Patent Grant
12090356
The present invention relates generally to the field of treadmills. More specifically, the present invention relates to manual treadmills. Treadmills enable a person to walk, jog, or run for a relatively long distance in a limited space. It should be noted that throughout this document, the term “run” and variations thereof (e.g., running, etc.) in any context is intended to include all substantially linear locomotion by a person. Examples of this linear locomotion include, but are not limited to, jogging, walking, skipping, scampering, sprinting, dashing, hopping, galloping, etc.
A person running generates force to propel themselves in a desired direction. To simplify this discussion, the desired direction will be designated as the forward direction. As the person's feet contact the ground (or other surface), their muscles contract and extend to apply a force to the ground that is directed generally rearward (i.e., has a vector direction substantially opposite the direction they desire to move). Keeping with Newton's third law of motion, the ground resists this rearwardly directed force from the person, resulting in the person moving forward relative to the ground at a speed related to the force they are creating.
To counteract the force created by the treadmill user so that the user stays in a relatively static fore and aft position on the treadmill, most treadmills utilize a belt that is driven by a motor. The motor operatively applies a rotational force to the belt, causing that portion of the belt on which the user is standing to move generally rearward. This force must be sufficient to overcome all sources of friction, such as the friction between the belt and other treadmill components in contact therewith and kinetic friction, to ultimately rotate the belt at a desired speed. The desired net effect is that, when the user is positioned on a running surface of the belt, the forwardly directed velocity achieved by the user is substantially negated or balanced by the rearwardly directed velocity of the belt. Stated differently, the belt moves at substantially the same speed as the user, but in the opposite direction. In this way, the user remains at substantially the same relative position along the treadmill while running. It should be noted that the belts of conventional, motor-driven treadmills must overcome multiple, significant sources of friction because of the presence of the motor and configurations of the treadmills themselves.
Similar to a treadmill powered by a motor, a manual treadmill must also incorporate some system or means to absorb or counteract the forward velocity generated by a user so that the user may generally maintain a substantially static position on the running surface of the treadmill. The counteracting force driving the belt of a manual treadmill is desirably sufficient to move the belt at substantially the same speed as the user so that the user stays in roughly the same static position on the running surface. Unlike motor-driven treadmills, however, this force is not generated by a motor.
One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a manually operated treadmill comprising a treadmill frame having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, a front shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame at the front end, a rear shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame at the rear end, and a running belt including a curved running surface upon which a user of the treadmill may run. The running belt is disposed about the front and rear shafts such that force generated by the user causes rotation of the front shaft and the rear shaft and also causes the running surface of the running belt to move from the front shaft toward the rear shaft. The treadmill is configured to control the speed of the running belt to facilitate the maintenance of the contour of the curved running surface.
Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to a manually operated treadmill comprising a treadmill frame, a front support member rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a rear support member rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a running belt including a curved running surface upon which a user of the treadmill may run, wherein the running belt is supported by the front support member and the rear support member, and a synchronizing system configured to cause the front support member and the rear support member to rotate at substantially the same speeds. The force generated by the user causes rotation of the front support member and the rear support member and also causes the running belt to rotate relative to the treadmill frame.
Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to a manually operated treadmill comprising a treadmill frame, a front shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a rear shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a running belt including a contoured running surface upon which a user of the treadmill may run, wherein the running belt is disposed about the front and rear shafts such that force generated by the user causes rotation of the front shaft and the rear shaft and also causes the running belt to rotate about the front shaft and the rear shaft without the rotation of the running belt being generated by a motor, and a one-way bearing assembly configured to prevent rotation of the running surface of the running belt in one direction.
Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to manually operated treadmill comprising a treadmill frame, a running belt including a running surface upon which a user of the treadmill may run, a front support member rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, the front support member comprising the forwardmost support for the running belt, a rear support member rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, the rear support member comprising the rearwardmost support for the running belt. The running surface comprises at least in part a complex curve located intermediate the front support member and the rear support member and incorporating a minimum of two geometric configurations.
Referring to
A pair of side panels 24 and 26 (e.g., covers, shrouds, etc.) are preferably provided on the right and left sides of the base 12 to effectively shield the user from the components or moving parts of the treadmill 10. The base 12 is supported by multiple support feet 28, which will be described in greater detail below. A rearwardly extending handle 30 is provided on the rear end of the base 12 and a pair of wheels 32 are provided at the front of the base 12, however, the wheels 32 are mounted so that they are generally not in contact with the ground when the treadmill is in an operating position. The user can easily move and relocate the treadmill 10 by lifting the rear of the treadmill base 12 a sufficient amount so that the multiple support feet 28 are no longer in contact with the ground, instead the wheels 32 contact the ground, thereby permitting the user to easily roll the entire treadmill 10. It should be noted that the left and right-hand sides of the treadmill and various components thereof are defined from the perspective of a forward-facing user standing on the running surface of the treadmill 10.
Referring to
The frame 40 comprises longitudinally-extending, opposing side members, shown as a left-hand side member 52 and a right-hand side member 54, and one or more lateral or cross-members 56 extending between and structurally connecting the side members 52 and 54 according to an exemplary embodiment. Each side member 52, 54 includes an inner surface 58 and an outer surface 60. The inner surface 58 of the left-hand side member 52 is opposite to and faces the inner surface 58 of the right-hand side member 54. According to other exemplary embodiments, the frame may have substantially any configuration suitable for providing structure and support for the manual treadmill.
Similar to most motor-driven treadmills, the front shaft assembly 44 includes a pair of front running belt pulleys 62 interconnected with, and preferably directly mounted to, a shaft 64, and the rear shaft assembly 46 includes a pair of rear running belt pulleys 66 interconnected with, and preferably directly mounted to, a shaft 68. The front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 are configured to facilitate movement of the running belt 16. The running belt 16 is disposed about the front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66, which will be discussed in more detail below. As the front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 are preferably fixed relative to shafts 64 and 68, respectively, rotation of the front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 causes the shafts 64, 68 to rotate in the same direction. The front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 are formed of a material sufficiently rigid and durable to maintain shape under load.
