SLIDING TRAINING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

Priority is herewith claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from Provisional Ser. No. 63/724,228 , filed Nov. 22, 2024, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LEARNING TO SLIDE IN BASEBALL,” by Robert Little. The disclosure of this Provisional Patent Application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to sports in which “sliding” is involved, including but not limited to baseball, soccer, football and softball training tools for learning to slide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In sports such as baseball, softball, soccer, cricket, volleyball, and football, it is desirable for players to learn how to slide feet-first, to practice sliding, and to be able to execute a slide properly and effectively during a competition. A technique called feet-first sliding, in baseball and softball, allows players an alternative method, rather than running, to advance successfully to a base, while at the same time avoiding being “tagged out” by players of the opposing team. This technique involves the player flexing the foot of their dominant leg at the ankle, while thrusting their dominant leg forward and allowing their lower body to slide on their butt along the ground. The player's non dominant leg is tucked under the thigh of the dominant leg to create a figure four position. The player's chin is tucked to the chest and the abdomen and the player's back is slightly leaning back to prevent injury to the head and neck. The end goal is for a player to safely execute a feet-first slide into a base without being tagged out by a member of the opposing team.

When executed well, the technique provides substantial advantages such as speed and evasiveness, but is difficult to perfect, and learning to slide can be daunting for new players. In addition to the risk of injury from sudden collision with the ground and other players, sliding can also be painful, dangerous, or uncomfortable when practiced repeatedly. Even if executed correctly, players trying to improve their technique may ruin clothing from stains or friction, sustain rashes or burns on their skin, sprain or break bones from impact and poor technique, or simply receive bruises or abrasions.

To improve safety and allow players to comfortably practice sliding for longer, some coaches use training devices such as slide pads. Slide pads for use in baseball training are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,811 to Tresh issued Dec. 19, 1989, and U.S. Pat. No. 10,315,086 B1 to Johnson issued Jun. 11, 2019, disclose slide pads typical of the prior art, which usually include multiple layers. For example, the design in Johnson includes a load spreading member and a resilient pad. Some slide pads include a cloth covering, and they are often foldable to reduce storage size. Other previous training methods include U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,925 to Lewy issued Sept. 29, 1998, discloses a ball suspended by string held up by a device to assist in training for sliding, but required a large structure to suspend the target ball. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,257 to Branum et al. issued Feb. 17, 2004, discloses a device that covers an entire baseball field in a slick material with built in water spouts to further reduce friction, and allows for safe sliding but requires significant resources to affix to the ground and provide a continuous stream of water.

The materials used in traditional pads are designed primarily to cushion the ground to soften the blow of the player's impact on the ground. This leads to thick, bulky designs, which take up a great deal of space even when folded. German Pat. No. DE 202015001627 U1 to Katrin et al. Feb. 28, 2015, discloses a non-slip mat to prevent movement during exercise, but has a large footprint that is more complicated to fold up. The thickness also incurs greater material costs and does not simulate as accurately the experience of sliding without a training tool. WIPO PCT No. WO202422 1289_A1 to Gao et al. published Oct. 31, 2024, discloses a mat for repeated back and forth movements by the user, concurrently generating electricity for built in lights to illuminate, but does not accurately simulate the experience of sliding without the device, nor does it allow for training to slide across the ground safely. Furthermore, traditional designs that use foam or cloth are difficult and time consuming to wash and quickly become dirty with repeated use. South Korean Pat. No. KR 2004-0010096 A to Chai et al. published Jan. 31, 2004, discloses a manufacturing method for creating non-slip mats with uniform width, length, and thickness for use in automotive and interior buildings to prevent slipping, but this does not provide a wipeable surface that can easily be cleaned while maintaining the required slippery surface for slide training. Finally, the complexity of most slide pads makes their use difficult for players to quickly understand. U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US 2014/0051531 to Mazzocchi published on Feb. 20, 2014, disclose two slide pads sitting on top of each other with one slide pad mounted to the ground to allow for sliding across the ground, but requires the lower slide mat to be affixed to the ground prior to use and must be reset prior to next use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved sliding training device, comprising a single rectangular member with a top and bottom surface; where the top surface is smooth to reduce friction for sliding, while the bottom surface has a higher friction coefficient to prevent the device from moving during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the improved sliding training device, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the improved sliding training device, next to a sports base.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the improved sliding training device in a partially rolled-up storage configuration.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the improved sliding training device in a position for drying after cleaning.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the improved sliding training device being correctly operated by the user in a figure four position, with chin tucked, arms up to facilitate safe sliding.

FIG. 5 us a top perspective view of a improved sliding training device in its “rolled-up” configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is an improved sliding training device comprising a single rectangular member with a top 110 and bottom surface 115, preferably with four rounded corners 120 that are preferably fused for safety and durability. The improved sliding training device is constructed from TPO, which is durable, flexible, UV-resistant, waterproof, cost-effective, and recyclable. The top surface 110 of the improved sliding training device is “smooth” with a low friction coefficient to reduce friction for sliding, while the bottom surface 115 has a higher friction coefficient to prevent the device from moving during use. The preferred dimensions of the improved sliding training device are a width of 27 to 36 inches, a length of 60 to 96 inches, and a thickness of 7/64 of an inch to 3/16 of an inch. The preferred radius dimension of the rounded corners 120 are between 7/64 of an inch, and 3/16 of an inch. The improved sliding training device can be rolled 210 (FIG. 5) for compact storage and easy transport. The improved sliding training device in one embodiment may be easily cleaned by spraying with a water hose or with water and mild detergent (such as dish detergent), and may be air-dried (FIG. 3). No additional equipment, stakes, or weights are required for use of the improved sliding training device. By walking across the top of the improved sliding training device prior to use, the bottom surface 115 will stay in place on the surface and allow for safe sliding on the top surface 110 without the improved sliding training device moving from the preset position. The improved sliding training device is suitable for use on various surfaces, including but not limited to grass, turf, dirt, clay, carpet, padded gym floors and unpadded gym floors. The improved sliding training device, in one embodiment is used for feet-first sliding and is suitable for athletes of all ages and skill levels. The improved sliding training device can be used across different sports, including, but not limited to, baseball, softball, soccer, cricket, football, and volleyball.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the improved sliding training device 100 for learning to slide located approximately two feet from a baseball base 105. In one embodiment, the top surface 110 is “smooth” (has a low friction coefficient) to reduce friction for sliding, while the bottom surface 115 has a higher friction coefficient to prevent the device from easily moving during use. The top surface generally has printing on it, such as an emblem or trademark. The edges 120 may be rounded or fused to prevent injury and improve the durability of the device. No additional equipment, stakes, or weights are required for use. The device is suitable for use on various surfaces, including but not limited to grass, turf, dirt, clay, carpet, padded gym floors and unpadded gym floors. The device, in one embodiment, is placed on the surface and the user preferably will walk across the entire device 100, one or more times, to create a secure temporary binding between the device 100 with the floor surface (not shown). In some embodiments, that improved sliding training device is composed of Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), which allows the improved sliding training device 100 to be durable, repairable, flexible, UV resistant and completely waterproof. TPO can be produced with varying levels of friction, which makes it ideal for a sliding practice tool. The preferred range of friction co-efficient for the bottom surface 115 is 0.577-0.625. The preferred range of friction co-efficient for the top surface 110 is 0.306-0.325. Other embodiments of the improved sliding training device may be composed of other forms of plastic. Generally, TPO material includes an elastic material added during the extruding process that typically results in the sheet returning to the extruded form after rolling up for storage. Use of TPO allows scratches, gouges, small and medium dents and small tears to be repairable.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of improved sliding training device 100 in a partially rolled-up storage configuration 200. In one embodiment, the device can be completely rolled (see FIG. 5) for compact storage and easy transport. In order to roll the improved sliding training device 100 up, the improved sliding training device 100 should be positioned such that the top side (the printed side) 110 is face down and the bottom surface 115 (the non-printed side) is facing up and then the improved sliding training device may be rolled up 210. Rolling the improved sliding training device with the non-printed side 115 facing down may result in the device curling away from the ground and not properly remaining flat during use, thereby decreasing the safety of the device.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the improved sliding training device 100 in a position for drying after cleaning. In one embodiment, the improved sliding training device is designed to be easily cleaned with water and mild detergent, and may be air-dried.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the improved sliding training device 100 being operated by the user 405 in the correct position 400. In one embodiment, the correct position for the use of the improved sliding training device is where the improved sliding training device is placed approximately 2 feet from a base 105. The player 405 starts at a distance and approaches the device 100 at walking, jogging, or running speed. The player practices sliding along the top surface 110, ensuring proper form (figure four position, chin tucked, arms up) 410.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein also can be used in the practice or testing of the present disclosure

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process step or steps, to the objective spirit and scope of the present disclosure. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto.