Playmat for card games

Abstract

This product provides a highly durable card game playmat that maintains the visibility of the printed area and the playability of the card game even after repeated use. [Solution] The mat comprises a roughly rectangular mat body 1, a printed layer 2 on its upper surface, and a protective printing layer 3 covering the printed layer 2. The mat body 1 is made of a flexible anti-slip material. The protective printing layer 3 is a flexible coating film formed by applying a transparent coating agent, and its coefficient of friction is smaller than that of the lower surface of the mat body 1. This suppresses the shifting of the playmat while making it easier to slide cards, etc., and also suppresses wear of the print and peeling of the layers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a play mat for card games.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, play mats used in card games such as trading card games are known. As this type of play mat, there is one obtained by bonding a cloth material such as polyester to the entire area of a substantially rectangular rubber material and printing a design on the surface of the cloth material (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the two-layered play mat formed by bonding the rubber material and the cloth material as described above has the following problems. That is, because of the structure in which the rubber material and the cloth material are bonded together, repeated use causes load to act on the interface between the rubber material and the cloth material. In particular, repeated folding or rolling of the play mat during carrying and storage causes load to act on the curved portions. When such a load acts, the cloth material is likely to peel off from the rubber material starting from the loaded portion, and the peeling of the cloth material makes it difficult to play the card game, which is a problem. In addition, since the bonding interface between the rubber material and the cloth material is exposed to the outside at the edge of the play mat, peeling of the cloth material is likely to occur starting from the edge, and there is a risk that the peeling of the cloth material occurring at the edge may progress to other portions. On the other hand, because the print formed on the surface of the fabric material is exposed to the outside, contact or friction with game items such as cards could cause the print to wear down, become soiled, or peel off, potentially reducing the visibility of the print.

[0005] This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a playmat for card games that is highly durable and can suppress the deterioration of visibility even after repeated use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, a card game playmat according to one aspect of the present invention includes a substantially rectangular mat body, a printed layer provided on the upper surface of the mat body, and a printed protective layer covering the printed layer, wherein the mat body is made of a flexible anti-slip material, the printed protective layer is a flexible coating film formed by applying a transparent coating agent, and the printed protective layer has a lower coefficient of friction than the lower surface of the mat body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, the mat body is made of an anti-slip material, and a printed layer and a printed protective layer are formed on the mat body by coating. Therefore, a bonding interface that serves as a starting point for peeling is not formed on substantially the entire surface and edges of the mat body. Consequently, lifting or peeling of the layers due to loads associated with winding or folding, and peeling that occurs starting from the edges during normal use, as well as the progression of such peeling, can be suppressed, thereby increasing durability. Furthermore, the printed layer on the mat itself is covered by a protective coating layer, which consists of a coating film formed by applying a transparent coating agent. This prevents cards and other items from directly contacting the printed layer, thereby suppressing wear, soiling, and peeling of the print, as well as the resulting decrease in visibility. Furthermore, the protective printing layer has a lower coefficient of friction than the underside of the mat itself. Therefore, the anti-slip material that makes up the mat itself suppresses the sliding of the card game playmat on the surface it is placed on, while the protective printing layer allows cards and other items to slide more easily. Consequently, it is possible to smoothly place or move cards and other items while suppressing the displacement of the card game playmat during gameplay. In addition, since both the anti-slip material that makes up the mat body and the coating film that makes up the printing protective layer are flexible, the card game playmat can be stored rolled up from one end to the other in the length direction when not in use or when carrying it. These measures suppress layer lifting or peeling and the deterioration of print visibility, thereby maintaining the playability of the card game and the appearance of the printed design over the long term. Moreover, because the appearance and visibility of the printed design are maintained over the long term, it can maintain its value not only as a game item for playing card games, but also as an object of appreciation or collection. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of a card game playmat M according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of a playmat M for a card game according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of a card game playmat M according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure showing a modified example in which the printed protective layer 3 has a protective reinforcement portion 3b. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram showing a card game playmat according to an embodiment, rolled up from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of the parts in each drawing may be exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may not necessarily correspond to the actual dimensional ratios.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the card game playmat M according to this embodiment. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing a card game playmat M rolled up from one end to the other in the length direction. A card game playmat refers to a sheet or mat-shaped game item that is placed on a surface such as a table when playing a card game, on which cards or other game items are placed or used. A card game is a game that progresses by placing, moving, using, or interacting with multiple cards according to predetermined rules. These predetermined rules are unique to that particular card game. The cards used are often made of paper and are frequently covered with sleeves. Decks, which are stacks of multiple cards, are also used. Game items refer to items used in card games, such as cards, decks, dice, and coins.

