Abstract:
An exercise mat system comprises an exercise mat including a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of sets of handprints. The plurality of sets of handprints are positioned on the top surface of the exercise mat, wherein the handprints in each set are spaced apart from each other so as to accommodate a user&#39;s hands during an exercise and wherein the relative positioning of the handprints in each set correlates to a user&#39;s body muscles. A method of using the exercise mat system wherein the user aligns his hands on one of the sets of handprints on the mat to target a specific muscle group and performs an exercise such as a pushup.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional Application No. 61/841,701, filed on Jul. 1, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to exercise mats. More particularly, the invention relates to an exercise mat with handprints to help a person performing pushups get better results by improving alignment and targeting specific muscle groups. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Physical exercise is essential to maintaining good health. A wide variety of exercises are performed from walking and running to using complex exercise equipment. One of the common exercises performed by a lot of people is pushups. In its most basic form, a pushup is performed by the person lying flat with chest down and then raising and lowering the body using his arms. Pushups mainly exercise the muscles in the chest, shoulders, and arms. There are several variations of the basic pushup. For example, using the knuckles of the fist instead of the palms to do pushups or doing the pushups from an elevated position. Depending on how the pushups are performed, they can exercise a wide variety of muscles in the body. Performing pushups essentially needs no equipment as they can be done on the floor though using a mat makes the pushups more comfortable. 
         [0004]    To derive the intended benefit of pushups, it is essential to maintain proper posture and alignment of the body. Otherwise, it can cause pain or injury in shoulders, arms, wrists and other parts of the body. It can also lead to frustration. Not many people can afford to have a personal trainer to supervise their exercise routine. Even with some supervision, many people have trouble lying properly in the supine position, especially the elderly and the disabled. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a simple exercise mat that ensures pushups are performed with proper alignment and offers easy variations of the exercise to target various muscle groups. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The current invention is an exercise mat system to perform pushups and a method of exercising using the mat system. The mat comprises multiple sets of numbered handprints which are set in a specific order so as to maximize a workout routine and target a specific muscle group. The relative placement of the handprints is based on the specific muscle group to be targeted. In one embodiment of the invention, a user of the mat puts his palms on the specific handprints to do the desired pushups. For example, performing pushups with palms on the first handprints targets the interior chest muscles. The handprints are numbered so as to guide the user on the sequence of muscle groups that is desired to be exercised. The present invention allows the user to adapt the pushup regimen to his need and desire. The exercise mat may also be portable. In another embodiment of the invention, the exercise mat may be attached to the wall to perform vertical pushups. In another embodiment of the invention, the exercise mat may be adapted for children. 
         [0007]    For a better understanding of the present invention, its operation, and advantages, reference should be had to the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the exercise mat, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exercise mat of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a person performing pushups on the exercise mat of  FIG. 1  using palms, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a person performing pushups on the exercise mat of  FIG. 1  using fists, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a person performing pushups on the exercise mat of  FIG. 1  using fingertips, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a person performing vertical pushups on the exercise mat of  FIG. 1 , according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an exercise mat system comprises an exercise mat with multiple sets of numbered handprints. One embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 1  which shows a top plan view of the exercise mat  100  with handprints. The mat  100  is preferably rectangular and has a top surface  101  and a bottom surface  102 . The top surface  101  includes five sets of handprints  110   a  and  110   b,    120   a  and  120   b,    130   a  and  130   b,    140   a  and  140   b,  and  150   a  and  150   b.  Alternately, the mat may include less or more than five sets of handprints. The handprints help a user to align his hands in the right position for the particular exercise. Each set of handprints has a numeral 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 associated with it. Each set of handprints is in the shape of a palm, a fist or fingertips. In the embodiment shown, handprint sets 1, 2 and 4 are in the shape of a palm. Handprint set 3 is in the shape of a fist with knuckles. Handprint set 5 is in the shape of fingertips. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the mat is about 36 inches by 24 inches in size and about one-eighth inch in thickness. Each handprint is about 7 inches by 6 inches in size with about one-inch numeral. The mat  100  of the present invention may be made from any standard soft and comfortable material known in the art as suitable for an exercise mat such as a yoga mat. Such materials include eco-friendly polyvinyl chloride, silica gel, thermoplastics, and foam. The bottom surface  102  of the mat  100  has a standard non-slip or anti-skid material. The mat  100  may be wiped clean with soap and water. The mat  100  may be rolled up and is portable. The mat  100  may be rectangular or any other shape. The handprints may be affixed to the mat  100  by any method known in the art, e.g., screen printing. Alternately, the handprints&#39; shape may be stitched, indented or contoured into the top surface  101  of mat into which the user may sunk his hands. 
