Offsetting treadmill deck weight during operation

• US 10,543,395 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2016
• 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, Salvesen, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/830,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20180154208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0675 Input for modifying training controls during workout
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/015 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• 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 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

A treadmill includes a deck, an incline mechanism attached to the deck, and a lift assist mechanism that offloads a portion of the lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of a portion of the deck.

Claims

1. A treadmill, comprising:

a base frame;

a deck including a front portion and a rear portion, wherein a rear portion of the deck is pivotally attached to the base frame at the rear portion;

an incline mechanism attached to the deck; and

a lift assist mechanism that offloads a portion of a lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of the front portion of the deck.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the incline mechanism further includes:

a first end attached to the deck; and

a second end attached to the base frame.

3. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the lift assist mechanism includes a gas spring.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the gas spring further includes:

a first spring end attached to the deck; and

a second spring end attached to the base frame.

5. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the deck is declinable where the front portion is lower than the rear portion with a decline angle between less than zero degrees and negative 15 degrees.

6. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the lift assist mechanism includes:

a first gas spring connected to the deck and connected to a base frame; and

a second gas spring connected to the deck and connected to the base frame;

the first gas spring and the second gas spring being oriented in a scissor arrangement.

7. The treadmill of claim 1, further including:

an upright structure;

the lift assist mechanism including

a first end connected to the deck; and

a second end connected to the upright structure.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the lift assist mechanism is a gas spring.

9. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the lift assist mechanism includes:

a cable;

a cable length adjustment mechanism;

wherein the cable, in part, supports a weight of the portion of the deck when inclined.

10. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the lift assist mechanism includes at least one coiled spring.

11. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the deck is selectively engagable with the lift assist mechanism.

12. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the deck is engaged with the lift assist mechanism when the deck is orientated in a range of engageable angles.

13. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the range of engageable angles include decline angles where the front portion is lower than the rear portion.

20. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the incline mechanism is located underneath the deck.

14. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck including a front portion and a rear portion;

a base frame pivotally attached to the deck at the rear portion of the deck;

an incline mechanism attached to the deck and attached to the base frame; and

a gas spring that offloads a portion of a lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of the front portion of the deck.

15. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the deck is declinable where the front portion is lower than the rear portion with a decline angle between zero degrees and negative 15 degrees.

16. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the deck is selectively engagable with the gas spring.

17. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the deck is engagable with the gas spring when the deck is orientated in a range of engageable angles.

18. The treadmill of claim 17, wherein the range of engageable angles include decline angles.

19. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck including a front portion and a rear portion;

a base frame pivotally attached to the deck at the rear portion of the deck;

an incline mechanism attached to the deck and attached to the base frame; and

a gas spring that offloads a portion of a lifting force from the incline mechanism when the incline mechanism changes an elevation of the front portion of the deck;

wherein the deck is declinable to a decline angle between zero degrees and negative 15 degrees;

wherein the deck is engagable with the gas spring when the deck is orientated in the decline angle.