Fall mat with hinged interlocking bodies

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a fall mat that includes a first padded body including a first top surface, a first bottom surface, and a first connecting side including a first step. The fall mat further includes a second padded body including a second top surface, a second bottom surface, and a second connecting side including a second step. Moreover, the fall mat includes a hinge connecting the first padded body with the second padded body such that the second padded body is configured to rotate about the first padded body. The first step and the second step interlock when the first top surface and the second top surface of the first padded body and the second padded body are in a co-planar position.

1 . A fall mat comprising:
 a first padded body including a first top surface, a first bottom surface, and a first connecting side including a first step;   a second padded body including a second top surface, a second bottom surface, and a second connecting side including a second step; and   a hinge connecting the first padded body with the second padded body such that the second padded body is configured to rotate about the first padded body, wherein the first step and the second step interlock when the first top surface and the second top surface of the first padded body and the second padded body are in a co-planar position.   
     
     
         2 . The fall mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first padded body includes a first top pad, a first middle pad, and a first bottom pad, wherein the second padded body includes a second top pad, a second middle pad, and a second bottom pad. 
     
     
         3 . The fall mat of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second top and bottom pads are made of a denser material than the first and second middle pads. 
     
     
         4 . The fall mat of  claim 2 , wherein the first top pad of the first padded body extends on the first connecting side a greater distance than the first middle pad and the first bottom pad to create the first step, and wherein the second bottom pad and second middle pad of the second padded body extends on the second connecting side a greater distance than the second top pad to create the second step. 
     
     
         5 . The fall mat of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is a length of material that connects the first and second top surfaces of the first padded body and the second padded body. 
     
     
         6 . The fall mat of  claim 5 , wherein the first padded body is enclosed by a first envelope and where the second padded body is enclosed by a second envelope, the first and second envelopes are connected at the hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The fall mat of  claim 6 , wherein a length of polyester seatbelt webbing material is located within the first envelope and the second envelope under the hinge, the length of polyester seatbelt webbing material configured to reinforce the hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The fall mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first top surface of the first padded body is rectangular in shape, and wherein the second top surface of the second padded body is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The fall mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first step extends along the entire length of the first connecting side, and wherein the second step extends along the entire length of the second connecting side. 
     
     
         10 . A fall mat comprising:
 a first padded body having a first top surface and a first bottom surface, and a first connecting side, wherein a cross section of the first connecting side has an inverted step profile;   a second padded body having a second top surface and a second bottom surface, and a second connecting side, wherein a cross section of the second connecting side has a step profile that corresponds to the inverted step profile of the first connecting side of the first padded body such that a substantial portion of the first connecting side and the second connecting side abut; and   a hinge connecting the first padded body to the second padded body such that the second padded body is configured to rotate about the first padded body.   
     
     
         11 . The fall mat of  claim 10 , wherein the first padded body includes a first top pad, a first middle pad, and a first bottom pad, wherein the second padded body includes a second top pad, a second middle pad, and a second bottom pad. 
     
     
         12 . The fall mat of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second top and bottom pads are made of a denser material than the first and second middle pads. 
     
     
         13 . The fall mat of  claim 12 , wherein the first top pad of the first padded body extends on the first connecting side a greater distance than the first bottom pad and the first middle pad to create first step, and wherein the second bottom pad and second middle pad of the second padded body extends on the second connecting side a greater distance than the second top pad to create the second step. 
     
     
         14 . The fall mat of  claim 10 , wherein the hinge is a length of material that connects the top surfaces of the first padded body and the second padded body. 
     
     
         15 . The fall mat of  claim 14 , wherein the first padded body is enclosed by a first envelope and where the second padded body is enclosed by a second envelope, the first and second envelopes are connected at the hinge. 
     
     
         16 . The fall mat of  claim 15 , wherein a length of polyester seatbelt webbing material is located within the first envelope and the second envelope under the hinge, the length of polyester seatbelt webbing material configured to reinforce the hinge. 
     
     
         17 . The fall mat of  claim 10 , wherein the first top surface of the first padded body is rectangular in shape, and wherein the second top surface of the second padded body is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         18 . The fall mat of  claim 10 , wherein the inverted step profile extends along the entire length of the first connecting side, and wherein the step profile extends along the entire length of the second connecting side. 
     
     
         19 . A fall mat comprising:
 a first padded body having a first outer envelope surrounding a first top pad and a first lower pad, the first lower pad extending on a first connecting side a greater distance than the first top pad to create a first step; and   a second padded body having a second outer envelope surrounding a second top pad and a second lower pad, the second top pad extending on a second connecting side a greater distance than the second lower pad to create a second step;   wherein the first outer envelope and the second outer envelope are connected between the first connecting side and the second connecting side such that the first padded body is rotatable about the second padded body.   
     
     
         20 . The fall mat of  claim 19 , wherein the first padded body includes a first top surface and a first bottom surface and wherein the second padded body includes a second top surface and a second bottom surface, and wherein the first step is an inverted step, and wherein the first step and the second step interlock when first and second top and bottom surfaces of the first padded body and the second padded body are co-planar.