# US 9,430,920 B2 · Treadmill belt wear notification system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,430,920 B2 - Document ID: US9430920B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/656,640 - Filed: 2015-03-12 - Published: 2015-09-17 - Granted: 2016-08-30 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-12 - Assignees: Precor Incorporated - Applicants: Precor Incorporated - Inventors: Daniel L. M. Munro; Mark Albright; Tormay J Brown; Doug Durnford; Gregory B May; Blakely T Pennington; Cynthia Tremblay; Richard W Whitbeck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9430920B2 ## CPC - G08B 21/187: {Machine fault alarms} - A63B 22/02: with movable endless bands {, e.g. treadmills (other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028)} - A63B 23/035: for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously - A63B 24/0087: {Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load} - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - G06Q 10/0639: Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations - G06Q 10/20: Administration of product repair or maintenance - G08B 5/38: using flashing light - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - A63B 21/0051: {using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets} - A63B 21/0058: {using motors} - A63B 21/015: including rotating or oscillating elements {rubbing against fixed elements} - A63B 21/078: Devices for bench press exercises {, e.g. supports, guiding means} - A63B 22/0023: {the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band} - A63B 22/0056: {the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis (platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16)} - A63B 22/0076: {Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system (seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06)} - A63B 22/0235: {driven by a motor} - A63B 22/04: with movable {multiple} steps {, i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders (steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048)} - A63B 22/0605: {performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers} - A63B 22/0664: {performing an elliptic movement} - A63B 24/0075: {Means for generating exercise programmes or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases} - A63B 2022/002: {electronically, e.g. by using a program} - A63B 2022/0676: {with crank and handles being on the same side of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. crank and handles are in front of the user} - A63B 2071/0625: {Emitting sound, noise or music} - A63B 2071/065: {Visualisation of specific exercise parameters} - A63B 2071/0658: {Position or arrangement of display} - A63B 2220/10: Positions - A63B 2220/58: Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means - A63B 2220/72: Temperature - A63B 2225/10: Multi-station exercising machines - A63B 2225/107: Resisting devices being of the same kind - A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like - A63B 2225/30: Maintenance - A63B 2225/305: Remote servicing - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B 2225/74: with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights - H04L 2012/5625: {Operations, administration and maintenance [OAM]} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Belt wear of a treadmill is determined. Samples of electric current draw of a treadmill at different speeds of the treadmill belt of the treadmill are received. A value of each sample is differently weighted based on a speed of the treadmill belt at which the value of each sample was obtained. A belt wear notification is output based on the different weighted values of the samples. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A treadmill comprising: a belt upon which a runner exercises; a motor operably coupled to the belt to drive the belt; an electric current sensor to output signals indicating an electric current draw of the treadmill; and a controller to: receive samples of electric current draw of the treadmill at different speeds of a treadmill belt of the treadmill; differently weigh a value of each sample based on a speed of the treadmill belt at which the value of each sample was obtained; and output a belt wear notification based on the different weighted values of the samples. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the differently weighting of the values of the samples comprises partitioning speeds of the treadmill belt into ranges of speeds and assigning a different weighting factor to each of the ranges of speeds. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the different weighting factors assigned to each of the ranges of speeds is based upon a resolution of each of the ranges of speeds, each resolution being based upon a difference between electric current draw of the treadmill when driving a new treadmill belt as compared to when driving a completely worn treadmill belt in need of replacement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the different weighting factors assigned to each of the ranges speeds is further based upon an occurrence frequency of each of the ranges of speeds, each occurrence frequency being based upon a number of the samples in each of the ranges of speeds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein values for samples of electric current draw received while the treadmill belt is at a speed of less than 5 mph are weighted by a first weighting factor and wherein values for samples of electric current draw received while the treadmill belt is at a speed of greater than 7 mph are weighted by second weighting factor greater than the first weighting factor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the controller is to further: group values for samples of electric current draw during a predefined time interval of at least two seconds into groups; derive a statistical value for each group from the values for the electric current draw in each group, wherein the belt wear notification is based upon the statistical value for each of the groups. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1 further comprising: partitioning speeds of the treadmill belt into ranges of speeds; storing values of the samples within each range of speed from a plurality of different workouts; and deriving a statistical value for the values for the electric current draw in each range of speed from the plurality of different work outs, wherein the belt wear notification is based upon the statistical value for each of ranges of speed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the values of the samples of electric current draw are differently weighted based upon an incline setting of the treadmill belt at which the value of each sample was obtained. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the belt wear notification is not based upon samples of electric current draw taken at an incline setting of the treadmill belt other than zero. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the controller is further to determine the presence of a runner on the treadmill belt, wherein the belt wear notification is not based upon samples electric current draw taken in absence of a runner on the treadmill belt. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the controller is further to: partition speeds of the treadmill belt into ranges of speeds; store values of the samples within each range of speed from a plurality of different workouts; and derive a statistical value for the values for the electric current draw and range of speed from the plurality of different work out, wherein the belt wear notification is based upon the statistical value for each of ranges of speed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the controller is to output the belt wear notification based upon different weighted values of the samples from a plurality of workouts on the treadmill and is to differently weight the values for the samples based upon an age of the samples. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the controller is to output the belt wear notification based upon different weighted values of the samples from a predefined number of workouts, wherein the workouts upon which output of the belt wear notification is based being selected on a first in first out basis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the output is additionally based upon service conditions other than belt wear. ### Claim 15 A treadmill comprising: a belt upon which a runner exercises; an electric current sensor to output signals indicating an electric current draw of the treadmill; and a controller to: receive and store first samples of electric current draw from a first workout on the treadmill; receive and store second samples of electric current draw of the treadmill from a second workout on the treadmill; and output a belt wear notification based on the first stored samples and the second stored samples. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the controller is to output the belt wear notification based upon different weighting factors applied to the first samples and the second samples, the different weighting factors being applied based upon different ages of the first samples and the second samples. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the controller is to output the belt wear notification based upon samples from a predefined number of workouts on the treadmill, including the first samples and the second samples, wherein the workouts forming the predefined number workouts and upon which output of the belt wear notification is based are selected on a first in first out basis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the controller is to: partition speeds of the treadmill belt into ranges of speeds comprising a first range and a second range, assign a different weighting factor to each of the ranges of speeds; and differently weight the first sample and the second sample based upon the first sample having a first value within the first range and the second sample having a second value within the second range, wherein the belt wear notification is output based upon the weighted first sample and the weighted second sample. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The treadmill of claim 18, wherein samples having values of electric current draw received while the treadmill belt is at a speed of less than 5 mph are weighted by a first weighting factor and wherein values for samples of electric current draw received while the treadmill belt is at a speed of greater than 7 mph are weighted by second weighting factor greater than the first weighting factor. ### Claim 20 A treadmill comprising: a belt upon which a runner exercises; an electric current sensor to output signals indicating an electric current draw of the treadmill; and a controller to: maintain a workout array, the workout array comprising an array of a predefined number workouts, each of the workouts comprising a weighted average of amperage values received from the electric current sensor for each of a plurality of speed ranges, wherein for each new workout added to the workout array, an oldest workout is removed; and output a belt wear notification based on an aggregation of the weighted average of amperage values for the plurality of speed ranges of the workout array. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The treadmill of claim 20, wherein values for samples of electric current draw received while the treadmill belt is at a speed of less than 5 mph are weighted by a first weighting factor and wherein values for samples of electric current draw received while the treadmill belt is at a speed of greater than 7 mph are weighted by second weighting factor greater than the first weighting factor.