Abstract:
A feeding station system for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about as a person or an animal eats. The system includes a mat having an upper surface with planar fastening areas, where each planar fastening area is fitted with a hook or loop planar fastener. The system includes a vessel having a floor with a lower surface appropriately fitted with a layer of hook or loop fasteners which will fasten to complementary hook or loop fasteners on the mat. In the system a reversible bond between the mat and the vessel is attained when the vessel&#39;s layer of hook or loop fasteners is pressed against the mat&#39;s hook or loop planar fasteners, causing complementary fasteners to form a reversible bond. The reversible bond can be broken by peeling the vessel away from the mat.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to feeding stations and more particularly to a system for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding. 
     2) Prior Art 
     The literature on feeding stations primarily reads on feeding children in high chairs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,628 to Larry L. Russell teaches a tray for a child&#39;s high chair. A section of interlocking elements (not Velcro™) that engage a complementary surface on eating utensils or toys permits removably securing the eating utensil or toy to the tray surface. Tray dimensions may be customized to fit tables of commercially available children&#39;s high chairs. The tray may also include a smooth surface that accommodates eating utensils and toys that do not have interlocking elements. 
     Des. 386,838 to Pini et al. discloses a Mat For Pet Feeding Dish, however nothing is taught about the mat or dishes, nor a system for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding. With a greater percentage of the population taking care of pets indoors there is a need for a feeding system that is better organized and easier to maintain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a system for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding. An advantage of one embodiment is the system keeps the feeding bowls distributed so that an animal, such as a pet, is not crowded from access to a bowl. The system uses Limited Eating Area Hardware (hereinafter known as  LEAH ), where the system includes a mat having an upper layer with an outer surface that is substantially impervious to water and oils. The system restrains movement of vessels, such as bowls, to a limited eating zone, wherein the zone is substantially limited to the space on and above the mat. 
     The surface of the mat has one or more planar fastening areas, where a planar fastening area is fitted with hardware, such as one or more hook or loop fastening membranes or a combination thereof (i.e., Velcro™). The hardware enables vessels appropriately fitted with hook or loop fastening membranes or a combination thereof to be reversibly secured. Adhesion is attained when a hook membrane is pressed against a loop membrane, causing the hook and loop fibrous elements to become entangled. A hook membrane adheres to a loop membrane, but not to another hook membrane. Hook membranes are not repelled by other hook membranes, they simply don&#39;t adhere. Similarly, loop membranes are not repelled by other loop membranes, they simply don&#39;t adhere. Hook and loop membranes are separated by peeling one from the other, with enough force to disentangle the hook and loop fibrous elements. 
     Examples of vessels appropriately fitted with hook or loop fastening membranes or a combination thereof include the following: containers, holding devices, protective covers and protective holders. Containers typically have hook or loop fastening membranes on the bottom, and examples include bowls, dishes, plates, jars and glasses. Holding devices include cup holders, sippy cups holders, and conventional bowls (for instance for feeding pets and infants), where a holding device holds the utensil that actually contains the drink or food. Protective covers include trivets and mat covers, where a mat cover is used to provide a protective cover for a planar fastening area when the area is not in use. Protective holders include holders that provide protection against mechanical shock and/or thermal or electrical insulation. An examples of a protective holder is an insulated cup holder. 
     An aspect of the invention is that the mat and vessel can be selected to be disposable and recyclable, such as a plastic mat having a planar fastening area with several strips of loop fastening membranes, and a plastic vessel having a bottom outer surface with a strip of a hook membrane. Alternatively, conventional non-disposable eating utensils and containers can also be selected. 
     A object of the invention is that the system is suitable as a station for feeding animals, and especially pets such as dogs and cats. In an exemplary applications of the system, the system is fitted as a feeding station for dogs. Typically, during feeding, a bowl containing water, a bowl containing food, and a small treat bowl are presented to the dog(s). Following eating, all bowls are removed, the water bowl is refreshed, the mat is cleaned, mat covers are positioned over the food and treat planar fastening areas, and the water bowl is repositioned on the water planar fastening area. The mat covers prevent food and other detritus from contaminating the hook or loop membrane of the planar fastening area, therein preventing the infestation of insects and bacteria, which can reduce the performance of the hook or loop element fastening membranes. 
