Abstract:
An anti-fatigue mat includes an enclosure and electrical circuitry positioned within the enclosure capable of providing at least one electrical current. A vibrating mechanism is coupled to the electrical circuitry for receiving the electrical current and for vibrating in response to the electrical current, thereby providing a vibrating sensation. A compressible composition is positioned within the enclosure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/870,881, filed Dec. 20, 2006, entitled “Massaging Anti-Fatigue Mat”, and bearing Attorney Docket No. B542.101.102. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an anti-fatigue mat. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an anti-fatigue mat incorporating vibration and heat, thereby providing improved blood circulation and reducing user fatigue. 
         [0003]    Traditionally, employers struggle with how to protect employees from the discomfort of standing in a relative stationery position for long periods. People who stand for long periods suffer from excessive stress on the feet, legs, back, and other muscles and body parts. Further, excessive standing can lead to varicose veins and to arch and heel pain from flattened feet. 
         [0004]    Various types of traditional anti-fatigue mats are used to provide a cushion for a person standing on the mat. However, fatigue and poor circulation often results when a person stands on a traditional anti-fatigue mat for an extended period of time. Persons who work standing up most of the day, such as persons in industries including or incorporating hairdressers, bartenders, cashiers, assembly line workers, security guards, lunch line workers, bank tellers, etc., experience fatigue and poor circulation after standing on a conventional anti-fatigue mat for long periods of time. 
         [0005]    While anti-fatigue mats constructed from foams, rubbers, or gels, are known, a need exists for an anti-fatigue mat capable of providing improved comfort and blood circulation to a user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An anti-fatigue mat includes an enclosure and electrical circuitry positioned within the enclosure capable of providing at least one electrical current. A vibrating mechanism is coupled to the electrical circuitry for receiving the electrical current and for vibrating in response to the electrical current, thereby providing a vibrating sensation. A compressible composition is positioned within the enclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an anti-fatigue mat in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another anti-fatigue mat in accordance with the present disclosure 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an anti-fatigue mat in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Standing requires about twenty percent more energy than sitting. The human foot includes twenty-five bones, fifty-six ligaments, thirty-eight muscles, and over seven thousand nerve endings. In addition, being farthest from the heart, the feet generally have the poorest circulation in the body, which diminishes with age. Discomfort, pain, fatigue, and poor circulation can lead to further injuries affecting muscles, joints, and blood circulation, not only within the foot, but also within the legs, hips, back, and other body parts. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of anti-fatigue mat  100  in accordance with the present disclosure. Anti-fatigue  100  includes enclosure  102 , electrical cord and adapter  104 , electrical connect/disconnect  106 , manual control  108 , anti-slip coating  110 , top surface  112 , and side surfaces  114 . 
         [0012]    Anti-fatigue mat  100  aids the softening or cushioning of the body part-to-floor contact. In many industries or situations, employees or persons have to stand for prolonged periods of time. In industries including or incorporating hairdressers, bartenders, cashiers, assembly line workers, security guards, lunch line workers, bank tellers, etc., a person&#39;s foot or feet can be in contact directly or indirectly with anti-fatigue mat  100 . In other industries or situations, such as daycares and camping, the entire body or multiple body parts, such as knees, bottom, back, or stomach, can be in contact, directly or indirectly, with anti-fatigue mat  100 . 
