JP3210166U - Convertible article - Google Patents

Abstract

An object capable of changing the function of a mat and the function of a tray is provided. A convertible article includes a generally planar rigid base portion and a peripheral edge extending around the base portion. The edge 105 comprises a rigid edge portion 106 and a joining, substantially non-foldable web portion 107 that is thinner than the base and edge portions 104, 106. The edge 105 is between a first mat configuration where the edge portion 106 is substantially coplanar with the base portion 104 and a second tray configuration where the edge portion 106 is inclined relative to the base portion 104. Can be configured. Base and edge portions 104, 106 are supported on a base sheet of flexible material that provides web portion 107. The outer surfaces of the base and edge portions 104, 106 are exposed as display surfaces. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a convertible article, and in particular to a convertible article that provides a mat function and a tray function.

  Different types of mats are known and can be used in different situations. A common use for mats is to provide a protective barrier over the entire surface area to prevent damage to the surface from, for example, heat, spilling, bumping or scratching. The mat may be flexible or rigid, and may be more practical or more decorative in design.

  Different types of trays are also known and can be used in different situations as well. For example, it is known to use a tray to facilitate the transport of one or more items. The tray may be used in a range of settings and may be designed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as practical.

  It would be desirable to provide convertible articles that can function as mats and trays and that can be practically and / or aesthetically appealed to a variety of consumers that are convenient to manufacture at a commercially viable cost.

  According to the first aspect, the substantially planar rigid base portion and the edge extending around the base portion, the rigid edge portion being thinner than the base portion and the edge portion, A first mat configuration comprising: a joining substantially non-foldable web portion, wherein the edge portion is substantially coplanar with the base portion; and the edge portion is the base portion. On a base sheet of flexible material, the base portion and the edge portion providing the web portion And a convertible article is provided wherein an outer surface of the base portion and the edge portion is exposed as a display surface.

  In one embodiment, a base sheet of flexible material supports a single set of base and edge portions only on one side thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible material base sheet comprises a first set of base and edge portions on one side and a first set of base and edge portions on the other side. Support two similar sets. The convertible article may have a reversible second tray configuration.

  In one embodiment, the base portion is generally square and the edge portion is an edge portion extending along each first opposing side pair and second opposing side pair of the base portion. A first pair and a second pair. The edge portion of the edge portion and the web portion are arranged such that one of the first pair and the second pair of the edge portion is positioned on the substantially same plane with respect to the base portion and inclined with respect to the base portion. Moving between one and the other is shaped to provide an edge configured to move so that the other of the first and second pairs of edge portions move correspondingly.

  In one embodiment, the edge comprises a pair of handles.

  In one embodiment, the outer edge of the edge extends substantially parallel around the outer edge of the base portion.

  According to a second aspect, a step of receiving a sheet of flexible material, a step of receiving a base portion and an edge portion, and a base material of the flexible material receiving the received base portion and the edge portion. A method of manufacturing a convertible article according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer surface of the base portion and the edge portion is exposed as a display surface.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 shows a convertible article according to the first embodiment in a first mat configuration. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating conversion of the convertible article of FIG. 1 from a first mat configuration to a second tray configuration. FIG. 2 shows the conversion of the convertible article of FIG. 1 from a first mat configuration to a second tray configuration in the opposite direction. FIG. 6 shows a convertible article according to a second embodiment in a first mat configuration. FIG. 5 illustrates the conversion of the convertible article of FIG. 4 from a first mat configuration to a second tray configuration. FIG. 5 illustrates the conversion of the convertible article of FIG. 4 from a first mat configuration in the opposite direction. FIG. 6 shows a convertible article with a handle. It is a figure which shows the step in the manufacturing method of the article | item which can be converted.

  A convertible article 101 is shown in FIG. The convertible article 101 has a first side indicated by 102 and a second side indicated by 103. The convertible article 101 provides a mat function and a tray function.

  The convertible article 101 includes a substantially planar rigid base portion 104 and a rim 105 extending around the base portion 104. The edge 105 comprises a rigid edge portion 106 and a joining, substantially non-foldable web portion 107 that is thinner than the base portion 104 and the edge portion 106. The edge 105 is between a first mat configuration where the edge portion 106 is substantially coplanar with the base portion 104 and a second tray configuration where the edge portion 106 is inclined relative to the base portion 104. Can be configured. As will be described in greater detail, the base portion 104 and the edge portion 106 are supported on a base material sheet 108 of flexible material that provides a web portion 107. The outer surfaces 109 and 110 of the base portion 104 and the edge portion 106 are respectively exposed as display surfaces.

  In this first illustrated embodiment, the base sheet 108 of flexible material supports a single set of base portion 104 and edge portion 106 only on one side thereof. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, one side 102 of the convertible article 101 has a base portion 104 and an edge portion overlying the region of one side 111 of the base material sheet 108 of flexible material. 106, the other side 103 of the convertible article 101 provides the other side 112 of the base material sheet 108 of flexible material.

  The convertible article 101 is shown in FIG. 1 with a first mat configuration. FIG. 2 shows the convertible article 101 being moved from the first mat configuration to the second tray configuration.

  In A, the convertible article 101 is shown with the first side 102 facing upward and the base portion 104 and the edge portion 106 visible. In this embodiment, the base portion 104 is generally square and the edge 105 is the first of the edge portions 106 that extend along respective first and second opposing sides of the base portion 104. 1 pair 201 and 2nd pair 202 are provided. The edge 105 is a first of the first pair 201 and the second pair 202 of the edge part 106 between a substantially coplanar position with respect to the base part 104 and a position inclined with respect to the base part 104. By moving the pair 201, the second pair 202 of the first pair 201 and the second pair 202 of the edge portion 106 is configured to move correspondingly. As can be seen in this figure, the base portion 104 has a short opposing pair of sides and a long opposing pair of sides, the edge portion of the first pair 201 of the edge portions 106. Are arranged along the shorter opposing pair of sides of the base portion 104, and the edge portion of the second pair 202 of the edge portion 106 is along the opposite longer side pair of the base portion. Arranged. As shown, the edge portion of the first pair 201 of the edge portion 106 has a substantially square shape, and the edge portion of the second pair 202 of the edge portion 106 has a substantially trapezoidal shape. The web portion 107 has a substantially triangular shape. The substantially trapezoidal shape of the edge portion 106 of the second pair 202 of edge portions 106 has an angle of approximately 135 ° extending from the longer side edge, one longer than the other, at an angle of approximately 45 °. With a pair of opposing parallel side edges connected by an inwardly inclined edge that intersects the shorter side edge, and the generally trapezoidal shape is such that the longer side edge is the outermost and the shorter side edge Is oriented relative to the base portion 104 so that is the innermost.

  In order to convert the convertible article 101 from a mat configuration to a tray configuration, as shown at A, the edge portions of the first pair 201 of edge portions 106 can be This action causes the edge portions 106 of the second pair 202 of edge portions 106 to also rotate upward and inward toward each other, as indicated by arrow Y. In B, the convertible article 101 is shown in a tray configuration. The edge portions of the first pair 201 and the second pair 202 of the edge portion 106 are arranged such that the edge portion 106 is the base portion from the position where the edge portion 106 is on the same plane with respect to the base portion 104. It is moved to a position substantially perpendicular to 104 with a maximum angle of rotation of approximately 90 °.

  Accordingly, the convertible article 101 is a first in which the convertible article 101 is relatively more two-dimensional and the edge portion 106 extends in substantially the same plane as the support surface S of the base portion 104. A mat configuration and a second tray configuration in which the convertible article 101 is relatively more three-dimensional and the edge portion 106 extends upward from the base portion 104 to provide a sidewall around its support surface S And can be configured between.

  When the convertible article 101 has the mat configuration shown in FIG. 1 and when the convertible article 101 has the tray configuration shown in FIG. 2, the item is on the first side of the convertible article 101. It should be appreciated that it may be placed on the support surface S of the part 102. The item can be received on the display surface 109 of the base portion 104.

  To perform the conversion of the convertible article 101 from tray to mat, the edge portions of the first pair 201 of edge portions 106 are separated from each other in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow X. This action also causes the edge portions 106 of the second pair 202 of edge portions 106 to move in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow Y and away from each other downward and outward. It is rotated.

  A web along a fold line extending through a region of the web shape to allow conversion of a convertible article between a mat configuration and a tray configuration by means of a flexible material base material It should be understood that the edge can be folded along a fold line where the edge portion is in contact with the web, such that the folding takes place along the edge of the web, rather than in the form of a hinge.

  The convertible article 101 can be repeatedly converted between the first mat configuration and the second tray configuration as desired by the user.

  As described with respect to FIG. 2, the edge portion 106 of the convertible article 101 is rotatable relative to its first side 102 to effect a mat to tray conversion. However, as will be further described with respect to FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the convertible article 101 has a reversible second tray configuration.