[0011] Card game playmats may have characters, illustrations, logos, or other decorative designs printed on their surface. Such playmats are not only used as game equipment for playing card games, but may also be treated as items for appreciation or collection of the printed designs. Therefore, card game playmats are sometimes required to maintain not only the functionality necessary for game progression, but also the appearance and visibility of the printed design.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the card game play mat M according to the present embodiment has a three-layer structure including a mat body 1, a printing layer 2, and a print protection layer 3. Here, D1 indicates the thickness of the card game play mat M. As an example, the thickness D1 is approximately 1 mm or more and 2 mm or less. Note that the thickness D1 is not limited to the above numerical values and can be changed as appropriate.

[0013] The mat body 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular sheet shape. The mat body 1 is a single-layer member made of silicone rubber. Silicone rubber has flexibility and slip resistance. Therefore, the mat body 1 has flexibility and slip resistance throughout its entirety. The card game play mat M is used by being placed on a placement surface 6 such as a desk top in an orientation where the mat body 1 is in contact with the placement surface 6. In this usage state, the slip resistance of the mat body 1 suppresses movement of the card game play mat M relative to the placement surface 6.

[0014] Furthermore, when not in use or during carrying, the card game play mat M can be kept in a state rolled from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] Note that the anti-slip material constituting the mat body 1 is not limited to silicone rubber. The mat body 1 may be formed of an anti-slip material having slip resistance and flexibility, such as styrene rubber or other rubber materials.

[0016] The printing layer 2 is a layer formed by performing printing on the upper surface side of the mat body 1 using ink dedicated for silicone rubber as a printing material, and then thermally curing the ink. The printing layer 2 is formed over the entire upper surface of the mat body 1. In this case, the printing material has adhesiveness to the mat body 1 and flexibility to follow the bending of the mat body 1.

[0017] Note that the printing material and printing method for the printing layer 2 can be selected as appropriate. A printing material is selected that has adhesiveness to the mat body 1 and flexibility capable of following the curvature of the play mat M for card games. The printed layer is formed and fixed onto the mat body 1 by drying or curing the printing material as necessary.

[0018] The printed layer 2 may be provided on the entire upper surface of the mat body 1, or may be provided only on a part of the upper surface. Further, the printed layer 2 is not limited to being constituted by a single layer, and may be constituted by a plurality of layers. For example, the printed layer 2 may include a white plate layer that suppresses print show-through, and a pattern layer formed on the white plate layer.

[0019] The print protection layer 3 is a layer that covers the printed layer 2. In the present embodiment, the transparent coating agent is applied onto the printed layer 2 by spray coating, in which the transparent coating agent is sprayed onto the printed layer 2. The print protection layer 3 has transparency that allows the printed layer 2 to be visually recognized from the outside. The print protection layer 3 covers the upper surface of the printed layer 2. The print protection layer 3 has transparency that allows the printed layer 2 to be visually recognized from the outside. Further, the print protection layer 3 has flexibility that follows the curvature of the mat body 1.

[0020] In the present specification, the term "transparent coating agent" refers to a coating agent that allows the printed layer 2 to be visually recognized from the outside through a coating film formed from the coating agent. The transparent coating agent includes colored transparent coating agents that are colored within a range where the printed layer 2 is visible through the coating film. The coating film constituting the print protection layer 3 has transparency that allows the printed layer 2 to be visually recognized from the outside even after the transparent coating agent is dried or cured. The transparent coating agent has applicability fluidity. The transparent coating agent includes, for example, a fluororesin or a polyester-based resin. The transparent coating agent applied onto the printed layer 2 is dried or cured according to the type of the transparent coating agent, thereby forming a continuous coating film that adheres closely to the printed layer 2.

