Abstract:
An anti-fatigue wellness mat is described. The anti-fatigue wellness mat can include a frame, a first fabric attached to the frame, and a granular substance underneath the first fabric. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/351,715, filed Jun. 17, 2017, and entitled “Anti-Fatigue and Wellness Device,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter described herein relates to anti-fatigue wellness mats. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many people enjoy spending time at the beach for a variety of reasons. 
         [0004]    One prominent reason is the enjoyment offered by the sand at the beach. Standing on the sand is usually considered relaxing, and this is often because sand offers a natural cushion to the feet. Standing on the sand can further enhance the ability of an individual to sense stimuli arising within the body regarding position, motion, equilibrium and posture. However, many people who enjoy spending time at the beach may not be either geographically close to the beach or have the time to go to a beach. Therefore, there exists a need for a mat that enables a person to feel as if he or she is at the beach when standing on that mat. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The current subject matter relates to an anti-fatigue wellness mat. In one aspect, a mat can include a frame, a first fabric attached to the frame, and a granular substance underneath the first fabric. In some variations, one or more of the following can be implemented either individually or in any feasible combination. The mat can further include a sheet underneath the frame. The sheet can be attached to a bottom of the frame. The mat can include a foam padding attached to the sheet. The foam padding can face the granular substance. The frame can be made of one or more of wood, metal, plastic, and foam. The first fabric can be stretchable. The granular substance can be sand. The granular substance can be stored in demarcated sections, which can also be referred to as partitions. The granular substance can be held on a second fabric. The second fabric can be stretchable. The granular substance can be covered by the second fabric, which can touch the foam padding attached to the sheet. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a frame can be temporarily attached with an expanded polystyrene foam. A fabric can be attached to the frame. A granular substance can be inserted (e.g., poured) on the fabric. The expanded polystyrene foam can be removed from the frame. The sand can be covered with a foam padding attached to a plate. Another fabric can be attached to the frame at a side opposite to the plate to form a mat. In some variations, one or more of the following can be implemented either individually or in any feasible combination. A sheet of the fabric can be optionally attached to a portion of the fabric to enclose the sand. The sheet of the fabric can touch the foam padding. The plate can be made of one or more of metal, wood, plastic, fabric, foam, fiberglass, graphite, and carbon graphite. The frame can be made of one or more of wood, metal, plastic, and foam. The fabric can be a cloth. The other fabric can be a stretchable microfiber including one or more of spandex, neoprene, and elastane. The granular substance can include at least one of rice, salt, coffee beans, corn flakes, fertilizer, nuts, coal, and ball bearings. The foam padding and the plate can be attached to the frame at a location where the expanded polystyrene foam was temporarily fitted to the frame. Three partition walls can be inserted into the expanded polystyrene foam. 
         [0007]    The subject matter described herein provides many technical advantages. For example, the anti-fatigue mat can enable an individual to enjoy the benefits of sand at a beach—for example, relaxation and ability of an individual to sense stimuli arising within the body regarding position, motion, equilibrium and posture—at any time and for any length of time. The relaxation offered by the anti-fatigue mat can avoid or treat fatigue, and encourage users to stand on the mat at the office, home or any other place, thereby enabling that person to be more efficient and being able to stand for longer periods of time. Moreover, the process of construction of the mat can enable a proper and even dispersion of sand within the mat, which prevents accumulation of sand in only certain portions of the mat, thereby enhancing the benefits of support enjoyed by the individual. The sand material conforms to the user&#39;s feet shape which helps to ensure the correct positioning of the bones in the feet, ankles, and knees. The muscles and ligaments leading up to the hips and holding the leg hones in place are prevented from stretching over time, which can lead to further injury and aggravation. 
