TREADMILL WITH FRONT AND REAR INCLINE MECHANISMS

BACKGROUND
Background and Relevant Art

Many people like to exercise indoors on exercise equipment. Some exercise equipment attempts to simulate or mimic the conditions of an outdoor exercise. Treadmills often include incline mechanisms that change the incline of an exercise deck on a treadmill by raising or lowering portions of the exercise deck. This may simulate uphill or downhill grades of an outdoor path.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a method for operating a treadmill includes increasing an incline of an exercise deck from a first deck angle to a second deck angle by extending a front incline mechanism. The method includes, after increasing the incline of the exercise deck, decreasing the incline of the exercise deck from the second deck angle to a third deck angle by extending a rear incline mechanism. After decreasing the incline, further decreasing the incline of the exercise deck from the third deck angle to a fourth deck angle by retracting the front incline mechanism. The fourth deck angle is less than 0°.

In other embodiments, a method for operating a treadmill includes raising a front end of an exercise deck with a front incline mechanism from a first front end height to a second front end height. After raising the front end, the method includes raising a rear end of the exercise deck with a rear incline mechanism from a first rear end height to a second rear end height. After raising the rear end, the method includes lowering the front end of the exercise deck with the front incline mechanism from the second front height to a third front end height.

In yet other embodiments, a treadmill includes an exercise deck including a frame on a bottom of the exercise deck. The frame includes a front end and a front base is rotationally connected to the front end. The frame further includes a rear base connected to a rear end of the frame. A tread belt is strung between a front pulley and a rear pulley, and a drive motor rotates the front pulley to rotate the tread belt. A front lift mechanism is attached to the front end of the frame and rotates the front base. A rear lift mechanism is attached to the rear end of the frame and rotates the rear base.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific implementations thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures. While some of the drawings may be schematic or exaggerated representations of concepts, at least some of the drawings may be drawn to scale. Understanding that the drawings depict some example implementations, the implementations will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1-1 is a perspective view of a treadmill, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1-2 is a bottom view of the treadmill of FIG. 1-1, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front lift mechanism, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rear lift mechanism, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4-1 is a side view of a treadmill in a neutral configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4-2 is another side view of the treadmill of FIG. 4-1 in an uphill configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4-3 is another side view of the treadmill of FIG. 4-1 in a hillcrest configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4-4 is another side view of the treadmill of FIG. 4-1 in a downhill configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5-1 is a schematic view of a treadmill, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5-2 is another schematic view of the treadmill of FIG. 5-1 in an uphill configuration, according to the embodiment of FIG. 5-1;

FIG. 5-3 is another schematic view of the treadmill of FIG. 5-1 in a hillcrest configuration, according to the embodiment of FIG. 5-1;

FIG. 5-4 is another schematic view of the treadmill of FIG. 5-1 in a downhill configuration, according to the embodiment of FIG. 5-1;

FIG. 6 is a representation of a method for operating a treadmill, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is another representation of a method for operating a treadmill, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for operating a treadmill to simulate cresting a hill. When operating a treadmill, a user may desire to simulate walking or running up a hill. Treadmills often include lift motors that lift a front portion of an exercise deck up to increase the incline of the exercise deck, which simulates walking or running up a hill. A user may also desire to simulate walking or running down a hill. In some situations, the front portion of the exercise deck of the treadmill may be lowered below a rear portion of the exercise deck to create a decline, which simulates walking or running down a hill. However, the physical sensation of cresting a hill may not be fully simulated simply by lowering the front end of the exercise deck. Raising the back of the exercise deck while the front of the exercise deck is raised may simulate cresting a hill more fully than only lowering the front of the exercise deck. This may improve the exercise experience for the user by allowing the user to simulate the physical sensation of cresting a hill.

