EXERCISE TREADMILL FOR SIMULATING PUSHING AND PULLING ACTIONS AND EXERCISE METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20110118090A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph K. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Joseph K. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Joseph K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0035 Upper limbs performing together the same movement, e.g. on a single support element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0079 with a pulling cable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0675 Input for modifying training controls during workout
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0615 pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0616 with an adjustable moment A63B21/0617 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/152 Bowden-type cables
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/155 Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0012 the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent
• 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 22/02 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 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/047 Walking and pulling or pushing a load for exercising the player ability for rugby or American football A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

An exercise treadmill having an endless exercise surface for walking or running while exercising, a resistance mechanism for providing a resistance for simulating the pushing or pulling of a load, wherein the resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific resistance setting. A movable pushing and pulling means is or are operatively attached to the resistance mechanism to transfer the load to the user. The resistance mechanism applies a constant and static force to the pushing and pulling means only in the same direction the endless movable surface moves and opposite a pushing or pulling direction such that operating the treadmill simulates the pushing or pulling of a load by a combination of gripping and pushing or pulling the pushing and pulling means forward or backwards while walking or running forward or backwards.

Claims

1. An exercise treadmill of the type having a movable surface for walking or running while exercising, comprising:

a) a resistance mechanism for providing a resistance for simulating the pushing or pulling of a load, wherein the resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific resistance setting; and

b) a movable pushing and pulling means operatively attached to the resistance mechanism,

wherein the movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running forwards and backwards, and

wherein the resistance mechanism exerts an approximately constant and static counterforce to the pushing and pulling means generally only in the same direction as the movable surface is moving and opposite a direction of the pushing and pulling means,

whereby operation of the treadmill simulates the pushing or pulling of a load by a combination of the gripping and pushing or pulling the pushing and pulling means, respectively to actuate the resistance mechanism to simulate the load and the walking or running forward or backward to provide the pushing or pulling action, respectively.

2. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the counterforce is static and approximately constant at a set resistance level throughout an entire range of movement of the movable pushing and pulling means.

3. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resistance mechanism can be set to a chosen resistance level that is adjustable for providing resistance only against the pushing or pulling direction.

4. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an inclination mechanism to permit inclination of the exercise surface to simulate an incline or decline.

5. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a console support structure, wherein the pushing and pulling means is operatively connected to the resistance mechanism via a support console structure.

6. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support console structure rests in a neutral position unless and until acted upon by the gripping and pushing or pulling of the pushing and pulling means.

7. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resistance mechanism is unactuated when the support console is in the neutral position.

8. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a locking means, wherein the console support structure can be locked in a neutral position by the locking means.

9. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a console support structure, wherein the pushing and pulling means is operatively connected to the resistance mechanism via a cable.

10. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing and pulling means comprises a handle rigidly attached to a movable support console structure and wherein movement of the support console structure actuates the resistance mechanism.

11. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing and pulling means comprises a handle movably attached to an unmovable support structure and wherein movement of the handle actuates the resistance mechanism.

12. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing and pulling means is movable both in a forward and in a backward direction relative to the direction of motion of the endless belt.

13. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resistance mechanism is a moment arm weight resistance means comprising:

a) a cantilevered moment arm pivotally attached to an upright at a pivot point;

b) an adjustable weight attached to the moment arm; and

c) a weight adjusting drive for adjusting the adjustable weight along the moment arm,

wherein movement of the adjustable weight along the moment arm creates a moment about the pivot point.

14. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing and pulling means is movable between a first at rest position and a second fully extended position and can be maintained at any position between the first at rest position and the second fully extended position.

15. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the moment arm weight resistance means is pivotable about the pivot point.

16. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the console structure is slidable.

17. The exercise treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the console structure is pivotable.

18. An exercise method simulating the pushing or pulling of a load, comprising the steps of:

a) stepping onto a movable surface for walking or running while exercising;

b) grasping a movable pushing and pulling means operatively connected to a resistance mechanism and adjusting the resistance mechanism to a chosen resistance level;

c) pushing or pulling the movable pushing and pulling means, wherein pushing on the pushing and pulling means actuates the resistance mechanism so as to provide resistance generally only opposite a pushing direction for simulating the pushing of a load and pulling on the pushing and pulling means actuates the resistance mechanism so as to provide resistance generally only opposite a pulling direction for simulating the pulling of a load; and

d) walking or running in a forward motion on the movable surface while pushing on the pushing and pulling means or walking or running in a rearward motion on the movable surface while pulling on the pushing and pulling means,

wherein the resistance mechanism applies an approximately constant and static counterforce to the pushing and pulling means generally only in the same direction as the movable surface moves and opposite the pushing or pulling direction,

whereby the walking or running in a forward or rearward motion causes the actuation of the resistance mechanism, thus simulating the pushing or pulling, respectively, of a load by a combination of the actuation of the resistance mechanism to simulate the load and walking or running forwards or rearwards to provide the pushing or pulling, respectively, action.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the user pushes or pulls on the movable handle, the resistance mechanism exerts the counterforce on the user of a set resistance level and wherein the counterforce is static and constant at the set resistance level throughout an entire range of movement of the movable pushing and pulling means.