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US 9,155,974 B2Granted
Play mat and system
AssigneeThe Boppy Company, LLC
InventorsPaul Fair, Kristin A. Tidwell, Catherine P. McNeil, Clarice Bonzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A play mat is formed from a cushion material enclosed by fabric. A flexible rod-like element with a substantially continuous outer surface may be fixedly coupled to a portion of the mat. A slidable member is slidingly coupled with the rod-like element. In some cases, at least one article is coupled to the slidable member. The article includes a first item coupled to a second item by a length of material. The first item may be resilient so that the article is coupled to the slidable member when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the slidable member so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening.
Claims20
A child care equipment system, comprising:
- a mat comprising a top fabric layer, and a bottom fabric layer, and a thin layer of a cushion material enclosed by the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer, wherein the mat has a top surface and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to be placed on a floor and the top surface is sized and configured to receive a baby when lying on the top surface of the mat;
- a single flexible rod-like element that has a length, a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the first end surface and the second end surface are separated by the length and are on opposite ends of the rod-like element, and the rod-like element is fixedly coupled to a portion of the top surface of the mat along the length between the opposite ends of the rod-like element;
- a slidable member having a slot that is slidingly coupled with only the single rod-like element and unattached with the mat such that the slidable member may be moved along the rod-like element by sliding the slidable member along the rod-like element, wherein the slidable member defines an opening to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member;
- and
- at least one article that includes a first item coupled to a second item by a length of material, wherein the first item is resilient so that the article is coupled to the slidable member when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the slidable member so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening and the first and second items are on opposite sides of the slidable member.
2 more elements
A play mat, comprising:
- a thin mat body comprising a top fabric layer and a bottom fabric layer that encases a batting material;
- a rod-like element that has a length defined between ends of the rod-like element, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, and that is encased along the length by a fabric that is connected along the length of the rod-like element to the top fabric layer;
- and
- a slidable member defining an opening and a slot, wherein the slot has a surface in contact with the second fabric such that the slidable member is slidingly engaged with the rod-like element, and wherein the opening permits an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member.
1 more element
A play mat, comprising:
- a thin mat body comprising a top fabric layer and a bottom fabric layer that encases a batting material;
- a first and second pocket each fixedly coupled to the top fabric layer;
- a rod that has a length defined between first and second end surfaces that are on opposite ends of the rod, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the rod is connected along the length between the opposite ends to the top fabric layer, and a first end of the opposite ends is positioned within the first pocket and a second end of the opposite ends is positioned within the second pocket;
- and
- a slidable member including an opening and a slot, wherein the rod is positioned within the slot so that the slidable member is slidingly engaged with the rod, and wherein the opening is sized to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member;
- and
- wherein the play mat has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface includes at least one a seam formed by stitching, and wherein the rod is coupled to the top surface at the seam so as to project above the top surface at the seam.
4 more elements
A child care equipment system, comprising:
- a mat comprising a top fabric layer, and a bottom fabric layer, and a thin layer of a cushion material enclosed by the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer, wherein the mat has a top surface and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to be placed on a floor and the top surface is sized and configured to receive a baby when lying on the top surface of the mat;
- a single flexible rod-like element that has a length, a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the first end surface and the second end surface are separated by the length and are on opposite ends of the rod-like element, and the rod-like element is fixedly coupled to a portion of the top surface of the mat along the length between the opposite ends of the rod-like element;
- and
- a slidable member having a slot that is slidingly coupled with only the single rod-like element and unattached with the mat such that the slidable member may be moved along the rod-like element by sliding the slidable member along the rod-like element, wherein the slidable member defines an opening to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member;
- and
- wherein the top surface comprises a first fabric and a second fabric that are coupled together to form a seam, and wherein the rod-like element is coupled to the top surface at the seam so as to project above the top surface at the seam.
3 more elements
A play mat, comprising:
- a thin mat body comprising a top fabric layer and a bottom fabric layer that encases a batting material;
- a first and second pocket each fixedly coupled to the top fabric layer;
- a rod that has a length defined between first and second end surfaces that are on opposite ends of the rod, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the rod is connected along the length between the opposite ends to the top fabric layer, and a first end of the opposite ends is positioned within the first pocket and a second end of the opposite ends is positioned within the second pocket;
- and
- a slidable member including an opening and a slot, wherein the rod is positioned within the slot so that the slidable member is slidingly engaged with the rod, and wherein the opening is sized to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member;
- and
- at least one article that includes a first item coupled to a second item by a length of material, wherein the first item is resilient so that the article is coupled to the slidable member when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the slidable member so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening and the first and second items are on opposite sides of the slidable member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.