INCLINING TREADMILL WITH MAGNETIC BRAKING SYSTEM

• US 20090137367A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Ashby, Darren C., Ricks, Paul C., Hendrickson, Rick W., Hammer, Rodney L., Law, Greg W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• 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 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• 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 69/0048 for mountaineering, e.g. climbing-walls, grip elements for climbing-walls

Abstract

A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus supports a user ambulating thereon. The selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus includes a support base and a treadbase that selectively inclines with respect to the support base. The treadbase includes a motor for driving an endless belt upon which the user ambulates. The treadbase also includes a magnetic braking assembly for regulating the speed of the endless belt to prevent the endless belt from moving at a rate that is faster than the rate at which the treadbase motor is driving the endless belt. The magnetic braking assembly includes a magnet that selectively moves relative to the treadbase flywheel along a threaded lead screw to provide the braking force.

Claims

1. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus which supports a user ambulating thereon, the selectively inclining treadmill apparatus comprising:

a support base; and

a treadbase adapted to selectively incline with respect to the support base, the treadbase comprising;

a treadbase frame having a flywheel coupled thereto;

an endless belt mounted on the treadbase frame, wherein the endless belt is configured such that a user may ambulate thereon;

a belt motor coupled to the treadbase frame and configured to drive the endless belt; and

a braking system adapted to regulate the speed of the endless belt, the braking system comprising a magnetic member adapted to move between a first position with respect to the flywheel and a second position that is closer to the flywheel than the first position.

2. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein movement of the magnetic member between the first and second positions is along an axis generally parallel to a rotational axis of the flywheel.

3. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein movement of the magnetic member between the first and second positions is about an axis generally parallel to a rotational axis of the flywheel.

4. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guide rod upon which the magnetic member is slidably mounted.

5. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic member moves between the first position and the second position on a lead screw.

6. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising control circuitry adapted to monitoring the amount of current used by the belt motor to drive the endless belt.

7. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to move the magnetic member between the first position and the second position when the current used by the belt motor decreases.

8. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the flywheel has one or more apertures that allow air to flow therethrough to facilitate dissipation of heat away from the belt motor.

9. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus which supports a user ambulating thereon, the selectively inclining treadmill apparatus comprising:

a support base; and

a treadbase adapted to selectively incline with respect to the support base, the treadbase comprising;

a treadbase frame having a flywheel coupled thereto;

an endless belt mounted on the treadbase, wherein the endless belt is configured such that a user may ambulate thereon;

a belt motor coupled to the treadbase frame and configured to drive the endless belt; and

a braking system adapted to regulate the speed of the endless belt, the braking system comprising a magnetic member mounted on a lead screw, the magnetic member being adapted to move between a first position with respect to the flywheel and a second position that is closer to the flywheel than the first position when the lead screw is rotated about a longitudinal axis.

10. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein movement of the magnetic member between the first and second positions is along an axis generally parallel to a rotational axis of the flywheel.

11. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the braking system further comprises a guide rod.

12. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the magnetic member is slidably mounted on the guide rod.

13. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the guide rod prevents the magnetic member from rotating about the lead screw.

14. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the flywheel comprises a metallic material on a rim thereof, such that the flywheel dissipates heat away from the periphery of the flywheel.

15. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus which supports a user ambulating thereon, the selectively inclining treadmill apparatus comprising:

a support base; and

a treadbase adapted to selectively incline with respect to the support base, the treadbase comprising;

a treadbase frame having a flywheel coupled thereto;

an endless belt mounted on the treadbase frame, wherein the endless belt is configured such that a user may ambulate thereon;

a belt motor coupled to the treadbase frame and configured to drive the endless belt, the belt motor having a longitudinal axis; and

a braking system adapted to regulate the speed of the endless belt, the braking system comprising a magnetic member mounted on a lead screw and a guide rod, the lead screw and the guide rod being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the belt motor, the magnetic member being adapted to move between a first position with respect to the flywheel and a second position that is closer to the flywheel than the first position, and wherein movement between the first position and the second position is along a length of the lead screw.

16. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the magnetic member is threadably mounted on the lead screw.

17. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the braking mechanism further comprises a braking motor for rotating the lead screw.

18. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the braking motor is receptive to electronic signals from control circuitry of the treadmill apparatus.

19. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein control circuitry sends an electronic signal to the braking motor when the endless belt begins to rotate faster than a predetermined speed.

20. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the electronic signal causes the braking motor to rotate the lead screw, thereby causing the magnetic member to move between the first position and the second position.

21. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus which supports a user ambulating thereon, the selectively inclining treadmill apparatus comprising:

a support base; and

a treadbase adapted to selectively incline with respect to the support base, the treadbase comprising;

a treadbase frame having a flywheel coupled thereto;

an endless belt mounted on the treadbase frame, wherein the endless belt is configured such that a user may ambulate thereon;

a belt motor coupled to the treadbase frame and configured to drive the endless belt; and

a braking system adapted to regulate the speed of the endless belt, the braking system comprising an electromagnetic member adapted to selectively produce a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field that is stronger than the first magnetic field, wherein the first magnetic field produces a first amount of braking to the flywheel and the second magnetic field produces a second amount of braking to the flywheel that is greater than the first amount of braking.

22. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the electromagnetic member is mounted adjacent the flywheel.

23. A selectively inclining treadmill apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the electromagnetic member is adapted to produce a selectively variable magnetic field