Preferably, the material is of a relatively light weight so as to reduce the inertia of the pulleys 62, 66. The pulleys 62, 66 may be formed of any material having one or more of these characteristics (e.g., metal, ceramic, composite, plastic, etc.). According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 are formed of cast aluminum. According to another embodiment, the front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 are formed of a glass-filled nylon, for example, Grivory® GV-5H Black 9915 Nylon Copolymer available from EMS-GRIVORY of Sumter, SC 29151, which may save cost and reduce the weight of the pulleys 62, 66 relative to metal pulleys. To prevent a static charge due to operation of the treadmill 10 from building on a pulley 62, 66 formed of electrically insulative materials (e.g., plastic, composite, etc.), an antistatic additive, for example Antistat 10124 from Nexus Resin Group of Mystic, CT 06355, maybe may be blended with the GV-5H material.
As noted above, the manual treadmill disclosed herein includes a force translation system that incorporates a variety of innovations to translate the forward force created by the user into rotation of the running belt and permit the user to maintain a substantially static fore and aft position on the running belt while running. One of the ways to translate this force is to configure the running belt 16 to be more responsive to the force generated by the user. For example, by minimizing the friction between the running belt 16 and the other relevant components of the treadmill 10, more of the force the user applies to the running belt 16 to propel themselves forward can be utilized to rotate the running belt 16.
Another way to counteract the user-generated force and convert or translate it into rotational motion of the running belt 16 is to integrate a non-planar running surface, such as non-planar running surface 70. Depending on the configuration, non-planar running surfaces can provide a number of advantages. First, the shape of the non-planar running surface may be such that, when a user is on the running surface, the force of gravity acting upon the weight of the user's body helps rotate the running belt. Second, the shapes may be such that it creates a physical barrier to restrict or prevent the user from propelling themselves off the front end 20 of the treadmill 10 (e.g., acting essentially as a stop when the user positions their foot thereagainst, etc.). Third, the shapes of some of the non-planar running surfaces can be such that it facilitates the movement of the running belt 16 there along (e.g., because of the curvature, etc.). Accordingly, the force the user applies to the running belt is more readily able to be translated into rotation of the running belt 16.
As seen in
A user can generally utilize the force translation system of the treadmill 10 to control the speed of the treadmill 10 by the relative placement of her weight-bearing foot along the running belt 16 of the base 12. Generally, the rotational speed of the running belt 16 increases as greater force is applied thereto in the rearward direction. The generally upward-inclined shape of the front portion 72 thus provides an opportunity to increase the force applied to the running belt 16, and, consequently, to increase the speed of the running belt 16. For example, by increasing her stride and/or positioning her weight-bearing foot vertically higher on the front portion 72 relative to the lowest portion of the running belt 16, gravity will exert a greater and greater amount of force on the running belt 16 to drive it rearwardly. In the configuration of the running belt 16 seen in
Another factor which will increase the speed the user experiences on the treadmill 10 is the relative cadence the user assumes. As the user increases her cadence and places her weight-bearing foot more frequently on the upwardly extending front portion 72, more gravitational force is available to counteract the user-generated force, which translates into greater running speed for the user on the running belt 16. It is important to note that speed changes in this embodiment are substantially fluid, substantially instantaneous, and do not require a user to operate electromechanical speed controls. The speed controls in this embodiment are generally the user's cadence and relative position of her weight-bearing foot on the running surface. In addition, the user's speed is not limited by speed settings as with a driven treadmill.
In the embodiment shown in
One benefit of the manual treadmill according to the innovations described herein is positive environmental impact. A manual treadmill such as that disclosed herein does not utilize electrical power to operate the treadmill or generate the rotational force on the running belt. Therefore, such a treadmill can be utilized in areas distant from an electrical power source, conserve electrical power for other uses or applications, or otherwise reduce the “carbon footprint” associated with the operation of the treadmill 10.
A manual treadmill according to the innovations disclosed herein can incorporate one of a variety of shapes and complex contours in order to translate the user's forward force into rotation of the running belt or to provide some other beneficial feature or element.
According to one exemplary embodiment, the non-planar running surface of the manual treadmill 10 is substantially curved, but that curve integrates one or more linear portions (e.g., that replace a “curved portion” or the curve or that are added/inserted into the curve). The linear portions may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 or disposed at an angle relative thereto.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the non-planar running surface of the manual treadmill 10 may include (or be so defined as to include) more or less than three portions. For example,
According to an exemplary embodiment, the profile defined by the non-planar running surface is substantially a portion of a curve defined by any suitable second-order polynomial, but, as clearly demonstrated in
According to an exemplary embodiment, the relative length of each portion of the running surface may vary. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the central portion is the longest. In other exemplary embodiments, the rear portion may be the longest, the front portion may be shorter than the intermediate portion, or the front portion may be longer than the rear portion, etc. It should be noted that the relative length may be evaluated based on the distance the portion extends along the longitudinal axis or as measured along the surface of the running belt itself. One of the benefits of integrating one or more of the various curves or contours into the running surface is that the contour of the running surface can be used to enhance or encourage a particular running style. For example, a curve integrated into the front portion of the running surface can encourage the runner to run on the balls of her feet rather than a having the heel strike the running belt 16 first. Similarly, the contour of the running surface can be configured to improve a user's running biomechanics and to address common running induced injuries (e.g., plantar fasciitis, shin splints, knee pain, etc.). For example, integrating a curved contour on the front portion of the running surface can help to stretch the tendons and ligaments of the foot and avoid the onset of plantar fasciitis.
One of the difficulties associated with using a running surface that has a non-planar shape is inducing the running belt 16 to assume the non-planar shape and then maintaining the running belt 16 in that non-planar shape when the treadmill is being operated. In addition to discussing this difficultly in more detail below, a number of running belt retention systems providing ways to induce and maintain a belt in a desired non-planar shape to define the running surface are discussed below. Generally, these running belt retention systems are adapted to control the relative contour of the running belt so that the running belt substantially follows the contour of the running surface
One embodiment of a running belt retention system used to induce the running belt 16 to take-on the non-planar shape and then maintaining that shape, as shown in
Referring to
The bearing rails 200 are preferably configured to facilitate movement of the running belt 16. In the exemplary embodiment seen in
According to an exemplary embodiment, each portion of the top profile is disposed substantially tangential to the portions adjacent thereto. According to other exemplary embodiments, less than all of the adjacent portions are disposed substantially tangential to the portions adjacent thereto, meaning the profile does not have an entirely smooth contour.
According to an exemplary embodiment shown in
When the treadmill 10 is being operated, the running belt 16 is driven rearwardly and the goal is to ensure that the running belt 16 follows the profile defined by a portion of the circumference of the front running pulleys 62, the contoured profile defined by the bearings 208 supported on the bearing rails 200 and finally by a portion of the circumference of the rear running belt pulleys 66. The particular contour which the running belt 16 assumes on the bottom of the base 12 between the rear running belt pulleys 66 and front running belt pulleys 62 is not terribly critical provided that the running belt continues to move with minimal friction and is not subject to excessive wear or obstruction.
