US5484362A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exercise treadmill
Assignee: Brunswick Corp
•
Filing: 1994-06-03
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Granted: 1996-01-16
•
Expires: 2014-06-03
Abstract
Abstract To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E. Skowronski
- 👤 Kenneth F. Lantz
- 👤 Tomas F. Leon, deceased
- 👤 Donald J. Alexander
- 👤 George Kolomayets
- 👤 Vincent C. Adams
- 👤 Eugene B. Szymczak
- 👤 Edward V. Minnich
- 👤 Wade K. Totzke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:15
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/0015; A63B22/0023; A63B22/02; A63B22/0207; A63B22/0214; A63B22/0235; A63B22/0242; A63B22/025; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/17; A63B2220/50; A63B2220/51; A63B2220/53; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S482/00; Y10S482/90; Y10S482/901; Y10S482/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure; means for rotating one of said pulleys; an endless, moveable surface looped around said pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, said movable surface being rotated when one of said pulleys is rotated, and providing an exercise surface on which a user can walk or run while exercising; a deck member secured beneath at least a portion of said upper run; and support means, including a plurality of resilient support members secured to said deck member and slideably abutting said frame structure, for supporting said deck member on said frame structure effective to both permit said deck member to deflect downwardly with a variable rate of deflection in response to the impact force of the user's feet on said exercise surface and to permit at least limited longitudinal movement of said deck member with respect to said frame structure when said deck member is deflected downwardly
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure; means for rotating one of said pulleys; an endless, moveable surface looped around said pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, said movable surface being rotated when one of said pulleys is rotated, and providing an exercise surface on which a user can walk or run while exercising; a deck member secured beneath at least a portion of said upper run; and support means, including a plurality of resilient support members secured to said deck member and slideably abutting said frame structure, for supporting said deck member on said frame structure effective to both permit said deck member to deflect downwardly with a variable rate of deflection in response to the impact force of the user's feet on said exercise surface and to permit at least limited longitudinal movement of said deck member with respect to said frame structure when said deck member is deflected downwardly
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1 wherein said variable rate of deflection results in said deck deflecting downwardly a proportionally decreasing incremental distance in response to an increase in the impact force of the users feet on said exercise surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 2 wherein said resilient support members have a variable spring constant that increases with an increase in the compression of said resilient support members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 3 wherein said resilient support members are elliptical in configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure; means for rotating one of said pulleys; an endless, movable surface being rotated when one of said pulleys is rotated, and providing an exercise surface on which a user can walk or run while exercising; a deck member secured beneath at least a portion of said upper run and parallel to said longitudinal support members; and support means, including a plurality of resilient support members secured to said deck member and slideably abutting said frame structure, for supporting said deck member on said frame structure effective to both permit said deck member to deflect downwardly in response to the impact force of the user's feet on said exercise surface and to permit at least limited longitudinal movement of said deck member with respect to said frame structure when said deck member is deflected downwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure; means for rotating one of said pulleys; an endless, movable surface being rotated when one of said pulleys is rotated, and providing an exercise surface on which a user can walk or run while exercising; a deck member secured beneath at least a portion of said upper run and parallel to said longitudinal support members; and support means, including a plurality of resilient support members secured to said deck member and slideably abutting said frame structure, for supporting said deck member on said frame structure effective to both permit said deck member to deflect downwardly in response to the impact force of the user's feet on said exercise surface and to permit at least limited longitudinal movement of said deck member with respect to said frame structure when said deck member is deflected downwardly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 5 wherein a first pair of said resilient support members is located at one end of said deck member, a second pair of said support members is located at the other end of said deck member and a third pair of said resilient support members is located intermediate of said first and said second pair of resilient support members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 6 wherein said third pair of resilient support members have a variable spring constant that increases with an increase in the compression of said third pair of resilient support members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 7 wherein said third pair of resilient support members are elliptical in configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 5 wherein there are four pairs of said resilient support members spaced along said deck member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 9 wherein said resilient support members have a variable spring constant that increases with an increase in the compression of said resilient support members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 10 wherein said resilient support members are elliptical in configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure; means for rotating one of said pulleys; an endless, movable surface being rotated when one of said pulleys is rotated, and providing an exercise surface on which a user can walk or run while exercising; a deck member secured beneath at least a portion of said exercise surface and parallel to said longitudinal support members; and support means, including a plurality of resilient support members secured to said deck member and located along substantially the length of each of said longitudinal frame members and wherein at least a portion of said resilient support members slideably abut said longitudinal frame member, for supporting said deck member on said frame structure effective to both permit said deck member to deflect downwardly in response to the impact force of the user's feet on said exercise surface and to permit at least limited longitudinal movement of at least the central portion of said deck member with respect to said frame structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
195 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure; means for rotating one of said pulleys; an endless, movable surface being rotated when one of said pulleys is rotated, and providing an exercise surface on which a user can walk or run while exercising; a deck member secured beneath at least a portion of said exercise surface and parallel to said longitudinal support members; and support means, including a plurality of resilient support members secured to said deck member and located along substantially the length of each of said longitudinal frame members and wherein at least a portion of said resilient support members slideably abut said longitudinal frame member, for supporting said deck member on said frame structure effective to both permit said deck member to deflect downwardly in response to the impact force of the user's feet on said exercise surface and to permit at least limited longitudinal movement of at least the central portion of said deck member with respect to said frame structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 12 wherein a first pair of said resilient support members is located at a first end of each of said longitudinal frame members and are additionally secured to said deck member, a second pair of said resilient support members is located at a second end of each of said longitudinal frame members and are additionally secured to said deck member and a third pair of said resilient support members is located intermediate of said first and second pair of resilient support members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 13 wherein said third pair of said resilient support members have a variable spring constant that increases with an increase in the compression of said resilient support members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 14 wherein said third pair of said resilient support members are elliptical in configuration.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-15 | 1999-07-17 | 2000-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-15 | 2003-07-17 | 2004-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-15 | 2007-07-17 | 2008-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |