62/373,202, filed August 10, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to consumer products directed to the parents and care givers of children and toddlers and, more particularly, to a feeding mat.

BACKGROUND

[0003] As every parent and care giver of children knows, small children and toddlers tend not to have impeccable table manners and generally are messy eaters. Not infrequently, more food ends up on the table and surrounding area then is consumed by the toddler. One well- known solution is to put a placemat under the child's dmnerware such as a dish, bowl or plate. While the placemat will protect the table or other covered surface, a problem arises when the child inadvertently or intentionally tests the laws of gravity and sends the dinnerware flying, spilling food far and wide. To mitigate the effects of these exploratory acts on the part of the little tike, one proposed solution is to provide the dinnerware with a suction cup to hold the dinnerware to the table surface. While this solution tends to prevent flying dmnerware, it does not protect the table or surrounding area from spilled food.

Other problems with this solution are that the suction cup is cumbersome, tends not to adhere sufficiently to a placemat and requires a special means of attaching the dmnerware. Another recent proposed solution is the EZPZ All-in-One Happy Mat, an integrated bowl and placemat formed of silicone. The EXPZ solution, described in United States Patent Application, Serial No. 14/333,682, emphasizes a flat diffuse surface relying on the surface adhesion of silicone to fix the dinnerware mat combination to a table. Often the EZPZ solution does not provide sufficient surface adhesion allowing the child to successfully demonstrate the immutable force of gravity. Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure provides a feeding mat and methods for its use. In one embodiment the feeding mat, suitable for use on a flat surface such as a table, comprises a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner region and an outer region. An outer wall is integrally formed in the upper surface forming a dish suitable to contain a food product. The inner region is essentially planar and forms a reference plane generally parallel to the flat surface. The outer region has a slope with respect to the inner region and reference plane in the range of around 1.0° to 10.0°.

[0005] The present disclosure also provides methods for the use of a feeding mat. In this regard, one embodiment of the method comprises the steps of fixing a feeding mat to a flat surface. The feeding mat has a base and a dish. The base has an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner region, an outer region and an outer edge. The inner region is generally parallel with the flat surface and forms a reference plane. The outer region has a slope in the range of around 1.0° to 10.0° with respect to the inner region and reference plane and is bounded by the outer edge. In the first step, the feeding mat is positioned above the flat surface. In the next step, the outer edge of the base is placed on the flat surface to form a cavity with respect to the inner and outer regions of the lower surface. In the next step, the feeding mat is pressed to bring the inner and outer regions of the lower surface toward the flat surface. In the next step, the inner and outer regions of the lower surface contact the flat surface. In the next step, air is expelled from the cavity to create a vacuum seal between the feeding mat and the flat surface. In the final step, the dish formed in the upper surface of the feeding mat is filled with food.

Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a top view of a feeding mat in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the feeding mat shown in FIG. 1 along the line A- A;

[0010] FIG. 3 A is another cross sectional view of the feeding mat shown in FIG. 1 along the line

A-A and demonstrating method steps in one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0011] FIG. 3B is another cross sectional view of the feeding mat shown in FIG. I along the line