Following the shape of the bearing rails 200 is not the natural tendency of the running belt for the particular contour seen in
Further referring to
As discussed above, the running belt 16 is disposed about the front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 which in turn are disposed about front and rear shafts 64, 68, respectively. Measured along the longitudinal axis 18 between the centerlines of the front and rear shafts 64, 68, the front and rear shafts 64, 68 are spaced a distance x from each other, as shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
Further referring to
The endless belts 226 are further configured to interact with the front running belt pulleys 62 and the rear running belt pulleys 66. The location of each endless belt 226 laterally, along the width of the running belt 16, substantially corresponds to the location of a longitudinally aligned front running belt pulley 62 and rear running belt pulley 66. Each endless belt 226 includes a first or inner portion 230 and a second or outer portion 232 at an interior surface 236 according to an exemplary embodiment. The inner portion 230 is in contact with an exterior surface 234 of the corresponding running belt pulleys 62, 66. According to some exemplary embodiments, the outer portion 232 is also in contact with the exterior surface 234 of the corresponding running belt pulleys 62, 66.
According to still another an exemplary embodiment, a combination of the endless belt/front running belt pulley configurations shown in
The slats 228 of the running belt 16 are configured to help support a user of the treadmill 10. The slats 228 may be made of substantially any suitably sturdy material (e.g., wood, plastic, metal, etc.) and extend generally laterally between the endless belts 226. Each slat 228 is coupled at its ends 252, 254 to the second portions 232 of the endless belts 226 using fasteners. According to other exemplary embodiments, the slats may be otherwise coupled to the endless belts (e.g., adhered, welded, etc.) in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,293, titled “Toothed-Belt, V-Belt, and Pulley Assembly, for Treadmills,” which is incorporated herein by reference. Each slat is shown to include a portion 229 (e.g., stem, web, etc.) extending inwardly from an interior surface 256 of the slat 228.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the running belt may be substantially any suitable, continuous loop element, including, but not limited to, a continuous urethane (e.g., polyurethane) loop, a continuous loop made of plastics other than polyurethane, a plastic belt reinforced with reinforcing elements (e.g., metal wire, a relatively harder plastic, wood, etc.), a continuous foam loop, a loop formed by a plurality of interconnected members (e.g., metallic members, wooden members, etc.) in a manner to provide at least some flexibility, etc.
Referring to
If the difference between the radius of the front running belt pulleys 62 and the radius of the rear running belt pulleys 66 is too large, the running belt 16 will begin to bunch up atop the base 12 as too much excess is generated. Accordingly, there is a practical limit of differences between the radius of each of the front running belt pulleys 62 and the radius of each of the rear running belt pulleys 66. Generally, this range may be dependent on the length of the running surface, as measured along the running belt, and/or the shape of the running surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, the size difference between the radii of the front and rear running belt pulleys, Rf−Rr, is within the range of approximately 0<Rf−Rr, <0.100 inches. Preferably, the size difference between the radii of the front and rear running belt pulleys, Rf−Rr, is within the range of approximately 0.005<Rf−Rr, <0.035 inches. In one embodiment, the radius of the front running belt pulleys is approximately 7.00″+/−0.010″ and the radius of the rear running belt pulleys is approximately 6.985″+/−0.010. According to another exemplary embodiment, instead of using front and rear running belt pulleys having a radial size difference, the synchronizing belt pulleys may have a radial size difference. Similar to the differently sized front and rear running belt pulleys, the differently sized front and rear synchronizing pulleys would be used to essentially “push” the running belt rearward, creating a slight amount of excess running belt 16 in the area between the front running belt pulleys and the rear running belt pulleys.
Another means for ensuring that the running belt 16 follows the desired complex curve is to match the rotational velocity of the front running belt pulleys 62 to that of the rear running belt pulleys 66 utilizing a synchronizing system 222. Further referring to
The front synchronizing belt pulley 202 is rotatably mounted relative to the front shaft 64, similar to the front running belt pulleys 62. Preferably, the front synchronizing belt pulley 202 is securely mounted directly to the front shaft 64. Similarly, the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204 is fixed relative to the rear shaft 68 and preferably securely mounted to the rear shaft 68. Accordingly, the front synchronizing belt pulley 202 will move with substantially the same rotational speed as the front running belt pulleys 62, and the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204 will move with the same rotational speed as the rear running belt pulleys 66. When the front shaft assembly 44 and the rear shaft assembly 46 are coupled to the frame 40, the front and rear synchronizing belt pulleys 202, 204 are shown disposed exterior to the outer surface 60 of the left-hand side member 52. According to another exemplary embodiment, the front and rear synchronizing belt pulleys may be placed exterior to the outer surface of the right-hand side member of the frame. According to other exemplary embodiments, the synchronizing system may be disposed substantially between the left-hand side member and the right-hand side member of the frame.
The synchronizing belt 206 is configured to provide a force that helps ensure that the front and rear shafts 64, 68 are rotating (e.g., moving, spinning, etc.) at the same rotational velocity. The synchronizing belt 206 is shown as an endless belt that is adapted to be supported in tension about the front synchronizing belt pulley 202 and the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204, as shown in
So, in practice, the running belt 16 is initially installed on the front and rear running belt pulleys 62, 66 and the running belt 16 is manually positioned in the desired position so that a sufficient length of the running belt 16 is positioned along the top of the treadmill and the running belt 16 assumes the desired contour. While the running belt 16 is maintained in this position, the synchronizing belt 206 is mounted to the synchronizing belt pulleys 202, 204 and once the synchronizing belt 206 is installed, it effectively resists differential rotation of the running belt pulleys 62, 66 which could result in loss of the desired contour of the running belt 16.
It should be noted that the tension in the synchronizing belt 206 also helps maintain the position of the synchronizing belt 206 relative to the synchronizing belt pulleys 202, 204. The tension helps enhance friction between an interior surface 244 of the synchronizing belt 206 and exterior surfaces 246 of the synchronizing belt pulleys 202, 204, making it less likely that the synchronizing belt 206 will slip relative to the synchronizing belt pulleys 202, 204.
