Couplable mat.

0001The present invention relates to a mat, provided along at least a part of its circumference with a member for coupling it with another, similar mat.

0002When doing gymnastics and other body exercises mats are used to break the fall, to catch the athlete after an exercise, to prevent wounds or injuries and for instance also to perform the free gymnastic exercise. For some gymnastic exercises a relative large surface should be covered with mats and up to now this was done by simply sliding the mats towards each other with their side edges in contact with each other. The disadvantage thereof is that the mats often slide away from each other so that an unequal surface is created which may lead at its turn to accidents and injuries for the athletes. It also happens that the mats are connected to each other by means of small belts, but this is often done inaccurately or is overlooked, so that the mats may slide all the same. Moreover here the small belts or other fastening means do on their turn form inequalities in the surface of the mats.

0003The invention tends to abolish the disadvantages of said known methods of connecting the mats.

0004This object is achieved in that according to the invention the coupling member consists of a substantially L-shaped flange at the edge of the mat, wherein the thickness of the vertical leg of the flange increases in the direction of the free end, and which vertical leg together with the side edge of the mat defines a groove, the width of which increases in the direction of the bottom in such a way, that thelargest thickness of the leg is larger than the smallest width of the groove and that at least the vertical leg of the _L-shaped flange is made of resilient, compressible material.

0005By applying said features it is achieved that between the two or more mats a coupling can be effected easily, which coupling will not loosen in use and has no portions, projecting from the surface of the mats. An important advantage of the mat is furthermore, that the mats are coupled with each other both in horizontal and in vertical direction, which is not so with the known coupled mats. Moreover the coupling operation of the mats cannot be overlooked. The coupling of the mats can be performed most easily by forcing the vertical leg at the coupling flange of the one mat into the groove between the vertical leg and the side edge of the mat of the coupling flange of another mat.

0006In a preferred embodiment of the mat according to the invention the cross-sectional configuration and the dimensions of the vertical leg of the L-shaped coupling flange are substantially equal to those of the undercut groove between the vertical leg and the side edge of the mat and the sum of the thickness of the horizontal bar and the height of the vertical leg of the L-shaped flange is equal to the thickness of the mat.

0007In said embodiment a rigid and strong coupling between the mats mutually is achieved which is all the same easily detachable.

0008According to the invention the entire mat is made of resilient, compressible material. So the entire mat with the L-shaped coupling flanges can be manufactured in one and the same production step.

0009The invention will be illustrated by way of the drawings with an embodiment.

0010<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 is a partial cross-section of two adjacent mats, wherein the L-shaped coupling flanges are not coupled with each other.</li><li>Figure 2 is a partial cross-section to two adjacent mats, wherein the L-shaped coupling flanges are coupled with each other and</li><li>figure 3 is a plan view of the mat according to the invention.</li></ul>

0011The mat accordinggo the invention is provided along at least a part of its circumference, but as appears from figure 3, preferably along its complete circumference, with a substantially L-shaped coupling flange 1, which consists of a horizontal bar 2 and a vertical leg 3. According to the invention the thickness of the vertical leg 3 of the L-shaped flange 1 increases in the direction of its free end, wherein the vertical leg 3 together with the side edge 4 of the mat defines-a groove 5, the width of which increases in the direction of the bottom of the groove in such a way, that the largest thickness of the leg 3 is larger than the smallest width 3 of the groove -5, wherein at least the vertical leg 3 of the L-shaped coupling flange 1 is made of resilient, compressible material. Thereby side edge 4 of a mat, which is provided with an L-shaped couling flange 1 with a downwardly protruding vertical leg 3, can be coupled with a side edge 4 of another mat, which is provided with an L-shaped coupling flange 1 with an upwardly extending vertical leg 3, by introducing the leg 3 of the one mat in the undercut groove 5 of the other mat, wherein the legs 3, during their introduction into tie grooves 5, are first slightly compressed and subsequently expand again, so that the side edges of the two mats are coupled with each other both in horizontal and in vertical direction.

0012Preferably the cross-sectional configuration and the dimensions of the vertical leg 3 of the L-shaped coupling flange 1 are substantially equal to those of the undercut groove 5 between the vertical 3 and the side edge 4 of the mat and the sum of the thickness d of the horizontal bar 2 and the height h of the vertical leg 3 of the L-shaped flange 1 isequal to the thickness D of the mat, so that with an effected coupling between two side edges of adjacent mats the vertical legs 3 of the L-shaped coupling flanges 1 completely fill the grooves 5 and both in vertical and in horizontal direction a solid and strong coupling is achieved, whereas the interconnected mats form an even, uninterrupted surfac.e.

0013According to figure 1, 2 and 3 the vertical legs 3 of the L-shaped coupling flanges 1 are again and again oppositely directed at any two opposite sides of the rectangle of the mat, wherein the horizontal bars 2 are arranged on the one hand at the lower edge and on the other hand at the upper edge of the vertical rectangular cross-sectional plane of the mat and the outer face of the horizontal bars 2 are placed on the one hand in alignment with the lower face and on the other hand in alignment with the upper face of the mat. Thereby the mat according to the invention can be coupled at all four sides thereof with a similar mat, which coupled mats at their turn at the three remaining free sides can be coupled to similar mats, etc. so that a surface of any size can be uninterruptedly covered with mats according to the invention.

0014The L-shaped coupling flanges 1 are formed integrally with the mat and the mat with the coupling flanges can be manufactured in one and the same operational phase in a mould into which a foamable plastics material is cast, particularly foamable polyurethane, that when foaming forms a compressed smooth casting skin 6 at the outside against the walls of the mould, and the gas cells of which increase from the outside inwards (figure 1 and 2). The casting skin 6 is schemetically illustrated in figure 1 and 2 with a straight, planar boundary at the interior, which will, however, have an irregular configuration in practice.