Modular work station
A mat for pressing articles with a steam iron is configured for connection to additional units of the mat by a mat connector having ribbed posts positioned to engage accessory apertures in each mat. Connected mats form a combined work surface without gaps, channels, or apertures formed along the edges and corners of adjacent mats. Each mat may be made from a textile including wool fibers to facilitate passage of steam and dry air through the work surface.
1 . A modular work station comprising a plurality of polygonal mats configured to be joined adjacent and edge-to-edge with one another by thin, flexible mat connectors;
wherein each mat comprises a plurality of accessory apertures, each configured to receive one of a plurality of mat connectors; wherein each mat connector comprises:
a connector plate having a mat contact surface; and two ribbed posts projecting therefrom adapted to engage one of said plurality of accessory apertures;
wherein said two ribbed posts are spaced apart by a distance D;
and wherein the modular work station is further configured as a quadrilateral with four straight edges and four square corners, comprising:
a work surface extending to said four straight edges and said four square corners;
a bottom surface on a side of said modular work station opposite said work surface;
wherein, at each of said four square corners, two of said accessory apertures are provided, each formed through said work surface and said bottom surface, and each positioned half of said distance D from one of said straight edges;
and where one of said ribbed posts is attached to an accessory aperture of one of said mats;
and a second ribbed post is attached to an accessory aperture of another, adjacent mat, so as to form a smooth, expandable work surface without gaps between the edges and corners of adjacent mats.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of polygonal mats is formed with a thickness dimension in a range from 0.25 inch (6 millimeters) to 1.0 inch (25 millimeters).
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of polygonal mats is formed with a length dimension approximately equal to a width dimension.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of polygonal mats is formed from a felt textile.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said felt textile comprises natural wool fibers.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said ribbed posts further includes:
a shank having a flat end opposite an end joined to said mat contact surface; and
a length dimension from said mat contact surface to said flat end, said length dimension less than or equal to a thickness dimension of said mat.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said ribbed posts each further include a plurality of ribs extending away from said shank.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said flat end of said rib posts are coplanar with said work surface when said mat contact surface is in contact with said bottom surface.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said ribbed posts each further comprise an outer diameter sized for a close sliding fit in said first accessory aperture and said second accessory aperture.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said ribbed posts each further comprise an outer diameter up to ten percent larger than a diameter of said first accessory aperture.