Mats for use in outdoor activities

Abstract

The mat has a front layer made of soft, liquid absorbent and breathable towel-like material stitched to a wind proof protective canvas backing layer. Designed for use at the beach, the mat provides a surface for drying the body. When wrapped around the body for use as a shawl, the mat provides protection from the weather. The surface of the front layer can have an imprinted design. A raised border is provided on the surface to provide additional rigidity to prevent flapping in the wind. The border also provides a “picture frame” for the design. In one embodiment, a cushion layer made of foam is interposed between the front and backing layers for increased comfort while sitting or lying on the mat. In another embedment, the thickness of the cushion layer and the size of the mat are reduced for storage in a motorcycle saddle bag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mat comprising: a front layer comprising a soft, liquid absorbent and breathable material; a protective canvas backing layer, means for stitching the edges of said front and backing layers together, and a raised border on the exterior surface of at least one of said layers. 
     
     
         2 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising a cushion layer interposed between said front layer and said backing layer. 
     
     
         3 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said cushion layer is sewn between said front layer and said backing layer by said stitching means. 
     
     
         4 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said front layer comprises terrycloth. 
     
     
         5 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said front layer comprises one of the following materials:
 organic cotton/hemp blend, bamboo/cotton blend and cotton. 
 
     
     
         6 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said front layer comprises plush terrycloth 10 ply towel material. 
     
     
         7 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said backing layer comprises hemp. 
     
     
         8 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said backing layer comprises a hemp blend. 
     
     
         9 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said backing layer is smoothly woven and breathable. 
     
     
         10 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said backing layer is resistant to sand clinging. 
     
     
         11 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said border is welted. 
     
     
         12 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said border gives the mat a “picture frame” appearance. 
     
     
         13 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein said border is raised. 
     
     
         14 . The mat  claim 2  wherein said cushion layer comprises memory foam. 
     
     
         15 . The mat of  claim 2  wherein said cushion layer comprises an organic memory foam-like material. 
     
     
         16 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein said mat is between 35″ and 40″ in width and 72″ to 80″ in length. 
     
     
         17 . The mat in  claim 1 , wherein said border is formed by a peripheral portion of said backing layer being rolled over and stitched to a peripheral portion of said front layer. 
     
     
         18 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising closure means for securing the mat about the body of the user when the mat is wrapped about the body. 
     
     
         19 . The mat of  claim 1  further comprising a pocket in said front layer.