Patent Publication Number: US-10329000-B1

Title: Rollable mat

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/383,298 filed Sep. 2, 2016. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to a releasable system for mounting and storing a flexible member for use as a recreational device and protection for a vehicle with a easy and lightweight mechanism for anchoring a flexible sheet to a vehicle and storing the flexible sheet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Watercraft are exposed to a unique combination of forces which make mounting and efficient storage of all items in the vehicle essential to its use. The vehicle is designed move at high speeds while being buffeted wind and water. Additionally, space is at a premium for the efficient use of the vehicle. Mounting an object on a surface of the vehicle, particularly an object subject to high forces in use, requires balancing the need for sturdiness of the object with the physical limitations of the mounting surface. It is common knowledge within the art to permanently affix objects to the inner hull of the vehicle. 
     It has become a growing trend to provide multifunctional utility for a wide range of products designed for use in the water. As such, equipment becomes more ubiquitous and deployable from many different platforms. The largest limitation for use of these types of equipment is the use of stowage space. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a mat while using the least amount of storage space in the vehicle. A flexible mat has numerous ways to restrict the amount of space it requires for storage. However, rolling the mat has the additional advantage of being easily repeatable and requiring little effort to duplicate the action required for storage. 
     Another growing trend in the use of water equipment is the need to mount the mat on the vehicle. Mounting the device allows for additional safety while the vehicle is in motion and reducing the need for maintenance. In addition, boats require an intermediary such as a bumper or fender to reduce the incidence of damage from contact with docks, boats, or other structures. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the mounting system will be explained in the following detailed description having reference to the appended drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a means for mounting a mat on a vehicle such that the mat is secure during operation and transportation. The mounting must provide reliable security from forces applied to the mounting during transportation and use. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a releasing mechanism for all of the members of the invention. The attachment assembly may be able to allow a user to remove the fasteners from the mat, and thereby remove the mat from the sleeve. The sleeve may be removed from the center tube and the center tube may be removed from the brackets. The handle may be removed from the center tube or the sleeve. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a quick and easy means for storage of the mat in the vehicle. The brackets and mounting assembly may facilitate the rolling of the mat. The mat may be manipulated by the use of the straps for quick and easy storage. The mat may be strategically placed in order to provide a buffer between the boat and any other structures which may come in contact with the boat, equipment which may be secured to the boat. The straps may be used to secure other equipment to the boat. 
     In another embodiment, the mounting is secured to the vehicle using tackifiers or other adhesives. Alternatively, the mounting may be secured using attaching members with a threaded nut and bolt assembly. Alternatively, the mat may be secured by tying the straps directly to the boat. 
     In another embodiment, straps are secured to the mat to facilitate rolling the mat before anchoring the mat to the vehicle. The rollable mat may be used by securing the straps to the securing assembly omitting the center tube and brackets entirely. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an elevated planar view of a rollable mat showing the mat in an unrolled position and attached to the mounting mechanism. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an elevated planar view of the rollable mat of  FIG. 1  showing the mat in an rolled position and attached to the mounting mechanism. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an elevated planar view of a bracket and mounting assembly in an upright position. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an elevated planar view of a bracket and mounting assembly in a folded position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an elevated planar view of a center tube and sleeve assembly with a diagram of a handle. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an elevated planar view of a mat attached to a center tube and sleeve assembly. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a modification of the rollable mat showing the mat in an unrolled position. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of the rollable mat of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an elevated planar view of the rollable mat of  FIG. 7  showing the mat attached to a watercraft. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an elevated planar view of the rollable mat of  FIG. 7  showing the mat being pulled in toward the watercraft from an unrolled position. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an elevated planar view of the rollable mat of  FIG. 7  showing the mat in the rolled position and anchored to the watercraft. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a cross section of a preferred embodiment of a securing member of the securing assembly of the rollable mat. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an elevated planar view of a securing member of the securing assembly of the rollable mat. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an elevated planer view of the rollable mat rolled into a cylindrical shape for storage. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying illustrations and experimental data, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the methods and systems described herein may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the described systems and methods, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined or used separately, or that other embodiments may be used, and that design, implementation, and procedural changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the methods and systems described herein. 
       FIG. 1  is illustrative of an embodiment of a rollable mat assembly  1 . A mat  10  preferably made of cell foam or foam rubber materials of rectangular shape is releasably affixed to sleeve  51  by pressure from fastener  20  to sleeve  51 . In some embodiments multiple pieces of foam material may be used. Examples of materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate. These materials are generally lightweight and permanently buoyant. Washer  21  is placed between fastener  20  and mat  10  to provide additional surface area to apply downward pressure from fastener  20 . A plurality of fastener  20  and washer  21  structures may be placed along the contact surface of mat  10  where mat  10  attaches to sleeve  51 . Sleeve  51  is shaped such that sleeve  51  fits around center tube  50  when center tube  50  is slid inside sleeve  51 . Center tube  50  must be allowed to rotate within sleeve  51  in order to transfer the rotational force necessary to wind mat  10  around sleeve  51 . Center tube  50  includes releasable protrusions  52  such that releasable protrusions  52  prevent center tube  50  from sliding out of sleeve  51 . Releasable protrusions  52  may be attached to center tube  50  via screw threading and corresponding threaded hole in center tube  50  or any tackifier or other adhesive material. Handle  30  is releasably attached to sleeve  51  such that handle  30  may remain affixed relative to sleeve  51 . Handle  30  may be able to rotate relative to center tube  50  if a user provides the force necessary to rotate sleeve  51  around center tube  50 . Handle  30  includes an user interface such that a user may hold the user interface in position, and the user interface will rotate relative to handle  30  when used to provide a fixed location for a user&#39;s hand relative to the rotation of handle  30 . 
     Alternatively, handle  30  may be releasably attached to center tube  50  such that center tube  50  is affixed relative to sleeve  51 . Under this alternative embodiment, center tube  50  and sleeve  51  are affixed such that center tube  50  and sleeve  51  do not move relative to each other, and the entire assembly of sleeve  51  and center tube  50  is mounted to bracket  80  and bracket  81  such that sleeve  51  and center tube  50  may rotate relative to bracket  81  and bracket  80 . 
     In either embodiment center tube  50  must be mounted to a vehicle using bracket  80  and bracket  81  located at each end of center tube  50  in order to guide and otherwise facilitate the movement of mat  10  during rolling. In the preferred embodiment, bracket  80  and bracket  81  are positioned along center tube  50  such that brackets  80  and  81  are substantially the same distance from each other along center tube  50  as the width of mat  10  in order to facilitate a uniform rolling of mat  10 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates rollable mat assembly  1  in storage position where mat  10  is wound around center tube  50 . Bracket  80  and bracket  81  provide enough height to allow mat  10  to roll without interference from the vehicle where releasable mat and roller assembly  1  is affixed to a vehicle. 
       FIG. 3  is illustrative of an embodiment of bracket  80  in an upright position. Bracket  80  includes cutout  82  such that cutout  82  supports and facilitates the rotation of a center tube described elsewhere in this embodiment. Bracket  80  includes hinge  85  such that when bracket  80  is affixed to a vehicle, bracket  80  may be rotated such that bracket  80  sits flush to the surface of the vehicle. Bracket  80  includes attaching members  89  such that bracket  80  may be anchored to a vehicle in order to prevent movement of bracket  80  together with mounting plate  83  during use of the vehicle. Mounting plate  83  accommodates hinge  85  and attaching members  89  such that bracket  80  may remain fixably attached to a vehicle while rotating to sit flush with the vehicle while not in use. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustrative embodiment of bracket  80  sitting in a flush position relative to the vehicle. The mounting assembly for bracket  80  includes cutout  82 , hinge  85 , attaching members  89  and mounting plate  83 . Mounting plate  83  includes side walls in order to facilitate each member  89  is not restricted to a single plane. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustrative embodiment of sleeve  51  and center tube  50  assembly and includes a diagram of handle  30 . Sleeve  51  includes a plurality of fasteners  20  with washer  21  such that the forces acting on mat  10  are distributed evenly along the length of sleeve  51 . Sleeve  51  includes bearing  53  to reduce friction between sleeve  51  and center tube  50 . 
       FIG. 6  is illustrative of an embodiment of a first modification of rollable mat assembly  1 . In this embodiment, a mat  10  is releasably attached to sleeve  51  using a plurality of fasteners  20  and washers  21 . Sleeve  51  is in slidable engagement with center tube  50  and is held in place by releasable protrusions  52 . 
     A second modification of rollable mat assembly  100 , shown in  FIGS. 7 to 11 , is adapted to be affixed to a watercraft  101  and used as an anchored flotation water toy. Apparatus  100  is attachable to the back of watercraft  101  or to a side of the watercraft  101  as desired. Apparatus  100  has a floatable water mat  110  of rectangular shape releasable affixed to watercraft  101  with straps  111  and  112 . Straps  111  and  112  are secured to clips  113  and  114  located on the front side of mat  110  on opposite corners of the inner end of mat  110 . Clips  116  and  117  are located on the back side of mat  110  opposite from clips  113  and  114  to facilitate assembly and allow the front and back sides of mat  110  to be interchangeable. Clips  113 ,  114 ,  116  and  117  are preferably D-ring clips having flush mount plates fastened to mat  110 . Other types of clips or securing members attached to mat  110  can be used to accommodate straps  111  and  112 . 
     The outer ends of straps  111  and  112  are affixed to hook members  118  and  119 . Hook members  118  and  119  are adapted to hook structure of watercraft  101  to releasably attach the inner end of mat  110  to watercraft  101 . Hook members  118  and  119  are preferably S-hooks having an open end adapted to engage and hook onto watercraft structure and hardware. Other types of hook members, such as carabiner-style clips, can be used to attach straps  111  and  112  to watercraft structure and hardware. Alternatively, straps  111  and  112  may be tied directly to the watercraft. 
