US 6,554,749 B2Granted

Lightweight, clear-path, equilibrated treadmill

AssigneePate Pierce & Baird, P.C.

InventorsNeal Alexander Iund, Kary Dell Richardson, Ray Alan Seamons

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A treadmill comprising a frame for supporting the treadmill on a supporting surface, a deck, secured to the frame to be supported thereby, the deck having a front, a rear, a right and left side, and a tread surface extending from proximate the front to proximate the rear for supporting the weight of a user thereabove. A first roller, may be connected proximate the front of the deck to rotate with respect to the deck, a second roller, may be connected proximate the rear of the deck to rotate with respect to the deck. A belt may be connected to pass continuously over the tread surface and around the first and second rollers, to provide a fully exposed top surface, for unobstructed walking thereon by a user. A motor may be configured to drive the belt, the motor being positioned laterally between the right and left sides of the deck, and below the deck at a location longitudinally between the first and second rollers.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A treadmill comprising:

a frame for supporting the treadmill on a supporting surface;
a deck, secured to the frame to be supported on a supporting surface thereby, the deck having a front and rear defining a longitudinal direction, a right side and left side defining a lateral direction, and a tread surface extending from proximate the front to proximate the rear for supporting the weight of a user thereabove;
a first roller, connected proximate the front of the deck to rotate with respect to the deck;
a second roller, connected proximate the rear of the deck to rotate with respect to the deck;
a belt connected to pass continuously over the tread surface and around the first and second rollers;
an air bearing mechanism comprising a fan drawing air from the ambient and a plenum to receive a supply of pressurized air from the fan and direct the pressurized air to ports positioned to distribute the pressurized air between the deck and the belt for supporting the belt on a layer of the pressurized air;
and
a motor connected to drive the belt.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/778,419Filed 7 Feb 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 9 Feb 2000
Published: US 2001/0051564 A113 Dec 2001
Granted: 29 Apr 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

A63B 22/0023
With an adjustable movement path of the support elements: the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the…
A63B 22/0235
With movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills: driven by a motor
A63B
Apparatus for physical training, gymnastics, swimming, climbing, or fencing