U.S. patent application number 12/144348 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-16 for sports training aid.
This patent application is currently assigned to Soft Puppy, LLC. Invention is credited to Michael Bard.
Application Number | 20090181811 12/144348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40851172 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090181811 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bard; Michael |
July 16, 2009 |
SPORTS TRAINING AID
Abstract
A sports training aid for improving the mechanics of a sports
player conducting a sports movement is disclosed. The sports
training aid may comprise a foot placement surface or area that is
simultaneously inclined in two directions. The sports training aid
may be inclined from both the front to the back of the sports
training aid and from one side of the sports training aid to the
other side of the training aid. When positioning a player's foot on
the sports training aid, the toes of the player's foot are raised
above the heel of the player's foot and the outsole of the player's
foot is raised above the insole of the player's foot. A method for
training a sports player using the sports training aid is also
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Bard; Michael; (Parker,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOLLAND & HART, LLP
P.O BOX 8749
DENVER
CO
80201
US
|
Assignee: |
Soft Puppy, LLC
Parker
CO
|
Family ID: |
40851172 |
Appl. No.: |
12/144348 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61011206 |
Jan 15, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/452 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0002 20130101;
A63B 2069/0008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/452 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Claims
1. A sports training aid comprising: a foot placement area having a
toe placement region, a heel placement region opposite the toe
placement region, an insole placement region, and an outsole
placement region opposite the insole placement region, wherein the
foot placement area includes an incline from the heel placement
region to the toe placement region and an incline from the insole
placement region up to the outsole placement region.
2. The sports training aid of claim 1, wherein the incline from the
heel placement region to the toe placement region comprises an
incline from the heel placement region up to the toe placement
region.
3. The sports training aid of claim 1, further comprising a toe
restrainer located in the toe placement region for securing a front
portion of a foot to the foot placement area.
4. The sports training aid of claim 3, wherein the toe restrainer
comprises one or more straps secured at one end to a first portion
of the toe placement region and detachably secured at a second end
to a second portion of the tow placement region.
5. The sports training aid of claim 3, wherein the toe restrainer
comprises a toe shield extending upwardly away from the toe
placement region and rearwardly towards the heel placement
region.
6. The sports training aid of claim 1, wherein the incline from the
heel placement region up to the toe placement region has an angle
of inclination in the range of from greater than 0 degrees to about
80 degrees.
7. The sports training aid of claim 1, wherein the incline from the
insole placement region up to the outsole placement region has an
angle of inclination in the range of from greater than 0 degrees to
about 80 degrees.
8. The sports training aid of claim 1, wherein the incline from the
heel placement region up to the toe placement region has an angle
of inclination in the range of from greater than 0 degrees to about
30 degrees.
9. The sports training aid of claim 1, wherein the incline from the
insole placement region up to the outsole placement region has an
angle of inclination in the range of from greater than 0 degrees to
about 30 degrees.
10. The sports training aid of claim 1, wherein the incline from
the heel placement region up to the toe placement region has an
angle of inclination of about 21 degrees.
11. The sports training aid of claim 1, wherein the incline from
the insole placement region up to the outsole placement region has
an angle of inclination of about 17 degrees.
12. The sports training aid of claim 6, wherein the angle of
inclination of the incline from the heel placement region up to the
toe placement region is adjustable within the angle of inclination
range
13. The sport training aid of claim 7, wherein the angle of
inclination of the incline from the insole placement region up to
the outsole placement region is adjustable within the angle of
inclination range.
14. A sports training aid for attaching to a shoe comprising: a
foot-shaped foot support having a foot placement surface and a
ground-contacting surface generally opposite the foot placement
surface; wherein the foot placement surface includes a first
incline and a second incline, the first incline extending from a
heel region of the foot-shaped support to a toe region of the
foot-shaped support and the second incline extends from an insole
region of the foot-shaped support up to an outsole region of the
foot-shaped support; and wherein the ground-contacting surface is
generally parallel to the ground.
15. The sports training aid of claim 14, wherein the first incline
comprises an incline extending from the heel region of the
foot-shaped support up to the toe region of the foot-shaped
support.
16. The sports training aid of claim 14, wherein the foot shaped
support further comprises a toe restraint located at the toe region
of the foot placement surface.
17. The sports training aid of claim 14, wherein the first incline
has an angle of inclination in the range of from greater than zero
degrees to about 80 degrees and the second incline has an angle of
inclination in the range of from greater than zero degrees to about
80 degrees.
