EP0504649A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exercise treadmill and method of lubrication
Assignee: Brunswick Corp
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Filing: 1992-03-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-03-02
Abstract
Abstract An exercise treadmill (20) is disclosed which includes means for lubricating the endless belt (22) treadmill components. In each embodiment, a lubricant is applied to either the inner surface of the treadmill belt (22) or to the treadmill support deck (42), thereby reducing the treadmill belt (22) to support deck (42) friction. The applied lubricants can be either solid aerosol or liquid in form, and can be dispersed as a function of treadmill (20) operating time, treadmill belt (22) distance traversed or in response to a measured parameter indicative of belt (22) to deck (42) friction. Additionally, methods are disclosed for lubricating treadmills to reduce belt (22) to deck (42) friction.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene B. Szymczak
- 👤 Vincent C. Adams
- 👤 Teng-Ywe Eric Hong
- 👤 Kenneth F. Lantz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:37
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G45/00; B65G45/02; A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/02; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: endless belt means for providing a continuously moving exercise surface; deck means located below said exercise surface for supporting said exercise surface from below when a treadmill user's foot impacts said surface; and lubricating means for reducing friction between said impacted exercise surface and said deck means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
The treadmill of Claim 1 further comprising control means for selectively applying said lubricant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The treadmill of Claim 2 wherein said control means selectively applies said lubricant according to a predetermined schedule.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The treadmill of Claim 2 further comprising sensing means for measuring a parameter representative of the friction between said belt means and said deck means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The treadmill of Claim 4 wherein said control means selectively applies said lubricant in response to said parameter measured by said sensor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The treadmill of Claim 5 wherein said control means includes calculating means for calculating when to apply said lubricant in response to said measured parameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: endless belt means for providing a continuously moving exercise surface, said belt means including an upper belt run located above a lower belt run; a deck located below said upper run for supporting said surface from below when a treadmill user's foot impacts said upper run; and a lubrication system for reducing friction between said impacted upper run and said deck, said lubrication system including a reservoir for storing lubricant and a pump for withdrawing lubricant from said reservoir and for applying said lubricant to said belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The treadmill of Claims 1-7 wherein said lubricant is applied to said lower belt run.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: endless belt means for providing a continuously moving exercise surface, said belt having an upper belt run located above a lower belt run; a deck located below said upper run for supporting said surface from below when a treadmill user's foot impacts said upper run; and a lubrication bar for imparting wax to said belt as said belt rotates past said bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The treadmill of Claim 9 wherein said lubrication bar is cylindrical in shape and is rotatably mounted adjacent said upper belt run.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The treadmill of Claim 10 further comprising control means for controllably rotating said lubrication bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The treadmill of Claim 11 wherein said bar includes ratchet means for incrementally controlling the rotation of said bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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