The present disclosure relates generally to a foot placement training device and more specifically, to arrangements and methods for training proper foot placement to a user in order to support and enhance foot placement ability and to reinforce better foot movement.
BACKGROUND
Many physically and mentally challenged people have some form of deformities which may lead to improper ways of placing foot on ground while performing some basic movements, like walking, etc. It has also been well noted that there are some walking faults, that occurs not necessarily because of any permanent or temporary physical deformity but lack of care leading to improper movement. Ignorance, casual attitude or physical/mental retardation may be the major reason for the improper placement of the foot. In the field of movement and health science, there has not been much development in the field of efficient foot placement and foot movement irrespective of level of deformity and mental retardation. Even the person without any deformity may be unaware of proper placement of foot on ground. Children many a time gets the knock-knee or flat-foot like deformity only because of the unnoticed wrong placement of foot.
Incorrect stepping or contact of plantar surface of a foot (i.e. bottom of a foot) on the ground disturbs the soft tissues thereof. When this becomes habitual or permanent, it leads to further deformity of lower extremities which in later stages get associated with middle and upper body deformities involving knee joints, pelvic region and vertebrae. Eversion is the common deformed style of placing foot on ground which takes place in subtalar joint (i.e. the joint beneath tibiotalar joint of ankle). When plantar surface is angled laterally and medially, it is actually everting and inverting of the foot, respectively. Further, movement of the foot called supination and pronation are composed movements (i.e. three or more combined movements) of the foot. Herein, supination involves subtalar inversion and pronation involves subtalar eversion.
Ideally, when from the posterior of a left foot a midline is drawn along the calf and another one midline of the calcaneus (i.e. heel bone) along the base foot; if the subtalar joint is neutral (i.e. foot placed correctly) than the two mid-lines remain in alignment like a straight line, or both the lines stay parallel to each other. But in case of pronated and supinated state, such two lines are not in alignment to each other. In pronated and supinated state, the closest

end points of both lines (i.e. end point of each line nearer to each other) are either pointed-out laterally or pointed-in medially. In some cases, it can physically be noticed that the ankle seems to be pointed out laterally or pointed in medially; in which the ankle pointed-out laterally is a supinated state of the foot and the ankle pointed-in medially is a pronated state of the foot. In the pronated state of the foot, medial melleolus collapses medially; and in the supinated state of the foot, lateral melleolus collapses laterally. Specifically, in pronation, tibia (i.e. shin bone) internally rotates on the talus (i.e. foot Joint at the top of calcanius); and in supination, tibia externally rotates on the talus.
These functional changes of the ankle or foot make the person to place foot accordingly. For instance, taking the mid-lines of tibia and cacaneus as single line of measuring criteria upon contact of foot with the ground; if the mid-line stays straight and aligns with each other, it indicates the foot placement is normal and balanced with no major angle of deviation of the mid-line from the tibiotalas joint towards any direction; if the mid-line performs more than 5 degrees of angle of deviation from the tibiotalas joint towards lateral side than the foot movement is eversion which broadly falls under pronation type of movement (i.e. the foot is pronated); and if the mid-line performs more than 20 degrees of angle of deviation from the tibiotalas joint towards medial side than the foot movement is inversion which broadly falls under supination type of movement (i.e. the foot is supinated).
Such types of movement result in producing unnatural and painful strains on the muscles not merely of the foot and leg, but even of the lumbar and dorsal portions of the trunk. Some solutions have been proposed in the prior-art for the correction of such displacement or distortion, such as orthopaedic or corrective devices for the human foot which are intended to correct posture of feet. For example, various types of mass-produced footwear are commercially available which purport to offer superior comfort and support by utilizing built-up or padded insoles. Such footwear may come in the form of shoes, sandals, sneakers, and the like, or may be in the form of separate insoles for application to shoes. The vast majority of such footwear utilizes insoles which are built up in strategic areas to provide arch support and weight distribution. However, such devices do not correct the posture of the foot, but merely provide support for the foot in whatever posture it normally adopts - however incorrect that posture may be.

Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with prior-art and to provide an efficacious device capable of training a user to correct the said issues.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure seeks to provide a foot placement training device with multiple foot placement training arrangements and methods for training proper foot placement to a user. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in prior art, and provides improved means for supporting and enhancing foot placement ability and in particular to reinforce better foot movement involving proper coordinated contact of foot on ground and efficient balance learning. The present disclosure helps with reinforcement of proper foot placement skills in individuals who have been diagnosed with body postural deformity and/or may have less mental ability to understand proper placement of foot on ground.
The present disclosure provides a foot placement training device for training proper foot placement to a user. The present disclosure further provides methods for training proper foot placement to a user, using the foot placement training device. Herein, the foot placement training device comprises a platform having abase surface.
In an aspect, the foot placement training device comprises a first foot placement training arrangement provided in the platform. The first foot placement training arrangement comprises at least one pocket defined in the base surface. The first foot placement training arrangement also comprises at least one actuating member having a first end and a second end. The at least one actuating member is anchored from the first end thereof to the at least one pocket. The first foot placement training arrangement further comprises at least one disc having a first surface and a second surface. The at least one disc is mounted form the first surface thereof to the second end of the at least one actuating member. The first foot placement training arrangement further comprises a latching arrangement associated with the at least one disc. Herein, the latching arrangement is configured to engage the at least one disc with the at least one pocket when the second surface of the at least one disc is acted upon by a first force, causing the at least one actuating member to compress, in a first direction within a first predefined angle range with respect to the base surface.

In another aspect, the foot placement training device comprises a second foot placement training arrangement provided in the platform. The second foot placement training arrangement comprises at least one sliding area defined in the base surface. The second foot placement training arrangement also comprises at least one plate having a first surface and a second surface. The at least one plate is arranged on the base surface with the first surface thereof in a friction contact with the at least one sliding area in the base surface. Herein, when the second surface of the at least one plate is acted upon by a second force in a second direction within a second predefined angle range with respect to the base surface, the friction contact between the first surface of the at least one plate and the at least one sliding area is at least partially sustained to hinder slipping of the at least one plate on the base surface, resulting in substantially no movement of the at least one plate. And, when the second surface of the at least one plate is acted upon by a second force in a second direction out of the second predefined angle range with respect to the base surface, the friction contact between the first surface of the at least one plate and the at least one sliding area is collapsed to cause slipping of the at least one plate on the base surface, resulting in a movement of the at least one plate.
In yet another aspect, the foot placement training device comprises a third foot placement training arrangement provided in the platform. The third foot placement training arrangement comprises one or more markings formed on the base surface, with each of the one or more markings having a profile of a human foot to be discernible as a visual reference as a location to position a foot thereon and to align the foot with the profile thereof by a user. The third foot placement training arrangement also comprises a third sensing arrangement. The third sensing arrangement is configured to detect at least one of when the foot is positioned: substantially aligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings; and substantially misaligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings.
In still another aspect, the foot placement training device comprises fourth foot placement training arrangement provided in the platform. The fourth foot placement training arrangement comprises at least one grooved track defined in the base surface. The fourth foot placement training arrangement also comprises at least one toe-plate seated within the at least one grooved track. Herein, the at least one toe-plate is adapted to be moved in the at least one grooved track by a user, when the user places one or more toes of a foot thereof

onto the at least one toe-plate and drags the at least one toe-plate in the at least one grooved track following a profile of the at least one grooved track.
Embodiments of the present disclosure substantially eliminate or at least partially address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, and enable for training proper foot placement to a user in order to support and enhance foot placement ability and to reinforce better foot movement.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative implementations construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustration of a foot placement training device, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of a first foot placement training arrangement in the foot placement training device, in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of a second foot placement training arrangement in the foot placement training device, in accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of a third foot placement training arrangement in the foot placement training device, in accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 is a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of a fourth foot placement training arrangement in the foot placement training device, in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system as part of one or more of the first foot placement training arrangement, the second foot placement training arrangement, the third foot placement training arrangement and the fourth foot placement training arrangement for training proper foot placement to a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration examples that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of examples is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate examples of the present disclosure and their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that like elements disclosed below are indicated by like reference numbers in the drawings.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described example. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional examples.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A and/or B" means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A, B, and/or C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
The description may use the phrases "in an example," or "in examples," which may each refer to one or more of the same or different examples. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like, as used with respect to examples of the present disclosure, are synonymous.
The present disclosure provides a foot placement training device with multiple foot placement training arrangements and methods for training proper foot placement to a user. The present foot placement training device provides improved means for supporting and enhancing foot placement ability and in particular to reinforce better foot movement involving proper coordinated contact of foot on ground and efficient balance learning. Thereby, the present foot placement training device helps with reinforcement of proper foot placement skills in individuals who have been diagnosed with body postural deformity and/or may have less mental ability to understand proper placement of foot on ground, and thus helping such users to mitigate the risk of long-term side effects to the user due to such behaviour.
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustration of a foot placement training device 10, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As may be seen therein, the foot placement training device 10 includes a platform 12. The platform 12 is in

the shape of an elongate, generally horizontal frame that stands upon the floor or other substrate and provides the connections and support for the other assemblies of the foot placement training device 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the platform 12 is shown to have a generally cuboidal shape; however, it would be appreciated that the platform 12 may have any other suitable shape without any limitations. Herein, the platform 12 may be made of plywood or like materials. As illustrated, the platform 12 has a base surface 14, and may have vertically downward extending side surfaces 16 (generally four, with two being visible in the illustration of FIG. 1). Herein, the base surface 14 is generally disposed in a horizontal plane, parallel to the ground, while the side surfaces 16 may support the base surface 14 above the ground. It may be contemplated that in some examples, instead of the side surfaces 16, the platform 12 may include legs (not shown), extending from proximal to corners of the base surface 14, to support the base surface 14 above the ground. In some examples, the platform 12 may be provided with support wheels (not shown) located at one or more ends of the side surfaces 16, or directly at proximal to corners of the base surface 14, for easy transportation of the foot placement training device 10.
As discussed, the foot placement training device 10 helps users who have been diagnosed with body postural deformity and/or may have less mental ability to perform training exercise to understand proper placement of foot on ground. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the foot placement training device 10 includes a support rail arrangement 20 to provide an assistance to the user during the training exercise, i.e. while the user may be standing over the base surface 14 of the platform 12 therein. As illustrated, the support rail arrangement 20 includes a first support rail 22 and a second support rail 24. The first support rail 22 may include fixed bars 26a, for instance, two fixed bars 26a, fixed to the platform 12 over the base surface 14 at ends thereof, and a support bar 26b extending between the two fixed bars 26a. The support bar 26b may be supported to the two fixed bars 26a by means of an angle joint 26c or the like. Herein, the support bar 26b is a rigid support bar. The second support rail 24 may include fixed bars 28a, for instance, two fixed bars 28a, fixed to the platform 12 over the base surface 14 at ends thereof, and a support bar 28b extending between the two fixed bars 28a. The support bar 28b may be supported to the two fixed bars 28a by means of an angle joint 28c or the like. Herein, the support bar 28b is a flexible support bar. Herein, the two types of support bars 28a, 28b provide the user with different levels of support during a training exercise (as

discussed in more detail in the proceeding paragraphs), while using the foot placement training device 10.
For the purposes of training a user for proper foot placement, the foot placement training device 10 of the present disclosure provides different sets of challenges to the user. In particular, the foot placement training device 10 provides four types of challenges to the user. Each of the four challenges is defined as an independent foot placement training arrangement in one of four zones defined in the platform 12 of the foot placement training device 10. In particular, the foot placement training device 10 includes a first foot placement training arrangement 100, a second foot placement training arrangement 200, a third foot placement training arrangement 300 and a fourth foot placement training arrangement 400. In the illustrated embodiments, the said arrangements 100, 200, 300 and 400 are shown to be disposed linearly along elongate direction of the platform 12, such that the user may start the training process with the first foot placement training arrangement 100, then proceed to the second foot placement training arrangement 200, subsequently to the third foot placement training arrangement 300, and then to the fourth foot placement training arrangement 400, as desired or required for training purposes. In other examples, the arrangements 100, 200, 300 and 400 may be relatively disposed in any other suitable pattern without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the foot placement training device 10 comprises the first foot placement training arrangement 100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first foot placement training arrangement 100 is provided in the platform 12. FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of the first foot placement training arrangement 100. As may be seen, the first foot placement training arrangement 100 includes at least one pocket 102, at least one actuating member 104 and at least one disc 106. As illustrated, the first foot placement training arrangement 100 includes one or more sets, including the pocket 102, the actuating member 104 and the one disc 106, defined in pairs, with the two such sets in a single pair being arranged adjacent to each other. Herein, in a single pair, one of the two sets is identified with one foot of the user and other of the two sets is identified with other foot of the user, when the user may be using the first foot placement training arrangement 100 for training purposes. In the illustrated embodiments, the first foot placement training arrangement 100 is shown to include two

