Traction-surfaced yoga mat

Abstract

A rubber or foam type yoga mat whose top surface is formed with lateral ridges or swells running continuously from one side of the mat to the other to provide consistent, easily-cleaned traction for hands and feet without the need for a sticky surface material. In one embodiment, groups of closely-spaced small rounded ridges are formed in the mat surface, either over the full length of the mat or in spaced traction zones for hands and feet. In another embodiment, single wide swells are formed in the mat surface in traction zones, each swell sufficiently wide to support or span a hand or foot. The mat also includes an automatically aligned set of integrated fasteners for securing the mat in a rolled condition.

1 . A generally rectangular rubber-type yoga mat having a top surface, a bottom surface, sides, and upper and lower ends, the improvement comprising:
 a plurality of raised, rounded lateral ridges running from side to side over at least a portion of the top surface of the mat, the ridges running continuously across the mat in essentially uninterrupted fashion, generally perpendicular to a mat centerline and generally parallel to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The yoga mat of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral ridges comprise closely spaced small ridges of a width requiring multiple lateral ridges to support or span a hand or foot or intermediate body portion of a person using the mat. 
     
     
         3 . The yoga mat of  claim 2 , wherein groups of the lateral ridges are located in at least two traction zones spaced from one another, with a first traction zone adjacent the upper end of the yoga mat and a second traction zone adjacent the lower end of the yoga mat. 
     
     
         4 . The yoga mat of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral ridges comprise single wide swells spaced from one another, a first swell located adjacent the upper end of the yoga mat and defining a first traction zone, and a second swell located at adjacent the lower end of the yoga mat and defining a second traction zone. 
     
     
         5 . A roll-securing structure for a substantially rectangular yoga mat having a top surface, a bottom surface, sides, and upper and lower ends, comprising:
 a first fastener projecting from the upper end of the mat, and a second fastener secured to the bottom surface of the mat and located a distance from the upper end of the mat corresponding to a rolled circumference of the mat, wherein the first and second fasteners are aligned to be mated when the mat is rolled from the lower end toward the upper end.