Manually powered treadmill with variable braking resistance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850150-B2
Application number	US-202016792444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2020
Priority date	Mar 17, 2009
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A treadmill includes a frame; a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partially supported by the plurality of bearings and adapted for rotational movement relative to the frame, the running belt having a running surface, at least a portion of which is curved; a braking system configured to selectively resist rotation of the running belt; a support element coupled to the frame; and a safety device coupled to the running belt. The safety device is at least partly supported by the support element. The running belt freely rotates in a first direction of rotation relative to the frame, however, in a second direction of rotation, opposite the first direction of rotation, engagement between the support element and at least a portion of the safety device substantially prevents rotation the running belt relative to the frame.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A treadmill, comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame;
a running belt at least partially supported by the plurality of bearings and adapted for rotational movement relative to the frame, the running belt having a running surface, at least a portion of which is curved;
a braking system configured to selectively resist rotation of the running belt;
a support element coupled to the frame; and
a safety device coupled to the running belt and at least partly supported by the support element, wherein the safety device includes a first safety race element and a second safety race element, wherein at least one of the first and second safety race elements is adapted for rotation relative to the frame, and wherein one of the first and second safety race elements substantially surrounds the other of the one of the first and second safety race elements;
wherein one of the first and second safety race elements and the running belt freely rotates in a first direction of rotation relative to the frame, however, in a second direction of rotation, opposite the first direction of rotation, both the running belt and the one of the first and second safety race elements is substantially prevented from rotation relative to the frame.

2. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the support element defines a keyway.

3. The treadmill of claim 2 , wherein the keyway is configured to receive a key such that the key engages with the support element and the portion of the safety device, the interaction between the key and keyway contributing to an engagement between the support element and at least a portion of the safety device.

4. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the running belt comprises a plurality of slats, and wherein at least one slat in the plurality of slats comprises a roller.

5. The treadmill of claim 4 , wherein the at least one slat includes a top surface, and wherein the roller is coupled to a member extending away from the top surface of the at least one slat.

6. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the first and second safety race elements of the safety device at least partly form a one-way bearing.

7. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the braking system utilizes friction to resist rotation of the running belt in the first direction of rotation.

8. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the braking system is adjustable to permit application of a variable amount of force to resist rotation of the running belt.

9. The treadmill of claim 1 , further comprising a rotatable element coupled to the frame, wherein the braking system comprises a braking belt coupled to the frame and adapted to transmit a resistance of rotation to the rotatable element.

10. The treadmill of claim 9 , wherein the rotatable element comprises at least one of a front running belt pulley coupled to the frame, a rear running belt pulley coupled to the frame, and a rotatable shaft coupled to the frame.

11. The treadmill of claim 1 , wherein the treadmill is a manually powered, non-motorized treadmill.

12. A treadmill, comprising:
a frame;
a running belt coupled to the frame and adapted for rotational movement relative to the frame, the running belt having a running surface, at least a portion of which is curved;
a braking system configured to resist rotation of the running belt; and
a first safety ring element and a second safety ring element, both of which are coupled to the frame and the running belt, wherein at least one of the first and second safety ring elements is adapted for rotation relative to the frame, and wherein one of the first and second safety ring elements substantially surrounds the other of the one of the first and second safety ring elements;
wherein one of the first and second safety ring elements and the running belt freely rotate in a first direction of rotation relative to the frame, however, in a second direction of rotation, opposite the first direction of rotation, the first safety ring element causes the second safety ring element to substantially prevent rotation of the running belt relative to the frame.

13. The treadmill of claim 12 , wherein the braking system is adapted to apply a variable amount of force to resist rotation of the running belt in the first direction of rotation.

14. The treadmill of claim 12 , wherein the running belt comprises a plurality of slats.

15. The treadmill of claim 14 , wherein at least one slat in the plurality of slats includes a top surface, and wherein a roller is coupled to a member extending away from the top surface of the at least one slat.

16. The treadmill of claim 12 , wherein the braking system utilizes friction to resist rotation of the running belt in the first direction of rotation.

17. The treadmill of claim 12 , further comprising a rotatable element coupled to the frame, wherein the braking system comprises a braking belt coupled to the frame and adapted to transmit a resistance of rotation to the rotatable element.

18. The treadmill of claim 17 , wherein the rotatable element at least partly supports the running belt.

19. The treadmill of claim 12 , wherein the frame includes a left side member, a right side member, and at least one cross-member extending between the left side member and the right side member.

20. A treadmill, comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable element coupled to the frame;
a running belt at least partly supported by the rotatable element, the running belt having a running surface, at least a portion of which is curved;
a braking system configured to selectively resist the rotational movement of the running belt; and
a safety device coupled to the running belt the frame, wherein the safety device includes a first safety race element and a second safety race element, wherein at least one of the first and second safety race elements is rotatable relative to the frame, and wherein one of the first and second safety race elements substantially surrounds the other of the one of the first and second safety race elements;
wherein one of the first and second safety race elements and the running belt freely rotates in a first direction of rotation relative to the frame, however, in a second direction of rotation, opposite the first direction of rotation, the one of the first and second safety race elements is substantially prevented from rotation relative to the frame to substantially prevent rotation of the running belt relative to the frame.

21. The treadmill of claim 20 , wherein the braking system is adapted to apply a variable amount of force to resist rotation of the running belt in the first direction of rotation.

22. The treadmill of claim 20 , wherein the running belt comprises a plurality of slats, wherein at least one slat in the plurality of slats includes a top surface, and wherein a roller is coupled to a member extending away from the top surface of the at least one slat.

23. The treadmill of claim 20 , wherein the first and second safety race elements of the safety device at least partly form a one-way bearing.

24. The treadmill of claim 20 , wherein the frame comprises a left side member, a right side member, and at least one cross-member extending between the left side member and the right side member.

25. The treadmill of claim 20 , wherein the braking system comprises a braking belt coupled to the frame and adapted to transmit a resistance of rotation to the rotatable element.

Assignees

• Woodway Usa Inc

Inventors

• Bayerlein Douglas G
• Emons Vance E
• Oblamski Nicholas A
• Hoerig Scott D
• Zank Matthew J
• Zimpel Robert L
• Richards Joel W

Classifications

• A63B21/0055

  the produced electric power used as a source for other equipment, e.g. for TVs · CPC title

• A63B22/02

  with movable endless bands {, e.g. treadmills (other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028)} · CPC title

• A63B22/0023

  the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band · CPC title

• A63B22/0017

  the adjustment being controlled by movement of the user · CPC title

• A63B2230/06

  heartbeat rate only · CPC title