GB2318723A

GB2318723A - A cushioned support mat for rucksacks

Info

Publication number: GB2318723A
Application number: GB9720871A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Robson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-04
Filing date: 1997-10-02
Publication date: 1998-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-02
Also published as: GB9720871D0; GB9620735D0; GB2318723B

Abstract

A cushioned mat attachable to rucksacks or other bags to provide a removable support between the rucksack and the wearer's body has a front side adapted to lie adjacent the wearer and an opposite rear side adapted to lie adjacent the bag or carrier, the front side being contoured by means of pads 2 so as to provide ventilation channels 3 adjacent to the wearer when in use. The mat is provided with securing means in the form of recesses 4 for attaching it to and detaching it from the bag or carrier. The mat may be formed of foamed plastics or rubber and be usable as a sitting mat when not on the rucksack. The channels provide ventilation and drainage.

Description

PADDED MATS FOR RUCKSACKS This invention relates to cushioned mats which are attachable to rucksacks or other bags to provide a removable support between the rucksack and the wearers body. Such mats are hereinafter referred to as mats, of the kind defined.

Generally when walking long distances it is necessary to carry a rucksack containing food and clothing for the day or camping equipment when backpacking, as well as safety and survival equipment if walking in hills and mountains. Currently, wearers of standard general purpose rucksacks or day sacks can experience problems due to perspiration building up between the rucksack and the wearers back. Some of the poorer quality rucksacks also have minimal padding which can cause discomfort, especially when carrying heavy loads for long periods, or if the rucksack is not correctly packed. In some of the more specialised, larger volume rucksacks or backpacking sacks, the problems have been addressed by providing integral localised cushioned pads or webbing forming air gaps or channels to increase ventilation. Some of the more expensive types have sophisticated systems incorporating sprung webbing which actually holds the main body of the sack away from the back. It is also common practice when walking or rambling to carry a small sitting mat inside the rucksack. This must be removed from the rucksack when a lunch break or rest is required. Invariably this item is omitted when repacking the rucksack as it is out of sight, resulting in the rucksack having to be re-opened and re-packed.

According to the present invention there is provided a cushioned mat, of the kind defined, wherein the mat has a front side adapted to lie adjacent the wearer and an opposite rear side adapted to lie adjacent the bag or carrier, the front side being contoured so as to provide ventilation channels adjacent to the wearer when in use and wherein the mat is provided with securing means for attaching and detaching it from the bag or carrier.

Preferably, the mat is integrally formed together with the securing means; the securing means comprises a recess open to the top edge of the mat and having a mouth portion and an enlarged recess portion for engaging a shoulder or other supporting strap or straps of the bag or carrier by being adapted to pass the said strap or straps through the mouth portion and into the enlarged recess portion and to retain the said strap or straps therein; the material of the mat may be rubber or plastics, which may be foamed material; the contours may be provided by pads which may be arranged in a vertically symmetrical array so as to provide intersecting arcuate channels extending upwardly from the side edges or the side and bottom edges of the mat, so as to provide for ventilation and drainage.

Further according to the invention the mat, of the kind defined, is formed from a closed cell foamed thermoplastics material blank and the contours are moulded into the front side by pressure from a heated moulding plate which has apertures or recesses providing the form of the contours and wherein pressure from the moulding plate, at least partially, collapses the foam of the mat material to provide a pattern of channels in the blank defining the contour pattern required. This moulding operation may take place on a blank preformed into the shape of the mat with the securing means or the mat may be formed into that shape at the same time or subsequently to the moulding operation.

This moulding process has the advantage of quick and easy production of a smooth finished product while at the same time strengthening the mat in the region of its opposite rear side covering the channel formations. i.e. the portions of the mat providing the floor of the channels is strengthened to provide more even resilience over the said opposite rear side.

The higher density material in these regions provides a firm resilient base for the mat when used as a sitting mat.

The mat is preferably formed of a closed cell polyethylene foam of relatively high density providing a lightweight, thermally insulating, waterproof mat with a firm and resilient surface. The mat of this material is strong, has high wear resistance and high resistance to shear, allowing the integral securing means to reliably secure the mat in place when required in its mode of use on a bag or carrier strapping.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be further described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, an overall view of the mat.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the mat shown in figure 1 Figure 3 shows in perspective, the mat attached to a rucksack.