One or more tensioning assemblies 248 may be provided to adjust the tension in the synchronizing belt 206 (see e.g.,
Referring to
The synchronizing shaft 302 is configured to provide a force that helps ensure that the front and rear shafts 64, 68 are rotating (e.g., moving, spinning, etc.) at the same rotational velocity. The synchronizing shaft 302 is shown as an elongated, substantially cylindrical member that extends generally between the front shaft 64 and the rear shaft 68. A first threaded portion 312 including a plurality of threads 314 is shown located at the first end 304 of the synchronizing shaft 302 and is configured to mesh with a plurality of teeth 316 of the front gear 306 that is fixed relative to the front shaft 64. A second threaded portion 318 including a plurality of threads 320 is shown located at the second end 308 of the synchronizing shaft 302 and is configured to mesh with a plurality of teeth 322 of the rear gear 310 that is fixed relative to the rear shaft 68.
The synchronizing shaft 302 rotates in response to the motion of the front gear 306 and the rear gear 310. When the front shaft 64 and the rear shaft 68 rotate in response to the user driving the running belt 16, the front gear 306 and the rear gear 310, which are fixed relative to the front shaft 64 and the rear shaft 68, respectively, similarly rotate. The front gear 306 meshes with and imparts rotational motion to the first threaded portion 312, and, thereby, imparts rotational motion to the synchronizing shaft 302. The rear gear 310 meshes with and imparts rotational motion to the second threaded portion 318, and, thereby, imparts rotational motion to the synchronizing shaft 302.
Because the synchronizing shaft 302 is rigid and the front and rear gears 306, 310 are the same size, the synchronizing shaft 302 provides a counter force in response to any deviation in rotational velocity between the front shaft assembly 44 and the rear shaft assembly 46. For example, if the rear shaft assembly 46 was induced to start moving with greater rotational velocity than the front shaft assembly 44, the rear gear 310 would be prevented from moving with greater rotational velocity than the front gear 306 because of the synchronizing shaft 302. The second threaded portion 318 is meshed with the rear gear 310. The second threaded portion 318 is fixed relative to the first threaded portion 312. The first threaded portion 312 is meshed with the front gear 306, which is moving with less rotational velocity than the rear gear 310. The front gear 306, being fixed relative to the front shaft assembly 44 which is also traveling at the same rotational velocity, seeks to continue at this rotational velocity. Thus, the force transmitted to the front gear 306 from the rear gear 310 by the synchronizing shaft 302 is met with a counter force. Specifically, the teeth 322 of the front gear 306 counter the force applied thereto by the threads 314 of the first threaded portion 312 at the first end 304. This counter force substantially prevents the rotational velocity of the synchronizing shaft 302, which includes the second threaded portion 318, from increasing. Stated otherwise, the force applied is sufficient to prevent the second end 308 of the synchronizing shaft 302 from rotationally advancing ahead of the first end 304. As the second threaded portion 318 is prevented from experiencing an increase in rotational velocity, the second threaded portion 318 provides a counter force to the rear gear 310. Specifically, the threads 320 of the second threaded portion 318 counter the force applied thereto by the teeth 322 of the rear gear 310. Thus, the synchronizing shaft 302 constrains the relative motion of the front gear 306 and rear gear 310, and, thereby constrains the relative motion of the front shaft assembly 44 and the rear shaft assembly 46.
Another embodiment of a running belt retention system used to induce and maintain the running belt in a desired non-planar shape to define the running surface is seen in
The braking system 400 has substantially the same effect as the differently sized front and rear running belt pulleys discussed above. That is, the braking system 400 causes a slight amount of excess running belt 16 in the area between the front running belt pulleys and the rear running belt pulleys. More specifically, the braking system 400 causes the rotational velocity of the rear shaft assembly 402 to be slightly lower than the rotational velocity of the front shaft assembly by applying a frictional force to the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204. Thus, the braking system 400 acts on the synchronizing system 222 to force (e.g., urge, push, move, etc.) the rear shaft assembly 402 out of synch with the front shaft assembly.
The braking system 400 includes a generally elongated member 406 in cooperation with the synchronizing system 222. The elongated member 406 is coupled to the rear shaft assembly 402 by a bracket 408 having a first side 410 spaced a distance apart from an outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204. The elongated member 406 is disposed through an aperture 412 of the bracket 408 and includes a first end 414 disposed to the inside of the first side 410 and a second end 416 disposed to the outside of the first side 410. The first end 414 includes a surface 418 configured to contact the outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204. The second end 416 includes a knob 420 configured to be gripped by a person (e.g., a user, a trainer, etc.) and to have a rotational force imparted thereto. An exterior surface of the elongated member 406 is at least partially threaded to correspond to threading at an interior surface defining the aperture 412. Rotating the knob 420, and, thereby, the elongated member 406, in one direction, causes the surface 418 to be advanced toward the outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204, and rotating the knob 420 in the opposite direction causes the surface 418 to retreat or be moved away from the outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204.
During operation of the treadmill, the surface 418 of the elongated member 406 is substantially in contact with the outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204, creating friction therebetween. As the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204 of the synchronizing system 222 is fixed relative to the rear shaft assembly 402, some of the force directed to the rear shaft assembly 402 to impart rotation thereto must be used to overcome the frictional force between the surface 418 of the elongated member 406 and the outer surface of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204. As the force needed to overcome the frictional force between the surface 418 of the elongated member 406 and the outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204 is no longer being directed into rotation of the rear shaft assembly 402, the rotational velocity of the rear shaft assembly 402 is less than the rotational velocity of the front shaft assembly. Thus, the front running belt pulleys of the front shaft assembly will “push” the running belt rearward, creating a slight amount of excess running belt 16 in the area between the front running belt pulleys and the rear running belt pulleys. This excess length of running belt 16 helps to counter the force of gravity, discussed in more detail above. It should be noted that, because the friction between the surface 418 of the elongated member 406 and the outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204 is substantially constant during operation, the rotational velocity will be substantially maintained at the lower rotational velocity.
The length of excess running belt “pushed” rearward by the front running belt pulleys can be varied by adjusting the position of the surface 418 relative to the outer surface 250 of the rear synchronizing belt pulley 204. If one moves the surface 418 laterally closer to the outer surface 250, the friction therebetween will increase, the differential between the rotational velocity of the rear shaft assembly and the front shaft assembly will increase, and the length of the excess will increase. If one moves the surface 418 away from the outer surface 250, the friction therebetween will decrease (or be removed if they are brought out of contact), the differential between the rotational velocity of the rear shaft assembly and the front shaft assembly will decrease, and the length of the excess will decrease.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the braking system 400 may be used with front and rear running belt pulleys that have a size differential. In such an embodiment, the braking system 400 would be used to fine tune the length of excess running belt pushed rearward with each rotation of the front and rear running belt pulleys.