  In FIG. 3C, the convertible article 101 has the second side 103 facing up and the base portion 104 and the edge portion 106 hidden from view behind the base material sheet 108 of flexible material. ,It is shown.

  To convert the convertible article 101 from a mat configuration to a tray configuration, the same steps are followed as described above. In D, the convertible article 101 is shown in a tray configuration. When the convertible article 101 has the mat configuration shown in FIG. 1 and when the convertible article 101 has the tray configuration shown in FIG. 3, the item is on the second side of the convertible article 101. It should be appreciated that it may be placed on the support surface SS of the part 103. The item can be received on the display surface 112 of the substrate sheet 108 of flexible material. Thus, as described with respect to FIG. 2, the edge portion 106 of the convertible article 101 is rotatable relative to its first side 102 to effect a mat-to-tray conversion. As described with respect to 3, the edge portion 106 of the convertible article 101 is rotatable relative to its second side 103 to effect a mat to tray conversion. In this way, the convertible article 101 is sufficiently reversible and its opposite sides 102, 103, when in either the mat configuration or the tray configuration, support surfaces S, SS for receiving items thereon. Provide each.

  In the first embodiment of the convertible article 101 described with respect to FIGS. 1-3, the base sheet 108 of flexible material has a base portion 104 and an edge portion 106 only on one side 111 thereof. Support a single set of. Next, a second embodiment of the convertible article 401 will be described with reference to FIGS. For convenience, the same reference numerals will be used for the same features as needed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the convertible article 401 has a first side indicated by 102 and a second side indicated by 103. The convertible article 401 provides a mat function and a tray function.

  In this second illustrated embodiment, the flexible material base sheet 108 of the convertible article 401 has a first set of base portions 104 and edge portions 106 on one side 111 thereof, A second similar set of base portion 402 and edge portion 403 is supported on the other side 112.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the edge portion 106 of the convertible article 401 is rotatable with respect to its first side 102 so as to perform a mat-to-tray conversion. When the convertible article 401 has the mat configuration shown in FIG. 4 and when the convertible article 101 has the tray configuration shown in FIG. 5, the item is on the first side of the convertible article 401. It should be appreciated that it may be placed on the support surface S of the part 102.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the edge portion 106 of the convertible article 401 is rotatable relative to its first side 102 so as to perform a mat-to-tray conversion. When the convertible article 401 has the mat configuration shown in FIG. 4 and when the convertible article 101 has the tray configuration shown by B in FIG. 5, the article is the first of the convertible article 401. It should be appreciated that it may be placed on the support surface S provided by the base portion 104 of the side portion 102 of the second side 102.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, the edge portion 403 of the convertible article 401 is rotatable relative to its second side 103 so as to perform a mat to tray conversion. When the convertible article 401 has the mat configuration shown in FIG. 4 and when the convertible article 401 has the tray configuration shown by D in FIG. 6, the article is the second of the convertible article 401. It should be appreciated that it may be placed on the support surface SS provided by the base portion 402 of the side 103 of the device.

  To convert the convertible article 401 from a tray configuration to a mat configuration, the reverse steps are followed as described above.

  As described with respect to FIG. 7, the convertible article of the present invention may have other features.

  In one embodiment, the edge of the convertible article may comprise a pair of handles. As shown in FIG. 7, in one example, the edge portions of the first pair 201 of the edge portions 106 of the convertible article 101 each define a handle aperture 701 therethrough, Corresponding pairs are defined in the substrate sheet 108 of flexible material. This allows the user to insert a hand through the edge 105 of the convertible article 101. The handle opening facilitates conversion of the convertible article 101 and operation of the convertible article 101 when in the form of a tray. Alternative types of handles may be used, for example manually grippable elements, straps or loops.

  It should be appreciated that a convertible article 101 with a handle opening 701 may be used as follows. The convertible article 101 can be laid flat as a mat on a suitable planar surface such as one that can be provided by a table, workbench, or shelf. The item can then be placed on the provided support surface. The handle opening 701 can then be pulled up to form a tray. The item may then be placed on a portable tray and transported from one location to another. The convertible article 101 can then again be placed on a suitable surface to allow the item to be loaded and / or unloaded. In an exemplary scenario, the convertible article 101 may be used as a food tray and placemat.

  FIG. 8 shows steps in a method 801 for producing a convertible article as described herein.

  In step 802, a sheet of flexible material is received for use as a substrate for the base portion and the edge portion of the convertible article. In step 803, a base portion and an edge portion for a convertible article are received. In step 804, the received base and edge portions for the convertible article are secured to the received flexible material substrate sheet. The outer surface of the base part and the edge part fixed to the base material sheet of flexible material is exposed as a display surface.

  The base portion and the edge portion may be secured to the flexible material base sheet by any suitable means. The base portion and the edge portion may be secured to the flexible substrate sheet using a suitable adhesive.

  The method 801 for producing a convertible article may comprise further steps.

  As previously described, the outer surfaces of the base portion and the edge portion are exposed as display surfaces. The present invention provides an advantageous structure of a convertible article in which the material of the base material, base portion, and edge portion of the flexible material can be used in an aesthetic and practical manner.

  Each of the base material sheet and the base portion and the edge portion of the flexible material may be opaque, translucent, or transparent.

  The base sheet of flexible material may be made from any suitable material or combination of materials. The substrate sheet of flexible material may be made from woven, leather, or plastic material. The substrate sheet of flexible material may comprise one or more layers.

  Each of the base portion and the edge portion may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials. Each of the base portion and the edge portion may be made from wood, metal, glass, or plastic material. Each of the base portion and the edge portion may comprise one or more layers.

  It is appreciated that the material, surface texture, surface finish, tint, and decorative design may vary depending on the components of the convertible article described herein and the convertible article described herein. I want to be.

  The material selected for the base sheet and the base and edge portions of the flexible material may reflect the intended environment of the intended use or use of the convertible article. For example, the selected material may have physical properties that reflect such requirements as heat resistance or shatter resistance.

  In a convertible article, the edge portion may be made from the same material or combination of materials as the base portion, or may be made from a different material or combination of materials than the base portion, and the edge portions are the same It may be made from materials or combinations of materials, or may be made from two or more different materials or combinations of materials.

  By way of example, with reference to the convertible article of FIGS. 1-3, the edge portions may all be made of the same material as each other, or may all be made of different materials from each other, The pair of edge portions may differ from the other pair of edge portions with respect to one or more different materials or aesthetic properties.

  Similarly, to give an example of the convertible article of FIGS. 4-6, the set of base and edge portions on one side is made the same as the set of edge portions on the other side. Alternatively, it may be made different from the set of edge portions on the other side. For example, one side may have a base portion and an edge portion of one color, and the other side may have a base portion and an edge portion of another color. In another example, one side may have a base portion of a first material and an edge portion of a second material, and the other side has a base portion of a second material; And an edge portion of the first material.

  Therefore, all the edge portions of the edge may be similar, and in that case, the base portion around the edge portion may be arranged in the same manner as the edge portion or different from the edge portion. May be. An endless design can be created by exposing the outer portions of the base and edge portions that are supported on a base sheet of flexible material.

  The structure of the convertible article described herein allows infinite variations of physical and aesthetic features.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion of the convertible article is generally square. However, other shapes are envisioned that may be regular or irregular, and any corner may be sharp or rounded. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer edge of the edge extends generally parallel around the outer edge of the base portion. However, alternative arrangements are envisaged. It should be appreciated that the overall dimensions and weight may vary depending on the convertible article.

  The convertible article may comprise holding means for selectively holding the convertible article taking one or both of a mat configuration and a tray configuration. The retaining means may be of any suitable type and may comprise a magnet or clip that temporarily holds the edge portion in place relative to the base portion.

  The structure of the convertible article described herein as advantageous allows the convertible article to be conveniently customized and varied for practical and aesthetic purposes.

  The convertible articles described herein may be used for various applications by various people at various locations. For example, the convertible article may be used as a place mat and tray at home or in a commercial food outlet, or as a construction or DIY transport mat. Thus, the convertible article of the present invention may be used in a home place, a social place, a business place, or a commercial place.

  While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but various modifications and changes related thereto. It should be understood that modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (15)

A base material sheet of flexible material;
A substantially planar rigid base portion whose inner surface is secured to a first side of the flexible material substrate sheet;
An edge extending around the rigid base portion, comprising a rigid edge portion, each rigid edge portion having its inner surface on the first side of the base material sheet of flexible material A convertible article with a rim fixed to
The rigid base portion is generally square, having a first pair of sides and a second opposing pair of sides;
The edge is
A rigid side having a generally square shape and extending along one of the first pair of the side portions of the rigid base portion and the second opposing pair of the side portions of the rigid base portion. A first pair of edge portions;
The first pair of the side portions of the rigid base portion and the second portion of the side portions of the rigid base portion have a substantially trapezoidal shape with opposing parallel side edges, one longer than the other. A second pair of rigid edge portions extending along the other of the opposing pairs, wherein the shorter side edge is closer to the rigid base portion; ,
A flexible, non-foldable flexible web portion provided by the flexible material base sheet, having a generally triangular shape, the rigid base portion and the rigid edge portion A thinner, flexible web portion, and
The edge is
A first mat configuration wherein the rigid edge portion is substantially coplanar with the rigid base portion;
The rigid edge portion can be repeatedly configured with a second tray configuration inclined with respect to the rigid base portion;
The rigid edge portion and the flexible web portion have a first pair of the rigid edge portions that are substantially coplanar with respect to the rigid base portion and inclined with respect to the rigid base portion. Providing an edge configured to move in correspondence with a second pair of said rigid edge portions by moving between one and the other;
The outer surface of the rigid base portion, the outer surface of the rigid margin portion, and the flexible material are visible, and the outer surface of the rigid base portion and the rigid margin portion serves as a display surface on which an item can be received. Exposed,
The convertible article.   The convertible article of claim 1, wherein the base sheet of flexible material supports a single set of rigid base portions and rigid edge portions only on the first side.   A substrate sheet of flexible material supports a first set of rigid base portions and rigid edge portions on a first side, and the rigid base portions and rigid edge portions on a second side thereof. The convertible article of claim 1 supporting a second set of the following.   4. A convertible article according to any preceding claim having a reversible second tray configuration. The rigid base portion has a pair of shorter opposing sides and a pair of longer opposing sides;
A first pair of rigid edge portions extends along a shorter opposing pair of sides of the rigid base portion;
A second pair of rigid edge portions extends along opposite long side pairs of the base portion;
The convertible article according to any one of claims 1-6.   6. A convertible article according to any preceding claim, wherein the edge comprises a pair of handles.   The convertible article of claim 6, wherein the pair of handles comprises a pair of handle openings.   8. The convertible article of claim 7, wherein the pair of handles comprises a pair of handle openings defined in a first pair of rigid edge portions and a base sheet of flexible material.   9. A convertible article according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner surface of each rigid base portion and each rigid margin portion is secured to a flexible material substrate sheet using an adhesive.   10. A convertible article according to any preceding claim, wherein the rigid edge portions are all made from the same material or combination of materials.   11. A convertible article according to claim 10, wherein the base portion is made from the same material or combination of materials as the rigid edge portion.   12. A convertible article according to any preceding claim, wherein each rigid base portion and each rigid edge portion is made from one of wood, metal, glass, plastic material.   13. A convertible article according to any preceding claim, wherein the flexible material base sheet is made from one of woven, leather, plastic material. Receiving a sheet of flexible material;
Receiving a first set of rigid base portions and rigid edge portions, wherein the first set of rigid base portions and rigid edge portions includes a first rigid base portion and a first set of rigid edge portions; Receiving, comprising a pair of one and a second pair of rigid edge portions;
An inner surface of the received first rigid base portion is formed on the first surface of the received sheet of flexible material to form an edge extending around the first rigid base portion. Fixed to the side and the inner surface of the first pair of rigid edge portions and the second pair of rigid edge portions to the first side of the received sheet of flexible material. Securing, an outer surface of the first rigid base portion, an outer surface of a first pair of the rigid edge portions and a second pair of the rigid edge portions, and the flexible surface of the edges. Fixing, wherein a flexible material is visible and an outer surface of the first pair of the rigid base portion and the first pair of the rigid edge portions and the second pair of the rigid edge portions is exposed as a display surface; A process for producing a convertible article according to claim 1 comprising: Receiving a second set of rigid base portions and rigid edge portions, wherein the second set of rigid base portions and rigid edge portions includes a second rigid base portion and a second set of rigid edge portions. Receiving, comprising: a pair of three and a fourth pair of rigid edge portions;
An inner surface of the received second rigid base portion is formed on the second side of the received sheet of flexible material to form an edge extending around the second rigid base portion. Securing the inner surface of the third pair of rigid edge portions and the fourth pair of rigid edge portions to the second side of the received sheet of flexible material. An outer surface of the second rigid base portion, an outer surface of the third pair of rigid edge portions and a fourth pair of the rigid edge portions, and an edge flexible material. Fixing the outer surface of the second pair of rigid base portions and the third pair of rigid margin portions and the fourth pair of rigid margin portions exposed as a display surface. Item 15. A method for producing a convertible article according to Item 14.