Claims
- 1. An improved belt safety mechanism for use in an exercise device having a support frame, first and second rollers mounted on the support frame and an endless belt mounted on the first and second rollers wherein a drive system selectively moves the endless belt on the first and second rollers, the improved safety mechanism comprising:
a motion detector configured to detect movement of the endless belt; and means for regulating movement of the endless belt when movement of the endless belt is unanticipated.
- 2. The improved belt safety mechanism in claim 1 wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt actuates the drive system when the movement of the endless belt is unanticipated.
- 3. The improved belt safety mechanism in claim 2 wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt actuates the drive system when movement of the endless belt results from a force independent from the drive system.
- 4. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2 wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt comprises a logic circuit configured to determine whether movement of the endless belt is caused by the drive system.
- 5. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 4, wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt further comprises means for actuating the drive system in the event that movement is caused by a force independent from the drive system.
- 6. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt further comprises means for allowing normal functioning of the drive system in the event that the movement is initially caused by the drive system.
- 7. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the force independent from the drive system comprises a user ambulating on the belt without actuating the drive system.
- 8. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt actuates the drive system for a preset interval.
- 9. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt actuates the drive system at a predetermined slow speed.
- 10. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt comprises a belt movement regulator configured to engage the drive system for a preset interval in response to the unanticipated movement of the endless belt.
- 11. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the motion detector comprises an optical sensor for detecting unanticipated movement of the endless belt.
- 12. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 2, further comprising a safety circuit wherein the safety circuit recognizes operation of means for regulating movement of the endless belt and wherein safety circuit produces a message prompt upon actuating the drive system.
- 13. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 12, wherein the message prompt comprises an audible message.
- 14. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 13, wherein the message prompt comprises a visual message.
- 15. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt selectively disengages the drive system after a preset interval subject to user input overriding disengagement.
- 16. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 15, where the means for regulating movement of the endless belt selectively reengages the drive system upon detecting motion of the endless belt after a preset interval of drive system disengagement.
- 17. An improved belt safety mechanism for use in an exercise device having a support frame, first and second rollers mounted on the support frame and an endless belt mounted on the first and second rollers wherein the endless belt moves in response to one of: (i) a force exerted by the drive system; or (ii) a force independent of the drive system, the improved safety mechanism comprising:
a motion detector configured to detect movement of the endless belt; and a means for regulating movement of the endless belt such that the drive system is actuated when movement of the endless belt results from a force independent from the drive system.
- 18. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 17 wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt comprises a logic circuit configured to determine whether movement of the endless belt is caused by the drive system.
- 19. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 18, wherein the means for regulating movement of the endless belt further comprises means for actuating the drive system in the event that movement is caused by a force independent from the drive system.
- 20. An improved belt safety mechanism as recited in claim 17, wherein the force independent from the drive system comprises a user ambulating on the belt without actuating the drive system.
- 21. An improved belt safety mechanism for use in an exercise device having a support frame, first and second rollers mounted on the support frame and an endless belt mounted on the first and second rollers wherein the endless belt moves in response to one of: (i) a force exerted by the drive system; or (ii) a force independent of the drive system, the improved safety mechanism comprising:
a motion detector wherein the movement of the endless belt is detected; and a belt movement regulator.
- 22. The improved belt safety mechanism of claim 21 wherein the belt movement regulator is configured to regulate movement of the endless belt by actuating the drive system when movement of the endless belt results from a force independent from the drive system.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/967,870, filed on Sep. 28, 2001, entitled “Inclining Tread Apparatus,” to Hald, et al,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09967870 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
Child |
10795731 |
Mar 2004 |
US |