such pairs; however, the number of such pairs may be more or less without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the first foot placement training arrangement 100, the pocket 102 is defined in the base surface 14. Herein, the pocket 102 is in the form of a carved-out portion or section from the platform 12, at the base surface 14 thereof. In the illustrated embodiments, the pocket 102 is shown to have a circular transverse shape; however, it may be contemplated that the pocket 102 may have any other suitable shape, such as square, rectangular, or the like, without any limitations. The actuating member 104 has a first end 104a and a second end 104b. Herein, the actuating member 104 is anchored to the pocket 102. In particular, the actuating member 104 is anchored from the first end 104a thereof to the pocket 102. Further, the disc 106 has a first surface 106a and a second surface 106b. Herein, the disc 106 is mounted on the actuating member 104. In particular, the disc 106 is mounted form the first surface 106a thereof to the second end 104b of the actuating member 104. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the actuating member 104 may be configured to be compressed when the second surface 106b of the disc 106 is acted upon by a force, in a direction within a predefined angle range with respect to the base surface 14, to engage the disc 106 with the pocket 102.
In the present embodiments, the actuating member 104 is anchored substantially at a geometrical centre of the pocket 102. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the actuating member 104 includes a coil spring. Coil springs are well known in the art and thus has not been described herein. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the actuating member 104 is tensioned to constrain the disc 106 to move and be positioned inside the pocket 102 when the second surface 106b thereof is acted upon by the said force in the said direction to cause the engagement of the disc 106 with the corresponding pocket 102.
Further, in the present embodiments, the first surface 106a of the disc 106 has a transverse shape substantially similar to a transverse shape of the pocket 102, such that the disc 106 is accommodated from the first surface 106a thereof inside the pocket 102 when engaged therewith. In an example embodiment, the second surface 106b of the disc 106 may have a transverse shape different from the transverse shape of the pocket 102, while the first surface 106a of the disc 106 has the transverse shape substantially similar to the transverse shape of the pocket 102 (as discussed), such that the disc 106 may still be accommodated from the first surface 106a thereof inside the pocket 102 when engaged therewith. In

another example embodiment, the at least one pocket 102 may include a first pocket with a first transverse shape and a second pocket with a second transverse shape, and the at least one disc 106 may include a first disc with a third transverse shape substantially similar to the first transverse shape and a second disc with a fourth transverse shape substantially similar to the second transverse shape, such that the first disc is disposed to be engaged with the first pocket and the second disc is disposed to be engaged with the second pocket, in the first foot placement training arrangement 100.
The first foot placement training arrangement 100 further includes a latching arrangement 108 associated with the at least one disc 106. That is, with each disc 106 has the latching arrangement 108 associated therewith, or specifically each of the said set of the pocket 102, the actuating member 104 and the one disc 106 has one of the latching arrangement 108 associated therewith. Herein, the latching arrangement 108 is configured to engage the at least one disc 106 with the at least one pocket 102 when the second surface 106b of the at least one disc 106 is acted upon by a first force, causing the at least one actuating member 106 to compress, in a first direction within a first predefined angle range with respect to the base surface 14. As may be understood, the latching arrangement 108 may engage the corresponding disc 106 with the corresponding pocket 102, as associated therewith.
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the first predefined angle range may vary for up to 5 degrees in case of training a user suffering from eversion related deformity effect, and up to 20 degrees in case of training a user suffering from inversion related deformity effect. It may be understood by a person skilled in the art that the first predefined angle range may be defined (set) by appropriate selection and tensioning of the actuating member 106 in the first foot placement training arrangement 100. Such selection and tensioning of the actuating member 106 may be contemplated by a person having ordinary skill in the art and thus has not been described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
In the present embodiments, the latching arrangement 108 implements one or more of: a cam latch mechanism, a compression latch mechanism, a slam latch mechanism, a magnetic latch mechanism, a draw latch mechanism, a sliding latch mechanism. Such latch mechanism and their implementation as the latching arrangement 108 in the first foot placement training arrangement 100 may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art. For example, in case of the magnetic latch mechanism, the latching arrangement 108 may

include a set of one or more magnets (as may be seen from FIG. 2) located on an edge of the disc 106 and a corresponding set of one or more magnets (as may be seen from FIG. 2) congruently located on a periphery of the pocket 102 as defined in the base surface 14 of the platform 12, with the two set of magnets being configured to have opposite polarity. When the disc 106 is accommodated inside the pocket 102, due to application of said force in a direction within the said first predefined angle range with respect to the base surface 14, the magnets on the disc 106 are aligned with the magnets in the pocket 102, to cause engagement (locking) of the disc 106 with the pocket 102. It may be understood that the disc 106 may be disengaged from the pocket 102 by application of manual force (pull out), or, for example in case of the said magnetic latch mechanism, by reversing the polarity of the two sets of magnets such that the magnets have the same polarity as a result, and thus cause those to repel each other for releasing disc 106 from the pocket 102, and the like.
In another example, the latching arrangement 108 may include a first rubber flange (not shown) extending from an edge of the at least one disc 106 and adapted to fold inwards from the edge of the at least one disc 106. Further, the latching arrangement 108 may include a second rubber flange (not shown) extending from a periphery of the at least one pocket 102 and adapted to fold outwards from the edge of the at least one pocket 102. Herein, when the at least one disc 106 is accommodated in the at least one pocket 102, the first rubber flange folds inwards and the second rubber flange folds outwards to clasp the at least one disc 106 with the at least one pocket 102. In a similar manner, numerous other mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical arrangements may be contemplated for the latching arrangement 108 by a person skilled in the art, and all such possible arrangements are incorporated herein.
As may be understood from the preceding paragraphs, the set of the pocket 102, the actuating member 104 and the one disc 106 in the first foot placement training arrangement 100 is designed in a manner such that the user (learner) has to place its foot on the disc 106 in a proper manner and then presses the disc 106 downwards within a defined angle range known for proper foot placement. Herein, the actuating member 106 provides resisting and diverting force, therefore the user is required to pay special attention and put effort in order to place the foot properly. Thereby, the user walks step by step after locking the discs 106 in the respective pockets 102 with the respective foot as performed in walking practice. This practice makes the user to place foot properly on the ground. The user may practice it

first by using the first support rail 22 with the rigid support bar 26b to have support thereof, and then by using the second support rail 24 with the flexible support bar 28b for more challenging training, and finally without any support at all. The support requirement may depend on the level of motor ability of the user.
In further embodiments, as described in the proceeding paragraphs, the first foot placement training arrangement 100 may also be implemented to provide feedback to the user for the training process. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first foot placement training arrangement 100 further comprises a first sensing arrangement (as generally indicated in FIG. 2 and schematically shown in FIG. 6, and referred by the numeral 120 therein). The first sensing arrangement 120 is configured to detect engagement of the at least one disc 106 with the at least one pocket 102. Herein, the first sensing arrangement 120 comprises one or more of: a computer vision based sensing arrangement, a magnetic sensing arrangement, a touch sensing arrangement, a load cell sensing arrangement, a strain gauge sensing arrangement, a force resistor sensing arrangement, an optical sensing arrangement, an ultrasonic sensing arrangement. In the example of the computer vision based sensing arrangement as the first sensing arrangement 120, at least one camera (not shown) may be provided and mounted to, for example, the support rail arrangement 20, and is configured to record images of the platform 12; and a computer vision module may be provided in signal communication with the camera to receive the recorded images therefrom and configured to process the recorded images to detect engagement of the at least one disc 106 with the at least one pocket 102. Such working for the computer vision based sensing arrangement may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure. In other examples, the first sensing arrangement 120 may be physically associated with one or more of the at least one disc 106 and the at least one pocket 102 to detect engagement of the at least one disc 106 with the at least one pocket 102. For instance, as may be seen from FIG. 2, the first sensing arrangement 120 may have one or more magnets associated with the disc 106 (along circumferential periphery thereof) and further complementary one or more magnets associated with the pocket 102 (also along peripheral edge thereof), such that when the disc 106 is engaged with the pocket 102, the two sets of magnets may come in contact with each other to complete a circuit or a like, to generate a signal confirming the engagement of the disc 106 with the pocket 102. Other types of sensing arrangements may work on equivalent or similar principle for detecting the engagement of the disc 106

