TREADMILL WITH CUSHION ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A treadmill, comprising:
- (a) a frame;
(b) an endless belt trained on the frame;
(c) a deck disposed underneath the belt;
(d) a torsional resilient member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion operably coupled to the frame and said second portion adapted to be rotated relative to said first portion; and
(e) a substantially rigid lever having a first portion that is adapted to be rotated, and a second portion that is coupled to the second portion of the resilient member, wherein the first portion of the lever is operably coupled to the deck so that motion between the deck and the frame causes deflection of the first portion of the lever and rotation of the second portion of the lever, and wherein the resilient member resists rotation in at least one direction as the lever rotates relative to the frame.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A treadmill including a frame, an endless belt having an upwardly-exposed exercise section, a deck disposed underneath the exercise section of the belt, and a cushion assembly positioned between the deck and the frame for providing cushion in order to reduce high impact loads on the user'"'"'s body. The cushion assembly comprises a lever having a first portion that is operably coupled to the deck and a second portion that is rotatably coupled to the frame. The cushion assembly also comprises a resilient member coupled to both the lever and the frame so that the resilient member resists rotation of the lever as the lever is rotated. The elastic deformation of the resilient member provides resistance to displacement of the deck and therefore creates a cushion effect on the user'"'"'s feet, ankles and knees as the user'"'"'s feet contact the belt.
44 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A treadmill, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) an endless belt trained on the frame; (c) a deck disposed underneath the belt; (d) a torsional resilient member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion operably coupled to the frame and said second portion adapted to be rotated relative to said first portion; and (e) a substantially rigid lever having a first portion that is adapted to be rotated, and a second portion that is coupled to the second portion of the resilient member, wherein the first portion of the lever is operably coupled to the deck so that motion between the deck and the frame causes deflection of the first portion of the lever and rotation of the second portion of the lever, and wherein the resilient member resists rotation in at least one direction as the lever rotates relative to the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23)
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17-21. -21. (canceled)
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24-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A treadmill comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) an endless belt trained on the frame; (c) a deck disposed underneath the belt; (d) a torsional resilient member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion operably coupled to the frame and said second portion adapted to be rotated relative to said first portion; and (e) a rotatable member that is operably coupled to the deck and to the second portion of the resilient member, wherein the resilient member is elastically deformed as the rotatable member is being rotated relative to the frame. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A treadmill comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) an endless belt trained on the frame; (c) a deck disposed underneath the belt; (d) a torsional resilient member having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion operably coupled to the frame and the second portion adapted to be rotated relative to the first portion about a pivot axis, the first portion and the second portion symmetrically positioned around the pivot axis; and (e) a substantially rigid lever having a first portion and a second portion that is coupled to the second portion of the torsional resilient member, wherein the first portion is operably coupled to the deck so that motion between the deck and the frame causes deflection of the first portion of the lever and rotation of the second portion of the lever about the pivot axis, and wherein the resilient member resists rotation in at least one direction as the lever rotates relative to the frame about the pivot axis.
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Specification