play mat

Abstract

To provide a play mat which can be packaged in a compact size, thereby reducing delivery costs, can be easily loaded onto a truck for a desired delivery date and time, and does not require much labor for carrying in at a purchaser's house. [Solution] The connecting ends of the first and second partial cushion mats 11, 12 are butted together and connected to each other within a cover bag 17 via a joint portion 13. Specifically, the first and second partial cushion mats 11, 12 are connected by fitting a convex portion disposed at the end of the first partial cushion mat 11 into a concave portion disposed at the end of the second partial cushion mat 12. This makes it possible to make the packaging size more compact than the conventional large single cushion mat 14, reducing delivery costs, making it easier to load onto a truck for the desired delivery date and time, and reducing the effort required for delivery to the purchaser's home.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention relates to a play mat that is laid on the floor of a living room or other place for use by babies and small children. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Play mats have been known as mats that are laid on the floor of a living room or the like to create a space indoors where infants can play safely (for example, Non-Patent Document 1, etc.). This play mat consists of a large rectangular cushion mat as the filling material, housed in a large rectangular cover bag. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] [Searched on January 29, 2020], Internet <URL:https: / / item.rakuten.co.jp / yamabikoya / playmat / ?iasid=07rpp_10095___ex-m6i0enza-4t-a900b8da-4c36-49b7-b3d1-6634b5ef88dd> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because conventional play mats use a single large cushion mat as the inner material, the packaging size at the time of shipment from the factory is large. This causes shipping costs to rise, and the mat cannot be loaded onto a truck at the delivery date and time specified by the purchaser, and it takes time to deliver the mat to the purchaser's home. In particular, play mats that are made of multiple mats that are seamlessly connected are difficult to fold, which increases the packaging size, further exacerbating these issues.

[0005] Therefore, after extensive research, the inventor discovered that all of the above-mentioned problems could be solved by using a cushion mat made of multiple partial cushion mats connected together in a butted state via joint parts, and by using joint parts that are arranged at the ends of the butted sides of adjacent partial cushion mats and have convex and concave parts that can fit together, and thus completed the present invention.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of such conventional problems, and aims to provide a play mat that can be packed in a compact size, thereby reducing delivery costs, can be easily loaded onto a truck for the desired delivery date and time, and does not require much effort for delivery to the purchaser's home. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention described in claim 1 is a play mat comprising a cushion mat in which a plurality of partial cushion mats are connected to each other in an abutted state via joint parts, and a cover bag for storing the cushion mats, the joint parts being arranged at the ends of the abutting sides of each of the adjacent partial cushion mats and having convex and concave parts which can be fitted together.

[0008] The cushion mat may be made of any material, such as various foamed plastics, various fabrics (woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, mesh fabric), etc. The cushion mat may have any shape, such as a rectangular shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, etc. The size of the cushion mat is arbitrary. For example, in the case of a rectangular cushion mat, it may be 155 cm long x 155 cm wide, 200 cm long x 140 cm wide, or 200 cm long x 180 cm wide. The number of cushion mats used is arbitrary. For example, one or two or more cushion mats may be used.

[0009] The shape of each of the partial cushion mats is arbitrary and may be appropriately changed according to the shape of the corresponding cushion mat. The size of each cushion mat portion is optional. The number of each partial cushion mat to be used is also arbitrary, for example, two or three or more.

[0010] The material of the cover bag is arbitrary, for example, various plastic sheets or various fabrics. The cover portion may have any shape, and may be appropriately changed depending on the shape of the corresponding cushion mat. The number of cover parts used is also arbitrary.

[0011] The invention described in claim 2 is the play mat described in claim 1, characterized in that each of the partial cushion mats is a thick mat having a thickness of 3 cm to 15 cm.

[0012] If the thickness of each partial cushion mat is less than 3 cm, the partial cushion mat is too thin and the fitting strength between the convex and concave parts of the joints is insufficient, and if the thickness exceeds 15 cm, the partial cushion mat is too thick and the fitting strength between the convex and concave parts of the joints is too high, making it difficult to handle and increasing the packaging size.

[0013] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is a play mat described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the cover bag is formed by joining one side of a first partial cover bag and a second partial cover bag in a seamless butt-to-button state, and each of the first partial cover bag and the second partial cover bag contains a cushion mat in which two or three partial cushion mats are connected in a butt-to-button state.

