Mat with Puzzle Function

Abstract

A mat with puzzle function is a four-sided pad. Each side has a toothed border with a succession of teeth. At least two cutting lines divide the mat into four blocks, in such a way that each block has an assembling edge with the complementary shape to connect with other blocks. The block of each mat can engage with another block of the same mat to form a puzzle mat set.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/770,091, filed on Feb. 19, 2013, for Mat with Puzzle Function, the specification of which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a floor mat and, in particular, to a floor mat with a puzzle function.

2. Related Art

Most foam floor mats are square pads, differing on their appearance or some internal shape variations. Therefore, the assembled mats are boring in general and lack in creativity.

Currently on the market there is another kind of mat with the puzzle function. Each side of the mat is formed with an assembling part to engage with another mat, therefore offering more assembly changes and fun. As shown in FIG. 8, the fabrication of such mats 91 with the puzzle function is formed by cutting a square pad 90. Each side of the mat 91 is cut to form an assembling part 92 to engage with another mat (not shown). Since the assembling part 92 on each side of the mat 91 has the shape of teeth, some part must become waste 93 during the process of cutting the square pad 90 into the mat 91. This inevitably leads to a higher manufacturing cost for the conventional mats 91.

Moreover, since each side of the conventional mat 91 has the tooth-shaped assembling part 92, there is a problem that the boundary of the entire set of mats on the floor cannot fully cover the floor near the walls and at the corners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a mat with the puzzle function to greatly reduce the production of waste during the production. This can effectively reduce the production cost.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a mat with the puzzle function so that the assembled mats have more varieties in the style.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the disclosed mat with the puzzle function is a polygonal object with at least four sides. Each side has a toothed border with a succession of teeth. At least two cutting lines divide the mat into four blocks. The two cutting lines form assembling edges on each block with complementary shapes for engagement. Each block is defined by a perimeter that comprises a toothed border and two curved assembling edges. The two assembling edges have an identical shape. The blocks of the mat engage via the toothed borders with the corresponding blocks on another mat, thereby constituting a puzzle mat set.

Preferably, the two pairs of opposite sides of the puzzle mat set have assembling edges of the same shape, forming a symmetric puzzle mat set. The mat is divided into four blocks by two cutting lines extending to the two pairs of opposite sides and crossing at the center thereof. Any two blocks of the mat can form two diagonal parts of the puzzle mat set. Another mat has two cutting lines curving in the opposite way to the previous mat, so that the former is cut into four symmetric blocks. Any two blocks of the other mat can be assembled to form the other two diagonal parts of the puzzle mat set. Each block and the symmetric block engage with each other via the tooth parts thereof, thereby forming the puzzle mat set.

In an embodiment of the invention, the two pairs of opposite sides of the mat have assembling edges of the same shape. The mat is divided into four blocks by two cutting lines extending along the two diagonal directions and crossing in the shape of an X. Each block is half of the puzzle mat set, so that one block of the puzzle engages with another block thereof via the toothed borders, thereby forming the puzzle mat set.

In another embodiment, the two pairs of opposite sides of the puzzle mat set have assembling edges of the complementary shapes, forming a symmetric puzzle mat set. The mat is divided into four blocks by two cutting lines extending along the two diagonal directions and crossing each other in the shape of an X. Each block is one quarter of the puzzle mat set, so that the blocks of the mat engage with one another via the toothed borders, thereby forming the puzzle mat set.

In yet another embodiment, the two pairs of opposite sides of the puzzle mat set have assembling edges of the complementary shapes, forming a non-symmetric puzzle mat set. The mat is divided into four blocks by two cutting lines extending along the two diagonal directions and crossing each other in the shape of an X. Each block is half the puzzle mat set, so that one block of the mat engages with the other symmetric block thereof via the toothed borders, thereby forming the puzzle mat set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the structure of the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of assembling the mats according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first embodiment in use;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the first embodiment in use when some blocks are taken away;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of assembling the mats according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of assembling the mats according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of assembling the mats according to the fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of making a conventional mat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

Please refer to FIG. 1 for a first embodiment of the disclosed mat with a puzzle function. The mat 11 has a square shape with four sides, each side has a toothed border 12 with a succession of teeth. The mat 11 is divided by two cutting lines 13, 14, each cutting line runs from one toothed border 12 to an opposing toothed border 12. Two cutting lines 13, 14 cross each other and divide the mat 11 into four blocks 21, 22, 23, 24. Each block is limited by the toothed border and a plurality of assembling edges 15. The two cutting lines 13, 14 have the same shape, so that the resulting blocks 21, 22, 23, 24 have the same shape and engage each other at the assembling edges 15.

In the first embodiment, the two cutting lines 13, 14 divide the mat 11 into four blocks 21, 22, 23, 24 of the same shape. Any two blocks of the mat 11 can be assembled with another two blocks from another mat, thereby constituting a symmetric puzzle mat set with assembling edges 15 of the same shape. As shown in FIG. 2, any two blocks 21, 22 of the mat 11 can be used to form two diagonal parts of the symmetric puzzle mat set 40. Mat 30 has two cutting lines 31, 32 that are mirrored image of cutting lines 13, 14 on the mat 11, so that the mat 30 is divided into four identical blocks 33, 34, 35, 36, each block 33, 34, 35, 36 is a mirrored image of a block of the mat 11. Thus, any two blocks 33, 34 of the mat 30 can form the other two diagonal parts of the symmetric puzzle mat set 40. The blocks 21, 22 and the blocks 33, 34 engage with one another via the toothed borders 12 thereof to form the puzzle mat set 40. The remaining blocks 23, 24 and the symmetric blocks 35, 36 form another symmetric puzzle mat set (not shown).