with the pocket 102. Again, such sensing arrangements may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
In one or more embodiments, the first foot placement training arrangement 100 further comprises a first control arrangement (as shown in FIG. 6 and referred by the numeral 130 therein). The first control arrangement 130 works with the first sensing arrangement 120 and is configured to provide a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the first sensing arrangement 120 detects engagement of the at least one disc 106 with the at least one pocket 102. The feedback may be in the form of an indication (like light based indication) or a signal which may further be processed (like in a computing device to keep a record and generate score for the training process). Again, the required circuit design and the required computer implementation to achieve the same may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure further provides a method for training proper foot placement to a user, in accordance with the said first aspect thereof. The method comprises providing a platform having a base surface. The method further comprises providing a first foot placement training arrangement in the platform, with the first foot placement training arrangement comprising: at least one pocket defined in the base surface; at least one actuating member having a first end and a second end, with the at least one actuating member being anchored from the first end thereof to the at least one pocket; at least one disc having a first surface and a second surface, with the at least one disc being mounted form the first surface thereof to the second end of the at least one actuating member; and a latching arrangement associated with the at least one disc, with the latching arrangement being configured to engage the at least one disc with the at least one pocket when the second surface of the at least one disc is acted upon by a first force, causing the at least one actuating member to compress, in a first direction within a first predefined angle range with respect to the base surface. The method further comprises detecting engagement of the at least one disc with the at least one pocket. The method further comprises providing a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the user places a foot thereof onto the second surface of the at least one disc to cause engagement of the at least one disc with the at least one pocket. In general, the first foot placement training arrangement enables the

user to place a foot thereof onto the second surface of the at least one disc to provide a first foot force, and the method provides feedback to the user indicative of proper foot placement based on detection of engagement of the at least one disc with the at least one pocket based the said first foot force such that the first foot force is coaxial with the said first force.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the foot placement training device 10 comprises the second foot placement training arrangement 200. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 is provided in the platform 12. FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of the second foot placement training arrangement 200. As illustrated, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 includes at least one sliding area 202 defined in the base surface 14 of the platform 12. Further, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 includes at least one plate 204 arranged on the base surface 14. As illustrated, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 includes one or more sets, including the sliding area 202 and the plate 204, defined in pairs, with the two such sets in a single pair being arranged adjacent to each other. Herein, in a single pair, one of the two sets is identified with one foot of the user and other of the two sets is identified with other foot of the user, when the user may be using the second foot placement training arrangement 200 for training purposes. In the illustrated embodiments, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 is shown to include two such pairs; however, the number of such pairs may be more or less without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the second foot placement training arrangement 200, the at least one plate 204 has a first surface (not shown) and a second surface 204a. The at least one plate 204 is arranged on the base surface 14 with the first surface thereof in a friction contact with the at least one sliding area 202 in the base surface 14. That is, the plate 204 is placed on the base surface 14 with the first surface in contact therewith. As may be seen, the plate 204 may generally be placed flat on the base surface 14. Herein, the sliding area 202 is in the form of a carved-out portion or section from the platform 12, at the base surface 14 thereof. As may be seen, the at least one sliding area 202 is in the form of a cavity formed in the base surface 14 with a depth defining a peripheral edge 202a therefor. Herein, a depth of the at least one sliding area 202 in the base surface 14 is equal to or greater than a thickness of the at least one plate 204. In the illustrated embodiments, the sliding area 202 is shown to have a circular transverse shape; however, it may be contemplated that the

sliding area 202 may have any other suitable shape, such as square, rectangular, or the like, without any limitations. Herein, the plate 204 is a freely movable object on the sliding area 202 within the boundaries thereof.
In the present embodiments, the at least one plate 204 has a transverse area smaller than the at least one sliding area 202 defined in the base surface 14. In particular, the at least one plate 204 has a circular shape with a first diameter, and the at least one sliding area 202 defined in the base surface 14 has a circular shape with a second diameter, and herein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. This is so such that the plate 204 is accommodated inside the boundaries of the sliding area 202 as defined in the base surface 14. In general, the plate 204 has a transverse shape substantially similar to a transverse shape of the sliding area 202, such that the plate 204 is accommodated within the boundary of the sliding area 202. In an example embodiment, the plate 204 may have a transverse shape different from the transverse shape of the sliding area 202 without any limitations. In another example embodiment, the at least one sliding area 202 may include a first sliding surface with a first transverse shape and a second sliding surface with a second transverse shape, and the at least one plate 204 may include a first plate with a third transverse shape substantially similar or not similar to the first transverse shape and a second plate with a fourth transverse shape substantially similar or not similar to the second transverse shape, such that the first plate is disposed in the first sliding surface and the second disc is disposed in the second sliding surface, in the second foot placement training arrangement 200.
In the present embodiments, when the second surface of the at least one plate 204 is acted upon by a second force in a second direction, then one of two outcomes may take place. If the second force in the second direction is within a second predefined angle range with respect to the base surface 14, the friction contact between the first surface of the at least one plate 204 and the at least one sliding area 202 is at least partially sustained to hinder slipping of the at least one plate 204 on the base surface 14, resulting in substantially no movement of the at least one plate 204. That is, if the angled second force is within the second predefined angle range, the plate 204 may not slip on the sliding area 202. On the other hand, if the second force in the second direction is out of the second predefined angle range with respect to the base surface 14, the friction contact between the first surface of the at least one plate 204 and the at least one sliding area 202 is collapsed to cause slipping of the at least one plate 204 on the base surface 14, resulting in a movement of the at least

one plate 204. That is, if the angled second force is out of the second predefined angle range, the plate 204 may slip on the sliding area 202. In an embodiment, the base surface 14 in the at least one sliding area 202 has a surface profile with a lower surface friction relative to other areas of the base surface 14. This provides for necessary friction contact to allow for slipping of the plate 204 in the sliding area 202 when subjected to substantially high angled force. As discussed, with the depth of the at least one sliding area 202 in the base surface 14 being equal to or greater than a thickness of the at least one plate 204, the plate 204 may not slip to fall outside of the sliding area 202 in the base surface 14.
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the second predefined angle range may vary for up to 5 degrees in case of training a user suffering from eversion related deformity effect, and up to 20 degrees in case of training a user suffering from inversion related deformity effect. It may be understood by a person skilled in the art that the second predefined angle range may be defined (set) by appropriate polishing/smoothening of the sliding area 202 and the first surface of the plate 204 to set the friction therebetween in the second foot placement training arrangement 200. Such appropriate amount of polishing/smoothening required may be contemplated by a person having ordinary skill in the art and thus has not been described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
As may be understood from the preceding paragraphs, the set of the sliding area 202 and the plate 204 in the second foot placement training arrangement 200 is designed in a manner such that the user (learner) has to place its foot on the second surface 204a of the plate 204 in a proper manner within a defined angle range known for proper foot placement. The purpose is to control the foot placement and improve the placement and step over the plate 204 as during walking, with the aim to stabilize the plate 204 (i.e. not cause slipping with respect to the sliding area 202) with proper foot placement. The practice to place the foot over the plate 204 in such a manner which may allow the user to walk over to next step easily. This practice improves the foot placement and develops the habit of placing the foot in a calculated and controlled manner. The user may practice it first by using the first support rail 22 with the rigid support bar 26b to have support thereof, and then by using the second support rail 24 with the flexible support bar 28b for more challenging training, and finally without any support at all. The support requirement may depend on the level of motor ability of the user.

In further embodiments, as described in the proceeding paragraphs, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 may also be implemented to provide feedback to the user for the training process. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 further comprises a second sensing arrangement (as generally indicated in FIG. 2 and schematically shown in FIG. 6, and referred by the numeral 220 therein). The second sensing arrangement 220 is configured to detect application of a force on the at least one plate 204 and a movement of the least one plate 204 in the at least one sliding area 202. Herein, the second sensing arrangement 220 may be associated with one or more of the at least one plate 204 and the at least one sliding area 202 in the base surface 14. In particular, the second sensing arrangement 220 may be associated with the peripheral edge 202a of the sliding area 202 formed in the base surface 14, and the second sensing arrangement 220 is configured to detect contact of the plate 204 with the peripheral edge 202a of the sliding area 202, if the plate 204 has slipped on the base surface 14 to hit the peripheral edge 202a of the sliding area 202. Herein, the second sensing arrangement comprises 220 one or more of: a computer vision based sensing arrangement, a magnetic sensing arrangement, a touch sensing arrangement, a load cell sensing arrangement, a strain gauge sensing arrangement, a force resistor sensing arrangement, an optical sensing arrangement, an ultrasonic sensing arrangement. In the example of the computer vision based sensing arrangement as the second sensing arrangement 220, at least one camera (not shown) may be provided and mounted to, for example, the support rail arrangement 20, and is configured to record images of the platform 12; and a computer vision module may be provided in signal communication with the camera to receive the recorded images therefrom and configured to process the recorded images to detect application of the force on the plate 204 and the movement of the plate 204 in the sliding area 202. Such working for the computer vision based sensing arrangement may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure. In other examples, the second sensing arrangement 220 may be physically associated with one or more of the plate 204 and the peripheral edge 202a of the sliding area 202 to detect the movement of the plate 204 in the sliding area 202, specifically hitting of the plate 204 onto the peripheral edge 202a of the sliding area 202. For instance, as may be seen from FIG. 3, the second sensing arrangement 120 may include one or more load sensor provided on the second surface 204a of the plate 204 to detect application of the force thereon. Further, the second sensing arrangement 120 may include one or more touch sensors associated with the plate 204 (along circumferential

periphery thereof) and further complementary one or more touch sensors associated with the sliding area 202 (also along the peripheral edge 202a thereof), such that when the plate 204 hits the peripheral edge 202a of the sliding area 202, the at least one of the two sets of touch sensors may detect the contact, to generate a signal confirming the slip of the plate 204. Other types of sensing arrangements may work on equivalent or similar principle for detecting the contact of the plate 204 with the peripheral edge 202a of the sliding area 202. Again, such sensing arrangements may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
In one or more embodiments, the second foot placement training arrangement 200 further comprises a second control arrangement (as shown in FIG. 6 and referred by the numeral 230 therein). The second control arrangement 230 works with the second sensing arrangement 220 and is configured to provide a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the second sensing arrangement 220 detects the application of the force on the plate 204, but, generally, no substantial movement of the plate 204 in the sliding area 202; and vice-versa. The feedback may be in the form of an indication (like light based indication) or a signal which may further be processed (like in a computing device to keep a record and generate score for the training process). Again, the required circuit design and the required computer implementation to achieve the same may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure further provides a method for training proper foot placement to a user, in accordance with the said second aspect thereof. The method comprises providing a platform having a base surface. The method further comprises providing a second foot placement training arrangement in the platform, with the second foot placement training arrangement comprising: at least one sliding area defined in the base surface; and at least one plate having a first surface and a second surface, with the at least one plate being arranged on the base surface with the first surface thereof in a friction contact with the at least one sliding area in the base surface. The method further comprises detecting application of a force on the at least one plate and a movement of the least one plate in the at least one sliding area. The method further comprises providing a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the user places a foot thereof onto the second surface of the at least one plate to apply a second force on the second surface of the at least one plate in a

second direction within a second predefined angle range with respect to the base surface, such that the friction contact between the first surface of the at least one plate and the at least one sliding area is at least partially sustained to hinder slipping of the at least one plate on the base surface.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, the foot placement training device 10 comprises the third foot placement training arrangement 300. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the third foot placement training arrangement 300 is provided in the platform 12. FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of the third foot placement training arrangement 300. As may be seen, the third foot placement training arrangement 300 includes one or more markings 302 formed on the base surface 14. The markings 302 may be in the form of patterns or imprints provided on the base surface 14. Herein, each of the one or more markings 302 has a profile of a human foot. This allows the markings 302 to be discernible as a visual reference as a location to position a foot thereon and to align the foot with the profile thereof by a user. In the present embodiments, the one or more markings 302 comprises a first set of markings identified with a right foot of a human and a second set of markings identified with a left foot of a human. That is, some of the markings 302 may have a shape corresponding to a shape of a right foot from perspective of the user and other markings 302 may have a shape corresponding to a shape of a left foot from perspective of the user. Therefore, the user may practice placement of each foot during the course of training exercise, using the third foot placement training arrangement 300. In the present embodiments, the one or more markings 302 comprises at least two markings, with each of the at least two markings having different orientation. The different orientations of the markings 302 may allow the user to learn foot placement at different orientations, as required in day-to-day activities. That is, the use may place a foot thereof to align with the shape/orientation of the markings 302 to learn to place the foot at different orientations.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the base surface 14 comprises a display. In particular, the entire base surface 14 corresponding to the third foot placement training arrangement 300 may be in the form of a display. Herein, such display is configured to dynamically generate the one or more markings 302 thereon. That is, the display may randomly generate the markings 302 for the perusal of the user. It may be appreciated that by using such display for dynamically generating the markings 302, different patterns for