18. The sports training aid of claim 14, wherein the first incline
has an angle of inclination of about 21 degrees and the second
incline has an angle of inclination of about 17 degrees.
19. The sports training aid of claim 14, wherein the sports
training aid further comprises a plurality of stud receptacles
located along a periphery of the sports training aid and wherein
the ground-contacting surface comprises a plurality of stud sockets
for receiving studs.
20. The sports training aid of claim 14, wherein the foot placement
surface comprises a plurality of stud pockets or stud holes for
receiving the studs of a cleat disposed on the foot placement
surface.
21. A method for training a sports player, the method comprising:
providing a foot placement area having a toe placement region, a
heel placement region opposite the toe region, an insole placement
region, and an outsole placement region opposite the insole
placement region, wherein foot placement region includes an incline
from the heel placement region up to the toe placement region and
an incline from the insole placement region up to the outsole
placement region; positioning a sports player's foot on the foot
placement area such that the sports player's heel is positioned in
the heel region, the sports player's toes are positioned in the toe
region, the sports player's insole is positioned in the insole
region and the sport's players outsole is positioned in the outsole
region; and repeating a sports movement with the sport player's
foot positioned on the foot placement area.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/011,206, filed Jan. 15, 2008 and hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many sports training aids designed to help a player improve
his or her playing abilities have been developed in the past. For
example, in the sport of baseball, many training aids exist which
purport to improve the mechanics of a batter's swing. For baseball
training aids that are worn on the front or back foot of the batter
in his or her batting stance, the main objective of the sports
training aid is often to teach the batter the proper movement of
his or her feet when swinging a bat. For example, baseball training
aids worn on a foot of a batter in his or her batting stance may
attempt to teach a batter how to keep his or her back foot on the
ground while swinging a bat (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,638,176, 6,432,001,
and 6,988,966); correctly pivot his or her back foot while swinging
a bat (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,372,930, 3,466,040, 5,318,290, and
7,335,117); or take a proper stride with his or her front foot
while swinging a bat (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,926,625 and 6,955,616 and
U.S. Published Pat. App. No. 2003/0130072).
[0003] Because each of the above described previously known
training aids aim to improve the movement of a batter's feet during
a swing, the aids allow the batter's feet to remain in generally
standard batting positions (e.g., oriented parallel to the ground)
while focusing on ensuring proper movement of the normally oriented
feet during a swing. Such normal feet positions imposed by the
traditional training aids do not generally have any significant
impact on the position of other parts of the batter's body that are
also important to the mechanics of a batter's swing, such as the
batter's hips or shoulders. Thus, traditional training aids worn on
the feet of a batter, such as those described above, are limited to
only training proper foot movement, and do not help improve swing
movement of other portions of the batter's body.
[0004] Typical training aids that affect the upper portions of a
batter's body (e.g., hips, waist, shoulders, etc.) to improve a
batter's swing normally consist of apparatus worn on the torso. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,581 discloses a vest worn on the torso
of a batter during a swing. The vest includes a stretchable strap
extending across the torso of the batter from one shoulder to the
opposite hip. The stretchable strap includes a buzzer which makes
noise when the stretchable strap moves in the proper manner due to
a proper swing by the batter.
[0005] While such apparatus may be more useful for improving the
mechanics of a batter's swing with respect to his or her torso than
the training aids for a foot described above, the apparatus are
likely to be more distracting and interfering to the batter than
the foot training aids.
[0006] Accordingly, a need exists for a minimally interfering
sports training aid that properly positions upper portions of a
batter's body to thereby teach improved swing mechanics.
SUMMARY
[0007] The instant disclosure relates generally to a sports
training aid and, more specifically, to a sports training aid for a
foot of a player. Generally speaking, the sports training aid is
simultaneously inclined in two directions. The sports training aid
may be inclined from both the front to the back of the sports
training aid and from one side of the sports training aid to the
other side of the training aid. When positioning a player's foot on
the sports training aid, the toes of the player's foot are raised
above the heel of the player's foot and the outsole of the player's
foot is raised above the insole of the player's foot.
[0008] One aspect of the instant disclosure relates to a sports
training aid. Particularly, the sports training aid may comprise a
foot placement area where a player's foot is positioned when using
the sports training aid. The foot placement area may comprise a toe
placement region, a heel placement region opposite the toe
placement region, an insole placement region, and an outsole
placement region opposite the insole placement region. The foot
placement area may include two inclines. The first incline may be
from the heel placement region up to the toe placement region. The
second incline may be from the insole placement region up to the
outsole placement region.
[0009] Another aspect of the instant disclosure relates to a sports
training aid for attaching to a shoe of a user of the sports
training aid. Particularly, the sports training aid may comprise a
foot-shaped support. The foot-shaped support may include a foot
placement surface and a ground-contacting surface generally
opposite the foot placement surface. The foot placement surface may
include two inclines. The first incline may extend from a heel
region of the foot-shaped support up to a toe region of the
foot-shaped support. The second incline may extend from an insole
region of the foot-shaped support up to the outsole of a
foot-shaped support. The ground-contacting surface may be generally
parallel to the ground.
[0010] Still another aspect of the instant disclosure relates to a
method for training a sports player. The method may comprise a
first step of providing a foot placement area. The foot placement
area may comprise a toe placement region, a heel placement region
opposite the toe placement region, an insole placement region, and
an outsole placement region opposite the insole placement region.
The foot placement area may also comprise an incline from the heel
placement region up to the toe placement region and an incline from
the insole placement region up to the outsole placement region. The
method may comprise a second step of positioning a sports player's
foot on the foot placement area. The sports player's foot may be
positioned on the foot placement area such that the sports player's
foot aligns with the regions on the foot placement area. The sports
player's toes may be positioned in the toe placement region, the
sports player's heel may be positioned in the heel placement
region, the sports player's insole may be positioned in the insole
placement region, and the sports player's outsole may be positioned
in the outsole placement region. The method may comprise a third
step, including repeating a sports movement while the sports
player's foot is positioned on the foot placement area.
[0011] Features from any of the above mentioned embodiments may be
used in combination with one another, without limitation. In
addition, other features and advantages of the instant disclosure
will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through
consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying
drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary
embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the
following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain
various principles of the instant disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a sports training aid
according to one embodiment of the instant disclosure.
[0014] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a perspective view of alternate
embodiments of the sports training aid shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a sports training aid for
attaching to a shoe according to another embodiment of the instant
disclosure
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a right side view of the sports training aid
shown in FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a left side perspective view of the sports
training aid shown in FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the sports training aid shown
in FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a back view of the sports training aid shown in
FIG. 3.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the sports training aid shown in
FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 8 shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the
sports training aid shown in FIG. 3.
[0022] FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of the sports training aid shown
in FIG. 3
[0023] Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and
descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical,
elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are
susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms,
specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the
drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the
exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be
limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant
disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives
falling within the scope of the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The instant disclosure relates generally to sports training
aids including a foot placement area or surface that is
simultaneously inclined in two directions. The first incline may
extend from a front of the sports training aid to the rear of the
sports training aid. The second incline may extend from one side of
the sports training aid to the opposite side of the sports training
aid. In one embodiment, the sports player's foot may be positioned
on the foot placement area or surface such that the sports player's
toes are positioned higher than the sports player's heel and the
sports player's outsole is positioned higher than the sports
player's insole. Described differently, when the sports player's
foot is positioned on the foot placement area or surface, the
sports player's pinky toe is higher than any other portion of the
sports player's foot and the corner of the sports player's foot
where the heel meets the insole is lower than any other portion of
the sports player's foot.
[0025] In the context of improving a baseball player's batting
swing, the sports training aid is used by the batter placing his or
her forward foot in a batting stance on the sports training aid as
described above (i.e., pinky toe in the highest position,
heel/insole corner at the lowest position), while positioning his
or her back foot in the normal manner (i.e., back foot is parallel
with the ground). The orientation of the front foot caused by the
dual inclination of the sports training aid results in several
other portions of the batter's body being forced into a more
favorable position for taking a swing at a pitch.
[0026] Referring back to the baseball example, a front foot
oriented in the position created by the sports training aid will
hold the batter's front hip bone back and underneath the batter,
thereby creating a more balanced batting stance. In a more balanced
batting stance, the batter's hands and arms are provided with
greater opportunity to adjust during a swing in all three planes
that a pitched ball may be moving in, thereby increasing the
likelihood of making contact with the ball. For example, the batter
may keep his or her hands in the hitting zone longer and may more
freely move his or her hands in and out (i.e., towards the body and
away from the body) and up and down while in the hitting zone.
[0027] Keeping the front hip bone back and underneath the body also
prevents the initiation of a series of movements that result in a
batter's hands moving in and out of the hitting zone in a manner
not allowing for in-swing adjustment of the position of the hands
(and the bat being held by the hands). When a batter does not keep
his or her front hip back and underneath his or her body, his or
her front hip slides forward at the initiation of the swing.
Following this movement, the batter's back shoulder may rotate
towards the pitcher and, as the hands begin to move in the swing,
fly out towards the 3rd base dugout (or the 1st base dugout if the
batter is left handed). Additionally, the sliding forward of the
hip may cause the back shoulder to drop below the front shoulder.
When the back shoulder drops down and rotates towards the pitcher
and towards a dugout in this manner, the hands holding the bat face
two disadvantages.
[0028] Firstly, the hands drop with the back shoulder, forcing the
hands to work against the force of gravity through the hitting
zone. Secondly, the rotation forward of the back shoulder towards
the pitcher and through to the dugout causes the batter to move his
or her hands towards his or her body as the hands move forward
through the hitting zone. This tends to lock the batter's hands
into a single plane of movement inhibiting the ability to adjust
the swing to compensate for ball movement and to draw the bat
across the hitting zone instead of through the hitting zone. As
compared to when the batter is able to keep his or her hands in a
line parallel to his or her stance as it moves through the hitting
zone, the batter's hands moving towards his or her body enter and
exit the hitting zone in such a manner to decrease the opportunity
to make contact with a pitch.
[0029] Control over direction of the body also is lost when the
shoulders move in this manner, further limiting the ability of the
batter to control the movement of the hands and bat. Essentially,
the hands holding the bat become locked into one plane, further
decreasing the chances of adjusting to a pitch moving in multiple
planes during a swing of the bat.
[0030] The position of the front foot imposed by the training aid
also causes the batter to have flexion in the knee of the front
leg, which in turn creates flexion in the front arm elbow. Flexion
in the front arm elbow provides a batter with better speed and
control that increase the likelihood of contacting the ball. A
stiff arm and elbow creates a long swing that is all in the
shoulders. The swing will therefore likely go around the ball and
stay in one plane, making it very unlikely that contact will be
made with any pitch moving in three planes. To the contrary, an
elbow with flexion allows the batter to get his or her hands to the
hitting zone quickly yet stay in the hitting zone longer.
Additionally, the hands are not locked in one place and can adjust
to the location of a pitch.
[0031] By repeatedly practicing his or her swing while using the
training aid disclosed herein, a batter's muscle memory is
programmed to keep the front hip back during swing initiation.
Additionally, because the movements of other parts of the body are
tied to keeping the front hip bone back, the body also commits to
memory the movement of these parts of the body. Eventually, even
without use of the training aid, a batter begins to keep his or her
front hip back and swing mechanics are thereby improved.
[0032] Before turning to FIGS. 1-9, it is noted that each of the
sports training aids illustrated in the instant application are
designed for the front foot of a right-handed batter (i.e., for the
left foot). The sports training aid disclosed herein may also be
used by a left-handed batter (i.e., for the right foot). In order
for a sports training aid to be used by a left-footed batter, the
direction of incline from side to side shown in FIGS. 1-9 would
need to be reversed. However, the front foot of the left handed
batter will still be aligned on the sports training aid such that
the batter's insole will be placed at the lowest point of the side
to side incline and the batter's outsole will be placed at the
highest point of the side to side incline. The incline from the
front to back of the sports training aid will remain the same
(i.e., the same as shown in FIGS. 1-9).
[0033] Turning now to a first embodiment of the instant
application, and referring to FIG. 1, a sports training aid 10
comprising a foot placement area 12 is disclosed. Foot placement
area 12 may be divided into four regions: toe placement region 14,
heel placement region 16, insole placement region 18, and outsole
placement region 20. Toe placement region 14, heel placement region
16, insole placement region 18, and outsole placement region 20 may
be oriented with respect to each other so as to mimic the general
layout of a foot of a sports player using sports training aid 10.
That is to say, toe placement region 14 may be located at an
opposite end of foot placement area 12 from the end of foot
placement area 12 where heel placement region 16 is located.
