advantage of having a low coefficient of friction which enables the easy furling of the prayer mat into the tubular housing when the prayer mat is not in 10 use.

A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a spoolable retraction member which engages with at least part of the prayer mat.

Spooling of the prayer mat via the retraction mechanism allows the prayer mat to be 15 rolled into a tubular void inside the tubular housing without the user needing to insert their finger into the tubular housing. The retraction mechanism is therefore able to attend to the rolling of the prayer mat without user involvement.

Preferably, the retraction mechanism may further comprise a sprung element for spooling the spoolable retraction member.

A sprung element, such as a power spring, is a suitable mechanism for pulling the prayer mat back into the tubular housing whilst also simultaneously furling it. In this manner, the prayer mat can be retracted in the same manner as a sprung tape measure Optionally, the prayer mat may be releasably engagable with the retraction mechanism.

The retraction mechanism may be uncomfortable for a user to rest on, and as such, it is 25 preferred that the user is able to detach the prayer mat from the tubular housing.

The access opening may extend along a majority of the length of the tubular housing.

By size-matching the tubular housing to the prayer mat, the portable prayer mat device can be made as compactly as possible, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

Optionally, the retraction mechanism may comprise an activation input to retracting and/or ejecting the prayer mat via the access opening.

An activation input, such as a button or crank, may provide a simple means for the user to activation the retraction mechanism without needing to probe in through the access 5 opening.

The portable prayer mat device may further comprise an illumination element.

Additional functionality may be optionally provided to the device, improving its versatility by, for example, allowing it to act as a torch.

In one embodiment, the illumination element may also be activatable via the activation input.

Various functions could be controlled via a single point of input for the user, simplifying the operation of the device as a whole greatly.

Optionally, the tubular housing may be telescopic.

A telescopic housing allows for the internal volume to be changed, which may allow for 15 a prayer mat to be housed and then compressed to provide a compact and transportable device.

Preferably, a compass may be provided on the tubular housing.

Given that the majority of prayer mats available are intended for use during Islamic prayer, a compass will assist the user with identification of the direction of Mecca, in 20 order to conduct prayer correctly.

The portable prayer mat device may preferably further comprise a wireless communications element.

Many aspects of Islamic prayer can be enhanced by interactive communication mechanisms. For instance, communicators may help assist the user with correct timing 25 for prayer sessions.

The portable prayer mat device may further comprise an audio output device in communication with the wireless communications element for outputting an audio signal received therefrom.

Linking the device to the existing mechanisms for the call to prayer will assist the user with prayer in the correct manner.

In one preferable embodiment, the tubular housing may comprise a receiving chamber for holding a fluid.

The provision of a receiving chamber is explicitly directed towards housing hand sanitiser, given that the present portable prayer mat device has been developed for use during pandemic or epidemic scenarios.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a portable prayer mat device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the portable prayer mat device of Figure 1 taken through plane X-X; Figure 3 shows a side perspective representation of a second embodiment of a 15 portable prayer mat device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4 shows a top perspective representation of the portable prayer mat device of Figure 3 in an extended condition; and Figure 5 shows a top perspective representation of the portable prayer mat device of Figure 4, with the prayer mat illustrated in a partially unfurled condition.

Referring to Figure 1, there is indicated a portable prayer mat device, referenced globally at 10, and which is suitable for a user to carry around in a compact manner. The portable prayer mat device 10 here takes the form of a pen or pencil.

The portable prayer mat device 10 comprises a tubular housing 12 which is the portion of the portable prayer mat device 10 which is shaped to appear like a pen. In some 25 embodiments, the portable prayer mat device 10 may operate as a functional pen, but for the present description, any pen functionality is illusory.

The tubular housing 12 has an access opening 14 which extends in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular housing 12. This access opening 14 is dimensioned to receive a prayer mat 16 therein.

