Yoga Mat Hinge Design for Sanitary Folding and Rolling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Yoga mats are difficult to keep sanitary due to the contact between the dirty and clean sides when rolled, and existing folding solutions either cause a bump in the middle or risk material damage from repeated folding and unfolding.

Innovation Solution

A yoga mat design featuring a flexible hinge connecting two portions, allowing for precise folding and rolling without contact between the dirty sides, with options for attachment methods and additional features like padding, handles, and fasteners to prevent unrolling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the yoga mat is folded in the middle with a guideline, then the dirty side only touches the dirty side when folded, but this creates a bump in the middle when unrolled and may damage the material from repeated folding

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesanitationVSAvoidmaterial durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The mat is divided into two distinct portions (first portion and second portion) connected by a hinge, allowing the dirty sides to contact only during controlled folding while preventing material damage through the flexible connection point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the yoga mat is folded without a tactile guideline, then the mat can be folded precisely for rolling, but it is difficult to fold the mat precisely without a guideline

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding precisionVSAvoidfolding ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A tactile guideline is provided on the mat surface that allows users to easily locate and fold at the precise position without requiring visual alignment, combining ease of operation with folding precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Volume of moving object

If the yoga mat is rolled up conventionally, then the mat can be stored compactly, but the dirty side that touched the floor ends up in direct contact with the clean side

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage compactnessVSAvoidsanitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mat is designed to be folded in reverse conventional manner with the hinge at the center, causing the dirty sides to contact each other during folding and rolling, thereby keeping the clean side clean while maintaining compact storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9669253B2Fold and roll exercise mat

Publication Date: 2017.06.06 FLEMING HEATHER

AI summary

A yoga mat comprising a folding hinge, said yoga mat designed to be folded and then rolled up while it is folded.