Interlocking modular mat with sponge insert

Abstract

An interlocking modular mat having four sides has female connectors on two sides and male connectors on the other two sides so that the modular mat can interlock with an adjacent mat and its connectors. The modular mat is configured with a plurality of structures surrounding a periphery of a top portion of the mat. The plurality of structures in combination with an underside of the top portion of the mat form a cavity. A sponge insert is configured to fit in the cavity and have a height such that a portion of the sponge insert extends from a bottom side the mat body. With the sponge insert extending beyond the bottom side of the mat body, the sponge insert bottom face generally become the supporting bottom of the modular mat to provide a more cushioned feel for a mat user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interlocking modular mat comprising:
 a mat body, the mat body having a top portion, the top portion having four sides, first and second sides of the four sides including a set of female connectors and third and fourth sides of the four sides including a set of male connectors, each female connector configured to interface with a male connector of an adjacent interlocking modular mat so that a side of the interlocking modular mat with the female connectors can connect to a side of an adjacent interlocking modular mat having male connectors, the mat body including a plurality of structures extending from an underside of the top portion and around a periphery of the top portion, the structures forming a cavity with the underside of the top portion; and   a sponge insert, the sponge insert sized to fit within the cavity formed in the mat body, the sponge insert having a height dimension such that when inserted in the cavity, a bottom portion of the sponge insert extends beyond a bottom of the plurality of structures extending from an underside of the top portion of the mat body as well as bottoms of the female and male connectors.   
     
     
         2 . The interlocking modular mat of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures further comprises a plurality of first wall structures positioned along the first and second sides, each first wall structure including a female connector extending therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The interlocking modular mat of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures further comprises a plurality of second spaced apart wall structures extending along the third and fourth sides, each male connector positioned between adjacent second spaced apart wall structures. 
     
     
         4 . The interlocking modular mat of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of structures further comprises a plurality of second spaced apart wall structures extending along the third and fourth sides, each male connector positioned between adjacent second spaced apart wall structures. 
     
     
         5 . The interlocking modular mat of  claim 1 , wherein the sponge insert periphery forms a continuous wall to engage at least a portion of the plurality of structures forming the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The interlocking modular mat of  claim 2 , wherein the sponge insert has cutout portions along a periphery thereof for the first wall structures and the male connectors. 
     
     
         7 . The interlocking modular mat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of structures include a protrusion having a free end extending toward a center of the mat body, the free ends of each protrusion aligned to define a periphery of the cavity for the sponge insert. 
     
     
         8 ) The interlocking modular mat of  claim 2 , further comprising a wall segment extending downward from an edge of the top portion for each of the first and second sides, the wall segment extending between adjacent female connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The interlocking modular mat of  claim 3 , wherein each second spaced apart wall structure comprises a wall segment extending downward from an edge of the top portion for each of the third and fourth sides. 
     
     
         10 . A method of assembling a plurality of into a mat assembly by:
 a) providing a plurality of the interlocking modular mat of  claim 1 ;   b) interlocking either the female connectors of one mat body to the male connectors of another mat body or interlocking the male connectors of the one mat body to the female connectors of another mat body; and optionally   c) repeating step (b) to interlock additional mat bodies to form the mat assembly.