US 5,626,539 AGranted

Treadmill apparatus with dual spring-loaded treads

OwnerGary D. Piaget, Trace O. Gordoninventors

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Abstract

A treadmill device includes a frame, and two independent side-by-side treadmills each having a continuous tread and first and second ends. The device further includes link members for supporting the first and second end of the treadmills above the frame. Each of the link members has a first end pivotably connected to the frame and a second end pivotably connected to the respective treadmill adjacent the respective end thereof. The device still further includes first and second spring-return hydraulic cylinder assemblies for independently supporting the respective treadmills in a first elevated position above the frame, and for independently resisting downward movement of the treadmills from the first position to a second position. The treads may be driven by a mechanical drive mechanism actuated by downward movement of the treadmills, or may be motor driven in a conventional manner by a common electric motor. In use, the operator walks upon the treadmills in a normal manner wherein the treadmills alternately move from the first position to the second position as the operator places weight on the respective treadmill, with the spring return hydraulic cylinder assemblies being operable for returning the treadmills from the second position to the first position when the operator's weight is removed from the treadmill.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Treadmill apparatus comprising:

first and second adjacent treadmills each having a continuous tread, and first and second ends, each of said treadmills including a rigid platform and rollers at each of said first and second ends for rotatably supporting said continuous tread on said rigid platform;
a frame positionable on a supporting surface;
first and second link means for respectively independently supporting the first and second ends of each of said first and second treadmills above said frame, each of said first and second link means having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to the rigid platform of each respective treadmill adjacent said respective end thereof;
first and second means for resiliently supporting the respective first and second treadmills in a first position above a supporting surface;
first and second resistance means for resisting downward movement of said first and second treadmills from said first position to a second position as weight is placed upon said treadmills, said first and second resilient supporting means returning said first and second treadmills from said second position to said first position when said weight is removed from said first and second treadmills, said first and second treadmills alternately moving up and down as an operator treads thereon;
and
drive means for respectively independently driving rotation of said continuous treads as said first and second treadmills are alternately reciprocated downward and upward during use.

4 more elements

Treadmill apparatus comprising:

first and second adjacent treadmills each having a continuous tread, and first and second ends, each of said treadmills including a rigid platform and rollers at each of said first and second ends for rotatably supporting said continuous tread on said rigid platform;
a frame positionable on a supporting surface;
means for respectively pivotally supporting the first and second ends of each of the first and second treadmills above said frame;
means for resiliently supporting the respective first and second treadmills in a first position above a supporting surface;
resistance means for independently resisting downward movement of said first and second treadmills from said first position to a second position as weight is placed upon said treadmills, said resilient supporting means returning said first and second treadmills from said second position to said first position when said weight is removed;
and
drive means for respectively independently driving rotation of said continuous treads as said first and second treadmills are alternately reciprocated downward and upward during use.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/589,120Filed 19 Jan 1996
Granted: 6 May 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A63B 22/0664
With support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movement: performing an elliptic movement
A63B 22/0056
With cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis: the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis
A63B 22/02
Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements: with…
A63B 22/0235
With movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills: driven by a motor