By adjusting the position of the idler pulley 508 relative to the pulley 502, one can adjust the friction between the belt 506 and the pulleys 502, 508. Moving the idler pulley 508 away from the pulley 502, increases the tension in the belt 506, and, accordingly, increases the friction between the belt 506 and the pulleys 502, 508. Moving the idler pulley 508 toward the pulley 502, decreases the tension in the belt 506, and, accordingly, decreases the friction between the belt 506 and the pulleys 502, 508.
Similar to the discussion of braking system 400, increasing the friction between the belt 506 and the pulleys 502, 508, increases the differential between the rotation of the rear shaft assembly to which the braking system 500 is coupled and the front shaft assembly. As a corollary, decreasing the friction between the belt 506 and the pulleys 502, 508, decreases the differential between the rotational velocity of the rear shaft assembly 504 and the front shaft assembly. As discussed above, the greater the differential, the greater the length of the excess that the front running belt pulleys push rearward.
The each roller 600 is shown extending laterally generally between the left-hand side member 52 and the right-hand side member 54 of the frame 40. Along the longitudinal axis 18, the rollers 600 are disposed adjacent to one another generally between one or more front running belt pulleys 604 and one or more rear running belt pulleys 606. Typically, the running belt used with this exemplary embodiment is a continuous polymer belt without slats; the use of a continuous polymer belt having greater flexibility in the lateral direction than running belt 16 improves the ease of movement of the running belt along the rollers 600. However, other suitable continuous belts may be used according to other exemplary embodiment
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the one or more front running belt pulleys is shown as a single, front running belt pulley 604 that is substantially a large roller, disposed at the front end 48 of the frame 40. Similarly, the one or more rear running belt pulleys is shown as a single, rear running belt pulley 606 that is a substantially a large roller, disposed at the rear portion of the frame 40. According to other exemplary embodiments, any multiple of running pulleys may be used at one or both of the front end and the rear end, such as front running belt pulleys 62.
Collectively, the rollers 600 define a top profile 608 similar to the top profile 210 defined by the bearing rails 200, discussed above, and provide for a running belt to move therealong. Similar to the top profile of the bearing rails, the top profile 608 defined by the rollers may be varied (e.g., may include a convex portion and a concave portion, may be modeled by a third-order polynomial, may be modeled by a fourth-order polynomial, etc.).
The front and rear running belt pulleys 604, 606 and the rollers 600 help define the running surface. In use, the running belt is disposed over the front running belt pulley 604, along the top profile 602 defined by the rollers 600, and over the rear running belt pulley 606. The running belt is maintained in a position substantially along these elements primarily by the weight of the running belt; however, according to other exemplary embodiments, a synchronizing system may also be used to ensure that the running belt is maintained in the desired position.
Referring to
A treadmill according to this exemplary embodiment does not include front and rear shaft assemblies or bearing rails, but, rather, includes a pair of opposed tracks 702 configured to provide for movement of a running belt 16 therealong. The tracks 702 are spaced apart, generally define the path that the running belt 16 will travel, and substantially replicate at least a portion of the running surface. Each track 702 includes a side support wall 708 and a guide portion 710 generally centrally-disposed along the side support wall 708. The guide portion 710 extends from an inner side 712 of the side support wall 708 towards the interior of the treadmill frame, defined generally between the left-hand side member and the right-hand side member. The guide portion 710 generally defines the contour of the running surface that is defined by the running belt 16 when coupled to the tracks 702. An outer side 714 each side support wall 708 is disposed substantially adjacent to an inner surface of one of the side members of the treadmill frame.
A plurality of roller or wheel assemblies 716 are connected with, preferably mounted directly to or integral with, each of a plurality of slats 228 of the running belt 16. Each a laterally-oriented slat 228 includes a left-hand end 252 generally opposite a right-hand end 254. One of a plurality of wheel assemblies 716 is coupled at each end 252, 254 of each slat 228 at an interior surface 256. The wheel assemblies 716 are configured to be mated with the tracks 702 and provide for motion of the running belt 16 along the tracks 702.
Each wheel assembly 716 is shown including first roller or wheel 720 and a second roller or wheel 722 rotatably coupled to a support shown as an elongated connecting member 724. The connecting member 724 connects each wheel assembly 716 to a slat 228 and maintains the relative position of the first wheel 720 and the second wheel 722. When coupled to the track 702, the first wheel 720 of a wheel assembly 716 is disposed to one side the guide portion 710 and rotatably movable therealong, and the second wheel 722 of the wheel assembly 716 is disposed generally opposite the first wheel 720 to the other side of the central guide portion 710.
The wheels 720, 722 and the tracks 702 are shaped such that when they are mated, the wheels 720, 722 cannot be pulled inwardly off of or pushed outwardly off of the track 702. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide portion 710 is shown having a substantially-circular cross section 724 and the wheels 720, 722 are shown having circumferentially-disposed arcuate depressions 726 that receive and travel along an outer curved portion 728 and an inner curved portion 730 of the guide portion 710 of the track 702. According to other exemplary embodiments, the wheels and the track guide portion can have substantially any corresponding shapes that provide for the wheels and the track to mate and that provide for movement of the wheels therealong.
When the running belt 16 is being driven by a user, the interaction of the guide portion 710 and the first and second wheels 720, 722 helps maintain the belt in the desired non-planar shape. As mentioned above, the tracks 702 generally defines the contour of the running surface defined by the running belt 16. Being coupled to the guide portion 710 of the track 702, each wheel assembly 716 rotates about the track 702, following the contour defined thereby.
If the running belt 16 began to deviate from the desired path, the interaction between the wheels 720, 722 and the guide portion 710 would substantially prevent undesirable shifting. While being rotatably coupled to the elongated connecting member 724, the axes 732 and 734 of the first wheel 720 and second wheel 722, respectively, are a fixed distance apart. Further, the arcuate depressions 726 of the wheels 720, 722 are in contact with the outer curved portion 728 and inner curved portion 730, respectively. Thus, as a result the interactions between the arcuate depressions 726 and the curved portions 728, 730, any movement of a wheel assembly 716 relative to the track 702 other than along the path defined by the track 702 is countered by a force from the guide portion 710. It should also be noted that the interactions between the depressions 726 of adjacent wheel assemblies 716 and the curved portions 728, 730 of the track 702 may also help keep a wheel assembly 716 in place.
