LEG-POWERED TREADMILL

• US 20140011642A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Speedfit LLC
• Original Assignee: Speedfit LLC
• Inventors: Astilean, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• 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 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load

Abstract

A motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill produced that allows people to walk, jog, run, and sprint without making any adjustments to the treadmill other than shifting the user'"'"'s center of gravity forward and backwards. A closed loop treadmill belt running between front and rear pulley rollers is formed with a low friction running surface of transverse wooden, plastic or rubber slats attached to each other in a resilient fashion. Since an essential feature of treadmill is the concave shape of the running surface of belt in its respective upper portion, to insure that this shape is maintained during actual use. The prevents the lower portion of the treadmill belt from drooping down (i.e.—it must be held taut), to prevent the concave top portion to be pulled taut into a flat shape between the front and rear pulley rollers.

Claims

1. A motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill comprising:

a treadmill frame;

said treadmill frame supporting a treadmill running surface;

said treadmill running surface having a top concave surface, said treadmill running surface being of such a length as compared to the length of said treadmill frame to permit it to assume a required concave upper contour;

a means for maintaining said treadmill running surface in said required concave upper contour, said treadmill running surface providing a running surface during exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave portion of said treadmill surface;

said section of said closed loop treadmill running surface is maintained in a concave configuration.

2. The motor-less, key powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said treadmill running surface is a closed loop treadmill belt having a closed loop array of a plurality of transverse parallel slats;

a continuous belt running on two distal pulleys, said belt having a top concave surface and a drooping lower section to maintain a stable belt configuration while affording a low friction belt path and acceptable belt inertia, said closed loop treadmill belt being of such a length as compared to the distance between the end rollers to permit it to assume a required concave upper contour and a required concave lower contour;

a means for slackening the upper portion and said lower portion, said upper portion and said lower portion drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave portion of said closed loop treadmill belt;

wherein said means for slackening the upper portion and said lower portion comprises said lower section of said closed loop treadmill belt is maintained in a slack concave, drooping configuration, while said upper section of said closed loop treadmill belt is also maintained in a slack, concave, drooping configuration.

3. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said treadmill running surface in said required concave upper contour is an array of a plurality of parallel axles extending across said treadmill frame;

each said parallel axle of said plurality of parallel axles each having a plurality of staggered roller wheels permanently affixed to said respective parallel axles,

wherein when the runner touches said treadmill running surface of said staggered roller wheels with the runner'"'"'s foot, said roller wheels freely spin under the runner'"'"'s foot touching said staggered roller wheels, wherein further as the runner increases running speed, said staggered roller wheels spin with more force;

wherein further said roller wheels are staggered adjacent to each other with one set of rollers on a respective axle extending partially next to another set of rollers on another respective adjacent axle to minimize respective horizontal and vertical gaps between adjacent overlapping roller wheels created by one descending surface of a respective roller wheel from its apex and one ascending surface of an adjacent respective roller wheel to its respective apex, thereby rattle vibration of said rotating roller wheels. against a foot of a runner is minimized.

4. The motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said treadmill running surface is covered by a flexible exterior running surface loop.

5. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 3 wherein said parallel axles of said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill. extend out on one side of said frame to end in timing belt pulleys, wherein a timing belt rotates around said timing belt pulleys and engages all said axles such that if only one wheel of said array is turned, all wheels of said array turn.

6. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill is provided with a removable handle bar assembly, which when installed on said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill, said handle bar assembly help users who are balance-challenged to use said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill.

7. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 further comprising a chassis including at least one robust cross beam attaching respective outer frames and respective inner frames on each side to each other, thereby providing a rectangular chassis.

8. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 2 wherein each said transverse parallel slat includes at least one fin descending downward from each said transverse slat.

9. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 8 wherein each said transverse parallel slat includes a plurality of fins descending downward from each said transverse slat.

10. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 9 wherein each said transverse slat is made of a material with sufficient resiliency and strength and weight to lie on and conform to a concave row of upper support peripheral ball bearings located at each peripheral side of said upper portion of said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill.

11. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 10 wherein said transverse slats are made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic and wood.

12. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 2 wherein respective adjusters are provided on at least one set of said pulleys to adjust the distance separating said pairs of front and rear pulleys to insure precise smooth movement of said belt over said pairs of front and rear pulleys.

13. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 further comprising level adjusters extending down from said frame to adjust the tilt of said motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill.

14. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 2 wherein said slats are supported by rows of peripheral bearings are spaced apart from each other on respective left and right sides of said curved treadmill, wherein further said fins of said transverse slats extend cantilevered downward into a vacant mid-section of said treadmill from each said transverse slat so that said transverse slats are resilient to dip slightly under the weight of the user runner without any lower support below non-peripheral mid-sections of said transverse slats.

15. The motor-less, leg powered curved treadmill as in claim 2 wherein the respective weight of said curved treadmill belt keeps respective peripheral edges of said treadmill belt in contact with the respective concave contours of said peripheral ball bearings at any speed from stopped to full running speed.

16. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 wherein said treadmill running surface includes a continuous belt further comprising an array of embedded magnetic elements being provided in the side peripheral support areas interacting with ferromagnetic wire cable embedded in the edges of the exterior running surface belt is used to conform the running surface belt to a curved upper surface without recourse to any elements extending over the upper surface of the belt.

17. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 2 wherein said slackening of said upper and lower portions of said belt is determined by determining the linear density, of the belt in units such as pounds/foot, wherein said slackened curve is determined by fitting a catenary curve that passes through a crossection of said continuous belt with a droop having a predetermined height relative to the distance between said upper and lower portions at their respective lowest heights above the ground.

18. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 2 wherein the dimensions of a treadmill having an upper and lower droop include a spacing of about 54 inches of pulley center spacing, said concave upper portion of said continuous belt having a concave top surface being a circular arc having a radius of at least 140 inches, said belt being about 42 pounds in weight and said belt having a total circumference of bout 134 inches, wherein the resultant sag of the droop between said upper portion and said lower portion of said belt is about 6.5 inches in height at center, wherein further said concave circular arc of said upper portion is determined from a plot of a top side catenary thereof.

19. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 further comprising a manual lift mechanism.

20. The motor-less, leg-powered curved treadmill as in claim 1 further comprising an electrically powered lift mechanism.

31. The motor-less, leg-powered treadmill as in claim 1 further comprising an electric motor to replace the leg power with motorized power to selectively operate the treadmill.

40. The motor-less, leg-powered treadmill as in claim 2 further comprising at least one one way bearing provided through which said one way bearing a shaft connecting one of said pairs of pulleys extends, to keep said treadmill moving in a single direction while a runner runs on said treadmill belt.

41. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 3 further comprising a treadmill chassis including respective opposite side frames connected by at least one cross beams, each side frame further including an array of holes in which shoulders of said roller wheel axles rotate.

42. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 16 wherein said magnetic side support areas are respective outer peripheral rollers of said array of staggered roller wheels magnetic to interact with said ferromagnetic cables embedded with said side edges of said belt to keep said belt from lifting away from said array of staggered roller wheels.

43. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 3 wherein small stationary bar magnets are attached to the frame between respective peripheral roller wheels over adjacent shafts, below the contact point of the adjacent roller wheels. for keeping said belt from flapping upward when said magnet plates are attracted to respective magnets embedded in said belt.

21. A motor-less, leg-powered treadmill vehicle comprising

a treadmill frame;

a set of respective front and rear pulley rollers for rotation, said front and rear pulleys supporting a closed loop treadmill belt;

a continuous belt running on two distal pulleys a vehicle chassis with a steering mechanism operable by a driver/operator, a braking mechanism operable by a driver/operator, a pair of axles and respective opposite wheels, said axles and said wheels powered by said leg powered treadmill, deriving motive power from at least one person moving his or her respective legs on said continuous treadmill belt and frame built into said vehicle chassis.

22. The motor-less, leg-powered treadmill as in claim 21 further comprising an electric motor hill assist powered from storage batteries.

23. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 21 wherein said continuous belt has a flat upper running surface.

24. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 21 wherein said continuous belt has a curved upper running surface.

25. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 24 further comprising said belt having a top concave surface and a drooping lower section to maintain a stable belt configuration while affording a low friction belt path and acceptable belt inertia, said closed loop treadmill belt being of such a length as compared to the distance between the end rollers to permit it to assume a required concave upper contour and a required concave lower contour;

a means for slackening the upper portion and said lower portion, said upper portion and said lower portion drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave portion of said closed loop treadmill belt;

wherein said means for slackening the upper portion and said lower portion comprises said lower section of said closed loop treadmill belt is maintained in a slack drooping configuration, while said upper section of said closed loop treadmill belt is also maintained in a slack, concave, drooping configuration.

26. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 24 further comprising said belt having a curved concave upper running portion and a flattened, taut lower surface.

27. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 21 wherein said chassis accommodates a plurality of persons.

28. The motor-less, leg powered treadmill as in claim 21 wherein said chassis accommodates a plurality of running persons and a plurality of seated persons.

29. A motor-less, leg-powered treadmill comprising

a treadmill frame;

a treadmill running surface;

said treadmill running surface having a flat, linear running surface and a means for providing an incline of said flat, linear running surface belt.

30. The motor-less, leg-powered treadmill as in claim 29 wherein said means for providing an incline comprises a flat array of nested roller wheels in a staggered roller wheel array;

an elevation assist mechanism elevating said flat, linear belt into an incline,

a motorized front elevation strut controlled by a computerized control wherein an input and display is used to enter a desired speed;

a speed sensor monitoring belt speed, wherein said computer runs a control algorithm and signals a motor driver to drive said motorized strut in a selected direction to raise or lower the front of the treadmill.

32. The motor-less, leg-powered treadmill as in claim 30 further comprising a continuous treadmill belt covering said flat array of nested roller wheels.

33. The motor-less, leg-powered treadmill as in claim 32 further comprising a manually operable brake associated with said belt, wherein when the user touches said treadmill belt with the user'"'"'s hand, said manually operable brake causes said belt to stop moving.

34. The motor-less, leg-powered treadmill as in claim 33 further comprising a generator operable by movement of said treadmill belt, by converting mechanical power caused by movement of said treadmill belt and converting it to low voltage direct current (DC) or high (AC) voltage regular power, to power at least one load.

35. A motor-less, leg-powered treadmill comprising:

a treadmill frame;

a set of respective front and rear pulley rollers for rotation, said front and rear pulleys supporting a closed loop treadmill belt said rear pulley roller being metallic;

said closed loop treadmill belt comprising a plurality of parallel slats oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said belt, said parallel slats attached to each other in a resilient fashion;

said closed loop treadmill belt being of such a length as compared to the distance between the end rollers to permit it to assume a required concave upper contour;

a means for slackening the upper portion while simultaneously keeping the lower portion taut, preventing said lower portion from drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave portion of said closed loop treadmill belt;

wherein said means for slackening the upper portion while simultaneously keeping the lower portion taut, preventing said lower portion from drooping down during rotation and exertion of walking or running force upon said upper concave portion of said closed loop treadmill belt comprises imparting magnetic resistance to said rear metallic pulley roller so that said rear metallic pulley roller rotates a slower speed than said front roller,

wherein said lower section of said closed loop treadmill belt is maintained in a taut non-drooping configuration, while said upper section of said closed loop treadmill belt is maintained in a slack, concave, drooping configuration.

36. A tread belt system that provides a running surface for a non motorized treadmill comprising a plurality of recirculating molded treads, connected on each end of the tread with a flexible continuous belt, that is supported along the top running surface of the treadmill by a plurality of fixed bearings that contact the continuous belt and thus support the weight of the runner, wherein at each end of the treadmill, a set of pulleys support the continuous belt and provide a continuous path, wherein further, a lower half of the belt hangs underneath the frame in a uniform catenary manner, wherein further a plurality of evenly distributed treads are each equipped with a support member on each end of each tread supporting said tread belt suspended below a frame, such that the tread belt system is supported and prevented from hanging in a catenary fashion between said end pulleys, to support a lower half of said belt tread system, such that said lower half forms a flat uniform surface and does not droop or hang below the frame of the treadmill.

37. The tread belt system as in claim 36 wherein a portion of said treads in an equal number such that a uniform number determines that said treads are evenly distributed, said portion of treads each being equipped with a bearing roller appendage on each end of the tread that supports the tread belt system horizontally as it hangs below the frame of the treadmill.

38. The tread belt system as in claim 37 wherein a supporting rail with a bearing support flange is provided on each side of the frame of said treadmill to provide a running surface for said tread bearing rollers, such that the tread belt system is supported and prevented from hanging in a catenary fashion between opposite end pulleys of said treadmill.

39. The tread belt system as in claim 38 wherein a flanged surface at each end of said supporting rail is provided with a runout surface such that the recirculating treads make a smooth transition from support provided by said end pulleys to the flat surface provided by said supporting rail.