Exercise mat

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an exercise or yoga mat either in one layer or multi layer configuration. According to an embodiment, the exercise mat includes a base layer having a pair of opposed flat surfaces, a pair of horizontal sides, and a pair of vertical sides, a plurality of structures protruding upward from an upper surface of the pair of opposed flat surfaces, the plurality of structures are of a predefined shape and extends up to a predefined height and are distributed throughout the upper surface of the pair of opposed flat surfaces in essentially uninterrupted fashion in order to provide a grip and a stimulating effect to hands and feet to a user exercising on the exercise mat, and a plurality of recesses positioned opposite to the positions of the plurality of structures and underside onto a bottom surface of the pair of opposed flat surface.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An exercise mat ( 100 ), comprising:
 a base layer ( 110 ) having a pair of opposed flat surfaces ( 102 , 106 ), a pair of horizontal sides, and a pair of vertical sides;   a plurality of structures ( 104 ) protruding upward from an upper surface ( 102 ) of the pair of opposed flat surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of structures ( 104 ) are of a predefined shape and extends up to a predefined height and are distributed throughout the upper surface of the pair of opposed flat surfaces in essentially uninterrupted fashion in order to provide a grip and a stimulating effect to hands and feet of a user exercising on the exercise mat ( 100 ); and   a plurality of recesses ( 108 ) positioned opposite to the positions of the plurality of structures ( 104 ) and underside onto a bottom surface ( 106 ) of the pair of opposed flat surface.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures ( 104 ) with the predefined shape comprises of rounded structures, squared structures, triangular structures, rectangular structures, and structures of suitable geometric or random shape or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined height of the plurality of structures ( 104 ) is greater or equal to 1 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures ( 104 ) are spaced-apart by a predetermined approximate distance from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein plurality of recesses ( 108 ) are configured to frictionally engage the exercise mat ( 100 ) with the floor. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of horizontal sides and the pair of vertical sides define a width, and a length of the exercise mat ( 100 ), respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise mat( 100 ) of  claim 6 , wherein the width of the exercise mat ( 100 ) is shorter or equal to the length of the exercise mat ( 100 ) to fully support the user exercising on the exercise mat ( 100 ). 
     
     
         8 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer ( 110 ) comprises polyester knit coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic, foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, woven fabrics or fibers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 1  further comprising an additional flat layer ( 112 ) essentially attached and laminated onto the bottom surface ( 106 ) of the pair of opposed flat surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the additional layer ( 112 ) comprises Latex, Rubber, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), foam, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam, fibers or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the additional layer ( 102 ) may be at least one of:
 one-piece layer, or a set of sections of layer.   
     
     
         12 . An exercise mat ( 100 ), comprising:
 a first layer ( 110 ) having a pair of opposed flat surfaces ( 102 , 106 ), a pair of horizontal sides, and a pair of vertical sides;   a plurality of structures ( 104 ) protruding upward from an upper surface ( 102 ) of the pair of opposed flat surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of structures ( 104 ) are of a predefined shape and extends up to a predefined height and are distributed throughout the upper surface of the pair of opposed flat surfaces in essentially uninterrupted fashion in order to provide a grip and a stimulating effect to hands and feet of a user exercising on the exercise mat ( 100 );   a plurality of recesses ( 108 ) positioned opposite to the positions of the plurality of structures ( 104 ) and underside onto a bottom surface ( 106 ) of the pair of opposed flat surface; and   a second layer ( 112 ) essentially attached and laminated onto the bottom surface ( 106 ) of the pair of opposed flat surfaces.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of structures ( 104 ) with the predefined shape comprises of rounded structures, squared structures, triangular structures, rectangular structures, and structures of suitable geometric or random shape or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined height of the plurality of structures ( 104 ) is greater or equal to 1 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of structures ( 104 ) are spaced-apart by a predetermined approximate distance from each other. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of horizontal sides and the pair of vertical sides define a width, and a length of the exercise mat ( 100 ), respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the first layer comprises polyester knit coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic, foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, woven fabrics or fibers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the second layer ( 112 ) comprises Latex, Rubber, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, fibers or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise mat ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the second layer ( 112 ) may be at least one of:
 one-piece layer, or a set of sections of layer.