Upper body exchange and flywheel enhanced dual deck treadmills

• US 7,811,209 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Piaget, Gary D., Christopher, Brent, Warner, Patrick A., Crawford, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Steve R
• Application Number:
  US12/404,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 54, 482 57- 65, 482/70, 482 79- 80
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/067 with crank and handles being on opposite sides of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. the crank is behind and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/045 having torsion or bending or flexion element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0005 with particular movement of the arms provided by handles moving otherwise than pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0012 the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0048 with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• 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 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03533 With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03583 Upper and lower limbs acting simultaneously on the same operating rigid member
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03591 : Upper and lower limb moving in phase, i.e. right foot moving in the same direction as the right hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 : for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 : Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously

Abstract

An exercise device includes a first treadle assembly supporting a first moving surface and a second treadle assembly supporting a second moving surface. The exercise device further includes an upper body exercise assembly operably associated with the exercise device. The first treadle assembly is pivotally coupled with the frame structure, and the second treadle assembly is pivotally coupled with the frame structure. In another form, an exercise device includes a frame structure, a first treadle assembly having a first endless belt in rotatable engagement with a first roller, a second treadle assembly having a second endless belt in rotatable engagement with a second roller, and a flywheel operably coupled with the first endless belt and the second endless belt.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising:

a frame structure;

a first treadle assembly supporting a first moving surface, the first treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure, the first moving surface comprising a tread belt operably supported on the first treadle assembly;

a second treadle assembly supporting a second moving surface, the second treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure, the second moving surface comprising a second tread belt operably supported on the second treadle assembly; and

an upper body exercise assembly including at least one flexible member operably associated with the exercise device, the upper body exercise assembly including a first handle structure coupled with the first treadle assembly such that the first handle structure moves relative to the frame structure as the first treadle assembly pivots and a second handle structure coupled with the second treadle assembly such that the second handle structure moves relative to the frame structure as the second treadle assembly pivots.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

the first handle structure is fixed to the first treadle assembly; and

the second handle structure is fixed to the second treadle assembly.

10. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the first handle structure is pivotally coupled with the first treadle assembly and a resistance member is coupled between the first handle structure and the first treadle assembly.

11. The exercise device of claim 10 wherein the handle structure is coupled with an axle of a front roller supported on the first treadle assembly.

13. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the first handle structure is pivotable relative to the first treadle assembly and the second handle structure is pivotable relative to the second treadle assembly.

14. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the first handle structure pivots relative to the first treadle assembly in response to pivotal movement of the first treadle assembly and the second handle structure pivots relative to the second treadle assembly in response to pivotal movement of the second treadle assembly.

3. An exercise device comprising:

a frame structure;

a first treadle assembly supporting a first moving surface, the first treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure;

a second treadle assembly supporting a second moving surface, the second treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure; and

an upper body exercise assembly operably coupled to said treadle assemblies, the upper body exercise assembly including at least one flexible resilient resistance member coupled with the frame structure and a cable releasably connected with the resistance member, the cable supported by at least one pulley supported on the exercise device, and the cable including a handle.

4. The exercise device of claim 3 wherein the at least one flexible resilient resistance member is coupled with the frame structure in a generally horizontal arrangement to the side of at least one of the treadle assemblies.

5. The exercise device of claim 3 wherein the at least one flexible resilient resistance member is coupled with the frame structure in a generally vertical arrangement to the front of at least one of the treadle assemblies.

6. The exercise device of claim 3 wherein the at least one flexible resilient resistance structure is coupled with the frame in a generally vertical arrangement to the rear of at least one of the treadle assemblies.

7. An exercise device comprising:

a frame structure;

a first treadle assembly supporting a first moving surface, the first treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure;

a second treadle assembly supporting a second moving surface, the second treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure; and

an upper body exercise assembly operably associated with the exercise device, the upper body exercise assembly including at least one flexible resilient resistance member coupled with the frame structure and a cable releasably connected with the resistance member, the cable supported by at least one pulley supported on the exercise device, and the cable being coupled with at least one of the treadle assemblies.

8. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein:

the at least one flexible resilient resistance member is coupled with the frame structure in a generally vertical orientation in front of at least one of the treadle assemblies; and

the at least one pulley comprises at least a first pulley supported on the frame structure forward the at least one flexible resilient resistance member, and at least a second pulley supported on the frame structure rearward the at least one flexible resilient resistance member and above the front of at least one of the treadle assemblies.

9. An exercise device comprising:

a frame structure;

a first treadle assembly supporting a first moving surface, the first treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure;

a second treadle assembly supporting a second moving surface, the second treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure; and

an upper body exercise assembly operably associated with the exercise device, the upper body exercise assembly including a first handle structure coupled with the first treadle assembly and a second handle structure coupled with the second treadle assembly and comprising at least one cable coupled at one end to at least one of the treadle assemblies, the cable routed through at least one pulley supported on an upright extending upwardly from the frame structure in front of the treadle assemblies, the cable connecting one of the first and second handle structures to the at least one of the treadle assemblies.

12. An exercise device comprising:

a frame structure;

a first treadle assembly supporting a first moving surface, the first treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure, the first moving surface comprising a tread belt operably supported on the first treadle assembly;

a second treadle assembly supporting a second moving surface, the second treadle assembly pivotally coupled with the frame structure, the second moving surface comprising a second tread belt operably supported on the second treadle assembly; and

an upper body exercise assembly including at least one flexible member operably associated with the exercise device, the upper body exercise assembly including a first handle structure coupled with the first treadle assembly and a second handle structure coupled with the second treadle assembly,

wherein movement of the first handle structure is responsive to movement of the first treadle assembly and movement of the second handle structure is responsive to movement of the second treadle assembly.