FIG. 1-1 is a perspective view of a representation of a treadmill 100, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The treadmill 100 includes an exercise deck 102. A tread belt 104 is strung or wrapped around the exercise deck 102 from a front pulley 106 to a rear pulley 108. A drive motor located in a housing 110 is connected to the front pulley 106 to rotate the front pulley 106. As the front pulley 106 rotates, the front pulley 106 rotates the tread belt 104 from the front pulley 106 to the rear pulley 108 across the exercise deck 102, or from a front end 112 to a rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102. The treadmill 100 includes posts 116 that support a console 118. The console 118 may display exercise information, include exercise controls, house a processor for exercise programs, and so forth.

The treadmill 100 includes a front lift mechanism 120 at the front end 112 of the exercise deck 102 and a rear lift mechanism 122 at the rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102. The front lift mechanism 120 is configured to lift the front end 112 of the exercise deck 102. With the front end 112 lifted, the user may walk or run on the treadmill 100 on an incline, or “uphill.” The rear lift mechanism 120 is configured to lift the rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102. With the rear end 114 lifted, the user may walk or run on the treadmill 100 on a decline, or “downhill.” In some embodiments, the front lift mechanism 120 and the rear lift mechanism 122 may be independently operated. In other words, the front lift mechanism 120 may raise and lower the front end 112 regardless of the height of the rear end 114, and the rear lift mechanism 122 may raise and lower the rear end 114 regardless of the height of the front end 112. Furthermore, the front lift mechanism 120 may actuate while the rear lift mechanism 122 is actuating or while the rear lift mechanism 122 is not actuating, and the rear lift mechanism 122 may actuate while the front lift mechanism 120 is actuating or while the front lift mechanism 120 is not actuating.

FIG. 1-2 is a representation of the bottom of the treadmill 100 of FIG. 1-1. The exercise deck 102 includes or is supported by a frame 124 underneath the exercise deck 102. In the embodiment shown, the frame 124 includes a first beam 126-1 and a second beam 126-2, the first beam 126-1 and the second beam 126-2 being parallel and each extending longitudinally along the exercise deck 102. The front lift mechanism 120 is located at the front end 112 of the exercise deck 102 and the rear lift mechanism 122 is located at the rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102.

The front lift mechanism 120 includes a front lift motor 128. The front lift motor 128 is connected to the frame 124 with a front support member 130 extending between the first beam 126-1 and the second beam 126-2. The front support member 130 may be located at the front end 112, or closer to the front end 112 than the rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102. Thus, the front lift motor 128 may be located at the front end 112, or closer to the front end 112 than the rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102.

The front lift mechanism 120 further includes a front base 131 rotationally connected to the frame 124 at a front pivot 133. A front extension member 132 extends from the front lift motor 128 to the front base 131. The front lift motor 128 causes the front extension member 132 to expand or retract. As the front extension member 132 expands, the front base 131 rotates about the front pivot 133 and lifts the front end 112 of the exercise deck 102.

The front lift motor 128 may be connected to the front support member 130 with a rotational connection. In this manner, as the front base 131 rotates, the front lift motor 128 may rotate to keep the front extension member 132 straight and directed toward the front base 131.

The rear lift mechanism 122 includes a rear lift motor 134. The rear lift motor 134 is connected to the frame 124 with a rear support member 136 extending between the first beam 126-1 and the second beam 126-2. The rear support member 136 may be located at the rear end 114, or closer to the rear end 114 than the front end 112 of the exercise deck 102. Thus, the rear lift motor 134 may be located at the front end 112, or closer to the front end 112 than the rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102.

The rear lift mechanism 122 further includes a rear base 138 rotationally connected to the frame 124 at a rear pivot 140. A rear extension member 142 extends from the rear lift motor 134 to the rear base 138. The rear lift motor 134 causes the rear extension member 142 to expand or retract. As the rear extension member 142 expands, the rear base 138 rotates about the rear pivot 140 and lifts the rear end 114 of the exercise deck 102.

The rear lift motor 134 may be connected to the rear support member 136 with a rotational connection. In this manner, as the rear base 138 rotates, the rear lift motor 134 may rotate to keep the rear extension member 142 straight and directed toward the rear base 138.

