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EP0334608A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treadmill with trampoline-like surface
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-03-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A treadmill with a trampoline-like surface provides an improved peripheral support which tensions the belt in both longitudinal and lateral directions using pairs of angularly oriented springs each pair extending from a roller bracket at an angle of, e.g., forty-five degrees (45 DEG ) to the lateral edge of the mat, connecting thereto at spaced apart positions. The improved spring support tensions the belt with both longitudinal and lateral (or transverse) load components.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Clayton Lee
- 👤 Jeffrey O. Meredith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:41
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/02; A63B22/0207; A63B22/0214; A63B22/0292; A63B21/00; A63B21/02; A63B21/023; A63B22/0285; A63B5/00; A63B5/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A treadmill for supporting a walker or runner with a moving trampoline-like belt surface having a longitudinal axis defined by the direction of movement of the belt during use, comprising: a) a frame; b) an endless belt having generally parallel lateral edges and mounted for travel upon and with respect to the frame, the belt having an uppermost surface forming a generally flat exercising surface; c) the frame providing a fixed lateral edge support means spaced from and extending substantially along both lateral sides of the endless belt and including front and rear curved end portions; d) transporter means for movably engaging the lateral edge support means for travel therealong and connecting the lateral edges of the endless belt to the fixed lateral edge support means to support the lateral edges along the exercising surface as the endless belt moves relative to the frame; e) the transporter having multiple sections that can track the lateral support means independently of one another so that the transport means can turn upon the curved end portions; and f) the connecting means including tensile means moving with the belt and the transporter means for applying tension to the lateral edges of the belt, at multiple positions along the belt at multiple spaced locations along the transporter means and at acute angles with respect to the lateral edges so that the tension means tensions the belt at its lateral edge portions with both longitudinal and lateral load components and at least partially maintains stability of the multiple sections of the transporter means upon the lateral edge support means in both longitudinal and lateral directions, as a runner or walker paces upon the endless belt in a stationary position with respect to the frame as the belt moves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A treadmill for supporting a walker or runner with a moving trampoline-like belt surface having a longitudinal axis defined by the direction of movement of the belt during use, comprising: a) a frame; b) an endless belt having generally parallel lateral edges and mounted for travel upon and with respect to the frame, the belt having an uppermost surface forming a generally flat exercising surface; c) the frame providing a fixed lateral edge support means spaced from and extending substantially along both lateral sides of the endless belt and including front and rear curved end portions; d) transporter means for movably engaging the lateral edge support means for travel therealong and connecting the lateral edges of the endless belt to the fixed lateral edge support means to support the lateral edges along the exercising surface as the endless belt moves relative to the frame; e) the transporter having multiple sections that can track the lateral support means independently of one another so that the transport means can turn upon the curved end portions; and f) the connecting means including tensile means moving with the belt and the transporter means for applying tension to the lateral edges of the belt, at multiple positions along the belt at multiple spaced locations along the transporter means and at acute angles with respect to the lateral edges so that the tension means tensions the belt at its lateral edge portions with both longitudinal and lateral load components and at least partially maintains stability of the multiple sections of the transporter means upon the lateral edge support means in both longitudinal and lateral directions, as a runner or walker paces upon the endless belt in a stationary position with respect to the frame as the belt moves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The treadmill of Claim 1, wherein the connecting means include a plurality of roller brackets mounted for travel upon the support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The treadmill of Claim 1, wherein the endless belt is a bias weave mat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The treadmill of Claim 3, wherein the mat has first and second woven portions each oriented at generally right angles to one another and at acute angles to the lateral edge of the belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The treadmill of Claim 2, and further including at least one drive roller, the belt being driven through frictional contact between the inner surface of the belt and the drive roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The treadmill of Claim 3, and further including a shaft connecting the drive roller to the frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The treadmill of Claim 4, further comprising a pair of spaced apart wheels on the shaft positioned respectively on each side of the drive roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The treadmill of Claim 1, wherein the lateral edge support means includes a pair of continuous rails connected to the frame and extending respectively along each edge of the endless belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The treadmill of Claim 6, wherein the multiple-spaced brackets are roller bracket assemblies having rollers that engage the rail and and a pair of springs extending from each bracket at an angle with respect to each other and connecting respectively to the lateral edge of the belt at spaced apart positions on the belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The treadmill of Claim 7, wherein each spring is a coil spring connected between each bracket and the belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising a secondary surface means positioned under the belt surface for limiting vertical deflection of the belt during use.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 11 wherein the secondary surface is an elongated platform supported at one endportion and being unsupported and free to deflect substantially along its length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 11, wherein the secondary surface means includes an upper surface having a low coefficient of friction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 13 wherein the secondary surface means includes a plurality of horizontally spaced apart coil springs transmitting variable load transfer characteristics in different horizontal positions to the endless belt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 11, wherein the secondary surface includes a portion that is movable in a vertical direction so that the distance between the belt surface and the secondary surface can be varied.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 11, wherein the secondary surface means includes a rigid supporting layer, a flexible foam layer, and an uppermost generally frictionless surface of low coefficient of friction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the belt is segmented, comprising a plurality of belt sections, and further comprising tensioning means for forming a tensile load transfer between adjacent belt sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising a belt cover that moves with the belt and which extends across the belt and the spring means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 1, wherein each bracket includes a plurality of rollers including at least one roller adapted to engage the outer surface of the rail at a position opposite the belt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of Claim 19, further comprising a second roller carried by the bracket and positioned generally between the rail and the mat for maintaining a generally semicircular curvature of the belt at the end portions of the belt, and further comprising a curved rail section having a surface which defines the curvature at the end of the belt and which is adapted to receive the second roller carried by the brackets, so that the second roller engages the curved rail section at the end portions of the belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of Claim 11, further comprising a jack positioned under the secondary surface for raising and lowering the secondary surface with respect to the belt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising shock absorber means defining a shock absorbing connection between the frame and the peripheral support means for allowing the deflection of each upper edge portion of the belt inwardly during use.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The treadmill apparatus of Claim 22 wherein the shock absorbing means includes an array of springs positioned under the belt uppermost surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
A treadmill apparatus, comprising: a) a frame; b) an endless belt mounted for travel upon the frame; c) a pair of spaced apart handles mounted at the forward end portion of the frame and extending rearwardly on opposite sides thereof along the respective peripheral edges of the belt, each handle including gripping portion defining an angle of between 15 and 45 degrees with respect to horizontal, each handle being rotatably connected with respect to the frame, and the frame includes a pedestal extending upwardly from the treadmill surface each handle being mounted to the upper portion of the pedestal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
99 words
A treadmill apparatus, comprising: a) a frame; b) an endless belt mounted for travel upon the frame; c) a pair of spaced apart handles mounted at the forward end portion of the frame and extending rearwardly on opposite sides thereof along the respective peripheral edges of the belt, each handle including gripping portion defining an angle of between 15 and 45 degrees with respect to horizontal, each handle being rotatably connected with respect to the frame, and the frame includes a pedestal extending upwardly from the treadmill surface each handle being mounted to the upper portion of the pedestal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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