BATHMATS WITH ADVANCED FEATURES

• US 20140375434A1
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel C. Puljan
• Original Assignee: Daniel C. Puljan
• Inventors: Puljan, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,212,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 27/0225 for bathrooms A47G27/0218 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/002 Non-slip mats for baths
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

Bathmats can include lights, a power source, and a computer configured to control the illumination of the lights. Several bathmat embodiments include water-resistant enclosures. Some bathmat embodiments include communication devices capable of wirelessly communicating with a computing device located remotely relative to the bathmat.

Claims

1. A bathmat comprising:

a first light located inside a first water-resistant enclosure, a second light located inside a second water-resistant enclosure, and a third light located inside a third water-resistant enclosure;

a controller located inside a fourth water-resistant enclosure and configured to control illumination of the lights;

a power source located inside a fifth water-resistant enclosure and configured to provide electrical power to the lights and the controller; and

a mat configured to mechanically couple the lights, the controller, and the power source.

2. The bathmat of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the mat and configured to communicate with the controller.

3. The bathmat of claim 1, further comprising pressure sensors coupled to the mat, wherein the mat comprises a top surface and each pressure sensor is configured to respond to pressure on at least a portion of the mat and to send data related to pressure to the controller, and the bathmat is configured to sense pressure on at least thirty percent of the top surface.

4. The bathmat of claim 1, further comprising a timer, wherein the bathmat is configured to trigger an alert if more than a predetermined time has passed and the alert comprises emitted light, sound, or haptic feedback.

5. The bathmat of claim 1, further comprising an electrical port coupled to the mat, the electrical port is configured to couple the bathmat to a computing device located remotely relative to the bathmat to facilitate data transmission from the computing device to the bathmat or from the bathmat to the computing device.

6. The bathmat of claim 1, wherein at least two of the first water-resistant enclosure, the second water-resistant enclosure, the third water-resistant enclosure, the fourth water-resistant enclosure, and the fifth water-resistant enclosure are part of a single water-resistant enclosure.

7. The bathmat of claim 1, wherein at least sixty percent of the bathmat consists of rubber or plastic.

8. The bathmat of claim 1, wherein the first light comprises a first light-emitting diode, the second light comprises a second light-emitting diode, and the third light comprises a third light-emitting diode.

9. A bathmat comprising:

a first light, a second light, and a third light;

a computer configured to control illumination of the lights;

a power source configured to provide electrical power to the lights and the computer;

a mat configured to mechanically couple the lights, the computer, and the power source; and

a wireless communication device coupled to the mat, wherein the wireless communication device is capable of wirelessly communicating with a computing device located remotely relative to the bathmat.

10. The bathmat of claim 9, further comprising software configured to be executed on the remote computing device and configured to set at least two illumination parameters of the bathmat.

11. The bathmat of claim 10, wherein the bathmat comprises at least fifty lights.

12. The bathmat of claim 11, further comprising a memory with illumination patterns, wherein the illumination patterns comprise at least three phases.

13. The bathmat of claim 9, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the mat.

14. The bathmat of claim 13, wherein the bathmat is configured to weigh a person who steps onto the bathmat.

15. The bathmat of claim 9, further comprising a speaker coupled to the mat.

16. A method for controlling a bathmat, the method comprising:

obtaining a bathmat that comprises a computer, a wireless communication device, and lights;

obtaining a computing device that is capable of wirelessly communicating with the bathmat;

initiating wireless communication between the computing device and the bathmat; and

sending data between the computing device and the bathmat.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising controlling at least one illumination behavior of the lights via the wireless communication.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the data comprises instructions regarding information for the bathmat to display.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising measuring a weight of a user and sending the weight to the computing device.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising estimating bathing time.