Childs Convertible Travel Mat

Abstract

A travel mat having a plurality of activities for young children attached to and distributed thereon is described. The mat is typically configured in an activity configuration to slip and/or slide over and be secured to an airline seatback tray table in such a manner that provides various activities to be enjoyed by a child when the associated tray table is in both its deployed position or in its stowed upright and latched position. The travel mat is also convertible into a tote configuration that protects and stows the various activities as well as other optional material, such as paper, crayons or children's books therein, and is easily carried by either the parent or a child. The mat can be turned inside out to convert it from the tote configuration to an activity configuration. Advantageously, the various activities and toys with the mat are protected and safely stored during transport between airplanes or between destinations.

1 . An activity travel mat comprising:
 first, second, third and fourth panel surfaces,
 the first surface being opposite and facing away from the third surface and collectively forming a first panel section with the third surface, the first panel section having first panel left, right, top and bottom edges, 
 the second surface being opposite and facing away from the fourth surface and collectively forming a second panel section with the fourth surface, the second panel section having second panel left, right, top and bottom edges with the first and second panel sections being joined together along respective lengths of the second, third and fourth edges forming a pouch having an open top end formed by the respective top edges; 
   a plurality of activities coupled to one or more of the third and fourth surfaces;   wherein the activity mat is selectively configurable between a tote configuration and an activity configuration with (i) the first and second surfaces being exposed to the outside of the pouch in the tote configuration and the third and fourth surfaces located on the inside of the pouch, and (ii) the third and fourth surfaces and the plurality of activities being exposed to the outside of the pouch in the activity configuration and the first and second located on the inside of the pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The travel mat of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one carrying strap, the carrying strap being secured to the pouch and wherein the at least one carrying strap is exposed to the outside of the pouch in the tote configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The travel mat of  claim 1  further including one or more closures for closing the top end of the pouch. 
     
     
         4 . The travel mat of  claim 4  wherein the one or more closures comprise hook and loop material. 
     
     
         5 . The travel mat of  claim 1  wherein the pouch in the activity configuration is sized to be received over a standard airline tray table. 
     
     
         6 . The travel mat of  claim 1  wherein the mat is transformed from the tote configuration and the activity configuration by turning the pouch inside out. 
     
     
         7 . The travel mat of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of activities comprise toy/activities configured for a child under  24  months of age. 
     
     
         8 . The travel mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels comprise flexible sheet material. 
     
     
         9 . The travel mat of  claim 8  wherein the flexible sheet material comprises fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The travel mat of  claim 1  wherein a cutaway section is provided along the bottom edge of the first and second panels proximate a center location along the respective edges whereby the cutaway section is configured to permit operative access to an airline tray table latch when the mat is installed on an airline tray table. 
     
     
         11 . The travel mat of  claim 8  wherein the each of the first and second panels include at least two sheets of fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The travel mat of  claim 11  wherein piping is provided along at least the joined respective joined second, third and fourth edges. 
     
     
         13 . The travel mat of  claim 2  wherein the at least one carrying strap comprises a first handle strap secured to the mat proximate the joined left edges of the respective first and second panels and a second handle strap secured to the mat proximate the joined right edges of the respective first and second panels. 
     
     
         14 . The travel mat of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of activities includes at least one activity coupled to the third surface and at least one other activity coupled to the fourth surface. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using the travel mat of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 carrying the travel mat onto an airliner while in the tote configuration;   turning the pouch inside out exposing the third and fourth panel surfaces and the associated activities placing the travel mat into an activity configuration;   deploying an airline tray table and sliding the pouch in the activity configuration over the airline tray table; and   using one or more activities of the plurality of activities.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the travel mat further includes one or more closures for closing the top end of the pouch, and further comprising closing the one or more closures to secure the travel mat to the airline tray table after said sliding the pouch in the activity configuration over the airline tray table. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising securing the airline tray table in its upright and stowed position while the travel mat is resident over the tray table in the activity configuration, and using one or more other activities of the plurality of activities while the airline tray table is stowed. 
     
     
         18 . A method of making the travel mat of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing first and second panel sections;   providing a plurality of activities;   joining the left, right and bottom edges of the respective panel sections together; and   coupling the plurality of activities to the third and fourth surfaces.   
     
     
         19 . A child activity travel mat comprising:
 first, second, third and fourth panel surfaces,
 the first surface being opposite and facing away from the third surface and collectively forming a first panel section with the third surface, the first panel section having first panel left, right, top and bottom edges and being substantially comprised of at least two sheets of fabric, 
 the second surface being opposite and facing away from the fourth surface and collectively forming a second panel section with the fourth surface, the second panel section being substantially comprised of at least two stacked sheets of fabric and having second panel left, right, top and bottom edges with the first and second panel sections being joined together along respective lengths of the second, third and fourth edges and covered with piping to form a pouch having an open top end formed by the respective top edges, the open end including a closure comprised of hook and loop material for selectively closing the open top end, the joined bottom edges including a cutaway section proximate a center location along the respective edges; 
   a first handle strap secured to the mat proximate the joined left edges of the respective first and second panels and a second handle strap secured to the mat proximate the joined right edges of the respective first and second panels; and   a plurality of activities coupled to one or more of the third and fourth surfaces;   wherein the activity mat is selectively configurable between a tote configuration and an activity configuration by turning the pouch inside out with (i) the first and second surfaces and the at least one carrying strap being exposed to the outside of the pouch in the tote configuration and the third and fourth surfaces located on the inside of the pouch, and (ii) the third and fourth surfaces and the plurality of activities being exposed to the outside of the pouch in the activity configuration and the first and second located on the inside of the pouch.   
     
     
         20 . The travel mat of  claim 19  wherein activities including two or more activities from the following list: (i) a photo album; (ii) a mirror; (iii) a pocket; (iv) buckle assembly; (v) a zipper assembly; (vi) a button assembly; and (vii) a stuffed figurine.