Workout Mat Alignment Indications for User Versatility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional workout mats lack suitable indications for users of different heights, body types, or for various exercises, and often fail to provide clear alignment guidance, especially in low lighting conditions or for users with mild visual impairment.

Innovation Solution

The development of workout mats with alignment indications that include proportional oblong shapes in descending size, mirrored on both sides of the mat, to provide versatile guidance for different user proportions, heights, and activities, while avoiding complex compositions that may cause interpretational difficulties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional workout mats use simple alignment indications, then the mat is easy to manufacture and simple in design, but the indications are not suitable for users of different heights, body types, or for various exercises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuitability for different users and activitiesVSAvoidcomplexity of alignment indications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment indications are segmented into multiple distinct patterns including a first set of indications for lengthwise alignment and a second set for widthwise alignment. Each set contains multiple individual markers positioned at different locations and orientations, allowing users to select appropriate indications based on their specific exercise and body proportions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment indications are designed to serve multiple functions and user types simultaneously. The same mat surface provides guidance for users of different heights, body types, and for various exercises including yoga, stretching, and weight training. The mirrored symmetry ensures both left and right sides can be used as head or foot ends.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional workout mats use complex alignment indications to accommodate all users, then versatility is improved, but the indications become difficult to interpret and may cause optical illusions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuitability for different users and activitiesVSAvoidinterpretability of alignment indications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the mat have locally optimized indication characteristics. The first set of indications features elongated shapes oriented lengthwise for forward-facing alignment, while the second set features elongated shapes oriented widthwise for lateral alignment. This local differentiation allows each indication type to excel at its specific function without creating visual confusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment indications employ asymmetric elongated shapes with distinct orientations rather than symmetric patterns. The first set of indications is asymmetrically oriented lengthwise while the second set is asymmetrically oriented widthwise, making it easy for users to distinguish between different alignment functions and avoid optical grid illusions that occur with highly symmetric repetitive patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If alignment indications are made visible in low lighting conditions, then interpretability is improved, but the visual stimulus may become overwhelming or cause strain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of alignment indicationsVSAvoidvisual strain in low lighting

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment indications use moderately high-contrast colors rather than maximum contrast. The selected colors provide sufficient visibility in low lighting conditions while avoiding excessive visual intensity that could cause strain or discomfort. The color saturation and brightness are optimized to be just enough for clear detection without being overwhelming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250032848A1Alignment mat

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 LULULEMON ATHLETICA CANADA INC

AI summary

According to an aspect, there is provided a workout mat for user alignment and systems to provide alignment feedback using same. The mat includes a top surface that displays an alignment indication including a first set of indications defining alignment regions wherein the indications are proportional oblong shapes in a series of descending size wherein the largest oblong is proximate a medial portion of the mat and the smallest oblong is proximate a lateral portion of the mat, a second set of indications mirroring the first set of indications defining alignment regions, and a medial length oriented region defined in the medial space between the first set of indications and the second set of indications.