         [0008]    The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates two mats being used by a user in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a process of constructing the mat, which is covered with a first fabric in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates partition walls placed within a marked-up portion of expanded polystyrene foam in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a frame below which the expanded polystyrene foam with partition walls is temporarily fitted in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a second fabric being attached on the frame in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates the second fabric attached along the entire frame in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates partitions filled with sand and formed by the partition walls in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates the partitions filled with sand being enclosed by the attached second fabric in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a sheet, on which a foam padding is attached in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom portion of the sheet in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates the first fabric attached to the frame to form the top surface of the mat in accordance with the subject matter of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates two mats  102  being used by a user  104 . The mat  102  can also be referred to as an anti-fatigue mat. The two mats  102  are designed for the two feet—left foot and right foot—of a user  104 . Each mat  102  can be substantially larger than an average adult human foot so that individuals with feet of all sizes can use the mat  102 . This can advantageously enable manufacturing a single size of the mat  102 , thereby minimizing manufacturing cost. In alternate implementations, however, mats  102  can be made in different sizes. For example, the different sizes of the mats  102  can proportionally correspond to different sizes of feet. In such examples, the ratio of the area of a mat with a particular mat size to the area of a foot with a particular foot size, specific to which that mat is manufactured, can remain constant. Each mat can have the shape of a human foot. In alternate implementations, each mat can have any shape, such as a square, rectangle, circle, triangle, a polygon with any number of sides, or any other shape. The term mat as used herein can also be referred to as a device, an apparatus, or the like. 
         [0022]    The mat  102  can include a frame  106  and a first fabric  108  that overlays sand. First fabric  108  can be a stretchable fabric, such as spandex, neoprene, elastane, and/or the like. The stretchable fabric can be stretched in any direction, and can also be referred to as a four-way stretch fabric. In some implementations, the stretchable fabric can be made of polyesters, polyamides (e.g., nylon, KEVLAR, NOMEX, trogamide), and/or polypropylene. Although first fabric  108  is described as a stretchable fabric, in alternate implementations any other fabric can be used, such as cotton fabric, synthetic rubber material or any other synthetic material. While sand is described, in other implementations any other granular substance can be used, such as rice, salt, coffee beans, corn flakes, fertilizer, nuts, coal, ball bearings, and/or any other granular material. 
         [0023]    The process for constructing the mat  102  for the right foot is shown by  FIG. 2 . The structural details of various components used during the construction of the mat  102  are detailed in  FIGS. 3-11 . The construction and inner structural details of the mat  102  for the left foot are similar to that for the right foot. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a process  200  of constructing the mat  102 . The process  200  can include steps  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 , and  214 , a description of which follows. At step  202 , expanded polystyrene foam  220  can be marked with an inner circumference of the frame  106 , and partition walls  222 ,  224  and  226  can be inserted and affixed on the marked portion of expanded polystyrene foam  220 . The marking on expanded polystyrene foam  220  can be performed by placing the frame  106  on expanded polystyrene foam  220 , and then marking by using a marker, such as a permanent marker, to outline the inner circumference of the frame  106 . 
         [0025]    Expanded polystyrene foam  220  can then be temporarily fitted, at  203 , on to frame  106 . The temporary fitting can be performed by hand. In alternate implementations, any other mechanism for temporary fitting can be implemented, such as an automatic machine fitting. 
         [0026]    A second fabric  228  can be attached, at step  204 , on frame  106  on which expanded polystyrene foam  220  has been temporarily fitted at  203 . The method of attaching the second fabric  228  with the frame  106  can be gluing. While gluing is described, in alternate implementations any other method of attaching the second fabric  228  with the frame  106  can be used, such as stitching, inserting nails or staples, mechanically locking, and/or any other attachment mechanism. The attaching of second fabric  228  to frame  106  can be completed at step  206 . 
         [0027]    In one implementation, second fabric  228  can be made of a same or similar material as first fabric  108 . For example, first fabric  108  can be a stretchable fabric, such as spandex, neoprene, elastane, and/or the like. The stretchable fabric can be stretched in any direction, and can also be referred to as a four-way stretch fabric. In some implementations, the stretchable fabric can be made of polyesters, polyamides (e.g., nylon, KEVLAR, NOMEX, trogamide), and/or polypropylene. Although first fabric  108  is described as a stretchable fabric, in alternate implementations any other fabric can be used, such as cotton fabric, synthetic rubber material or any other synthetic material, all of which may or may not have stretchable properties. In another implementation, second fabric  228  can be made of a different material than first fabric  108 . 
         [0028]    Sand  230  can be inserted, at step  208 , on top of the second fabric  228 . The insertion can be accomplished by pouring. A measured amount of sand  230  can be inserted for each mat  102  to ensure a uniform experience for users for each mat  102 . In alternate implementations, amounts of sand  230  inserted into each section of each mat  102  can be customized based on preferences of a user so as to offer a unique customized made-to-order experience. 
         [0029]    A sheet  231  of second fabric  228  can be used to optionally cover, at step  210 , the sand. Sheet  231  can then be attached to second fabric  228  in the end product at step  208 . Sheet  231  of second fabric  228  can be smooth to enable an easy dispersion of the sand, thereby preventing accumulation of the sand at particular locations. The mechanism of attaching sheet  231  to second fabric  228  in the end product of step  208  can be gluing. While sheet  231  is described as being glued to second fabric  228 , in other implementations any other attachment mechanism can be used such as stitching, inserting nails or staples, mechanically locking, and/or any other attachment mechanism. 
         [0030]    A sheet  232 , on which a foam padding  234  is attached, is attached at step  212  to frame  106 . Sheet  232  can be made of metal, in which case sheet  232  can be referred to as a metallic sheet. Further, although sheet  232  is described as metallic, in alternate implementations, sheet  232  can be made of any other material such as wood, plastic, fabric, foam, fiberglass, graphite, carbon graphite or any other like material. In implementations where sheet  231  of second fabric  228  is not used to optionally cover, at step  210 , sand  230 , foam padding  234  can directly touch sand  230 . Foam padding  234  can be smooth so as to enable an easy dispersion of sand  230 , thereby preventing accumulation of sand  230  at particular locations. The mechanism for attaching the frame to sheet  232  can be by inserting/screwing nails. In alternate implementations, such attachment mechanism can be gluing, stitching, stapling, mechanically locking, and/or any other attachment mechanism. The mechanism for attaching foam padding  234  to sheet  232  can be gluing. While foam padding  234  is described as being glued to sheet  232 , in other implementations any other attachment mechanism can be used such as stitching, inserting nails or staples, mechanically locking, and/or any other attachment mechanism. 
         [0031]    In another implementation, however, step  210  may not occur, and sheet  232  with foam padding  234  may be directly attached onto the end product at step  208 . While this implementation that does not have the step  210  can advantageously reduce the amount of material being used, the implementation that has the step  210  can advantageously present a better leak-proof design to prevent leakage of sand  230 . 
         [0032]    After step  212 , expanded polystyrene foam  220  and partition walls  222 ,  224  and  226  affixed thereto can be removed from the side other than the side where sheet  232  has been attached to frame  106 . First fabric  108  can be attached, at step  214 , onto frame  106  at the side other than the side where sheet  232  is attached to frame  106  to obtain mat  102 . First fabric  108  can be attached onto frame  106  by gluing. While first fabric  108  is described as being glued to frame  106 , in other implementations any other attachment mechanism can be used such as stitching, inserting nails or staples, mechanically locking, and/or any other attachment mechanism. In one implementation, the second fabric  228  can be made of a same or similar material as first fabric  108 . In another implementation, second fabric  228  can be made of a different material than first fabric  108 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates partition walls  222 ,  224 , and  226  placed within the marked-up (at step  202 ) portion of expanded polystyrene foam  220 . Partition walls  222 ,  224 , and  226  can be inserted into and affixed to the marked-up portion of expanded polystyrene foam  220 . The expanded polystyrene foam can be closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam. While an expanded polystyrene foam is described, in alternate implementations other materials can instead be used such as wood, plastic, metal or any other solid material. In alternative implementations, partition walls  222 ,  224  and  226  can be made of plastic, wood, metal or any other solid material. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates frame  106 , below which expanded polystyrene foam  220  with partition walls  222 ,  224  and  226  is temporarily fitted at step  203 . Frame  106  can be made of wood. Even though wood is described, in other implementations frame  106  can be made of other materials, such as metal, plastic, foam or any other like material. The inner walls of frame  106  can be curved inward at the bottom, which prevents sand  230  from being accumulated close to those walls. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates second fabric  228  being attached, at step  204 , on frame  106 . Second fabric  228  is attached, at step  206 , along the entire frame  106 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . In various implementations, second fabric  228  can be a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a netting fabric, and/or a technical fabric. Second fabric  228  can be separate pieces of fabric that are attached in each separate corresponding section of the multiple sections formed by partition walls  222 ,  224 , and  226 . In an alternate implementation, second fabric  228  can be a single piece of fabric that is attached to frame  106 . Second fabric  228  can be anti-bacterial, water-proof, odor-repelling, and/or odor-resistant. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates second fabric  228  attached, at step  206 , along the entire frame  106 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates sand  230  filled, at step  208 , in the partitions formed by partition walls  222 ,  224 , and  226  of  FIG. 6 . While sand is described, in other implementations any other granular substance can be used. Partition walls  222 ,  224 , and  226  can ascertain that sand  230  is proportionately distributed in sections demarcated by those partition walls  222 ,  224 , and  226 . This prevents sand  230  from accumulating in excess at undesirable locations. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates the partitions of  FIG. 9  filled with sand being enclosed by sheet  231  of second fabric  228 , which can be attached, at step  210 , to second fabric  228  visible in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  illustrates a sheet  232 , on which a foam padding  234  is attached. Sheet  232  can be made of one or more of the following metals: aluminum or cast aluminum. Sheet  232  can be made of metal, in which case sheet  232  can be referred to as a metallic sheet. Further, although sheet  232  is described as metallic, in alternate implementations, sheet  232  can be made of any other material such as wood, plastic, fabric, foam, fiberglass, graphite, carbon graphite or any other like material. Foam padding  234  can be made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which can also be referred to as poly ethylene-vinyl acetate (PEVA). In alternate implementations, foam padding  234  can be made of memory foam, gel foam or any other material with foam like qualities. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom portion of sheet  232 . The bottom portion of sheet  232  can touch the ground when a user steps on mat  102  placed on the ground. In another implementation, another foam padding (not shown) can be attached to the bottom surface of the sheet  232  in order to prevent: (a) friction and thus wear-tear of mat  102  and/or the surface of the ground, and (b) discomfort to the user as caused by rubbing between the surface of sheet  232  and the ground surface. This other foam padding (not shown) can be attached to the bottom surface of sheet  232  by gluing, stitching, inserting nails, mechanically locking, and/or any other attachment mechanism. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates first fabric  108  attached, at step  214 , to frame  106  of  FIG. 10  to form mat  102 . First fabric  108  can be a stretchable fabric, such as spandex, neoprene, elastane, and/or the like. The stretchable fabric can be stretched in any direction, and can also be referred to as a four-way stretch fabric. In some implementations, the stretchable fabric can be made of polyesters, polyamides (e.g., nylon, KEVLAR, NOMEX, trogamide), and/or polypropylene. Although first fabric  108  is described as a stretchable fabric, in alternate implementations any other fabric can be used, such as cotton fabric, synthetic rubber material or any other synthetic material. First fabric can be anti-bacterial, water-proof, odor-repelling, and/or odor-resistant. 
         [0042]    Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications can be possible. For example, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.