Execise treadmill for pulling and dragging action

• US 20070123395A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitness Tools, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fitness Tools, LLC
• Inventors: Ellis, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,381,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0278 with reversible direction of the running surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• 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 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/047 Walking and pulling or pushing a load for exercising the player ability for rugby or American football A63B69/34
• 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

Abstract

An exercise treadmill of the type having an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, an exercise surface on for walking or running while exercising, and a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards.

Claims

1. An exercise treadmill of the type having an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, and an exercise surface for walking or running while exercising, the improvement comprising a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load and wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards.

2. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight resistance means is variable for providing varying weight resistance.

3. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 2, wherein the weight resistance means is selected from the group consisting of springs, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, flexible rods, and friction members.

4. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pivot arm operatively connected to the weight resistance means, wherein pivoting the pivot arm actuates the weight resistance means so as to provide weight resistance for the simulating the dragging or pulling of a load.

5. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivot arm extends generally upwards from the lower base and is attached to the lower base at a position in front of the endless movable surface.

6. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lower base.

7. An exercise treadmill comprising:

a) a lower base housing an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, and the upper run comprising an exercise surface for walking or running while exercising; and

b) a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load,

wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards,

whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the dragging or pulling of a load.

8. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a pivot arm operatively connected to the weight resistance means, wherein pivoting the pivot arm actuates the weight resistance means so as to provide weight resistance for the simulating the dragging or pulling of a load.

9. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 8, wherein the weight resistance means is selected from the group consisting of springs, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, flexible rods, and friction members.

10. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 9, wherein the weight resistance means is variable for providing varying weight resistance.

11. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pivot arm comprises at least two pivot arm sections, the pivot arm being pivotally connected to the lower base at a position in front of the endless movable surface, the at least two pivot arm sections being pivotally connected to each other via a first mounting means, and one of the at least two pivot arms being connected to the hand controller via a second mounting means.

12. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an inclination mechanism to permit inclination of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline.

13. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pivot arm is pivotable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position.

14. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one step off platform attached to or a part of the lower base to provide a surface that can be stepped onto before, during or after use of the treadmill.

15. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one step off platform is attached to the side of the lower base.

16. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a rear safety arm attached to and extending generally upwards from the lower base at a position in back of the endless movable surface opposite the endless movable surface from the pivot arm.

17. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 16, further comprising second controller located on the rear safety arm, wherein the second controller can be used to operate the exercise treadmill in a more conventional manner as a forward walking treadmill.

18. An exercise method simulating the pulling or dragging of a load, comprising the steps of:

a) stepping onto an endless looped belt that is looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run so as to form a movable surface with the upper run comprising an exercise surface;

b) grasping a hand controller operationally connected to a weight resistance means;

c) walking or running in a rearwards motion on the upper run,

whereby the walking or running in a rearwards motion causes the actuation of the weight resistance means, thus simulating the pulling or dragging of a load.

19. The exercise method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of adjusting the speed of the endless looped belt.

20. The exercise method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of adjusting the inclination of the endless looped belt.