Hiking exercise apparatus

• US 6,761,667 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Hammer, Rodney L., Cutler, Gordon L., Finlayson, Kurt, Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/496,569
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54
• US Class Current: 482/54
• 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 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia

Abstract

A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus supports a user ambulating thereon. The selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus includes: (i) a support base; and (ii) a treadbase having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner portion therebetween, the treadbase selectively inclining with respect to the support base. The treadbase is pivotally coupled at the inner portion thereof to the treadbase. A handrail assembly of the hiking apparatus adjusts automatically throughout the range of motion of the treadbase.

Claims

1. A hiking exercise apparatus comprising:

a support base;

a treadbase having a first roller adjacent a rear proximal end, a second roller adjacent a front distal end, and a center located halfway between the proximal and distal ends, the first roller having a first axis of rotation and the second roller having a second axis of rotation, the treadbase being pivotally coupled to the support base at a point located distally from the first axis and proximally from the center of the treadbase such that an inclination of the treadbase can be selectively varied between two or more operational positions, the treadbase having an endless moving belt, an upper portion of which moves from the front, distal end towards the rear, proximal end.

2. A hiking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the treadbase selectively inclines to an angle greater than about 25% grade.

3. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the width of the endless, moving belt of the hiking apparatus is at least 50% the size of the length of the belt.

4. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the width of the moving belt is about 18 inches or more and the length is about 40 inches or less.

5. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the treadbase selectively declines.

6. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivotal coupling of the treadbase to the support base occurs at a position located about 10% to about 50% of the length of the treadbase inwardly from a plane extending vertically through the center of a proximal roller of the treadbase when the treadbase is positioned horizontally.

7. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the treadbase of the hiking apparatus selectively inclines and selectively declines, and wherein the treadbase inclines to an angle greater than about 25% grade.

8. A selectively inclining hiking apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising braking means for slowing the speed of the treadbase.

9. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the incline of the treadbase changes substantially without moving an ambulation point, on which a user ambulates, substantially in a vertical direction.

10. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein an endless belt of the apparatus has a rough, uneven upper surface.

11. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the support base comprises:

a substantially horizontal portion configured to rest upon a support surface; and

an upright portion configured to be pivotally coupled to the treadbase, the upright portion being pivotally coupled to the inner portion of the treadbase.

12. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the treadbase selectively inclines and selectively declines.

13. A hiking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a cross beam of a treadbase frame is positioned below an endless belt and wherein means for selectively moving the treadbase is pivotally coupled at one end thereof to the cross beam.

14. A selectively inclining and declining hiking exercise apparatus which supports a user ambulating thereon, the selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus comprising:

a support base; and

a treadbase having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner portion therebetween, the treadbase selectively inclining and selectively declining with respect to a neutral position which is substantially parallel to a support surface, the treadbase being pivotally coupled at the inner portion thereof to the support base, wherein the treadbase is selectively moved into a position having a grade of about—

10% with respect to the neutral position to about 100% with respect to the neutral position, and wherein the treadbase comprises;

(a) a treadbase frame;

(b) first and second rollers;

on opposing proximal and distal ends of the frame, respectively; and

(c) an endless belt movably mounted on the first and second rollers; and

means for selectively moving the treadbase, the means for selectively moving the treadbase being coupled to the support base and to the inner portion of the treadbase, the treadbase and the means for selectively moving the treadbase being coupled to the support base such that the proximal and distal ends of the treadbase can be selectively positioned adjacent the support surface in inclined and declined positions, respectively.

15. A hiking exercise apparatus comprising:

a substantially horizontal support base;

a treadbase having a proximal end, a distal end, and center located halfway between the proximal and distal ends, the treadbase being pivotally coupled to the support base; and

means pivotally coupled to the substantially horizontal support base and the treadbase for supporting at least one arm of a user ambulating on the treadbase.

16. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for supporting at least one arm of a user comprises a handrail assembly.

17. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the handrail assembly inclines at a different rate than that of the distal end of the treadbase.

18. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the handrail assembly comprises a first member pivotally coupled to the base and a second member pivotally coupled to the treadbase, the first and second members movably coupled to each other.

19. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the first and second members are members of a two-part telescoping assembly which selectively extends and contracts.

20. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the handrail assembly further comprises a motor configured to selectively move the telescoping assembly, wherein movement of the telescoping assembly moves the treadbase.

21. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein movement of the handrail assembly results in movement of the treadbase.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the handrail assembly is coupled to the treadbase such that the position of the handrail assembly adjusts automatically throughout the range of motion of the treadbase.

23. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein an inner portion of the treadbase is pivotally coupled to the support base such that the treadbase is coupled to the support base remotely from the proximal and distal ends of the treadbase.

24. A selectively inclining hiking apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising braking means for slowing the speed of the treadbase.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the means coupled to the support base and the treadbase for supporting at least one arm of a user ambulating on the treadbase comprises:

means for selectively moving the treadbase.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

(i) a linear extending assembly; and

(ii) a pivoting lever coupled to the linear extending assembly.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein the lever is pivotally coupled at a lower end thereof to the support base and has at an upper end thereof a rotating wheel which rolls against the treadbase.

28. A selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein movement of the treadbase results in movement of the means coupled to the support base and the treadbase for supporting at least one arm of a user ambulating on the treadbase.

29. A hiking exercise apparatus comprising:

a substantially horizontal support base;

a treadbase having a proximal end, a distal end, and a center located halfway between the proximal and distal ends, the treadbase being pivotally coupled to the support base, the treadbase selectively inclining; and

a handrail assembly pivotally coupled to the substantially horizontal support base and the treadbase such that the handrail assembly moves in order to compensate for the movement of the treadbase.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein the handrail assembly is coupled to the treadbase such that the position of the handrail assembly adjusts automatically throughout the range of motion of the treadbase.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein the treadbase selectively inclines and selectively declines with respect to a neutral position thereof which is substantially parallel to a support surface, the handrail assembly selectively inclining and declining at a different rate than that of the treadbase.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein a support member of the handrail assembly remains substantially horizontal despite movement of the treadbase and the handrail assembly as the treadbase moves between an inclined position and a declined position.

33. A hiking exercise apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein the handrail assembly comprises:

an upright member affixed to the support base;

a substantially horizontal member pivotally coupled to the upright member affixed to the support base; and

a pivoting member pivotally coupled at one end to the substantially horizontal member and pivotally coupled at an opposing end to the treadbase.

34. A hiking apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein the treadbase inclines to an angle greater than about 25% grade.

35. A selectively inclining and declining hiking exercise apparatus which supports a user ambulating thereon, the selectively inclining and declining hiking exercise apparatus comprising:

a support base;

a treadbase having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner portion therebetween, the treadbase being pivotally coupled to the support base, the treadbase selectively inclining and selectively declining with respect to a neutral position thereof which is substantially parallel to a support surface, wherein the treadbase is selectively moved into a position having a grade of about −

5% with respect to the neutral position to about 60% with respect to the neutral position;

means pivotally coupled to the support base and the treadbase for selectively moving the treadbase; and

means pivotally coupled to the support base and the treadbase for supporting at least one arm of a user ambulating on the treadbase, such that the position of the means for supporting at least one arm of a user adjusts automatically throughout the range of motion of the treadbase.

36. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the means pivotally coupled to the support base and the treadbase for selectively moving the treadbase is part of a handrail assembly.

37. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the means pivotally coupled to the support base and the treadbase for selectively moving the treadbase is separate from a handrail assembly.

38. A hiking exercise apparatus comprising:

a support base;

a treadbase having a first roller adjacent a rear proximal end, a second roller adjacent a front distal end, and a center located halfway between the proximal and distal ends, the first roller having a first axis of rotation and the second roller having a second axis of rotation, the treadbase selectively inclining with respect to the support base allowing a user to exercise at varying grades of inclination, the treadbase being pivotally coupled to the support base at a position located distally from the first axis and proximally from the center, the treadbase having an endless moving belt which is driven by a motor, wherein an upper portion of said belt moves from the front, distal end towards the rear, proximal end.

39. The selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus of claim 38, wherein the position of coupling improves leverage of the treadbase.

40. The selectively inclining hiking exercise apparatus of claim 38, wherein the position of coupling enables the treadbase to incline or decline without vertically raising the ambulating surface of a moving belt significantly with respect to a handrail assembly.