[0014] The term "seamless" used here means that one side of each of the first and second partial cover bags is connected to each other without any seams. Each cushion mat may be made up of two partial cushion mats or three partial cushion mats. Effect of the Invention

[0015] In the play mat of the present invention, the ends of adjacent partial cushion mats are butted together and connected via joints. Specifically, the protrusions at the ends of one partial cushion mat fit into the recesses at the ends of the other partial cushion mat to connect the partial cushion mats. This allows for a more compact packaging size compared to the conventional single large cushion mat, reducing delivery costs, making it easier to load onto a truck for the desired delivery date and time, and reducing the hassle of transporting the product to the customer's home.

[0016] In particular, according to the present invention described in claim 2, a thick mat with a thickness of 3 cm to 15 cm is used as each partial cushion mat, which enhances the soundproofing effect and shock absorption when a child walks or plays on the mat. Moreover, the convex and concave parts that fit together are thick, which enhances the connection strength between adjacent partial cushion mats.

[0017] According to the present invention described in claim 3, the play mat is a cushion mat stored in each of the first and second partial cover bags, so the assembled double-sized play mat can be folded in two. Conventionally, large play mats are often folded in four, in which case there are three seams between adjacent cushion mats (fillings), which is more than the one seam in the present invention. These seams can be bothersome when a child steps on or lies down on the play mat, but the present invention uses a two-fold play mat with only one seam, so the seam is less noticeable. In addition, when the play mat is in use, the seamlessly connected surfaces of the first and second partial cover bags are presented as the front surface, making the play mat seamless and preventing debris or dirt from getting between the adjacent first and second partial cover bags, making the play mat easy to clean. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a play mat according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the unpacked state of the play mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a plan view showing the opening operation state of the first and second partial cover bags in the play mat of Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view showing the insertion process of each first partial cushion mat into the first and second partial cover bags in a play mat according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a plan view showing the insertion process of each second partial cushion mat into the first and second partial cover bags in a play mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a plan view showing the closing operation state of the first and second partial cover bags in the play mat of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cushion mat of another type in the play mat of the first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The following is a detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a play mat 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises two cushion mats 14, each measuring 200 cm in length and 140 cm in width, each consisting of a first partial cushion mat 11 and a second partial cushion mat 12, which are connected to each other in an abutting manner via a joint portion 13, a cover bag 17 having a first partial cover bag 15 and a second partial cover bag 16 in which the cushion mats 14 are respectively stored, and a storage case A in which these parts 13, 14 (11, 12), 17 (15, 16) are stored.

[0021] These components will now be described in detail. The first and second partial cushion mats 11, 12 are thick plates made of foamed polyethylene having a thickness of 5 cm and a rectangular shape in plan view, and are obtained by dividing the corresponding cushion mat 14 into two equal parts in the length direction. The joint portion 13 is disposed at the butt joint end of the adjacent first and second partial cushion mats 11, 12, and is of a dovetail joint type in which a convex portion (an inverted triangular dovetail shape) 18 and a concave portion (a dovetail groove of a corresponding shape) 19 that can fit together are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the horizontal direction.

[0022] Four protrusions 18 and five recesses 19 are alternately arranged at the end of the connecting side of the first partial cushion mat 11. Also, five protrusions 18 and four recesses 19 are alternately arranged at the end of the connecting side of the second partial cushion mat 12. The cover bag 17 is made of polyurethane fabric, and is formed by joining (for example, by heat fusion) one side of the first partial cover bag 15 and the second partial cover bag 16, each of which has a rectangular shape in a plan view, so that their surfaces are seamlessly butted together. The back surface of the first partial cover bag 15 is provided with an L-shaped linear fastener 20 that runs along the long side of each connecting side and one of the short sides. If the cover bag 17 is very dirty, each cushion mat 14 may be removed from inside and washed in a washing machine or the like. The storage case A is a horizontally long rectangular box made of nonwoven fabric with a handle a on the upper edge surface, in which two first partial cushion mats 11, a second partial cushion mat 12, and a folded cover bag 17 are stored in a predetermined order.

[0023] Next, a method of using the play mat 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. As shown in FIG. 2, first, the first and second partial cushion mats 11 and 12 (a total of four pieces) and the cover bag 17 folded into a substantially square shape are taken out from the storage case A. Thereafter, the cover bag 17 is spread on the floor with the surface facing down, and the line fastener 20 of the first partial cover bag 15 is opened (see FIG. 3). Next, the first partial cushion mat 11 is inserted into the inner half of the opened first partial cover bag 15 (see FIG. 4). At this time, the first partial cushion mat 11 is arranged with its connecting end facing outward from the bag (toward the short side).

