Patent Publication Number: US-2021187375-A1

Title: Footwork Training Mat

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a training mat. More particularly, it is a footwork training mat for basketball community or players which is aimed to assist them to improve their basketball skill by practicing over the training mat. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Footwork is an essential skill in basketball. It requires continued and intensive practice over time to skillfully master it. When it comes to footwork training it is extremely difficult to do it without a proper accessory such as a footwork training mat. There are numerous footwork training mats such as the ones disclosed in the Published Patents Nos. US 2018-0043205 A1, US 2014-0272854 A1 and US 2002-0098947 A1 for exercise and sports conditioning. 
     However, none of them really assist the user to improve their footwork and enhance their basketball skills as they generally lack the accountability tools the present invention offers. There are a lot of mat designs that do not provide enough patterns on the footwork training mat for the user to get creative when it comes to optimization in their movement to perform certain tasks. The lack of design patterns on numerous footwork training mat limit the amount of different footwork and movement that the user is able to maneuver. 
     Therefore, there exist a need of a footwork training mat that may enhance body movement, improve footwork and basketball skills. Further, there exist a need of a footwork training mat that may include various pattern, shapes and colors to assist user with the movement and placement of the feet and arms in relation to the body. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure overcomes one or more shortcomings of the prior art and provide additional advantages discussed throughout the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure. 
     The present invention provides a footwork training mat for practicing body movement, footwork and basketball skill by the users from the basketball community. The footwork training mat of present invention assists the users when it comes to the movement and placement of the user&#39;s feet and arms in relation to their body. 
     According to one embodiment, the footwork training mat of present invention includes a top surface divided into four major training areas or quadrants which further includes plurality of various shapes such as circles, rectangles, squares, rectangles, etc. arranged in strategic patterns as a visual aid for the user during practice. In addition to the combination of different patterns and shapes, the plurality of shapes are made in different colors so the user can distinguish different areas on the footwork training mat. 
     According to one embodiment, the footwork training mat is further provided for the user to train their pattern of footwork by the maneuverability of their weight distribution, length and width of their feet, and leg placement in relation to the footwork training mat. The mat of present invention assists the user in drills and workouts in order to improve their dribble placement and timing, which is essential in order to obtain the best training results and optimal safety for the user. 
     According to one embodiment, size of the present footwork training mat may vary to conform the size or height of the user. Moreover, the bottom surface of present footwork training mat includes various shapes or a texture protruding out of the surface to make it anti-skid and keep it stationary while the mat is being used. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein. 
         FIG. 1  shows the top view of one exemplary embodiment of the footwork training mat of present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows side view of one exemplary embodiment of the footwork training mat made with two different layers of material. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of one another embodiment of the footwork training mat made of three different layers. 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom surface non-skid surface of the footwork training mat of present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the aforesaid drawbacks of the above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will now be described in greater detail. Also, the following description includes various specific details and are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that: without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and its various embodiments there may be any number of changes and modifications described herein. 
     According to one embodiment, the invention provides training mat or more specifically footwork training mats for basketball players or community. The footwork training mat of present invention is primarily intended to serve the basketball community to improve numerous skills such as to train their pattern of footwork by the maneuverability of their weight distribution, length and width of their feet and leg placement in relation to the footwork training mat. 
     According to one embodiment, the footwork training mat of present invention assists the user in drills and workouts or in practice sessions to improve dribble placement and timing of the user. The footwork training mat of present invention provides a frame of reference in visual aid while user is practicing, to create and control the users&#39; footwork along with many different stances such as practicing body movement, basketball skills, etc. The mat of present invention includes a top surface having a plurality of shapes embossed or printed in strategic pattern and different colors to provide visual aid for the user during practice to improve their footwork and hence basketball skill. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  which discloses top view of one exemplary embodiment of the footwork training mat  100  of present invention. According to present embodiment, the footwork training mat  100  is divided into four major training areas/quadrant [ 10 ,  20 ,  30  &amp;  40 ] and each quadrant of the mat  100  further includes plurality of various imprinted or embossed shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, etc. placed on specific location within the respective quadrant of the footwork training mat  100 . 
     According to present embodiment, the footwork training mat  100  includes: a first training area or a first quadrant  10  at the top left corner of the mat  100 , a second training area or a second quadrant  20  at the top right corner, a third training area or a third quadrant  30  at the bottom left corner, and a fourth training area or a fourth quadrant  40  at the bottom right corner of the present footwork training mat  100 . Further, the footwork training mat  100  of present embodiment includes a circle embossed or imprinted at the center of the mat  100 . 
     According to present exemplary embodiment, each training area or quadrant of the footwork training mat  100  of present invention further includes a square frame  50  made of a L-shaped frames at vertices of the square frame  50 , a first solid circle  60  made at the top left corner [made at a corner according to position of its respective quadrant] of the square frame  50 , a first cross-hair located at the center of the first solid circle  60 , a first rectangle  80  configured near the respective corner of the mat  100  further including an eccentric circles  90 . According to present embodiment, each of the four quadrant ( 10 ,  20 ,  30  &amp;  40 ) includes same number of shapes embossed or imprinted within them, wherein the location of the first circle  60  within each square frame  50  and the location of the rectangle  80  follows the location of respective quadrant within which it is embossed or imprinted, i.e. the first circle  60  within the square frame  50  of the first top-left quadrant  10  is also made at the top-left corner of the square frame  50  and the rectangle  80  is also made at the top-left corner of the first top-left quadrant  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a side of one exemplary embodiment of the footwork training mat  100  made with two different flexible layers ( 200  &amp;  300 ) of same material or different materials glued together. According to present embodiment, the layers of the mat  100  is made from any of, but not limited to, a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), rubber or PU leather. According to one embodiment, the bottom surface of the second layer  30  may include different shapes protruding out of the surface to make it anti-slip in order to keep it stable and in place while it is in use. According to one embodiment, the size of the mat  100  may vary depending on the height and size of the user. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of one another embodiment of the footwork training mat  100  made of three different layers ( 200 ,  300  &amp;  400 ), wherein the middle layer  400  is included to increase the flexibility or to provide cushioning to the body while practicing to decrease chances of injuries. While,  FIG. 4  shows view of a non-skid bottom surface  500  of the footwork training mat  100  having various shaped/textured protrudes over the surface to make it an absolute anti-slip surface which is essential in order to obtain the best and safest training results. 
     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.