[0021] The method of applying the transparent coating agent is not limited to spray coating. The transparent coating agent may be applied by, for example, roller coating or other application methods. Furthermore, the materials used in the transparent coating agent are not limited to fluororesins and polyester resins. The transparent coating agent may be selected from materials capable of forming a coating film that has transparency allowing the printed layer 2 to be seen from the outside, durability to protect the printed layer 2, and flexibility to follow the curvature of the mat body 1. The coating film constituting the print protection layer 3 has flexibility that prevents cracking, peeling, or whitening that would impede the protection or visibility of the print layer 2, even when the card game playmat M is bent as shown in Figure 5. The material, amount, film thickness, and curing conditions of the transparent coating agent can be selected to achieve such flexibility.

[0022] The card game playmat M, configured as described above, is placed on a surface 6 such as a desk with the bottom surface of the mat body 1 in contact with it, and cards (which may be in card sleeves) are placed on or moved around on its top surface for use. At this time, the anti-slip properties of the mat body 1 suppress the movement of the card game playmat M on the placement surface 6. This prevents the card game playmat M itself from shifting position due to the placement or movement of cards, allowing the card game to proceed smoothly. In addition, because the mat body 1 is flexible, when the card game playmat M is rolled up from one end to the other in the length direction, it will curve to follow the movement.

[0023] Furthermore, since the printing layer 2 is covered by the printing protection layer 3, when a card is placed on the top surface of the card game playmat M, the printing protection layer 3 is interposed between the card and the printing layer 2. As a result, the card does not directly contact the printing layer 2, but rather contacts the surface of the printing protection layer 3. This suppresses wear, soiling, and peeling of the printing layer 2 caused by repeated placement or movement of cards, and maintains the visibility of the printed card placement area or design over a long period of time. In other words, it has the durability to allow users to use the card game playmat M with their favorite design for a long time.

[0024] Furthermore, this allows the card game playmat M to maintain the appearance of its printed design over a long period of time, thus contributing to its preservation not only as a card game item but also as an object of appreciation or collection. In addition, the print protection layer 3 is a flexible coating film formed along the print layer 2 by applying a transparent coating agent. Therefore, the print protection layer 3 is provided while the print layer 2 is visible from the outside, and even when the card game playmat M is rolled up as shown in Figure 5, it can follow the curvature of the mat body 1 and the print layer 2. With this configuration, lifting or peeling of the print protection layer 3 is suppressed compared to when the print protection layer is formed by laminating a separate sheet. As a result, the printed design can be made visible and protected during use, and when not in use, it can be rolled up and carried or stored like a card game playmat M.

[0025] In the card game playmat M, the mat body 1 itself is made of an anti-slip material, and a printed layer and a protective printed layer are formed on the mat body by coating. As a result, the bonding interface between the anti-slip material and the fabric material is not formed over substantially the entire surface of the mat body 1, and no end of the bonding interface is formed at the edges of the mat body 1. Therefore, even with repeated use, there is no lifting or peeling of the bonding interface as in conventional products, nor is there any peeling of the layers that occurs starting from the edges during normal use, and no progression of such peeling. This increases durability compared to conventional card game playmats. This suppresses the difficulty of playing card games due to layer peeling, and gives the card game playmat M durability that allows for long-term use.

[0026] The coefficient of friction of the surface of the coating film constituting the print protection layer 3 is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the underside of the mat body 1. Here, both coefficients of friction are compared under the same conditions, for example, as the coefficient of friction when the same card or card sleeve of the same type is slid on each surface. Because the print layer 2 is formed over the entire upper surface of the mat body 1, and the print protection layer 3 covers the entire area of ​​the print layer 2, the anti-slip material constituting the mat body 1 is not exposed on the upper surface of the card game playmat M. In other words, the card game playmat M has different coefficients of friction on the underside where the mat body 1 is exposed and on the upper surface where the print protection layer 3 is provided.

[0027] At this time, the cards placed on the top surface of the card game playmat M do not come into direct contact with the anti-slip material, but instead come into contact with the surface of the coating film that constitutes the printing protective layer 3. When the cards move on the card game playmat M, they move on the surface of the coating film. Therefore, it is possible to suppress direct contact between cards and the anti-slip material across the entire surface of the card game playmat M. In addition, since the cards move on the surface of the coating film, which has a lower coefficient of friction with the card than the anti-slip material, it is possible to make the cards slide more easily over a wide area of ​​the surface of the card game playmat M.

