Treadmill with cushion assembly
First Claim
1. A treadmill, comprising:
- (a) a frame;
(b) an endless belt trained on the frame;
(c) a deck disposed underneath the belt;
(d) a torsional resilient member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion operably coupled to the frame and said second portion adapted to be rotated relative to said first portion; and
(e) a substantially rigid lever having a first portion that is adapted to be rotated, and a second portion that is coupled to the second portion of the resilient member, wherein the first portion of the lever is operably coupled to the deck so that motion between the deck and the frame causes deflection of the first portion of the lever and rotation of the second portion of the lever, and wherein the resilient member resists rotation in at least one direction as the lever rotates relative to the frame;
wherein the frame further comprises a polygon support member, the torsional resilient member torsionally coupled to the lever and the polygon support member such that the torsional resilient member resists rotation of the lever around the polygon support member in at least one direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A treadmill including a frame, an endless belt having an upwardly-exposed exercise section, a deck disposed underneath the exercise section of the belt, and a cushion assembly positioned between the deck and the frame for providing cushion in order to reduce high impact loads on the user'"'"'s body. The cushion assembly comprises a lever having a first portion that is operably coupled to the deck and a second portion that is rotatably coupled to the frame. The cushion assembly also comprises a resilient member coupled to both the lever and the frame so that the resilient member resists rotation of the lever as the lever is rotated. The elastic deformation of the resilient member provides resistance to displacement of the deck and therefore creates a cushion effect on the user'"'"'s feet, ankles and knees as the user'"'"'s feet contact the belt.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A treadmill, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) an endless belt trained on the frame; (c) a deck disposed underneath the belt; (d) a torsional resilient member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion operably coupled to the frame and said second portion adapted to be rotated relative to said first portion; and (e) a substantially rigid lever having a first portion that is adapted to be rotated, and a second portion that is coupled to the second portion of the resilient member, wherein the first portion of the lever is operably coupled to the deck so that motion between the deck and the frame causes deflection of the first portion of the lever and rotation of the second portion of the lever, and wherein the resilient member resists rotation in at least one direction as the lever rotates relative to the frame; wherein the frame further comprises a polygon support member, the torsional resilient member torsionally coupled to the lever and the polygon support member such that the torsional resilient member resists rotation of the lever around the polygon support member in at least one direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A treadmill, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) an endless belt trained on the frame; (c) a deck disposed underneath the belt; (d) a torsional resilient member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion operably coupled to the frame and said second portion adapted to be rotated relative to said first portion; (e) a substantially rigid lever having a first portion that is adapted to be rotated, and a second portion that is coupled to the second portion of the resilient member, wherein the first portion of the lever is operably coupled to the deck so that motion between the deck and the frame causes deflection of the first portion of the lever and rotation of the second portion of the lever, and wherein the resilient member resists rotation in at least one direction as the lever rotates relative to the frame; (f) an intermediate member operably engageable with both the deck and the first portion of the lever, wherein the intermediate member is movably positioned between the deck and the lever, wherein the intermediate member is adapted to be positioned at any of a plurality of positions along the first portion of the lever, and wherein the position of the intermediate member along the first portion of the lever modifies the resistance to displacement of the deck; and (g) a drive assembly for moving the position of the intermediate member, wherein the drive assembly comprises a cable loop and a drive member, the cable loop having a first portion connected to the intermediate member and a second portion connected to the drive member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification