Treadmill with trampoline-like surface

Claim 1

A treadmill 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 on the frame, the uppermost of which is adapted to form a flat exercising surface; (c) the frame providing a lateral edge support rail spaced from and extending substantially along each lateral side of the endless belt; (d) connecting means for connecting the lateral edges of the endless belt to the lateral edge support rails to support the lateral edges along the exercising surface as the endless belt moves relative to the frame; (e) the connecting means including a plurality of brackets mounted for movement along the lateral edge support rails and tensile means for applying tension between the brackets and the lateral edges of the belt at multiple positions along the belt and at acute angles with respect to the lateral edges so that the tensile means tension the belt at its lateral edge portions with both longitudinal and lateral load components; wherein each bracket includes a plurality of rollers including at least one roller adapted to engage the outer surface of the rail on the side opposite the belt, and further comprising at least one 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 at least 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.