Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02354690 2001-07-20
Title: MAT
I. Background of the Invention:
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a teaching, training and practice
mat and, more
particularly, to a mat intended to assist users in developing proper stances,
especially
during floor exercises or other exercises performed with the mat.
Visually and conveniently alignments, relative to the center of the body,
hands and feed, in
order to obtain correct stances, are the most important physical condition for
stretching
and exercising. Furthermore, muscle alignment is designated to integrate
consciously and
subconsciously the alignment perception and, thus, to develop a memory for
correct and
reproducible positions. It is evident that the later cannot possibly develop
if the alignment
is not correct.
There are prior art mats that purport to obtain the results achieved by the
mat of the
present invention. All things considered, the existing knowledge in the field
does not
provide the specific advantages of the present invention, nor does it properly
address the
objectives sought to obtain by this invention.
II. Summary of the Invention
It is, thus, one objective of the present invention to provide an improved
mat, which
allows proper and comfortable alignments.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an easy to use
mat, so that the
user may orient himself/herself in any manner on the mat while performing
exercises.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a mat with
removable,
adjustable strips, so that various users car readily accommodate to the mat.
CA 02354690 2001-07-20
In general, the mat. adaptable for floor exercises and other exercises,
comprises a sheet to
accommodate a person thereon. The sheet has a generally rectangular periphery
defined
by two parallel side edges and two parallel end edges, the former being longer
than and
perpendicularly to the latter. To the sheet are added a first alignment strip
extending
substantially along the longitudinal axis of symmetry toward the parallel end
edges and a
second alignment strip extending substantially along the transversal axis of
symmetry
toward the parallel side edges. A pair of hand reference zones is used. Each
of the hand
reference zones is located at an upper part of the mat, on each side of the
first alignment
strip and constitutes a mirror image of the other one.
A hand reference zone is formed by a vertical hand strip parallel to the first
alignment
strip and, consequently, to the longitudinal axis and a horizontal hand strip
parallel to the
second alignment strip and, impliedly, to the transversal axis of symmetry. A
pair of foot
reference zones is used. Each of said pair of foot reference zones is located
at a lower part
of the mat, on each side of the first alignment strip. It constitutes a mirror
image of the
other one, and is formed by a vertical foot strip parallel to the first
alignment strip and.
consequently, to the longitudinal axis of symmetry; and a horizontal foot
strip, parallel to
the second alignment strip and, impliedly, to the transversal axis of
symmetry.
In one aspect of this invention, a pair of reference zones is used. Each of
the reference
zones has a center situated on the second alignment strip and includes a
vertical reference
line perpendicular to a horizontal reference line, the former and the latter
reference lines
intersecting in a center. The vertical reference line is parallel to the first
alignment strip,
while the horizontal reference line can be identified with the second
alignment strip.
In another aspect of the invention, a first plurality of target strips is
used. At least two
adjacent target strips of the plurality of target strips are disposed above
and beneath each
of the horizontal hand and foot strips, parallel to the horizontal hand and
foot strips and
perpendicular to the vertical hand and foot strips.
In yet another aspect of this invention, a first plurality of target strips is
used. At least two
adjacent target strips of the first plurality of target strips are disposed
above and beneath
each of the horizontal hand and foot strips, parallel to said horizontal hand
and foot strips
and perpendicular to each of the vertical hand and foot strips. A second
plurality of target
2
CA 02354690 2001-07-20
strips is used substantially as the first plurality of target strips, but
disposed in conjunction
with the reference zones and perpendicular to the horizontal reference zones.
III. Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first variant of the mat;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second variant of the mat;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third variant of the mat; and
Fig 4 is a perspective view of a forth variant of the mat.
IV. Description of the Invention
Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates an exercise mat 10, formed
from a pliable
sheet 11 and having a size to comfortably accommodate a person thereon. Sheet
I 1 is
formed of any lightweight, cushioning and insulating material, which provides
a smooth,
unbroken top surface, and has a basically rectangular periphery. The latter is
defined by
two parallel side edges 12 and two parallel end edges 14, the former being
longer than and
perpendicular to the latter. One longitudinal and one transversal axes of
symmetry 16 and
18, respectively, which intersect in a center of symmetry 20, define
geometrically mat 1 (l.
In a first variant of the present invention (see Fig. l ), to sheet l l is
added a first alignment
strip 22 extending substantially along longitudinal axis of symmetry 16 toward
parallel
end edges 14 and a second alignment strip 24 extending substantially along
transversal
axis of symmetry 18 toward parallel side edges 12.
