Play mats with interlocking pieces

Abstract

Play mats having a safe surface for play and including various scenes are provided. A play mat can include a plurality of puzzle pieces with uniform puzzle edges that can be assembled in many orientations. Continuous features can be included on mat pieces. The features can continue uninterrupted from one piece to the other regardless of how the pieces are assembled. A play mat can further comprise a plurality of border pieces to enable the play mat to have smooth outer edges. Border pieces can further comprise the continuous feature such that the continuous feature continues uninterrupted from the pieces onto the border. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also described and claimed in the application.

1 . A play mat with self-aligning features comprising:
 a first tile with three or more interlocking edges, a first surface and a second surface, the interlocking edges interlocking with one another regardless of orientation;   a second tile with three or more interlocking edges, a first surface and a second surface, the interlocking edges interlocking with one another regardless of orientation;   a first feature imprinted on the first surface of the first tile and the first surface of the second tile such that the first feature is symmetrically located about a midpoint of the interlocking edges such that when assembled, the first feature continues uninterrupted from the first tile to the second tile.   
   
   
       2 . The play mat of  claim 1 , the tiles further comprising four interlocking edges. 
   
   
       3 . The play mat of  claim 1 , the features further comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of roads, paths, rivers, streams, and sidewalks. 
   
   
       4 . The play mat of  claim 1 , further comprising a border with a first interlocking edge and a second smooth edge. 
   
   
       5 . The play may of  claim 1 , further comprising a border comprising a continuation of a first feature. 
   
   
       6 . The play mat of  claim 1 , the second surface comprising a second feature. 
   
   
       7 . The play mat of  claim 1 , the interlocking edges comprising uniform puzzle-type tabs. 
   
   
       8 . A play mat with self-aligning features comprising:
 a first tile with four equal length, interlocking edges, a first surface and a second surface,   a second tile with four equal length, interlocking edges, a first surface and a second surface, the interlocking edges interlocking with the interlocking edges of the first tile regardless of orientation;   a first feature imprinted on the first surface of the first tile and the first surface of the second tile such that the feature is symmetrically located about a midpoint of the interlocking edges such that when assembled, the first features continues uninterrupted from the first tile to the second tile.   
   
   
       9 . The play mat of  claim 8 , the first feature further comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of roads, paths, rivers, streams, and sidewalks. 
   
   
       10 . The play mat of  claim 8 , further comprising a border with a first interlocking edge and a second smooth edge. 
   
   
       11 . The play may of  claim 10 , further comprising a border, the border further comprising a continuation of the first feature. 
   
   
       12 . The play mat of  claim 8 , the second surface comprising a second feature. 
   
   
       13 . The play mat of  claim 8 , the interlocking edges further comprising uniform puzzle-type tabs. 
   
   
       14 . A method to provide a play mat with interlocking pieces, the method comprising:
 forming a first tile with three or more interlocking edges, a first surface and a second surface, the interlocking edges interlocking with one another regardless of orientation;   forming a second tile with three or more interlocking edges, a first surface and a second surface, the interlocking edges interlocking with one another regardless of orientation;   imprinting a first feature on the first surface of the first tile and on the first surface of the second tile such that the first feature is symmetrically located about a midpoint of the interlocking edges such that when assembled, the first feature continues uninterrupted from the first tile to the second tile.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising imprinting the second side of the first tile with a second feature and the second side of the second tile with a third feature. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming a first border piece with a first interlocking edge, a smooth edge, a first surface and a second surface, the interlocking edge for interlocking with the three or more interlocking edges of the first tile. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising imprinting the first side of the first border piece with the first feature such that the first feature continues uninterrupted from the first tile to the first border piece. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second and third features comprise the same feature. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , the border piece and the tile pieces formed by injection molding. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , the border piece and the tile pieces comprising foam.