[0024] Then, the second partial cushion mat 12 is inserted into the front half of the first partial cover bag 15 (see FIG. 5). At this time, the second partial cushion mat 12 is arranged with its connecting end facing inward (opposite to the short side). In this state, the corresponding first and second partial cushion mats 11, 12 are connected inside the first partial cover bag 15 by fitting the recessed portion 19 and the protruding portion 18 of the joint portion 13 into each other, and the cushion mat 14 is assembled.

[0025] Next, in the second partial cover bag 16, the first partial cushion mat 11 and the second partial cushion mat 12 are similarly inserted and connected sequentially, thereby assembling another cushion mat 14 within the second partial cover bag 16 (see the dashed arrows in Figures 4 and 5). Finally, the play mat 10 is completed by closing the line fastener 20 of the first partial cover bag 15 (see FIG. 6). When the completed play mat 10 is to be used, it is first laid on the floor of a living room or the like with the seamless surface of the mat 10 facing up, and an infant walks and plays on it.

[0026] In this way, in the play mat 10 of Example 1, the ends of the adjacent first and second partial cushion mats 11, 12 are butted together and connected via the joints 13. Specifically, the convex portion 18 and the concave portion 19 disposed at the end of the first partial cushion mat 11 are fitted into the corresponding concave portion 19 and convex portion 18 disposed at the end of the second partial cushion mat 12 to assemble the cushion mat 14.

[0027] This allows the package size to be more compact than that of a conventional large single cushion mat, reducing the delivery cost of the play mat 10, making it easier to load onto a truck for the desired delivery date and time, and reducing the time and effort required for delivery to the purchaser's home.

[0028] In addition, the first and second partial cushion mats 11, 12 are 5 cm thick, which improves soundproofing and shock absorption when a child walks or plays on the cushion mat 10. Moreover, by making the mat 5 cm thick, the convex portion 18 and concave portion 19 that fit together also become thick, which increases the connection strength between adjacent partial cushion mats 11, 12.

[0029] Furthermore, since the play mat 10 is made of cushion mats 14 stored in the first and second partial cover bags 15, 16, the double-sized play mat 10 can be folded in half. Conventionally, large play mats are often folded in four, in which case there are three seams between adjacent cushion mats (filling), which is more than the one seam in the case of play mat 10. This seam can be bothersome when a child steps on or lies down on play mat 10, but here, by adopting a two-fold play mat 10 with only one seam, this seam is less noticeable.

[0030] In addition, when the play mat 10 is in use, the seamlessly connected surfaces of the first and second partial cover bags 15, 16 are made to face outward, making the play mat 10 seamless and preventing dust and dirt from getting between the adjacent first and second partial cover bags 15, 16, making the play mat 10 easy to clean. In this embodiment, the cushion mat 14 is made up of the first and second partial cushion mats 11 and 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the case of a large size of 200 cm in length and 180 cm in width as shown in Fig. 7, a three-piece structure may be used in which a third partial cushion mat 21 is fitted between the first and second partial cushion mats 11 and 12. This third partial cushion mat 21 has convex portions 18 and concave portions 19 arranged in a predetermined order at both ends in the length direction. [Industrial Applicability]

[0031] This invention is useful as a play mat technology for use on the floor by infants and toddlers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10 Playmat 11 First partial cushion mat (partial cushion mat) 12 Second partial cushion mat (partial cushion mat) 13 Joint 14 Cushion Mat 15 First partial cover bag (partial cover bag) 16 Second partial cover bag (partial cover bag) 17 Cover bag 18 Convex 19 Recess 21 Third Partial Cushion Mat (Partial Cushion Mat)

Claims

1. A cushion mat in which a plurality of partial cushion mats are connected to each other in an abutting state via joint portions; A cover bag for storing the cushion mat, This play mat is characterized in that the joint portion is arranged at the end of the butting side of each of the adjacent partial cushion mats and has a convex portion and a concave portion that can be fitted into each other.

2. 2. The play mat according to claim 1, wherein each of the partial cushion mats is a thick mat having a thickness of 3 cm to 15 cm.

3. The cover bag is formed by seamlessly butt-joining one side of a first partial cover bag and one side of a second partial cover bag, A play mat as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the first partial cover bag and the second partial cover bag each store a cushion mat in which two or three partial cushion mats are connected in a butt-to-butt state.

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