     Another aspect of the invention is that the mat has excellent lay-flat characteristics, that is it is not internally stressed, so that after a rather short period of time it does not tend to curl or buckle, as is commonly the case with many plastic mats. Another object is that the mat is color fast, even in direct sunlight. Cloth and plastic mats are typically not color fast, and often fade or crack after relatively short durations of exposure to the sun. Another object of the invention is that the mat is resistant to staining even to tomato and mustard based foods, and it can be cleaned in a washing machine. Another object of the invention is that the mat is composed of materials to which the hook or loop membranes can be permanently affixed. A good combination is a mat having a high count scrim interlayer coated on both sides with an annealed PVC composition, where the interlayer has a needled fleece (so that the fleece is on both sides of the interlayer), and where one side of the fleece is then impregnated with an over-layer of a highly stable plastic such as PVC or PVDC, which forms the upper layer with the outer surface that is substantially impervious to water and oils. 
     Another aspect of the invention is that the opposing side of needled fleece has some adherence to the loop side of Velcro, and when combined with cements, such as bituminous, acrylic and epoxy glues it has very good adhesion to properly prepared metal and excellence adhesion to ceramic tiles and the like. The system can include adhering the mat to plates like metal or tiles or other earthen based plates. Tiles are much heavier than just the mat, and in applications where additional weight is required, tiles are an inexpensive addition that are suitable for use with food products. Tiles can also be interlocked, so that a mosaic of tiles faced with the  LEAH  mat system can be formed. No matter what the size of the animal the  LEAH  system can be configured so that the bowls remain stationary. 
     Applications that employ one or a mosaic of tiles faced with the  LEAH  system would also be appropriate for applications in the bathroom, such as a soap or shampoo holder. 
     As previously stated, the needled fleece side of the mat has some adherence to the loop side of Velcro. Trucks, cars, boats, planes and trains having trays fitted with strips of loop membrane would serve to secure the relatively light weight mat so that to reversibly secure vessels appropriately fitted with hook or loop fastening membranes or a combination thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects will become readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which; 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention, a limited eating area hardware system, for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding; 
         FIG. 1   a  is a side view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating that the containers, such as bowls, have a bottom surface fitted with a hook and loop fastener layer that is fastened to a complementary planar fastening area on the mat; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a mat having one or more planar fastening areas with various configurations of hook and loop membranes that are sewn to the mat, where the planar fastening areas enable container(s) to be secured to the mat.  FIG. 2  also illustrates several embodiments of a lift tab that is sewn to the mat, where lift tab s facilitate decoupling a container secured to a planar fastening area; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the bowls shown in  FIG. 1   a  illustrating that the bottom of the bowls have a complimentary hook and loop layer that when positioned on the planar fastening area will fasten to the mat; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a mat having a pair of rectangular planar fastening areas, where in one embodiment the hook membrane is sewn to the mat as strips, and it the other embodiment the hook membrane is adhered to the mat with glue and stitches. The rectangular planar fastening areas are particularly suitable for securing rectangular dishes, such as a partitioned plates which are often used when feeding children and securing trivets; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a rectangular container illustrating that the bottom of the container would have a loop layer that when positioned on the planar fastening area will fasten to the mat. The loop layer has some adhesion to fuzzy materials such as carpet, fleece, knits and velvet, and a container fitted with the loop layer would be partially secured to a car&#39;s carpeted floor; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial view of an edge of a planar fastening area laminated to the mat, wherein the enlargement also illustrates details of the composition of a mat having particularly suitable properties for the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a planar view of a mat mounted on a base, such as a square tile, where the mat has loop fastening membrane mounted to the mat and a lift tab having an end that is sewn to the mat; 
         FIG. 7   a  is a cross-sectional view of the mat illustrated in  FIG. 7  taken along sectional line  7   a - 7   a;    
         FIG. 8  is a planar view of a container which is a bowl, adhered to loop fastening membrane mounted to the mat and a lift tab having an end that is sewn to the mat, where the mat is mounted on a base, such as a square tile as illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 8   a  is a cross-sectional view of the bowl and mat illustrated in  FIG. 8  taken along sectional line  8   a - 8   a;    
         FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view illustrating how a tab is used to lift the bowl from mat attached to the tile illustrated in  FIG. 8   a;    
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention, a limited eating area hardware system, for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding, wherein the mat is printed, and in this embodiment printed to label where each bowl is to be positioned; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating the use of a protective cover over a planar fastening area mounted to the mat when it is not being used to secure a bowl or other container, therein prevent food and other detritus from fouling the planar fastening area. 
         FIG. 11   a  is a cross-sectional view of the protective cover over the planar fastening area illustrated in  FIG. 11  taken along sectional line  11   a - 11   a;    
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention, a limited eating area hardware system, for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over, wherein the secured container is a holding device that holds the cup or bowl that actually contains the drink or food, where the of illustrated embodiment is a cup holder. 