The front extension member 132 and the rear extension member 142 may be any extension member. For example, the front extension member 132 and the rear extension member 142 may be a hydraulic piston, a pneumatic piston, a worm gear, a screw gear, a linear motor, a solenoid, or any other type of extension member. In some embodiments the front extension member 132 may be the same as the rear extension member 142. In some embodiments, the front extension member 132 may be different from the rear extension member 142.

In the embodiment shown, the front lift motor 128 and the rear lift motor 134 are different motors. In this manner, the front lift motor 128 may operate independent of the rear lift motor 134, and the rear lift motor 134 may operate independent of the front lift motor 128. This may provide the treadmill 100 with a variety of different incline simulations and permutations, which may help to simulate an outdoor path. Simulating an outdoor path may improve the exercise experience for the user.

FIG. 2 is a representation of a front lift mechanism 220, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The front lift mechanism 220 includes a front base 231 having a front pivot connection 233 that connects to a pivot connection on the frame (e.g., front pivot 133 on the frame 124 of FIG. 1-2). A front lift motor 228 extends and retracts a front extension member 232. The front extension member 232 is rotatably connected to a front push member 244. The front push member 244 is connected to the front base 231 such that as the front extension member 232 pushes on the front push member 244, the front push member 244 causes the front base 231 to rotate about the front pivot connection 233. This may cause a front end of an exercise deck (e.g., exercise deck 102 of FIG. 1-1) to raise, which may simulate an uphill outdoor path on the treadmill.

FIG. 3 is a representation of a rear lift mechanism 322, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The rear lift mechanism 322 includes a rear base 338 having a rear pivot connection 340 that connects to a pivot connection on the frame (e.g., rear pivot 140 on the frame 124 of FIG. 1-2). A rear lift motor 334 extends and retracts a rear extension member 342. The rear extension member 342 is rotatably connected to a rear push member 346. The rear push member 346 is connected to the rear base 338 such that as the rear extension member 342 pushes on the rear push member 346, the rear push member 346 causes the rear base 338 to rotate about the rear pivot connection 340. In the embodiment shown, the rear push member 346 is connected to the rear base 338 at or on the rear pivot 140. This may cause a rear end of an exercise deck (e.g., exercise deck 102 of FIG. 1-1) to raise, which may simulate a downhill path on the treadmill.

FIG. 4-1 is a representation of a side view of a treadmill 400 in a lowered or a neutral orientation, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the neutral configuration, both the front base 431 and the rear base 438 are retracted or lowered. In other words, the front lift mechanism 420 is retracted and the rear lift mechanism 422 is retracted. In the neutral configuration, the exercise deck 402 is flat or level, which may simulate a flat path. In the neutral configuration, the exercise deck 402 has a deck angle of 0°.

FIG. 4-2 is a representation of a side view of the treadmill 400 of FIG. 4-1 in an uphill or inclined configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the inclined configuration, the front end 412 of the exercise deck 402 is raised higher than the rear end 414. To raise the front end 412, the front base 431 is rotated about the front pivot 433. Rotating the front base 431 may push the front end 412 up. To facilitate rotating of the front base 431, one or more wheels 448 are attached to a contact edge 450 of the front base 431. This may allow the contact edge 450 to move smoothly along a support surface so that the position of the treadmill 400 on the support surface does not change.

In the embodiment shown, the rear end 414 is fully retracted or lowered. However, the treadmill 400 is in the inclined configuration whenever the front end 412 is higher than the rear end 414. In this manner, the inclined configuration simulates an uphill or an inclined outdoor path. When raising the front end 412, the exercise deck simulates the start of a hill, or an increase in the slope of a hill. This may improve the exercise experience by allowing a user to simulate an outdoor path.

FIG. 4-3 is a representation of a side view of the treadmill 400 of FIG. 4-1 in a hillcrest or hilltop configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the hillcrest configuration, the front end 412 of the exercise deck 402 is raised by the same amount as the rear end 414. In other words, both the front base 431 and the rear base 438 are rotated relative to the front pivot 433 and the rear pivot 440, respectively. Rotating the rear base 438 may push the rear end 414 up. A rear contact edge 452 may be configured to stay in one place as the rear base 438 is rotated. Because the front base 431 includes one or more wheels 448, as the rear base 438 is rotated, the front base 431 may shift along the wheels 448. In this manner, the treadmill 400 may stay in one location while raising or lowering either the front end 112 or the rear end 114. This may improve the stability of the treadmill 400 and help to prevent the treadmill 400 from moving about during operation, which may cause injury to people and/or damage to objects or structures.

In some embodiments, the treadmill 400 may change from the inclined configuration to the hillcrest configuration by raising the rear end 414 while the front end 412 is lifted. This may help to simulate cresting the top of a hill. To a user, reducing the uphill incline of the exercise deck 402 by lowering the front end 412 may not physically or visually feel the same as raising the rear end 414 to reduce the uphill incline. Reducing the uphill incline by raising the rear end 414 mimics the structure of a hill, and may help a user to feel as though he or she is on an outdoor path. Furthermore, visually, raising the rear end 414 to simulate cresting a hill may help the user to feel as though he or she has reached the top of a hill. Simulating cresting the hill may further improve the exercise experience for the user by improving his or her sense of accomplishment of climbing a hill.

FIG. 4-4 is a representation of a side view of the treadmill 400 of FIG. 4-1 in a downhill or declined configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the downhill configuration, the rear end 414 of the exercise deck 402 is raised higher than the front end 412. To raise the rear end 414, the rear base 438 is rotated about the rear pivot 440. Raising the rear end 414 of the exercise deck 402 may simulate a downhill or a declined path. This may improve the exercise experience for the user by exercising different muscles than walking or running on an incline and by providing variety for the user.

In the embodiment shown, the front end 412 is fully retracted or lowered. However, the treadmill 400 is in the downhill configuration whenever the rear end 414 is higher than the front end 412. To increase the incline (e.g., decrease the decline), either the front end 412 may be raised or the rear end 414 may be lowered. This may simulate reaching the bottom of a hill, which may further improve the exercise experience by simulating an outdoor path.

FIG. 5-1 is a schematic representation of a treadmill 500 in the neutral orientation, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The treadmill 500 includes an exercise deck 502 with a front end 512 and a rear end 514. In the neutral orientation, the front end 512 is located above a support surface 554 with a front end height 556-1 and the rear end 514 is located above the support surface 554 with a rear end height 558-1. In the neutral orientation, the front end height 556-1 and the rear end height 558-1 are the same. Furthermore, in the neutral orientation, the front end height 556-1 and the rear end height 558-1 are minimized, or at their lowest values. In the neutral orientation, the exercise deck 502 has a deck angle of 0°.

During operation, the treadmill 500 may raise the front end 512 to the inclined or uphill orientation shown in FIG. 5-2. In the uphill orientation, the front end 512 is raised to a front end height 556-2 that is greater than the rear end height 558-2 of the rear end 514. Raising the front end 512 includes increasing the deck angle 560-2. In other words, the exercise deck 502 has a deck angle 560-2 that is greater than 0°. For example, the exercise deck may have a deck angle 560-2 of 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, or any value therebetween.

After the front end 512 of the exercise deck 502 has been raised (or the deck angle 560-2 has been increased), the rear end 514 of the exercise deck 502 may be raised to the crested or hilltop orientation shown in FIG. 5-3. In the hilltop orientation, the front end height 556-3 is the same as the rear end height 558-3, and the deck angle is 0°. Furthermore, in the hillcrest orientation, the front end height 556-3 and the rear end height 558-3 are greater than the front end height 556-1 and the rear end height 558-1 of the neutral orientation. By raising the rear end 514 of the exercise deck 502 after the incline of the exercise deck has been increased, the treadmill 500 may simulate the cresting of a hill, which may improve the exercise experience for the user.

After the rear end 514 has been raised to the hillcrest orientation, the front end 512 may be lowered to the decline or downhill orientation shown in FIG. 5-4. In this manner, the treadmill 500 may simulate running over the top of a hill and down the downhill side of the hill. In the downhill orientation, the rear end 514 is higher than the front end 512. In other words, the rear end height 558-4 is greater than the front end height 556-4. The deck angle 560-4 is negative, which may simulate a downhill path. In this manner, the exercise experience may be improved by simulating an uphill path that then travels down the hill. After the front end 512 has been lowered, the rear end 514 may be lowered back down to the neutral orientation shown in FIG. 5-1 and the cycle may be repeated.

FIG. 6 is a representation of a method 662 for operating a treadmill. The method 662 includes increasing an incline of an exercise deck from a first deck angle to a second deck angle by extending a front incline mechanism at 664. In some embodiments, the first deck angle may be the deck angle of a neutral orientation, and may be 0°. In some embodiments, the first deck angle may be greater than 0°, and increasing the deck angle may include increasing the deck angle from a value greater than 0° to a value still greater than 0°.

After the incline of the exercise deck is increased from the first deck angle to the second deck angle, the method 662 includes decreasing the incline of the exercise deck from the second deck angle to a third deck angle at by extending a rear incline mechanism at 666. The third deck angle may be 0°. In this manner, the deck angle may be reduced from the second deck angle, which is greater than 0°, to the third deck angle which is 0°. By raising the rear of the exercise deck, this may simulate cresting a hill.

After the incline is decreased to the third deck angle, the method 662 includes further decreasing the incline of the exercise deck from the third deck angle to a fourth deck angle by retracting the front incline mechanism at 668. The fourth deck angle is less than 0°. In other words, the fourth deck angle is negative, or on a decline. This may simulate the transition from a hillcrest to downhill, which may improve the exercise experience for the user by simulating an outdoor path.

The method 662 may further include increasing the incline of the exercise deck from the fourth deck angle to a fifth deck angle by retracting the second incline mechanism. The fifth deck angle may be 0°. In other words, the fifth deck angle may be the same as the first deck angle. This may further simulate a path that transfers from a downhill grade to a neutral grade, which may improve the exercise experience for the user by simulating the bottom of a hill.

FIG. 7 is a representation of a method 770 for operating a treadmill, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 770 includes raising a front end of an exercise deck with a front incline mechanism from a first front end height to a second front end height at 772. A rear end of the exercise deck may be lower than the front end of the exercise deck.

After raising the front end, the method 770 may include raising the rear end of the exercise deck with a rear incline mechanism from a first rear end height to a second rear end height at 774. In some embodiments, the second rear end height is the same as the first rear end height. This may simulate cresting the top of a hill and the flat path at the top of the hill. This may improve the exercise experience for the user by simulating an outdoor path.

After raising the rear end, the method 770 includes lowering the front end of the exercise deck with the front incline mechanism from the second front end height to a third front end height at 776. The third front end height is less than the second rear end height. In this manner, the exercise deck has a decline, or a negative deck angle. This may simulate a downhill grade. This may improve the exercise experience for the user by more fully simulating an outdoor path.

After lowering the front end of the exercise deck, the rear end may be lowered from a second rear end height to a third rear end height. The third rear end height may be the same as the third front end height. Thus, the exercise deck may have a neutral orientation, or a deck angle of 0°. This may simulate transitioning from a downhill grade to a neutral grade.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

When operating a treadmill, a user may desire to simulate walking or running up a hill. Treadmills often include lift motors that lift a front portion of an exercise deck up to increase the incline of the exercise deck. A user may also desire to simulate walking or running down a hill. In some situations, the front portion of the exercise deck of the treadmill may be lowered to simulate a decline. Conventional treadmills change the incline of the exercise deck by raising or lowering the front of the exercise deck. Raising the back of the exercise deck while the front of the exercise deck is raised may simulate cresting a hill more fully than only lowering the front of the exercise deck. This may improve the exercise experience for the user by allowing the user to simulate an outdoor path.

