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US 5,433,679 AGranted
Exercise treadmill and method
AssigneeLife Fitness, LLC
InventorsEugene B. Szymczak, Vincent C. Adams, Teng-Ywe E. Hong, Kenneth E. Lantz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exercise treadmill is disclosed which includes means for lubricating the endless belt treadmill components. In each embodiment, a lubricant is applied to either the inner surface of the treadmill belt or to the treadmill support deck, thereby reducing the treadmill belt to support deck friction. The applied lubricants can be either solid aerosol or liquid in form, and can be dispersed as a function of treadmill operating time, treadmill belt distance traversed or in response to a measured parameter indicative of belt to deck friction. Additionally, methods are disclosed for lubricating treadmills to reduce belt to deck friction.
Claims35
An exercise treadmill, comprising:
- a frame means having two generally longitudinal frame sections, wherein one ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to a front frame section and the other ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to an end frame section;
- pulley means mounted on the front and end frame sections of said frame means;
- endless belt means mounted on said frame means and said pulley means, said belt means having an upwardly exposed operative section for providing a continuously moving exercise surface on which an adult human user can run while exercising;
- deck means having front and rear ends extended along said frame means, said deck means located below and underlying said exercise surface for supporting said exercise surface from below when the adult human user's foot impacts said exercise surface, said deck means having sufficient strength to support the adult human user when the user runs on said exercise surface;
- and
- lubricating means for applying a lubricant to reduce friction between said impacted exercise surface and said deck means.
3 more elements
An exercise treadmill, comprising:
- a frame means having two generally longitudinal frame sections, wherein one ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to a front frame section and the other ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to an end frame sections;
- pulley means mounted on the front and end frame sections of said frame means;
- endless belt means mounted on said frame means and said pulley means, said belt means having an upper belt run located above a lower belt run for providing a continuously moving exercise surface on which an adult human user can run while exercising;
- a deck having front and rear ends extended along said frame means, said deck located below and underlying said upper run for supporting said exercise surface from below when the adult human user's foot impacts said exercise surface of said upper run, said deck having sufficient strength to support the adult human user when the user runs on said exercise surface;
- and
- a lubrication system for applying a lubricant to reduce friction between said impacted exercise surface of said upper run and said deck, said lubrication system including a reservoir for storing said lubricant, a pump for withdrawing said lubricant from said reservoir and for applying said lubricant to said belt and control means for selectively applying said lubricant to said belt.
3 more elements
An exercise treadmill, comprising:
- a frame means having two generally longitudinal frame sections, wherein one ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to a front frame section and the other ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to an end frame sections;
- pulley means mounted on the front and end frame sections of said frame means;
- endless belt means mounted on said frame means and said pulley means, said belt means having an upper belt run located above a lower belt run for providing a continuously moving exercise surface on which an adult human user can run while exercising;
- a deck having front and rear ends extended along said frame means, said deck located below and underlying said upper run for supporting said exercise surface from below when the adult human user's foot impacts said exercise surface of said upper run, said deck having sufficient strength to support the adult human user when the user runs on said exercise surface;
- and
- a lubrication system for applying a lubricant to reduce friction between said impacted exercise surface of said upper run and said deck, said lubrication system including a reservoir for storing said lubricant, pump means for withdrawing said lubricant from said reservoir and for applying said lubricant to said deck and control means for selectively applying said lubricant to said deck.
3 more elements
An exercise treadmill, comprising:
- endless belt means for providing a continuously moving exercise surface, said belt having an upper belt run located above a lower belt run;
- a deck located below said upper run for supporting said surface from below when a treadmill user's foot impacts said upper run;
- and
- a lubrication bar for imparting wax to said belt as said belt rotates past said bar.
1 more element
A method for lubricating an exercise treadmill, said exercise treadmill comprising a frame means having two generally longitudinal frame sections, wherein one ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to a front frame section and the other ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to an end frame sections;
- pulley means mounted on the front and end frame sections of said frame means;
- endless belt means mounted on said frame means and said pulley means, said belt means having upwardly exposed operative section for providing a continuously moving exercise surface on which an adult human user can run while exercising;
- a supporting deck having front and rear ends extended along said frame means, said deck located below and underlying said exercise surface for supporting said exercise surface from below when the adult human user's foot impacts said exercise surface of said upper run, said deck having sufficient strength to support the user when the user runs on said exercise surface;
- and lubricating means having a reservoir for storing a lubricant, pump means for withdrawing said lubricant from said reservoir and for applying said lubricant to said deck and control means for selectively applying said lubricant to said deck, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining when to selectively lubricate the exercise treadmill by said control means;
- and
- applying a lubricant by said pump means for reducing friction between said belt means and said deck.
4 more elements
An exercise treadmill, comprising:
- a frame means having two generally longitudinal frame sections, wherein one ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to a front frame section and the other ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to an end frame sections;
- pulley means mounted on the front and end frame sections of said frame means;
- endless belt means mounted on said frame means and said pulley means, said belt means having an upwardly exposed operative section for providing a continuously moving exercise surface on which an adult human user can run while exercising;
- deck means having front and rear ends extended along said frame means, said deck located below and underlying said exercise surface for supporting said exercise surface from below when the adult human user's foot impacts said exercise surface, said deck means having sufficient strength to support the adult human user when the user runs on said exercise surface;
- and
- lubricating means for automatically and periodically applying a lubricant to said belt means to reduce friction between said impacted exercise surface and said deck means.
3 more elements
An exercise treadmill, comprising:
- a frame means having two generally longitudinal frame sections, wherein one ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to a front frame section and the other ends of said two generally longitudinal frame sections connected to an end frame sections;
- pulley means mounted on the front and end frame sections of said frame means;
- endless belt means mounted on said frame means and said pulley means, said belt means having an upwardly exposed operative section for providing a continuously moving exercise surface on which an adult human user can run while exercising;
- deck means having front and rear ends extended along said frame means, said deck located below and underlying said exercise surface for supporting said exercise surface from below when the adult human user's foot impacts said exercise surface, said deck means having sufficient strength to support the adult human user when the user runs on said exercise surface;
- and
- lubricating means for automatically and periodically applying a lubricant to said deck means to reduce friction between said impacted exercise surface and said deck means.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.