the markings 302 may be generated, as desired or required for proper training of the user for correct foot placement. For instance, the third foot placement training arrangement 300 utilizing the display may generate a first pattern of markings 302 which correspond to a "low" complexity level for the training of the beginner user, a second pattern of markings 302 which correspond to a "medium" complexity level for the training of an intermediate user, and a third pattern of markings 302 which correspond to a "high" complexity level for the training of an advanced user, and the like. This allows a single user or different users to try different levels of trainings using a single device, as per the requirement.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the third foot placement training arrangement 300 further includes a third sensing arrangement (as generally indicated in FIG. 2 and schematically shown in FIG. 6, and referred by the numeral 320 therein) configured to detect at least one of, when the foot is positioned substantially aligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings, and substantially misaligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings. Herein, the third sensing arrangement 320 comprises at least one sensor (indicated by the numeral 322 in FIG. 3) associated with one of the one or more markings 302. In one embodiment, the at least one sensor 322 is disposed proximal to the corresponding one of one or more markings 302 such that the at least one sensor 322 detects when the foot is positioned substantially misaligned with the profile of the corresponding one of one or more markings 302, by sensing the foot being in contact therewith. That is, the sensor 322 may be placed around periphery of the marking 302, such that when the foot is placed incorrectly (i.e. outside of the profile of the marking 302), the foot may land on the sensor 322, and the sensor 322 may thus detect such event. It may be appreciated that the sensor 322 may include multiple such sensors placed strategically around the periphery of the marking 302 to detect the incorrect foot placement at different incorrect orientations with respect to the orientation of the corresponding marking 302. In some embodiments, two of the adjacent markings 302 may be associated with a single sensor 322 for detecting incorrect placement of foot with respect thereto. In another embodiment, the third sensing arrangement 320 comprises at least one sensor (indicated by the numeral 324 in FIG. 3) associated with one of the one or more markings 302. Herein, the at least one sensor 324 is disposed on the corresponding one of one or more markings 302 such that the at least one sensor 324 detects when the foot is positioned substantially aligned with the profile of the corresponding one of one or more markings 302, by sensing the foot being in contact therewith. That is, the sensor 324 may be placed within the

periphery of the marking 302, such that when the foot is placed correctly (i.e. generally inside of or aligned with the profile of the marking 302), the foot may land on the sensor 324, and the sensor 324 may thus detect such event. It may be appreciated that the sensor 324 may include one sensor placed strategically at generally a geometric centre of the periphery of the marking 302 so as to have maximum probability of foot being landing thereon when placed correctly, to detect the correct foot placement even at different correct orientations with respect to the orientation of the corresponding marking 302.
In one or more embodiments, the third sensing arrangement 320 comprises one or more of: a computer vision based sensing arrangement, a mechanical sensing arrangement, an electro-mechanical sensing arrangement, an air-whistle based sensing arrangement, a magnetic sensing arrangement, a touch sensing arrangement, a load cell sensing arrangement, a strain gauge sensing arrangement, a force resistor sensing arrangement, an optical sensing arrangement, an ultrasonic sensing arrangement. In the example of the computer vision based sensing arrangement as the third sensing arrangement 320, at least one camera (not shown) may be provided and mounted to, for example, the support rail arrangement 20, and is configured to record images of the platform 12; and a computer vision module may be provided in signal communication with the camera to receive the recorded images therefrom and configured to process the recorded images to detect when the foot is positioned substantially aligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings 302, and substantially misaligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings 302. Such working for the computer vision based sensing arrangement may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure. In other examples, the third sensing arrangement 320 may be physically associated with the one or more markings 302, such as the sensors 322, 324 being part of the air-whistle based sensing arrangement in which the sensor 322 may be in the form of air-whistle providing one kind of pitch sound to indicate wrong placement of foot with respect to the corresponding marking 302, and the sensor 324 may be in the form of air-whistle providing another kind of pitch sound to indicate correct placement of foot with respect to the corresponding marking 302. Other types of sensing arrangements may work on equivalent or similar principle for detecting when the foot is positioned substantially aligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings 302, and substantially misaligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings 302. Again,

such sensing arrangements may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
In an exemplary embodiment, the markings 302 in the third foot placement training arrangement 300 are designed with filled in air sacs with blowing/whistling capacity (which acts as the sensor 322 of the third sensing arrangement 320). Every marking 302 is placed in different direction and angle. The sacs are elevated bags that remains fixed in the interior side of the markings 302. The compressible sacs remain filled with air and upon compression are able to produce whistle sound, which indicates the user that foot is de-aligned when placed. The user is required to place foot properly as per the designed markings 302 in the direction of the footmark. In case of excess pronation of foot or if the user may be putting excessive load on the medial malleolus and arch of the foot, which may disturb the alignment of the foot, the fixed sacs on the markings 302 will get pressed and start blowing which will warn the user to place foot properly. These indications make the performer learn to practice foot placement skills with proper alignment. The primary intention of the third foot placement training arrangement 300 is to learn placing the foot properly on the ground in the direction it is required. In one example, ten markings 302, as foot alignment indicators, are designed and implanted in the platform in such a way that learner can place left foot on five markings 302 and right foot on other five markings 302 (as in walking style). The toughness and balanced required during the foot placement on different directions and angle makes the user to place foot with proper alignment and therefore improve foot placement. The different direction and angle of foot during this course makes the user to develop balance and coordinate with better foot placement. The user may practice it first by using the first support rail 22 with the rigid support bar 26b to have support thereof, and then by using the second support rail 24 with the flexible support bar 28b for more challenging training, and finally without any support at all. The support requirement may depend on the level of motor ability of the user.
In one or more embodiments, the third foot placement training arrangement 300 further comprises a third control arrangement (as shown in FIG. 6 and referred by the numeral 330 therein). The third control arrangement 330 works with the third sensing arrangement 320 and is configured to provide a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the third sensing arrangement 220 detects that the foot is positioned substantially aligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings 302, and a feedback indicative of improper foot

