Tread belt locking mechanism

• US 10,668,320 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robertson, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US15/830,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20180154209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0072 Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00192 using resistance provided by magnetic means A63B21/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• 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 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0002 involving an exercising of arms for strengthening the upper limbs A63B23/12
• 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 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0257 Mechanical systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• 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 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03516 For both arms together or both legs together; Aspects related to the co-ordination between right and left side limbs of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03566 the multiple stations having a common resistance device
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 : Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• 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 71/0054 : Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A treadmill may include a deck, a first pulley disposed in a first portion of the deck, a second pulley disposed in a second portion of the deck, a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley, and a locking mechanism that selectively prevents the tread belt from moving.

Claims

1. A treadmill comprising:

a deck;

a first pulley disposed in a first portion of the deck;

a second pulley disposed in a second portion of the deck;

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

a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the tread belt from moving in response to movement of an anaerobic exercise component.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein:

the anaerobic exercise component comprises a pull cable and a resistance mechanism incorporated into the treadmill, a first end of the pull cable configured to have a handle connected thereto, a second end of the pull cable connected to the resistance mechanism, the pull cable configured to unwind from a spool when pulled and to wind back around the spool when released, the resistance mechanism configured to selectively apply a resistance to the pull cable when pulled;

the treadmill further comprises an upright structure connected to the deck; and

the pull cable is incorporated into the upright structure.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein:

the resistance mechanism includes a magnetic unit and a flywheel;

the flywheel is incorporated into the upright structure; and

the magnetic unit is configured to selectively apply the resistance to a rotation of the flywheel.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, further comprising a sensor that detects movement of the flywheel.

5. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein the sensor is configured to be in electronic communication with the locking mechanism.

6. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein:

an input mechanism is incorporated into the upright structure; and

the input mechanism is configured to control the locking mechanism.

7. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein selectively locking the tread belt from moving in response to movement of anaerobic exercise component comprises selectively locking the tread belt from moving in response to detecting a pull force on the pull cable.

8. The treadmill of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that includes programmed instructions to cause the locking mechanism to lock the tread belt from moving.

9. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to apply a magnetic force to at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley to selectively lock the tread belt from moving.

10. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be electronically operated.

11. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be manually operated.

12. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein:

the treadmill further comprises a motor in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley;

the motor, when active, causes the tread belt to move; and

the locking mechanism prevents the tread belt from moving when the motor is inactive.

13. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck;

a first pulley disposed in a first portion of the deck;

a second pulley disposed in a second portion of the deck;

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

an anaerobic exercise component incorporated into the treadmill;

a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the tread belt from moving;

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to;

determine that the anaerobic exercise component is moved; and

selectively lock a position of the tread belt in response to the determining that the anaerobic exercise component is moved.

14. The treadmill of claim 13, wherein the determining that the anaerobic exercise component is moved comprises sensing movement of a pull cable incorporated into the treadmill.

15. The treadmill of claim 13, wherein the determining that the anaerobic exercise component is moved comprises sensing movement of a resistance mechanism incorporated into the treadmill.

16. A treadmill, comprising:

a deck;

a first pulley disposed in a first portion of the deck;

a second pulley disposed in a second portion of the deck;

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

a motor in mechanical communication with at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley that, when active, causes the tread belt to move;

a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the tread belt from moving;

an upright structure connected to the deck;

a pull cable incorporated into the upright structure, a first end of the pull cable configured to have a handle connected thereto;

a resistance mechanism connected to a second end of the pull cable, the resistance mechanism including a flywheel;

a magnetic unit that is configured to selectively apply a resistance to a rotation of the flywheel; and

a sensor that is configured to detect movement of the flywheel, the sensor configured to be in electronic communication with the locking mechanism;

wherein the locking mechanism is configured to prevent movement of the tread belt in response to movement of the flywheel.