The prayer mat 16 itself may not be a full size prayer mat in order to improve the ease with which it can be inserted into the tubular housing 12, and therefore is designed for situations where a user is required to retain their own personal and portable prayer mat 16 in lieu of obtaining a communal mat from a mosque directly. This is of specific relevance during a pandemic or epidemic situation. Typically, the prayer mat 16 will be ornate or heavily decorated to identify it specifically as a mat for prayer.

The access opening 14 is illustrated as a longitudinal slit or slot which is slightly longer than a width of the prayer mat 16. It will be understood that an alternative means of entry into the tubular housing 12 may be feasible, for example, via an end of the tubular housing 12, but in the present invention, the longitudinal slit of the access opening 14 allows for the integration of a useful retraction mechanism.

The retraction mechanism 18 of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 2 in detail, located inside the inner volume 20 of the tubular housing 12. In a furled condition, the prayer mat 16 is rolled up lengthwise inside the tubular housing 12. The furling is achieved inside the tubular housing 12 itself. A suitable retraction mechanism would be achieved by the use of a power spring 22 such as that used in a tape measure or seatbelt device. A power spring 22 is here defined as a form of flat spring which is produced by tightly winding a tempered spring material and then anchoring one end in position. Here, the central end 24 of the power spring 22 is anchored relative to the tubular housing 12.

A power spring 22 is not the only sprung element that could be used internally in the tubular housing 12; for instance, clock springs, laminar springs, or spirator springs could 25 be considered. It is useful, regardless of the spring type, to be able to spool the prayer mat 16 within the tubular body 12 via the retraction mechanism 18.

Whilst it may be mechanically simpler to maintain a permanent connection between the prayer mat 16 and the retraction mechanism 18, it is preferred that the user is able to fully remove the prayer mat 16 from the retraction mechanism 18 in order to improve comfort when kneeling on the prayer mat 16. A releasable engagement member 26 could therefore be provided which enables releasable coupling between the prayer mat 16 and the retraction mechanism 18, for example, a hook and loop fastener, a press fit connector, or a similar kind of clasp or connector.

The retraction mechanism 18 may be operated via an activation input 28 on the tubular housing 12. This may, in an advanced embodiment, include a drive member, such as a small motor for reversibly driving the retraction mechanism 18. Where a drive member is provided, the retraction mechanism 18 need not have a sprung element, but may preferably just have a spool.

As another alternative, a manual crank may be provided, which allows the user to rotate an internal winding member which allows for the retraction of the prayer mat 16. This 10 may replace a sprung or driven device.

However, in the depicted embodiment, the activation input 28 may be a latch or brake which stops the retraction of the power spring 22. In this scenario, the user will perform the pulling action to remove the prayer mat 16 from the tubular housing 12, whilst the retraction mechanism 18 attends to the retraction back into the tubular housing 12.

An illumination element 30 may also be provided, which here is incorporated into the activation input 28, and may be activated simultaneously on pressing the activation input 30. This may allow the user to use the portable prayer mat device 10 as a torch, or may simply act as an indicator as to whether the retraction mechanism 18 is active. An onboard power source may be provided to power the illumination element 30, which could be rechargeable, for example, via a USB connector on the tubular housing 12.

Thus far, the portable prayer mat device 10 has been envisioned as having a length slightly larger than the width of the associated prayer mat 16. This will either lead to an extremely long portable prayer mat device 10, given that a typical prayer mat width is between 50cm and 100cm, or will require the user to pre-fold the prayer mat 16 prior to activation of the retraction mechanism 18. A nylon prayer mat 16 can be readily folded into a compact condition even before furling, making this a viable option to prevent the portable prayer mat device 10 from becoming too long to be usable.

An alternative arrangement is shown by the embodiment of Figures 3 to 5, referenced globally at 110. Identical or similar components of the second embodiment will be 30 referenced using identical or similar reference numerals, and further detailed description is omitted for brevity. In order to combat the problems associated with the width of the prayer mat 116 increasing the length of the portable prayer mat device 110, a telescopic tubular housing 112 is provided. Here, there are five housing portions 132 which extend relative to one another to increase the length of the tubular housing 112.

The access opening 114 is here formed across the housing portions 132, with each 5 section of the access opening 114 overlapping so as to form a continuous access opening 114 when the portable prayer mat device 110 is in its fully extended state.

There are various quality improvements which can be made to the portable prayer mat device 110 which are present in the second embodiment but not the first. For instance, lateral illumination elements 130 may be provided on the tubular housing 112, and in the depicted embodiment, a plurality of said illumination elements 130 are provided spaced along the longitudinal extent thereof.

A compass 134 may also be provided on the outside of the tubular housing 112, which may assist the user with the determination of the qibla direction.

The tubular housing 112 here also has a cap 136 which conceals a receiving chamber 15 inside the tubular housing 112, which is here intended for the storage and dispensing of hand sanitizer. A suitable dispensing means may therefore be provided in communication with the receiving chamber.

An audio output device 138 may also be provided, which may in turn be coupled with a wireless communications element of the portable prayer mat device 110, allowing a call 20 to prayer signal to be transmitted to the portable prayer mat device 110 to be output to the user via the audio output device 138.

Figure 5 shows the prayer mat 116 in a partially ejected state. It will be apparent that, if the prayer mat 116 is inserted into the portable prayer mat device 110 in an unfolded condition, whilst the tubular housing 112 is in a telescopically extended state, then some compression of the prayer mat 116 will be required in order to telescopically retract the tubular housing 112. A dedicated guide or similar structure inside the tubular housing 112 may be provided to assist with this process. Alternatively, the prayer mat 116 may itself include one or more pre-folded portions which encourage a neat collapse in conjunction with telescopic retraction of the tubular housing 112.

It will be apparent that whilst the retractable mechanism for spooling the prayer mat has been suggested throughout the embodiments described, that other retraction mechanisms, such as the manual or driven cranks could be considered. Furthermore, the tubular housing could comprise some form of internal guides in lieu of a mechanical retractor, which urges the prayer mat into the correct shape for stowing. This sort of configuration could be provided where a longitudinal slit is utilised, or alternatively could be provided for a tubular housing where access to the inner volume is gained via an alternative means, such as via a removable end cap.

It is therefore possible to provide a portable prayer mat device which allows a prayer mat to be stowed in a compact condition which is easy for the user to carry about their person. In particular, a measuring tape style of retraction mechanism may be useful for allowing 10 extension and retraction of a furlable prayer mat into a tubular container.

The words 'comprises/comprising' and the words 'having/including' when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims

Claims A portable prayer mat device comprising: a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis, the tubular housing having an access opening which extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis; a prayer mat receivable within the tubular housing when in a furled condition; and a retraction mechanism connected to the tubular housing and the prayer mat and which is configured to retract the prayer mat into the tubular housing via the access opening.
2. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular housing is formed in the shape of a pen.
3. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the prayer mat is formed from a plastics material.
4. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plastics material comprises nylon.
5. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a spoolable retraction member which engages with at least part of the prayer mat.
6. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the retraction mechanism further comprises a sprung element for spooling the spoolable retraction member.
7. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the prayer mat is releasably engagable with the retraction mechanism. 30
8. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the access opening extends along a majority of the length of the tubular housing.
9. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises an activation input to retracting and/or ejecting the prayer mat via the access opening.
10. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an illumination element.
11. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in claim 10 when dependent on claim 9, wherein the illumination element is also activatable via the activation input.
12. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular housing is telescopic.
13. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a compass on the tubular housing.
14. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a wireless communications element.
15. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an audio output device in communication with the wireless communications element for outputting an audio signal received therefrom.
16. A portable prayer mat device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular housing comprises a receiving chamber for holding a fluid.