placement when the third sensing arrangement 220 detects that the foot is positioned substantially misaligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings 302. The feedback may be in the form of an indication (like light based indication) or a signal which may further be processed (like in a computing device to keep a record and generate score for the training process). Again, the required circuit design and the required computer implementation to achieve the same may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure further provides a method for training proper foot placement to a user, in accordance with the said third aspect thereof. The method comprises providing a platform having a base surface. The method further comprises providing a third foot placement training arrangement in the platform, with the third foot placement training arrangement comprising one or more markings formed on the base surface, with each of the one or more markings having a profile of a human foot to be discernible as a visual reference as a location to position a foot thereon and to align the foot with the profile thereof by a user. The method further comprises detecting at least one of, when the foot is positioned substantially aligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings, and substantially misaligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings. The method further comprises providing a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the foot is positioned substantially aligned with the profile of one of the one or more markings.
According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the foot placement training device 10 comprises the fourth foot placement training arrangement 400. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fourth foot placement training arrangement 400 is provided in the platform 12. FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed diagrammatic perspective view illustration of the fourth foot placement training arrangement 400. As may be seen, the fourth foot placement training arrangement 400 includes at least one grooved track 402 defined in the base surface 14 and at least one toe-plate 404 seated within the at least one grooved track 402. The grooved track 402 is in the form of a channel or a furrow with a certain depth formed in the base surface 14, such as by carving of the base surface 14, in the platform 12. In one or more embodiments, the at least one grooved track 402 has a serpentine profile. However, it may be contemplated that the grooved track 402 may have any other suitable profile, such as a straight track profile, without any limitations. Further, the at least one toe-plate 404 is in the shape of a puck which may be accommodated to be arranged within the at least one

grooved track 402. It may be appreciated that a diameter of the toe-plate 404 is smaller than a width of the grooved track 402, to be seated therein. Herein, the at least one toe-plate 404 is adapted to be moved in the at least one grooved track 402 by a user, when the user places one or more toes of a foot thereof onto the at least one toe-plate 404 and drags the at least one toe-plate 404 in the at least one grooved track 402 following a profile of the at least one grooved track 402. The user may be required to drag the toe-plate 404 from one end 401a of the grooved track 402 to another end 401b of the grooved track 402, and vice-versa; or anywhere in between without any limitations. This allows the user to learn foot placement and movement, as required in day-to-day activities.
In an embodiment, the at least one grooved track 402 comprises two grooved tracks 402a, 402b, with the two grooved tracks 402a, 402b defined adjacent and generally parallel to each other in the base surface. Further, the at least one toe-404 plate comprises two toe-plates 404a, 404b, with each of the two grooved tracks 402a, 402b having one of the two toe-plates 404a, 404b accommodated therein, such that the user places one or more toes of a left foot thereof onto the one (say, the toe-plate 404a) of the two toe-plates 404a, 404b in a relatively left defined grooved track (say, the grooved track 402a) of the two adjacent grooved tracks 402a, 402b and the user places one or more toes of a right foot thereof onto the other one (say, the toe-plate 404b) of the two toe-plates 404a, 404b in a relatively right defined grooved track (say, the grooved track 402b) of the two adjacent grooved tracks 402a, 402b. In a particular embodiment, the at least one toe-plate 404 comprises four toe-plates, with each of the two grooved tracks 402 having two of the four toe-plates 404 accommodated therein, such that the user places one or more toes of a left foot thereof onto the one of the two toe-plates 404 in a relatively left defined grooved track of the two adjacent grooved tracks 402 and the user places one or more toes of a right foot thereof onto the other one of the two toe-plates 404 in a relatively right defined grooved track of the two adjacent grooved tracks 402. This allows the user to learn foot placement and movement for both feet, as required in day-to-day activities.
In one or more embodiments, the at least one grooved track 402 has a depth substantially smaller than half a thickness of the at least one toe-plate 404 such that the at least one toe-plate 404 is adapted to be unseated from the at least one grooved track 402 when the user places the one or more toes of the foot thereof onto the at least one toe-plate 404 and drags the at least one toe-plate 404 in the at least one grooved track 402 not substantially

following the profile of the at least one grooved track 402. That is, if the user may not be able to follow the profile of the grooved track 402, the toe-plate 404 may strike a peripheral wall of the grooved track 402, and with thickness of the toe-plate 404 being larger than the depth of the grooved track 402 (i.e. a height of the peripheral wall of the grooved track 402), the toe-plate 404 may fall outside of the grooved track 402 in such scenario. Thus, the unseating of the toe-plate 404 from the grooved track 402 may be used as an indication for incorrect foot placement and/or movement of the user. The user may practice it first by using the first support rail 22 with the rigid support bar 26b to have support thereof, and then by using the second support rail 24 with the flexible support bar 28b for more challenging training, and finally without any support at all. The support requirement may depend on the level of motor ability of the user.
In one or more embodiments, the fourth foot placement training arrangement 400 further comprises a fourth sensing arrangement 420 configured to detect if the at least one toe-plate 404 is being dragged in the at least one grooved track 402 and if the at least one toe-plate 404 is unseated from the at least one grooved track 402. As discussed, the unseating of the toe-plate 404 from the grooved track 402 may be used as an indication for incorrect foot placement and/or movement of the user; therefore, the fourth sensing arrangement 420 by detecting the unseating of the toe-plate 404 from the grooved track 402 may detect the incorrect foot placement and/or movement of the user. In an embodiment, the fourth sensing arrangement 420 comprises at least one camera (schematically represented in FIG. 5 and indicated by the same numeral 420 as the fourth sensing arrangement) configured to record images of the at least one grooved track. The fourth sensing arrangement 420 further comprises a computer vision based module (which may be part of a fourth control arrangement 430, as described in the proceeding paragraphs) in signal communication with the at least one camera 420 to receive the recorded images therefrom, the computer vision based module configured to process the recorded images to detect if the at least one toe-plate 404 is being dragged in the at least one grooved track 402 and if the at least one toe-plate 404 is unseated from the at least one grooved track 402. Such working for the computer vision based module may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art and thus not described in detail herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.
In the present embodiments, fourth foot placement training arrangement 400 further comprises a fourth control arrangement 430 configured to provide a feedback indicative of

