Dual treadmill exercise device having a single rear roller

• US 7,704,191 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Crawford, Douglas A., Smith, Bradley J., Trevino, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US11/065,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 54
• US Class Current: 482/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• 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 22/0214 between the belt supporting deck and the frame
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0292 separate for each leg, e.g. dual deck

Abstract

The present invention provides an exercise device that generally includes two treadles pivotally connected with a frame so that the treadles may pivot up and down about an axis. Each treadle includes a tread belt that provides a moving surface like a treadmill. Each tread belt is supported by a front roller and a rear roller, which is common to both treadles. The treadles are interconnected to provide an alternating upward and downward movement relative to each other. Opposing end portions of the rear roller are rotatably supported at the rear end of the frame. Outer sides of rear end portions of the treadles are rotatably supported by the outer end portions of the rear roller, and inner sides of rear end portions of the treadles are coupled with the frame through an inner support structure that defines a virtual pivot.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first roller including a cylindrical hollow tube having a first end portion and a second end portion, a first cap end connected with the first end portion, and a second cap end connected with the second end portion, the first cap end and the second cap end rotatably supported by the frame to define an unobstructed longitudinal axis of the first roller between the first cap end and the second cap end;

a first treadle assembly including a second roller and a first endless belt in rotatable engagement with the second roller and the first roller, the first treadle assembly arranged to pivot relative to the frame; and

a second treadle assembly including a third roller and a second endless belt in rotatable engagement with the third roller and the first roller, the second treadle assembly arranged to pivot relative to the frame.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein:

the first cap end comprises a first portion connected with a first cap portion, and a first extension connected with the first cap portion, the first portion configured to fit within the first end portion of the first roller, the first cap portion including a first outer dimension that is greater than a first inner dimension of the first roller at the first end portion;

wherein the second cap end comprises a second portion connected with a second cap portion, and a second extension connected with the second cap portion, the second portion configured to fit within the second end portion of the first roller, the second cap portion including a second outer dimension that is greater than a second inner dimension of the first roller at the second end portion; and

wherein the first extension and the second extension are rotatably supported by the frame.

3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein:

the first treadle assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame through the first extension; and

the second treadle assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame through the second extension.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising:

an interconnection assembly operably coupled with the first treadle assembly and the second treadle assembly.

10. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first axle end and a second axle end rotatably supporting the first roller; and

an adjustable axle support through which the first axle end is coupled with the frame.

11. The exercise device of claim 10, the adjustable axle support comprising:

an axle cradle connected with the frame;

a bolt having threadedly engaged with the first axle end, the bolt having a head end and a distal end engaging the axle cradle; and

wherein turning the head end of the bolt moves the first axle end in a first direction relative to the axle cradle.

12. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the first direction is a vertical direction relative to the axle cradle.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first cap end is secured to the first end portion of the first roller and the second cap end is secured to the second end portion of the first roller so that the first roller rotates with the first and second cap ends.

14. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first cap portion and the second cap portion defines an annular rim.

15. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the first cap end is secured to the first end portion of the first roller and the second portion of the second cap end is secured to the second end portion of the first roller so that the first roller rotates with the first and second cap ends.

16. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein the first extension includes an outer dimension that is less than the first outer dimension of the first cap portion.

17. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein the first extension and the second extension are coaxial with the unobstructed longitudinal axis of the first roller.

5. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a first roller including a cylindrical hollow tube having a first end portion and a second end portion, a first cap end connected with the first end portion, and a second cap end connected with the second end portion, the first cap end and the second cap end rotatably supported by the frame to define an unobstructed longitudinal axis of the first roller between the first cap end and the second cap end;

a first treadle assembly including a second roller and a first endless belt in rotatable engagement with the second roller and the first roller;

a second treadle assembly including a third roller and a second endless belt in rotatable engagement with the third roller and the first roller; and

wherein the first treadle assembly and the second treadle assembly are pivotally supported by the first roller.

6. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein:

the first cap end comprises a first portion connected with a first cap portion, and a first extension connected with the first cap portion, the first portion configured to fit within the first end portion of the first roller, the first cap portion including a first outer dimension that is greater than a first inner dimension of the first roller at the first end portion;

wherein the second cap end comprises a second portion connected with a second cap portion, and a second extension connected with the second cap portion, the second portion configured to fit within the second end portion of the first roller, the second cap portion including a second outer dimension that is greater than a second inner dimension of the first roller at the second end portion; and

wherein the first extension and the second extension are rotatably supported by the frame.

7. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein:

the first treadle assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame through the first extension; and

the second treadle assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame through the second extension.

8. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein the first roller includes a first annular channel and a second annular channel;

and

wherein the first treadle assembly is pivotally connected with the first annular channel and the second treadle assembly is pivotally connected with the second annular channel.

9. The exercise device of claim 5, further comprising:

an interconnection assembly operably coupled with the first treadle assembly and the second treadle assembly.

18. The exercise device of claim 5 further comprising:

a first axle end and a second axle end rotatably supporting the first roller; and

an adjustable axle support through which the first axle end is coupled with the frame.

19. The exercise device of claim 18, the adjustable axle support comprising:

an axle cradle connected with the frame;

a bolt having threadedly engaged with the first axle end, the bolt having a head end and a distal end engaging the axle cradle; and

wherein turning the head end of the bolt moves the first axle end in a first direction relative to the axle cradle.

20. The exercise device of claim 19, wherein the first direction is a vertical direction relative to the axle cradle.

21. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein the first cap end is secured to the first end portion of the first roller and the second cap end is secured to the second end portion of the first roller so that the first roller rotates with the first and second cap ends.

22. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first cap portion and the second cap portion defines an annular rim.

23. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the first cap end is secured to the first end portion of the first roller and the second portion of the second cap end is secured to the second end portion of the first roller so that the first roller rotates with the first and second cap ends.

24. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein the first extension includes an outer dimension that is less than the first outer dimension of the first cap portion.

25. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein the first extension and the second extension are coaxial with the unobstructed longitudinal axis of the first roller.