Treadmill with vertically displaceable platform
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey A. Beyer, Stacy E. Stamm, Jay T. Worobets, Brian R. Brothers, Andrew James Lewis, Thomas J. Sawarynski, Jr., Edward F. Wettlaufer, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A treadmill has a base with a vertically displaceable platform. A mechanism is provided that resists the downward movement of the platform in response to a load applied to the platform. The mechanism also rebounds the platform upwardly with a force applied to the platform in response to a decrease of a load on the platform. A support structure enables stable vertical positioning of the platform with respect to the base.
Claims19
A treadmill, comprising:
- a base;
- a platform movably coupled to the base;
- a drive roller rotatably coupled to the base;
- a belt extending across the drive roller and the platform;
- and
- a linear actuator coupled between the base and the platform, the linear actuator comprising a voice coil actuator, wherein the linear actuator is coupled to a piston.
A resistance/rebound mechanism for a treadmill, comprising:
- a linear actuator comprising a voice coil actuator;
- a transducer;
- and
- a bell crank,
- wherein the linear actuator is coupled to the bell crank, and
- wherein extension or retraction of the linear actuator along a first direction translates into movement of the bell crank in a second direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first direction.
A system for a treadmill, comprising:
- a plurality of resistance/rebound mechanisms each comprising:
- a linear actuator that comprises a voice coil actuator;
- a transducer, and
- a bell crank;
- wherein extension or retraction of the linear actuator along a first direction translates into movement of the bell crank in a second direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.