[0028] Therefore, the mat body 1 suppresses the slippage of the card game playmat M on the placement surface 6, while the top surface of the card game playmat M allows cards to slide easily, thus achieving both anti-slip properties on the bottom and ease of card movement on the top surface. This prevents the card game playmat M itself from shifting position due to card movement, while allowing cards to be moved smoothly to the desired position. Consequently, card placement and movement during the game become smoother, improving the playability of the card game. Furthermore, the print protection layer 3 can function not only as a layer to protect the print layer 2, but also as a play surface to which cards come into contact or move.

[0029] Figure 2 is a plan view of the card game playmat M according to this embodiment. The printed layer 2 has card placement areas printed on it for placing cards. The card placement area includes a main placement area 20 for placing cards used in the game, a deck placement area 21 for placing decks of multiple unused cards, and a discard area 22 for placing used cards. Each of these card placement areas is depicted as a rectangular frame roughly the same size as the cards used in the card game. Furthermore, the printed content and position of these card placement areas are in accordance with the specific rules of each card game.

[0030] The inclusion of these prints in the printing layer 2 makes it easier for players to understand where to place cards and decks. Furthermore, the printing indicating the card placement area is protected by the printing protection layer 3, which suppresses wear, soiling, and peeling of the printing due to repeated placement or movement of cards, and the resulting decrease in visibility. This suppresses a decrease in playability, such as placement errors or stagnation of gameplay due to unclear card placement area markings, and allows for smooth card gameplay even after long-term use.

[0031] Furthermore, the printed layer 2 does not necessarily have to include markings indicating card placement areas such as the main placement area 20, deck placement area 21, and discard area 22. For example, the printed layer 2 may not include markings indicating card placement areas, and may only have decorative patterns or logos printed on it. In this case as well, the printing layer 2 being covered by the protective printing layer 3 helps to suppress wear, soiling, and peeling of the design, as well as the resulting decrease in visibility. This allows the appearance of the design, which is intended for appreciation or collection, to be maintained for a long period of time, even with repeated use as a game item.

[0032] The card game playmat M shown in Figure 2 has a roughly rectangular planar shape with a long side and a short side. The long side A of the card game playmat M is 60 cm, and the short side B is 35 cm. Figure 3 is a plan view of a card game playmat M according to another embodiment. The card game playmat M shown in Figure 3 has a substantially square planar shape. The width C of one side of the card game playmat M is 60 cm.

[0033] In this specification, the longer side A refers to the dimension along the card arrangement direction in which multiple cards are arranged, which is one of two mutually orthogonal directions in the planar shape of the mat body 1. The shorter side B refers to the dimension along the direction perpendicular to the card arrangement direction. The width C of one side refers to the dimension along one side of the approximately square mat body 1. The longer side A, the shorter side B, and the width C of one side are the dimensions from one end to the other of the mat body 1 in each direction. Therefore, even if the mat body 1 has rounded corners R, each dimension is the dimension from end to end including the corner R, and not the dimension of only the straight portion excluding the corner R.

[0034] Furthermore, the term "approximately rectangular" in this specification includes not only rectangles and squares, but also rectangular and square shapes in which at least one corner is rounded, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The planar dimensions of the mat body 1 are not limited to those shown in Figures 2 and 3. For example, if the mat body 1 is roughly rectangular, the dimension of the long side A may be 30 cm or more and 1 m or less. Also, if the mat body 1 is roughly square, the width C of one side may be 30 cm or more and 1 m or less. The dimensions of the long side A and width C should be such that they form a play area on which multiple cards used in a card game can be placed, and are preferably 50 cm or more and 70 cm or less.

[0035] The playmat M shown in Figures 2 and 3 forms a play area where multiple cards can be arranged in the card orientation. However, such a card game playmat M requires a large amount of space to carry or store if it remains in a flat form.

[0036] In this embodiment, when the card game playmat M is rolled up as shown in Figure 5, the mat body 1 and the printed protective layer 3 curve to follow its movement. Therefore, even if the card game playmat M has relatively large surface dimensions, it can be carried or stored in a rolled-up state when not in use or when transporting it. This reduces the space required for handling compared to carrying or storing it in a flat state. Thus, it is possible to secure a large playing area that can accommodate multiple cards when in use, while improving handling when not in use or when transporting it.

