# US 10,478,665 B1 · Exercise apparatuses having tread members for supporting striding exercises > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,665 B1 - Document ID: US10478665B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/693,724 - Filed: 2017-09-01 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-01 - Assignees: Life Fitness, LLC - Applicants: Brunswick Corporation - Inventors: Juliette C. Daly; John M. Rogus; Cory H. Lazar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478665B1 ## CPC - A63B 22/0046: {Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation (attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20)} - A63B 21/4034: {for operation by feet} - A63B 21/4035: {for operation by hand} - A63B 22/001: {by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase (A63B22/0076 takes precedence)} - A63B 22/0664: {performing an elliptic movement} - A63B 23/03575: {Apparatus used for exercising upper and lower limbs simultaneously} - A63B 71/0054: {Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers (mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00)} - A63B 2022/0682: {with support elements being cantilevered, i.e. the elements being supported only on one side without bearing on tracks on the floor below the user} - A63B 2208/0204: Standing on the feet - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract An exercise apparatus has a frame and first and second pedals that are coupled to the frame such that a user standing on the first and second pedals can perform a striding exercise. The first and second pedals each have a tread member that supports the bottom of a user's foot in a manner that encourages movement of the user's foot relative to the tread member during the striding exercise. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exercise apparatus comprising a frame and first and second pedals that are coupled to the frame such that a user standing on the first and second pedals can perform a striding exercise, wherein the first and second pedals each have a tread member that extends longitudinally from front to back along a longitudinal axis, laterally from left side to right side along a lateral axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and vertically from bottom to top along a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the lateral axis, and wherein the tread member has a convex contoured upper tread surface when viewed with respect to a plane extending through the longitudinal and lateral axes; wherein the convex contoured upper tread surface supports an entire bottom of a user's foot in a manner that induces a rolling motion between the entire bottom of the user's foot and the tread member along the convex contoured upper tread surface during the striding exercise. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the convex contoured upper tread surface is symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the convex contoured upper tread surface is asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the convex contoured upper tread surface follows a constant radius of curvature with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ribs that are adjacent to each other and are elongated with respect to the vertical axis, wherein the plurality of ribs forms the convex contoured upper tread surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The exercise apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of ribs vertically extends from a common base member that is planar with respect to the longitudinal and lateral axes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tread member has a uniform stiffness along the convex contoured upper tread surface such that the tread member provides a uniform resiliency to pressure from the bottom of the user's foot as the user's foot moves during the striding exercise. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tread member has a varying stiffness along the convex contoured upper tread surface such that the tread member provides a non-uniform resiliency to pressure from the bottom of the user's foot as the user's foot moves during the striding exercise. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The exercise apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tread member has a longitudinally forward section having a first stiffness that provides a first resiliency with respect to the pressure from the bottom of the user's foot, a longitudinally rearward section having a second stiffness that provides a second resiliency with respect to the pressure from bottom of the user's foot, and a middle section located between the longitudinally forward section and longitudinally rearward section, the middle section having a third stiffness that provides a third resiliency with respect to the pressure from the bottom of the user's foot, and wherein the third resiliency is less than at least one of the first and second resiliencies. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The exercise apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and second resiliencies are the same. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The exercise apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the forward section is formed from a first material providing the first resiliency, wherein the rearward section is formed from a second material providing the second resiliency, and wherein the middle section is formed of a third material providing the third resiliency, wherein the third material is different than the at least one of the first and second materials. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The exercise apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of cross-bores formed in the tread member, wherein each cross-bore in the plurality of cross-bores has a size and shape that affects the resiliency of the tread member with respect to the pressure from the bottom of the user's foot at a location that is directly vertically above the respective cross-bore with respect to the vertical axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The exercise apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of cross-bores comprises a first set of cross-bores located in the forward section, a second set of cross-bores located in the rearward section, and a third set of cross-bores located in the middle section, wherein the third set of cross-bores and at least one of the first and second set of cross-bores have a different size compared to each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The exercise apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of cross-bores comprises a first set of cross-bores located in the longitudinally forward section, a second set of cross-bores located in the longitudinally rearward section, and a third set of cross-bores located in the middle section, wherein the third set of cross-bores and at least one of the first and second set of cross-bores have a different shape compared to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The exercise apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of cross-bores laterally extend through the tread member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of cross-bores comprises a first set of cross-bores that is elongated with respect to the vertical axis and a second set of cross-bores that is elongated with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The exercise apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an upper tread member providing the contoured upper tread surface and a plurality of laterally-extending suspension tubes that support the upper tread member with respect to the pedal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The exercise apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of laterally extending suspension tubes comprises forward and rearward suspension tubes and an intermediate suspension tube located between the forward and rearward suspension tubes, wherein the intermediate suspension tube provides a different resiliency to pressure from the user's foot than at least one of the forward and rearward suspension tubes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The exercise apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the tread member further comprises a lower tread member, and wherein the plurality of laterally extending suspension tubes support the upper tread member with respect to the lower tread member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tread member comprises an upper tread member, a base, and a plurality of vertical ribs that support the upper tread member with respect to the base, and further comprising a plurality of cross-bores defined between the plurality of longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The exercise apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs that longitudinally extend between vertical ribs in the plurality of vertical ribs, and further comprising a plurality of cross-bores defined between the plurality of longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The exercise apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a plurality of angled ribs that support the upper tread member with respect to the base, wherein the plurality of angled ribs extends at an angle to the vertical axis and an angle to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protrusions on the convex contoured upper tread surface, the plurality of protrusions providing tread for the bottom of the user's foot. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The exercise apparatus according to claim 23, wherein each protrusion in the plurality of protrusions extends laterally. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pedal comprises a base housing and an insert that is supported on the base housing, wherein the insert provides the tread member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The exercise apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the insert is coupled to the base housing. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The exercise apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the base housing comprises sidewalls that form an interior in which the insert is disposed. ### Claim 28 An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame; and first and second pedals that are pivotably coupled to the frame such that a user standing on the first and second pedals can perform a striding exercise; wherein the first and second pedals each have a tread member that supports a bottom of a user's foot during the striding exercise, the tread member extending longitudinally from front to back along a longitudinal axis, laterally from left side to right side along a lateral axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and vertically from bottom to top along a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the lateral axis; and wherein the tread member has a contoured upper tread surface that is convex along the longitudinal axis and thus induces a rolling motion of an entire bottom of the user's foot along the contoured upper tread surface so that a change in angle occurs between the user's foot and a base of the pedal during the striding exercise. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The exercise apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the convex contoured upper tread surface is symmetric along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The exercise apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the convex contoured upper tread surface is asymmetrical along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The exercise apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the convex contoured upper tread surface follows a constant radius of curvature along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The exercise apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the pedal comprises a base housing that provides the base of the pedal and an insert that is supported on the base housing, wherein the insert provides the tread member. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The exercise apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the insert is coupled to the base housing. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The exercise apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the base housing comprises sidewalls that form an interior in which the insert is disposed.