Referring to
As discussed above, the running belt 16 includes a plurality of laterally-oriented slats 228 each having a left-hand end 252 generally opposite a right-hand end 254. One of a plurality of roller or wheel assemblies 812 is coupled at each end 252, 254 of each slat 228 to mate with the tracks 802 and to provide for motion of the running belt 16 along the tracks 802.
Each wheel assembly 812 is shown including a support shown as a mounting block 814 and a wheel 816 rotatably coupled to the mounting block 814. The mounting block 814 mounted to an interior surface 256 of a slat 228. The wheel 816 is supported relative to the mounting block 814 by an axis 818 that extends substantially parallel to the slats 228 to facilitate positioning the wheel 816 in the channel 804. The wheel 816 is received in the channel 804 and is rotatably movable therewithin to facilitate travel of the running belt 16 along the contour defined by the channel 804. The shape of the channel 804 generally corresponds to the shape of the wheel 816.
When the running belt 16 is being driven by a user, the walls of the track 802 defining the C-shaped channel 804 help forcibly retain the wheel 816 therein, preventing the wheel from moving in any direction other than along the contour defined by the channel 804, and, thereby, maintaining the running belt 16 in the desired non-planar shape to define the running surface. The outer wall 808 and the inner wall 810 limit the side-to-side, lateral movement of the wheel 816 when it is disposed in the channel 804. Limiting the motion of the wheel 816, similarly limits the motion of the wheel assembly 812 and the slat 228 fixed relative thereto. Further, a first wall 820 substantially opposite a second wall 822 substantially limits the up-and-down motion of the wheel 816 relative to the channel 804. In circumstances where side-to-side and/or up-and-down motion of the wheel 816 occurs, the walls 808, 810, 820, 822 defining the channel 804, providing counter forces to maintain the wheel 816 in the desired position and help direct the wheel 816 along the desired path.
Referring to
As discussed above, the running belt 16 includes a plurality of laterally-oriented slats 228 each having a left-hand end 252 generally opposite a right-hand end 254. One of a plurality of roller or wheel assemblies 910 is coupled at each end 252, 254 of each slat 228 to mate with the tracks 902 and to provide for motion of the running belt 16 along the tracks 902.
Each wheel assembly 910 is shown including a support shown as a connecting bar 912 that is substantially T-shaped and connected to a first wheel 914 and a second wheel 916. A first portion 918 of the connecting bar 912 is fixed relative to the interior surface 256 of a slat 228. A second portion 920 extends substantially perpendicular to the first portion 918 and away from the interior surface 256 of the slat 228. The first wheel 914 and the second wheel 916 are connected to the connecting bar 912 by an axis 922 that extends generally parallel to the first portion 918 and perpendicular to the second portion 920 of the connecting bar 912. The first wheel 914 is disposed to one side of the second portion 920 of the connecting bar 912 and the second wheel 916 is disposed opposite the first wheel 914 to the other side of the second portion 920.
When the wheel assemblies 910 are mated with the tracks 902, the second portion of the connecting bar 912 extends partially into the channel 904, the first wheel 914 is received within a first portion 924 of the channel 904 and the second wheel 916 is disposed within a second portion 926 of the channel 904. The first portion 924 of each channel 904 is disposed proximate to an outer surface 928 of the track 902 relative to the second portion 926.
When the running belt 16 is being driven by a user, the first wheel 914 and the second wheel 916 of a given wheel assembly rotate within the channel 904, facilitating moment of the running belt 16 in the path defined by the track 902. As the running belt 16 is rotated, the slats 228 are disposed generally exterior to the periphery 908 of the track 902. The walls of the track 902 defining the channel 904 help forcibly retain the wheels 914, 916. An outer wall 930 and an inner wall 932 limit the side-to side movement of the wheels 914, 916, either by coming into contact with the wheels 914, 916 themselves or by coming into contact with another part of the wheel assembly 910 (e.g., the connecting bar 912). Limiting the motion of the wheels 914, 916 and the wheel assembly 910 similarly limits the motion of the slat fixed relative thereto, helping each slat, and, thereby, the running belt 16 to follow the desired path. Further, a first wall 934 substantially opposite a second wall 936 substantially limits the up-and-down motion of the wheels 914, 916 relative to the channel 904. In circumstances where side-to-side and/or up-and-down motion of the wheel 916 occurs, the walls 930, 932, 934, 936 defining the channel 904, providing counter forces to maintain the wheels 914, 916 in the desired position and help direct the wheels 914, 916 along the desired path.
Referring to
Instead of using wheel assemblies, such as 716 and 910, discussed above, the treadmill according to this exemplary embodiment utilizes a plurality of magnets 1002 to maintain the running belt 16 in the desired position. One or more magnets 1002 are fixed relative to the interior surface 256 of the slats 228 at locations substantially corresponding to the position of a track 1004, which is typically along the left-hand end 252 and the right-hand end 254 of the slats 228. The magnets 1002 may be coupled by any variety of fasteners or fastening mechanisms. Generally, it is preferable that, when the magnets 1002 are fixed relative to the slats, the fasteners do not directly contact the periphery 1006 of the tracks 1004 to avoid scratching and damage thereto. While it is generally desirable to mount a magnet 1002 to each slat, 228, the number of magnets used will vary depending upon a variety of factors such as the relative weight of the belt and the relative magnetic strength of each magnet.
The magnets 1002 are configured to magnetically couple the running belt 16 to the track 1004, which is made of metal (e.g., steel) or includes a peripheral metal portion. The magnets 1002 have strength suitable to maintain the running belt 16 in close proximity to a periphery 1006 of the tracks 1004.
When the treadmill is driven by a user, the force imparted to the running belt 16 is sufficient to permit the magnets to move relative bearing rails, but not to lose the magnetic connection therebetween. According to one exemplary embodiment, as the running belt 16 moves relative to the track 1004, the magnets 1002 are generally spaced a small distance from the periphery 1006 of the track 1004, helping to further reduce the noise associated with operation of the treadmill. According to other exemplary embodiments, the magnets 1002 are in physical contact with the periphery 1006 of the track 1004 in addition to being magnetically coupled thereto.