proper foot placement and/or movement when the fourth sensing arrangement 420 detects that the at least one toe-plate 404 being dragged in the at least one grooved track 402 at a first instant of time and the at least one toe-plate 404 being not unseated from the at least one grooved track 402 at a second instant of time, and wherein the first instant of time and the second instant of time is within a predefined threshold time gap. That is, during the course of practice if the user is able to drag the toe-plate 404, say form one end 401a of the grooved track 402 to the other end 401b thereof, then it may be indicated that the user has accomplished proper foot placement and/or movement of the foot. In some examples, the fourth control arrangement 430 is also configured to provide a feedback indicative of improper foot placement and/or movement when the fourth sensing arrangement 420 detects that the toe-plate 404 being dragged in the grooved track 402 at the first instant of time and the toe-plate 404 being unseated from the grooved track 402 at the second instant of time. Herein, the course of practice, i.e. time it may usually take for a typical user to complete the dragging of the toe-plate 404 in the grooved track 402, may be used as a benchmark to define the said predefined threshold time gap.
The present disclosure further provides a method for training proper foot placement to a user, in accordance with the said fourth aspect thereof. The method comprises providing a platform having a base surface. The method further comprises providing a fourth foot placement training arrangement in the platform, with the fourth foot placement training arrangement comprising at least one grooved track defined in the base surface; and at least one toe-plate seated within the at least one grooved track, with the at least one toe-plate is adapted to be moved in the at least one grooved track by a user, when the user places one or more toes of a foot thereof onto the at least one toe-plate and drags the at least one toe-plate in the at least one grooved track following a profile of the at least one grooved track. The method further comprises detecting if the at least one toe-plate is being dragged in the at least one grooved track and if the at least one toe-plate is unseated from the at least one grooved track. The method further comprises providing a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the fourth sensing arrangement detects that the at least one toe-plate being dragged in the at least one grooved track at a first instant of time and the at least one toe-plate being not unseated from the at least one grooved track at a second instant of time, and wherein the first instant of time and the second instant of time is within a predefined threshold time gap.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a system (representing and indicated by the same numeral 10 as the foot placement training device) as part of one or more of the first foot placement training arrangement 100, the second foot placement training arrangement 200, the third foot placement training arrangement 300 and the fourth foot placement training arrangement 400 for training proper foot placement to a user. The system 10 includes a control arrangement 30 which may regulate control and feedback functions for the system 10. Herein, the control arrangement 30 includes the first control arrangement 130, the second control arrangement 230, the third control arrangement 330 and the fourth control arrangement 430, as described in the preceding paragraphs. As used herein, the term "control arrangement" may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.
The control arrangement 30 may help with the learning process of the user by providing feedback related to the proper or improper foot placement and/or movement, for the course of training. The feedback may be near real-time feedback in the form of visual, audio and/or audio-visual means, such as blinking light, buzzer or the like. In some examples, the control arrangement 30 may provide the feedback in the form of digital signals, which may be accessed via a smartphone or the like. Further, the control arrangement 30 may keep a record of the instates of proper and improper foot placement and/or movement during the course of a training session, or over a range of training sessions, and provide the feedback in the form of graphs, tables or the like, so as to allow for monitoring the progress in the behavior related to foot placement and/or movement of the user during a training period. The users may also receive points as a result of successful completion of certain percentage of proper foot placement/movement during the course of a training session or the like, which may expedite the learning system by encouraging the user to adopt better foot placement movement and further motivating the user to perform the exercise more efficiently.
The foot placement training device 10 of the present disclosure provides supporting and enhancing foot placement ability and in particular to reinforce better foot movement involving proper coordinated contact of foot on ground and efficient balance learning and

walking for the user. The present foot placement training device 10 reinforces better foot placement and movement skill in individuals who have been diagnosed with body postural or have less mental ability to understand proper placement of foot on ground. The foot placement training device 10 may be used to prompt the individual to learn better foot placement and efficient foot movement, systematic foot positioning and to follow designed marks in recreational manner which creates interest and encouragement. The foot placement training device 10 expedites the learning system to adopt better foot placement movement and motivate the individual to perform it efficiently. The practice can make individual better in movement of the body segments which increases overall movement ability of individual. Other embodiments of the present disclosure provide additional capability using the design for small children (general/normal children) to enhance their foot placement and movement ability and understanding the correct positioning of lower body extremities.
Modifications to embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as "including", "comprising", "incorporating", "have", "is" used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.

CLAIMS
1. A foot placement training device, comprising:
a platform having a base surface; and
a fourth foot placement training arrangement provided in the platform, the fourth foot placement training arrangement comprising:
at least one grooved track defined in the base surface; and at least one toe-plate seated within the at least one grooved track, wherein the at least one toe-plate is adapted to be moved in the at least one grooved track by a user, when the user places one or more toes of a foot thereof onto the at least one toe-plate and drags the at least one toe-plate in the at least one grooved track following a profile of the at least one grooved track.
2. The foot placement training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one grooved track comprises two grooved tracks, with the two grooved tracks defined adjacent and generally parallel to each other in the base surface, and wherein the at least one toe-plate comprises two toe-plates, with each of the two grooved tracks having one of the two toe-plates accommodated therein, such that the user places one or more toes of a left foot thereof onto the one of the two toe-plates in a relatively left defined grooved track of the two adjacent grooved tracks and the user places one or more toes of a right foot thereof onto the other one of the two toe-plates in a relatively right defined grooved track of the two adjacent grooved tracks.
3. The foot placement training device as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least one grooved track has a serpentine profile.
4. The foot placement training device as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the at least one toe-plate is in the shape of a puck.
5. The foot placement training device as claimed in any one of preceding claims, wherein the at least one grooved track has a depth substantially smaller than half a thickness of the at least one toe-plate such that the at least one toe-plate is adapted to be unseated from the at least one grooved track when the user places the one or more toes of the foot thereof onto the at least one toe-plate and drags the at least one toe-plate in the at least one grooved track not substantially following the profile of the at least one grooved track.

6. The foot placement training device as claimed in any one of preceding claims, wherein the fourth foot placement training arrangement further comprises a fourth sensing arrangement configured to detect if the at least one toe-plate is being dragged in the at least one grooved track and if the at least one toe-plate is unseated from the at least one grooved track.
7. The foot placement training device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fourth sensing arrangement comprises:
at least one camera configured to record images of the at least one grooved track; and
a computer vision based module in signal communication with the at least one camera to receive the recorded images therefrom, the computer vision based module configured to process the recorded images to detect if the at least one toe-plate is being dragged in the at least one grooved track and if the at least one toe-plate is unseated from the at least one grooved track.
8. The foot placement training device as claimed in any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the fourth foot placement training arrangement further comprises a fourth control arrangement configured to provide a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the fourth sensing arrangement detects that the at least one toe-plate being dragged in the at least one grooved track at a first instant of time and the at least one toe-plate being not unseated from the at least one grooved track at a second instant of time, and wherein the first instant of time and the second instant of time is within a predefined threshold time gap.
9. The foot placement training device as claimed in any one of preceding claims further comprising a first support rail and a second support rail fixed on the base surface of the platform, and wherein at least one of the first support rail and the second support rail comprises a flexible support bar.
10. A method for training proper foot placement to a user, comprising:
providing a platform having a base surface; and
providing a fourth foot placement training arrangement in the platform, with the fourth foot placement training arrangement comprising:
at least one grooved track defined in the base surface; and
at least one toe-plate seated within the at least one grooved track,

wherein the at least one toe-plate is adapted to be moved in the at least one grooved track by a user, when the user places one or more toes of a foot thereof onto the at least one toe-plate and drags the at least one toe-plate in the at least one grooved track following a profile of the at least one grooved track; detecting if the at least one toe-plate is being dragged in the at least one grooved track and if the at least one toe-plate is unseated from the at least one grooved track; and
providing a feedback indicative of proper foot placement when the fourth sensing arrangement detects that the at least one toe-plate being dragged in the at least one grooved track at a first instant of time and the at least one toe-plate being not unseated from the at least one grooved track at a second instant of time, and wherein the first instant of time and the second instant of time is within a predefined threshold time gap.