Similarly, insole placement region 18 may be located at an opposite
side of foot placement area 12 from the side of foot placement area
12 where outsole placement region 20 is located. Ultimately, when a
foot of a sports player is disposed in foot placement area 12 of
sports training aid 10, the user's toes may be in toe placement
region 12, the user's heel may be in heel placement region 14, the
user's insole may be in insole placement region 18, and the user's
outsole may be in outsole placement region 20.
[0034] Foot placement area 12 may be inclined in two directions. A
first incline 22 may be in the direction from heel placement region
16 to toe placement region 14. A second incline 24 may exist
between insole placement region 18 and outsole placement region 20.
First incline 22 may be up from heel placement region 16 to toe
placement region 14 and second incline may be up from insole
placement region 18 to outsole placement region 20, such as has
been found to be useful for the front foot placement of a baseball
swing. Other incline directions may be desirable depending on
whether the sport training aid is associated with the front or back
foot, and the sport of concern.
[0035] Inclines 22, 24 may be consistent along the length and width
of sports training aid 10. In other words, inclines 22, 24 may
maintain a constant angle and do not increase or decrease as toe
placement region 14 and/or outsole placement region 20 are
approached. Additionally, incline 22 between heel placement region
16 and toe placement region 14 may apply across the width of sports
training aid 10 and incline 24 between insole placement region 18
and outsole placement region 20 may apply across the depth of
sports training aid 10.
[0036] Inclines 22, 24 may have an angle of inclination ranging
from greater than 0 degrees to about 80 degrees. In one aspect
disclosed herein, inclines 22 and 24 may have an angle of
inclination ranging from greater than 0 degrees to about 30
degrees. Inclines 22, 24 may have the same or different angles of
inclination. In one aspect disclosed herein, incline 22 may have an
angle of inclination of about 21 degrees, while incline 24 may have
an angle of inclination of about 17 degrees. In still another
aspect, the angle of inclination for inclines 22, 24 may be
adjusted within a range of angles of inclination.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, sports training aid 10 may
further comprise a toe restrainer 30 in order to maintain a sports
player's foot on foot placement area 12. Toe restrainer 30 may be
located in toe placement area 14 so as to secure a sports player's
foot to foot placement area 12 by means of securing a sports
player's toes to toe placement region 14 of foot placement area 12.
Toe restrainer 30 is not limited and may be any type of device that
may secure a foot to foot placement area 12 of sports training aid
10. As shown in FIG. 1A, toe restrainer 30 may be a quarter sphere
that extends upwardly from foot placement area 12 and rearwardly
towards heel placement region 16. A sports player's toes may
thereby be inserted into and under toe restrainer 30 to maintain a
sports player's foot on foot placement area 12. The toe restrainer
30 in this embodiment may be called a toe shield or the like, as it
may provide some protection depending on the material used. As
shown in FIG. 1B, toe restrainer 30 may comprise one or more straps
secured at one end to foot placement area 12 and having an opposite
end that may be detachably secured to foot placement area 12. Any
manner for detachably securing one end of toe restrainer 30 to foot
placement area 12 may be used. A sports player's foot may be
secured to foot placement area 12 by passing the toe restrainer 30
over the toes of a sports player's foot in position on foot
placement area 12 and securing the detachable end to foot placement
area 12.
[0038] In an alternate embodiment, the sports training aid may be
configured for attaching to a shoe of a sports player. As shown in
FIGS. 2-9, a sports training aid 100 adapted for the left foot of a
right handed batter for attaching to a shoe may comprise a
foot-shaped support 110. The foot-shaped support 110 may be larger
than a foot of a sports player disposed thereon, such that the
entire foot of a sports player is supported by foot-shaped support
110. Due to sports players having different sized feet, the overall
size of foot-shaped support 110 is not limited and may come in many
different sizes. Foot-shaped support 110 may comprise a foot
placement surface 120 and a ground-contacting surface 130 located
generally opposite foot placement surface 120. Both foot placement
surface 120 and ground-contacting surface 130 may have a generally
foot shape. Ground-contacting surface 130 may be oriented generally
parallel with the ground, while foot placement surface 120 is
inclined, as discussed in greater detail below.
[0039] Foot placement surface 120 may be divided up into four
regions: heel region 140, toe region 150, insole region 160 and
outsole region 170. When foot placement surface 120 has a foot
shape, each of regions 140, 150, 160, 170 may correspond to the
appropriate location on foot-shaped foot placement surface 120.
That is to say, heel region 140 may be located at the heel portion
of foot-shaped foot placement surface 120, toe region 150 may be
located opposite heel region 140 and at the toe portion of
foot-shaped foot placement surface 120, insole region 160 may be
located at the insole portion of foot-shaped foot placement surface
120, and outsole region 170 may be located opposite insole region
160 and at the outsole portion of foot-shaped foot placement
surface 120.
[0040] As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, foot placement surface 120
may have a first incline 180. First incline 180 extends from heel
region 140 to toe region 150. The angle of inclination of first
incline 180 may be constant along the length of foot placement
surface 120 and first incline 180 may apply across the width of
foot placement area 120. The angle of inclination for first incline
180 may be within the range of from greater than 0 degrees to about
80 degrees. In one aspect, the angle of inclination for first
incline 180 may be within the range of from greater than 0 degrees
to about 30 degrees. In still another aspect, the angle of
inclination for first incline 180 may be about 21 degrees.
[0041] As shown most clearly in FIG. 6, foot placement surface 120
may also have a second incline 190. Second incline 190 extends from
insole region 160 to outsole region 170. The angle of inclination
of second incline 190 may be constant along the width of foot
placement surface 120 and second incline 190 may apply across the
length of foot placement area 120. The angle of inclination for
second incline 190 may be within the range of from greater than 0
degrees to about 80 degrees. In one aspect, the angle of
inclination for second incline 190 may be within the range of from
greater than 0 degrees to about 30 degrees. In still another
aspect, the angle of inclination for second incline 190 may be
about 17 degrees. The angle of inclination for second incline 190
may be the same as or different from the angle of inclination for
first incline 180.
[0042] Foot-shaped support 110 may further comprise a toe restraint
200. Any toe restraint which secures a sports player's foot to foot
placement surface 120 of foot-shaped support 100 may be used. As
shown in FIGS. 2-8, a quarter sphere toe restraint 200 may be used
to secure the sports player's toes to foot placement surface 120.
Toe restraint 200 may extend upwardly away from foot placement
surface 120 and rearwardly towards heel region 140.
[0043] Alternative to or in combination with toe restraint 200,
foot-shaped support 110 may also comprise a side wall that extends
around a portion of or the entire periphery of foot-shaped support
110. The side wall may rise above foot placement surface 120 such
that when a foot is placed on foot placement surface 120, the side
wall extending around the periphery of foot-shaped support 110 (or
portions thereof) is capable of keeping the foot from sliding off
foot placement surface 120 in any direction. The height of the side
wall above foot placement surface 120 may be constant about the
periphery of foot-shaped support 110, or the height of the side
wall may vary about the periphery of foot-shaped surface 110.
[0044] As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 7, foot-shaped support
110 may further comprise a plurality of stud receptacles 210. Stud
receptacles may be located about the periphery of foot-shaped
support 110. Stud receptacles 210 are capable of receiving and
holding studs of, for example, a baseball cleat having screw-on and
screw-off studs. Alternatively, stud receptacles may be configured
to receive and hold studs used on ground-contacting surface 130 of
foot-shaped support 110. For example, as shown in FIG. 9,
ground-contacting surface 130 may further comprise stud sockets 230
for receiving studs stored in stud receptacles 210. Stud sockets
230 may receive studs such that when sports training aid 100 is in
use, sports training aid 100 is more likely to stay in place by
virtue of the studs inserted in stud sockets 230 engaging the
ground. When not in use, studs may be removed from stud sockets 230
of sports training aid 100 and stored in stud receptacles 210 such
that sports training aid 100 is easier to transport. Alternatively,
ground-contacting surface 130 may comprise studs molded to ground
contacting surface 130 at about the same location where stud
pockets are located as shown in FIG. 9. In this alternate
embodiment to having removable studs and stud sockets, the studs
molded to ground contacting surface 130 are not removable.
[0045] As shown most clearly in FIG. 8, foot placement surface 120
may further comprise stud pockets 220 (or stud holes 220) for
receiving studs of a cleat worn while using sports training aid
110. To most closely mimic actual batting conditions, a user of
sports training aid 100 should wear the same shoes as would be worn
during an actual attempt at bat. However, sports players normally
wear cleats when batting, which include studs that will not mate
cleanly with a flat foot placement surface 120 having no pockets or
holes for receiving studs of a cleat. Therefore, in order to
accommodate the cleat with studs, foot placement surface 120 may
includes stud pockets 220 (or stud holes 220) which receive the
studs of a cleat when a sports player uses sports training aid 100
while wearing cleats. Stud pockets 220 (or stud holes 220) thereby
create a better fit between the cleat and sports training aid 100.
