Foldable Beach Chair Mat

Abstract

A foldable beach chair mat includes two chair support pads, each comprising a respective rigid planar body. An elongated edge of the first rigid planar body has a first semicircular aperture comprising a first concave end face, and a corresponding elongated edge of the second rigid planar body has a second semicircular aperture comprising a second concave end face. An elongated hinge is positioned between and pivotally connects the elongated edges, to pivot and fold the first rigid planar body towards the second rigid planar body to a face-to-face abutment, to fold the mat. In an extended position, the first rigid planar body and the second rigid planar body are coplanar. The mat includes a carry strap for carrying the mat in a folded state and also has a retention strap for maintaining the folded state. A plurality of cupholders are defined by the rigid planar bodies for accommodating beverage containers.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A beach chair mat device comprising:
 a first chair support pad comprising a first rigid planar body having at least a first elongated edge defining a first semicircular aperture comprising a first concave end face;   a second chair support pad comprising a second rigid planar body having at least a second elongated edge defining a second semicircular aperture comprising a second concave end face;   an elongated hinge disposed between and pivotally connecting the at least first elongated edge of the first rigid planar body and the at least second elongated edge of the second rigid planar body, said first rigid planar body pivotally movable relative to the second rigid planar body about the elongated hinge between a folded position in face-to-face abutting relation and an extended flat position in a coplanar relation, wherein the first semicircular aperture and the second semicircular aperture are in a concentric alignment about an axis in the folded position, wherein the first rigid body and the second rigid body form a circular support aperture adapted to receive and laterally support an umbrella pole upon a vertical sliding movement of the umbrella pole through the circular support aperture; and   a carry strap having a first end opposite a second end, the first end connected to a proximal end of the elongated hinge, the second end connected to a distal end of the elongated hinge.   
     
     
         2 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first semicylindrical support member formed of a first arcuate upstanding wall, a first semicircular base disposed at a bottom of the first arcuate upstanding wall, and a first top semicylindrical rim extending outwardly from a top of the first arcuate upstanding wall, said first arcuate upstanding wall fitted against the first concave end face of the first rigid planar body; and   a second semicylindrical support member formed of a second arcuate upstanding wall, a second semicircular base disposed at a bottom of the second arcuate upstanding wall, and a second top semicylindrical rim extending outwardly from a top of the second arcuate upstanding wall, said second arcuate upstanding wall fitted against the second concave end face of the second rigid planar body.   
     
     
         3 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 2 , wherein the first semicylindrical support member and the second semicylindrical support member define a cylindrical support passageway extending through the first chair support pad and the second chair support pad when the beach chair mat device is in the extended flat position, said cylindrical support passageway configured to receive and secure against lateral movement the umbrella pole when extended therethrough said cylindrical support passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 3 , wherein the first semicylindrical support member and the second semicylindrical support member are each formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polycarbonate, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and high density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         5 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated hinge comprises:
 a first elongated leaf fixed to the at least one elongated edge of the first rigid planar body; and   a second elongated leaf fixed to the at least one elongated edge of the second rigid planar body.   
     
     
         6 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 5 , further comprising a non-slip textured rubber coating surface adhered to a top surface of the first rigid planar body of the first chair support pad. 
     
     
         7 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 6 , further comprising a non-slip textured rubber coating surface adhered to a top surface of the second rigid planar body of the second chair support pad. 
     
     
         8 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 7 , further comprising at least a first cupholder comprising a cylindrical member formed of an arcuate upstanding wall, a circular base, and a rim extending outwardly of the arcuate upstanding wall, said arcuate upstanding wall of the at least a first cupholder disposed within a first round aperture defined by the first rigid planar body, said rim positioned atop a top surface of the first rigid planar body. 
     
     
         9 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 8 , further comprising at least a second cupholder comprising a cylindrical member formed of an arcuate upstanding wall, a circular base, and a rim extending outwardly of the arcuate upstanding wall, said arcuate upstanding wall of the at least a second cupholder disposed within a second round aperture defined by the second rigid planar body, said rim positioned atop a top surface of the second rigid planar body. 
     
     
         10 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least first cupholder and the at least second cupholder are each formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polycarbonate, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and high density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         11 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 1 , the first rigid planar body and the second rigid planar body each extending a given length in a longitudinal direction and having a width in a transverse direction wherein width is less than the given length in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The beach chair mat device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retention strap having a first end opposite a second end, said first end fixed to the first chair support pad, said second end having a hook-and-loop fastener removably connected to an opposing hook-and-loop portion fixed to the second chair support pad.