SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING RUNAWAY RESISTANCE ON AN EXERCISE DEVICE

• US 20190329091A1
• Filed: 07/11/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Powell, Wade A., Buchanan, Dale Alan
• Granted Patent: US 10,918,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00076 on the fly, i.e. varying the resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0053 using alternators or dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0084 by moving the surrounding water A63B31/00, A63B35/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0088 by moving the surrounding air
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• 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 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/002 : Billiards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/082 : the unit having provision for cooling the motor
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1008 : structurally associated with the machine rotor H02K7/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/06 : with fans or impellers driven by the machine shaft

Abstract

A treadmill may include a deck, a first pulley incorporated into the deck, a second pulley incorporated into the deck, a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley, a motor in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley to move the tread belt in a first direction, and a runaway mitigation mechanism in at least indirect mechanical communication with the motor. The runaway mitigation mechanism at least mitigates a motor runaway condition.

Claims

1. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck;

a first pulley incorporated into the deck;

a second pulley incorporated into the deck;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley;

a drive motor in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley to move the tread belt in a first direction, the drive motor including a drive shaft extending beyond the drive motor; and

a runaway mitigation system, including;

a magnetic unit adjacent to the drive shaft, wherein the magnetic unit moves closer to the drive shaft as the deck is inclined.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the magnetic unit applies a magnetic resistance to a rotation of the drive shaft.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein when the drive shaft comes into closer proximity to the magnetic unit, the magnetic unit applies a greater magnetic resistance to the rotation of the drive shaft.

4. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein a rotary disc is rigidly attached to the drive shaft, and wherein the rotary disc includes at least some magnetically conductive material such that the magnetic unit applies a magnetic force on the rotary disc.

5. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the runaway mitigation system includes a linear actuator connected to the magnetic unit, the linear actuator positioning the magnetic unit relative to the drive shaft.

6. A method for mitigating a treadmill runaway, comprising:

changing an incline angle of a deck to a threshold angle, wherein changing the incline angle includes moving a drive shaft of a motor that drives a movement of a tread belt relative to a resistive element; and

when the incline angle is at or above the threshold angle, applying a resistive force to a rotation of the drive shaft with the resistive element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein applying the resistive force to the rotation of the drive shaft includes applying a magnetic resistive force to the drive shaft.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying the magnetic resistive force to the drive shaft includes applying a greater magnetic resistive force to the drive shaft as the resistive element moves closer to the drive shaft.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein applying the magnetic resistive force to the drive shaft includes applying the magnetic resistive force to a rotary disc rigidly attached to the drive shaft, the rotary disc including at least some magnetically conductive material.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining that a runaway condition exists, and wherein applying the resistive force includes applying the resistive force to the rotation of the drive shaft when the incline angle is at or above the threshold angle and the runaway condition exists.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining that the runaway condition exists includes adjust the threshold angle based on a belt speed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining that the runaway condition exists includes adjust the threshold angle based on a weight of a user.

13. A method for mitigating a treadmill runaway, comprising:

changing an incline of a deck from a first orientation to a second orientation;

moving a container with the deck, a portion of a drive shaft of a motor being inserted in the container, wherein the motor drives a movement of a tread belt; and

contacting a fluid with the drive shaft when the container is in the second orientation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the contacting the drive shaft with the fluid includes resisting rotation of the drive shaft.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein in the first orientation, the drive shaft does not contact the fluid.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising immersing the drive shaft in the fluid so that an entire circumference of the drive shaft is in contact with the fluid.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the container with the deck moving the container from the first orientation to the second orientation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein moving the container from the first orientation to the second orientation includes pooling fluid in a proximity of the drive shaft.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein moving the container from the first orientation to the second orientation includes flowing fluid from a trough to a proximity of the drive shaft.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising pushing against the fluid with a vane on the drive shaft.