Treadmill exercise apparatus with one-way clutch

Abstract

A motorized treadmill apparatus having a frame including two spaced apart rollers with an endless belt extending around and between the rollers is disclosed. A motor is operatively connected to the belt via a one-way clutch device such that the belt is allowed to move at a speed greater than the speed that the motor is driving the belt. However, the one-way clutch device constrains the belt to move at a speed at least equal to the speed that the motor is driving the belt. Optionally, an inertia device (e.g., a flywheel) may be attached to the belt to help maintain the speed of the belt at the pace which the user sets. This is especially useful when the user is moving the belt at a speed greater than the speed that the motor is driving the belt. In order to slow the belt back to the speed at which the motor is driving the belt, and to increase the resistance to the user, a friction device (such as a belt and a friction member) may be utilized.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.