File folder-type place mat and method of using same

A place mat includes a thin, substantially flat rectangular member having opposite surfaces; one of the surfaces serving as an operative surface, and at least one surface of the member being liquid impervious; a tab having indicia thereon, formed on one edge of the member; and a fold line formed in the member to permit folding of the member thereabout into a configuration of a file folder such that the tab extends beyond respective edges of the member. To use the place mat, the member is folded along the fold line to form the place mat into the configuration of the file folder. The folded place mat is then stored in a file cabinet under the indicia, with the tab and indicia thereon being exposed for view in the file cabinet. The place mat is then removed from the file cabinet for use, unfolded along the fold line to provide a substantially flat place mat, and placed on a surface for receiving foodstuffs on the liquid impervious surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to place mats, and more particularly, is 
directed to file folder-type place mat, and a method of using the same. 
A place mat is a table mat, which is most often rectangular, and on which a 
place setting is laid. Many types of place mats are known, which vary in 
size, configuration, materials and the like. 
Although place mats are commonly used in restaurants and the home, they are 
not commonly used in a business office. This is because the place mats are 
relatively large and cumbersome, and therefore, cannot be conveniently and 
easily stored. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a place 
mat which can be easily and readily stored and retrieved in an office 
environment. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a place mat which 
does not occupy an excessive amount of office space. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a place mat 
which is convenient to use. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a place mat 
which can be easily and readily stored with conventional files. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a place mat 
which is inexpensive to manufacture and use. 
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method 
of using and storing a place mat of the above type in an office 
environment. 
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed 
description which is to be read in connection with the accompanying 
drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a place mat 
comprises a thin, substantially flat member having opposite surfaces, at 
least one of the surfaces serving as an operative surface; at least the 
operative surface of the member being liquid impervious; a tab formed on 
one edge of the member; and a fold line formed in the member to permit 
folding of the member thereabout into a configuration of a file folder 
such that the tab extends beyond respective edges of the member; wherein 
the folded member can be stored in a file cabinet or the like with the tab 
visible in the file cabinet or the like for easy retrieval of the place 
mat. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is 
provided for using a place mat of the type including a thin, substantially 
flat member having opposite surfaces, at least one of the surfaces serving 
as an operative surface, at least the operative surface of the member 
being liquid impervious, a tab having indicia thereon, formed on one edge 
of the member, and a fold line formed in the member to permit folding of 
the member thereabout into a configuration of a file folder such that the 
tab extends beyond respective edges of the member. The method comprises 
the steps of folding the member along the fold line to form the place mat 
into the configuration of the file folder; storing the folded place mat in 
a file cabinet under the indicia, with the tab and indicia thereon being 
exposed for view in the file cabinet; removing the place mat from the file 
cabinet for use; unfolding the removed place mat along the fold line to 
provide a substantially flat place mat; and placing the unfolded place mat 
on a surface for receiving foodstuffs on the liquid impervious surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to the drawings in detall, a place mat 10 according to one 
embodiment of the present invention is generally in the form of a file 
folder. Specifically, place mat 10 is formed from a thin, substantially 
flat, elongated rectangular member 12, as shown in FIG. 5, having opposite 
and parallel shorter edges 12a and 12b, and opposite and parallel longer 
edges 12c and 12d which connect shorter edges 12a and 12b. Rectangular 
member 12 also includes a substantially center fold line 14 which is 
parallel to shorter edges 12a and 12b of rectangular member 12 and which 
is situated substantially mid-way between shorter edges 12a and 12b. 
Thus, when member 12 is folded about fold line 14, place mat 10 assumes a 
closed file folder configuration. As such, place mat 10 can be stored in a 
file drawer 15 of a conventional file cabinet 16, as shown in FIG. 4. In 
order to facilitate storage and retrieval of the folded place mat 10, a 
shorter edge 12a or 12b thereof is formed with a tab 18 which extends at a 
height above shorter edges 12a and 12b when place mat 10 is stored as a 
file folder in cabinet 16. Suitable indicia 17, such as an appropriate 
legend or trademark, such as "LUNCH-IN MAT" can be printed on tab 18. As 
such, place mat 10 can be stored alphabetically in file drawer 15, so as 
to provide easy storage and retrieval thereof. However, other indicia, 
such as numerical designations can be used on tab 18. 
Place mat 10 has a liquid impervious surface on at least one side thereof, 
and preferably, is provided with such liquid impervious surface on both 
sides thereof. In this regard, as shown in the preferred embodiment of 
FIG. 3, member 12 is formed from a base 20 of a paper-like, 
cardboard-like, fiber-like or similar material, with a first protective 
coating or laminate 22 formed on one surface of base 20 and a second 
protective coating or laminate 24 formed on the opposite surface of base 
20. Protective coatings 22 and 24 may be formed from any suitable liquid 
impervious material, such as plastic, synthetic resin or the like. In this 
manner, food and drink items that spill on either surface of place mat 10, 
can be easily wiped up, without damaging place mat 10. The place mat is 
preferably relatively stiff but flexible. As an example, base 20 can be 
made from paper stock 12 ptc1s, and protective coatings 22 and 24 can each 
be formed from a 3 mil thick plastic laminate. Of course, other values and 
materials can be used, and the present invention is not limited thereby. 
Preferably, the inner surface of place mat 10, when opened up, as shown in 
FIG. 5, is used for placing food and drink items thereon. In this regard, 
the inner surface of place mat 10 is preferably formed with a culinary 
decoration printed thereon, for example, suggesting a table setting (as 
shown), picnic setting, or the like, which is aesthetically pleasing. The 
printing is on base 20 and covered by one of the protective coatings 22 or 
24. 
In use, place mat 10 is retrieved from storage in file drawer 15, and 
opened up on an office desk, as shown in FIG. 5. Then, food and drink 
items are placed on place mat 10 for the meal. After the meal has been 
completed, place mat 10 is wiped clean, folded up and returned to file 
drawer 15 in its alphabetical order. 
It will therefore be appreciated that place mat 10 can be easily and 
readily stored and retrieved in an office environment, without occupying 
an excessive amount of office space. Specifically. place mat 10 can be 
stored with conventional files. Thus, place mat 10 is convenient to use, 
and is also inexpensive to manufacture and use. 
Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention with 
reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the 
present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that 
various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of 
ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of 
the invention as defined in the appended claims.