A treadmill includes an exercise deck. A tread belt is strung or wrapped around the exercise deck from a front pulley to a rear pulley. A drive motor located in a housing is connected to the front pulley to rotate the front pulley. As the front pulley rotates, the front pulley rotates the tread belt from the front pulley to the rear pulley across the exercise deck, or from a front end to a rear end of the exercise deck. The treadmill includes posts that support a console. The console may display exercise information, include exercise controls, house a processor for exercise programs, and so forth.

The treadmill includes a front mechanism at the front end of the exercise deck and a rear lift mechanism at the rear end of the exercise deck. The front lift mechanism is configured to lift the front end of the exercise deck. With the front end lifted, the user may walk or run on the treadmill on an incline, or “uphill.” The rear lift mechanism is configured to lift the rear end of the exercise deck. With the rear end lifted, the user may walk or run on the treadmill on a decline, or “downhill.” In some embodiments, the front lift mechanism and the rear lift mechanism may be independently operated. In other words, the front lift mechanism may raise and lower the front end regardless of the height of the rear end, and the rear mechanism may raise and lower the rear end regardless of the height of the front end. Furthermore, the front lift mechanism may actuate while the rear lift mechanism is actuating or while the rear lift mechanism is not actuating, and the rear lift mechanism may actuate while the front lift mechanism is actuating or while the front lift mechanism is not actuating.

The exercise deck includes or is supported by a frame underneath the exercise deck. In the embodiment shown, the frame includes a first beam and a second beam, the first beam and the second beam being parallel and each extending longitudinally along the exercise deck. The front lift mechanism is located at the front end of the exercise deck and the rear lift mechanism is located at the rear end of the exercise deck.

The front lift mechanism includes a front lift motor. The front lift motor is connected to the frame with a front support member extending between the first beam and the second beam. The front support member may be located at the front end, or closer to the front end than the rear end of the exercise deck. Thus, the front lift motor may be located at the front end, or closer to the front end than the rear end of the exercise deck.

The front lift mechanism further includes a front base rotationally connected to the frame at a front pivot. A front extension member extends from the front lift motor to the front base. The front lift motor causes the front extension member to expand or retract. As the front extension member expands, the front base rotates about the front pivot and lifts the front end of the exercise deck.

The front lift motor may be connected to the front support member with a rotational connection. In this manner, as the front base rotates, the front lift motor may rotate to keep the front extension member straight and directed toward the front base.

The rear lift mechanism includes a rear lift motor. The rear lift motor is connected to the frame with a rear support member extending between the first beam and the second beam. The rear support member may be located at the rear end, or closer to the rear end than the front end of the exercise deck. Thus, the rear lift motor may be located at the front end, or closer to the front end than the rear end of the exercise deck.

The rear lift mechanism further includes a rear base rotationally connected to the frame at a rear pivot. A rear extension member extends from the rear lift motor to the rear base. The rear lift motor causes the rear extension member to expand or retract. As the rear extension member expands, the rear base rotates about the rear pivot and lifts the rear end of the exercise deck.

The rear lift motor may be connected to the rear support member with a rotational connection. In this manner, as the rear base rotates, the rear lift motor may rotate to keep the rear extension member straight and directed toward the rear base.

The front extension member and the rear extension member may be any extension member. For example, the front extension member and the rear extension member may be a hydraulic piston, a pneumatic piston, a worm gear, a screw gear, a linear motor, a solenoid, or any other type of extension member. In some embodiments the front extension member may be the same as the rear extension member. In some embodiments, the front extension member may be different from the rear extension member.

