Device and method for training or learning how to march in a group

Abstract

A device for attachment to footwear to make sound when an individual completes a proper marching step is provided. The device includes a toe strike plate disposed a toe step surface and a heel strike plate disposed a heel step surface. The strike plates produce an identifiable sound when they contact the ground during a marching step. The produced sound is used to improve marching technique and to synchronize marching steps. Methods of training and learning how to march in a group using the device are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device to be worn over an article of footwear for training members of a marching group, the device comprising:
 a toe portion having a toe step surface;   a heel portion having a heel step surface;   said toe portion and said heel portion being connected together;   a toe strike plate disposed on said toe step surface; and   a heel strike plate disposed on said heel step surface.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said toe portion is a toe cup and said heel portion is a heel cup. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first and second side straps extending between and connecting said toe portion and said heel portion.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein a length of each of said first and second side straps is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said toe strike plate is removably attached to said toe portion and said heel strike plate is removably attached to said heel portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein each of said first and second side straps being stretchable such that said toe portion and said heel portion can be pulled apart to allow the insertion of the footwear between said toe portion and said heel portion with a toe of the footwear received by said toe portion and a heel of the footwear received by said heel portion. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cord, said cording being threaded through said heel portion and said toe portion and connecting said toe portion and said heel portion.   
     
     
         8 . A method for training a marching group, the method comprising:
 attaching to the footwear of one or more members of the marching group a device including a toe portion having a toe step surface, a heel portion having a heel step surface, a toe strike plate disposed on said toe step surface, and a heel strike plate disposed on said heel step surface;   instructing the one or more members to perform a sequence of marching steps; and   instructing the one or more members to adjust his or her marching steps to produce sound from at least one of said toe strike plate and said heel strike plate in synch with the sound produced from at least one of said toe strike plate and said heel strike plate of another member of the marching group.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said instruction step includes said one or more members adjusting his or her marching steps to produce sound from only one of said toe strike plate and said heel strike plate while performing a marching step. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said attaching step includes said device being attached to only footwear of a left foot of said one or more members. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said attaching step includes said device being attached to only footwear of a right foot of said one or more members. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said attaching step further comprises said toe portion and said heel portion being connected together. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said attaching step further comprises said toe portion and said heel portion being connected together such that a distance between said toe portion and said heel portion is adjustable to one or more fixed distances. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said attaching step further comprises said toe strike plate being removably attached to said toe portion and said heel strike plate being removably attached to said heel portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method for learning to march in a group, the method comprising:
 attaching to one's footwear a device including a toe portion having a toe step surface, a heel portion having a heel step surface, a toe strike plate disposed on said toe step surface, and a heel strike plate disposed on said heel step surface;   performing a sequence of marching steps; and   adjusting one's marching steps to produce sound from at least one of said toe strike plate and said heel strike plate in synch with noise produced from at least one of said toe strike plate and said heel strike plate of another member of the marching group.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said adjusting step includes producing sound from only one of said toe strike plate and said heel strike plate while performing a marching step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said attaching step includes said device being attached to only footwear of a left foot. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said attaching step includes said device being attached to only footwear of a right foot. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said attaching step further comprises said toe portion and said heel portion being connected together. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said attaching step further comprises said toe portion and said heel portion being connected together such that a distance between said toe portion and said heel portion is adjustable to one or more fixed distances.