Fold and Roll Exercise Mat
A yoga mat comprising a folding hinge, said yoga mat designed to be folded in the middle and then rolled up in such a way that the edges of the mat line up when it is folded and then rolled.
1 . An exercise mat, comprising:
A front portion, said front portion being rectangular, said front portion comprising an outside edge and an inside edge;
A back portion, said back portion being rectangular, said back portion comprising an outside edge and an inside edge;
A hinge, said hinge connecting the inside edge of the front portion and the inside edge of the back portion, said hinge more flexible than the material of the front portion or the back portion, said hinge enabling the exercise mat to fold;
said hinge located in such a way that when the exercise mat is folded and then rolled up, the outside edge of the front portion lines up with the outside edge of the back portion.
2 . The exercise mat of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is made of a flexible strip of material that is strong enough to handle repeated folding.
3 . The exercise mat of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is created by embossing a crease in the material of the mat, said crease separating the front portion from the back portion.
4 . The exercise mat of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is created by cutting away part of the material of the mat in the region separating the front portion from the back portion.
5 . The exercise mat of claim 1 , wherein the width of the hinge is 3 inches or less.
6 . The exercise mat of claim 2 , wherein the hinge is attached to the front portion and the back portion by stitching.
7 . The exercise mat of claim 2 , wherein the hinge is attached to the front portion and the back portion by adhesive.
8 . The exercise mat of claim 2 , wherein the hinge is attached to the front portion and the back portion by heat welding.
9 . The exercise mat of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first handle attached to one end of the hinge;
a second handle attached to the other end of the hinge.
10 . The exercise mat of claim 2 , further comprising:
a fastening member attached to the hinge, said fastening member used to prevent the exercise mat from unrolling when it is in a rolled-up condition.
11 . The exercise mat of claim 10 , where the fastening member is an elastic loop attached to one end of the hinge, said elastic loop of a sufficient size and elasticity so as to stretch over the exercise mat when the mat is in a rolled-up condition.
12 . The exercise mat of claim 10 , where the fastening member comprises:
a first flexible tie attached to one end of the hinge;
a second flexible tie attached to the other end of the hinge;
said first flexible tie and second flexible tie of sufficient length so as to be capable of fastening to each other over the exercise mat when the mat is in a rolled-up condition.
13 . The exercise mat of claim 1 , where the hinge comprises an advertising message.
14 . The exercise mat of claim 1 , where the hinge is less flexible in the direction perpendicular to its length than in the direction parallel to its length.
15 . The exercise mat of claim 1 , where the hinge comprises padding, said padding attached to the hinge on the side of the exercise mat opposite the floor when the mat is in use.
16 . The exercise mat of claim 15 , wherein the padding is of sufficient size to enable a human to kneel comfortably on it.
17 . The exercise mat of claim 15 , wherein the padding is made of foam.