Treadmill control system

• US 6,783,482 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Life Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Oglesby, Gary E., Lantz, Kenneth F., Fox, James B., Kohan, Robert D., Wille, Daniel R., Porth, Timothy J., Danile, John, Golen, Emil S. Jr., Clawson, Christopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/944,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• 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 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 within a certain range

Abstract

A microprocessor based exercise treadmill control system is disclosed which includes various features to enhance user operation. These features include programs operative to: permit a set of user controls to cause the treadmill to initially operate at predetermined speeds; permit the user to design custom workouts; permit the user to switch between workout programs while the treadmill is in operation; and perform an automatic cooldown program where the duration of the cooldown is a function of the duration of the workout or the user'"'"'s heart rate. The features also include a stop program responsive to a detector for automatically stopping the treadmill when a user is no longer on the treadmill and a frame tag module attached to the treadmill frame having a non-volatile memory for storing treadmill configuration, and operational and maintenance data. Another included feature is the ability to display the amount of time a user spends in a heart rate zone.

Claims

1. An exercise treadmill, comprising:

a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure;

a motor for rotating a first one of said pulleys;

a belt secured over said pulleys so as to move in a longitudinal direction when said first pulley is rotated;

an inclination mechanism secured to a first end of said frame structure effective to permit selective inclination of said frame structure by a user;

a control system operatively connected to said motor and said inclination mechanism;

a control panel secured to said frame structure and operatively connected to said control system wherein said control panel includes at least one display and a set of user controls for controlling the treadmill including said belt speed and said inclination mechanism, to permit a user to operate the treadmill for a workout; and

a stop program operatively associated with said control system for stopping the movement of said belt when no user is detected on said belt for a first predetermined amount of time wherein said stop program uses information representing treadmill operating criteria from said control system to detect the user on said belt.

2. The exercise treadmill of claim 1 wherein said operating criteria includes operation of said user controls.

3. The exercise treadmill of claim 1 wherein said operating criteria includes operation of said motor.

4. The exercise treadmill of claim 1 wherein the treadmill includes pulse sensors and wherein said operating criteria includes operation of said pulse sensors.

5. The exercise treadmill of claim 1 wherein said operating criteria includes operation of said inclination mechanism.

6. The exercise treadmill of claim 1 additionally including a detector operatively connected to said control system for detecting the presence of a user on said belt and said stop program utilizes said operating criteria to provide an indication of the absence of the user on said belt in combination with said detector to stop the movement of said belt.

7. The exercise treadmill of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined time is approximately 10 seconds.

8. The exercise treadmill of claim 1 wherein said stop program places the treadmill in a pause mode after said first predetermined time and then resets the treadmill after a second predetermined amount of time.

9. An exercise treadmill, comprising:

a frame structure including two rotatable pulleys, said pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure;

a motor for rotating a first one of said pulleys;

a belt secured over said pulleys so as to move in a longitudinal direction when said first pulley is rotated;

an inclination mechanism secured to a first end of said frame structure effective to permit selective inclination of said frame structure by a user;

a control system operatively connected to said motor and said inclination mechanism;

a control panel secured to said frame structure and operatively connected to said control system wherein said control panel includes at least one display and a set of user controls for controlling the treadmill including said belt speed and said inclination mechanism, to permit a user to operate the treadmill for a workout;

a detector operatively connected to said control system for detecting the presence of a user on said belt; and

a user detect program operatively associated with said control system and responsive to one or more treadmill operating criteria received from said control system for stopping the movement of said belt when said operating criteria indicates no user is detected on said belt for a first predetermined amount of time.

10. The exercise treadmill of claim 9 wherein said operating criteria is selected from the group consisting of use of said user controls, speed of said belt, operation of said inclination mechanism, operation of said motor and operation of a pulse sensor.