Treadmill with deck vibration
AssigneeICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
InventorScott R. Watterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A treadmill includes a support structure and a treadbase connected thereto. The treadbase has first and second opposing side rails extending along at least a portion of first and second sides of the treadbase, respectively. A deck is connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails. Front and rear pulleys are connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails. A continuous belt is trained around and rotatable about the front and rear pulleys. One or more vibration assemblies are connected to the deck and selectively create vibrations to cause the deck to vibrate. The vibrations are transferred to a user during the performance of exercise to provide various physiological benefits to the user.
Claims16
A treadmill, comprising:
- a treadbase having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the treadbase comprising:
- first and second opposing side rails extending along at least a portion of the first and second sides of the treadbase, respectively;
- a deck connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails;
- front and rear pulleys connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails;
- a continuous belt trained around and rotatable about the front and rear pulleys;
- one or more vibration assemblies connected to the deck, wherein the one or more vibration assemblies selectively create vibrations to cause the deck to vibrate;
- and
- a first isolator connected between the deck and the first side rail and a second isolator connected between the deck and the second opposing side rail to limit the transfer of vibrations from the deck to the first and second opposing side rails;
- wherein the first and second isolators are made of a slightly compressible or deformable material that absorbs downward forces applied to the deck;
- and wherein an intensity or frequency of the vibrations created by the one or more vibration assemblies is related to at least one of a speed of the continuous belt or an incline level of the treadbase.
A treadmill, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a control panel mounted on the support structure;
- and
- a treadbase connected to the support structure, the treadbase having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the treadbase comprising:
- first and second opposing side rails extending along at least a portion of the first and second sides of the treadbase, respectively;
- a deck connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails, wherein a first isolator is disposed between the deck and the first side rail and a second isolator is disposed between the deck and the second opposing side rail to limit the transfer of vibrations from the deck to the first and second opposing side rails;
- wherein the first and second isolators are made of a slightly compressible or deformable material that absorbs downward forces applied to the deck;
- front and rear pulleys connected to and between the first and second opposing side rails;
- a continuous belt trained around and rotatable about the front and rear pulleys;
- and
- one or more vibration assemblies connected to the deck, wherein the one or more vibration assemblies selectively create vibrations to cause the deck to vibrate, at least one of the one or more vibration assemblies comprising:
- a motor,
- a shaft rotatable by the motor about an axis of rotation;
- and
- one or more eccentric weights fixedly mounted on the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the one or more eccentric weights to rotate about the axis of rotation, each of the one or more eccentric weights comprising a center of mass that is radially offset from the axis of rotation;
- and wherein an intensity or frequency of the vibrations created by the one or more vibration assemblies is related to at least one of a speed of the continuous belt or an incline level of the treadbase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.