Treadbelts Comprising a Specialized Surface, Treadmills Including Such Treadbelts, and Related Methods

Abstract

A treadbelt for a treadmill may comprise a major surface comprising a plurality of tufts extending therethrough. The treadbelt may further comprise a first textile layer and a plurality of fibers extending through the first textile layer to provide the plurality of tufts. Additionally, the plurality of fibers may be sized, shaped and positioned to exhibit the appearance of turf. An additional treadbelt may comprise a major surface comprising a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom. The plurality of protrusions may be spatially distributed on the major surface of the treadbelt in an irregular and non-repeating configuration and may comprise irregular and non-repeating shapes. In some embodiments, a treadbelt may comprise a major surface configured to approximate to a runner the impact response of at least one of turf, sand, a trail, a ground vulcanized rubber track, and a hardwood surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.