The front lift motor and the rear lift motor may be different motors. In this manner, the front lift motor may operate independent of the rear lift motor, and the rear lift motor may operate independent of the front lift motor. This may provide the treadmill with a variety of different incline simulations and permutations, which may help to simulate an outdoor path. Simulating an outdoor path may improve the exercise experience for the user.

The front lift mechanism includes a front base having a front pivot connection that connects to a pivot connection on the frame. A front lift motor extends and retracts a front extension member. The front extension member is rotatably connected to a front push member. The front push member is connected to the front base such that as the front extension member pushes on the front push member, the front push member causes the front base to rotate about the front pivot connection. This may cause a front end of an exercise deck to raise, which may simulate an uphill outdoor path on the treadmill.

The rear lift mechanism includes a rear base having a rear pivot connection that connects to a pivot connection on the frame. A rear lift motor extends and retracts a rear extension member. The rear extension member is rotatably connected to a rear push member. The rear push member is connected to the rear base such that as the rear extension member pushes on the rear push member, the rear push member causes the rear base to rotate about the rear pivot connection. In the embodiment shown, the rear push member is connected to the rear base at or on the rear pivot. This may cause a rear end of an exercise deck to raise, which may simulate a downhill path on the treadmill.

In a neutral configuration, both the front base and the rear base are retracted or lowered. In other words, the front lift mechanism is retracted and the rear lift mechanism is retracted. In the neutral configuration, the exercise deck is flat or level, which may simulate a flat path.

In an inclined configuration, the front end of the exercise deck is raised higher than the rear end. To raise the front end, the front base is rotated about the front pivot. Rotating the front base may push the front end up. To facilitate rotating of the front base, one or more wheels are attached to a contact edge of the front base. This may allow the contact edge to move smoothly along a support surface so that the position of the treadmill on the support surface does not change.

The rear end may be fully retracted or lowered. However, the treadmill is in the inclined configuration whenever the front end is higher than the rear end. In this manner, the inclined configuration simulates an uphill or an inclined outdoor path. When raising the front end, the exercise deck simulates the start of a hill, or an increase in the slope of a hill. This may improve the exercise experience by allowing a user to simulate an outdoor path.

In a hillcrest configuration, the front end of the exercise deck is raised by the same amount as the rear end. In other words, both the front base and the rear base are rotated relative to the front pivot and the rear pivot, respectively. Rotating the rear base may push the rear end up. A rear contact edge may be configured to stay in one place as the rear base is rotated. Because the front base includes one or more wheels, as the rear base is rotated, the front base may shift along the wheels. In this manner, the treadmill may stay in one location while raising or lowering either the front end or the rear end. This may improve the stability of the treadmill and help to prevent the treadmill from moving about during operation, which may cause injury to people and/or damage to objects or structures.

In some embodiments, the treadmill may change from the inclined configuration to the hillcrest configuration by raising the rear end while the front end is lifted. This may help to simulate cresting the top of a hill. To a user, reducing the uphill incline of the exercise deck by lowering the front end may not feel the same as raising the rear end to reduce the uphill incline. Reducing the uphill incline by raising the rear end mimics the structure of a hill, and may help a user to feel as though he or she is on an outdoor path. Furthermore, visually, raising the rear end to simulate cresting a hill may help the user to feel as though he or she has reached the top of a hill. Simulating cresting the hill may further improve the exercise experience for the user by improving his or her sense of accomplishment at climbing a hill.

In a downhill configuration, the rear end of the exercise deck is raised higher than the front end. To raise the rear end, the rear base is rotated about the rear pivot. Raising the rear end of the exercise deck may simulate a downhill or a declined path. This may improve the exercise experience for the user by exercising different muscles than walking or running on an incline and by providing variety for the user.

The treadmill may be in the downhill configuration whenever the rear end is higher than the front end. To increase the incline (e.g., decrease the decline), either the front end may be raised or the rear end may be lowered. This may simulate reaching the bottom of a hill, which may further improve the exercise experience by simulating an outdoor path.

