Abstract:
Herein is disclosed a disposable, slip-resistant, leak-proof mat for use with infant high chairs and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a three-ply sheet which is perforated to fit easily and quickly beneath an infant&#39;s high chair. The sheet comprises a top absorbent layer, a middle absorbent layer, and a bottom slip-resistant, waterproof layer, all of which are joined together by bonding or some other conventional joining process.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.  § 119 (   e ) to U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/234,615 filed Sep. 22, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to floor mats and more particularly to a disposable, slip-resistant, leak-proof mat for infant/toddler high chairs.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE FIELD  
         [0003]    As every parent knows, infants and toddlers are messy eaters. They routinely drop or throw food, dishes, and utensils all around the kitchen but particularly on the floor immediately beneath their high chairs. Despite the need to clean up the area after feeding a child, a parent frequently finds that he/she must focus on the child and cannot divide his/her attention to perform the necessary clean-up tasks.  
           [0004]    Various previously patented inventions have addressed this problem. However, they all fall short of the present invention in one way or another. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,895 to Deaver discloses a disposable absorbent mat that can be placed beneath a high chair to catch food, etc. With Deaver&#39;s mat, the parent must still take the time and expend the effort to move the high chair to place the mat into position and then move it again to remove the mat for disposal. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 2,585,434 to Caponera discloses a U-shaped floor mat that surrounds the two front legs of a high chair. Although Caponera&#39;s mat does not require moving the high chair to position the mat, it also does not cover the area directly beneath the high chair and therefore does not catch many of the dropped items.  
           [0005]    There have also been several tray aprons or troughs more elaborately attached around the high chair, such as those devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,165,123 to Hutson, 5,660,432 to Davis, and 3,298,736 to Decker.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    One aspect of the present invention comprises a perforated, absorbent sheet that a user can quickly and easily place beneath an infant high chair so as to catch liquids and foods that have been dropped by the infant during feeding. The perforations are strategically placed and allow the user to quickly tear, fold, and configure the mat beneath the high chair without moving the high chair, thereby covering the entire area under and around the high chair&#39;s legs. The user can then just as easily gather up the mat for disposal when feeding is through.  
           [0007]    The preferred embodiment of the sheet has three layers: a top liquid absorbing layer, a middle absorbent layer, and a bottom layer which is not absorbent but is waterproof, so that it provides a barrier between the top layers and the floor. The bottom layer also is slip-resistant and non-adhesive, providing a secure grip on the floor, but one that is easy to break so that the user can quickly gather up the used mat and dispose of it.  
           [0008]    The techniques for inexpensively manufacturing such absorbent and slip-resistant materials and for joining such materials together, such as by bonding, are well known in the manufacture of paper, plastic, and rubber/latex products. These techniques can readily be used to manufacture the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of the mat centered beneath and surrounding the front and sides of an infant/toddler high chair;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment showing the perforations while the mat is still in an unfolded position;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2A is top detail view of the preferred embodiment showing the mat in an unfolded position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2B is a top detail view of the preferred embodiment showing the mat in the useful position; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a detail view illustrating a partial cross section of the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    The figures depict several, but not all, embodiments of the present invention of the disposable, absorbent, slip-resistant, leak-proof mat for high chairs and the like. Although the illustrations and descriptions discuss a high chair, it is envisioned that the present invention will be used with like objects, such as chairs, and for other purposes.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the high chair mat  10  positioned underneath an infant/toddler high chair  12  (not part of the invention), whose front two legs,  14   a  and  14   b,  are oriented towards the front of the mat  10 , which in the preferred embodiment is rectangular in shape. Although not depicted, the mat  10  can originally be delivered in a folded and/or rolled format/condition.  
         [0016]    Extending from the back edge  16  of the mat  10 , are perforated lines  18   a  and  18   b  which allow the center flap  20  to unfold forward from its original position underneath the high chair  12 , to fit closely around the lower part of the front legs  14 , and to fold back into its original resting position. When the center flap  20  is folded forward, the front leg openings  22   a  and  22   b  will be uncovered so that the front legs  14  can be positioned inside the front leg openings  22   a  and  22   b.  The front leg openings  22  are wide enough to accommodate a variety of sizes and designs of high chairs.  
