Hygienic case for protecting a mat from contaminants and method of using same

Abstract

A hygienic case for protecting a mat. The hygienic case includes a flat material and a cover. The flat material includes a liner portion and a cover portion. The liner portion has a hygienic surface and an outer surface. The hygienic surface is positionable against a user side of the mat and shaped to receive the user side of the mat thereon. The liner portion has flexibility to rollingly fold with the mat into a tubular roll. The cover portion is connected at an end of the liner portion, and is shaped to protectively encircle the tubular roll. The cover fastener is positionable about the cover portion to closingly secure the cover portion about the tubular roll whereby the user side of the mat is isolated from contaminants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hygienic case for protecting a mat, comprising:
 a flat material comprising a liner portion and a cover portion, the liner portion having a hygienic surface and an outer surface, the hygienic surface positionable against a user side of the mat and shaped to receive the user side of the mat thereon, the liner portion having flexibility to rollingly fold with the mat into a tubular roll, the cover portion connected at an end of the liner portion, the cover portion shaped to protectively encircle the tubular roll; and   a cover fastener positionable about the cover portion to closingly secure the cover portion about the tubular roll whereby the user side of the mat is isolated from contaminants.   
     
     
         2 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , further comprising disposable sheets positionable between the liner portion and the mat. 
     
     
         3 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , wherein the hygienic surface has a surface area larger than a surface area of the mat. 
     
     
         4 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion is removably connected to the liner portion by a liner fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The hygienic case of  claim 4 , wherein the liner fastener comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         6 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , wherein the cover fastener comprises one of a zipper, VELCRO®, straps, snaps, ties, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , wherein the flat material comprises a plurality of layers, each layer comprising a different material. 
     
     
         8 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion surrounds the tubular roll. 
     
     
         9 . The hygienic case of  claim 8 , wherein the cover portion has lateral ends disposable about ends of the tubular roll. 
     
     
         10 . The hygienic case of  claim 9 , wherein the lateral ends comprise one of drawstrings, snaps, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The hygienic case of  claim 8 , wherein the cover portion is wider than the liner portion. 
     
     
         12 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap. 
     
     
         13 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , further comprising a pocket. 
     
     
         14 . The hygienic case of  claim 1 , wherein the flat material comprises at least one of cotton, nylon, polyester, spandex, elastomer, plastic, neoprene, moisture wicking, fitness, odor resistant, tarp, water resistant, hygienic, protective, antimicrobial material, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         15 . A hygienic case for protecting a mat, comprising:
 a flat liner comprising a hygienic layer and an outer layer, the hygienic layer shaped to receive a user side of the mat, the liner having flexibility to rollingly fold with the mat into a tubular roll;   a flat cover removably connected at an end of the liner, the cover comprising a protective outer layer and an inner layer, the inner layer shaped to encircle the tubular roll, the protective outer layer positioned external to the inner layer; and   a cover fastener connected to the cover, the cover fastener disposable about the cover to secure the cover in a closed position about the tubular roll whereby the user side of the mat is isolated from contaminants.   
     
     
         16 . The hygienic case of  claim 15 , further comprising disposable sheets connected to the flat liner, the disposable sheets positionable between the flat liner and the mat. 
     
     
         17 . The hygienic case of  claim 15 , wherein the flat cover has the same width as or larger width than the flat liner. 
     
     
         18 . The hygienic case of  claim 15 , wherein the flat cover has lateral edges to cover ends of the tubular roll. 
     
     
         19 . A method of protecting a mat, the method comprising:
 providing a hygienic case comprising a liner portion and a cover portion;   positioning a hygienic surface of the liner portion on a user side of the mat;   isolating the user side of the mat by:
 rolling the liner portion with the mat therein into a tubular roll; 
 encircling the tubular roll with the cover portion by continuing rolling the tubular roll into the cover portion; and 
 fastening the cover portion about the tubular roll. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 19 , further comprising removably positioning disposable sheets between the liner portion and the mat.