Passive-type treadmill

• US 4,544,152 A
• Filed: 07/25/1983
• Issued: 10/01/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Landice Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles M. Taitel
• Inventors: Taitel, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US06/517,079
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 272/69, 272/73, 272/96, 272/131, 272/132, 188/187, 188/72.7, 188/72.8, 188/106 P, 128/25 R, 128/25 B
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028

Abstract

A passive treadmill having a governor to adjustably limit the rate of speed of the treadmill belt. Resilient flexible rotating blades flex due to the centrifugal force developed during rotation, the magnitude of the centrifugal force being a function of the linear speed of the treadmill belt. Brake pads mounted on the flexible blades move into sliding engagement with an annular stationary surface to limit the linear speed of the treadmill belt. A rotatably mounted cam is manually adjustable to adjust the spacing between the aforesaid slidably engagable surfaces to adjust the governor. The governor assembly is of relatively small size and volume and the moving components of the governor are mounted within a compact casing.

The rollers, which rollingly support the treadmill belt, are rotatably mounted within elongated openings provided in each of a pair of mounting rails. Roller support shafts are inserted into slots arranged at spaced intervals along the support rails and a compressible rope is arranged between the support shafts and the upper interior surface of the support rail elongated openings. A single elongated rod in the elongated opening of each rail supports all of the associated shafts, providing the dual functions of securing said roller shafts in position and rotatably supporting all of the roller shafts at a uniform height. The compressible rope compensates for any tolerances between the parts and prevents the roller shafts, and hence the rollers, from experiencing any undesirable movement and/or vibration.

Claims

1. A governor assembly for use in treadmills and the like, comprising a rotatable member having an opening in one end thereof of a predetermined cross-section;

a second member having a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the shape of the opening in said first member slidably extending at least partially into the opening of said first member;

bias means engaging one end of said second member for normally biasing said second member in a first direction;

a pivotally-mounted cam member having a diagonally-aligned cam surface engageable with the opposite end of said second member and limiting movement of said second member in said first direction in accordance with the angular orientation of said cam member;

at least one flexible blade member having a portion secured to said second member at a location beyond the one end of said first member;

said blade member having at least one blade arm portion extending diagonally outwardly from said second member;

a brake pad secured to the free end of said blade member;

said diagonally-aligned blade arm portion forming an angle with the imaginary rotational axis of said blade arm of less than 90°

, when said blade member is stationary, said blade arm portion being urged in a direction to increase said angle as a function of increasing rotational speed of said blade arm, the free end of said blade member generally defining a circular path;

a stationary member having an annular surface surrounding the imaginary axis of rotation of said blade member and positioned a spaced distance from the brake pad on said blade member when said blade member is stationary and adapted to be engaged by said brake pad when said blade member is rotated at a predetermined angular velocity, the value of said angular velocity being a function of the spacing between the brake pad and the stationary surface when the blade member is stationary, being adjusted by said cam member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible blade member comprises a pair of thin flexible metallic blades having their inner ends joined to said second member and a spacer member arranged between the free ends of said blade arms;

said brake pad being joined to the blade positioned closer to said stationary surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an operating handle arranged at a position remote from said cam member;

a cable joined between one end of said pivotally-mounted operating handle and said pivotally-mounted cam member for adjustably pivoting said cam member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a removable cover assembly enclosing said blade member;

said cam member being pivotally mounted upon one surface of said cover assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flywheel member joined to the end of said first member opposite said second member;

said first member being rotatably mounted in a freewheeling fashion.