US6013011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspension system for exercise apparatus
Assignee: Precor Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-31
•
Granted: 2000-01-11
•
Expires: 2017-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A treadmill (10) includes a frame on which are mounted transverse forward and rearward roller assemblies (14, 16). An endless belt (18) is trained about the forward and rearward roller assemblies. A deck (20) is positioned between the upper run of the belt and the frame. The rearward portion of the deck (20) is mounted to the frame by a pivot connection (24) to allow pivoting of the deck about an axis transversely to the length of the deck. Elongate springs (26) of adjustable stiffness are mounted either along the sides of the frame to underlie the side margins of the deck, or transversely of the deck, to support the deck in conjunction with the pivot connection (24) and to absorb impact loads imparted on the deck by the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Steve Moore
- 👤 Thomas Moran
- 👤 Janine Whan-Tong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:48
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/02; A63B22/0207; A63B22/0214; A63B22/0228; A63B22/0235; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An exercise treadmill comprising: (a) a frame; (b) first and second roller assemblies rotatably mounted on the frame; (c) an endless belt trained around the first and second roller assemblies: (d) a deck disposed between the frame and the upper run of the endless belt, the deck having a first end portion and a second end portion; (e) a pivot connection to pivotally connect the second end portion of the deck to the frame to enable the second end portion of the deck to pivot about an axis generally transversely to the length of the deck, the pivot connection vertically supporting the second end portion of the deck and simultaneously supporting the deck for pivotal movement relative to the frame; and (f) at least one elongated spring disposed between the frame and the deck at a location between the first and second end portions of the deck to absorb loads imparted on deck by the exerciser, the spring being disposed so that the length of the spring is generally parallel to the plane of the deck.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
An exercise treadmill comprising: (a) a frame; (b) first and second roller assemblies rotatably mounted on the frame; (c) an endless belt trained around the first and second roller assemblies: (d) a deck disposed between the frame and the upper run of the endless belt, the deck having a first end portion and a second end portion; (e) a pivot connection to pivotally connect the second end portion of the deck to the frame to enable the second end portion of the deck to pivot about an axis generally transversely to the length of the deck, the pivot connection vertically supporting the second end portion of the deck and simultaneously supporting the deck for pivotal movement relative to the frame; and (f) at least one elongated spring disposed between the frame and the deck at a location between the first and second end portions of the deck to absorb loads imparted on deck by the exerciser, the spring being disposed so that the length of the spring is generally parallel to the plane of the deck.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the spring is disposed between the frame and the underside of the deck.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 2, wherein the spring is disposed lengthwise of the deck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 2, wherein the spring is disposed transversely relative to the length of the deck.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side rails, and a spring is disposed between each frame side rail and the deck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 5, wherein the springs are positioned between the frame side rails and the underside of the deck.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 6, wherein the springs are disposed lengthwise of the frame side rails.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 5, wherein the frame includes at least one cross-member extending transversely between the frame side rails, and a spring is disposed between the crossmember and the underside of the deck.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spring is disposed lengthwise of the crossmember.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the spring provides resistance to the movement of the deck towards the frame under loads imposed by the exerciser in proportion to the extent of movement of the deck towards the frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the spring has a variable spring rate, the spring rate increasing with deflection of the spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 11, wherein the spring is comprised of elastomeric material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the spring rate of the spring is adjustable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 13, wherein the spring is composed of elastomeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the spring is reversibly deformable under loads imposed on the deck by the exerciser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 15, wherein the extent of deformation of the spring per unit load imposed thereon by the deck decreases with increasing loads imposed on the elastomeric spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 16, wherein the spring is composed of elastomeric material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the spring is at least partially hollow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 18, wherein the spring comprises elastomeric material having a base portion and a concave deformable portion extending from the base portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 19, wherein the concave portion of the elastomeric spring has a wall thickness that decreases in the direction away from the base portion of the elastomeric spring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 19, wherein the elastomeric spring includes means for mounting the base portion of the spring to the frame.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 19: wherein the concaved deformable portion is at least partially hollow; and further comprising a compressible insert sized and shaped to be selectively insertable to a desired degree into the hollow concave portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 22, wherein the insert in cross-sectional shape generally corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the hollow interior of the concave deformable portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 22, wherein the insert is tapered along its length.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 22, further comprising means for altering the extent of engagement of the insert into the spring.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 22, wherein the insert is composed of elastomeric material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 18, wherein the spring comprises: a bladder adapted to receive a compressible fluid; means for supplying compressible fluid to the bladder; and means for removing the compressible fluid from the bladder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 27, wherein: the compressible fluid comprises air, and further comprising an air pump for forcing air into the bladder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 27, wherein the frame comprises a recess for receiving the bladder therein.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, further comprising mounting means for mounting the spring at selected locations on the frame lengthwise of the deck.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the pivot connection includes a spindle mounted on one of the frame and deck second end portion, and a hinge bracket mounted on the other of the frame and deck end second portion of the deck.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 1, wherein the deck is substantially rigid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 32, wherein the deck has a stiffness in terms of its EI of between 0.5×10 6 and 2.0×10 6 lb.in 2 .
