US5690587A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Treadmill with cushioned surface, automatic speed control and interface to external devices

Assignee: Individual

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Filing: 1996-02-27

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Granted: 1997-11-25

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Expires: 2016-02-27

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Abstract

Abstract A treadmill includes a running deck in a running area and rollers. An endless transportation belt is stretched over and guided around the rollers for moving the transportation belt in a certain direction in the running area. A cushioning layer is disposed on the running deck and a glide layer with segments covers the cushioning layer. Both of these layers are underneath the transportation belt. Another embodiment of the invention is a treadmill including rollers and an endless transportation belt stretched over and guided around the rollers. A control unit is connected to a belt drive which drives the rollers for controlling the speed of the transportation belt. A position sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the transportation belt to recognize the position of a person on the transportation belt. The position sensor is also connected to the control unit which automatically adjusts the speed of the transportation belt by sending a position signal to the control unit. An additional embodiment of the invention is a configuration for conducting a treadmill race. A further embodiment of the invention is a configuration for displaying a virtual reality in combination with a treadmill.

Inventors

👤 Johann Gruenangerl

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 15:51

CPC Classifications

A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/02; A63B24/00; A63B24/0087; A63B2024/0093; A63B22/0235; A63B22/0242; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/10; A63B2220/13

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

A treadmill, comprising: a running deck defining a running area; rollers; an endless transportation belt being stretched over and guided around said rollers for movement in a given direction in said running area; a cushioning layer disposed on said running deck; and a glide layer disposed between said cushioning layer and said transportation belt, said glide layer being formed of a plurality of individual, mutually parallel strips glued to said cushioning layer.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 72 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The treadmill according to claim 1, including springs connected between said strips and said running deck,, said strips being metal strips disposed parallel to the given direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein said strips are plastic strips disposed parallel to the given direction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein said glide layer is a first glide layer, and including a second glide layer adjacent said first glide layer, said strips of said first guide layer being plastic and adhesively connected to said cushioning layer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein said second glide layer is adhesively connected to said strips of said first glide layer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein said strips of said first glide layer are square.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3703284A Cited

US4227487A Cited

US4616882A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-11-24	2001-05-26	2001-11-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-11-24	2005-05-26	2005-11-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-11-24	2009-05-26	2009-11-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

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