Pilates mat with adjustable ischial tuberosity support

Abstract

An adjustable support mat for performing Pilates, yoga, or other activities involving sitting, has an adjustable gap region for providing ischial tuberosity support to a user having a protruding coccyx (tailbone), or experiencing pain in the coccyx region. A first and second mat element is held in position relative to each other with one or more adjustable spacing connectors to establish a gap width that is optimum for a particular user. The mat elements are constructed of resilient compressible material can be covered with an outer material, and can include nonskid bottom surface. The adjustable spacing connectors have touch fasteners, pressure sensitive adhesive, or other fastening means that are detachable and re-attachable, and can be rigid or flexible. A flexible nonskid adjustable connector sheet can be used as a spacing connector. The adjustable support mat can be folded or rolled for storage, or carried by a carrying strap.

1 . An adjustable support mat comprising:
 a first mat element having an upper element surface and a lower element surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, and a near end and a far end, the lower element surface having a plurality of attachment regions;   a second mat element having an upper element surface and a lower element surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, and a near end and a far end, the lower element surface having a plurality of attachment regions; and   at least one adjustable spacing connector having an upper connector surface and a lower connector surface;   wherein:
 the first mat element is configured to be positioned proximal to the second mat element, with the first mat element inner edge facing the second mat element inner edge so that a gap exists between the first mat element and the second mat element; and 
 the at least one adjustable spacing connector is configured such that the upper connector surface matably attaches to the lower element surfaces of the first and second mat elements at the attachment regions thereof, thereby securably holding the first mat element in proximal position to the second mat element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gap is configured to accommodate a protruding coccyx; and   the first mat element and the second mat element are each configured to provide ischial tuberosity support.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first mat element and the second mat element are each comprised of a resilient compressible foam selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), eco-PVC, rubber, closed-cell rubber, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polystyrene, neoprene, polypropylene, and polyolefin. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment regions of the first and second mat elements are comprised of touch fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the touch fasteners comprise hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment regions of the first and second mat elements are configured to matably attach to the plurality of adjustable spacing connectors with pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the attachment regions of the first and second mat elements comprise cavities;   the adjustable spacing connectors comprise prongs; and   the prongs are configured to matably attach to the cavities.   
     
     
         8 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable spacing connectors are comprised of a flexible material, thereby allowing the adjustable spacing connectors to be folded, such that the first mat element upper surface is positionable proximate the second mat element upper surface. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first mat element and the second mat element are each flexible, such that the first mat element and the second mat element are rollable. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the adjustable spacing connectors matably attaches to at least two of the attachment regions of the first and second mat elements, thereby attachably holding the first mat element or the second mat element in a rolled position. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first mat element has a first length and the second mat element has a second length, and the first and second lengths are each between 40 and 120 cm. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first mat element has a first width and a first thickness;   the second mat element has a second width and a second thickness;   the first and second widths are each between 7-14 cm; and   the first and second thicknesses are each about 3.2 cm   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein the lower element surfaces of the first mat element and the second mat element comprise a nonskid region that is selected from the group consisting of rubber, foam rubber, silicon rubber, neoprene, and vinyl. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 10 , further comprising a carrying strap having a first end and a second end, wherein:
 the adjustable support mat has a weight;   the first end is attached near the near ends of the first and second mat element;   the second end is attached near the far ends of the first and second mat element; and   the carrying strap is configured to support the weight of the adjustable support mat when being carried.   
     
     
         15 . An adjustable support mat comprising:
 a first mat element having an upper element surface and a lower element surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, and a near end and a far end, the lower element surface having at least one attachment region;   a second mat element having an upper element surface and a lower element surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, and a near end and a far end, the lower element surface having at least one attachment region; and   an adjustable connector sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein:
 the first mat element is configured to be positioned proximal to the second mat element, with the first mat element inner edge facing the second mat element inner edge so that a gap exists between the first mat element and the second mat element; 
 the adjustable connector sheet is comprised of a flexible material; and 
 the adjustable connector sheet is configured such that the top surface releasably attaches to the lower element surfaces of the first and second mat elements at the attachment regions thereof, thereby securably holding the first mat element in proximal position to the second mat element. 
   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the gap is configured to accommodate a protruding coccyx; and   the first mat element and the second mat element are each configured to provide ischial tuberosity support.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 15 , wherein the first mat element and the second mat element each comprise:
 a mat element core comprised of a resilient compressible foam; and   a mat element covering comprised of a flexible material.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the attachment regions of the first and second mat elements are comprised of touch fasteners; and   the bottom surface is comprised of a nonskid material that is selected from the group consisting of rubber, foam rubber, silicon rubber, neoprene, and vinyl.   
     
     
         19 . The adjustable support mat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first mat element has a first width and a first thickness;   the second mat element has a second width and a second thickness;   the first and second widths are each between 7-14 cm; and   the first and second thicknesses are each about 3.2 cm.   
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling an adjustable support mat comprising:
 positioning a first mat element proximal to a second mat element; and   attaching at least one adjustable spacing connector to the first mat element and the second mat element,   wherein:
 the first mat element has an upper element surface and a lower element surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, and a near end and a far end, the lower element surface having a plurality of attachment regions; 
 the second mat element has an upper element surface and a lower element surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, and a near end and a far end, the lower element surface having a plurality of attachment regions; 
 the first mat element inner edge faces the second mat element inner edge so that a gap exists between the first mat element and the second mat element; 
 each of the at least one spacing connectors has an upper connector surface and a lower connector surface; 
 each of the at least one spacing connectors is configured such that the upper connector surfaces matably attach to the lower element surfaces of the first and second mat elements at the attachment regions thereof, thereby securably holding the first mat element in proximal position to the second mat element; 
 the gap is configured to accommodate a protruding coccyx; and 
 the first mat element and the second mat element are each configured to provide ischial tuberosity support.