According to an exemplary embodiment similar to track system 1000, a plurality of magnets may be positioned on the frame, track, or other fixed component of the treadmill base to apply a downwardly-directed force to the metal slats of the running belt as it passes over the magnets. For example, the magnets may be positioned on the cross-members 56. As the running belt rotates, the portion passing above the magnets will be drawn downward by the force of the magnets, helping maintain that portion of the running belt (i.e., defining the running surface) in the desired shape.
Referring to
The track system 1100 is substantially similar to track system 700, but configured to be operable with a running belt 1102 that is a conventional running belt rather than a slatted running belt 16. The track system 1100 includes a pair of tracks 702 and a wheel assemblies 1104 having substantially the same configuration as wheel assembly 716 with the exception that a securing device shown as a clip 1106 is used to connect the wheel assembly 1104 to the running belt 1102, rather than the elongated connecting member 724. The clip 1106 is shown extending and having a first portion 1108 and a second portion 1110 that opening towards the interior of the treadmill 10 before being secured. When the running belt 1102 shown as a continuous polymer (e.g., urethane) belt is in position, a first edge 1112 of the running belt 1102 is received between a first portion 1108 and a second portion 1110 of the clip 1106 and fixed relative thereto (e.g., by a fastener, etc.). The polymer belt is a urethane belt according to an exemplary embodiment. The urethane belt is desirable heavy enough to help assume the shape of the rollers, but not so thick or heavy that it undesirably impedes movement. The clips extend along the first edge 1112 and the second edge 1114 of the running belt 1102, substantially suspending the belt between the tracks 702. According to an exemplary embodiment, the securing device may be any securing device suitable for securing an edge portion of the running belt 1102 relative thereto (e.g., a bolt, a clamp, etc.).
According to still another exemplary embodiment, a treadmill has a track system including a pair of tracks and wheel assemblies. The wheel assemblies include hangers (e.g., magnetic hangers) that are received in channels that are interior to the track, the hangers being slidably movable within the channels. According to one exemplary embodiment, the hangers are substantially I-shaped, having one transverse portion received in the channel and the other transverse portion fixed to an interior side of a slat. According to some exemplary embodiments, the system further includes bearing rails that facilitate motion of the running belt itself and the hangers within the track. The hangers and the channel of the track may have any configuration suitable for facilitating movement of the running belt and maintaining the running belt in the desired non-planar shape.
The above-described ways of inducing and maintaining the running belt in the desired non-planar shape can also be used with or adapted to a manual treadmill having a planar running surface, such as treadmill 1200 having planar running surface 1202 shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the running surface 1202 is defined by a running belt 1204 that is disposed about front and rear running belt pulleys of a front and rear shaft assembly, respectively. The running belt 1204 also travels along a pair of bearing rails having a substantially linear top profile that facilitate motion of the running belt 1204.
As discussed above, the speed controls for the manual treadmill 10 and the various embodiments thereof are generally the user's cadence and relative position of her weight-bearing foot on the running surface. More generally, the running belt 16 of the treadmill 10 is responsive to the weight of the user mounting, dismounting, or running on the treadmill 10. While it is generally desirable for the running belt 16 to be moved rearward, the running belt is capable of rotating forward. Forward rotation of the running belt can create safety concerns. For example, if a user were to mount the treadmill by placing her weight bearing foot at a location (e.g., location D shown in
A number of safety devices may be used with the treadmill 10 to help prevent undesirable forward rotation of the running belt 16.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the one way bearing assembly 1300 is disposed about and cooperates with the rear shaft 68 as shown in
The one-way bearing assembly 1300 further includes a key 1312 that is fixed relative to the inner ring 1304 and configured to cooperate with a keyway 1314 formed in the rear shaft 68. Viewed from the perspective shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the one-way bearing assembly 1500 is disposed about and cooperates with the rear shaft 68. The one-way bearing assembly 1500 comprises a housing 1502 which supports an inner ring 1504 that cooperates with the rear shaft 68 and supports an outer ring 1506 fixed relative to the housing 1502. A plurality of sprags (not shown) are disposed between the inner ring 1504 and the outer ring 1506. The sprags are asymmetric, and, thus, provide for motion in one direction and prevent rotation in the opposite direction. The one-way bearing assembly 1500 is further shown to include a first snap ring 1532 and a second snap ring 1534, which are configured to seat in a first circumferential groove 1536 and a second circumferential groove 1538 on the rear shaft 68, respectively. When installed, the first snap ring 1532 is supported inboard of and adjacent to the inner ring 1504, and the second snap ring 1534 is supported outboard of and adjacent to the inner ring 1504, thereby further restricting axial motion of the one-way bearing assembly 1500 relative to the rear shaft 68.
The housing 1502 is supported by a stud 1520 which is coupled to the frame 40. The stud 1520 may be separated or spaced apart from the housing 1502 by a spacer 1522 and a sleeve 1523 which may be restrained on the stud 1520 by a nut 1524 and a washer 1526. The sleeve 1523 of the embodiment shown is formed of rubber and is configured to reduce noise, wear, and shock load between the housing 1502 and the stud 1520 and/or the spacer 1522. The housing 1502 includes a plurality of legs, shown as a first leg 1516 and a second leg 1518, which extend on either side of the stud 1520. Accordingly, the stud 1520 resists rotational motion of the housing 1502 in response to rotation of the rear shaft 68 and may provide sufficient reactive or counter force to the housing 1502 to enable the one-way bearing assembly 1500 to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the rear shaft 68. Supporting the one-way bearing assembly 1500 in this manner negates the need for fixing the housing 1502 to the frame 40 or an intermediary bracket. Accordingly, the housing 1502 may move with the rear shaft 68 (e.g., the housing 1502 may pivot about the stud 1520) as the rear shaft 68 flexes under load, thereby reducing side loading on the inner ring 1504, which in turn reduces wear on, and extends the life of, the one-way bearing assembly 1500.
It should be noted that the location at which the stud 1520 is mounted to the frame 40 can be adjusted depending on the location of the rear shaft 68, which may change depending on the shape of the non-planar running surface or the desired tension in the running belt. Furthermore, the stud 1520 need not be positioned below or downward from the rear shaft 68, as shown, but may be located in any direction relative to the rear shaft 68. According to another exemplary embodiment, the one-way bearing may be transitionally fit into the housing, rather than press fit. According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the one-way bearing may include rollers in addition to sprags.