[0037] Since the printing layer 2 is printed on the mat body 1 and the protective printing layer 3 is coated on the printing layer 2, even when stress is applied to the mat body 1 as the card game playmat M is rolled up from one end to the other in the length direction, the printing layer 2 and the protective printing layer 3 will not easily peel off from the mat body 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a part of the top surface of the mat body 1 from lifting up and making it difficult to play card games.

[0038] Next, a first modified example will be described with reference to Figure 4. The printed protective layer 3 shown in Figure 4 has a normal portion 3a and a protective reinforcement portion 3b. The normal portion 3a has a first film thickness. The protective reinforcement portion 3b is formed in the protective reinforcement region 80 and has a second film thickness that is greater than the first film thickness. Therefore, the protective reinforcement portion 3b is formed to be thicker than the normal portion 3a. At the boundary between the protective reinforcement section 3b and the normal section 3a, the thickness of the coating film increases continuously from the normal section 3a side toward the protective reinforcement section 3b side.

[0039] The protective reinforcement area 3b is formed by first spraying a transparent coating agent over the entire printed protective layer 3 to form the normal area 3a, and then further spraying the transparent coating agent onto the protective reinforcement area 80. At the periphery of the protective reinforcement section 3b, the amount of transparent coating agent applied gradually decreases from the central side of the protective reinforcement section 3b toward the normal section 3a side. As a result, the thickness of the coating film at the boundary between the protective reinforcement section 3b and the normal section 3a changes continuously.

[0040] D2 indicates the thickness of the card game playmat M at the location where the protective reinforcement section 3b is formed. The thickness D2 at the location where the protective reinforcement section 3b is formed is greater than the thickness D1 at the location where the normal section 3a is formed.

[0041] The protective reinforcement area 80 is provided, for example, in the card game playmat M shown in Figures 2 and 3, in the area corresponding to the main placement area 20. This is because the main placement area 20 has more opportunities for the cards to come into contact with or rub against the card game playmat M compared to the deck placement area 21 and the discard pile placement area 22. In other words, in the deck placement area 21 and the discard pile placement area 22, cards are stacked sequentially on top of each other, and the bottom card remains in contact with the card game playmat M without moving significantly, whereas in the main placement area 20, cards are repeatedly placed or moved as the game progresses. In this case, the printed protective layer 3 may wear down due to contact with the cards. Therefore, by providing a protective reinforcement section 3b in the area corresponding to the main placement area 20, which is prone to wear, the durability of the printed protective layer 3 in that area can be effectively increased.

[0042] In this way, by providing the protective reinforcement portion 3b in the area (protective reinforcement area 80) where the card is repeatedly contacted or moved, the durability of the printed protective layer 3 against wear in that area can be increased. Furthermore, because the coating is thickened only in a portion of the printing protective layer 3, the reduction in the flexibility of the card game playmat M can be suppressed compared to the case where the entire printing protective layer 3 is thickened. In addition, because the thickness of the coating changes continuously at the boundary between the normal part 3a and the protective reinforcement part 3b, the formation of a step at the boundary can be suppressed. As a result, when a card moves between the normal part 3a and the protective reinforcement part 3b, the movement of the card is not hindered by the step.

[0043] The protective reinforcement area 80 is not limited to the area corresponding to the main placement area 20. The protective reinforcement area 80 may also be provided in the area corresponding to the deck placement area 21 or the discard pile placement area 22. In the deck placement area 21 or the discard pile placement area 22, multiple cards are placed in a stacked state, and the stacks of cards are repeatedly placed in or removed. Therefore, by providing the protective reinforcement section 3b in this area, the durability of the printed protective layer 3 against the load received from the stacked multiple cards, as well as against contact and friction associated with the placement and removal of the stacks of cards, can be increased. This maintains the visibility of the print or design indicating the card placement area over a long period of time, allowing the card game playmat M to be used for a long period of time.