Puzzle mat set 40 may be assembled using one single mat 11. One can use any two blocks 21, 22 of the puzzle may 11 to form two diagonal parts of the symmetric puzzle mat set 40, and flip the remaining two blocks 23, 24 over to form the other two diagonal parts thereof.

Since the mat 11 in this embodiment is cut into blocks used to form the puzzle mat set 40, there is no waste during the production. This effectively solves the problem in the prior art about wasting materials. Therefore, the invention can reduce the production cost.

The disclosed puzzle mat set 40 formed from the mats 11 can be combined with other similar puzzle mat sets to form large puzzle mats of different shapes through appropriate combinations (such as shown in FIG. 3). In addition, the puzzle mat set 40 can have a variety of shapes through different combinations as well. As shown in FIG. 4, according to the user's needs, part of the puzzle mat set 40 formed from the mats 11 can be removed so that the boundary has a regular shape. This is particular useful and allows the puzzle mat set 40 to fit to the corners of a room.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a disclosed mat with the puzzle function. The mat 11b is also a square object. Each side of the mat 11b has a toothed border 12b with a succession of teeth. The mat 11b has two cutting lines 13b, 14b cutting from one corner to the opposite corner, crossing each other, forming a junction in the shape of an X, and dividing the mat 11b into four blocks 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b, each block defined by a toothed border and two assembling edges. The two cutting lines 13b, 14b have a similar shape, so that the blocks 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b have assembling edges that enable the blocks 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b to engage each other.

In the second embodiment, the two cutting lines 13b, 14b divide the mat 11b into four block 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b identical shape. Two of the blocks 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b form a puzzle set 40b with assembling edges of two blocks opposing each other. Thus, one block 21b of the mat 11b and another block 22b of the mat 11b engage via the tooth edges 15b to form the symmetric puzzle mat set 40b. The remaining blocks 23b, 24b of the mat 11b form another symmetric puzzle mat set (not shown).

The mats of the present invention are not limited to form symmetric puzzle mat sets. FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment in which the non-symmetric puzzle mat set 40c has complementary assembling edges on the two pairs of opposite sides. The mat 11c also has a square shape. Each side of the mat 11c has a toothed border 12c with a succession of teeth. The mat 11c has two cutting lines 13c, 14c, cutting from one side to an opposing side and crossing each other at the center of the mat 11c, thereby dividing the mat 11c into four blocks 21c, 22c, 23c, 24c. The cutting lines 13c, 14c have the same curvature, so that corresponding parts of the blocks 21c, 22c, 23c, 24c, have assembling edges 15c with complementary shapes for engagement. Each block 21c, 22c, 23c, 24c is one quarter of a non-symmetric puzzle mat set. As a result, the blocks 21c, 22c, 23c, 24c of the mat 11c engage with one another to form the non-symmetric puzzle mat set 40c.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which shows a fourth embodiment of the invention on a non-symmetric puzzle mat set. Likewise, the mat 11d is a square object. Each side of the mat 11d has a toothed border 12d with a succession of teeth. The mat 11d has two cutting lines 13d, 14d cutting diagonally from one corner to an opposing corner and crossing each other in the shape of an X, thereby dividing the mat 11d into four blocks 21d, 22d, 23d, 24d. The two cutting lines 13d, 14d have the same curvature, such that corresponding parts of the blocks 21d, 22d, 23d, 24d have assembling edges 15d with complementary shapes for engagement. Each of the blocks 21d, 22d, 23d, 24d forms one half of a non-symmetric puzzle mat set 40d. Therefore, one block 21d of the mat 11d engages with a mirrored image block 23d of the mat 11d via the toothed borders, thereby forming the non-symmetric puzzle mat set 40d. The remaining blocks 22d, 24d of the mat 11d can be combined to form another non-symmetric puzzle mat set 41d.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to people skilled in the art. Therefore, it is contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A floor mat comprising:

a plurality of blocks, each block having a perimeter defined by a toothed border and two assembling edges,

wherein the plurality of blocks assemble jointly through the assembling edges and form the floor mat with a plurality of sides formed by the toothed border of each block, and

the assembling edges are defined by two cutting lines, each cutting line extending from a first side of the floor mat to a third side of the floor mat.

7. The floor mat of claim 6, where in each cutting line extends from one corner of the floor mat to an opposing corner of the floor mat.

8. The floor mat of claim 6, wherein the two cutting lines has an identical shape.

9. The floor mat of claim 6, wherein the two cutting lines cross each other at a center of the floor mat.

10. The floor mat of claim 6, wherein the two cutting lines are curved.

11. The floor mat of claim 6, wherein the plurality of blocks have an identical shape.

12. The floor mat of claim 6, wherein the two assembling edges of each block are a first assembling edge and a second assembling edge, the first assembling edge of one block engages the second assembling edge of an adjacent block.

13. A puzzle piece comprising:

a plurality of blocks, each block having a perimeter defined by a toothed border and two assembling edges,

wherein the plurality of blocks assemble jointly through the toothed border of each block and form the puzzle piece with an external border defined by the assembling edge of each block.

14. The puzzle piece of claim 13, wherein the plurality of blocks assemble jointly through the assembling edges and form a floor mat with a plurality of sides formed by the toothed border of each block.

15. The puzzle piece of claim 13, wherein the two assembling edges of each block have an identical shape.

16. The puzzle piece of claim 13, wherein the assembling edges are curved.