Patent Publication Number: US-2016242554-A1

Title: Kneeling Pad

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/120,552 filed on Feb. 25, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to kneeling pads and exercise mats. More specifically, the present invention relates to a kneeling pad that elevates a user&#39;s feet above the floor to prevent toe contact with the floor. In particular, the kneeling pad elevates a user&#39;s feet and places the feet in an extended, plantar flexion position. 
     Kneeling pads and exercise mats are appliances used to cushion a user who is seated, kneeling, or otherwise conducting an activity on a bare floor surface. Generally, these mats are used when exercising or stretching, whereby the pad cushions the weight of the user. This is particularly true while the user is barefoot and while the user is shifting weight on the mat for different activities. 
     Kneeling on the ground can be uncomfortable for the user, and can place undue stress or pressure on the user&#39;s knees and toes. Kneeling pads are employed in order to provide a soft or cushioned surface on which the user&#39;s knees can be placed. However, the user&#39;s weight may still be placed on the toes off of the mat surface, which can also be uncomfortable. Thus, a kneeling pad having support and cushioning for a user&#39;s toes and feet is desired. 
     The present invention provides a kneeling pad with a raised hump therealong, whereby the hump is adapted to conform to the user&#39;s foot upper and lower leg to cushion the same. The user can bear his or her feet and lower legs against the hump upper surface, which is convex and curved to accept the radius between the user&#39;s feet and lower leg. This elevates the user&#39;s feet above the ground, allowing the user to bear into the hump for support, without pressing the user&#39;s toes into the ground. Therefore, the hump supports the user&#39;s feet in a plantar flexion position while the user is kneeling against the flat upper surface of the mat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new kneeling pad device that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when supporting a user&#39;s knees and the user&#39;s feet on the pad. The pad is designed to raise the user&#39;s feet above the ground to reduce pressure on the user&#39;s feet while kneeling. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved kneeling pad device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a kneeling pad device to provide a cushion that comfortably supports a user while engaging in stretching positions or exercise positions, while also supporting the user&#39;s feet in an elevated position above the floor to protect the toes of a user. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device that comprises a flexible pad having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a pair of sides, and a thickness. The thickness is comprised of a single or double layer of mat material, which cushions the weight of the user as the mat is positioned between a seated, kneeling, or standing user and the ground surface. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device that comprises a raised hump that extends laterally and between the pair of sides of the kneeling pad, whereby the raised hump comprises a semicircular cross section and a thickened layer of cushion material. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device, whereby a raised hump is disposed along an end of the mat, and whereby the raised hump is adapted to provide a convex, curved upper surface that presses against the lower leg and foot upper of a kneeling user&#39;s feet when the user is kneeling. The user&#39;s feet are placed in a plantar flexion position over the upper surface of the raised hump, while the user&#39;s knees are pressed into the upper surface of the flexible pad along the opposing end of the mat. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device, whereby the flexible pad comprises an upper pad layer and a lower pad layer. The raised hump comprises a semicircular pad that is inserted between the upper pad layer and the lower pad layer along an end of the flexible pad. The upper pad layer and the lower pad layer sandwich the raised hump, whereby the layers may be a single, continuous mat surface that wraps around the hump, or may comprise a pair of separate, independent mat surfaces above and below the raised hump. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling pad device, whereby the flexible pad comprises a continuous pad forming a raised hump, folding onto itself to form an upper pad layer and a lower pad layer. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows an overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows an overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the kneeling pad of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  provides an illustrative view of the user&#39;s kneeling position over the kneeling pad of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the kneeling pad of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for supporting a kneeling user while supporting the legs and feet of the user in an elevated position above the floor surface. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are shown views of the kneeling pad  11  of the present invention. The kneeling pad  11  is a ground pad and user support that is adapted to be placed on a floor and used to support a user in a seated, kneeling, prone, or standing position. The kneeling pad  11  provides one or more layers of cushioning material that cushions the user when in these positions, and while engaging in exercise or stretching activities. The kneeling pad  11  of the present invention is ideally suited for a kneeling user, whereby the user&#39;s knees and the feet of the user are supported. However, the pad may also be used while the user is standing or otherwise positioned on the pad. The structure of the device makes it suited to support a user&#39;s lower legs and feet in an elevated position above the floor. In particular, the feet of a kneeling user are supported by a raised hump  22  along one end  21  of the device, which elevates the user&#39;s feet and toes above the underlying floor surface to protect the user&#39;s toes during kneeling activities. 
