US20240350860A1

US20240350860A1 - Foldable Yoga Mat

Info

Publication number: US20240350860A1
Application number: US18/056,603
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott M. Schrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-11-17
Filing date: 2022-11-17
Publication date: 2024-10-24

Abstract

A foldable yoga mat has linear seams. The seams allow the foldable yoga mat to be folded along the linear seams. The seams are spaced far enough from an edge to define a flap that is wide enough for a typical person to stand or kneel on the folded flap. The flap is not so large that the folded flap prevents a user from having room to stand or kneel on a single ply, unfolded section. The folding flap allows a user to fold a flap of the mat to provide a two-ply portion (i.e., the folded flap) that provide the user with extra cushioning. Simultaneously, by folding a flap, a portion of the mat remains uncovered by the flap, is therefore only single play, which provides the user with better footing than thicker mats.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to yoga mats.

Description of the Related Art

Yoga mats are specially fabricated mats used to prevent hands and feet from slipping during asana practice in modern yoga as exercise.
Yoga mats vary in thickness, composition, surface texture, “stickiness” or grip, and weight, as well as price. Yoga mats are usually long enough so that they exceed the user's height. Yoga mats are usually wide enough so that they are wider than a user's lower leg. Yoga mats are normally around one-hundred eighty centimeters (180 cm) long and have a width of sixty centimeters (60 cm). Yoga mats range in thickness from lightweight ‘travel’ style at two tenths of a centimeter (0.2 cm) to three tenths of a centimeter (0.3 cm) (standard), and up to six tenths of a centimeters (0.6 cm) for either high performance mats or soft mats for yoga therapy. Mats are available in many colors and patterns. “Alignment mats” are printed with guides to proper alignment, intended to help practitioners to place their feet the right distance apart and accurately in line with each other. Other yoga mats are printed with images.
The first commercially produced “sticky” yoga mats were made from PVC; they have a smooth surface and tend to be cheaper. More recently, some “eco-friendly” yoga mats are being made from natural jute, organic cotton, and rubber. PVC mats are the spongiest, resulting in more “give” when supporting practitioners; fiber mats such as cotton and jute are the firmest. Jute mats are the roughest. “Sticky” PVC mats provide good grip (i.e., prevent slipping during use on both the floor and the user's foot), but some of the modern textured mats in other materials also grip well. Smooth mats provide the most grip, so are suitable for the more energetic styles such as hot yoga; the trade-off is that they may be less comfortable and appear dirty more quickly.
A foldable yoga mat sold under the trademark AVOALRE TRAVEL YOGA MAT has the following dimensions: 1.7×10²cm long, by 61 cm wide, by 0.64 cm thick. To promote folding, the travel yoga mat has several seams. A single lengthwise seam is present along the center (i.e., equidistant from the left edge and the right edge) line of the mat. Six (7) widthwise seams are distributed along the length of the mat. The mat can be folded along the seams into a 25 cm×31 cm rectangle that can be packed in a suitcase for travel.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a foldable yoga mat that overcomes the disadvantages of the devices of this general type and of the prior art.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a foldable yoga mat that can be folded to provide a section with double thickness and cushioning while still providing a wide enough mat even when folded to allow an opposing foot to remain on the mat.
A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable yoga mat that is approximately the same size as a traditional yoga mat.
A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable yoga mat that remains folded after a user folds the foldable yoga mat, until the user intentionally unfolds the mat.
A yoga mat according to the invention can include a mat defining a rectangular perimeter. “Rectangular perimeter” is meant to include not only mats with ninety-degree corners but also rectangular mats with rounded corners. The rectangular perimeter of the mat can be composed by a front edge, a right edge, a rear edge, a left edge. The right edge and the left edge define a mat width therebetween.
A linear seam runs from the front edge to the rear edge of the mat. The linear seam defines a portion of the mat on one side (in this example, the left side) of the mat. The flap has a flap width being defined between the left edge of the rectangular perimeter and the linear seam. The flap width can be less than half of the mat width.
The mat can be folded along the linear seam to place the flap over a part of the mat that is adjacent to (in this example to the right of) the seam while leaving a remaining (in this example, the rightmost) portion uncovered so that a user can stand firmly on a single thickness remaining portion of the mat.
Although the previously-described example is for a seam that runs lengthwise on a left half of the yoga mat, the invention includes examples with seams that run lengthwise on the right half of the yoga mat, seams that run laterally on the front portion of the yoga mat, and seams that run laterally on the rear portion of the yoga mat. In addition, the invention includes embodiments with multiple seams possible in multiple directions simultaneously.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, the mat according to the invention can have a seam disposed to define a flap with a flap width that is one third of the mat width. When the flap is one third of the total flap width, the flap can be folded over to create a folded mat that has a double thickness for a third of the unfolded width, which is one half of the folded width of the folded mat and one half of the mat with a single thickness. A mat with two seams, a first at one third of the mat width from the left side and a second at one third of the mat width from the right side can be folded to a size that is particularly easy to carry.
