Systems and methods for reducing runaway resistance on an exercise device

• US 10,207,148 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Powell, Wade A., Buchanan, Dale Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Megan
• Application Number:
  US15/730,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20180099181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00076 on the fly, i.e. varying the resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0084 by moving the surrounding water A63B31/00, A63B35/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0125 with surfaces rolling against each other without substantial slip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0035 : on the spot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0844 : Fail safe control, e.g. by comparing control signal and controlled current, isolating motor on commutation error
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/00 : Arrangements for starting electric motors or dynamo-electric converters starting of synchronous motors with electronic commutators except reluctance motors, H02P6/20, H02P6/22; starting dynamo-electric motors rotating step by step H02P8/04; vector control H02P21/00

Abstract

A treadmill may include a deck, a first pulley incorporated into the deck, a second pulley incorporated into the deck, a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley, a motor in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley to move the tread belt in a first direction, and a runaway mitigation mechanism in at least indirect mechanical communication with the motor. The runaway mitigation mechanism at least mitigates a motor runaway condition.

Claims

1. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck;

a first pulley incorporated into the deck;

a second pulley incorporated into the deck;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley;

a motor including a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley to move the tread belt in a first direction;

a runaway mitigation mechanism in at least indirect mechanical communication with the motor, the runaway mitigation mechanism including;

a container surrounding a portion of the drive shaft; and

a fluid within the container;

wherein the runaway mitigation mechanism is configured to at least mitigate a motor runaway condition.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the motor runaway condition is induced when a user moves the tread belt with a force that is greater than that outputted with the motor.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the user moves the tread belt at the force that is greater than that which is outputted with the motor when an incline angle of the deck exceeds a threshold angle.

4. The treadmill of claim 3,

wherein the container is configured to tilt with the deck, and

wherein the container is shaped such that the fluid contacts the drive shaft when the deck is disposed at the threshold angle.

5. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein the portion of the drive shaft surrounded by the container further comprises at least one vane.

6. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein the portion of the drive shaft surrounded by the container is fully immersed in the fluid when the deck is oriented at a 12 degree incline.

7. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein the portion of the drive shaft surrounded by the container is partially immersed in the fluid when the deck is oriented at a 9 to 12 degree incline.

8. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein the fluid comprises an oil based fluid.

9. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the runaway mitigation mechanism is configured to increase a resistance to an operation of the motor when the deck is oriented at the threshold angle that induces the motor runaway condition.

10. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the threshold angle is over 9 degrees.

11. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the threshold angle is over 11 degrees.

12. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck;

a first pulley incorporated into the deck;

a second pulley incorporated into the deck;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley;

a motor including a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley;

an incline mechanism in mechanical communication with the deck to adjust an incline angle of the deck; and

a runaway mitigation mechanism in communication with the motor;

wherein the runaway mitigation mechanism is configured to mitigate a motor runaway condition due to the incline angle of the deck;

wherein the runaway mitigation mechanism includes;

a container surrounding a portion of the drive shaft;

a fluid disposed within the container;

wherein the container is configured to tilt with the deck; and

wherein the container is shaped such that the fluid contacts the drive shaft when the deck is disposed at a threshold angle.

13. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the portion of the drive shaft surrounded by the container includes at least one vane.

14. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the portion of the drive shaft surrounded by the container is fully immersed in the fluid when the deck is oriented at a 12 degree incline.

15. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the motor runaway condition is induced when a user moves the tread belt with a force that is greater than the force outputted with the motor.

16. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the fluid comprises an oil based fluid.

17. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the incline angle that induces the motor runaway condition is over 11 degrees.

18. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck;

a first pulley incorporated into the deck;

a second pulley incorporated into the deck;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley;

a motor including a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley;

an incline mechanism in mechanical communication with the deck to adjust an incline angle of the deck;

a runaway mitigation mechanism in communication with the motor;

wherein the runaway mitigation mechanism mitigates a motor runaway condition where the motor runaway condition is induced with the incline angle of the deck;

wherein the runaway mitigation mechanism includes;

a container that surrounds a portion of the drive shaft;

an oil based fluid disposed within the container; and

at least one vane formed on the portion of the drive shaft contained within the container;

wherein the container is configured to tilt with the deck;

wherein the container is shaped such that the fluid contacts the drive shaft when the deck is disposed at a threshold angle; and

wherein the drive shaft is fully immersed in the oil based fluid when the deck is oriented at a 12 degree incline.