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US 2006/0068978 A1Published application
Power assisted arm driven treadmill
AssigneeTrue Fitness Technology, Inc.
InventorsDan Moon, Frank Trulaske, Stan Goldfader
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for a treadmill or similar exercise device which utilizes a principally arm driven belt, but includes a motor assist which provides for additional drive to the belt. The motor assist device may constructively or destructively interact with the user provided motive force via the arms. Generally, the motor will allow for the device to utilize incline as well as to make the device easier to start from rest.
Claims38
A treadmill comprising:
- a frame;
- an endless belt supported on said frame;
- an arm member being displaceable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the frame by a reciprocating arm movement of a user;
- a drive roller coupled to said belt for imparting motion to said belt;
- a transmission system linking said drive roller to said displaceable arm member;
- and
- a motor assist device coupled to said endless belt, so that operation of said motor assist device will impart motion to said belt;
- wherein displacement of said arm members in combination with the operation of said motor assist device together impart motion to rotate said endless belt in a first direction.
5 more elements
A method of driving the rotation of a treadmill belt, comprising the steps of:
- inclining a front end of said belt such that gravitational force on a user frictionally coupled to said belt urges the belt rearwardly;
- transferring kinetic energy generated by arm movements of said user to rearward movement of said belt to assist said gravitationally induced rearward movement of said belt;
- and
- providing a motor assist device, said motor assist device mechanically assisting said gravitationally induced rearward movement of said belt independent of said assistance from the transferred kinetic energy.
1 more element
A treadmill comprising:
- a frame;
- an endless belt supported on said frame;
- an arm member being displaceable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the frame by a reciprocating arm movement of a user;
- a drive roller coupled to said belt for imparting motion to said belt;
- a transmission system linking said drive roller to said displaceable arm member;
- and
- a motor assist device coupled to said endless belt, so that operation of said motor assist device will impart motion to said belt;
- wherein displacement of said arm members in combination with the operation of said motor assist device together actuate said endless belt to start rotation in a first direction from a stationary position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.