Audible belt guide in a treadmill
First Claim
1. A treadmill, comprising:
- an exercise deck, the exercise deck including;
a platform;
at least one pulley attached to the platform;
a sliding surface of the platform;
a tread belt riding portion defined in the sliding surface;
a tread belt surrounding the at least one pulley and the sliding surface, the tread belt having at least one edge; and
a belt guide incorporated into the platform, the belt guide including;
a textured portion aligned with the at least one edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion;
wherein when the textured portion comes into contact with the tread belt due to the tread belt being misaligned with the tread belt riding portion, the tread belt and the textured portion interact to collectively produce a misalignment sound audible to a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A treadmill may include a platform, at least one pulley attached to the platform, a sliding surface of the platform, a tread belt riding portion of the sliding surface, a tread belt surrounding the pulley and the sliding surface, the tread belt having at least one side edge, and a belt guide incorporated into the platform. The belt guide includes a textured portion of the sliding surface aligned with the side edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion. When the textured portion comes into contact the tread belt from the tread belt being misaligned out of the tread belt riding portion, the tread belt and the textured portion collectively produce a misalignment sound audible to a user when the tread belt moves against the sliding surface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A treadmill, comprising:
an exercise deck, the exercise deck including; a platform; at least one pulley attached to the platform; a sliding surface of the platform; a tread belt riding portion defined in the sliding surface; a tread belt surrounding the at least one pulley and the sliding surface, the tread belt having at least one edge; and a belt guide incorporated into the platform, the belt guide including; a textured portion aligned with the at least one edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion; wherein when the textured portion comes into contact with the tread belt due to the tread belt being misaligned with the tread belt riding portion, the tread belt and the textured portion interact to collectively produce a misalignment sound audible to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A treadmill, comprising:
an exercise deck, the exercise deck including; a platform; at least one pulley attached to the platform; a sliding surface of the platform; a tread belt riding portion defined in the sliding surface;
a tread belt surrounding the at least one pulley, the tread belt having at least one edge; anda belt guide incorporated into the platform, the belt guide including; a textured portion aligned with the at least one edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned within the tread belt riding portion; wherein the textured portion contacts the tread belt mechanically producing a misalignment sound audible when the tread belt is in motion with respect to the sliding surface and at least a portion of the tread belt is positioned outside the tread belt riding portion; wherein the misalignment sound is not produced when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion and the misalignment sound is distinguishable from a routine operating sound of the treadmill. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A treadmill, comprising:
an exercise deck, the exercise deck including; a platform; a first pulley attached to the platform in a front portion; a second pulley attached to the platform in a rear portion; a sliding surface of the platform; a tread belt riding portion of the sliding surface; a tread belt surrounding the first pulley, the second pulley, and the sliding surface, the tread belt having at least one edge and a top surface; and a belt guide incorporated into the platform, the belt guide including; a lip portion extending over at least a portion of the at least one edge of the tread belt; a textured portion including a rough surface, the textured portion aligned with and positioned above the at least one edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned within the tread belt riding portion; wherein the textured portion contacts the top surface of the tread belt to thereby mechanically produce a misalignment sound audible to a user when the tread belt is in motion with respect to the sliding surface of the platform and at least a portion of the tread belt is positioned outside the tread belt riding portion; wherein the misalignment sound is not produced when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion and the misalignment sound is distinguishable by the user from a routine operating sound of the treadmill.
Specification