A-A and demonstrating method steps in one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Reference is no w made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, a top view of a feeding mat in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, feeding mat 10 is comprised of base 12 and dish 14. Base 12, while shown in a "kidney bean" shape can be oval, round, square, rectangular or any other shape that is aesthetically pleasing or that the designer chooses. Dish 14 similarly can either match the outline of base 12 or be formed into other shapes. Dish 14 is suitable for containing food products and can also be formed as any type of dinnerware such as a plate, bowl or other container adapted for holding food items. Base 12 has an upper surface 16, a lower surface 32 shown in FIGs. 2, 3 A and 3B, an inner region 34, an outer region 36 and a rim 18 along outer edge 20. Dish 14 is defined by outer wall 28 and can have separate compartments 22 and 24 separated by side wall 26. Compartments 22 and 24 are formed by outer wall 28, sidewall 26 and have bottoms 29 and 30 making them suitable for holding food items. As shown in FIGs. 2, 3 A and 3B, feeding mat 10 is intended for use on a flat surface 42, such as a table 46, but will also adhere to surfaces that are not entirely flat. In a preferred embodiment, inner region 34 is planar or flat so that when feeding mat 10 is placed on a table 46 it is generally parallel to the flat surface 42.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of the of the feeding mat shown in FIG. 1 along the line A- A, feeding mat 10 is shown as a single or integrated piece formed of a thermoplastic such as silicone. In the preferred embodiment, New Orient Brand ZY-4452 silicone is used in a conventional molding process well known to those skilled in the art. Still referring to FIG. 2, base 12 has an upper surface 16 and lower surface 32. In a preferred embodiment, polishing lower surface 32 of base 12 to form a polished surface, as is well kno wn to those skilled in the art, is found to improve the adherence of feeding mat 10 to a flat or other surface 42. Base 12 also has inner region 34 and outer region 36. The inner region 34 is essentially planar and generally parallel to flat surface 42 and forms a base line (BL) or reference plane 38 also essentially parallel to flat surface 42. Outer region 36 has a slope 40 that in the preferred embodiment is pitched at an angle of 3.0° with respect to base line or reference plane 38. While in the preferred embodiment the angle of slope 40 is approximately 3.0°, a pitch in the range of around 1.0° to 10.0° is within the scope of the invention and does not depart materially from the preferred embodiment. FIG. 2 also illustrates a first step of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention by positioning feeding mat 10 above flat surface 42.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 3 A, another cross sectional view of the feeding mat shown in FIG. 1 along the line A- A and demonstrating method steps in one embodiment of the present invention, outer edge 20 of feeding mat 10 is placed on a flat surface 42 and forms a cavity 44. The boundaries of cavity 44 are defined by outer edge 20, inner and outer regions 34 and 36 of lower surface 32, and flat surface 42, In the next step feeding mat 10 is pressed to bring inner and outer regions 34 and 36 toward flat surface 42.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 3B, another cross sectional view of the feeding mat shown in FIG. 1 along the line A- A and demonstrating method steps in one embodiment of the present invention, inner and outer regions 34 and 36 of lower surface 32 contact flat surface 42. As inner and outer regions 34 and 36 of lower surface 32 are brought into contact with flat surface 42, air trapped in cavity 44 is expelled creating a vacuum seal between feeding mat 10 and flat surface 42,

[0017] In another embodiment, slope 40 is imposed over the entire lo wer surface 32. In this

embodiment, the upper surface 16 of base 12 is essentially flat and parallel to flat surface 42 of table 46. Lower surface 32 of base 12 has a slope, relative to upper surface 16, originating at inner region 34 and sloping outward toward outer edge 20. In this embodiment, slope 40 can be in the range of 1.0° to 10.0° and preferably is 3.0°. It should also be understood that slope 40 can originate at other locations on lower surface 32. So it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that a portion of lower surface 32 may be fiat and parallel to upper surface 16 while another portion of lower surface 32 has a slope.

[0018] The present disclosure also provides methods for the use of a feeding mat. In this regard, one embodiment of the method comprises the steps of fixing a feeding mat 10 to a flat surface 42. The feeding mat has a base 12 and a dish 14. Base 12 has an upper surface 16, a lower surface 32, an inner region 34 and an outer region 36. The inner region 34 of lower surface 32 is generally parallel with the flat surface 42 and forms a reference plane 38. The inner region has a slope 40 in the range of around 1 .0° to 10.0° with respect to reference plane 38 and is bounded by an outer edge 20. In the first step, the feeding mat 10 is positioned above the flat surface 42. In the next step, the outer edge 20 of the outer region 36 is placed on the flat surface 42 to form a cavity 44 with respect to the inner and outer regions 34 and 36 of the lower surface 32. In the next step, the feeding mat 10 is pressed to bring the inner and outer regions 34 and 36 of the lower surface 32 toward the flat table surface. In the next step, the inner and outer regions 34 and 36 of the lower surface 32 contact the flat surface 42. In the next step, air is expelled from the cavity 44 to create a vacuum seal between the feeding mat 10 and the flat surface 42. In the final step, the dish 4 formed on the upper surface 16 of the feeding mat 10 is filled with food.

Although exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the disclosure as described may be made. For example, base 12 and dish 14 can be made in any shape. Dish 14 can be any style of dinnerware such as a bowl or plate and have either a single or multiple compartments. The angle of slope 40 can be varied within the range of around 1.0° to 10.0° below a base line or reference plane. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the disclosure.