[0044] Next, a second modification will be described. In this modification, the printing layer 2 is formed on a portion of the upper surface of the mat body 1, and the printing layer 2 is not formed on the other portion of the upper surface of the mat body 1. In this case, in the area where the printing layer 2 is not provided, if that area is not covered, the upper surface of the mat body 1 (anti-slip material) will be exposed, and the card may come into direct contact with the anti-slip material. Therefore, the printing protective layer 3 covers the entirety of the printing layer 2 and the portion of the upper surface of the mat body 1 where the printing layer 2 is not formed. The print protection layer 3 is formed by spraying a transparent coating agent over the areas where the print layer 2 is provided and the areas of the anti-slip material where the print layer 2 is not provided, and then drying or curing the transparent coating agent. In other words, the print protection layer 3 forms a continuous coating film that spans the boundary between the print layer 2 and the mat body 1.

[0045] In this modified example, even when the card moves between an area where the printed layer 2 is formed and an area where the printed layer 2 is not formed, the card moves on the surface of the continuous printed protective layer 3. This prevents the card from directly contacting the anti-slip material that constitutes the mat body 1.

[0046] Therefore, it is possible to suppress differences in card movement characteristics between areas where the printed layer 2 is formed and areas where the printed layer 2 is not formed. Thus, it is possible to form the printed layer 2 only in the necessary areas while creating a surface that allows cards to slide easily over a wide area of ​​the top surface of the card game playmat M. Furthermore, this eliminates the need to form a printed layer across the entire top surface of the mat itself, allowing for arbitrary designation of areas with and without decorative elements. Consequently, it is possible to maintain the card's movement characteristics across the entire top surface while increasing the freedom of design placement and composition.

[0047] Furthermore, the coating film constituting the print protection layer 3 may be formed to cover the fine irregularities on the surface caused by the printing content or presence or absence of printing on the print layer 2, and to smooth the upper surface that comes into contact with the card. For example, the fluidity of the transparent coating agent, the amount applied, and the drying or curing conditions may be set to suppress the appearance of irregularities on the surface of the coating film caused by the printing content or presence or absence of printing on the print layer 2. With this configuration, the irregularities on the upper surface caused by the printing content or formation area of ​​the print layer 2 can be reduced, and the movement of the card can be prevented from being hindered by these irregularities. In addition, it is possible to suppress localized concentration of contact with the card and suppress localized wear of the print protection layer 3 and the print layer 2.

[0048] Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, a three-layer structure consisting of a mat body 1, a printing layer 2, and a printing protective layer 3 was described as an example, but in this modified example, the card game playmat M may include other layers in addition to these layers. In this case, the other layer has flexibility that allows the card game playmat M to be rolled up, and is provided in such a way that lifting or peeling from adjacent layers is suppressed.

[0049] For example, a primer layer may be provided between the printed layer 2 and the mat body 1 to fix the printed layer 2 to the mat body 1. In this case, the laminated structure of the card game playmat M is, from bottom to top, the mat body 1 (anti-slip material), primer layer, printed layer 2, and printed protective layer 3. In other words, a primer for fixing the print may be applied to the upper surface of the mat body 1 made of anti-slip material, followed by printing, and then a print protection layer 3 may be formed to cover the print. By providing a primer layer, the adhesion of the print layer 2 to the mat body 1 made of anti-slip material is increased, and peeling of the print layer 2 can be suppressed more reliably. The primer layer is made of a flexible material that does not hinder the card game playmat M from rolling up from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the primer layer is provided so as to suppress lifting or peeling from the mat body 1 and the print layer 2 even when the card game playmat M is rolled up or folded. Even with this configuration, the playmat M for card games includes a mat body 1 made of anti-slip material, a printed layer 2, and a printed protective layer 3, and is designed so that it can be rolled up as shown in Figure 5. Since peeling of each layer due to rolling or folding is suppressed, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0050] As described above, according to the card game playmat M of this embodiment, since the mat body 1 itself is made of an anti-slip material, localized lifting or unevenness occurs on the upper surface of the mat body 1, and the flatness of the play surface for placing or moving cards can be maintained for a long period of time. Furthermore, since the printing layer 2 is covered with a printing protection layer 3 made of a transparent and flexible coating film, wear, soiling, and peeling of the printing layer 2 can be suppressed while maintaining the visibility of the card placement area or the design. In addition, the anti-slip properties of the mat body 1 suppress positional displacement relative to the placement surface 6, while the surface of the printing protection layer 3 makes it easy to slide cards. Therefore, cards can be smoothly placed or moved while suppressing positional displacement of the card game playmat M. Moreover, since the mat body 1, printing layer 2, and printing protection layer 3 are flexible and follow the motion of rolling from one end to the other in the length direction, the card game playmat M can be carried or stored in a rolled-up state while protecting the printed design.