Referring to Figs 1 and 2. The mat (1) is made from lightweight foam rubber or similar foamed thermoplastics material, such as foamed polyethylene and can be brightly coloured or fluorescent, or be formed of such a material, for use as a flag to attract attention in case of emergency. The plain back of the mat (1) may be embossed or printed with a legend such as safety instructions and emergency procedures. The front of the mat (1) is formed with a number of small raised pads (2) which are arranged in a particular pattern to provide a cushioned interface between the rucksack and the back to give extra comfort. The gaps (3) formed between the raised pads (2) provide channels to allow air to flow for improved ventilation and to dissipate water in wet conditions. As shown the channels may be arranged to be curved concave upwardly and in the form of an intersecting grid of left and right handed channels. The array of pads defining the channels are provided to evenly cushion the load of the rucksack against the musculature of the wearers back while the channels provide ventilation and drainage. Other pad arrays and channel formations are envisaged. For example the channels may be convex upwardly or the pads may be shaped to the anatomy of the user. Fig 3 shows the top of the mat (1) provided with two open undercut recesses (4) with a narrow entry region which enable it to be quickly attached to, and firmly secured on the rucksack shoulder straps (5).The rucksack is then worn as normal with the mat (1) securely in place. When the mat (1) is required for use as a sitting mat, the rucksack is removed from the back and the mat (1) is quickly removed by unhooking the open undercut recesses (4) from the rucksack shoulder straps (5).

Claims

1. A cushioned mat, of the kind defined, wherein the mat has a front side adapted to lie adjacent the wearer and an opposite rear side adapted to lie adjacent the bag or carrier, the front side being contoured so as to provide ventilation channels adjacent to the wearer when in use and wherein the mat is provided with securing means for attaching and detaching it from the bag or carrier.

2. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing means is adapted so as to allow the mat to be attached to and detached from the bag or carrier without needing to unpack the said bag or carrier.

3. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mat is integrally formed together with the securing means.

4. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 3 wherein the said securing means comprises a recess open to the top edge of the mat and having a mouth portion and an enlarged recess portion for engaging a shoulder or other supporting strap or straps of the bag or carrier by being adapted to pass the said strap or straps through the mouth portion and into the enlarged recess portion and to retain the said strap or straps therein.

5. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 4 wherein there are two said recesses spaced apart along the top edge of the mat for engaging two shoulder straps of the bag or carrier.

6. A cushioned mat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mat is integrally formed of resilient flexible material.

7. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 6 wherein the material of the mat is rubber or plastics.

8. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plastics material is a thermoplastics.

9. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plastics material is polyethylene.

10. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 7 wherein the mat is formed of foamed material.

11. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 10 wherein the foam is a high density closed cell material.

12. A cushioned mat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the contour of the front side is made up by an array of pads.

13. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 12 wherein the array of pads provides channels therebetween and the portions of the mat providing the floor of the channels is strengthened to provide more even resilience over the said opposite rear side.

14. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 13 when dependent from claims 8 or 9 wherein the strengthened floor portions of the channels is provided by a region of at least partially collapsed foam material of the mat.

15. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 9 wherein the array of pads is symmetrical about a central top to bottom axis of the mat and provides a series of channels for ventilation air.

16. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 10 wherein the channels are in communication with the side edges of the mat.

17. A cushioned mat as claimed in claim 11 wherein the channels are in communication with the side and bottom edges of the mat.

18. A cushioned mat as claimed in claims 11 or 12 wherein the array of pads provide intersecting arcuate channels extending upwardly from the side edges or the side and bottom edges of the mat, so as to facilitate ventilation and drainage.

19. A cushioned mat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rear side of the mat provides a surface with a printed or embossed legend.

20. A cushioned mat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mat is coloured or fluorescent on the material of the mat is so coloured or fluorescent.

21. A method of producing a cushioned mat according to any preceding claim when dependent from claim 11, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of high density closed cell thermoplastics foam material; providing a heated moulding plate with a raised pattern of projections or ridges corresponding to the required pattern of channels in the front side of the mat, according to any preceding claim when dependent from claim 11; and pressing the moulding plate into the surface of the sheet to form the channels therein by at least partially collapsing the foam structure of the sheet material by softening or melting the material of the sheet.

22. A method of producing a cushioned mat as claimed in claim 21 whrein the sheet is preformed into the shape of the mat as defined in any of claims 1 to 5 or 19 or 20 before the moulding operation.

23. A method of producing a cushioned mat as claimed in claim 21 wherein the mat is formed into the shape of the mat as defined in any of claims 1 to 5 or 19 or 20 during or after the moulding operation.

24. A cushioned mat substantially as described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of producing a cushioned mat substantially as described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.