The present invention refers to a play-gymnastic apparatus, comprising a mat of flexible expanded synthetic foam adapted to be arranged, in the use, on a floor.

Mats having a single layer or multi-layer structure of expanded material are used in some athletic or gymnastic disciplines,, for example for making tatami used for practicing some martial arts.

An object of the present invention is to propose a play- gymnastic apparatus having an increased versatility with respect to conventional mats.

Such an object is reached according to the invention by an apparatus of the type defined at the beginning, in which a series of holes are formed in the mat according to an arrangement fixed in advance, said apparatus moreover comprising one or more auxiliary shaped members of flexible expanded synthetic foam, in which said auxiliary members are intended to be mounted as a fixed joint in one or more of said holes in order to obtain different desired configurations of use of said play- gymnastic apparatus.

The apparatus according to the invention can be used to perform a wide range of skill, speed or balancing exercises, and particularly for helping psychomotor education of the children.

Particular embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the content of which has to be considered as an integral part of the present description.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description, provided as a non-limitative example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

figure 1 is an elevational view of a mat according to the invention;

figure 2 is a side elevational view of the mat of figure 1; and

figures 3 to 8 are perspective views of an apparatus according to the invention, showing a mat according to figures 1 and 2, and different types of auxiliary members that can be mounted on the mat. With reference to figures 1 to 4, a play-gymnastic apparatus, indicated 1 in its whole, is shown, which comprises a mat 2 adapted to be arranged on a floor, as well as one or more auxiliary members 3 having a shape fixed beforehand, to be removably mounted on the mat 2.

Preferably, the mat 2 has a multi-layer structure formed by a plurality of layers 21, 22, 23, 24 of flexible expanded synthetic foam. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, respective layers 21, 24 of flexible expanded synthetic foam are provided on the opposite sides of the mat, which have a density higher than that of the innermost layers 22, 23.

A series of holes 25, particularly through holes, is formed on the mat 2 according to an arrangement fixed in advance, as it can be clearly seen in figure 1.

Also the auxiliary members 3 are of flexible expanded synthetic foam, and are intended to be mounted as a fixed joint in one or more of the holes 25, in order to obtain different desired configurations of use of the apparatus 1.

Moreover, the apparatus 1 preferably comprises a plurality of plugs 26 having a multi-layer structure corresponding to that of the mat 2, which plugs can be inserted into the holes 25 in order to close them, if they are not engaged by the auxiliary members 3.

Advantageously, the flexible expanded synthetic foam layers 21, 24 on the opposite sides of the mat 2, have colours different to each other. When some of the plugs 26 are arranged so that the colour of the outer side thereof is reversed with respect to that of the mat 2, advantage can be taken from the difference of the colours of the plugs 26 with respect to that of the mat 2, in order to perform a kind of balancing exercise in which a user moves forward along the mat with his feet and/or his hands resting only at the zones having a different colour, which consist of the reverse plugs 26.

Preferably, the layers 21, 22, 23, 24 of the mat 2 have such a density that the mat 2 is substantially rigid with respect to bending. This allows the mat 2 to be positioned 2 also according to a vertical position (of course, providing also suitable support means, not shown) , by resting it on the ground on one of its sides, without the mat 2 collapsing owing to its own weight. In such a manner, versatility of use of the apparatus according to the invention can be increased.

As shown in figure 3, the auxiliary members 3 are formed by nail-shaped members of flexible expanded synthetic foam. Each nail-shaped member 3 comprises a stem 31 adapted to be inserted into a corresponding hole 25 of the mat 2, as well as a head 32 so shaped as to project with respect to a side of the mat 2. The head 32 of the auxiliary members 3 shown in figure 3 is provided with grip holes 33 allowing such members 3 to be easily seized in order to remove them from their own positions on the mat 2.

In a kind of exercise that can be performed by means of the auxiliary members 3 shown in figure 3, a user can rest his feet only on the members 3, and must move ahead progressively such elements 3 along the path, in order to progress on the mat.

In figures 4 to 8, other possible examples of auxiliary members are shown, which have been still indicated by the reference numeral 3, for the sake of simplicity.

In figure 4, the auxiliary members 3 are nail-shaped, similarly to the auxiliary members shown in figure 3. However, as a difference, the members 3 of figure 4 have a convex head 32.

A kind of exercise that can be performed by the auxiliary members 3 shown in figure 4, is an exercise simulating a balancing walk on some stones.

In figure 5, the auxiliary members 3 consist of strip elements of expanded flexible synthetic foam. Each strip member has an elongated body 34, from a side of which a plurality of pin-shaped projections 35 project, which projections are adapted to be inserted into holes 25 of the mat 2.

A kind of exercise that can be performed by the auxiliary members 3 shown in figure 5, is a balancing walk exercise on a beam.

In figure 6, the auxiliary members 3 consist of bar- shaped cylindrical members of flexible expanded synthetic foam, at least an end of which is adapted to be inserted into corresponding holes 25 of the mat 2.

Some of the bar-shaped cylindrical members shown in figure 6 have such a density that they have a substantially rigid behaviour, in such a manner that they can be arranged vertically without collapsing owing to their own weight. In this manner, the bar-shaped members can be used such as poles for slalom exercises.

One of the cylindrical members shown in figure 6 has such a density that it has a substantially flexible behaviour. Such a member can be therefore folded as an arch, and its opposite ends can be inserted into two different holes 25 of the mat 2. The arch structure can be used for jumping it, or for passing crawling below it.

Of course, the auxiliary members 3 described above can be used together according to a countless variety of combinations in order to make a path provided with different obstacles, and several mats can be placed side by side to each other in order to determine at will a wished length of the path.

In figures 7 and 8, further examples of the auxiliary members 3 to be mounted on the mat 2 are shown. Figure 8 is an exploded view of the members shown in figure 7. The auxiliary members 3 shown in figures 7 and 8 comprise a guide member 36, a roll element 37 adapted to roll along the guide member 36, and a pair of limit stop members 38 adapted to be arranged at the opposite ends of the guide member 36.

The guide member 36 consists of a panel of flexible expanded synthetic foam. A plurality of pin-shaped projections 36a projects from a side of the panel, which projections are adapted to be inserted into corresponding holes 25 of the mat 2. Preferably, the panel of the guide member 36 has a multi-layer structure .

The roll member 37 is also of flexible expanded synthetic foam, and comprises an intermediate portion 37a and opposite end portions 37b. The intermediate portion 37a of the roll member 37 is adapted to rest on the guide member 36, and its length is substantially equal to that of the guide member 36. The end portions 37b have a diameter greater than that of the intermediate portion 37a, and are adapted to rest on the mat 2, outside the guide member 36. With the configuration described above, the guide member 36 substantially forms a rail to define the direction of movement of the roll member 37. Preferably, the roll member 37 is formed by a plurality of planar blocks 37c fixed to each other by glueing, and furthermore secured by means of longitudinal bolt members 37d of flexible expanded synthetic foam.

The limit stop members 38 are also of flexible expanded synthetic foam, and define the limits for the movement of the roll member 36. A plurality of pin-shaped projections 38a project from a side of each of the limit stop members, which pins are adapted to be inserted into corresponding holes 25 of the mat 2.

Preferably, each limit stop member 38 is formed by a plurality of planar blocks 38b that are fixed to each other by glueing, and are furthermore secured by means of longitudinal bolt members 38c of flexible expanded synthetic foam.

The configuration of figures 7 and 8 can be used for balancing exercises on a movable roll. Moreover, the limit stop members 38 can be used alone as support elements for exercises such as somersaults or horse vaulting.