         [0016]    The relative distance between the two hands in each set of handprints is based on the specific exercise being done or targeted and is generally known in the art. For instance, the hands  110   a  and  110   b  in handprints set 1 target the chest muscles and are closer to each other than the hands  140   a  and  140   b  in handprints set 4 which target the chest and forearm muscles. Accordingly, the relative position of the sets of handprints on the mat may vary. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the mat  100  of  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment of the invention, the mat  100  has attachments or fasteners  210  placed on the bottom surface  102  of the mat  100 . The fasteners may be any standard fasteners known in the art to allow the mat  100  to be attached to another surface such as a wall. Fasteners  210  include thumbtacks, tape, hooks, suction etc. The fasteners  210  help to attach the mat  100  against a wall and allow for vertical pushups. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 3-6  illustrate a user of the exercise mat  100  performing various pushup exercises. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment of the invention, a user  300  begins the pushup with the exercise mat  100  spread out on a flat surface. Lying in a supine position, the user  300  aligns both his palms on the handprints set 1 with left palm on handprint  110   a  and right palm on handprint  110   b.  This position provides the necessary support to perform the pushup properly. Aligned in this position, the user  300  then starts performing the pushups. This specific position of the handprints targets the interior chest muscles  310  of the user  300 . This position allows the user  300  to focus only on the interior chest muscles  310  and not other muscles, thereby helping him to strengthen the interior chest muscles  310 . The user  300  can perform any number of pushups as he desires or needs. Preferably, the user  300  performs five pushups at handprints set 1 and continues the exercise routine to target other muscle groups. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment of the invention, after finishing the pushups at the handprints set 1, the user  300  may repeat similar pushups using handprints set 2. The user  300  aligns both his palms on the handprints set 2 with left palm on handprint  120   a  and right palm on handprint  120   b.  Aligned in this position, the user  300  then starts performing the pushups. This specific position of the handprints targets the entire chest muscles of the user  300 , thereby helping him to strengthen the entire chest muscles. The user  300  can perform any number of pushups as he desires or needs. Preferably, the user  300  performs five pushups at handprints set 2 and continues the exercise routine to target other muscle groups. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment of the invention, a user  300  begins or continues the pushups at handprints set 3. In this embodiment, the user  300  uses his fists instead of his palms to perform the pushups. The user  300  closes his hand to make a fist and aligns the knuckles of both his fists on the handprints set 3 with knuckles of left fist on handprint  130   a  and knuckles of right fist on handprint  130   b.  Aligned in this position, the user  300  then starts performing the pushups. This specific position of the handprints targets the anterior chest muscles  320  of the user  300 , thereby helping him to strengthen the anterior chest muscles  320 . The user  300  can perform any number of pushups as he desires or needs. Preferably, the user  300  performs five pushups at handprints set 3 and continues the exercise routine to target other muscle groups. 
         [0021]    The user  300  may then continue his exercise routine at handprints 4. The user  300  goes back to using his palms for performing pushups. The user  300  aligns both his palms on the handprints set 4 with left palm on handprint  140   a  and right palm on handprint  140   b.  Aligned in this position, the user  300  then starts performing the pushups. This specific position of the handprints targets the chest muscles and forearm muscles of the user  300 , thereby helping him to strengthen these muscles. The user  300  can perform any number of pushups as he desires or needs. Preferably, the user  300  performs five pushups at handprints set 4 and continues the exercise routine to target other muscle groups. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 5 , a user  300  begins or continues the pushups at handprints set 5. In this embodiment, the user  300  uses his fingertips instead of his palms or fists to perform the pushups. The user  300  aligns all the fingertips of both his hands on the handprints set 5 with fingertips of left hand on handprint  150   a  and fingertips of right hand on handprint  150   b.  Aligned in this position, the user  300  then starts performing the pushups. This specific position of the handprints targets the chest muscles and shoulder muscles  330  of the user  300 , thereby helping him to strengthen the shoulder muscles  330  in addition to the chest muscles. The user  300  can perform any number of pushups as he desires or needs. Preferably, the user  300  performs five pushups at handprints set 5. 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the user performs five pushups at each of the five handprints sets. However, the exercise regimen can be adapted to suit the user&#39;s needs and desires. For example, the user can follow a regimen of pushups using handprints sets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, in that sequence. Alternately, the user can follow a regimen using the sets 3, 2, 4 or 1, 3, 5 or any other sequence. The mat  100  allows the user to customize his pushups in a variety of ways. The user may customize it to exercise only one group of muscles or a combination of muscle groups. Since the handprints sets are already affixed on to the exercise mat, the user can exercise independently. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIG. 6 , the mat  100  is attached to a wall by using fasteners  210 . This allows the user  300  to perform vertical pushups without being in the supine position. This is especially useful for persons who have difficulty being in a supine position, e.g., elderly people, disabled people, and people who have been temporarily injured. The mat  100  may be used in the same manner as when spreading it on the floor except that the user pushes against the wall rather than the floor. The user  300  can perform the same pushup routines as explained in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         [0025]    In other embodiments, the mat  100  may be used to do other variations of the basic pushups or exercises other than pushups. For example, the mat may be used to perform stretches. Users may also use the mat to do exercises with single hand resting on a single handprint. The mat may also be adapted for use with children. It can also serve as an educational tool, e.g., by having the handprints in different colors. 
         [0026]    It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements and applications may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the following claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.