         [0013]    While anti-fatigue  100  is shown in  FIG. 1  having a square or rectangular three-dimensional design, it is understood that anti-fatigue mat  100  may be constructed in any configuration or shape without deviating from the present disclosure. The height, width, thickness, and overall configuration of anti-fatigue mat  100  may vary without deviation from the present disclosure. For example, anti-fatigue mat  100  may be formed of any shape to fit a desired space of a standing worker in such industries including or incorporating as hairdressers, bartenders, cashier, assembly line workers, security guards, lunch line workers, bank tellers, etc., or may be of a shape to fit the space of a kneeling, sitting, or laying person in a variety of settings such as a home setting, a daycare facility, or a camping setting. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, top surface  112  includes anti-slip coating  110  positioned thereon. Anti-slip coating  110  prevents slipping or unwanted movement when standing on anti-fatigue mat  100 . A similar coating may be positioned on the bottom surface of anti-fatigue mat  100  to further prevent slipping or unwanted movement. In one embodiment, anti-fatigue mat  100  includes electrical cord and adapter  104 , electrical connect/disconnect  106 , and manual control  108 . Electrical cord and adapter  104  can be connected to a standard electrical outlet for powering various elements of anti-fatigue mat  100  further shown and described with reference to  FIG. 3 . Manual control  108  can include various controls including an on/off switch, various power settings, vibrating control for controlling the vibration within anti-fatigue mat  100 , and heating control for controlling the heating element of anti-fatigue mat  100 , further described with reference to  FIG. 3 . Electrical connect/disconnect  106  allows a user to remove or connect electrical cord and adapter  104  as needed. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of anti-fatigue mat  100 . The anti-fatigue mat of  FIG. 2  differs from the anti-fatigue mat of  FIG. 1  in that the top edges of the anti-fatigue mat in  FIG. 2  have been rounded so that a less dramatic step between the surface on which anti-fatigue mat  100  is placed and top surface  112  of anti-fatigue mat  100  is achieved. Further, electrical cord and adaptor  104  and electrical connect/disconnect  106  have been replaced with battery compartment  120 . Thus, an alternative power source, batteries, is disclosed. Further, manual control  108  of  FIG. 1  has been replaced by remote control transmitter  116  and remote control receiver  118 . In this embodiment, a user can control various features of anti-fatigue mat  100 , such as on/off, power level, vibrating level, and heating level, via remote control  116 . 
         [0016]    While electrical cord and adapter  104 , electrical connect/disconnect  106 , manual control  108 , remote control receiver  118 , and battery compartment  120  are shown at specific locations on or within anti-fatigue mat  100 , it is understood that these components can be located anywhere on or within anti-fatigue mat  100  without deviating from the present disclosure. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of anti-fatigue mat  100  in accordance with the present disclosure. Anti-fatigue mat  100  includes layers  122 ,  124 , and  126 , vibrating mechanism  128 , electrical circuitry  130 , heating mechanisms  132 , electrical circuitry  134 , pockets or voids  136 , cooling mechanism  138 , and electrical circuitry  140 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , layer  126  is constructed having a design incorporating circular-shaped voids or air spaces  136 . However, it is understood that the air spaces  136  incorporated within layer  126  may be of any combination of material and air pockets, including a design with no air pockets, without deviating from the present disclosure. Further, air spaces or pockets  136  may be of any design or shape, such as honeycomb, or square, rectangular, without deviating from the present disclosure, and may include various materials, such as air, gels, or foams without deviating from the present disclosure. Pockets of spaces  136 , which may be incorporated into one or more of layers  122 - 126 , aid in the cushioning of anti-fatigue mat  100  and aid in the distribution and/or intensity of vibration from vibrating mechanisms  128  throughout anti-fatigue mat  100 . Pockets of spaces  136  also aid in the distribution and/or intensity of heat from heating mechanisms  132  throughout anti-fatigue mat  100 . Further, while three layers of material  122 - 126  are shown in  FIG. 1 , it is understood that an anti-fatigue mat  100  may have any number of layers without deviating from the present disclosure. 
         [0019]    Layers  122 - 126  may be formed of any of a variety of materials or compressible composition, such as rubber, foam cushion, gels, or any combination thereof, that aid in the distribution and/or intensity of vibration and heat throughout anti-fatigue mat  100 . 
         [0020]    Vibrating mechanisms  128  of anti-fatigue mat  100  provide vibration or a vibration sensation to a user in varying degrees in conjunction with or separately from the heating feature of anti-fatigue mat  100 . Vibrating mechanisms  128  can be any vibrating element or device without deviating from the present disclosure. Manual control  108  or remote control transmitter  116  allows the user to control or change the vibrating massage or function of vibrating mechanism  128  in a continuous or pulsed mode. Vibrating mechanism  128  can provide vibration in a timed pulse configuration, such as pulses per minute, and/or provide an intensity of a vibrating sensation in a continuous mode in a low vibration, a vigorous vibration, or any vibration therebetween. Further, the intensity and vigor of the vibration from vibrating mechanisms  128  can also be controlled by manual control  108  or remote control transmitter  116 . 
         [0021]    Heating mechanisms  132  of anti-fatigue mat  100  provide heat or a heat sensation to a user in varying degrees in conjunction with or separately from the massage feature of anti-fatigue mat  100 . Heating mechanisms  132  can be any heating element, coil, or device without deviating from the present disclosure. Heating mechanism  132  can provide heat in a timed pulse configuration, such as pulses per second or pulses per minute, and/or providing a heating sensation in a continuous mode. Manual control  108  or remote control transmitter  116  allows the user to control or change the heating sensation of heating mechanisms  132  in pulsed or continuous heat. 