First and second alignment strips 22 and 24 are intended as a basic reference
to allow a
user to generally position his/her body with respect to the surface of mat 10.
It is obvious,
that first and second alignment strips 22 and 24 do not need to be
repositioned depending
3
CA 02354690 2001-07-20
on the size of a user's body, therefore they are not adjustable or removable
and, hence,
they are permanently secured to or imprinted on sheet 11.
For proper positioning of hands during floor exercises or other type of
exercises using mat
10, for example when a user lies face down with his/her hands on mat 10 in
front of and to
the sides of the shoulders, mat 10 includes a pair of hand reference zones 26.
Each hand
reference zone 26 is located at an upper part of mat 10, on each side of first
alignment
strip 22, and constitutes a mirror image of the other one. A hand reference
zone 26, which
is used as an alignment reference to the hands, is formed by two
perpendicularly
intersecting strips: a vertical hand strip 28 parallel to first alignment
strip 22 and,
consequently, to longitudinal axis of symmetry 16 and a horizontal hand strip
30 parallel
to second alignment strip 24 and, impliedly, to transversal axis of symmetry
18 of mat 10.
For proper positioning of feet during floor exercises and other type of
exercises using mat
10, for example, a forward bend posture when the user sits with one or both
legs stretched
straight out in front of him/her, mat 10 comprises a pair of foot reference
zones 32. Each
foot reference zone 32 is located at a lower part of mat 10, on each side of
first alignment
strip 22, so that one foot reference zone 32 constitutes a mirror image of the
other one.
Each foot reference zone 32 is formed from two perpendicularly intersecting
strips: a vertical foot strip 34, parallel to first alignment strip 22 and,
consequently, to
longitudinal axis of symmetry 16 and a horizontal foot strip 36, parallel to
second
alignment strip 24 and, impliedly, to transversal axis of symmetry 18 of mat
10.
Alternatively, first variant comprises only hand and foot reverence zones 26
and 32,
respectively. No first and second alignment strips 22 and 24 are used.
A second variant, (see Fig.2), is formed from the first variant, to which is
added a pair of
side reference zones 38 intended for spacing options, such as, for example,
kneeling
posture, arms resting to the sides or the user lying sideways. Each side
reference zone 38
has a center 40 situated on second alignment strip 24 and includes a vertical
reference line
42 perpendicular to a horizontal reference line 44, the former and the latter
intersecting in
center 40. Vertical reference line 42 is parallel to first alignment strip 22,
while horizontal
reference line 44 can be identified with second alignment strip 24.
In a third variant of this invention (see Fig.3), the first described variant
further comprises
a plurality of target strips 46. Thus, above and beneath each horizontal hand
or foot strips
4
CA 02354690 2001-07-20
30 and 36 respectively, at least two adjacent target strips 46 are used. Each
target strip 46
is located parallel to horizontal hand and foot strips 30 and 36 and
perpendicular to each
vertical hand and foot strips 28 and 34.
The utility of target strips 46 resides in the fact that during practice they
serve to measure
incremental achievements or proposed goals.
A fourth variant, (see Fig.4), incorporates, firstly, second variant, wherein
a plurality of
target strips 46 is used in conjunction with hand and foot reference zones 26
and 32, and,
secondly, another plurality of target strips 46 used similarly, but in
conjunction with side
reference zones 38 and perpendicularly to horizontal reference line 44.
First and second alignment strips 22 and 24, vertical and horizontal hand
strips 28 and 30,
vertical and horizontal foot strips 34 and 36, and target strips 46 are
substantially identical
to each other and, preferably, have a rectangular top view. 'The above-
mentioned strips
are formed of any suitable material, preferably of a different color than
sheet 11, and can
be attached to the latter by sewing, bonding using suitable adhesives, Velcro
fastenings or
other conventional fabrication technique.
In order to enable the user of mat 10 to meet specific needs of bodywork, the
strips
belonging to hand reference zones 26, foot reference zones 32 and side
reference zones 38
are so attached, that they can be readily removed and repositioned numerous
times. Thus,
teaching, training and practice, using mat 10 described and claimed in the
present
invention, become efficient and comfortable.
Alternatively, instead of using permanently attached or removable strips, use
can be made
of strips imprinted on the upper surface of mat 10.