In some embodiments, a change in incline from the uphill orientation to the downhill orientation may engage different stabilizer muscles. For example, an incline may engage stabilizer muscles in the feet, legs, and core associated with walking or running up a hill. Similarly, a decline may engage stabilizer muscles in the feet, legs, and core associated with walking or running down a hill. Engaging and exercising stabilizer muscles may improve overall fitness, reduce the likelihood of injury, and help to recover from injury.

In some embodiments, the treadmill may transition between the uphill and downhill configurations smoothly. In other words, one or both of the front incline mechanism and the rear incline mechanism may be continuously operating. In this manner, when the rear incline mechanism decreases the incline to crest the hill, the front incline mechanism may immediately begin further decreasing the incline to begin a downhill configuration. This may provide the user with a heal kick. In other words, the rear end of the exercise deck may impart some momentum to the user at the crest of the hill and the transition from the uphill configuration to the downhill configuration. This heal kick may engage stabilizer muscles in the user's feet, legs, and core. This may further improve the exercise experience by exercising muscles that may otherwise be ignored.

In some embodiments, at least one of the front lift mechanism (and the front lift motor) and the rear lift mechanism (and the rear lift motor) may be constantly operating. In this manner, the incline of the treadmill may be constantly changing. Outdoor paths are not perfectly flat, and constantly changing the incline of the treadmill by operating one or both of the front lift mechanism and the rear lift mechanism may therefore more fully simulate exercising outdoors. In this manner, rear end of the treadmill may be constantly moving or operating. In some embodiments, the rear lift mechanism may be constantly operating during a workout. In some embodiments, the front lift mechanism may be constantly operating during a workout. In some embodiments, both the front and the rear lift mechanisms may be constantly operating during a workout.

In some embodiments, the front lift mechanism and the rear lift mechanism may actuate when the tread belt is moving. In other words, the incline of the exercise deck may be changed between the neutral orientation, to the uphill orientation, and the downhill orientation while the tread belt is moving. In some embodiments, the height of the rear end of the exercise deck and/or the height of the front end of the exercise deck may be changing continuously during a workout. In some embodiments, raising and lowering of the front end of the exercise deck and/or raising and lowering the rear end of the exercise deck may occur at a lift rate that is non-zero. In some embodiments, the lift rate may be non-zero for one or both of the front end and the rear end of the exercise deck for an entirety of a workout. In some embodiments, the lift rate may be 0.5° per second, 1.0° per second, 1.5° per second, 2.0° per second, 2.5° per second, 3° per second, 3.5° per second, 4° per second, 4.5° per second, 5.0° per second, 5.5° per second, 6.0° per second, 6.5° per second, 7.0° per second, 7.5° per second, 8.0° per second, 8.5° per second, 9.0° per second, or any value therebetween. Different lift rates may improve the exercise experience by allowing the user to change how quickly a hill is started, finished, or crested, which may engage different stabilizer muscles and have a different feel.

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual embodiment may be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous embodiment-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one embodiment to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements in the preceding descriptions. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. For example, any element described in relation to an embodiment herein may be combinable with any element of any other embodiment described herein. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are “about” or “approximately” the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a stated value.

A person having ordinary skill in the art should realize in view of the present disclosure that equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made to embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Equivalent constructions, including functional “means-plus-function” clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, including both structural equivalents that operate in the same manner, and equivalent structures that provide the same function. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function or other functional claiming for any claim except for those in which the words ‘means for’ appear together with an associated function. Each addition, deletion, and modification to the embodiments that falls within the meaning and scope of the claims is to be embraced by the claims.

The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of a stated amount. Further, it should be understood that any directions or reference frames in the preceding description are merely relative directions or movements. For example, any references to “up” and “down” or “above” or “below” are merely descriptive of the relative position or movement of the related elements.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

TREADMILL WITH FRONT AND REAR INCLINE MECHANISMS

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