         [0022]    Manual control  108 , shown in  FIG. 1 , and remote control transmitter  116 , shown in  FIG. 2 , can be used to turn on/off anti-fatigue mat  100  and to control vibrating mechanisms  128  and heating mechanisms  132 . Remote control transmitter  116  can be either a wireless or wired device. Manual control  108  and remote control transmitter  116  may control the intensity of vibration and the temperature of heat provided by anti-fatigue mat  100 , and may further include a timer to provide for specific time periods of power prior to turning off an individual, a combination or all electrical elements within anti-fatigue mat  100 . 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, anti-fatigue mat  100  may include cooling mechanism  138  and associated electrical circuitry  140  which will minimize heat from either vibrating mechanisms  128 , heating mechanisms  132 , or electrical circuitry  130  and  134 . Cooling mechanism  138  may minimize or prevent heat damage or breakdown of components of anti-fatigue mat  100 , while also minimizing or preventing anti-fatigue mat  100  from over-heating and causing discomfort to the user. Cooling mechanism  138  can be any cooling element or device without deviating from the present disclosure. 
         [0024]    While vibrating mechanisms  128 , heating mechanisms  132 , and cooling mechanism  138  are shown in specific locations and on specific layers within anti-fatigue mat  100 , it is understood that these mechanisms and associated electrical circuitry can be located anywhere within anti-fatigue mat  100  without deviating from the present disclosure. Further, any number of vibrating mechanisms  128 , heating mechanisms  132 , and cooling mechanisms  138  may be provided within anti-fatigue mat  100  without deviating from the present disclosure. 
         [0025]    Layers  122 - 126  are formed from a material that will aid in the protection of vibrating mechanisms  128  heating mechanism  132  and electrical circuitry  130  and  134 . Layers  122 - 126  will also provide durability to anti-fatigue mat  100  and will aid in the distribution of vibration and heat throughout anti-fatigue mat  100 . Layers  122 - 126  can be formed of materials having various degrees of integrity and compressibility. 
         [0026]    Enclosure  102 , which acts as the outer surface of anti-fatigue mat  100 , may include a durable cover to enclose the various layers, vibrating mechanisms  128 , heating mechanisms  132 , cooling mechanism  138 , and electrical circuitry  130 ,  134 , and  140 . In one embodiment, enclosure  108  will be waterproof, scratch proof, and/or able to withstand damage from natural elements such as a the sun and rain, and man-made elements, such as use by a user by standing or laying on anti-fatigue mat  100 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, anti-fatigue mat  100  includes one or more variable resistors or other components for varying the amount of vibration, heating, or cooling of the vibrating mechanism  138 , respectively. These variations can be caused by a user via the controls of manual control  108  or remote control transmitter  116 . A microprocessor or other computing device may also be included within anti-fatigue mat  100  to aid in variations of vibration, heating, cooling, as well as any other adjustable features of anti-fatigue mat  100 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, anti-fatigue mat  100  may include an auto shut-off feature either based upon length of time anti-fatigue mat  100  has been powered on, or based upon an internal temperature within anti-fatigue mat  100 . The auto shut-off feature will minimize or prevent burn out of anti-fatigue mat  100  or individual components of anti-fatigue mat  100 . 
         [0029]    Use of anti-fatigue mat  100  will provide substantial comfort to the user, especially in industries in which a user must stand for a prolonged period of time, such as hairdressers, bartenders, cashiers, assembly line workers, security guards, lunch line workers, bank tellers, etc. Anti-fatigue mat  100  incorporates various materials, such as foam, rubber, or gels, to aid in the comfort provided to the user. In addition, the use of stimulation by vibration and/or stimulation by heat to the user will aid in the circulation of blood flow throughout the body part in contact with anti-fatigue mat  100  as well as other body parts. Thus, in many instances where a user is standing on anti-fatigue mat  100 , increased blood flow to a user&#39;s feet and legs will be provided, thereby minimizing fatigue of the lower extremities and back of the user. Anti-fatigue mat  100  may also be used in environments where a user is kneeling, sitting, or laying on anti-fatigue mat  100  to provide comfort, prevent fatigue, and aid in blood circulation throughout the body. 
         [0030]    Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.