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
201 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) first and second roller assemblies rotatably mounted on the frame; (c) an endless belt trained about the first and second roller assemblies; (d) a deck disposed between the frame and the upper run of the endless belt, the deck having a first end portion and a second end portion; (e) a pivot connection to pivotally connect the second end portion of the deck to the frame to pivot about an axis extending generally transversely to the length of the frame, the pivot connection supporting the second end portion of the deck in the direction toward and away from the upper run of the endless belt and also supporting the deck for pivotal movement relative to the frame; and (f) at least one elongated spring extending lengthwise of the deck and disposed between the frame and the deck at a location between the first end portion of the deck and the pivot connection to support the deck relative to the frame in cooperation with the pivot connection, to absorb loads imparted on the deck by the exerciser and to resist movement of the deck toward the frame when an exerciser strides on the belt.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
201 words
An exercise treadmill, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) first and second roller assemblies rotatably mounted on the frame; (c) an endless belt trained about the first and second roller assemblies; (d) a deck disposed between the frame and the upper run of the endless belt, the deck having a first end portion and a second end portion; (e) a pivot connection to pivotally connect the second end portion of the deck to the frame to pivot about an axis extending generally transversely to the length of the frame, the pivot connection supporting the second end portion of the deck in the direction toward and away from the upper run of the endless belt and also supporting the deck for pivotal movement relative to the frame; and (f) at least one elongated spring extending lengthwise of the deck and disposed between the frame and the deck at a location between the first end portion of the deck and the pivot connection to support the deck relative to the frame in cooperation with the pivot connection, to absorb loads imparted on the deck by the exerciser and to resist movement of the deck toward the frame when an exerciser strides on the belt.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 34, wherein: the frame comprising a pair of elongated side rails laterally spaced apart from each other by a plurality of cross members; and, a spring is disposed between each side rail and the underside of the deck.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 34, wherein the springs are reversibly deformable to resist movement of the deck towards the frame under loads imposed on the deck by the exerciser.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 36, wherein springs provide resistance to the movement of the deck toward the frame at a level proportional to the extent of movement of the deck toward the frame.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 37, wherein the rate of reversible deformation of the springs is inversely proportional to the level of deformation of the springs.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 38, wherein the springs are composed of elastomeric material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 34, wherein the spring rate of the spring is adjustable.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
46 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 40, wherein the spring comprises: a bladder adapted to receive compressible fluid; means for supplying a compressible fluid to the bladder; and, means for expelling compressible fluid from the bladder thereby to alter the volume of compressible fluid in the bladder.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 41, wherein the frame includes a recess for receiving the bladder therein to assist in positioning the bladder relative to the frame.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 34, wherein the spring is at least partially hollow.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 43, wherein the spring comprises a base portion and an outwardly concave bulbous body portion extending from the base portion.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 44, wherein the bulbous body portion of the spring is composed of elastomeric material.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 44, wherein the bulbous body portion of the spring decreases in wall thickness in the direction away from the base portion.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 44, further comprising means for mounting the springs at selected locations lengthwise of the frame side rails.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 43, further comprising an insert sized and shaped to be insertable to a selective degree within the hollow portion of the spring.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
39 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 48: the spring is hollow along a substantial portion of its length; and, the insert is of a length equal to at least half of the length of the hollow portion of the spring.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
14 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 48, wherein the insert is tapered along its length.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 48, further comprising means for incrementally inserting the insert into the spring and retracting the insert from the spring.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
47 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 34, wherein the pivot connection comprising a hinge assembly connected between the second end portion of the deck and the frame to pivot the second end portion of the deck about an axis extending generally transversely to the length of the deck.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
44 words
The exercise treadmill of claim 52, wherein the hinge means includes a spindle positioned at the transverse pivot axis of the hinge means and a hinge bracket engaged with the spindle and attached to one of the deck second end portion and the frame.
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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) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |