Mat featuring a removable portion

Abstract

A disposable mat defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and at least one edge. The disposable mat may include at least one line of weakness that is configured to allow the separation of a removable portion from the disposable mat. The mat may be configured to be used as a toilet or potty mat. Further, the mat may be configured to assist with toilet training.

1 . A disposable mat defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction and at least one edge, said disposable mat comprising: 
 A first face;    A second face opposite said first face;    At least one line of weakness, said at least one line of weakness being configured to allow the separation of a removable portion from said disposable mat; and    A holding mechanism configured to increase the resistance of said mat to movement when said first face of said mat is placed upon a planar surface.    
   
   
       2 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said first face is liquid impermeable.  
   
   
       3 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said at least one line of weakness is provided by perforations.  
   
   
       4 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said at least one line of weakness is provided by ultrasonic bonds.  
   
   
       5 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said at least one line of weakness intersects with said at least one edge in at least two points.  
   
   
       6 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of lines of weakness.  
   
   
       7 . The mat of  claim 6  further comprising a first end edge and a second end edge and wherein a first line of weakness is located adjacent a first end edge and a second line of weakness is located adjacent a second end edge.  
   
   
       8 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said at least one line of weakness is curvilinear.  
   
   
       9 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said at least one line of weakness is shaped such that upon separating said removable portion, said mat includes a pair of laterally spaced extensions.  
   
   
       10 . The mat of  claim 9  wherein said laterally spaced extensions are separated by at least 22 cm in said lateral direction.  
   
   
       11 . The mat of  claim 1  further defining a mat perimeter, and wherein said at least one line of weakness is shaped such that upon separating said removable portion from said mat, said mat includes an opening within said mat perimeter.  
   
   
       12 . The mat of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of said opening is at least 22 cm wide.  
   
   
       13 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of first reference marks located on said second face and wherein said pair of first reference marks is configured to indicate where the feet of the user should be placed when the user is toileting.  
   
   
       14 . The mat of  claim 13  wherein said pair of first reference marks is each located a first substantially equal distance from said at least one line of weakness.  
   
   
       15 . The mat of  claim 14  wherein said first substantially equal distance is between 5 cm and 22 cm.  
   
   
       16 . The mat of  claim 13  wherein each of said pair of first reference marks are provided by a set of first graphics and wherein said set of first graphics are substantially similar.  
   
   
       17 . The mat of  claim 13  wherein said pair of first reference marks are depicted by a pair of foot prints.  
   
   
       18 . The mat of  claim 13  further comprising at least one decorative graphic located on said second face, wherein said at least one decorative graphic has a decorative graphic theme and said pair of first reference marks are provided by a set of first graphics, and wherein said set of first graphics are related to said decorative graphic theme.  
   
   
       19 . The mat of  claim 18  wherein said decorative graphic theme is related to the theme of article graphics of a disposable absorbent article.  
   
   
       20 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising 
 a pair of first reference marks located on said second face; and    a pair of second reference marks located on said second face;    wherein said pair of first reference marks are configured to indicate where the feet of the user should be placed when the user is standing when toileting, and wherein said pair of second reference marks are configured to indicate where the feet of the user should be placed when the user is sitting when toileting.    
   
   
       21 . The mat of  claim 20  wherein said pair of first reference marks are provided by a set of first graphics and said pair of second reference marks are provided by a pair of second graphics that are different than said set of first graphics.  
   
   
       22 . The mat of  claim 20  wherein said pair of first reference marks are each located a first substantially equal distance from said first line of weakness and said pair of second reference marks are each located a second substantially equal distance from said first line of weakness, and wherein said first substantially equal distance is between 5 cm and 22 cm and said second substantially equal distance is between 12 cm and 30 cm.  
   
   
       23 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of first reference marks located on said second face and a potty location mark located on said second face wherein said pair of first reference marks is each located a first substantially equal distance from said potty location mark.  
   
   
       24 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first line of weakness;    a second line of weakness located in an opposing area of said mat;    a pair of first reference marks located on said second face; and    a pair of second reference marks located on said second face;    wherein said pair of first reference marks are each located a first substantially equal distance from said first line of weakness and said pair of second reference marks are each located a substantially equal second distance from said second line of weakness, and wherein said pair of first reference marks are configured to indicate where the feet of the user should be placed when the user is standing when toileting, and wherein said pair of second reference marks are configured to indicate where the feet of the user should be placed when the user is sitting when toileting.    
   
   
       25 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said holding mechanism is at least one weight attached to said mat.  
   
   
       26 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said holding mechanism provides a static coefficient of friction of at least 0.5 as defined by the coefficient of friction test set forth herein.  
   
   
       27 . The mat of  claim 26  wherein said holding mechanism is provided by said first face.  
   
   
       28 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said second face is relatively more absorbent than said first face.  
   
   
       29 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said second face is absorbent at least adjacent said line of weakness.  
   
   
       30 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said mat is provided by at least two layers of material.  
   
   
       31 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said mat has a substantially rectilinear shape.  
   
   
       32 . A disposable mat defining a longitudinal direction; a lateral direction; a pair of side edges that are parallel to said longitudinal direction and a pair of end edges that are parallel to said lateral direction, said disposable mat comprising: 
 An operatively liquid impermeable first face;    An absorbent second face opposite said first face;    At least one line of weakness, said at least one line of weakness being configured to allow the removal of a portion of said disposable mat;    A holding mechanism configured to increase the resistance of said mat to movement when said first face of said mat is placed upon a planar surface; and    A pair of first reference marks located on said second face, said pair of first reference marks being configured to indicate where the feet of the user should be placed when the user is toileting.    
   
   
       33 . A disposable mat defining a longitudinal direction; a lateral direction; and at least one edge; said disposable mat comprising: 
 A first face;    A second face opposite said first face;    At least one decorative graphic located on said second face, wherein said at least one decorative graphic has a decorative graphic theme and wherein said decorative graphic theme is related to the theme of article graphics of a disposable absorbent article.