US3846856A - Soft mat - Google Patents

Abstract

A soft mat for use as a seat cushion, floor covering etc. comprising a plurality of longitudinal spaced bar members, a plurality of short parallel spaced rod means protruding transversely from each side of said bars, and short tubular or pipe means adapted to be loosely disposed around opposed rod means. Frame members are provided at the ends of said bar members.

Description

1451 Nov. 12, 1974 SOFT MAT Hsiu-Ying Tu, No. 182, Shih Feng Rd., Chiao Tou Hsiang, Taiwan [76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-William E. Lyddane [22] Filed: May 22, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Millen, Raptes & White ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 362,816

' A soft mat for use as a seat cushion, floor covering 5/344, 52/669 [51] Int.

A47g 9/00 etc. comprising a plurality of longltudmal spaced bar 58 Field of Search 5/188 190 192 344- members a plurality Short Parallel Spaced 15/215 216, 217 6 means protruding transversely from each side of said bars, and short tubular or pipe means adapted to be loosely disposed around opposed rod means. Frame [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS members are provided at the ends of said bar members.

118,952 9/1871 52/663 2,652,600 9/1953 Burke 52/660 X 3 C amps, 3 Drawing Figures SOFT MAT BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a soft mat adapted for use as a cushion or a floor covering and the like, and which is constructed or manufactured from a synthetic resin or rubber material.

Various kinds of mats are now available and used, however, most of them are complicated in their structure, and therefore the production thereof requires extensive time and labor. Furthermore, the mats are, in general, unsatisfactory for various reasons such as being easily contaminated, difficult to clean, and can easily become weakened in their structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a soft mat of syn- I thetic resin material, rubbery material and the like, which comprises a plurality of longitudinal parallel spaced bar members, a plurality of short parallel spaced rod means protruding at predetermined intevals from each side of said bars, and short tubular or pipe means adapted to be loosely disposed around opposed rod means and extending between adjacent bar members. Frame members are provided at each end of said bars. The frame and bar members are comprised of a flexible material having a suitable desired softness such as a soft polyvinylchloride or similar suitable rubber material. The short tubular or pipe members are comprised of a comparatively harder plastic material, bamboo and the like. I

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a soft mat for use as a cushion, floor covering, and the like which is simple in construction, easilymanufactured or produced, and has good air permeability.

Other objects and features will be apparent from the following description of one practical embodiment of the invention with references to the accompanying drawings' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, the soft mat of the invention comprises as indicated by numeral 1 generally an outer frame, a plurality of longitudinal parallel bars 2, and a plurality of parallel transverse pipes 3.

Frame 1 can have a square or rectangular shape and consists of four frame members 11A, 11B, 12A, and 128. The plurality of parallel bars 2 are provided with a series of transverse rods 4 (Figure 2) at spaced intevals thereof. The rods 4 are disposed on and extend symmetrically from both sides of the bars 2. The rods 4 can be round, square or of any suitable desired cononly one series of protruding rods 4, i.e., on the inward side thereof. Frames 11A and 11B are provided at each end thereof with end flange members such as 13A and 13B respectively. The flanges 13A and 13B are adapted to be inserted in grooves 14A and 148, in frame members 12A and 128, respectively. Both the grooves and flange members are provided with holes, which can be aligned for insertion of a fastening means 15 such as a rivet, pih or the likelfor tightly connectingthe bars and frames. Similarly, flange members 21 are provided at each end of the plurality of bars 2 for connecting the bars in spaced relationship in grooves 14A and 14B of frames 12A and 12B, respectively, by the fastening means 15.

The above described simplified construction provides a flexible soft mat which is rugged in use and which is easily produced and has good air permeability. The softness of the mat is provided by the bars 2 and frames 11 and 12 whereas the tubular members or pipes 3, being of a relatively harder plastic material provide a desired rigidity to the mat when used as a floor covering or cushion.

The embodiment as mentioned above is only for illustrating this invention and not for limitation. Many modifications or variations may be made within the scope of the present invention to constitute a mat having the analogous appearance and the same efficacy and therefore they are contemplated to be included within the tending from each side of said bar members at spaced intervals therealong and siad opposed rod members being aligned between adjacent bar members, tubular members disposed on said opposed rod members and extending between said adjacent bar members, flange members disposed at the ends of said bar members, said flange members being secured within grooves in said frame by fastening means.

2.The flexible mat of claim 1 wherein said frame is rectangular, wherein said frame comprises two oppositely disposed grooved frame members connected at each end to two oppositely disposed bar members having' rod members extending inwardly only from one side, and wherein said fastening means is a rivet.

3. The flexible mat of claim 1 wherein said frame and bar members are a flexible, soft material and said tubular members are a relatively harder material.

Claims (3)

1. A flexible mat comprising an outer peripheral frame, a plurality of parallel longitudinal bar members, a series of short transverse opposed rod members extending from each side of said bar members at spaced intervals therealong and siad opposed rod members being aligned between adjacent bar members, tubular members disposed on said opposed rod members and extending between said adjacent bar members, flange members disposed at the ends of said bar members, said flange members being secured within grooves in said frame by fastening means.

2. The flexible mat of claim 1 wherein said frame is rectangular, wherein said frame comprises two oppositely disposed grooved frame members connected at each end to two oppositely disposed bar members having rod members extending inwardly only from one side, and wherein said fastening means is a rivet.

3. The flexible mat of claim 1 wherein said frame and bar members are a flexible, soft material and said tubular members are a relatively harder material.

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