         [0017]    As shown in FIG. 1, the mat  10  extends well beyond the front and the sides of the high chair  12 , thereby allowing food and/or liquid dropped by an infant or toddler sitting in the high chair  12  to land on the mat  10 . The perforated lines  18  allow the center flap  20  of the mat  10  to be folded up from underneath the chair, towards the front edge  24  of the mat  10 , and the sides to be folded up, retaining the food and/or liquid in the mat  10  for easy disposal. The high chair  12  does not have to be moved in order for the user to gain access to place or remove the mat  10 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a top view of the mat  10 . FIG. 2 illustrates the perforated lines  18  and the perforated flaps  26  for the front leg openings  22 . The preferred embodiment has front leg openings  22  that are half-moon shaped; however, the openings  22  may be in different shapes. The perforated lines  18  allow the center flap  20  to be folded towards the front of the high chair  12  for placement of the mat  10  under and around the high chair  12 . The center flap  20  can then be placed back to its original resting position beneath the high chair  12 . The preferred embodiment of the mat  10  is typically to be placed in a position such that the back edge  16  of the mat  10  is oriented towards the back of the high chair  12 . However, it may also be reversed allowing the back edge  16  of the mat  10  to be oriented towards the front of the high chair  12 . The ability to fold the center flap  20  forward, place the mat  10  around the high chair  12 , and return the center flap  20  to its resting position enables the user to place and remove the mat without having to move the high chair.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2A is a further illustration of how the center flap  20  folds forward in the direction of the arrow shown. The center flap  20  moves away from the back edge  16  in the direction of the perforated lines  18   a  and  18   b.  When the center flap  20  is in this unfolded position, the front leg openings  22   a  and  22   b  become open and useable. The mat  10  is placed down and around the high chair  12 , and the high chair&#39;s front legs  14   a  and  14   b  are positioned in the front leg openings  22   a  and  22   b  respectively. The front leg openings  22   a  and  22   b  are large enough to accommodate various sizes and designs of high chairs. The center flap  20  is then folded back underneath the high chair  12  making a somewhat solid mat area beneath and around the high chair  12 . If the high chair  12  has a center bar between its front legs  14   a  and  14   b  (not depicted), then the mat  10  can either be folded back under the bar or over it. Food and/or liquid dropped by the child sitting in the high chair can fall on the mat  10 , thus protecting the floor and enabling easy clean up. When it is time to clean up the area, the center flap  20  is again folded towards the front of the high chair  12 , enclosing whatever food and/or liquid is on that section. The sides and front of the mat  10  are then also gathered up enclosing food and/or liquid, and the entire mat  10  is then disposed of.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2B is a further top view of the mat  10  illustrating the front leg openings  22   a  and  22   b  after the mat  10  has been unfolded and the center flap  20  has been returned to its resting position, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. Once this has been done, the perforated shapes of the front leg openings  22   a  and  22   b  form pre-cut flaps  26   a  and  26   b  used to help cover the lower section of the high chair&#39;s front legs  14   a  and  14   b.  The flaps  26   a  and  26   b  help keep food and/or liquid from escaping the mat  10  through the leg openings  22   a  and  22   b.    
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of the high chair mat  10  in which a sheet of slip-resistant waterproof barrier  28  forms the bottom layer of the mat  10 . The slip-resistant material helps keep the mat  10  in a stationary position. A middle absorbent material  30  is firmly joined to the bottom barrier sheet  28 . The middle layer  30  is also firmly joined to a top liquid absorbent material  32 . Most liquid and/or food dropped by the infant or toddler sitting in the high chair  12  will be held by the absorbent layers  32  and  30 . The materials may be smooth or may be embossed to improve strength. The waterproof barrier  28  will also help retain the food and/or liquid from escaping the absorbent layers  32  and  30 .  
         [0022]    The techniques for inexpensively manufacturing materials which are absorbent and materials which are slip-resistant and for joining such materials together are well known in the manufacture of paper, plastic, and rubber/latex products. These techniques can readily be used to manufacture a disposable, slip-resistant leak proof mat for high chairs and the like.  
         [0023]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements and uses included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.  
         [0024]    While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction, the arrangement of components, number of sheets of material, and shape without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplified embodiment set forth herein.  
         [0025]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.