US20160242554A1

US20160242554A1 - Kneeling Pad

Info

Publication number: US20160242554A1
Application number: US14/989,237
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward Schoen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-02-25
Filing date: 2016-01-06
Publication date: 2016-08-25

Abstract

A kneeling pad is provided. The kneeling pad comprises a flexible pad a having an upper surface, a first end, a second end, and a thickness. The first end comprises a raised hump that extends laterally and across the pad, whereby the raised hump forms a raised radius to support the feet and lower legs of a kneeling user. The raised hump has a convex upper surface that is adapted to press against the lower leg and foot upper of a kneeling user's feet, thereby placing the user's feet in a plantar flexion position and raising the toes of a user above the ground. Overall, the device provides cushion and supports a user's feet in such a way to reduce pressure on the toes of a kneeling user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/120,552 filed on Feb. 25, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to kneeling pads and exercise mats. More specifically, the present invention relates to a kneeling pad that elevates a user's feet above the floor to prevent toe contact with the floor. In particular, the kneeling pad elevates a user's feet and places the feet in an extended, plantar flexion position.
Kneeling pads and exercise mats are appliances used to cushion a user who is seated, kneeling, or otherwise conducting an activity on a bare floor surface. Generally, these mats are used when exercising or stretching, whereby the pad cushions the weight of the user. This is particularly true while the user is barefoot and while the user is shifting weight on the mat for different activities.
Kneeling on the ground can be uncomfortable for the user, and can place undue stress or pressure on the user's knees and toes. Kneeling pads are employed in order to provide a soft or cushioned surface on which the user's knees can be placed. However, the user's weight may still be placed on the toes off of the mat surface, which can also be uncomfortable. Thus, a kneeling pad having support and cushioning for a user's toes and feet is desired.
The present invention provides a kneeling pad with a raised hump therealong, whereby the hump is adapted to conform to the user's foot upper and lower leg to cushion the same. The user can bear his or her feet and lower legs against the hump upper surface, which is convex and curved to accept the radius between the user's feet and lower leg. This elevates the user's feet above the ground, allowing the user to bear into the hump for support, without pressing the user's toes into the ground. Therefore, the hump supports the user's feet in a plantar flexion position while the user is kneeling against the flat upper surface of the mat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new kneeling pad device that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when supporting a user's knees and the user's feet on the pad. The pad is designed to raise the user's feet above the ground to reduce pressure on the user's feet while kneeling.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved kneeling pad device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a kneeling pad device to provide a cushion that comfortably supports a user while engaging in stretching positions or exercise positions, while also supporting the user's feet in an elevated position above the floor to protect the toes of a user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device that comprises a flexible pad having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a pair of sides, and a thickness. The thickness is comprised of a single or double layer of mat material, which cushions the weight of the user as the mat is positioned between a seated, kneeling, or standing user and the ground surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device that comprises a raised hump that extends laterally and between the pair of sides of the kneeling pad, whereby the raised hump comprises a semicircular cross section and a thickened layer of cushion material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device, whereby a raised hump is disposed along an end of the mat, and whereby the raised hump is adapted to provide a convex, curved upper surface that presses against the lower leg and foot upper of a kneeling user's feet when the user is kneeling. The user's feet are placed in a plantar flexion position over the upper surface of the raised hump, while the user's knees are pressed into the upper surface of the flexible pad along the opposing end of the mat.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device, whereby the flexible pad comprises an upper pad layer and a lower pad layer. The raised hump comprises a semicircular pad that is inserted between the upper pad layer and the lower pad layer along an end of the flexible pad. The upper pad layer and the lower pad layer sandwich the raised hump, whereby the layers may be a single, continuous mat surface that wraps around the hump, or may comprise a pair of separate, independent mat surfaces above and below the raised hump.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device, whereby the flexible pad comprises a continuous pad forming a raised hump, folding onto itself to form an upper pad layer and a lower pad layer.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows an overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention.

