# US 12,109,477 B2 · Guard assembly for exercise machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,477 B2 - Document ID: US12109477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/939,877 - Filed: 2022-09-07 - Published: 2023-03-09 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-07 - Assignees: Peloton Interactive, Inc. - Applicants: Peloton Interactive, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Baker; Azhar Meyer; Kevin Danford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109477B2 ## CPC - 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 22/02: with movable endless bands {, e.g. treadmills (other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028)} - A63B 22/0235: {driven by a motor} - A63B 22/0285: {Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia} - A63B 2071/009: {Protective housings covering the working parts of the apparatus} - A63B 2071/0658: {Position or arrangement of display} - A63B 2220/40: Acceleration - A63B 2220/805: Optical or opto-electronic sensors - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract An exercise machine with a movable belt includes a guard assembly with a flexible guard that extends towards the rear axis and is spaced apart from the movable belt by a first gap and is exposed by the housing body, a rigid guard positioned downstream of the flexible guard with respect to a moving direction of the belt and spaced apart from the movable belt by a second gap, and a channel disposed between the flexible guard and the rigid guard. The guard assembly protects the user from injury and prevents damage to the exercise machine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A treadmill comprising: a movable belt that rotates around a front axis and a rear axis; and a guard assembly comprising: a flexible guard that extends towards the rear axis and is spaced apart from the movable belt by a first gap and is exposed by a housing body; a rigid guard positioned downstream of the flexible guard with respect to a moving direction of the belt and spaced apart from the movable belt by a second gap; and a channel disposed between the flexible guard and the rigid guard. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the channel is defined by a first surface of the rigid guard, a second surface of the rigid guard, the flexible guard, and the movable belt. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the first surface of the rigid guard is disposed at an angle of from 80 to 100 degrees with respect to the second surface of the rigid guard. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the flexible guard is configured to deform when an object larger than the first gap intrudes into the first gap, thereby increasing the size of the first gap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the first gap is at least three times the size of the second gap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the first gap is greater than 20 mm, and the second gap is less than 10 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein an upper edge of the flexible guard is spaced apart from an upper edge of the rigid guard by at least 70 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, further comprising a cover that covers a rear portion of the movable belt and exposes an upper surface of the flexible guard. ### Claim 9 A guard assembly for a movable belt, the guard assembly comprising: a flexible guard that extends towards a rear axis and is spaced apart from the movable belt by a first gap and is exposed by a housing body; a rigid guard positioned downstream of the flexible guard with respect to a moving direction of the movable belt and spaced apart from the movable belt by a second gap; and a channel disposed between the flexible guard and the rigid guard. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The guard assembly of claim 9, wherein the flexible guard is configured to deform when an object larger than the first gap intrudes into the first gap, thereby increasing the size of the first gap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The guard assembly of claim 9, wherein the first gap is at least three times the size of the second gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The guard assembly of claim 9, wherein the first gap is greater than 20 mm, and the second gap is less than 10 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The guard assembly of claim 9, wherein an upper edge of the flexible guard is spaced apart from an upper edge of the rigid guard by at least 70 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The guard assembly of claim 9, wherein the channel is defined by a first surface of the rigid guard, a second surface of the rigid guard, the flexible guard, and the movable belt. ### Claim 15 An exercise machine with a movable belt, the exercise machine comprising: a flexible guard that extends towards a rear axis and is spaced apart from the movable belt by a first gap and is exposed by a housing body; a rigid guard positioned downstream of the flexible guard with respect to a moving direction of the movable belt and spaced apart from the movable belt by a second gap; and a channel disposed between the flexible guard and the rigid guard. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The exercise machine of claim 15, wherein the flexible guard is configured to deform when an object larger than the first gap intrudes into the first gap, thereby increasing the size of the first gap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The exercise machine of claim 15, wherein the first gap is at least three times the size of the second gap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The exercise machine of claim 15, wherein the first gap is greater than 20 mm, and the second gap is less than 10 mm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The exercise machine of claim 15, wherein an upper edge of the flexible guard is spaced apart from an upper edge of the rigid guard by at least 70 mm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The exercise machine of claim 15, wherein the channel is defined by a first surface of the rigid guard, a second surface of the rigid guard, the flexible guard, and the movable belt.