Treadmill with removable supports

• US 10,561,894 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Cutler, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Urbiel Goldner, Gary D
• Application Number:
  US15/461,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20170266483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• 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 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/072 Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like , e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0724 Bar-bells; Hand bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/0048 with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 : Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 : Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 : Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/68 : with article holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 : with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 : User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0057 : Means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B23/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0036 : Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A treadmill includes a platform where the platform includes a first side panel and a second side panel spaced apart at a distance from the first side panel, and a gap defined between the first side panel and the second side panel. The treadmill also includes a running deck contained within the platform and exposed within the gap, a first pulley connected to the running deck, a second pulley connected to the running deck opposite the first pulley, a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley, a first post removably connected to the platform, a second post removably connected to the platform, and a first rail transversely connected to the first post and the second post.

Claims

1. A treadmill, comprising:

a platform having a profile height of less than four inches the platform including;

a first side panel; and

a second side panel spaced apart at a distance from the first side panel;

a gap defined between the first side panel and the second side panel;

a running deck contained within the platform and exposed within the gap;

a first pulley connected to the running deck;

a second pulley opposite the first pulley and connected to the running deck;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley;

a first post removably connected to the platform;

a second post removably connected to the platform; and

a first rail transversely connected to the first post and the second post.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein an underside of the platform does not include legs.

3. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the running deck includes a deck length between the first pulley and the second pulley and a deck width transversely oriented with respect to the deck length;

wherein the deck width is at least 2.5 feet wide.

4. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein an underside of the platform rests directly on a support surface to keep a top surface of the treadmill close to the support surface.

5. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the platform further defines at least one recess;

and

at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively connected to the platform within the at least one recess.

6. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein the at least one recess includes an electrical contact that respectively forms an electrical connection with the at least one of the first post and the second post when an end of the at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively inserted into the at least one recess.

7. The treadmill of claim 5, wherein the at least one recess includes a pop-up cover that is respectively urged upward when the at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively removed from the at least one recess.

8. The treadmill of claim 1, further including:

a flywheel connected to at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley;

the flywheel includes;

a rotational axis;

a flywheel length aligned with the rotational axis; and

an outer diameter transverse to the flywheel length;

wherein the flywheel length is greater than the outer diameter.

9. The treadmill of claim 8, wherein the flywheel length is at least 4.0 inches.

10. The treadmill of claim 8, wherein the flywheel length is at least 6.0 inches.

11. The treadmill of claim 8, wherein the flywheel is supported on a first flywheel end and a second flywheel end.

12. The treadmill of claim 1, further including a display screen incorporated into the platform.

13. The treadmill of claim 1, further including:

a third post removably connected to the platform;

a fourth post removably connected to the platform; and

a second rail transversely connected to the third post and the fourth post.

14. The treadmill of claim 13, wherein the second rail is aligned with the first rail and along a deck length of the running deck.

15. A treadmill, comprising:

a platform including;

a first side panel; and

a second side panel spaced apart at a distance from the first side panel;

a gap defined between the first side panel and the second side panel;

a running deck contained within the platform and exposed within the gap;

a first pulley connected to the running deck;

a second pulley opposite the first pulley and connected to the running deck;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley;

a first post removably connected to the platform;

a second post removably connected to the platform;

a first rail transversely connected to the first post and the second post;

the platform further defines at least one recess;

at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively connected to the platform within the at least one recess; and

the at least one recess includes an electrical contact respectively disposed within the at least one recess that respectively forms an electrical connection with the at least one of the first post and the second post when an end of the at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively inserted into the at least one recess.

16. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the at least one recess includes a pop-up cover that is respectively urged upward when the at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively removed from the at least one recess.

17. The treadmill of claim 15, further including:

a flywheel connected to at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley;

the flywheel includes;

a rotational axis;

a flywheel length aligned with the rotational axis; and

an outer diameter transverse to the flywheel length;

wherein the flywheel length is greater than the outer diameter.

18. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the running deck includes a deck length between the first pulley and the second pulley and a deck width transversely oriented with respect to the deck length;

wherein the deck width is at least 2.5 feet wide.

19. The treadmill of claim 15, further including a display screen incorporated into the platform.

20. A treadmill, comprising:

a platform including;

a first side panel; and

a second side panel spaced apart at a distance from the first side panel;

a gap defined between the first side panel and the second side panel;

a running deck contained within the platform and exposed within the gap;

a first pulley connected to the running deck;

a second pulley opposite the first Dully and connected to the running deck;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley;

a first post removably connected to the platform;

a second post removably connected to the platform;

a first rail transversely connected to the first post and the second post;

the platform further defines at least one recess;

at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively connected to the platform within the at least one recess; and

the at least one recess includes an electrical contact respectively disposed within the at least one recess that respectively forms an electrical connection with the at least one of the first post and the second post when an end of the at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively inserted into the at least one recess;

the at least one recess includes a pop-up cover that is respectively urged upward when the at least one of the first post and the second post is respectively removed from the at least one recess;

a flywheel connected to at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley;

the flywheel includes;

a rotational axis;

a flywheel length aligned with the rotational axis; and

an outer diameter transverse to the flywheel length;

the flywheel is supported on a first flywheel end and a second flywheel end;

wherein the flywheel length is greater than the outer diameter;

the running deck includes a deck length between the first pulley and the second pulley and a deck width transversely oriented with respect to the deck length where the deck width is at least 2.5 feet wide; and

a display screen incorporated into the platform.