CUSHIONED FOAM MAT WITH POROUS BACKING
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a cushioning mat with a porous backing. The cushioning mat may include a surface layer of face fabric, a layer of open-cell, viscoelastic foam, and a backing in the form of a porous underlay. The porous underlay may have openings through which water penetrating the cushioning mat can escape. The porous underlay may be PVC-coated polyester. Additionally, a layer of jersey knit cloth may be interposed between the porous underlay and the layer of open-cell, viscoelastic foam to promote bonding properties.
1 . A cushioning mat for cushioning a user in environments where water can come into contact with the cushioning mat, the cushioning mat comprising:
a face fabric for coming into contact with the user;
a foam layer secured to a surface of the face fabric, wherein the foam layer includes an open cell, viscoelastic foam material; and
a backing secured to the foam layer opposite the face fabric for reducing slippage of the cushioning mat, wherein the backing is formed with openings for allowing any water in the foam layer to leave the mat at least partially through the openings in the backing.
2 . The cushioning mat of claim 1 , wherein a cloth layer is interposed between the backing and the foam layer to promote bonding.
3 . The cushioning mat of claim 2 , wherein the cloth layer is comprised of jersey knit material.
4 . The cushioning mat of claim 1 , wherein the openings comprise at least 30 percent of the surface area of the backing.
5 . The cushioning mat of claim 1 , wherein the backing comprises a sheet of woven fibers coated with a slip-resistant substance.
6 . The cushioning mat of claim 5 , wherein the woven fibers are polyester and the slip-resistant substance is PVC.
7 . The cushioning mat of claim 5 , wherein the slip-resistant substance comprises urethane.
8 . The cushioning mat of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic foam is viscoelastic polyurethane foam.
9 . The cushioning mat of claim 8 , wherein the viscoelastic polyurethane foam has a density of approximately 50 kg/m 2 .
10 . The cushioning mat of claim 1 , wherein the foam layer is bonded to the face fabric with an adhesive.
11 . The cushioning mat of claim 2 , wherein the cloth layer is bonded to the backing with an adhesive.
12 . The cushioning mat of claim 2 , wherein the cloth layer is laminated to the foam layer.
13 . The cushioning mat of claim 1 , wherein the average thickness of the foam layer is approximately 15 millimeters.
14 . The cushioning mat of claim 1 , wherein the face fabric, the foam layer, and the backing are collectively stitched together.
15 . The cushioning mat of claim 15 , wherein the face fabric, the foam layer, and the backing are collectively stitched together in a quilted configuration.
16 . The cushioning mat of claim 10 , wherein the adhesive is water-based.
17 . The cushioning mat of claim 10 , wherein the adhesive is polyurethane-based.
18 . The cushioning mat of claim 11 , wherein the adhesive is water-based.
19 . The cushioning mat of claim 11 , wherein the adhesive is polyurethane-based.
20 . The cushioning mat of claim 4 , wherein the openings comprise approximately 40 percent of the surface area of the backing.
21 . The cushioning mat of claim 4 , wherein the openings comprise up to 45 percent of the surface area of the backing.