In accordance with a further object of the invention, the seam can be created at a width that creates a flap with a flap width that is at least as wide as a breadth of a knee of a typical person. A foldable mat with a flap width between twelve and twenty-five centimeters (12-25 cm) will be wide enough to support a knee of most users. A mat with a seam at fourteen centimeters is particularly useful.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, the foldable mat can include a further (i.e., a second) lengthwise seam. The further lengthwise seam can be formed at a further distance from said right edge. The further distance can be less than half said width. By having two lengthwise seams, the foldable mat can be folded on the left side, then unfolded, and folded on the right side without having reorient the foldable mat. When the two lengthwise seams are spaced equidistantly and parallel to each other, the foldable mat can be folded along both seams to make a compact size for easy transport.
The foldable yoga mat can be made from a flexible resilient material. Suitable materials include natural rubber, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
The foldable yoga mat according to the invention can have a mat thickness that is greater than a seam thickness. A seam thickness of two tenths of a centimeter (0.2 cm) allows a mat to be folded and to remain folded. A width of a seam can be at least eight tenths of a centimeter (0.8 cm) wide.
The foldable yoga mat according to the invention can include a flexible resilient mat having a linear seam. The linear seam defines a first piece (e.g., a left piece) and a second piece (e.g., a right piece) of said flexible resilient mat. The first piece is on a first side of said linear seam and the second part is on a second side of the linear seam. The first piece has a first-piece width being measured from the first linear seam to the left edge of the mat. The first-piece width is at least as wide as a width of a knee (i.e., knee breadth) of a user. The width can be wider than an average anatomical knee breadth of users. In practice, a first-piece width of at least eight centimeters (≥8 cm) is satisfactory for most users. The second piece can have a second-piece width being measured from the first linear seam to the right edge. The second-piece width can be at least as wide a sum of the width of the first piece plus as an average foot breadth of users. A width of ten centimeters (10 cm) is at least as wide as most people's feet.
The foldable yoga mat according to the invention can include a further linear seam formed in the flexible resilient mat. The further linear seam can divide the second piece of said flexible resilient mat into a third piece and a fourth piece. The third piece can be disposed between the linear seam and the further linear seam and has a third-piece width measured from the (first) linear seam and the further linear seam. The third-piece width is at least as wide as the first-piece width. The fourth has a fourth-piece width measured from the further linear seam to the right edge. The fourth-piece width is at least as wide as the third-piece width plus the width of the foot of the user. As stated previously, a width of ten centimeters will be at least as wide as the breadth of most people's feet.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, the (first) linear seam and the further linear seam can be parallel. By being parallel, the mat can be easily folded and carried. By being parallel to each other and the edges of the mat, the linear seams can divide the made into pieces with a constant width.
In accordance with the object of the invention, the foldable yoga bat can have similar dimensions (length, width, and height) as a traditional unfoldable yoga mat. The mat can be rectangular or rectangular with rounded corners.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, the first-piece width can be measured from a minimum width of the first piece. This measurement is significant when the edge of the mat is irregular (i.e., non-linear) or angled. By measuring from the narrowest width, a flap with sufficient width even at its narrowest width is guaranteed. Likewise, the second-piece width can be measured from a minimum width of the second piece.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, a method for performing yoga is provided. The first step of the method is providing a foldable yoga mat. The foldable yoga mat includes a flexible resilient mat having a linear seam. The linear seam divides the flexible resilient mat into a first piece and a second piece. The first piece has a first-piece width measured from said first linear seam. The first-piece width is at least as wide as a width of a foot of a user. The second piece has a second-piece width measured from the first linear seam. The second-piece width is at least as wide as the first-piece width plus the width of the foot of the user. The next step is folding the foldable yoga mat along the linear seam to place the first piece onto the second piece. The next step is releasing the first piece after folding the foldable yoga mat. The next step is placing a knee of a first leg of the user on the first piece while placing a foot of a second leg of the user on the second piece and not on said first piece.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a foldable yoga mat and a method of performing yoga using a foldable mat, the invention should not be limited to the details shown in those embodiments because various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention while remaining within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention and additional objects and advantages of the invention is best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a rear, right, top perspective view of a first embodiment of a foldable yoga mat according to the invention shown in an unfolded position.

FIG. 2 is a partial rear, right, top perspective view of the foldable yoga mat shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a rear, right, top perspective view of the foldable yoga mat shown in FIG. 1 with a left flap in a folded position.

FIG. 4 is a rear, right, top perspective view of the foldable yoga mat shown in FIG. 1 with a rear flap in a folded position.

FIG. 5 is a front, right, top perspective view of the foldable yoga mat with the left flap in a folded position as shown in FIG. 3 with a user in a yoga pose.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the foldable yoga mat according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements, or features may be exaggerated for clarity. Where used, broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements components and/or groups or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups or combinations thereof.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all possible combinations or one or more of the associated listed items, as well as the lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative (“or”).
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and claims and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting,” etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with and/or contacting the other element or intervening elements can also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on,” “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature can have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.
Spatially relative terms, such as “under,” “below,” “lower,” “over,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe an element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may otherwise be oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “vertical,” “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer and/or section, from another element, component, region, layer and/or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed herein could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention. The sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims or figures unless specifically indicated otherwise.
FIGS. 1-5 show a first embodiment of a foldable yoga mat 1. The foldable yoga mat 1 has a cuboid shape. A top of the foldable yoga mat 1 has a rectangular perimeter that includes a front edge 10, a right edge 11, a rear edge 12, and left edge 13. A left seam 14, a right seam 15, a front seam 16, and a rear seam 17 are formed in the top. The left seam 14 and the right seam 15 are parallel to the right edge 11 and the left edge 13. The front seam 16 and the rear seam 17 are parallel to the front edge 10 and the rear edge 12. The left seam 15, the right seam 15, the front seam 16 and the rear seam 17 are linear. The length of the foldable yoga mat is 173 cm. The width of the foldable yoga mat is 61 cm. The height (i.e., thickness) of the foldable yoga mat is 0.4-0.8 cm. The foldable yoga mat is made of polyvinyl chloride foam.
As discussed, the foldable yoga mat 1 includes four seams: the left seam 14, the right seam 15, the front seam 16, and the rear seam 17. FIG. 2 shows a closeup that includes left seam 14, right seam 15, and rear seam 17. The seams 14, 15, 16, and 17 are 0.4-1.8 cm wide. In a 0.4 cm thick mat, the seams 14, 15, 16, and 17 are preferable 0.4-1.0 cm wide. In a 0.6 cm thick mat, the seams 14, 15, 16, and 17 are preferably 0.6 to 1.5 cm wide. In a 0.8 cm thick mat, the seams 14, 15, 16, and 17 are preferably 0.8-1.8 cm wide. The seams 14, 15, 16, and 17 have a height of 0.10-0.18 cm. The seams 14, 15, 16, and 17 are flush with a bottom of the foldable yoga mat 1. A top of the seams 14, 15, 16, and 17 is lower than a top of the foldable yoga mat 1. The left seam 14 is inset fifteen centimeters (15 cm) from the left edge 13. The right seam 15 is inset fifteen centimeters (15 cm) from the right edge 11. The front seam 16 is inset twenty-five centimeters (25 cm) from the front edge 10. The rear seam 17 is inset twenty-five centimeters (25 cm) from the rear edge 12. A left flap 30 is defined between the left seam 14 and the left edge 13. The left flap 30 has a left flap width w₃₀of fifteen centimeters (15 cm). A right flap 31 is defined between the right seam 15 and the right edge 11. The right flap 31 has right flap width w₃₁of fifteen centimeters (15 cm). A front flap 33 is defined between the front seam 16 and the front edge 10. The front flap 33 has a front flap width w₃₃of twenty-five centimeters (25 cm). A rear flap 32 is defined between the rear seam 17 and the rear edge 12. The rear flap 32 has a rear flap width w₃₂of twenty-five centimeters (25 cm).
The foldable yoga mat 1 is foldable along the seams 14, 15, 16, and 17. FIG. 3 shows the foldable yoga mat 1 with the left flap 30 folded along left seam 14. In a similar way that is not shown, the right flap 31 of the foldable yoga mat along the right seam 15. FIG. 4 shows the foldable yoga mat 1 with front flap 33 folded along the front seam 16. In a similar way that s not shown, the rear flap 32 is foldable along the rear seam 17.
FIG. 5 shows the foldable yoga mat 1 while being used. A user 6 (i.e., a person) has a left knee 60, a left foot 61, and a right foot 62. The left flap 30 has been folded along left seam 14. The user 6 placed the left knee 60 and the left foot 61 on the left flap 30. The user 6 placed the right foot 62 on the right flap 31, which is not folded.
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a foldable yoga mat 1. The foldable yoga mat 1 is inscribed within a notional rectangle having a front edge 10, right edge 11, rear edge 12, and left edge 13. A notional sagittal line 50 runs from front edge 10 to rear edge 12 medially between right edge 11 and left edge 13. A notional transverse line 51 runs from right edge 11 to left edge 13 medially between front edge 10 and rear edge 12. A notional least front edge 40 of the foldable yoga mat 1 is shown. A notional least right edge 41 is shown. A notional rear edge 42 is shown. A notional least left edge 43 is shown. The foldable yoga mat 1 has a left seam 14 that defines a left flap 30 with a left flap width w₃₀. The foldable yoga mat 1 has a right seam 15 that defines a right flap 31 with right flap width w₃₁. The foldable yoga mat 1 has a front seam 16 that defines a front flap 33 having a front flap width w₃₃. The foldable yoga mat 1 has a rear seam 17 that defines a rear flap 32 having a rear flap width w₃₂. The foldable yoga mat 1 has a length w₁₁and width w₁₂.
The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable yoga mat, comprising:

