Audible belt guide in a treadmill

• US 10,729,965 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Powell, Wade A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Loan B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abyaneh, Shila Jalalzadeh
• Application Number:
  US15/853,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20190192952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0602 Non-electronic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• 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 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0221 on the frame supporting the rollers
• 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 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

A treadmill may include a platform, at least one pulley attached to the platform, a sliding surface of the platform, a tread belt riding portion of the sliding surface, a tread belt surrounding the pulley and the sliding surface, the tread belt having at least one side edge, and a belt guide incorporated into the platform. The belt guide includes a textured portion of the sliding surface aligned with the side edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion. When the textured portion comes into contact the tread belt from the tread belt being misaligned out of the tread belt riding portion, the tread belt and the textured portion collectively produce a misalignment sound audible to a user when the tread belt moves against the sliding surface.

Claims

1. A treadmill, comprising:

an exercise deck, the exercise deck including;

a platform;

at least one pulley attached to the platform;

a sliding surface of the platform;

a tread belt riding portion defined in the sliding surface;

a tread belt surrounding the at least one pulley and the sliding surface, the tread belt having at least one edge; and

a belt guide incorporated into the platform, the belt guide including;

a textured portion aligned with the at least one edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion;

wherein when the textured portion comes into contact with the tread belt due to the tread belt being misaligned with the tread belt riding portion, the tread belt and the textured portion interact to collectively produce a misalignment sound audible to a user.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the textured portion includes a plurality of ribs.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs are arranged perpendicular to the at least one edge of the tread belt.

4. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the belt guide includes a lip portion extending over at least a portion of the at least one edge of the tread belt.

5. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein the textured portion is positioned above the at least one edge of the tread belt.

6. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the textured portion includes a plurality of protrusions.

7. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the textured portion includes a rough surface having a Ra surface roughness of more than about 5 microns.

8. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the textured portion includes a patterned surface.

9. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the tread belt and the tread belt riding portion collectively produce an operating sound audible to the user when the tread belt is in motion with respect to the sliding surface when the tread belt is not in contact with the textured portion;

wherein the operating sound produces a different frequency than the misalignment sound.

10. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the belt guide includes a raised ledge aligned with the at least one edge of the tread belt.

11. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the textured portion contacts the at least one edge of the tread belt to mechanically produce the misalignment sound when the tread belt is in motion around the sliding surface and at least a portion of the tread belt is positioned outside the tread belt riding portion.

12. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the textured portion contacts an interior pulley facing surface of the tread belt to mechanically produces the sound audible to the user when the tread belt is in motion around the at least one pulley and at least a portion of the tread belt is positioned outside the tread belt riding portion.

13. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the misalignment sound is not produced when no portion of the tread belt is positioned outside the tread belt riding portion.

14. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the misalignment sound is distinguishable by the user from routine operating sounds of the treadmill produced when the tread belt is entirely positioned within the tread belt riding portion.

15. A treadmill, comprising:

an exercise deck, the exercise deck including;

a platform;

at least one pulley attached to the platform;

a sliding surface of the platform;

a tread belt riding portion defined in the sliding surface;

a tread belt surrounding the at least one pulley, the tread belt having at least one edge; and

a belt guide incorporated into the platform, the belt guide including;

a textured portion aligned with the at least one edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned within the tread belt riding portion;

wherein the textured portion contacts the tread belt mechanically producing a misalignment sound audible when the tread belt is in motion with respect to the sliding surface and at least a portion of the tread belt is positioned outside the tread belt riding portion;

wherein the misalignment sound is not produced when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion and the misalignment sound is distinguishable from a routine operating sound of the treadmill.

16. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the belt guide includes a lip portion extending over at least a portion of the at least one edge of the tread belt.

17. The treadmill of claim 16, wherein the textured portion is positioned above the at least one edge of the tread belt.

18. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the belt guide includes a raised ledge aligned with the at least one edge of the tread belt.

19. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the textured portion engages an underside surface of the tread belt when the tread belt is misaligned out of the tread belt riding portion.

20. A treadmill, comprising:

an exercise deck, the exercise deck including;

a platform;

a first pulley attached to the platform in a front portion;

a second pulley attached to the platform in a rear portion;

a sliding surface of the platform;

a tread belt riding portion of the sliding surface;

a tread belt surrounding the first pulley, the second pulley, and the sliding surface, the tread belt having at least one edge and a top surface; and

a belt guide incorporated into the platform, the belt guide including;

a lip portion extending over at least a portion of the at least one edge of the tread belt;

a textured portion including a rough surface, the textured portion aligned with and positioned above the at least one edge of the tread belt and spaced apart therefrom when the tread belt is positioned within the tread belt riding portion;

wherein the textured portion contacts the top surface of the tread belt to thereby mechanically produce a misalignment sound audible to a user when the tread belt is in motion with respect to the sliding surface of the platform and at least a portion of the tread belt is positioned outside the tread belt riding portion;

wherein the misalignment sound is not produced when the tread belt is positioned entirely within the tread belt riding portion and the misalignment sound is distinguishable by the user from a routine operating sound of the treadmill.