Foot placement training system

Abstract

A training device that is a rigid and substantially flat, thin platform is described. The outline of the platform is about the size and shape of a user's foot or footprint to provide visual and tactile feedback regarding the position and orientation of the user's foot. The platform may have surface features on the upper surface, which along with edges of the platform can be sensed by the user for providing the tactile feedback while the user is stepping and/or standing and exercising on the platform. The platform may have a non-slip lower surface using high friction material and/or or spikes or pegs extending from the lower surface for gripping a training surface and removably securing the platform laterally to the training surface. The platform may be lifted from the training surface with minimal effort and repositioned on the training surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for training foot placement during exercise, the device comprising:
 a substantially flat platform without the edges and other structures of the platform extending above an upper surface of the platform, the platform about the size and shape of a footprint of a user, the platform configured to be disposed on a resilient surface while the user steps onto, moves while standing on, and steps off of the platform without the foot of the user being attached to the platform;   a lower surface of the platform;   a plurality of tapered projections affixed to and extending from the lower surface of the platform for insertion into the resilient surface to grip the resilient surface and hold the platform in place against lateral movent on the resilient surface without gripping the resilient surface vertically, the platform held in place laterally while a user steps onto, moves while standing on, and steps off of the platform, the tapered projections configured to permit removal of the projections vertically from the resilient surface for repositioning platform and re-insertion of the projections; and   the upper surface of the platform including a pattern configured for providing tactile feedback to indicate to the user when a foot of the user is correctly positioned on the platform.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is configured for receiving cleats or spikes extending from a lower surface of a shoe of the user for constraining movement of the user's foot laterally on the platform. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern includes bumps. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern includes grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower surfaces are two separate components and the plurality of tapered projections are used to attach the upper surface to the lower surface. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-slip pattern in the upper surface of the platform. 
     
     
         7 . A training system comprising:
 an upper layer about the size and shape of a footprint of a user, the upper layer having a pattern configured for providing tactile feedback to the user to indicate a position of a foot of the user on the platform, without attaching the training system to the foot of the user;   a lower layer about the same outline as the upper layer, the lower layer coupled to the upper layer;   a non-slip means for:
 limiting movement of the training system laterally on a training surface while the user stands and moves on the training system, and 
 repositioning of the training system by lifting the training system vertically from the training surface and placing the training system on the training surface at a different location. 
   
     
     
         8 . The training system of  claim 7 , wherein the non-slip means comprises a plurality of projections tapered over at least a portion of the length of the projections and extending from the lower layer, the projections configured for:
 holding the training system in place laterally upon insertion of the projections into a resilient surface of the training surface while the user stands and moves on the training system, and   repositioning of the training system by extraction of the projections vertically from the resilient surface and re-insertion of the projections into the resilient surface at a different location of the training surface.   
     
     
         9 . The training system of  claim 8 , wherein the lower layer and the upper layer are two separate pieces coupled together using the plurality of tapered projections. 
     
     
         10 . The training system of  claim 7 , wherein the non-slip means comprises a non-slip material configured for:
 high friction between lower surface and the training surface, the high friction sufficient to limit movement of the training system laterally on the training surface while the user stands and moves on the training system, without fastening the training system to the training surface, and repositioning of the training system by removing the training system from the training surface without vertical resistance, and placing the training system at a different location on the training surface.   
     
     
         11 . The training system of  claim 10 , wherein the training surface is a hard and smooth surface. 
     
     
         12 . The training system of  claim 10 , wherein the pattern includes bumps and grooves. 
     
     
         13 . The training system of  claim 7 , wherein the non-slip means comprises a non-slip pattern configured for:
 enhancing friction between lower surface and the training surface, the enhanced friction sufficient to limit movement of the training system laterally on the training surface while the user stands and moves on the training system, without fastening the training system to the training surface, and   repositioning of the training system by removing the training system from the training surface without vertical resistance, and placing the training system at a different location on the training surface.   
     
     
         14 . The training system of  claim 7 , wherein the pattern in the upper layer is configured for receiving cleats or spikes extending from a lower surface of a shoe of the user for constraining the user's foot on the platform. 
     
     
         15 . A method for training a user, the method comprising:
 placing a plurality of platforms in a training position on a resilient surface, each platform about the shape and size of a foot of the user, at least one of the platforms resembling a shape of a left foot and at least one of the platforms resembling a shape of a right foot;   securing each platform laterally to the resilient surface using spikes to constrain lateral movement of the platform from motion of the user on the platform without securing the platforms vertically to the resilient surface;   standing, by the user, on a pair of the platforms without the platforms being attached to the user;   orienting the feet of the user according to the shapes of the platforms;   performing, by the user, an upper body exercise while standing and maintaining the feet on the pair of platforms in substantially the orientation indicated by the shapes of the platforms.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 moving, by the user, at least one foot of the user from the platform, without moving the platform, to another platform; and   performing, by the user, a second upper body exercise while standing on the another platform.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the upper body exercise and the second upper body exercise are substantially the same. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a pattern of bumps and grooves is disposed in an upper surface of the plurality of platforms. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing a platform from the resilient surface,   repositioning a platform; and   securing the repositioned platform laterally to the resilient surface without securing the platform vertically to the resilient surface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing tactile feedback from the platforms via the user's foot to the user that the user's feet are in the correct position on the platform.