a mat defining a rectangular perimeter and having a linear seam, said rectangular perimeter being composed by a front edge, a right edge, a rear edge, a left edge, said right edge and said left edge defining a mat width therebetween, said linear seam running from said front edge to said rear edge and defining a flap of said mat, said flap having a flap width being defined between said left edge and said linear seam, said flap width being less than half said mat width.

2. The mat according to claim 1, wherein said flap width is one third of said mat width.

3. The mat according to claim 1, wherein said flap width is at least as wide as an average anatomical knee width.

4. The mat according to claim 1, wherein said flap width is at least fourteen centimeters.

5. The mat according to claim 1, further comprising a further lengthwise seam, said further lengthwise seam being formed at a further distance from said right edge, said further distance being less than half said mat width.

6. The foldable yoga mat according to claim 1, wherein said mat is made from a flexible resilient material.

7. The foldable yoga mat according to claim 1, wherein said mat has a mat thickness and said linear seam has a seam thickness, said seam thickness being less than said mat thickness.

8. A foldable yoga mat, comprising:

a flexible resilient mat having a linear seam, said linear seam defining a first piece and a second piece of said flexible resilient mat, said first piece being on a first side of said linear seam and said second piece being on a second side of said linear seam;

said first piece having a first-piece width being measured from said linear seam, said first-piece width being at least as wide as a width of a knee of a user; and

said second piece having a second-piece width being measured from said linear seam, said second-piece width being at least as wide as said first-piece width plus a width of a foot of the user.

9. The foldable yoga mat according to claim 8, wherein:

said second piece of said flexible resilient mat has a further linear seam formed therein, said further linear seam dividing said second piece of said flexible resilient mat into a third piece and a fourth piece;

said third piece being disposed between said linear seam and said further linear seam and having a third-piece width measured from said linear seam and said further linear seam, said third-piece width being at least as wide as said first-piece width; and

said fourth piece having a fourth-piece width measured from said further linear seam, said fourth-piece width being at least as wide as said third-piece width plus the width of the foot of the user.

10. The foldable yoga mat according to claim 9, wherein said linear seam and said further linear seam are parallel.

11. The foldable yoga mat according to claim 9, wherein said flexible resilient mat is rectangular.

12. The foldable yoga mat according to claim 8, wherein said first-piece width is measured from a minimum width of said first piece.

13. The foldable yoga mat according to claim 8, wherein said second-piece width is measured from a minimum width of said second piece.

14. A method for performing yoga, which comprises:

providing a foldable yoga mat including a flexible resilient mat having a linear seam, said linear seam dividing said flexible resilient mat into a first piece and a second piece,

said first piece having a first-piece width measured from said first linear seam, said first-piece width being at least as wide as a width of a foot of a user, and

said second piece having a second-piece width measured from said first linear seam, said second-piece width being at least as wide as said first-piece width plus the width of the foot of the user;

folding said foldable yoga mat along said linear seam to place said first piece resting on said second piece;

releasing said first piece after folding said foldable yoga mat; and

placing a knee of a first leg of the user on said first piece while placing a foot of a second leg of the user on said second piece and not on said first piece.