[0051] Furthermore, since the printed layer 2 is covered by a print protection layer 3 consisting of a transparent coating film, compared to conventional structures where the printed fabric material is exposed on the surface, wear, soiling, and peeling of the print, as well as the resulting decrease in visibility, can be suppressed. Furthermore, since both the mat body 1 and the printing protective layer 3 are flexible, even when the card game playmat M is rolled up from one end to the other in the length direction, the lifting or peeling of the printing protective layer 3 itself is suppressed. [Note]

[0052] A playmat for a card game according to one aspect of the present invention includes a substantially rectangular mat body, a printed layer provided on the upper surface of the mat body, and a printed protective layer covering the printed layer, wherein the mat body is made of a flexible anti-slip material, and the printed protective layer is a flexible coating film formed by applying a transparent coating agent.

[0053] In the above-mentioned playmat for the card game, the printing layer has a card placement area printed on it for placing the cards. This configuration makes it easy to determine where cards should be placed. Furthermore, it helps to prevent wear, soiling, and peeling of the printing that indicates the card placement area.

[0054] In the above-described playmat for card games, the mat itself is a roughly rectangular shape having a long side and a short side, with the length of the long side being 50 cm or more. Alternatively, the mat itself may be a roughly square shape, with the length of one side of the roughly square being 50 cm or more.

[0055] In the above-mentioned playmat for card games, a protective reinforcement section is provided in the area corresponding to the card placement area, and the coating film in the protective reinforcement section is thicker than in other areas. This configuration enhances the abrasion resistance of the printed protective layer in areas where cards frequently come into contact or move, while suppressing a decrease in the flexibility of the card game playmat compared to a case where the entire printed protective layer is thickened.

[0056] In the above-mentioned playmat for card games, the printed protective layer has a lower coefficient of friction than the underside of the mat itself. This configuration allows for suppressing the slippage of the card game playmat on the surface it is placed on, while making it easier to slide cards on the playmat.

[0057] The printing layer may be provided over the entire upper surface of the mat body. This configuration prevents the mat itself (anti-slip material) from being exposed over a wide area of ​​the top surface of the card game playmat, making it easier to slide cards across the surface of the playmat.

[0058] The printing layer is provided on a part of the upper surface of the mat body, and the protective printing layer covers the printing layer and may also cover the portion of the upper surface of the mat body that does not have a printing layer. With this configuration, a protective printing layer is formed across the areas where the printing layer is provided and the areas where it is not, thereby suppressing differences in the card's movement characteristics between the two areas. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1…Mat body (anti-slip material), 2…Printed layer, 3…Printed protective layer, 6…Placement surface, 20…Main placement area, 21…Deck placement area, 22…Discarded card placement area, 3a…Normal area (Printed protective layer), 3b…Reinforced protective area (Printed protective layer), 80…Reinforced protective area, A…Long side, B…Short side, C…Width of one side, D1…Thickness of card game playmat, D2…Thickness including reinforced protective area, R…Corner (rounded part), M…Card game playmat

Claims

1. The mat itself is roughly rectangular, A printing layer provided on the upper surface of the mat body, A protective printing layer covering the aforementioned printing layer, Includes, The mat body is made of a flexible anti-slip material, The aforementioned print protection layer is a flexible coating film formed by applying a transparent coating agent. The aforementioned printed protective layer has a lower coefficient of friction than the underside of the mat body, making it a playmat for card games.

2. The aforementioned printing layer has a card placement area printed on it for placing cards. A playmat for a card game according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned print protection layer has a protective reinforcement portion provided in the area corresponding to the card placement area. The protective reinforcement portion has a thicker coating than other areas. A playmat for a card game according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned printing layer is provided on a part of the upper surface of the mat body, The aforementioned protective printing layer covers the printing layer and also covers the portion of the upper surface of the mat body that does not have a printing layer. A playmat for a card game according to claim 1 or 2.

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