         FIG. 12   a  is a diagrammatic view of the cup holder illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention, where the holding device is a retainer (in this case clear—similar to a Petri dish) which intersects an interior underside of bowls that have a partially shallow bottom, such as a dog bowl with flared walls (sometimes called a skid shirt), and as illustrated the planar fastening area has horizontal strips of Velcro and the holding device has vertical strips of Velcro; and 
         FIG. 13   a  is a diagrammatic view that illustrates how the cut away view of the holding device retains the dog bowl when the bowl is positioned on the holding device. An advantage of a holding device is that it enables the user to keep using his existing feeders with the easy clean up the invented system for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention  10  is a system for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding. An embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 , which is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention  10 . The invention utilizes limited eating area hardware system, for organizing and preventing bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding. In the figure are shown a mat  12  and three vessels  20 . The illustrated mat  12  is substantially rectangular and it has rounded corners  14 , eliminating the possibility of accidentally cutting a user. The exact shape of the mat is not a limitation, so long as it can accommodate the vessels. It could for instance be oval, but in general, a rectangular shape is more material conservative and an easy shape to cut. The mat  12  has an upper surface  18  that is oil and water resistant and at least one planar fastening area  16  under the attached vessels  20 . In general the dimensions of a planar fastening area  16  are selected to accommodate the vessel. Therefore, lines  20   a  and  20   b , lines  20   a ′ and  20   b ′, and line  20   c  define the dimensions of the planar fastening area  16 . The type of vessel  20  is indefinite from this view, only the diameters  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c . It is apparent that  20   c  is much shorter than  20   a  and  20   b , which are comparable. Vessels generally can be characterized as either containers, holding devices, protective covers and protective holders. One of the planar fastening areas has a lift tab  60 , which can be used to release the vessel from the mat, and lift tabs are discussed in greater detail below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1   a , which is a side partially exploded view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , where each of the vessels  20  is appropriately fitted with vessel hook or loop fastening membranes  50  or a combination thereof. The vessel membrane  50  is composed of a hook or loop layer  52  and it is integral to the membrane layer  54 . Similarly, the planar fastening area  16  has mat a hook or loop fastening membranes  30  or a combination thereof. The mat hook or loop fastening membrane  30  is typically composed of a hook or loop layer  32  that is integral to the membrane layer  34 . The vessel membrane is normally attached to a bottom outer surface  22  of the vessel, as illustrated in the drawing, using an adhesive. The adhesive is not shown. The exact configuration is selected so that hook and loop layers are aligned. In the figures  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 1   a  all three vessels are containers, where containers have hook or loop fastening membranes on a bottom surface of the container. Examples of containers include bowls, casseroles, dishes, plates, jars and glasses. Based on size and shape two of the containers are bowls  32  and one is a dish  34 . 
     Other types of vessels include holding devices include cup holders, sippy cups holders and feeding bowls (for pets and infants), where a holding device holds the utensil that actually contains the drink or food. Protective covers include trivets and mat covers, where a mat cover is used to provide a protective cover for a planar fastening area when the area is not in use. Protective holders include holders that provide protection against mechanical shock and/or thermal or electrical insulation. An example of a protective holder is an insulated cup or drink holder. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a mat having one or more planar fastening areas with various configurations of hook and loop membranes that are sewn to the mat, where the planar fastening areas enable container(s) to be secured to the mat. In this view all of the planar fastening areas  16 , which are just zones on the mat that have been fitted or will be fitted with a hook and loop membranes hook or loop fastening membranes or a combination thereof that are loops  33 . One of the configurations  30 ′ of mat membranes is made up of strips arranged into a plus shape, a second configurations  30 ″ is a circular curvilinear shape, and a third configuration  30 ″′ is hexagonal. Note, that in each of the illustrated embodiments shown in  FIG. 2  the membrane has a perimeter skirt  36 . The perimeter skirt enables the membrane to be fastened with perimeter stitches  40 . The second configuration  30 ″ additionally has interior stitches  42  A couple of lift tabs  60 ,  60 ′ are also illustrated. An end of the rectangular lift tab  60  is secured to the mat with tab stitches  44 , therein facilitating the act breaking an attached vessel (see  FIG. 9 ) free from the mat. An alternate version of the lift tab  60 ′ is illustrated. Lift tab  60 ′ runs parallel to strip of mat membrane  30 ′. Lift tab  60 ′ is sewn to the mat  12  by stitches  44 . The lift tab  60 ′ has a hem  62 ′ with a batten (not visible) to stiffen the wider lift tab  60 ′. The smaller planar fastening area  16  has a hook or loop fastening membrane  30 ″′ with loops  33 . As with the other two membranes,  30 ′,  30 ″, there is a perimeter skirt  36  that enables the membrane to be fastened with perimeter stitches  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , which is a bottom view bowls  26 ,  26 ′ with a flat bottom and a dish  28  with a flat bottom, where the outer surface  22  is fitted with vessel hook or loop fastening membranes  50 ′,  50 ″,  50 ″′ that are hooks  51 . As is readily apparent from the illustrated embodiment, the orientation of the vessel membrane on the mat membrane is neutral, meaning that a vessel hook membrane will align and adhere with a mat loop membrane on the mat ( 50 ′ to  30 ′), ( 50 ″ to  30 ″) ( 50 ″′ to  30 ″′). 
       FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  illustrate how the bottom surface  22  of a vessel, in this case a rectangular dish  25 , such as a casserole or partitioned plate, can be fitted with a vessel membrane  50 ″′ having only loops  55  and the planar fastening areas  16  are fitted with a mat fastening membrane  30 ″″ having only hooks  35 . The mat  12  has a pair of rectangular planar fastening areas  16 , where in one embodiment the hook membrane is sewn to the mat as three narrow strips  31  and in the other embodiment as a single wide strip  31 ′. The perimeter stitches  40  and are in the perimeter skirt  36 , and interior stitches  42  run between the strips  31 . Adhesion to the mat can be augmented with a cement, and in other embodiments the hook membrane is adhered to the mat with glue only. Rectangular planar fastening areas are particularly suitable for securing rectangular dishes and securing trivets. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial view of an edge of a planar fastening area  16  a having a hook or loop fastening membranes  30  laminated to the mat  12 . The enlargement also illustrates details of a mat material  70  having properties and a composition particularly suitable properties for the invention. The finished mat material  70  has a top layer  72  of plastic and a bottom layer of fleece  76  emanating from an interlayer  80 , where the interlayer  80  is a coated scrim  82 , 84 , 86 . The bottom layer of fleece  76  is formed by needling a felt  76  (shown as a dashed line) through the coated scrim  80  creating an intermediate product that is a double-sided fleece formed on the coated scrim. In other words, there is a top  72  and bottom layer of fleece  76  needled  78  to the coated scrim  80 . In a final step, one side of the double-sided fleece is coated with what becomes the top layer  72  of plastic. The plastic used in the top layer  72  is selected to have excellent weathering properties, oil and stain resistant, and water proof. The mat material  70  is very difficult to delaminate because the needling pushes fibers of the felt  78  through the interlayer  80 , and the final coating of the top layer  72  of plastic is embedded with fibers (as shown by the dashed line), and delaminating forces, such as caused by peeling apart adhered layers of hook and loop (Velcro) are distributed by the nearly continuous fibers which are both needled and embedded. Typically the coated scrim is a polyester woven material coated on both sides with a plastic very similar to plastic used in the top layer. After each coating the coated material is annealed, eliminating almost all curl or internal stress. The use of a mat material  70  having both a top layer  72  and an interlayer  80  furthermore reduces any tendency to curl. Typically, the plastic coatings are plasticized PVC or PVDC. The total thickness is from about 60 mils to about 120 mils. A PVC top layer is advantageous because there are known adhesives for use with it. The polyester fleece on the bottom side  76  also forms excellent bonds, and the bottom layer of fleece  76  has some natural adherence to loop membranes, which can be utilized to adhere to Velcro type products. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 6  is the hook or loop fastening membranes  30 , previously shown in  FIG. 1   a . The mat hook or loop fastening membrane  30  is typically composed of a hook or loop layer  32  that is integral to the membrane layer  34 . In the illustrated embodiment the membrane layer  34  has a skirt  36  that is used to stitch  40  to the hook or loop fastening membrane  30  to the mat  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , which is a planar view of a square mat  12 ′, versus the previously illustrated rectangular mat  12  in  FIG. 1 , is mounted on a base  90 , such as a square tile, where illustrated square mat  12 ′ as shown has a loop fastening membrane  30 ″ as shown in  FIG. 3  has a lift tab  60  having an end that is sewn  40  to the mat  12 ′.  FIG. 7   a , which is a cross-sectional view of the mat taken along sectional line  7   a - 7   a  illustrates that the base  90  (tile or other type of plate) is relatively thick compared to the membrane  12 ′. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , which is a planar view of a container  20  which is substantially a flat bottom bowl fitted with a hook fastening membrane  50  is in contact with the loop fastening membrane  30 ″ mounted to the mat. There is a lift tab  60  having an end  44  that is sewn to the mat, and the mat is mounted on a base  90  that is visible in  FIG. 8   a .  FIG. 8   a  is a cross-sectional view of the bowl and square mat  12 ′ illustrated in  FIG. 8  taken along sectional line  8   a - 8   a.    
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the mat  12 ′ is mounted to a base  90  with a cement type permanent adhesive  92  such as an epoxy, acrylic, urethane, PVC, or bituminous adhesive based polymer. Notice that the fleece fibers  76  on the bottom of the mat become embedded in the permanent adhesive  92 . The base adds weight, and is appropriately selected to immobilize translational movement. It can be combined with other bases to further secure it position. In this embodiment the container  20  is fitted with a loop fastening membrane  30 ″ and the mat is fitted with a hook fastening membrane  50 . The selection of hook and loop is matter of the user&#39;s preference. A hook fastening membrane  50  has some adhesion to fuzzy materials, such as carpets, and this may be desirous if the user plans on using the bowl on a carpeted surface without the mat. As shown in the drawing, the lift tab  60  pivots at the sewn end  44 . 
     The invention in one embodiment utilizes the characteristic that the mat can be printed, for instance using screen printing or decals that adhere to PVC. Referring to  FIG. 10 , which is a plan view the limited eating area hardware system, where the system organizes and prevents bowls and the like from being turned over or moved about during feeding. As can be seen, each planar fastening area is labeled for its intended application. In the embodiment the use is a feeding station for pets. There is an area for water  8 , an area for food  6 , and an area for treats  4 , as indicated by the dashed lines (which are optional) and bowls. In another variation, the areas could be designated as to the dog or cat. 
     An embodiment of the invention illustrating the use of a protective cover  92  is shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 11   a . The protective cover  92  is a placed on a planar fastening area of the mat when the planar fastening area is not being used to secure a bowl or other container. The a protective cover  92  prevents food and other detritus from fouling the hook or loop fastening membrane on the mat  12 .  FIG. 11   a  is a cross-sectional view of the protective cover taken along sectional line  11   a - 11   a . The protective cover includes a plastic layer  94 , not unlike the to top layer of the mat  72  and a vessel hook or loop fastening membrane  50  and mat hook or loop fastening membrane  30 , where upon contacts the membranes adhere. 
     In addition to containers and protective covers, the invention includes holding devices, and protective holders  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 12   a  and  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 13   a  are views of a holding device  94 , where the holding device holds the utensil that actually contains the drink or food. Holding devices are especially useful because they allow a user to use utensils that they already own, and require no special adaptation to fit the utensil with a vessel hook or loop fastening membrane  50 . Referring first to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 12   a , which are illustrations of a mat fitted with a cup holder  95  having side walls, a slot  96  and floor  97 , an outer surface of the floor  97  with a vessel hook or loop fastening membrane  50 . The cup holder  95  can be selected to be comprised of an insulating material, therein also functioning as protective holding device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 13   a , the holding device is a retainer tray  99  with a retainer wall  100  and a retainer floor  101 . In this embodiment the retainer floor  101  is transparent so that in  FIG. 13  a backside of the vessel hook or loop fastening membrane  50  is visible and portions of the mat hook or loop fastening membrane  30  are also visible. The illustrated membranes are strips. The bowl  104  shown in  FIG. 13   a  has not be positioned in  FIG. 13 . The illustrated bowl  104  is a conventional bowl in that it has a rounded bottom  105 . Like many dog bowls and other pet bowls the bottom is elevated with either a ring or an exterior wall  106 . The elevation is required to provide the bowl with a flat stabilizing surface on the bottom of the bowl, and still have bowl where liquids will naturally flow to center of the rounded bottom  105 . In the illustrated embodiment the bowl  104  has an exterior wall  106  also and an interior wall  107 . The invented retainer tray  99  is selected so that the retainer wall  100  has a height and diameter such that when the bowl is seated on the retaining tray, the bowl exterior wall  104  slides over the retainer wall  100 , therein preventing the bowl from translational movement. 
     The system using a Limited Eating Area Hardware, can be used to accommodate substantially any shape vessels, either by directly attaching the hook or loop fastening membrane to the vessel or by attaching the hook or loop fastening membrane to a device that holds the vessel. The system includes a mat having an upper layer with an outer surface that is substantially impervious to water and oils and containers, holding devices, protective covers and protective holders. 
     The descriptions above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment or embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Where a claim is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function, it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures.