SLAT-BELT TREADMILL

• US 20200129837A1
• Filed: 10/30/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Health Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Johnson Health Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Liao, Hung-Mao, Chen, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 10,912,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0675 Input for modifying training controls during workout
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A slat-belt treadmill is provided. The slat-belt treadmill includes a treadmill frame, a front shaft pivotally coupled to the treadmill frame, and a rear shaft pivotally coupled to the treadmill frame; a plurality of slats constituting a slat-belt, collaboratively rotating about the front and rear shafts, and forming an exercise surface on which a user of the treadmill may walk or run; a driving apparatus coupling to the slats and driving the slats to rotate about the front and rear shafts; and a light-emitting unit disposed under the exercise surface to provide a light source. When the slats are rotating, light from the light-emitting unit is intermittently visible as the slats intermittently block and reveal the light.

Claims

1. A slat-belt treadmill, comprising:

a treadmill frame;

a front shaft pivotally coupled to the treadmill frame;

a rear shaft pivotally coupled to the treadmill frame;

a plurality of slats constituting a slat-belt, collaboratively rotatable about the front and rear shafts, and forming an exercise surface on which a user may walk or run;

a driving apparatus coupling to the slats and driving the slats to rotate about the front and rear shafts; and

a light-emitting unit disposed under the exercise surface to provide a light source;

wherein when the slats are rotating, light from the light-emitting unit is intermittently visible as the slats intermittently block and reveal the light.

2. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 1, wherein the intermittently visible light has a frequency that has a positive correlation with the rotating speed of the slats.

3. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 1, wherein the intermittently visible light is only visible near a rear end of the exercise surface.

4. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 1, further comprising a light-shielding structure, and wherein when the slats are rotating, the light-shielding structure would pass across and block light.

5. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 1, further comprising a control unit, and wherein the light-emitting unit is in communication with the control unit, and the control unit drives the light-emitting unit to emit light.

6. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting unit is switched on and off alternately when the slats are rotating.

7. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 6, wherein a time period between two consecutive switched-on states of the light-emitting unit is larger than 1/16 second.

8. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 1, wherein a time period between two consecutive states that the light emitting by the light-emitting unit passing through the translucent area is larger than 1/16 second.

9. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 1, wherein a portion of the slats is composed of a translucent material.

10. A slat-belt treadmill, comprising:

a treadmill frame;

a front shaft pivotally coupled to the treadmill frame;

a rear shaft pivotally coupled to the treadmill frame;

a plurality of slats constituting a slat-belt, collaboratively rotatable about the front and rear shafts, and forming an exercise surface on which a user may walk or run;

a driving apparatus coupling to the slats and driving the slats to rotate about the front and rear shafts; and

a light-emitting unit disposed under the exercise surface to provide a light source; and

a translucent area formed in the slat-belt;

wherein when the slats are rotating, the light transmission status of the light source at the translucent area is a time variable.

11. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 10, wherein the time variable has a positive correlation with the rotating speed of the slats.

12. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 10, wherein the translucent area is near a rear end of the exercise surface.

13. The slat-belt treadmill of claim 10, further comprising a light-shielding structure, and wherein when the slats are rotating, the light-shielding structure would pass across and block light from the translucent area.