Treadmill having an automatic speed control system
First Claim
1. An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a movable endless belt having an upper run for a user to stride upon;
a motor for moving the belt;
at least one sensor located below the upper run of the belt for sensing the position of the user on the belt; and
a controller for controlling the speed of the endless belt in accordance with the position of the user relative to said at least one sensor.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved treadmill comprises a motor driven endless belt, sensors located below an upper run of the belt for sensing the position of a user, and a controller for controlling the speed of the belt in accordance with the position of the user relative to the sensors. The detection or lack of detection of the user by the sensors can cause the belt to accelerate, decelerate, remain at a constant speed, or stop. A proper sequence of user detections by the sensors permits the controller to initiate an automatic speed adjusting system. The controller also provides a safety system for stopping the belt. In one embodiment, the controller stops the belt upon a lack of the sensors detecting the user. In another embodiment, a safety sensor is mounted on an upper surface of a member located proximate the belt, and the controller stops the belt when the safety sensor senses the user.
183 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An exercise apparatus comprising:
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a movable endless belt having an upper run for a user to stride upon; a motor for moving the belt; at least one sensor located below the upper run of the belt for sensing the position of the user on the belt; and a controller for controlling the speed of the endless belt in accordance with the position of the user relative to said at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control system for an exercise apparatus having at least one movable support surface for supporting a user and a motor for moving said support surface, the control system comprising:
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a controller; a front sensor providing a signal to the controller in response to pressure exerted by a user on said support surface proximate thereto; a rear sensor providing a signal to the controller in response to pressure exerted by the user on said support surface proximate thereto; and wherein the controller increases the speed of the support surface in response to receiving a signal from the front sensor and the controller decreases the speed of the support surface in response to receiving a signal from the rear sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of controlling the speed of an endless surface on an exercise machine having a motor for moving the endless surface, a controller for controlling the speed of the motor, and front and rear sensors for sensing the position of a user, said method comprising:
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moving the endless surface at a constant speed; accelerating the endless surface upon two consecutive sensings of the user by the front sensor; terminating the accelerating step upon a sensing of the user by the rear sensor; decelerating the endless surface upon two consecutive sensings of the user by the rear sensor; and terminating the decelerating step upon a sensing of the user by the front sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An exercise apparatus comprising:
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a movable endless belt having an upper run for a user to stride upon; a motor for moving the belt; at least one sensor for sensing the position of the user on the belt; and a controller for stopping the endless belt upon the failure of said at least one sensor to sense the position of the user. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of controlling exercise equipment having an endless surface, a motor for driving the endless support surface, a controller for controlling the speed of the motor, and front and rear sensors for detecting the position of a user, said method comprising:
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moving the endless support surface; detecting the relative position of the user on the endless support surface by the front and rear sensors; comparing the detections of the relative position of the user on the endless support surface by the front and rear sensors to a sequence of detected relative positions, the sequence including a predetermined order of detected relative positions by the front and rear sensors; and initiating a speed control system upon completion of said comparing step if the detected relative positions of the user on the endless support surface by the front and rear sensors are in the same order as the sequence of detected relative positions. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification