Folding Exercise Mat with Grooves for Stability and Portability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing yoga and exercise mats lack sufficient stability and thickness for energetic exercises and fail to provide a stable, portable, and versatile surface for various exercise configurations, including use as a stool or seat, often leading to instability and injury during lateral movements.

Innovation Solution

A folding exercise mat with a single-piece construction featuring top and bottom grooves for foldability, a thickness of over 6 mm, and a gripping texture on the bottom surface for enhanced stability, allowing multiple configurations including a secondary upward-facing surface for varied exercises and support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the mat thickness is increased to provide sufficient padding and stability for energetic exercises and use as a stool or seat, then the padding and stability are improved, but the mat becomes bulkier and less portable when rolled up

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidbulk when rolled up

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mat is divided into multiple panels that can be folded relative to each other along fold lines. This segmentation allows the thick mat to be collapsed into a compact configuration for portability while maintaining full thickness when deployed for exercises requiring padding and stability, or for use as a stool/seat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the mat is made thicker to provide sufficient padding for comfort, then the padding is improved, but the mat provides less stability for energetic exercises

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovepaddingVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the mat have different properties. The mat incorporates rigid panels in areas requiring stability (such as the base and support areas) while maintaining adequate thickness for padding in areas requiring cushioning. This local differentiation allows the mat to provide both padding and stability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If independent structures like steps or stools are added to provide raised surfaces for exercises, then the exercise versatility is improved, but the device complexity and risk of sliding increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise configurationsVSAvoidnumber of items

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mat is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a standard exercise mat, a folded mat for portability, and an integrated step/stool structure. By folding the mat along specific fold lines, raised surfaces are created that function as steps or stools for exercises requiring elevation, eliminating the need for separate independent structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the mat is folded to create raised surfaces for exercises, then the exercise versatility is improved, but the mat slides and slips out of position causing injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise configurationsVSAvoidstability when folded

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mat incorporates asymmetric features including a non-uniform bottom surface with gripping textures or patterns in specific regions. These asymmetric gripping features are positioned to engage with the floor when the mat is folded into step or stool configurations, preventing sliding and slipping while maintaining the folded shape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

5Adaptability or versatility

If the mat thickness is increased to allow use as a seat or stool, then the usability as stool/seat is improved, but the mat is no longer sufficiently portable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuse as stool or seatVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mat transitions between different configurations: when fully deployed, it provides sufficient thickness for use as a stool or seat; when folded along its fold lines, it collapses into a compact, lightweight form that is easy to carry and store. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the mat to provide both thick-seat functionality and portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230181964A1Folding exercise mat

Publication Date: 2023.06.15 GOOD SPORT LLC

AI summary

An exercise mat is provided having a top surface having a plurality of top grooves spanning a width of a mat body and a bottom surface having a plurality of bottom grooves spanning the width of the mat body. The mat body is formed from a single piece of material, and the top grooves extend from the top surface towards the bottom surface and the bottom grooves extend from the bottom surface towards the top surface. The mat body is then foldable along the top and bottom grooves in opposite directions. The mat body has a thickness from the top surface to the bottom surface of more than 6 mm. Also provided is a method for exercising using the exercise mat.