Stud pockets 220 (or stud holes 220) may have any number of
configurations and/or shapes in order to accommodate the many
different stud shapes and configurations found on different
cleats.
[0046] Alternative to or in combination with stud pockets 220, foot
placement surface 120 may have one or more indentations cut out
from the sides of foot placement surface 120 to receive studs of a
cleat worn by a user of sports training aid 100. In other words, in
order to receive studs of a cleat worn by a user of sports training
aid 100 that are, for example, located along the periphery of the
cleat, the edges of foot placement surface 100 may cut in at
certain intervals such that studs of a cleat fit into the cut out
sections. In this manner, sports training aid 100 allows the sole
of the cleat to directly contact foot placement surface 120, rather
than being propped above foot placement surface 120 by virtue of
the downwardly facing studs of the cleat contacting foot placement
surface 120.
[0047] Sports training aid 100 may also comprise an upper. The
upper may extend upwardly from foot placement surface 120 along the
periphery of foot-shaped support 110 and encapsulate foot placement
surface 120. When the upper encapsulates foot placement surface
120, the area under the upper is preferably large enough to
accommodate a foot of a user of sports training aid 100.
Additionally, the upper may include an opening to allow a user of
sports training aid 100 to insert his or her foot under the upper.
In essence, when sports training aid 100 comprises an upper,
foot-shaped support 110 becomes the sole of sports training aid
100.
[0048] Also disclosed herein is a method for training a sports
player. The method may generally comprise three steps. In the first
step, a sports training aid such as either of the embodiments of
the sports training aid described above is provided. Generally, the
sports training aid may include a foot placement area or surface,
the foot placement area or surface comprising a heel region, a toe
region opposite the heel region, an insole region and an outsole
region opposite the insole region. The foot placement area or
surface may also comprise two inclines. The first incline may
extend from the heel region up to the toe region. The second
incline may extend from the insole region up to the outsole
region.
[0049] In a second step, the sports player's foot is positioned on
the foot placement area or surface of the sports training aid. The
sports player's foot may be positioned on the foot placement area
or surface such that the appropriate portions of a sports player's
foot correspond to the regions of the foot placement area or
surface. In other words, the sports player's toes are positioned in
the toe region, the sports player's heel is positioned in the heel
region, the sports player's insole is positioned in the insole
region, and the sports player's outsole is positioned in the
outsole region. When positioned in this manner, the pinky toe of
the sports player's foot may be in the highest position and the
corner of the sports player's foot where the heel meets the insole
may be in the lowest position.
[0050] In a third step, the sports player repeats a sports movement
with his or her foot positioned on the foot placement surface or
area. The sports movement may be, for example, a swing of a bat. As
described in greater detail above, the foot placement area
positions the foot in such a way that portions of the sports
player's upper body are better positioned for a sports movement. By
repeatedly making a sports movement in this position, the sports
player's muscle memory will commit the overall positioning to
memory. Thus, even when not using the sports training aid (e.g.,
when taking an actual at-bat during a game), the body will still
position itself in the improved stance and increase the likelihood
of hitting the ball.
[0051] While the above described embodiments are discussed
primarily in the context of use by a baseball player practicing his
or her batting swing, the sports training aid described herein may
be adapted for use in practicing sports movements of other sports,
for example, golf. The sports training aid may be inclined from the
heel up to the toe or from the toe up to the heel, depending on how
the body needs to be positioned to improve the sports movement.
Similarly, the sports training aid may be worn on either foot or on
both feet in a particular sports stance, depending on which foot
impacts the positioning of the rest of the sport's players
body.
[0052] The general concept of the sports training aid disclosed
herein may be applied to any sport which involves a swinging sports
movement. Exemplary sports which the sports training aid disclosed
herein may be applied, with or without minor modifications, include
golf, tennis, hockey, lacrosse, and badminton.
[0053] The preceding description has been provided to enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary
embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not
intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form
disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without
departing from the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. The
embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects
illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the
appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of
the instant disclosure.
[0054] Unless otherwise noted, the terms "a" or "an," as used in
the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning "at
least one of." In addition, for ease of use, the words "including"
and "having," as used in the specification and claims, are
interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word
"comprising."
* * * * *