Floor for housing and supporting exercise equipment

• US 6,601,358 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panatta Sport Srl
• Original Assignee: Panatta Sport Srl
• Inventors: Panatta, Rodolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATCHEVES, BASIL S
• Application Number:
  US09/880,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 525/08, 52/19, 52/10, 521/265
• US Class Current: 52/508
• 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 2210/10 specially constructed to fit in the corner of a room
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0036 Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/028 Floor sockets for removable poles

Abstract

An equipped floor having at least one cavity opening outwards and for housing at least one exercise fixture.

Claims

1. An exercise floor for housing and supporting exercise equipment which comprises:

a floor member;

at least one cavity provided in the floor member, which opens outwards, for housing at least one exercise fixture, which is a treadmill;

a covering means movable between a closed and an open position for closing and opening said cavity, said covering means being supported by said treadmill when in the closed position.

2. The exercise floor as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when said covering means are in the open position, said covering means are located substantially underneath said floor;

and, when said covering means are in the closed position, said covering means are substantially coplanar with the floor.

3. The excercise floor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising actuating means for moving said covering means between said closed position and said open position.

4. The exercise floor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cavity opens outwards at an opening;

said actuating means comprising a first actuating means for moving said covering means between said closed position and a lowered position wherein the covering means are located substantially beneath the floor; and

a second actuating means for moving said covering means between the lowered position and the open position wherein the covering means are located to the side of said opening.

5. The exercise floor as claimed in claim 4, further comprising detecting means for detecting said closed, open and lowered positions of said covering means.

6. The exercise floor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising additional actuating means for moving the exercise fixture to and from a raised position wherein the exercise fixture is substantially outside of said cavity.

7. The exercise floor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said treadmill comprises a conveyor belt;

a frame for supporting the conveyor belt and at least one substantially flat portion having a display;

said flat portion being substantially coplanar with the floor at least when said covering means are in the closed position.

8. A gym comprising at least one equipped floor as claimed in claim 1.