     The kneeling pad  11  has a structure that comprises a first end  21 , a second end  31 , an upper surface  12 , a lower surface  13 , a pair of lateral sides  28 , and a thickness. In one embodiment, the first end  21  of the pad  11  comprises a raised hump  22  that extends laterally across the pad and between the sides  28  thereof. The raised hump  22  comprises a raised portion that has a hump thickness  40  greater than the thickness  41  of the pad along its free field area. In one embodiment, the raised hump  22  comprises an upper surface  25  that comprises a curved, convex shape, and the hump forms a radius or semicircular cross section  23  adjacent to the first end  21  of the pad. In this embodiment, the upper surface  25  of the raised hump is adapted to conform to the upper portion of a user&#39;s feet and to the lower legs of the kneeling user. The hump upper surface  25  thereby elevates the feet of the user and prevents the toes of the user from bearing into the floor surface while kneeling on the pad. When the pad is not in use, a handle grip aperture  50  or handle may be provided along one end of the pad. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , the construction of the kneeling pad  11  may be constructed in one of several variations. In one embodiment, the raised hump  22  and the surface  12  of the pad are formed of a singular, continuous material, such as a molded mat device. This embodiment is show in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , whereby the pad is a formed, uniform material. The raised hump  22  extends between the lateral sides  28  of the pad, while the pad upper surface  12  angles upward from the second end  31  to the first end  21 . In another embodiment, and as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the raised hump  22  comprises a separate, semi-circular structure  23  that is sandwiched between an upper mat layer  16  and a lower mat layer  15 . The raised hump  23  comprises a flat lower surface  24 , a convex upper surface  25 , and is disposed within a cavity  18  between the layers  15 ,  16 . 
     The multi-layered construction further still has different contemplated embodiments. In one embodiment, the lower layer  15  and upper layer  16  are formed of a continuous mat surface, which extends from the second end  31 , forms over the raised hump structure  23 , and folds over  19  itself to form a double-layer mat construction. The two layers  15 ,  16  are bonded together along a contact area  17  defined by the free field area of the mat, and away from the raise hump  22 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there are shown alternative embodiments for the mat construction. As an alternate construction, the upper layer  16  and lower layer  15  may comprise separate mat surfaces that are bonded together along their interface  17 . Rather than being formed of a single mat surface, the lower mat layer  15  may extend between the first end  21  and second end  31  of the mat, while the upper layer  16  does the same and extends the raised hump  22 . The upper and lower layers terminate at the ends  21 ,  31 , and are bonded together along their interface  17  to sandwich the raised hump structures  23  therebetween (which may also be bonded to the layers). Each of the raised hump structures  23  is convex and disposed within a cavity  18  between the layers  15 ,  16 . 
     In particular, the kneeling pad may comprise an upper pad layer  16  and a lower pad layer  15 , whereby each of the raised hump  22  comprises a semicircular pad  23  inserted between the upper pad layer  16  and the lower pad layer  15 . The raised hump  22  extends laterally and between the sides of the mat. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the raised hump  22  has an upwardly convex, curved upper surface that is adapted to press against the lower leg  61  and foot upper  62  of a kneeling user&#39;s feet  60  to place the user&#39;s feet  60  in a plantar flexion position  65  while the user&#39;s knees  70  are pressed into the upper surface  12  of the mat along the opposing end  31 . As represented in  FIG. 5 , the planar flexion position is one in which the foot  60  of the user is angled downward  65  from its natural position. The raised hump  22  elevates the user&#39;s feet  60  a distance  40  above the floor, whereby the user&#39;s toes  63  are prevented from contacting the floor surface while kneeling. This is advantageous and desired in some instances, as pressure is relieved from the user&#39;s toes and the user&#39;s feet are comfortably situated above the floor surface. This prevents toe stubbing, and prevents the user from placing too much pressure on the toes  63  of his or her feet while kneeling. The hump  22  raises the feet and provides a more comfortable position for the user&#39;s feet while kneeling. 
     It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     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, falling within the scope of the invention.