FIG. 5 provides an illustrative view of the user's kneeling position over the kneeling pad of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the kneeling pad of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for supporting a kneeling user while supporting the legs and feet of the user in an elevated position above the floor surface. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown views of the kneeling pad 11 of the present invention. The kneeling pad 11 is a ground pad and user support that is adapted to be placed on a floor and used to support a user in a seated, kneeling, prone, or standing position. The kneeling pad 11 provides one or more layers of cushioning material that cushions the user when in these positions, and while engaging in exercise or stretching activities. The kneeling pad 11 of the present invention is ideally suited for a kneeling user, whereby the user's knees and the feet of the user are supported. However, the pad may also be used while the user is standing or otherwise positioned on the pad. The structure of the device makes it suited to support a user's lower legs and feet in an elevated position above the floor. In particular, the feet of a kneeling user are supported by a raised hump 22 along one end 21 of the device, which elevates the user's feet and toes above the underlying floor surface to protect the user's toes during kneeling activities.
The kneeling pad 11 has a structure that comprises a first end 21, a second end 31, an upper surface 12, a lower surface 13, a pair of lateral sides 28, and a thickness. In one embodiment, the first end 21 of the pad 11 comprises a raised hump 22 that extends laterally across the pad and between the sides 28 thereof. The raised hump 22 comprises a raised portion that has a hump thickness 40 greater than the thickness 41 of the pad along its free field area. In one embodiment, the raised hump 22 comprises an upper surface 25 that comprises a curved, convex shape, and the hump forms a radius or semicircular cross section 23 adjacent to the first end 21 of the pad. In this embodiment, the upper surface 25 of the raised hump is adapted to conform to the upper portion of a user's feet and to the lower legs of the kneeling user. The hump upper surface 25 thereby elevates the feet of the user and prevents the toes of the user from bearing into the floor surface while kneeling on the pad. When the pad is not in use, a handle grip aperture 50 or handle may be provided along one end of the pad.
Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the construction of the kneeling pad 11 may be constructed in one of several variations. In one embodiment, the raised hump 22 and the surface 12 of the pad are formed of a singular, continuous material, such as a molded mat device. This embodiment is show in FIGS. 1 and 2, whereby the pad is a formed, uniform material. The raised hump 22 extends between the lateral sides 28 of the pad, while the pad upper surface 12 angles upward from the second end 31 to the first end 21. In another embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the raised hump 22 comprises a separate, semi-circular structure 23 that is sandwiched between an upper mat layer 16 and a lower mat layer 15. The raised hump 23 comprises a flat lower surface 24, a convex upper surface 25, and is disposed within a cavity 18 between the layers 15, 16.
The multi-layered construction further still has different contemplated embodiments. In one embodiment, the lower layer 15 and upper layer 16 are formed of a continuous mat surface, which extends from the second end 31, forms over the raised hump structure 23, and folds over 19 itself to form a double-layer mat construction. The two layers 15, 16 are bonded together along a contact area 17 defined by the free field area of the mat, and away from the raise hump 22.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are shown alternative embodiments for the mat construction. As an alternate construction, the upper layer 16 and lower layer 15 may comprise separate mat surfaces that are bonded together along their interface 17. Rather than being formed of a single mat surface, the lower mat layer 15 may extend between the first end 21 and second end 31 of the mat, while the upper layer 16 does the same and extends the raised hump 22. The upper and lower layers terminate at the ends 21, 31, and are bonded together along their interface 17 to sandwich the raised hump structures 23 therebetween (which may also be bonded to the layers). Each of the raised hump structures 23 is convex and disposed within a cavity 18 between the layers 15, 16.
In particular, the kneeling pad may comprise an upper pad layer 16 and a lower pad layer 15, whereby each of the raised hump 22 comprises a semicircular pad 23 inserted between the upper pad layer 16 and the lower pad layer 15. The raised hump 22 extends laterally and between the sides of the mat. As shown in FIG. 5, the raised hump 22 has an upwardly convex, curved upper surface that is adapted to press against the lower leg 61 and foot upper 62 of a kneeling user's feet 60 to place the user's feet 60 in a plantar flexion position 65 while the user's knees 70 are pressed into the upper surface 12 of the mat along the opposing end 31. As represented in FIG. 5, the planar flexion position is one in which the foot 60 of the user is angled downward 65 from its natural position. The raised hump 22 elevates the user's feet 60 a distance 40 above the floor, whereby the user's toes 63 are prevented from contacting the floor surface while kneeling. This is advantageous and desired in some instances, as pressure is relieved from the user's toes and the user's feet are comfortably situated above the floor surface. This prevents toe stubbing, and prevents the user from placing too much pressure on the toes 63 of his or her feet while kneeling. The hump 22 raises the feet and provides a more comfortable position for the user's feet while kneeling.
It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1) A kneeling pad, comprising:

a flexible pad having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a pair of sides, and a thickness;

whereby the first end of the flexible pad comprises a raised hump that extends laterally and between the pair of sides;

the raised hump comprises a semicircular cross section and comprising a cushion material;

whereby the raised hump has a convex, curved upper surface adapted to be pressed against the lower leg and foot upper of a kneeling user's feet to place the user's feet in a plantar flexion position while the user's knees are pressed into the upper surface of the flexible pad.

2) The kneeling pad of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible pad comprises an upper pad layer and a lower pad layer; and

whereby the raised hump comprises a semicircular pad inserted between the upper pad layer and the lower pad layer along the first end of the flexible pad.

3) The kneeling pad of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible pad comprises a continuous pad forming over the raised hump and folding back onto itself to form an upper pad layer and a lower pad layer; and

4) The kneeling pad of claim 1, further comprising a handle adjacent to one of the first end, the second end, or one of the pair of sides.