     Slack adjusting members  121  and  122  mounted on straps  111  and  112  allow slack to be pulled out of straps  111  and  112  to tightly secure the inner end of mat  110  to watercraft  101 . 
     A pull up strap  123  attached to the outer end of mat  110  is used to pull the outer end of mat  110  toward watercraft  101  and fold the outer end of mat  110  toward the inner end of mat  110 . Pull up strap  123  is secured to a clip  124  located on the back side of mat  110  adjacent the outer end of mat  110 . A tie up strap  126  secured to clip  128  located on the back side of mat  110  is used to anchor mat  110  in a rolled position on watercraft  101 . Tie up strap  126  is attachable to watercraft structure  127  to hold mat  110  in the rolled position, as seen in  FIG. 11 . Clips  129  and  131  are located on mat  110  opposite from clips  124  and  128  to facilitate assembly and allow the front and back sides of mat  110  to be interchangeable. Clips  124 ,  128 ,  129  and  131  are preferably D-ring clips having flush mount plates fastened to mat  110 . Other types of clips and securing members attached to mat  110  can be used to accommodate straps  123  and  126 . 
     In use, hook members  118  and  119  attached to hardware or other structure of watercraft  101  to releasably attached mat  110  to watercraft  101 . Slack adjusting members  121  and  122  located on straps  111  and  112  are used to pull out slack from straps  111  and  112  to tightly secure the inner end of mat  110  to watercraft  101 . Mat  110  can be moved to an unrolled position and may be used as an anchored flotation water toy and the like. To roll up mat  110 , pull up strap  123  attached to the back side of mat  110  adjacent the outer end of mat  110  is used to pull the outer end of mat  110  toward watercraft  101 , as seen in  FIG. 10 . Pulling strap  123  causes the outer end of mat  110  to fold over the center area of mat  110  and then moved adjacent watercraft  101 . This allows mat  110  to be moved into the rolled position from within watercraft  101 . Upon rolling up mat  110  adjacent watercraft  101 , tie up strap  126  attached to clip  128  is secured to watercraft structure  127  to hold mat  110  in the rolled position, as seen in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a cross section of a preferred embodiment of securing member  220  of the securing assembly to attach mat  210  to straps  111  and  112 . Securing member  220  may be used in place of clips  113 ,  114 ,  116 ,  117 ,  124 ,  128 ,  129  and  131 , or any other means to attach mat  10 ,  110  or  210  to straps  111 ,  112 ,  123  and  126 . In a preferred embodiment, securing member  220  may include cap  221 , cap  222 , first fastener  223  and second fastener  224 . Cap  221  has a curved top surface and is positioned over aperture  211  in mat  210  such that the curved top surface of cap  221  covers aperture  211  and cap  221  extends through mat  210  to come in contact with cap  222  whereby cap  221  may be releasably fixed to cap  222  using fasteners  223  and  224  to provide pressure between cap  221  and cap  222  and releaseably fix securing member  220  to mat  210 . Cap  222  has a curved top surface and is positioned over aperture  211  opposite cap  221  such that the curved top surface of cap  222  covers aperture  211 . Vertical wall  213  surrounding aperture  211  in mat  210  also provides friction to secure mat  210  to cap  221  and cap  222 . In an alternative embodiment, aperture  211  may merely allow fastener  223  to pass through mat  210  and a second aperture would allow fastener  224  to pass through mat  210 . In a preferred embodiment, fastener  223  may be a bolt which deforms the walls surrounding bore  233  in cap  221  and corresponding walls surrounding bore  243  using the threading of the bolt to anchor cap  221  and cap  222  to fastener  223 . Fastener  224  may also be a bolt which deforms the walls surrounding bore  253  in cap  221  and corresponding walls surrounding bore  263  using the threading of the bolt to anchor cap  221  and cap  222  to fastener  224 . Alternatively, fastener  223  and fastener  224  may be a rod, rivet, or other rigid member, and may be made of any material capable of fixing cap  221  in position over cap  222 . Cap  221  has a handle  230  to allow strap  111  to loop through opening or passage  231  created under handle  230 , or any other manner of attaching strap  111  to cap  221 . Strap  111  may alternatively be attached to cap  222 , hook member  118 , or any other method to attach straps to a mat. Cap  222  has a handle  240  to allow strap  111  to loop through opening or passage  241  created under handle  240 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an embodiment of securing member  220  showing strap  111  positioned through passage  231  such that strap  111  may form a loop under handle  230 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an embodiment of the mat where mat  210  is rolled into a cylindrical shape for storage. Straps  111  and  112  protrude from the point at which straps  111  and  112  attach to mat  210  to provide positioning to secure to a vehicle. 
     The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or novel characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limitative. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.