The one-way bearing assembly 1500 further includes a key 1512 that is fixed relative to the inner ring 1504 and configured to cooperate with a keyway 1514 formed in the rear shaft 68. Viewed from the perspective shown in
Other safety devices to help prevent undesirable forward rotation of the running belt 16 may include cam locking systems, which may be particularly well-suited for use in conjunction with track systems 700, 800, and 900. Also, taper locks, a user operated pin system, or a band brake system with a lever may be utilized.
Controlling the operation of the running belt 16 in ways in addition to preventing rearward rotation, can help improve the safety of the treadmill and/or help a user adjust the treadmill for a desirable level of performance. Including an incline or elevation adjustment system is one way to provide these benefits. As mentioned above, as the increasing or decreasing of the relative height or distance of the running surface relative to the ground is one way that the operation, most typically the speed, of the treadmill can be adjusted. Accordingly, adjusting the incline of the base of the treadmill results in an adjustment to the speeds a user can achieve and/or how easy or challenging it is for the user to achieve certain speeds.
Referring back to
Treadmill 1200 shown in
In some cases, the user may want to decrease the incline of the treadmill (e.g., to decrease the speeds the treadmill can achieve, etc.). For example, the user may want to utilize a relatively long stride, but does not want to be running at such high speeds. This can be accomplished by lowering the incline of the treadmill from the higher incline position. Once in the lowered position, the same stride the user was using at the higher incline position will typically result in the user running at lower speeds in the lower incline position. This same principle can also be applied for the purposes of safety. That is, keeping the front of the treadmill at a lower incline position or lowering the treadmill to a lower incline position can help prevent a user from achieving speeds that are too great for them (e.g., that would cause them to be off-balance, lose control, be injured, etc.).
Because the treadmill is preferably manually operated, it does not have an external power source which can be utilized to operate a height adjusting motor as is found in conventional treadmills. Therefore, a manual height adjusting system is preferably integrated into the treadmill. Referring to
Generally, the hand crank 1402 includes a handle portion 1404 disposed parallel to and spaced a distance from a shaft 1406 that is coupled to the frame 40 (e.g., with a bracket). When assembled, a drive belt or chain 1407 is disposed about a gear 1408 that is positioned about the shaft 1406 of the hand crank 1402. Rotational motion can be imparted to the gear 1408 by rotating the handle portion 1404. In response to rotation of the gear 1408, the drive belt 1407 causes a sprocket 1410 is fixed relative to an internal connecting shaft 1412 of the internal connecting shaft assembly 1414 to rotate. The internal connecting shaft assembly 1414 further includes a pair of drive belts or chains 1416 that are operably coupled to gears 1418 of rack and pinion blocks 1420. The rotation of the internal connecting shaft 1412 causes the drive belts or chains 1416 to rotate gears 1418. As the gears 1418 rotate, a pinion (not shown) disposed within the rack and pinion blocks 1420 imparts linear motion to the racks 1422, thereby operably raising or lowering the base 12 of the treadmill 10 depending on the direction of rotation of the handle portion 1404 of the hand crank 1402.
According to another exemplary embodiment, an incline adjustment system that is a gas assisted un-weighting incline adjustment system may be utilized. According to other exemplary embodiments, any suitable linear actuator may serve as an incline adjustment system for the manual treadmill disclosed herein.
According to an exemplary embodiments, the incline of one or more portions of the running surface may be adjusted independent of adjusting the incline of the base. For example, one or more portions of a bearing rail may be configured to be movable relative to one or more other portion of the bearing rail. In one exemplary embodiment, a bearing rail is divided into a first portion and a second portion movable relative to each of the about a pivot point disposed therebetween. A person (e.g., a user, trainer, technician, etc.) can adjust the operational characteristics of the treadmill (similar to the discussion of using running surfaces having different curved profiles above) by merely adjusting the relative position of the bearing rail portions. If the user wants to achieve greater speeds, they may increase the incline of the front portion, while leaving the center and rear portions unchanged. If the user would like to alter the configuration of the treadmill to more strongly encourage running on the balls of their feet, they might increase the incline of the front and rear portions from a higher radius of curvature so that they collectively define a lower radius of curvature. Adjustments to the position of the bearing rails may be imparted using a crank, or other suitable device.
It is further contemplated that, because the treadmill 10 does not require an electric motor for operation, it is well suited for operation in an aquatic environment. For example, the treadmill 10 may be at least partially submerged in a pool, thereby providing added resistance due to hydrodynamic drag on a user and/or reducing footfall impact due to the buoyancy of the user. Accordingly, a submerged embodiment of the treadmill 10 may be used for training and/or rehabilitation purposes. Modifications may be made to the treadmill 10 for use in an aquatic environment. For example, the treadmill 10 may include sealed bearings and components formed of corrosion-resistant materials (e.g., plastic, composite, stainless steel, brass, etc.) to extend its useful life. Further, the shape of the running surface 70 may also be modified to compensate for the buoyancy of the user in water and to compensate for the effects of salinity on buoyancy. For example, it is contemplated that the shape of the running surface 70 may be different for a treadmill 10 used in a freshwater environment and a highly saline environment.
A number of other devices, both mechanical and electrical, may be used in conjunction with or cooperate with a treadmill according to this disclosure.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature.
It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is important to note that the constructions and arrangements of the manual treadmill as shown in the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/721,022, filed Apr. 14, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/247,101, filed Nov. 30, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/792,444, filed Feb. 17, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/957,721, filed Apr. 19, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/832,708, filed Aug. 21, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/076,912, filed Nov. 11, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/235,065, filed Sep. 16, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of prior international Application No. PCT/US2010/027543, filed Mar. 16, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/161,027, filed Mar. 17, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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| Woodway USA, Inc.'s Table of Contents to Exhibits in Support of Its Responsive Claim Construction Brief, Case No. 3:22-cv-00492-JO-BLM, Filed Mar. 14, 2023, 19 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230158355 A1 | May 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61161027 | Mar 2009 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17721022 | Apr 2022 | US |
| Child | 18100528 | US | |
| Parent | 17247101 | Nov 2020 | US |
| Child | 17721022 | US | |
| Parent | 16792444 | Feb 2020 | US |
| Child | 17247101 | US | |
| Parent | 15957721 | Apr 2018 | US |
| Child | 16792444 | US | |
| Parent | 14832708 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 15957721 | US | |
| Parent | 14076912 | Nov 2013 | US |
| Child | 14832708 | US | |
| Parent | 13235065 | Sep 2011 | US |
| Child | 14076912 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2010/027543 | Mar 2010 | WO |
| Child | 13235065 | US |
